Bafana Bafana legend Itumeleng Khune has paid an emotional tribute to national team captain Ronwen Williams after their historic 2026 FIFA World Cup run. Photo: Backpagepix
Image: Backpagepix
Bafana Bafana legend Itumeleng Khune has once again paid tribute to national team captain Ronwen Williams following South Africa’s historic FIFA World Cup campaign in North America.
The former Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper continues to publicly show admiration for Williams’ rise, and after Bafana Bafana’s memorable run to the knockout stages, Khune took to social media to honour the Mamelodi Sundowns skipper once more.
South Africa captured the imagination of the country after reaching the FIFA World Cup knockout rounds for the first time in the nation’s history before eventually falling to Canada in the Round of 32.
Throughout the tournament, Williams once again emerged as one of Bafana’s standout figures, producing crucial saves and commanding performances that reinforced his growing reputation as one of Africa’s elite goalkeepers.
Khune, who has consistently praised Williams over recent years, shared images of their emotional embrace following Bafana’s Group A victory over South Korea.
The legendary shot-stopper used the moment to acknowledge the impact Williams continues to have on South African football.
“Ronza deserves his flowers while he can still smell them,” Khune wrote on Instagram.
“Skipper, you’ve taken goalkeeping to a whole different level. South Africa has given the world the best goalkeeper of all time. You have my full respect.”
The comments once again highlighted the mutual respect between two generations of Bafana goalkeepers.
For years, Khune carried the responsibility of being South Africa’s number one through different eras of the national team. Now, Williams has firmly established himself as the face of the current generation under Hugo Broos.
Importantly, the World Cup campaign only elevated Williams’ standing further.
The Sundowns captain played a major role in helping Bafana navigate a difficult group while providing leadership throughout a tournament that reignited belief around the national team.
Williams himself also took time to reflect emotionally on South Africa’s World Cup journey.
The goalkeeper shared a collection of images from the tournament on social media following the team’s elimination against Canada, celebrating a campaign that united the country despite its painful ending.
Accompanying the post was a brief but powerful message directed towards supporters.
“Your dreams are valid, Mzansi siyabonga,” Williams wrote.
The statement captured the mood around Bafana’s campaign — disappointment over how it ended, but immense pride over how far the team had come.
For Williams, the tournament may ultimately represent another defining chapter in a career that continues to reshape the standards and expectations of goalkeeping in South African football.