During im 12 months of domestic and international football, South Africa captain Ronwen Williams win awards regularly – but im latest nomination leave am “numb” wit disbelief.
Di Mamelodi Sundowns stopper dey shortlisted for di Yashin Trophy, wey dey recognise di world best goalkeepers as part of di annual Ballon d’Or ceremony.
“I no fit recall afta I drop di phone. I get sweet feeling in my stomach. I literally go numb,” e tell BBC Sport Africa, struggling to describe im feelings.
“Wen I see di Ballon d’Or page, I no fit believe am. I no know if I dey excited, happy or crying, e be like dream.
“I get so many feelings and I try not to tink about am becos e get me emotional,” Williams tok.
Di 32-year-old na di first African-based player wey dem go nominate for di trophy named afta former Soviet Union legend Lev Yashin.
Since South Africa men team dey underachieving on di international stage ova di past two decades, Williams hope im recognition go provide motivation for im kontri pipo.
“I don achieve so much in my career but I no tink dis go eva dey replaceable,” e tok.
“E go open doors for South Africans to start to tink and dream bigger. We get di talent and ability but we dey pull oursefs down.
“I feel like I don already win even if I no make di top three.”
Williams place on di shortlist dey come afta Bafana Bafana place third at di 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) for Ivory Coast.
Former national team captain Lucas Radebe, wey don spend ten years playing in di English Premier League for Leeds United, believe say di landmark fit change di mindset of South African footballers.
“E show di talent we get in di kontri,” Radebe tell BBC Sport Africa.
“Ronwen go be example. I wan hear pipo say ‘I wan be like Ronwen Williams’, no be like [Lionel] Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo.
“As football community, we need to celebrate dat and appreciate our own pipo.”
Williams get anoda month to wait to find out weda e go take home di trophy on 28 October for Paris.
If e win, e go become di first African to win di Yashin Trophy since dem first present di award for 2019.
However, e dey compete against di likes of Emiliano Martinez of Argentina and Unai Simon of Spain, wey both help dia kontris for continental titles dis year.
Penalty-saving master
Williams standout performance during di 2023 Afcon final na during South Africa quarter-final penalty shootout win ova Cape Verde wen e save four spot kicks.
E credit “a lot of studying” and input from goalkeeper coach Grant Johnson as drivers of im success.
“If you look at my phone gallery, e full of penalty shootouts of all di teams we play,” Williams explain.
“I try and study and make notes. I study so dat my mind dey clear wen I face penalties.
“Grant remind me bifor di shootout about di directions di players go dey.”
Williams no fit repeat di heroics in di semi-finals as Nigeria win 4-2 on penalties afta 1-1 draw, but e save two more efforts from 12 yards against DR Congo in di third-place play-off as Bafana Bafana secure dia best Afcon placing since 2000.
Now wey e dey in di prime of im powers, Williams get big ambitions for di national team and e dey hope to lead im kontri to di 2026 World Cup.
“We get di talent, experience and di players wey fit take us to di World Cup,” e tok.
“E go dey tough but we don gain enough experience to go.”
South Africa na second for dia group afta four games, as qualifiers go resume next March and di table-toppers at di end of di 10-match campaign go get spots at di finals for Canada, Mexico and di USA.
Staying in South Africa
Now Bafana Bafana most important player and one of di best goalkeepers on di continent, e dey arguable say Williams fit dey follow in di footsteps of South Africa legends such as Radebe, Benni McCarthy and Steven Pienaar in sealing move overseas.
However, African-based goalkeeper tend to get overlooked by clubs for Europe top leagues.
African success stories such as Senegal Edouard Mendy and Cameroon Andre Onana neva play professionally in dia home kontri or even on di continent.
Williams tink concern ova height dey among di factor but e believe tins fit change in future.
“We no be di tallest,” e tok.
“Wen we look at keepers in Europe, dem be 1.9 metres or above.
“E fit take one of us going ova for di floodgates to open for odas.”
Ruling di continent
Although e don win evritin wey e fit win for im homeland, di one major trophy wey dey difficult for am to win na African Champions League.
Sundowns win dia sole continental title in 2016, bifor Williams join from SuperSport United.
Di Pretoria-based outfit win di inaugural African Football League last year, but Williams believe Sundowns gatz improve dia mindset to seriously compete wit record Champions League winners Al Ahly.
“Team like Al Ahly get di know-how and experience to win,” e tok.
“Dem don shown ova di past few years say probably dem no be di best team but dem know how to get di job done.
“For Europe, Real Madrid no be di best team but end up winning di Champions League year in, year out. Na becos dem sabi.”
- Uefa Champions League results, fixtures and table
- Afcon 2025 qualifiers table, fixtures and results
- Meet di Africans for di 2024 Ballon d’Or award
