Bafana Bafana head coach, Stuart Baxter explained what it means for Rowen Williams in the national team setup, following his Goalkeeper of the Season award.
Williams walked away with the Absa Premiership Goalkeeper of the Season award at the annual Premier Soccer League ceremony, with the SuperSport United shot-stopper subsequently receiving a call-up to Baxter's provisional AFCON squad.
Read more: 6 New Faces At AFCON
Speaking to the media after his announcement of his squad, Baxter was asked whether or not Williams' award will increase his chances of being the number one goalkeeper during the tournament, or whether Darren Keet remains top of the list.
"Darren was another one who called me to ask me – do I play in COSAFA, this was before he got back in to the team and played a couple of games at the back end of the season."
"I've said before that, Ronwen and Darren are so close, it usually comes down to opponents, and how they are training and practice games. It will be the same. "
"But Ronwen, sometimes I feel that he doesn't feel he is as good as we feel he is, he's such a talented goalkeeper but sometimes he has this, that maybe he has old baggage that he cant put down. I think that he needs to believe in himself more."
"Darren has shown a very strong mentality and he is a stubborn professional who doesn't want to give away his place, so that is usually a good fight when we are on camp.
Now, the award will help Ronwen to put down some of that baggage and put him a better space to see if he can get the number one spot," Baxter said.
