Bafana Bafana captain Ronwen Williams nominated for FIFA World XI after stellar year for club and country

Bafana Bafana captain Ronwen Williams has once again received some global recognition after he was nominated as one of the candidates for the World XI at the upcoming The Best FIFA Football Awards.

The awards will take place in January next year.

To be named in the World XI, Williams will have to beat Real Madrid's Andriy Lunin, Arsenal's David Raya, Manchester City's Ederseon, Emiliano Martínez of Aston Villa, Paris Saint-Germain's Gianluigi Donnarumma, AC Milan's Mike Maignan, Athletic Bilbao's Unai Simon, Morocco and Al Hilal's Yassine Bounou, Giorgi Mamardashvili of Valencia, and Yann Sommer of Inter Milan.

The 32-year-old Williams was, however, not one of the players nominated for The Best FIFA Goalkeeper award, currently held by Manchester City and Brazil's Ederson.

The national team skipper has had a stellar in between the sticks for club and country. At this year's Africa Cup of Nations, he came to the world's notice when he famously saved four penalty kicks as Bafana Bafana defeated Cape Verde to advance to the semi-finals of the competition.

And in the third-place play-offs, his heriocs during the penalty-shootout allowed South Africa to win the bronze medal against the DR Congo.

And on the local front, he was a key figure in helping Mamelodi Sundowns, the undisputed kings of South African football, win a seventh straight league title.

As a result of his brilliant year, Williams was earlier this year named as one of the nominees for the Yashin Trophy — awarded to the world's best goalkeeper — at the Ballon d'Or Awards. That award was won by Aston Villa and Argentina's Martinez.

The Mamelodi Sundowns shotstopper is also up for the Goalkeeper of the Year at the CAF Awards, which are due to take place on December 16.

IOL Sport