“We Take Risks”: Ronwen Williams Reflects on Costly Error in Dortmund Clash

It was a brave but bruising night in Cincinnati for Mamelodi Sundowns, and no one knows that better than Ronwen Williams.

The Bafana Bafana captain faced the cameras after his error gifted German giants Borussia Dortmund an equaliser, setting the tone for a rollercoaster 4-3 loss in Saturday’s FIFA Club World Cup group-stage showdown. For a team that prides itself on playing beautiful, attacking football — even against Europe’s elite — Williams insists this was the cost of their identity.

A Style That Dares

“We are a team that takes risks,” said Williams after the match at TQL Stadium in Ohio. “It’s not nice to concede a goal like that, but that’s how we play.”

With Sundowns leading 1-0 early on, Williams tried to play the ball out from the back — a move consistent with coach Miguel Cardoso’s philosophy. But a miscommunication saw his pass intercepted by Dortmund’s Felix Nmecha, who pounced to level the score.

“It was one of those unfortunate situations,” Williams explained. “I saw Tebza [Teboho Mokoena] available, but as I passed, Marcelo [Allende] called him off. It was just bad timing.”

The German side capitalised on the shift in momentum and eventually edged out Sundowns in a seven-goal thriller. Despite the defeat, the South African champions received praise for holding their own against the Bundesliga outfit.

A Tough But Proud Lesson

Williams didn’t shy away from criticism — both of himself and his teammates.

“At this level, mistakes are punished. All of their goals came from our errors,” he admitted. “Where we come from, we sometimes get away with that. But this is the Club World Cup — the margins are small.”

Still, he was adamant about one thing: Sundowns stayed true to their style. “I’m proud of the boys. We played our football, we showed our identity.”

One More Shot Against Fluminense

The loss to Dortmund followed Sundowns’ confident 1-0 opening win over Ulsan HD. The team now has one last chance to make a statement when they face Brazilian side Fluminense on Wednesday.

Coach Miguel Cardoso has already moved to lift the team’s spirits ahead of that final group clash, with Williams praising the technical team for staying calm and focused.

“This isn’t the end for us,” said Williams, looking ahead with determination. “We’ll go again.”

Local Pride on a Global Stage

South African football fans flooded social media with messages of support, praising Sundowns for taking the game to one of Europe’s top clubs. Many noted how the team’s courage and quality earned respect well beyond the scoreline.

The Club World Cup has always been more than just results — it’s about representing your continent on the world stage. For Masandawana, the journey continues, one risk at a time.

Source:Sabc Sport
Read More: Close But No Equaliser: Sundowns Push Dortmund to the Brink in Seven-Goal Thriller

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