When Mamelodi Sundowns’ media officer Shupi Nkgadima told Ronwen Williams he had been nominated for the Yachine Trophy, part of the Ballon d’Or Awards, he thought it was a joke. “I went numb. I didn’t have any feelings. I didn’t know how and what to feel,” Williams said.
Little did he know he had just made history, becoming the first African-based goalkeeper ever to be nominated for this prestigious award, which honours the world’s best goalkeeper.
The Gqeberha-born shot-stopper and 32-year-old Bafana Bafana captain described the emotional moment when he shared the news with his family. “We got emotional. It has been a rollercoaster of a career – from where I come from to where I am now. I just had a lot of mixed emotions,” he said.
His nomination for the Yachine Trophy – alongside global stars like Diogo Costa, Gianluigi Donnarumma, and Emiliano Martinez – is a testament to Williams’ exceptional performance over the 2023/24 season.
Williams helped lead Mamelodi Sundowns to the African Football League (AFL) title and secured the DStv Premiership with a record margin. His heroics at the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Ivory Coast, including four crucial penalty saves in the quarter-final against Cape Verde, further cemented his reputation.
The Ballon d’Or Awards, hosted by France Football, will occur on Monday, 28 October 2024, in Paris. The awards celebrate the very best players globally across multiple categories, each recognising unique contributions to the sport.
The Yashin Trophy, for which Williams is nominated, is dedicated to the best male goalkeeper. The trophy focuses on a goalkeeper’s individual performance, consistency, and their influence in crucial moments during matches.
Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos, who appointed Williams as captain, expressed his pride in the goalkeeper’s achievements, but remains wary of the perceived European bias in these awards. “When you have one of your players being nominated for the Ballon d’Or, it makes you happy,” Broos said. “For me, he has a chance to win it – but he is only a South African… sometimes they look for a bigger name. But when you see the performances of Ronwen, he deserves it.”
As the football world turns its eyes to the French capital, Williams will stand as a beacon of hope and inspiration, not only for South African footballers but for the entire continent.
