Bafana Bafana's goalkeeper coach, Grant Johnson, believes that Ronwen Williams has a strong chance of winning at least one of the awards for which he has been nominated in the upcoming CAF Awards.
Williams, the captain of Bafana Bafana, is nominated in three categories: Goalkeeper of the Year, Player of the Year, and Interclub Player of the Year.
"What makes Ronwen special is that he has been playing at the highest level in the PSL since he was 18 years old," Johnson says, speaking exclusively to KickOff.com.
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"He has been very consistent season after season, winning trophies and league titles, so he deserves the accolades. He is getting better and better as he approaches his 30s."
Johnson added, "The experience he has gained over the last few years, including playing in the Champions League and captaining Bafana, has elevated Ronwen to another level. I remember telling him in the early training camps that he now has the opportunity to make a significant difference in South Africa as the captain of the national team.
"Ronwen had a fantastic AFCON, particularly with his amazing penalty saves, which helped him reach this level of recognition. The last three years have been incredible for him; he is finally receiving the recognition he deserves. We have built a national team that the country can be proud of, and as captain, he has played a crucial role. He kept us in the game several times during the AFCON and is now recognized worldwide with a Ballon d'Or nomination.
"He could perform exceptionally well at the World Cup and become a legend, similar to Doctor Khumalo, Helman Mkhalele, and Neil Tovey after the 1996 AFCON. To be named among the top 10 goalkeepers in the world is an amazing achievement," he added.
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"With three CAF nominations, he should at least win one. He must win the Goalkeeper of the Year award for sure. As for Player of the Year, he has a strong chance, although there is stiff competition from other players. For the Interclub Player of the Year, he has excelled with Sundowns; they greatly benefit from his performances and distribution.
"Whether with Sundowns or the national team, the team thrives when he is in goal. As a goalkeeper coach, he sometimes gives me a heart attack when he plays from the back, but it works for us [laughs], and he has proved me wrong on numerous occasions. As for his nominations, he has our full support from everyone in the national team."