Surpassing ‘Itu’ — Ronwen Williams is a giant of SA football: how he got there

When Ronwen Williams made his Bafana Bafana debut, his night at FNB Stadium on March 5 2014 ended in devastation after conceding five unanswered goals in a thrashing by Brazil, including a hat-trick from Neymar.

A decade later, the now Bafana and Mamelodi Sundowns captain completed his best year-and-a-half being nominated for the 2023-24 Ballon d’Or Yashin Trophy. The award went to Argentina and Aston Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez in Paris on Monday night.

Williams ended ninth of the 10 nominees — the biggest names in global goalkeeping. The achievement is huge, and needs digestion and full appreciation. He made history being the first African from a club on the continent to be nominated.

And Williams’ achievements for the period in question were not so far behind those of Martinez, suggesting his ninth placing was more down to the lack of familiarity with his name and what he did among the 100 voting journalists.

Martinez, the first to win the Yashin back-to-back (in 2022-23 he was a major figure in his country winning the 2022 World Cup), helped Aston Villa end fourth in the Premier League in 2023-24. They did concede 61 goals (Arsenal only let in 29), though that’s not unexpected for a medium-sized club punching well above their weight. More importantly, Martinez conceded one goal in six games as Argentina won the Copa America in June and July.

Williams conceded three goals in seven games helping Bafana to their first Africa Cup of Nations semifinal in 24 years and the bronze medal in January and February. He saved an unheard-of four penalties in the quarterfinal shoot-out win against Cape Verde, and two more in the shoot-out for third place against Democratic Republic of Congo. He conceded three goals in seven games and, like Martinez at Copa, was goalkeeper of the tournament. He helped Sundowns to the Premiership title by a record 72 points, with the Brazilians conceding 11 goals and losing once. They won the inaugural African Football League and reached the Caf Champions League semifinals.

The completed circle from the Brazil nightmare to his night of glory rubbing shoulders with football’s glitterati in Paris is emblematic of a career where hard work has been behind the steady progression through complete professionalism from a raw teen with huge potential to genuinely world class. Williams made up for size limits with athleticism and superb fitness and worked on eliminating being, like most young goalkeepers, initially error-prone, to becoming near faultless.

Few players these days spend 18 years with a club. Williams joined SuperSport United’s youth in 2004 after being spotted in the Danone Under-12 tournament in Polokwane and Schools Winter Sports games in Pietermaritzburg, leaving his family home in Gqeberha at 12. He made a senior debut at 19 in the 2011-12 season.

His youth, and later head, coach at Matsatsantsa, the accomplished former Zimbabwe international defender Kaitano Tembo, said Williams “had all the good qualities of a goalkeeper from a very young age, as soon as he arrived at SuperSport”.

“And I think the partnership we had at that time with Feyenoord also played a huge role in terms of developing him technically. Because the ball [at feet] was always important whether you were a goalkeeper or infield player. I think that was a huge factor in his development.

“The coaches would always involve goalkeepers when we were doing tactical and technical work. That helped in terms of his distribution. We also had a partnership with Tottenham. We had teams going to tournaments in Netherlands and in the UK. It helped, if you look at the players we were producing at that time they were very good technically.”

Tembo, who became a first team assistant coach in the season Williams was promoted, was part of the goalkeeper’s progression as he made the SuperSport No 1 jersey his own. Williams’ confidence grew as he won seven trophies at Matsatsantsa under head coaches Stuart Baxter, Eric Tinkler and Tembo, and shrugged off his early Bafana setback entrenching himself in the national team, before his move to Sundowns in July 2022 completed the process of his game going up level by level.

“He’s always been hard-working and disciplined. He was in the same [youth teams] group as Kamohelo Mokotjo, [Masibusane] Zongo and Kermit [Erasmus]. He got promoted to the first team at a very young age. I was with him at U-17 and U-19 and also moved with him to the first team when he was promoted.

