Read: Phala Sends SuperSport Into Confed Cup Last Four Time and time again Williams was called upon as Matsatsantsa's last line of defence at Levy Mwanawasa, and on all but two occasions he stepped up to keep ZESCO United at bay in a tough encounter in Ndola on Saturday. Phala's last minute goal that eventually secured victory – via away goals – for Eric Tinkler's side, but both 'keepers played their part throughout the encounter as the two Southern African sides went toe to toe for 96 minutes on a hot afternoon in Zambia. On another day the game could have been dead and buried by the break, but chances were missed and saves were made, and Williams certainly put his hand up as Man of the Match for the only South African team now playing in CAF competition this year. "We pride ourselves as a team with big characters," he told the Siya crew before leaving for home. "We've shown in the last few months the character that we do have, and a lot of people have written us off before we've come back and done our best. This team is unbelievable, it's something special to be part of it. We have a never say die attitude and we always fight until the final whistle. That was evident in yesterday's result." Tinkler went for it as SuperSport chased that vital equaliser, not only throwing on Thabo Mnyamane and Dove Wome, but also pushing Clayton Daniels up front to work alongside the attackers in the dying moments. Getting the goal didn't surprise Williams though, he says, "The coach always tells us that we need to prepare for 96 minutes in every game, so that's our mentality. Whether it's defending trying to hold on or trying to find a goal. We pride ourselves on our defending and yesterday we let ourselves down on two set pieces so that's something to work on." Read: Furman On CAF Drama: "What A Feeling!" And how does it feel to be the last PSL team left in CAF competition following Mamelodi Sundowns' exit? "I'm sure it's good for us as South Africans (that there is still a team left), others in the country will be supporting now in the last round because we're the only team left in CAF competition, so that's good for us. This team strives on pressure and the pressure is now very high. We have players with BMT (big match temperament) and we enjoy these occasions. Hopefully we can keep this going." SuperSport will now face either MC Alger or Club Africain in the semifinals of the CCC.
Ronwen Williams: SuperSport's Other Hero In Ndola
It was Thuso Phala who stole a lot of the headlines for his dramatic brace, but SuperSport United wouldn't' be in their first continental semifinal without Ronwen Williams' heroics.
Read: Phala Sends SuperSport Into Confed Cup Last Four Time and time again Williams was called upon as Matsatsantsa's last line of defence at Levy Mwanawasa, and on all but two occasions he stepped up to keep ZESCO United at bay in a tough encounter in Ndola on Saturday. Phala's last minute goal that eventually secured victory – via away goals – for Eric Tinkler's side, but both 'keepers played their part throughout the encounter as the two Southern African sides went toe to toe for 96 minutes on a hot afternoon in Zambia. On another day the game could have been dead and buried by the break, but chances were missed and saves were made, and Williams certainly put his hand up as Man of the Match for the only South African team now playing in CAF competition this year. "We pride ourselves as a team with big characters," he told the Siya crew before leaving for home. "We've shown in the last few months the character that we do have, and a lot of people have written us off before we've come back and done our best. This team is unbelievable, it's something special to be part of it. We have a never say die attitude and we always fight until the final whistle. That was evident in yesterday's result." Tinkler went for it as SuperSport chased that vital equaliser, not only throwing on Thabo Mnyamane and Dove Wome, but also pushing Clayton Daniels up front to work alongside the attackers in the dying moments. Getting the goal didn't surprise Williams though, he says, "The coach always tells us that we need to prepare for 96 minutes in every game, so that's our mentality. Whether it's defending trying to hold on or trying to find a goal. We pride ourselves on our defending and yesterday we let ourselves down on two set pieces so that's something to work on." Read: Furman On CAF Drama: "What A Feeling!" And how does it feel to be the last PSL team left in CAF competition following Mamelodi Sundowns' exit? "I'm sure it's good for us as South Africans (that there is still a team left), others in the country will be supporting now in the last round because we're the only team left in CAF competition, so that's good for us. This team strives on pressure and the pressure is now very high. We have players with BMT (big match temperament) and we enjoy these occasions. Hopefully we can keep this going." SuperSport will now face either MC Alger or Club Africain in the semifinals of the CCC.
Read: Phala Sends SuperSport Into Confed Cup Last Four Time and time again Williams was called upon as Matsatsantsa's last line of defence at Levy Mwanawasa, and on all but two occasions he stepped up to keep ZESCO United at bay in a tough encounter in Ndola on Saturday. Phala's last minute goal that eventually secured victory – via away goals – for Eric Tinkler's side, but both 'keepers played their part throughout the encounter as the two Southern African sides went toe to toe for 96 minutes on a hot afternoon in Zambia. On another day the game could have been dead and buried by the break, but chances were missed and saves were made, and Williams certainly put his hand up as Man of the Match for the only South African team now playing in CAF competition this year. "We pride ourselves as a team with big characters," he told the Siya crew before leaving for home. "We've shown in the last few months the character that we do have, and a lot of people have written us off before we've come back and done our best. This team is unbelievable, it's something special to be part of it. We have a never say die attitude and we always fight until the final whistle. That was evident in yesterday's result." Tinkler went for it as SuperSport chased that vital equaliser, not only throwing on Thabo Mnyamane and Dove Wome, but also pushing Clayton Daniels up front to work alongside the attackers in the dying moments. Getting the goal didn't surprise Williams though, he says, "The coach always tells us that we need to prepare for 96 minutes in every game, so that's our mentality. Whether it's defending trying to hold on or trying to find a goal. We pride ourselves on our defending and yesterday we let ourselves down on two set pieces so that's something to work on." Read: Furman On CAF Drama: "What A Feeling!" And how does it feel to be the last PSL team left in CAF competition following Mamelodi Sundowns' exit? "I'm sure it's good for us as South Africans (that there is still a team left), others in the country will be supporting now in the last round because we're the only team left in CAF competition, so that's good for us. This team strives on pressure and the pressure is now very high. We have players with BMT (big match temperament) and we enjoy these occasions. Hopefully we can keep this going." SuperSport will now face either MC Alger or Club Africain in the semifinals of the CCC.
