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"contents": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mamelodi Sundowns and Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Ronwen Williams capped what has been an amazing year by clinching double honours at the Confederation of African Football Awards on Monday. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Williams became the first South African soccer player to win the African men’s Goalkeeper of the Year award at the Caf Awards ceremony in Marrakech, Morocco.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He also walked away with the Interclub Player of the Year, joining teammate Denis Onyango as the only other Premier Soccer League player to win the prestigious accolade.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“It has been an amazing year for me, but I couldn’t have done it alone. Thank you to all the players, coaches and the technical staff who have been with me throughout my career,” Williams said after his historic win.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“I know this win will inspire millions and millions of South Africans to believe in themselves, to push boundaries and never forget that your dreams are valid,” the Gqeberha-born player said.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The 32-year-old goalkeeper, who seemingly keeps getting better with age, was instrumental as Bafana Bafana won their first Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) medal since 2000 at the most recent edition of the biennial continental showpiece. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In total Williams managed five clean sheets in seven games as he captained Bafana Bafana to their first major tournament medal since finishing third 24 years ago. He earned the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) Goalkeeper of the Tournament prize as a result.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">His exploits also included four spot-kick saves during South Africa’s Afcon 2-1 win on penalties in their quarterfinal clash against Cape Verde. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In June, Williams bagged the prestigious Premier Soccer League (PSL) Player of the Season award. Through this achievement, Williams became just the third goalkeeper in the PSL’s 28-year history to clinch the accolade. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He joined former Bafana Bafana and Santos glovesman Andre Arendse, as well as former Kaizer Chiefs juggernaut Itumeleng Khune – who revolutionised the art of goalkeeping in South Africa during his prime and was the last goalkeeper to claim the award just over a decade ago.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This was also reward for his part in Sundowns winning the Premiership for the seventh consecutive season, after suffering just one defeat in their 30 league games. He kept 15 clean sheets during that marathon league run by Masandawana, conceding just once in 22 matches. </span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2512006\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/TL_2290929.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1738\" height=\"1159\" /> <em>Ronwen Williams in action for Mamelodi Sundowns during their Carling Knockout, quarterfinal match against Kazier Chiefs at FNB Stadium on 2 November 2024 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Alche Greeff / Gallo Images)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2512002\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/12006884.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1898\" height=\"1179\" /> <em>Ronwen Williams during the penalty shootout of the CAF 2023 Africa Cup of Nations semifinal soccer match between Bafana Bafana and Nigeria at Peace Stadium in Bouake, Cote D'Ivoire, on 7 February 2024. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Gavin Barker)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“He’s grown, hey. Matured tremendously. He’s a fantastic goalkeeper. From when he was a boy, he’s reached great heights,” the goalkeeper’s former coach Gavin Hunt told Daily Maverick.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“He’s a very humble boy. A very nice boy. I wish him well and I’m so happy he’s doing well.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The PSL also took time out to congratulate him for elevating the level of the league with his consistently eye-catching displays for club and country. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“From rising through the development ranks and making his professional debut as a teenager, to captaining Bafana Bafana and now earning these accolades, Ronwen’s journey is nothing short of inspirational,” the league said. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“This milestone not only highlights his exceptional talent and dedication, but also elevates the standing of the PSL and South African football on the global stage,” it added. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A couple of months back, Williams was also nominated for the Ballon d’Or Yashin Trophy, along with nine other world-class goalkeepers. He was ninth overall on that list. However, he still made history as the first African-based goalkeeper to make the cut for the accolade.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now he has added this history-making double award win to further solidify his legacy as a South African soccer great. </span><b>DM</b>",
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"description": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mamelodi Sundowns and Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Ronwen Williams capped what has been an amazing year by clinching double honours at the Confederation of African Football Awards on Monday. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Williams became the first South African soccer player to win the African men’s Goalkeeper of the Year award at the Caf Awards ceremony in Marrakech, Morocco.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He also walked away with the Interclub Player of the Year, joining teammate Denis Onyango as the only other Premier Soccer League player to win the prestigious accolade.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“It has been an amazing year for me, but I couldn’t have done it alone. 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He kept 15 clean sheets during that marathon league run by Masandawana, conceding just once in 22 matches. </span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2512006\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"1738\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2512006\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/TL_2290929.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1738\" height=\"1159\" /> <em>Ronwen Williams in action for Mamelodi Sundowns during their Carling Knockout, quarterfinal match against Kazier Chiefs at FNB Stadium on 2 November 2024 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Alche Greeff / Gallo Images)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2512002\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"1898\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2512002\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/12006884.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1898\" height=\"1179\" /> <em>Ronwen Williams during the penalty shootout of the CAF 2023 Africa Cup of Nations semifinal soccer match between Bafana Bafana and Nigeria at Peace Stadium in Bouake, Cote D'Ivoire, on 7 February 2024. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Gavin Barker)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“He’s grown, hey. Matured tremendously. He’s a fantastic goalkeeper. From when he was a boy, he’s reached great heights,” the goalkeeper’s former coach Gavin Hunt told Daily Maverick.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“He’s a very humble boy. A very nice boy. 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Ronwen Williams in action for Mamelodi Sundowns during their Carling Knockout, quarterfinal match against Kazier Chiefs at FNB Stadium on 2 November 2024 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Alche Greeff / Gallo Images)
Ronwen Williams during the penalty shootout of the CAF 2023 Africa Cup of Nations semifinal soccer match between Bafana Bafana and Nigeria at Peace Stadium in Bouake, Cote D'Ivoire, on 7 February 2024. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Gavin Barker)