Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams has responded to criticism of his performances early in the 2026/27 season, saying the support of his teammates, technical team and the club has helped him remain confident.
The Bafana Bafana captain has faced scrutiny over his performances, particularly his clean-sheet record. However, Sundowns’ 2-0 victory over Orlando Pirates in Saturday’s MTN8 final underlined his importance to the team as the Brazilians ended the Buccaneers’ four-season dominance of the competition.
Speaking after the final, Williams said the belief shown in him by those within the club had helped him remain focused despite the criticism.
The guys fully support me on a day-to-day basis. The coach has belief in me. The club has belief in me, and that’s all you need. These players push me every day. We’re working together as a team to get better,” he said.
Williams also stressed that conceding goals is a collective responsibility rather than one that should be placed solely on the goalkeeper.
When we concede, it’s not Ronwen conceding; it’s Sundowns conceding. But we live in an age where people have a lot to say, and everyone is a perfectionist.
“You deal with the criticism and focus on what you can control. That means working hard, analysing our mistakes and finding ways to improve as a team.”
The experienced goalkeeper played a crucial role in the MTN8 final, saving a penalty from Orlando Pirates forward Gamphani Lungu to prevent the Buccaneers from gaining a potential foothold in the contest.
Williams revealed that studying his opponents and receiving advice from teammate Ricardo Goss helped him prepare for the spot-kick.
You’re always analysing. That’s part of our daily routine now, watching clips and studying opponents. He scored a penalty against me last season when he was at Siwelele FC, so this time it was about trying to get into his head.
“Ricardo Goss also helped before the game because he played with him at Siwelele. He told me what he thought Lungu might do when taking a penalty against me, and that helped today. Credit to Ricardo for his contribution. I’m just glad I could make the save,” Williams added.
The Sundowns captain also praised centre-backs Khulumani Ndamane and Malibongwe Khoza for their performances in the final, highlighting their contribution to the team’s defensive solidity as the Tshwane giants secured the MTN8 title.