Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Manqoba Mngqithi has urged all South Africans to show their support for Ronwen Williams, following his historic nomination for the Yashin Trophy.
Born in Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth), Williams has become the first South African goalkeeper to be nominated for this prestigious global award and first African goalkeeper to be nominated while based on the continent.
Williams’ nomination comes on the back of a stellar season. His remarkable performances, including saving four penalties in a shootout against Cape Verde during the 2023 AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire, were crucial in helping Bafana Bafana reaching the semi-final of the tournament and his club, Sundowns, achieve significant victories.
These include Sundowns’ triumphs in both the inaugural African Football League and the DStv Premiership (now Betway Premiership).
Mngqithi emphasised that this nomination is a proud moment for South African football, demonstrating the Premier Soccer League (PSL) quality and what ‘Ronza’ is capable of.
“I think every South African should be very proud to have a goalkeeper that is based in Africa being nominated for such a prestigious award (Yashin Trophy).
“I think it speaks volumes about his capacity as a goalkeeper. It speaks volumes about our football as a country because he performed so well for Bafana Bafana and that is what has probably brought him to where he is,” Mngqithi said.
Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams has been nominated for the Ballon D’or Yachine Trophy🧤
— Banter! (@Bantercliq) September 4, 2024
Do you remember when he saved 4 penalties vs Cape Verde at the 2023 AFCON pic.twitter.com/1ORjpzTWNs
The 32-year-old shot-stopper faces stiff competition in his Yashin Trophy nomination, going up against some of the world’s elite goalkeepers the likes of Emiliano Martinez of Argentina, Unai Simon from Spain, Gianluigi Donnarumma of Italy, Gregor Kobel from Switzerland, Andriy Lunin Ukraine, Diogo Costa Portugal, Mike Maignan of France, Giorgi Mamardashvili Georgia, and Yann Sommer from Switzerland.
“His contribution like Denis (Onyango) was saying in the AFL and Champion League because even in the Champions League we were just one match away from reaching the final and his contributions has been immense,” Mngqithi added.
“In all these competitions he was very instrumental. In the AFL he was very instrumental again in saving penalties and helping the team to go all the way to win it.
“So, on that one, I think if you are a South African and you are not proud of a player like Ronwen (Williams) then there is something wrong in your head.
“Because honestly, everybody should be proud of the success that is made by a young boy from PE (Gqeberha) from nowhere to go all the way to represent the rest of Africa in an international awards competition like the Ballon D’or.
“So, for me it’s exciting.”
The 2024 Yashin Trophy nominees 🧤 pic.twitter.com/ghE7F5l7lG
— B/R Football (@brfootball) September 4, 2024
