South African goalkeeper Jessica Williams calls for better data to boost overseas opportunities

FC Copenhagen goalkeeper Jessica Williams believes improved player data and greater coverage of matches could help more South African footballers earn professional contracts abroad.

The 26-year-old has recently fulfilled a long-held ambition after being unveiled as the latest signing by the Danish club. She says the lack of detailed performance information remains a significant obstacle for African players seeking recognition from international teams.

Williams believes players must take greater care to record their performances and produce the statistics that overseas clubs expect to see when assessing potential recruits.

“If you’re a goalkeeper, they need to know your record – how many goals you have saved, how many games you have played and what your impact has been throughout the season. International clubs will demand that data, and that is where a lot of African players fall short.

“There needs to be player data with all the stats well captured, and games need to have more coverage. I believe that will help more players secure contracts abroad,” said Williams.

The goalkeeper also says access to the facilities and support provided by a professional club will be central to her own progress in Denmark. She wants to use FC Copenhagen’s resources to improve her fitness and compete at a higher level while helping the club challenge for honours.

“I want to win trophies, I want to climb the ladder on the log. The background I come from has forced me to want to achieve more. I look forward to making use of the club’s resources to become a physically fit athlete and to also become competitive. Such an environment fully provides that kind of support,” added Williams.

Her move has also created a landmark in South African football. Williams is the first South African goalkeeper to play in Denmark, having set herself the goal of pursuing an overseas career from the moment she began playing in the position.

Williams only became a goalkeeper at the age of 17, which she describes as relatively late. Now 26, she says the ambition to become one of the first South African goalkeepers to play abroad remained with her throughout her development.

“I became a goalkeeper at the age of 17, quite late, I must say. Now I’m 26. I always knew that I wanted to be one of the first South African goalkeepers to play abroad.

“I think it is possible to see more South African goalkeepers signing professional deals and to dream and believe that dream will become a reality. It also takes a great amount of discipline and making sure that you stretch yourself and become versatile, just as I did by scoring that goal in the COSAFA tournament,” she expressed.

Williams believes her own journey demonstrates that South African goalkeepers can reach professional clubs overseas, provided they combine ambition with discipline and a willingness to develop different aspects of their game.