Ronwen Williams goes into South Africa’s World Cup round of 32 against Canada with a record that could swing a knockout tie. He saved six penalties in three shootouts at AFCON 2023, and South Africa is in its first-ever World Cup knockout stage.
Williams and South Africa
The 62-cap captain has built that reputation over time. Williams was born on 21 January 1992 in Port Elizabeth, joined SuperSport United in 2004 and turned professional in 2010. He also spent part of his youth with Tottenham in England before moving on to Mamelodi Sundowns, where he has won more Premier Soccer League titles, the African Football League in 2023 and the CAF Champions League this season.
At AFCON 2023, he was named best goalkeeper after seven matches, five clean sheets, three goals conceded and twenty saves that produced an 86.96 per cent save rate. He also won the fair play award with South Africa in Abidjan.
Cape Verde and DR Congo
The shootout numbers are the part Canada must solve. Williams became the first goalkeeper in Africa Cup of Nations history to save four out of five penalties in a single shootout at an international tournament, stopping attempts from Bebe, Willy Semedo, Laros Duarte and Patrick Andrade against Cape Verde in the quarter-final.
He then saved two more penalties from Chancel Mbemba and Meschack Elia in the third-place play-off against DR Congo. South Africa won the bronze medal and finished on the AFCON podium for the first time since 2000. Under Hugo Broos, the Bafana Bafana system is built around Williams as the first link in the chain.
Marvin and the next test
The pressure on him is not only tactical. Williams has said, "every dive, every clean sheet, every extra session between the posts since that day is a way of paying tribute to him." He was speaking about Marvin, his older brother, who was killed in a car accident when Williams was 18.
Canada may force South Africa to win in regular time or extra time, because Williams is being treated as the world’s leading penalty shootout specialist. If the match reaches penalties, South Africa will again be leaning on the goalkeeper who has already changed three shootouts in one tournament.
