Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Denis Onyango believes Ronwen Williams “stands a big chance” to win the Yachine Trophy at the 2024 Ballon d’Or awards.
The legendary stopper who has won every title on offer, including the CAF Champions League and Best African Goalkeeper at the CAF Awards has thrown his weight behind his teammate at Sundowns.
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He’s echoed the sentiments of Hugo Broos for the Premier Soccer League (PSL) Footballer of the Season, who detractors questioned over his move to Masandawana with the presence of Onyango and now-retired Zambia icon, Kennedy Mweene in the squad.
“The nomination of Ronwen is incredible and for a goalkeeper, he has done a fantastic job, it’s not easy for a goalkeeper in Africa to be part of the Ballon d’Or nominees, it’s massive,” Onyango said.
“I’m honoured to work with him, the club is happy for him and of course the national team because he did a great job with Bafana, showing leadership [at AFCON], so we hope for the best.”
Onyango agreed that the competition for club and country since moving from SuperSport to Chloorkop has played a factor in his elevated performances as he won the Golden Glove at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and African Football League.
Overall, Williams kept 30 clean sheets in 46 games across all competitions for Sundowns, conceding only 19 goals, while he kept five clean sheets in seven games at AFCON – which included the historic four penalty saves in the quarter-final shootout win over Cape Verde.
“The point of Ronwen winning the award, of course, he stands a big chance, his performance at AFCON was incredible, leading the team to third spot, it was massive, the saves he made, the leadership, it showed he matured,” Onyango added.
“What he won with Sundowns, the African Football League, we saw the impact he made, the league and also the Champions League, going to the semi-finals, so for me, looking at the other goalkeepers drawn with him, he stands a chance – but it’s not for us to judge. It’s for me to proud of what he’s achieved in a very short time he’s been at the club.
“Also as number one for the national team it shows the commitment he’s given on and off the field, the hard work he puts in training, is shown on the pitch – so it’s not just what he does with us at Sundowns but also with Ricardo Goss, Veli Mothwa in the national team.
“The competition he gets is what makes him better, added to the coaching department, believing in him and giving him the confidence when he’s playing and then for him to execute but the rest is hard work he puts in on training.”
