As he gears up for his 50th Bafana Bafana cap on Tuesday, goalkeeper Ronwen Williams has reflected on his journey with the national team and picks the first match where he conceded five goals against Brazil as his best.
Williams will reach a significant milestone when Bafana hosts South Sudan in Cape Town in South Sudan in a Group K 2025 AFCON qualifier.
The 32-year-old will be celebrating his 10-year anniversary with the national team, having made his debut against Brazil at FNB Stadium a decade ago.
Williams considers the Brazil match as the most important of his 49 appearances for Bafana Bafana. The Mamelodi Sundowns goalie believes that the experience gained from facing such a formidable opponent played a crucial role in his development as a goalkeeper.
With South Africa already securing their place in the 2025 AFCON tournament, the upcoming match against South Sudan will serve as an opportunity for Williams and the team to continue building momentum and fine-tune their preparations for the continental competition in Morocco.
RONWEN WILLIAMS REFLECTS ON HIS JOURNEY WITH THE NATIONAL TEAM AHEAD OF 50TH CAP
“The most important game for me was the first game, which was against Brazil. Even though we lost 5-0, I still have so many memories,” he said.
“That game taught me so much. It’s probably the reason why I am where I am today because I had to persevere. I was called many names, and it made me strong at such a young age.
“There were so many doubts for many years, and that game just turned me into a man. That was probably the most important game that I played for Bafana Bafana.”
Williams says the arrival of coach Hugo Broos brought a lot of belief within the team.
“There were many moments over the last few years, especially when the coach came. When we had that World Cup [qualifier] campaign, it was the coach’s first six months [in charge]. We were so short of reaching that World Cup. That’s when the guys had that belief.
“The belief started creeping in. You could see it, and since then, we have not lost many games.
When we go to a game, there is no fear anymore. They know us now, and that shows the good work that we are doing as a team and as a country.”
RELATED STORY: Ronwen Williams leads South Africa in CAF awards
