Andre Arendse urges Ronwen Williams to look to Europe to advance his career
February 13, 2024
Legendary Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Andre Arendse has advised the team’s incumbent number one, Ronwen Williams, to consider a move to Europe.
Williams was named Keeper of the Tournament at the recently completed AFCON after he kept five clean-sheets and made six penalty shoot-out saves. It was an incredible effort from the Port Elizabeth born keeper who currently plays for Mamelodi Sundowns.
Williams’ incredible four saves in the shoot-out against Cape Verde was a world first performance at a major tournament, while his five clean sheets broke the record set by Arendse in 1996.
Speaking to the Sowetan Arendse said Williams should look to move abroad in order to take his game to the next level. “I think now he has to make a move abroad, but who knows what he is thinking.
A move abroad will take him to another level.
“Ronwen has passed his test in the African continent. Now is for him to make a move and try at the European level and play on that type of a stage.
“I think he will be successful at that stage. He is not a one-dimensional type of player.
“When he was at SuperSport, his strength was putting counterattacks with his distributions.
“His strength was also building up attacking play when he was in possession. At Sundowns, now he is building from the back, and he has become very comfortable in possession of the ball. He can offer that to many different leagues around the world.”
Arendse, who played 67 games for the national team spent time abroad playing for Fulham and Oxford United in between spells in the PSL with sides like Sundowns, SuperSport United and Santos, said he had enjoyed watching Williams come through the ranks, adding it was no surprise that he had made it to the very top of the game.
“This is the testimony of the development that he had over the last few years. Remember when he first came to SuperSport at the age of 12, then already he worked with coach Grant Johnson,” he said.
“And today, Grant Johnson is the goalkeeper coach of the national team. So, the relationship between them and the understanding that is required is there.
“When I was the head of goalkeeping at the national team in 2019 in the Afcon, I saw that he was progressing, he was maturing. He was getting used to playing at the highest level in the game on the African continent.
“And what took him further is his move to Sundowns, a team that continued to play at the highest level in the African continent against top clubs,” said Arendse.
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Andre Arendse urges Ronwen Williams to look to Europe to advance his career
Legendary Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Andre Arendse has advised the team’s incumbent number one, Ronwen Williams, to consider a move to Europe.
Williams was named Keeper of the Tournament at the recently completed AFCON after he kept five clean-sheets and made six penalty shoot-out saves. It was an incredible effort from the Port Elizabeth born keeper who currently plays for Mamelodi Sundowns.
Williams’ incredible four saves in the shoot-out against Cape Verde was a world first performance at a major tournament, while his five clean sheets broke the record set by Arendse in 1996.
Speaking to the Sowetan Arendse said Williams should look to move abroad in order to take his game to the next level. “I think now he has to make a move abroad, but who knows what he is thinking.
A move abroad will take him to another level.
“Ronwen has passed his test in the African continent. Now is for him to make a move and try at the European level and play on that type of a stage.
“I think he will be successful at that stage. He is not a one-dimensional type of player.
“When he was at SuperSport, his strength was putting counterattacks with his distributions.
“His strength was also building up attacking play when he was in possession. At Sundowns, now he is building from the back, and he has become very comfortable in possession of the ball. He can offer that to many different leagues around the world.”
Arendse, who played 67 games for the national team spent time abroad playing for Fulham and Oxford United in between spells in the PSL with sides like Sundowns, SuperSport United and Santos, said he had enjoyed watching Williams come through the ranks, adding it was no surprise that he had made it to the very top of the game.
“This is the testimony of the development that he had over the last few years. Remember when he first came to SuperSport at the age of 12, then already he worked with coach Grant Johnson,” he said.
“And today, Grant Johnson is the goalkeeper coach of the national team. So, the relationship between them and the understanding that is required is there.
“When I was the head of goalkeeping at the national team in 2019 in the Afcon, I saw that he was progressing, he was maturing. He was getting used to playing at the highest level in the game on the African continent.
“And what took him further is his move to Sundowns, a team that continued to play at the highest level in the African continent against top clubs,” said Arendse.