Denis Onyango explains what makes Ronwen Williams stand out

Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Denis Onyango has opened up on his relationship with Ronwen Williams and what sets the Bafana Bafana No.1 apart.

Onyango has been playing second fiddle to Williams since the latter joined Sundowns from the now defunct SuperSport United in 2022 but has hailed him as an outstanding goalkeeper and a man of few words but very effective at what he does.

“Ronwen is a very quiet guy. Naughty but quiet but there is no soft-speaking goalkeeper,” Onyango said on NTV Uganda. “I think goalkeepers are something else, they are special. I won’t say they are mad.”

Onyango names Williams’ key strength

Onyango says Williams’ strength is his ability to stay calm under pressure as that is when he brings out the best in him as witnessed during the CAF Champions League final second leg when he gave away a penalty but saved the resulting spot-kick.

“Ronwen is a very cool, calm guy. You could even see that when he conceded that second penalty [in the CAF Champions League final], he was calm and he knew that he had to save the team,” Onyango added, while revealing how their relationship started even before they met at Sundowns.

“But he is a boy that I saw when I was at SuperSport so many years back from the academy and when I left, they promoted him to the senior team and we kept in touch,” he further stated.

“When he came to Sundowns, it was very easy to fit in because we knew each other. We had nothing to hide. We knew all we needed to do is lift the team to the next level regardless of who played.

Sundowns keepers enjoy special bond

“When he came, I was the number one but he took over but we clicked just like a switch. He has done fantastic, won African Goalkeeper of the Year and was nominated for the Ballon d’Or. You can see he was accepted by the team and when you are accepted, you give your best and that is what he has done.

“He is the Bafana captain and I am very happy to work with him. I could say I was working with people who played at the World Cup.”

Onyango is one of the longest serving players at Sundowns, having joined in 2011 after a four-year spell at SuperSport before playing at Mpumalanga Black Aces for one season after which he linked up with the Brazilians.