Miguel Cardoso defends Ronwen Williams after Sundowns goalkeeper shines

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has defended goalkeeper Ronwen Williams after the Bafana Bafana captain delivered a Man of the Match performance in Wednesday’s 2-0 victory over Milford FC.

Williams made several important interventions as Sundowns overcame their KZN opponents at Loftus Stadium, with the result moving them level on points with Betway Premiership champions Orlando Pirates.

The goalkeeper had faced questions earlier in the season because of his lack of clean sheets, but Cardoso believes those doubts were misplaced and urged critics to judge Williams with greater respect.

“Look, I think any criticism on Ronwen Williams must be done with a lot of respect and very easy. We are speaking about a player that his career speaks for him, his awards speak for him, what he did last year in the final of the Champions League speaks for him,” Cardoso said.

“What he did for the country speaks for him, so, whatever is told regarding Ronwen must be told with a lot of caution because at any moment people have to put in the pocket whatever they have to say and today Ronwen again showed that he’s a high level qualified goalkeeper.”

Cardoso said Williams’ performances should also be assessed in the context of a team that is still finding its rhythm. He argued that some of the goals Sundowns had conceded came from individual errors rather than wider failures in their defensive structure.

“Also when the teams are settling down, also the goalkeepers need to settle down. No one made the right analysis on that, some of the goals that we scored on the way up until today, they came from individual mistakes and not even really team behaviour mistakes and what is important is a level of commitment that we have between all of us so that we can correct them.”

The Portuguese coach said Williams had earned the recognition he received against Milford, not only for his saves but also for the influence he had on the players in front of him.

“That is also the word that I gave in the changeroom, not only praise him by the match that he did it’s completely valid to receive that Man of the Match because he had some quality interventions not only in the way that he defended but mostly how he led the team throughout the match in a very positive ambience, in a very positive attitude.”

Cardoso also highlighted the goalkeeper’s ability to remain composed when opponents apply pressure. Williams’ distribution, he said, helped Sundowns build attacks from deep instead of simply relying on defensive clearances.

“The way he connected the game for us, allowing us to play from the back under pressure. So, a lot of beautiful things, Ronwen knows the support he has from the coach and he will always have from the coach,” the coach added.

“He’s also very strong on dealing with pressure, very, very strong and usually his best performances come in the moment of higher pressure.”

Cardoso pointed to last year’s Champions League final as another example of Williams responding positively when his form was being scrutinised. He recalled a crucial period in the match when the goalkeeper produced a penalty save that helped Sundowns remain in contention.

“I remember last year and also in the Champions League final there was a period where there was some criticism and he appeared in the level he appeared to give us that save in the penalty that probably obviously put ourselves in the capacity to have that star in our shirt.”