Mamelodi Sundowns have boasted a number of outstanding player performances this season, and head coach Rulani Mokwena has tipped one of his stars for the PSL Player of the Season award.
Mokwena believes first-choice goalkeeper and Bafana Bafana hero Ronwen Williams should be awarded the accolade.
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Goalkeepers are rarely recognised for awards, but Williams' all-round value, be it in goal or contributing to the flow of the team in this campaign, has been tremendous and lauded by many football lovers in South Africa.
Williams was also voted as the best goalkeeper of the Africa Cup of Nations tournament when he inspired Bafana to the bronze medal earlier this year. Other than his remarkable run of clean sheets, he has been hailed as a penalty specialist for club and country.
The Sundowns stopper has produced no fewer than 27 clean sheets from 38 matches in all competitions for the Brazilians this season, where he had only conceded 13 goals. In terms of trophies, he's already won the inaugural African Football League title and his Sundowns team is expected to defend their PSL crown soon.
“We normally don’t consider goalkeepers to receive such awards. Normally. I’m talking about the football culture worldwide,” Mokwena told journalists at the press conference after their 2-1 win over Sekhukhune United on Tuesday night.
“But when I look at Ronwen’s contribution this season to Sundowns, not only just on goalkeeping, but also the in-field play, in possession and in the way he tries to do things. I think from consistency, he has been head and shoulders above the rest,” he added.
Given Williams' quality and execution of the team's plan, Mokwena is of the opinion that the Bafana captain will shape the goalkeeping landscape in the country for years to come. Clubs across the country will now prioritise the signing of a goalkeeper on whether he can not only stop shots but also play with his feet and start build-ups. It’s a trend that’s already in place at the top leagues of the world.
“Well, I’ve told you, that for me, Ronwen, I think what he has done this season will shape the SA goalkeeping culture for many, many years.
“I think what we will start to see is teams recruiting goalkeepers because they can play with their feet because they can assist in the build-up more than (just) looking at the goalkeeping. He can stop shots and this is already happening worldwide,” Mokwena said.
“You see how Arsenal go for (David) Raya even though he is the shortest? At Tottenham is the same... The number one requirement is, can you give us 11 players in possession? That’s what Ronwen is going to do.
"He is going to influence the tactical thinking of SA football in relation to the profile of goalkeepers. So, what Ronwen has done this season needs to be appreciated and recognised and if there is that vote of recognition, then why not? He deserves it regardless of the position he plays,” he added.
Williams was rested against Sekhukhune United on Tuesday night, but he should return in Friday’s crucial semi-final second-leg clash against Esperance in the CAF Champions League on Friday night.
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