Ronwen Williams boost for Bafana Bafana? Manqoba Mngqithi provides injury update

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The Mamelodi Sundowns coach has shared the status of the goalkeeper’s injury

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos will likely have his first-choice goalkeeper Ronwen Williams for their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in September.

South Africa are in Group K alongside Uganda, Congo and South Sudan and are set to take on the Cranes on September 6 before a trip to Juba four days later.

The tactician has, however, been sweating over the fitness of Williams who has been struggling with a shoulder injury that saw him miss pre-season for his club Mamelodi Sundowns but it appears he will be ready for the two matches.

Ronwen Williams

Will Williams make Bafana Bafana’s final squad?

“Ronwen is also very close. He is now with the physios; he is now with our biokinetics. It’s just a matter of time before he comes [back] for full training. We are hoping that probably if God is with us in the second round of the semi-final, maybe he might be there,” said Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi in his pre-match briefing ahead of their MTN8 semi-final first leg against Stellenbosch on Wednesday.

It means the goalkeeper has a chance of featuring in the second leg on September 1, five days before Bafana Bafana take on Uganda, in the crucial encounter.

Broos named five keepers in provisional team

Williams is South Africa’s undisputed No.1 although Broos named five goalkeepers in his 38-man provisional squad with Kaizer Chiefs Bruce Bvuma, Orlando Pirates’ Sipho Chaine, Ricardo Goss of SuperSport United and Veli Mothwa of AmaZulu included.

The Sundowns goalkeeper will likely make the final squad of 23 following the positive update from his coach.

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Joel Oliver

Joel Oliver is a seasoned multimedia sports journalist with a rich background in covering diverse football stories and events in South Africa and beyond.
His extensive coverage spans subjects touching on the PSL, with a focus on the Big Three (Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs & Mamelodi Sundowns), Bafana Bafana and Banyana Banyana.