Mamelodi Sundowns and Bafana Bafana captain Ronwen Williams received a big cheer after his special speech at the CAF awards.
The 32-year-old was named CAF Interclub Men’s Player of the Year and CAF Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year after a stellar year for club and country.
After picking up his first award, Williams thank those closest to him for their support throughout his career.
“This is a wonderful moment for me,” he said upon receiving the Interclub Player of the Year award.
“Thank you CAF for the recognition, I’m forever grateful to you guys. I want to take this opportunity to thank my support stuff, my family, my parents, my siblings – brother and sister, my partner as well as my kid for being their throughout my career.
“I want to take this opportunity to thank all the coaches that I’ve worked with throughout my career, it wasn’t easy but you guys pushed to what I am today.
“I know this win will inspire millions and millions of South Africans to believe in themselves, push boundaries and never forget dreams are valid.”
Williams was then named Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year, and became the only player to lift two awards on the night, using the opportunity to thank all his previous goalkeeper coaches.
“Thank you so much to CAF for this recognition, it’s been an amazing year for me,” he stated.
“But I couldn’t have done it alone. Thank you to all the players, coaches, technical who have been with me throughout my career.
“But I want to take this opportunity and dedicate this award to all the goalkeeper coaches that I’ve worked with throughout my career, starting when I was a little boy – Mouks Cameleo, Grant Johnson, Deshi Bhaktawer, Andre Arendse, Williams Shongwe, Lucky Shiburi, Lee Baxter, Wendell Robinson, and the legend himself Kennedy Mweene.
“I’m forever indebted to you guys, thank you for moulding me into the goalkeeper and the player that I am today.”
