Ronwen Williams Nominated for Major Ballon d’Or Award

Mamelodi Sundowns star and Bafana Bafana captain, Ronwen Williams, has made history by becoming the first South African goalkeeper to be nominated at the Ballon d’Or awards.

Earlier this week, the nominees for the Yashin Trophy – awarded each year by “France Football” to the top-performing goalkeeper – were announced.

Ten players, including Portugal’s Diogo Costa, Italy’s Gianluigi Donnarumma and Switzerland’s Gregor Kobel, are vying for the prestigious accolade.

Williams was revealed as one of the nominees, becoming the fourth African goalkeeper ever nominated for the Yashin Trophy and the first South African to accomplish this achievement.

The 32-year-old’s nomination comes after an exceptional, title-winning 2023/24 season with Sundowns, and also following his contribution to the team’s victory in the inaugural African Football League championship.

“I am speechless; I have no words to describe how I am feeling at the moment,” Williams remarked in a recent interview with a local soccer outlet. “It’s a surreal feeling … I am just proud, excited and happy. Not for myself, but more for South Africa as a whole.”

He added: “I hope this inspires the next generation, the current players, to just believe and chase their dreams and believe that we, as South Africans, can achieve the unthinkable. So I am so proud and happy.”

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