"The continent will see the true Sundowns": Williams ahead of Cairo final

Ronwen Williams. Photo credit: Mamelodi Sundowns

"The country and continent will see the true Mamelodi Sundowns," vows Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, setting the tone ahead of the CAF Champions League final showdown in Cairo.

However, Williams also remains haunted by the late equaliser conceded against Pyramids FC in the first leg in Pretoria, a moment he described as feeling "like someone had died."

The crucial away goal, scored by the Egyptian side with mere seconds left on the clock last Saturday, turned a dominant performance by Sundowns Brazilians into a devastating 1-all draw.

As they prepare to face Pyramids FC again this Sunday at the June 30 Stadium in Cairo in the decisive return leg, Sundowns know they face a formidable challenge. However, Williams is adamant that the team is fully prepared to defy the odds and finally claim their second Champions League title, having last been crowned African champions in 2016.

"We're excited to be here to be part of a historic match, the CAF Champions League final," said Williams on MSW.

"It’s massive, this is why we play football, to be part and parcel of the biggest event in club football on the continent."

Despite the disappointment of the first leg, the Bafana Bafana number one highlighted a crucial move by the coach: "The positive thing the coach did was to give us two days off after the game.

"It really felt like someone died in the change room after the game. That's the feeling we had, so those two days were important."

Williams explained that the first day was for reflection, and by the second, "we had renewed energy, now we’ve got another opportunity, and that's the most important thing."

He also expressed confidence in Sundowns' ability to perform away from home, stating, "Knowing Mamelodi Sundowns, playing away doesn't change much for us. We know we can score goals; we can keep clean sheets away, so that's just exciting times.”

With a clear understanding of what went wrong in the first leg, Williams has made a powerful vow: "Come this Sunday, the country (South Africa) and the continent will see the true Mamelodi Sundowns."