Ronwen Williams wasn’t always in tune with Bafana Bafana supporters.
But such was the turn of the wheel, the national team’s main man now cherishes everything.
Williams is set to return between the sticks when Bafana face Congo Brazzaville in back-to-back Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers.
Bafana will face Congo in the first game at home, the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, tonight (7pm kick-off), before visiting the latter at Alphonse Massamba-Debat Stadium on Tuesday (6pm).
Back-to-back wins for Bafana against Congo will all but see them qualify for the finals in Morocco next year – a feat that’d mark their successive returns to Africa’s biggest stage.
Bafana could have already put one foot in the finals had they beaten both Uganda and South Sudan in the first two qualifiers at home and away respectively, but it wasn’t to be.
They drew 2-2 with the Cranes at home, owing to a goalkeeping blunder from Veli Mothwa, before beating South Sudan 3-2 away, with debutant Sipho Chaine conceding twice.
The blunder and four goals conceded exposed the absence of Williams in goal as he had missed out on the qualifiers due to an injury. But he’s not putting himself first.
“It’s not about goals conceded in the last camp, but just goals conceded recently,” he said yesterday during a pre-match presser ahead of the first clash against Congo in Gqeberha.
“When we did a debrief with the coach, we had conceded 10 goals in the last six games. Whereas at Afcon, we had played seven games and kept five clean sheets.
“It showed that we need to get back to basics and get our mentality right again. Like I said, we had a massive achievement at Afcon, but what next?”
Williams is understandable for both protecting his deputies in his absence, and still criticising their performance as a collective. He’s the leader of the team, after all.
The 32-year-old is not only the best goalkeeper in the land, but on the continent as well, given his nomination for the Ballon d’Or Yachine award.
It took him sometime to get that international and continental recognition as he was always criticised whenever he donned the national team jersey after conceding five goals in 2014.
Such has been his never-say-die attitude and hard work, Williams now has the nation eating out of the palm of his hand, having also led the team to third spot in the recent Afcon.
“When you look 10 years ago when we played Brazil, people didn’t want me, think I am ready or good enough to play for Bafana Bafana,” he recalled.
“I had to persevere, fight, keep going, work hard and learn from the goalkeepers who were in front of me. I had to gain invaluable experience, and that’s how life is.
“Seeing that the wheels have turned for me, I cherish it more and double my efforts. I am not resting on my laurels now.”
Sure, Williams is a national treasure, but the people of his home town, Gqeberha, will claim a stake in his growth, which saw him become the first African-based goalkeeper to be in the mix for the Yachine award.
“My phone has been going off non-stop,” said Williams on the attention he got when he touched down in the Windy City.
“I have been ignoring it because I am here to do a job and win the game tomorrow, and put on a show for the Eastern Cape people and South Africa as a whole.
“It’s amazing and heartfelt for me. When I heard the game was going to be at home, I got goosebumps because it could have easily gone differently for me.”
Bafana Bafana MD-1 training session at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, in Gqeberha.#BafanaPride #AfconQualifier pic.twitter.com/qu4blAy0oW
Bafana’s game tonight will not only be about Williams’ homecoming, but it will mark a 50th cap for the impeccable Themba Zwane.
And with Williams and Zwane being teammates at Mamelodi Sundowns – while they started their Bafana careers at the same time – the former has lifted the lid on the consistency of ‘Mshishi’.
“He’s an amazing human being and player, one of the greats of South African football. We are just proud to have him in our team,” Williams said.
“It’s a blessing to see him every day showcasing his skill and talent.
“Mshishi has achieved so much, but he still puts in extra work despite his age and setbacks. He still wants to get better.”