Beaten 3-1 by USM Alger in the CAF Super Cup, Mamelodi Sundowns are going through a tough spell. Captain Ronwen Williams is calling on the club to stay united and is among the contenders for the African Goalkeeper of the Year award.
On Sunday, at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Mamelodi Sundowns lost 3-1 to USM Alger in the CAF Super Cup final. Another setback for the South African club, already eliminated in the Champions League preliminaries, where they were unable to defend their title.
In front of their own fans, Sundowns suffered this defeat, and some supporters called for the departure of coach Miguel Cardoso, according to Soccer Laduma. Goalkeeper and captain Ronwen Williams spoke out to call for unity, as reported by TimesLIVE and Goal.com.
“There is no point in pointing fingers”
In comments reported by TimesLIVE, Williams stressed cohesion: “There is no point in pointing fingers now; we need each other. It won’t help anyone, and I would urge Masandawana, as hard as it is, to stay united, to be there for the boys and to support us.”
The goalkeeper also addressed the disappointment. “Obviously, it’s hard. This one is going to hurt for a very long time. It’s disappointing… but we have to, as a team, reflect on what worked, and we have to get back to it.” Goal.com and Soccer Laduma also reported his words: “We need to reflect as a team on where we are and what we were. We have to get back to it. As hard as it is, we have to pick ourselves up. It’s going to be a long season.”
His teammate Thapelo Morena also reacted to the setback, according to Goal.com.
A double continental disappointment
This CAF Super Cup defeat comes after elimination in the Champions League preliminaries, a competition Sundowns were unable to defend. Two continental disappointments in a short space of time.
This pressure from the fans contrasts with the call for unity made by Williams.
Williams, contender for African Goalkeeper of the Year
On an individual level, Ronwen Williams is among the contenders for the African Goalkeeper of the Year award at the CAF Awards, alongside Benbot, Bounou, Tagnaouti and Mendy, according to Foot Africa.
The ceremony is set for 2 December in Lagos, Nigeria, and voting takes place from 5 to 20 November, according to Foot Africa and wiwsport.
In the South African league, Sundowns must now get back on track after these two continental disappointments, as TimesLIVE points out.