As the first Africa-based shot-stopper to be nominated for FIFA's Ballon d'Or Goalkeeper of the Year award, Ronwen Williams has paid homage to local greats who inspired him coming through the ranks.
Williams was nominated for the Yachine Trophy, alongside other top net minder, all playing for European clubs.
These are: Diogo Costa (Portugal, Porto), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy, Paris Saint-Germain), Gregor Kobel (Switzerland, Borussia Dortmund), Andriy Lunin (Ukraine, Real Madrid), Mike Maignan (France, AC Milan), Giorgi Mamardashvili (Georgia, Valencia), Unai Simon (Spain, Athletic Bilbao), Yann Sommer (Switzerland, Inter Milan) and Emiliano Martinez (Argentina, Aston Villa).
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The South African caught the attention of the world at the Africa Cup of Nations after he famously saved four penalties against Cape Verde in the quarter-final shootout and inspired Bafana Bafana to their first semi-finals of the tournament in 24 years.
He won the Goalkeeper of the Tournament accolade at the showpiece after he kept five clean sheets and helped Mzansi also win bronze with a penalty shootout victory over Democratic Republic of Congo in the third/fourth play-off encounter.
Williams also helped Sundowns win the inaugural African Football League, endorsed by FIFA, at the beginning of last season.
After his Ballon d'Or nomination, the former SuperSport United man was asked about the top three goalkeepers he looked up to coming through the ranks.
"When I was a young kid, I looked up to Emile Baron and I had the honour of playing and training with him at SuperSport United. Rowen Fernandez as well, what he did for Chiefs was amazing. I was lucky enough to be his teammate and learn from him at SuperSport," Williams said in an interview with the SuperSport YouTube Channel.
"The last one is Moeneeb Josephs. He was probably the best goalkeeper that I personally have seen, played against. Just his attitude, his desire, his energy, it was amazing, from such a young age at Ajax, I think at 16. To be a goalkeeper at such a young age and to do as well as he did was amazing.
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"There were many others as well. I think Itu [Itumeleng] Khune changed the way goalkeepers were viewed and seen in the PSL, you know, with his distribution. He was a role model to all of us. We all learned from him, the side-volley, took it to greater heights," added the Gqeberha-born star.
Other African keepers to have previously been nominated for the Yachine Trophy award include Andre Onana of Cameroon, Senegalese Edouard Mendy and Yassine Bounou of Morocco. However, they were all playing for European clubs.