Former South Africa coach Gordon Igesund has tagged Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Ronwen Williams as the best goalkeeper when it comes to penalties following the 32-year-old’s heroics at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Williams was the hero as South Africa beat Cape Verde 2-1 on penalties and advanced into the semi-finals of the 2023 AFCON on Saturday following a goalless 120 minutes. After a tense last eight clash at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium in Yamoussoukro, Williams remarkably saved four spot-kicks in the shootout to send Bafana Bafana through.
In the process, he became the first goalkeeper to save four penalties during an AFCON shootout to help South Africa set up a date with Nigeria in Bouake on Wednesday.
Igesund handed Williams his South Africa debut in 2014 and also worked with the goalkeeper at Super Sport United. Since the keeper’s debut in 2014, he has made 34 appearances for South Africa.
“I said to him the first day that I was going to give him five games and I wasn’t going to drop him no matter what and the rest is history. All other coaches have worked on him as well and he’s had a great career and there is still so much to come from him,” Igesund told SuperSPort.
“When it comes to penalty saving, he is the best as well. I haven’t seen anyone better than him. I said before the shoutout he was going to save. He’s done it his whole career,” the coach added.
With four clean sheets in five games, Williams will now go head-to-head with Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali – who has also not conceded in four games – in the semi-finals on Wednesday.
