Alex Heredia: "Blaming Ronwen Williams alone is unfair"

Former Bafana Bafana goalkeeper coach and now FIFA goalkeeping instructor, Alex Heredia, has provided his insights regarding Ronwen Williams's recent decline in performance.

There is considerable concern over Williams's recent inability to maintain clean sheets, a trend that became evident during the Africa Cup of Nations held in Morocco in December 2025 and January 2026.

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The captain of Mamelodi Sundowns and the national team has experienced a noticeable slump, having conceded seven goals across two consecutive league matches ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Williams allowed four goals against Siwelele FC and three against TS Galaxy FC, which has elicited criticism of his defensive organization. Analysts and supporters attribute the poor performances to errors, as Williams continues to struggle with shot-stopping.

Having participated in nearly every match for both club and country, it is likely that Williams is experiencing fatigue and overexposure.

However, Heredia contends that the Sundowns defensive line is unable to adequately protect Williams.

"While Williams has conceded goals, it is unjust to blame the goalkeeper entirely. The defensive structure at Sundowns is somewhat unstable, especially in the midfield, which does not provide sufficient support," Heredia stated to KickOff.

According to Heredia, when a team performs poorly, the goalkeeper often becomes the most visible individual.

"However, it is important to remember that defending is a collective effort," said the goalkeeping instructor, adding that Williams has not lost his quality because he has conceded some avoidable goals.

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"Team performance is a shared responsibility."

In Heredia's opinion, Ronwen Williams remains the primary goalkeeper for the national team. While alternatives such as Brandon Petersen or Sipho Chaine are available, Heredia emphasizes that Williams remains the more reliable option.

"Ronwen is a very resilient individual; I do not see the current difficulties as demoralizing. Although the Bafana Bafana coach may consider selecting a different goalkeeper for now, it would be a mistake to totally exclude him from the World Cup squad."