South Africa Keeper Credits Backroom Staff For His Record Performance In Africa Cup Penalty Shootout – News18

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast: South Africa goalkeeper Ronwen Williams says preparation was key to his saving 4 of the 5 penalties he confronted in a shootout to assist the Bafana Bafana attain the Africa Cup of Nations semifinals.

Williams’ saves towards Cape Verde of their quarterfinal match on Saturday had been unprecedented – no different goalkeeper had saved so many on this a part of a penalty shootout on the Africa Cup earlier than.

The South Africa captain praised the staff’s analysts after his man-of-the-match efficiency, which had included a late save towards Gilson Benchimol to maintain his staff within the recreation.

Williams then saved Cape Verde’s first three penalties from Cape Verde’s Bebé, Willy Semedo and Laros Duarte, earlier than following up on the fifth to disclaim Patrick Andrade. That despatched South Africa to the semifinals with a 2-1 win on penalties. The match in Yamoussoukro had ended scoreless after further time.

“It’s not me,” Williams mentioned. “I give credit to the analysts and the goalkeeper coach as well. They sent me so many clips, you know, and my phone is full of penalty clips … They made my job 50% easier because I had an idea where most of the players were going.”

The Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper additionally paid tribute to his personal teammates for attending to the shootout after further time.

“The desire we had as a team tonight to fight for 120-plus minutes – that’s what matters to me. You know, to see the brotherhood out there, to fight, to keep going, that matters to me, that’s what’s more important,” Williams mentioned of his man-of-the-match award. “So I will receive this trophy on behalf of all the players, the technical team, the staff, everyone that’s been on this journey with us.”

South Africa coach Hugo Broos additionally credited the staff’s preparations.

“It’s not lucky, because we have a very good camp today. If you can (save) four penalties, this is not luck anymore. You can take one, but four – this is not luck anymore,” Broos mentioned. “And he (Williams) did not only that. He saved us two minutes before the end with the player alone in front of him. So yes, he was man of the match.”

South Africa, which is bidding for its second title after profitable in 1996, subsequent faces three-time champion Nigeria in Bouaké in Wednesday’s semifinals. The winner will face both host nation Ivory Coast or Congo within the remaining in Abidjan on Sunday.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is revealed from a syndicated information company feed – Associated Press)