Sundowns’ Williams still reeling in pain: ‘It is tough… will hurt for a very long time’

Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams is still reeling in pain following his team’s defeat last weekend.

Masandawana hosted the CAF Confederation Cup defending champions USM Alger at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Sunday, hoping to beat them and claim the CAF Super Cup. However, despite the home-ground advantage, the South African heavyweights fell 3-1.

Williams was restored into the starting team alongside Teboho Mokoena after both were deemed fit following a spell out of action due to injuries.

The duo is also part of the Bafana Bafana team that will play Benni McCarthy’s Harambee Stars in the back-to-back Group D 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier to be played in Mzansi and Kenya respectively.

We need to pick ourselves up

Ahead of the international assignment, the 34-year-old has explained how Sunday’s loss affected the Brazilians.

“Obviously, it’s tough. This one will hurt for a very long time. We’ve got to reflect as a team as to where we are and what we once were. We need to get back to that. As tough as it is, we need to pick ourselves up. It’s going to be a long season. We just need to be better as a team, [and] draw strength from one another and keep growing,” Williams explained.

“[There have been] a lot of good moments and a lot of tough moments, a lot of moments that hurt so much. This is one of them, but we will keep going.

“You can’t win them all, but it’s disappointing to lose at home. We have to regroup and keep going,” The South Africa captain concluded.