Mamelodi Sundowns and Bafana Bafana captain Ronwen Williams has called on the nation to rally behind Masandawana at the FIFA Club World Cup.
Now based at the IMG Academy in Florida, the reigning Betway Premiership champions are looking to bounce back from their CAF Champions League heartbreak by making a strong impression on the global stage.
“This is our chance to show the world what Mamelodi Sundowns is capable of. We want to showcase our brand of football and leave a positive imprint on the biggest stage of club football,” the shot-stopper told Soccer Laduma.
The 32-year-old goalkeeper emphasized the importance of staying true to their playing philosophy, despite the quality of opposition they’ll face.
“(We must) be ourselves, play our football, stick to our identity. We don’t want to go there and change things just because of the strength of the opposition. We believe we have enough to get out of the group,” he added.
“If we can get out the group, that would be massive. When you look at the names in our group, there are some big clubs. It won’t be easy, but we want to show the world who Mamelodi Sundowns is. Honestly, it’s looking good – I’m excited.”
Williams, who guided Bafana Bafana to a historic third-place finish at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and finished ninth in the Ballon d’Or Yashin Trophy (best goalkeeper) rankings, is relishing the chance to compete in the U.S., potentially laying the groundwork for what’s to come in 2026.
“This is great preparation for the FIFA World Cup. That’s something we still need to wrap up – hopefully in September we can seal qualification with Bafana. Then it’s back-to-back AFCONs. We want South Africa to be part of all the big tournaments,” he continued.
The skipper also echoed sentiments shared by Sundowns First Team coach Steve Komphela, urging the country to unite behind their campaign.
“We’re not just representing Sundowns – we’re representing South Africa. It’s amazing what’s happening right now. It’s been a long time since we’ve had this kind of momentum. Kudos to the country, to Bafana Bafana, to Mamelodi Sundowns – and also to the other clubs who are pushing hard,” said the Bafana skipper.
“Orlando Pirates were amazing this season. Stellenbosch too. Everyone is playing a part in taking South African football to greater heights.”