The Art of Saving Penalties: Ronwen Williams, from South Africa to the Yashin Trophy
The 68th edition of the Ballon d’Or will be held on Monday 28th of October. For the first time in history, a goalkeeper playing on the African continent has been nominated for France Football’s prestigious Yashin Trophy, which rewards the best goalkeeper of the year.
His name is Ronwen Williams, captain of the South African national team and goalkeeper for Mamelodi Sundowns.
“At first I thought it was a joke,” Williams confessed in an interview with L’Équipe after learning he had been nominated as one of the world’s top 10 goalkeepers.
Williams is a national hero in South Africa, and his career has gained particular prominence after leading Bafana Bafana, as captain, to third place at the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Côte d’Ivoire.
In addition, in the South African Premier League with Mamelodi Sundowns last season, he had 35 clean sheets in 59 games played, which helped him lift the league title with his team, where he is also captain.
Williams’ Key role at AFCON: a leap towards the Lev Yashin Award
One of the highlights of Williams’ career has been his penalty-saving prowess. In the AFCON 2023 quarter-finals against Cape Verde, Williams saved four penalties, a key part of South Africa’s progress in the tournament.
His ability to “read the opposition” is something he has honed over the years, confessing that his phone is “full of videos of penalties” that he pores over.
However, his performance changed in the subsequent rounds. In the semi-final against Nigeria, Williams conceded four goals in the shootout, with shots mostly aimed down the middle and some mid-range.
In the third-place match against the Democratic Republic of Congo, he was again remarkably solid, stopping two of seven shots on goal.
This difficulty highlights the strategies and decisions of the shooters which, as Freakonomics theory explains, are tailored to take advantage of the goalkeepers’ preferences and patterns.
Freakonomic Theory and the Study of Patterns
Freakonomics theory, a concept developed by economist Steven Levitt and journalist Stephen Dubner, uses economic principles to analyse real-world behaviours in unexpected areas.
Applied to penalty kicks, the paper argues that “randomisation” is key for a goalkeeper to optimise his chances of success by avoiding being predictable.
Freakonomics data reveals that, although the best strategy for penalty takers is to shoot down the middle, this is less likely due to the fear of looking “foolish” if the goalkeeper stays in that position.
Williams describes his meticulous preparation process and how he studies players by watching videos on his phone before games, trying to identify each player’s preferences.
This method reflects the principles of Freakonomics theory, where every decision is marked by a probabilistic calculation and a study of patterns.
Inspiration for a New Generation
Williams is not only proud of his personal success, but also of the impact he can have on future generations. “This can motivate and inspire people to dream big,” he said in the interview. South Africa has suffered from economic and social challenges, and the success of its national team at the AFCON offers a ray of hope for many.
“We had to change our mindset; we always had the talent, but we lacked professionalism,” Williams says of the growth under coach Hugo Broos.
Ronwen’s Future
At 32, Williams still has a lot to offer. When asked about his ambitions, he did not hesitate to express his desire to try his luck in foreign leagues: “I’m ready for whatever comes next”.
However, the goalkeeper remains focused on Mamelodi Sundowns and continuing to contribute to the growth of South African football.
Williams has shown that, with dedication and focus, it is possible to break the mould. His presence on the international stage is a reminder that African football has a place at the elite level and that South Africa can dream of great things.
