Andre Arendse believes it's time for Ronwen Williams to play in Europe
By Neo Poho
Former Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Andre Arendse believes Ronwen Williams has passed his test in the African continent and should now ply his trade in Europe.
This follows Williams' magnificent display at the just concluded 2023 AFCON in Cote d' Ivoire where the Bafana Bafana captain walked home with the Golden Glove award for being the goalkeeper of the tournament.
Williams received the award during the awards ceremony shortly after the final match between Ivory Coast and Nigeria at the Olympic Stadium of Ebimpé on Sunday night.
The Bafana Bafana captain led South Africa to the bronze medal in the tournament, and led from the front with some brilliant performances as Hugo Broos’ side exceeded expectations.
Among the five clean sheets Williams kept in the tournament, the Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper also became the first goalkeeper to save four penalties in a penalty shootout against Cape Verde in the quarterfinal of the tournament.
Williams also managed to keep out two DR Congo's penalties in the 3rd/4th playoff match.
"I think now he has to make a move abroad, but who knows what he is thinking, a move abroad will take him to another level because he has passed his test in the African continent.
I also believe he will be successful at the European level because he is not a dimensional type of a player, when he was at SuperSport United, his strength was putting counterattacks with his distributions, his other strength was building up attacking play when he was in possession.
But at Sundowns, he is now building from the back and he has become very comfortable in possession of the ball so he can offer that to many different leagues around the world," Arendse said.
Arendse, who worked with Williams at SuperSport United, before his move to Mamelodi Sundowns, said he was not surprised with the keeper's achievement as there were signs after playing in the Afcon 2019 in Egypt.
"This is the testimony of the development that he had over the last few years, when he first came to SuperSport United at the age of 12 years, then already he worked with coach Grant Johnson and today Johnson is the goalkeeper coach of the national team, so the relationship between them and the understanding that is required is there.
When I was the head of goalkeeping at the national team during the 2019 AFCON, I saw that he was progressing and maturing, now that he has moved to Sundowns he has continued to play at the highest level in the African continent against top clubs hence today he is the goalkeeper of the tournament at the 2023 AFCON," Arendse added.
Meanwhile, Williams has reiterated that his heroics during the tournament was a result of a brilliant team effort, particularly the Bafana Bafana defence.
"It’s not me alone, I give credit to each, and every player, I don’t do it all by myself and it’s so funny that on Sunday maybe 80% of the players came to me and said Nigeria need to concede so that we can get the Golden Glove award.
I like the fact that they said ‘we’, as much as I am going to get all the praises and obviously the accolade but it’s us and it’s not me, I mean how many saves realistically did I have to make during all the seven matches we played in the tournament? Maybe average two a game at such a massive tournament.
So props to each and every player, especially the defence as well, they were so solid from the first match up until the last, just to keep going, to keep fighting," Williams said.
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