Williams says Sundowns backing outweighs early-season criticism

Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams says the support of his coach and team-mates has helped him deal with criticism over his performances at the start of the 2026/27 campaign.

The Bafana Bafana captain has kept fewer clean sheets than usual in the opening weeks of the season, prompting scrutiny of his form.

But Williams responded with a strong display in Sundowns’ 2-0 victory over Orlando Pirates in Saturday’s MTN8 final. The result ended Pirates’ four-season dominance of the competition, while Williams also made a crucial penalty save.

“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,” Williams said.

“These players, on a day-to-day basis, [are] pushing me. We’re working together as a team to be better.”

Williams said criticism was inevitable but insisted his focus remained on improving with the squad rather than responding to individual comments.

“When we concede, it’s not Ronwen conceding, it’s Sundowns conceding,” he added. “But we live in an age now where people have lots to say. And everyone is a perfectionist.

“So, you know, you deal with the criticism. You just focus on what you can do. And that is working hard, looking at our mistakes, how we can be better as a team.”

His most significant contribution against Orlando Pirates came when he denied Gamphani Lungu from the penalty spot. The save prevented the Buccaneers from potentially changing the course of the final.

Williams revealed that detailed preparation, along with advice from team-mate Ricardo Goss, had helped him anticipate Lungu’s intentions.

“You’re always analysing; that is part of our daily bread now, just analysing clips and studying opponents,” he said.

“He scored past me last season through a penalty when he was at Siwelele FC, so today it was more about trying to get into his head. And obviously, Ricardo Goss helped as well, before the game, because he was with him at Siwelele.

“He told me what he thinks before he kicks against me, so that helped today. So, kudos to Ricardo for helping me as well. I am just glad that I could make the save.”

Williams also praised Sundowns’ centre-back pairing of Khulumani Ndamane and Malibongwe Khoza after their performance in the final.

With Grant Kekana and Keanu Cupido likely to miss tonight’s Betway Premiership match against Richards Bay, the goalkeeper urged Ndamane and Khoza to maintain their level of consistency.