During a stellar 12 months of domestic and international football, South Africa captain Ronwen Williams has been winning awards with regularity – but his latest nomination left him “numb” with disbelief.
The Mamelodi Sundowns stopper has been shortlisted for the Yashin Trophy, which recognises the world’s best goalkeepers as part of the annual Ballon d’Or ceremony.
“I can’t recall if I dropped the phone. I got a knot in my stomach. I literally went numb,” he told BBC Sport Africa, struggling to describe his feelings.
“When I saw the Ballon d’Or page, I couldn’t believe it.
“I don’t know if I was excited, happy or crying. It was so surreal.
“I have so many feelings and I try not to think about it because it gets me emotional.”
The 32-year-old is the first African-based player to be nominated for the trophy named after former Soviet Union legend Lev Yashin.
Given that South Africa’s men’s team has largely underachieved on the international stage over the past two decades, Williams hopes his recognition will provide motivation for his compatriots.
“I’ve achieved so much in my career but I don’t think this will ever be replaced,” he said.
“It’s going to open doors for South Africans to start thinking and dreaming bigger. We’ve got the talent and ability but we pull ourselves down.
“I feel like I’ve already won even if I don’t make the top three.”
Williams’ place on the shortlist came on the back of him spearheading Bafana Bafana’s third-placed finish at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Ivory Coast.
Former national team captain Lucas Radebe, who spent a decade playing in the English Premier League for Leeds United, believes the landmark can change the mindset of South African footballers.
“It shows the talent we have in the country,” Radebe told BBC Sport Africa.
“Ronwen is going to be an example. I want to hear people saying ‘I want to be like Ronwen Williams’, not like [Lionel] Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo.
“As a football community, we need to celebrate that and appreciate our own people.”
Williams has another month to wait to find out whether he will take home the trophy on 28 October in Paris.
Should he triumph, he would become the first African to win the Yashin Trophy since it was first awarded in 2019.
However, he faces stiff competition from the likes of Argentina’s Emiliano Martinez and Spain’s Unai Simon, who both helped their countries to continental titles this year.
