Bafana Bafana legend Benni McCarthy believes Mamelodi Sundowns duo Ronwen Williams and Teboho Mokoena have the qualities to play for a UEFA Champions League team.
Williams and Mokoena have been among the consistent performers for Sundowns and Bafana Bafana in recent years, earning them plenty of praise and accolades, with the former already nominated for the Ballon d’Or Award.
McCarthy feels the qualities of the duo make them candidates for any of the top teams in Europe as they have been consistent enough at the top level for long.
“Ronwen Williams, for starters,” McCarthy, a Champions League winner with Portuguese giants FC Porto in 2004, said on SuperSport TV.
Why does Benni rate Williams & Mokoena highly?
“A player that I like a lot, Teboho Mokoena from Sundowns. He’s also a player that got the attributes, ability to play in Europe, not in the [lower leagues], but in the Champions League.
“He’s got the potential, he’s got the ability to play at that level. I can name names but I don’t want players to get ahead of themselves when you start naming names.
“The reason why I name Mokoena and Ronwen, because they’ve been consistent. Teboho, I remember at SuperSport, I said we’ve got a gem here and he’s just gone up, up, up.
“Now he’s at the pinnacle at Sundowns. They have been consistent performers and that’s what you need to succeed, to get to Europe.”
Sundowns placed a hefty price tag on the midfielder
Mokoena was the subject of interest from European clubs but Sundowns placed a €5 million price on his head, which saw the interested sides walk away, as they deemed it too much.
Williams, meanwhile, continues to impress for both Sundowns and the national team and is vying to become the first African-based player to win the Yashin Trophy which is awarded to the best goalkeeper at the Ballon d’Or awards.
“If they going to get there I don’t know. I’m not their coaches, their clubs. Clubs maybe don’t want to let go of their best assets, which is maybe rightfully so,” added McCarthy.
Mokoena was in great form for Bafana Bafana
“There are more players out there, way more South African players where I’ve seen the ability, they can play in Europe, but when you see this interview, you’re going to make sure you’re one of those players that I’m talking about.”
Mokoena and Williams have had a good international window, the midfielder scoring twice against Congo in Bafana Bafana’s 5-0 win last Friday, while the goalkeeper returned to the side after missing the October matches.
However, Mokoena has endured a difficult time at Sundowns in recent weeks, failing to get into the team in their five matches prior to the international break, and will hope that his performances in national team colours will change the mind of coach Manqoba Mngqihti.