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Ronwen Williams, the captain and goalkeeper of Bafana Bafana from South Africa, made history by dedicating his 2024 CAF Goalkeeper of the Year award to his former goalkeeper coaches at the CAF Awards 2024 held in Morocco on Monday.
Williams has become the first South African goalkeeper ever to achieve this esteemed honor. Additionally, he secured the CAF Inter-Club Player of the Year award, making him the only athlete to win two awards at the event, which was attended by FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
Despite not winning the main prize, the CAF Player of the Year, awarded to Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman, Williams graciously acknowledged his achievements:
“This year has been extraordinary for me, but I owe it to many,” Williams stated during his acceptance speech. “I’m grateful to all the players, coaches, and technical staff who have supported me throughout my career.”
“I would like to dedicate this award to all the goalkeeper coaches who have shaped my journey since my youth: Grant Johnson, Deshi Bhaktawer, Andre Arendse, William Shongwe, Lucky Shiburi, Lee Baxter, Wendell Robinson, and the iconic Kennedy Mweene. I am endlessly thankful to you for shaping me into the player I am today.”
Williams’s outstanding performances for Mamelodi Sundowns, which included clinching the Betway Premiership title for the seventh consecutive year and the African Football League title, were pivotal in earning him recognition. He was also awarded Player of the Tournament in the African Football League and became the third goalkeeper in PSL history to receive the PSL Footballer of the Year award.
On the international scene, Williams played a crucial role in guiding Bafana Bafana to a bronze medal finish at the postponed African Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, where he was honored as the Goalkeeper of the Tournament and selected for the Team of the Tournament.
