All Bafana captain Ronwen wants is to put on a show for his home fans and three points

Ronwen Williams back in Gqeberha as captain of his club and national team is an inspirational story of a local boy who came good. 

The much-respected 32-year-old Bafana Bafana captain left the city as a wide-eyed teenager almost 15 years ago to pursue his dream of playing professional football with Superport United's academy. 

At that time, never in his wildest dreams did it occur to him he would return to the city of his birth wearing his club and country’s armbands, and as fate would have it, as a nominee for the 2024 Ballon d’Or Yashin Trophy. 

Williams took time to go down memory lane on his eventful journey that includes that humbling experience where he conceded five goals in Bafana’s 5-0 defeat to Brazil on his debut in 2014. 

“I had to persevere, fight and keep going,” he said. “I didn't give up, but I had to keep on working hard and learn from goalkeepers who came before me and gaining valuable experience because that is just how life is.”

He will lead South Africa out at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Friday's crucial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier against Congo who were yet to touch down in Gqeberha by 7pm on Thursday. The second match is in Brazzaville on Tuesday. 

Before their final training session on Thursday afternoon, Williams said he wants Bafana to put on a show and get the three points that will advance their ambitions of qualifying for next year’s tournament. 

“It is heartfelt and amazing for me,” he said about playing in front of his family and friends. 

Williams recounted his journey that has had its ups and downs which tested his resolve along the way. 

“When I heard the game is going to take place here at home, I just got goosebumps because things could have easily gone a different way for me. When you look back 10 years ago when we played against Brazil, people didn’t want me. People didn’t think I was ready or good enough to play for Bafana Bafana.

“Things don’t always go your way, but you need to knuckle down and persevere. The wheel has turned for me and I cherish it more now and I won’t let it go. I double my efforts and I don’t rest on my laurels with all my achievements.

“I forget about everything that has happened and look to what I can achieve next and that is the attitude that I have always had.” 

This will be Williams’ first match for Bafana after injury that forced him out of qualifiers against Uganda and South Sudan, and he says the break was a blessing in disguise. 

“I was out for a long time and that was a setback for me, but I think it was a good setback. I have played a lot of football over the past two years without a break and I needed a break. 

“It was just for me to miss football again and people can see the passion that I have come back with. I have been doing well for my club, but I am not happy because I have played three league games and have only one clean sheet. That’s not Sundowns, we pride ourselves with clean sheets and that is the same with me.” 

Over the past few months, Bafana have played in Johannesburg, Bloemfontein and now Gqeberha, and Williams says it is important for people to watch the national team in their provinces. 

“Everyone needs a chance to see Bafana live in action, I don’t know the rules and regulations [of how matches are rotated], but it is nice to give other provinces a chance to see us playing.

“The atmosphere that we had in Bloemfontein is something that we haven’t had in a long time as Bafana Bafana. You could see when things got tough for us, they started cheering and singing and it boosted us. That’s why we went to the second half and killed off the game.” 

Seeing this is his home game, Williams said he has been inundated with calls for tickets. 

“My phone has been going off non-stop, but I just ignore it because I am here to do a job and win the game tomorrow and put on a show for the Eastern Cape and South Africa as a whole.” 

The high demand is understandable, the local boy who came good is back home. 

Bafana needed last-gasp goals in both matches to salvage a 2-2 home draw against Uganda and 3-2 win away against South Sudan in their first two 2025 Afcon qualifiers last month.

South Africa and Uganda lead Group K on four points and four more points for Bafana against the Congolese could conceivably see them with one foot in the next Nations Cup. The top two teams from each group qualify.

Bafana end their group campaign against Uganda away and in South Sudan next month.