Soccer
Williams locked and loaded for return against Lesotho─── MORGAN PIEK 08:56 Fri, 21 Mar 2025
Bafana Bafana captain Ronwen Williams is locked and loaded for his return to football on Friday evening when they face Lesotho in Polokwane in a must-win 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier.
The Ballon d’Or nominee has been sidelined with an injury in recent weeks, and coach Hugo Broos previously admitted to having sleepless nights over the availability of his star player for the crucial matches against the team from the Mountain Kingdom, as well as the away fixture against Benin in Ivory Coast.
Williams is back and fit – not just physically, but more importantly, mentally as well.
On the eve of South Africa’s vital match, which could determine their chances of qualifying for the FIFA World Cup for the first time in 16 years, Williams reflected on his time off the pitch, saying that while injuries are never ideal, his was a blessing in disguise.
“For me, personally, it's actually been good, to be honest. No player wants to be injured, but I think it came at the right time for me,” said Africa’s best goalkeeper. “I’ve played so much football over the last few years, especially in recent months, that this injury has actually done me wonders.
“I’ve got more energy now; I'm looking forward to the games, and I feel excited again. Before, when you play every three days, there’s no real excitement because you’re just doing it over and over – you stop enjoying the game.
“So, yes, this break has been great for me. It gave me time to rest, to miss the game a bit, and to get that spark back. If you look at some of the goals I conceded, there were moments where you wouldn’t expect me to let them in. But we’re all human – we get tired, we get frustrated. This time off came at the perfect moment.
Ronwen Williams. Picture: Morgan Piek
“I think the team and the country need me now more than ever. I’m over the injury and looking forward to finishing the year on a high.”
Meanwhile, on Thursday night, there was a key results in another Group C qualifier that has made South Africa’s clash with Lesotho even more crucial. Zimbabwe came back from two goals down at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban to secure a 2-2 draw against Benin. That result has moved Benin to the top of Group C with 8 points—one point clear of second-placed Rwanda and third-placed South Africa.
Friday night’s game between South Africa and Lesotho at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium will kick off at 18:00.
