Ronwen Williams, who became a national hero and was nicknamed the Handre Pollard of Bafana Bafana, is a big scorer among football fans.
Gassie goalkeeper and Bafana Bafana captain Ronwen Williams during the national football team's African Cup of Nations (Afcon 2023) quarter-final match against Cape Verde at the Stade Charles Conan Bany de Yamoussoukro on Saturday night. saved an incredible four penalties.
Thanks to Williams' “safe hands”, Bafana defeated the Islanders 2-0 in a dramatic penalty shootout to book a place in the semi-finals against arch-rivals Nigeria on Wednesday.
Ronwen Williams credits Mali Blues with penalty saving performance
The humble goalkeeper credited team analyst Sinesifo Mali and coach Hugo Bruce for the penalty-saving heroics, the first in the history of the CAF tournament, in a post-match television interview.
“They sent me a lot of clips. I have a lot of penalty clips and scripts on my phone. I studied them and picked up on trends. Where are the most important places? My job was 50% easier because I had the idea that there was one. [of Cape Verde penalty kicks] I was going. “
Also read: Blues manager praises Ronwen: 'It's not luck to avoid four penalties'
So, who is Ronwen Williams, the topic of this tournament?Career, wife, salary
Here's what you need to know about Ronwen Williams.
- The Bafana Bafana and Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper celebrated his 32nd birthday on January 21, when the Afcon tournament was already in full swing.
- Mr Williams is from Gkebela (formerly Port Elizabeth) and is married to his childhood sweetheart and 'First Lady' Roshni Williams, whom Mr Williams said he “fell in love with when we had nothing”. It is said that he claims. goalball live.
- The couple have a 12-year-old son, Michael.
- He joined SuperSport United in 2004 when he was 12 years old and signed a professional contract with the club in 2010.
- He spent 12 years with the Pretoria-based club, making his CAF Champions League debut against Matlama FC in January 2012 and his PSL debut four months later against Free State Stars.
- He joined Mamelodi Sundowns on 21 July 2022 after making over 250 appearances for SuperSport United.
- Williams, who earns R500,000 a month, is one of the highest-paid footballers in the South African Premier League.
- He is Mamelodi Sundowns' second-highest earner after Bongani Zungu, earning an eye-popping R700,000 a month.
Also read: Thanks to Ronwen Williams, South Africa can dream again
“Can I have a statue?”
Excited fans including rapper Cassper Nyovest and actress Thando Thabete took to the social media streets in full celebration mode after the Bafana Bafana goalkeeper's star performance.
@Robot_Boii: “Can we get a statue of Ronwen Williams in 48 hours?”
@Amza_5: “Ronwen Williams is Bafana Bafana's Handre Pollard.”
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