Williams believes Sundowns is “one step away” from returning to their best

By Ayanda Nyuswa 

Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams believes his side “one step away” from regaining the form that saw them win seven league titles in a row, having had a slow start to the 2024/25 season. Williams, who became the first African based player to receive a nomination at the Ballon D’Or awards after getting short listed for the Yashin trophy, was speaking on Extratime on Gagasi FM ahead of the Brazilian’s second preliminary round first leg clash against Mbabane Swallows on Saturday night. 

Sundowns have had an uncharactaristically slow start to the season, as they crashed out of the MTN 8 in the semi final stages. The Brazilians lost both legs of the last four tie against Stellenbosch FC (2-0 on aggregate), scoring only one goal against Polokwane City in the three matches played. Williams missed out on the action as he continues to nurse a shoulder injury that has kept him out since the conclusion of the 2023/24 season. 

After missing out on the first piece of silverware of the season, Sundowns will be gunning for the remaining trophies with the Betway Premiership, Carling Knockout, Nedbank Cup, CAF Champions League, African Football League and the FIFA Club World Cup still on the Brazilian’s radar. 

“We sit down every season and look at the trophies at stake, what we are going to be apart of and there is many things to look forward to”, Williams said on Extratime on Gagasi FM.

“The MTN 8 we are obviously out now, but there is the Carling Knockout, there is AFL, the league, Nedbank and obviously the main one is the Champions League and Club World Cup. There is so much excitement, there is so much things to look forward to. The MTN 8 is in the past now and we need to draw lessons from it so we can be stronger because all the teams are gunning for Sundowns, you know, everyone wants to bring us down and everyone is happy now (about our current form). We need to be strong, we need to overcome the period we find ourselves in now and we are one step away from being the Sundowns that we all know.”

“I can see it at training, I can see it in the games that we play so it’s just for us now to take it to the competitive games. For me, like I alway say, I pride myself in consistency I don’t want to be a one season wonder. I want to always be consistent in my performances and for me it’s just to be consistent once again this season.”