“He made his debut at 19 — that shows his potential. Though he was not really a complete goalkeeper he was always willing to work very hard. And you can see it with his achievements. Soon after I took over as [SuperSport head] coach he played a huge role. I made him captain after Dean Furman left. And he also went on to captain Bafana Bafana. Then when Hugo Broos arrived he also made him captain.

“Though his start for Bafana wasn’t the best you could see his ability to stay level-headed and continue working hard on his game. His national debut was against Brazil where he conceded five goals. But at SuperSport we knew he’d still make it. Because at the same time he was also doing well on the local front.

“And also with us and everyone at SuperSport, he knew that if given another opportunity he was going to do well, and that’s what happened, because of the qualities we knew he had. Very few goalkeepers in South Africa had the qualities he had. He’s a leader, technically very good with his distribution, a good handler, could deal with crosses — all the qualities.

“The move from Sundowns also helped to elevate his game, because now he’s playing a bit more on a bigger stage in terms of the Champions League, as well as playing for Bafana. And those qualities got better and better.”

Goalkeepers mature later — around 30 — than outfield players and play longer, often to close to 40. Tembo said it is the length of time Williams has played for club and country from 19, perfecting his game each season, that has led to his full blossoming of the last three years.

 “It’s not easy for young goalkeepers because we know they mature much later. His maturity started at a young age hence he could play regularly.

“He was also competing with players like Rowen Fernandez and at some point even Andre [Arendse] at SuperSport. He made the position his and never looked back. He was at SuperSport for close to 18 years — that shows the kind of person he is, with his personality too.”

For much of the early part of Williams’ career his Bafana predecessor, Kaizer Chiefs legend Itumeleng Khune, was entrenched as national No 1. Once Khune started to depart the international stage, Williams made the jersey his own. The 2019 Nations Cup where Bafana shocked hosts Egypt in the second round and narrowly lost to Nigeria in the quarters under Baxter — a confidence-boosting precursor to their competitive tournament this year — was a notable turning point as the keeper showed a clear step up to international class.

“When Itu made way, Ronwen took over, and then he also did well, playing his part,” Tembo said. “That’s why I always talk about his attitude as a player. He’ll never miss one training session. At some point maybe he’ll leave the stadium in a sling with a shoulder injury and the next day you will see him at training. He’s one who believes that when he’s on top he’ll never give another player an opportunity.

I think it’s not only South African football — he’s the No 1 goalkeeper in Africa at the moment. And No 9 in the world. That’s huge. I think he needs to be appreciated a bit more. His role was huge at Afcon for Bafana to finish third — he was one of the best players in the tournament. He’s really done well for himself and deserves to be on that stage, to be the ninth-best goalkeeper in the world.

—  Kaitano Tembo

“Credit should also go to someone like [Bafana goalkeeper coach] Grant Johnson, who also worked with him at the academy at SuperSport. Grant has also done a lot of work on him. And I believe Ronwen has a lot of years before he calls it quits — he’s only 32, very young as a goalkeeper.”

Moving to Sundowns, a keeper already making huge strides flourished at a club that genuinely competes continentally, in the environment of the Brazilians’ world-class facilities, players and technical staff — former Zambia Nations Cup winner Kennedy Mweene is among the goalkeeper coaches.

“When he went to Sundowns Denis Onyango was the main man, and people asked if Ronwen would play. But I knew he would go and fight for his position. He fought his way to No 1 and look at where he is now.”

Where Williams is now, is he has become a giant of South African football, at least for his generation, and surely further. A Ballon d’Or nomination is a monumental achievement. It brings home the extent to which Williams is still not fully appreciated.

“I think it’s not only South African football — he’s the No 1 goalkeeper in Africa at the moment. And No 9 in the world. That’s huge. I think he needs to be appreciated a bit more.

“His role was huge at Afcon for Bafana to finish third — he was one of the best players in the tournament.

“He’s really done well for himself and deserves to be on that stage, to be the ninth-best goalkeeper in the world. I was really proud of him seeing him on that stage because it’s not easy and he’s really worked hard to be there.”