Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Ronwen Williams has owned up to his error in the 1-2 loss to Nigeria on Wednesday night, costing his team a place in the semifinal of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2019.
The game was heading to extra-time before Williams misread Moses Simon’s corner kick, allowing his namesake William Ekong an easy finish with just one minute of normal time remaining.
An apologetic Williams in a chat www.aclsports.com after the game fully owned up to his mistake but assures he will learn from such moments.
“I’m very very disappointed. It’s a bad way to go out of the tournament,” the SuperSport United began to www.aclsports.com
“Last moment lapse in concentration from myself, it’s a bad way to go out but we lovingly learn from these moments. These mistakes must make us stronger so we learn from this, I’m not going to let this weigh me down, I will stay positive and reach for the stars,” added Williams.
The Bafana Bafana have been under heavy criticism from the home front after a poor group stage performance before they upset the apple cart in their round of 16 tie against Egypt last Saturday.
The 27-year old goalkeeper is not bothered by what awaits them back home and reiterates that his team will learn from their mistakes.
“I think we gave it our all. Positive criticism is fine. We know as a team that we didn’t play well in the group stages. We don’t need other people to tell us, we know as a team, the coach said it and you could see we played much better once we came out of the group.
“Against Egypt was one of our best games, today we played okay and we know we could’ve played better but we learn from the mistakes and stay together.”
Ronwen Hayden Williams cannot just forget what happened in that decisive moment in a hurry and gives a vivid recollection of what transpired.
“It’s disappointing you know, from my part. I called (for the players to leave the ball) but I didn’t make connection with the ball, we switched off as a team but from my part, I should have been much stronger and dominate my area but we lovingly learn from these moments.”
He also charts a way forward for the Bafana Bafana.
“We must stay together, believe in ourselves. Things didn’t go our way but we must take all the positives and move forward. Stay together as a team. The coach and technical team are very good, no problems off the field so if we stay together, we can achieve a lot,” concluded Williams.
Fisayo Dairo reporting from Cairo.
