Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams' Ballon d'Or nomination would put him up there with the greats in Africa but from a South Africa's perspective, comparisons with Itumeleng Khune would seemingly not go away.
Williams became the first Africa-based shot-stopper to be nominated for the Goalkeeper of the Year award [Yashin Trophy] after heroics for Bafana Bafana at the Africa Cup of Nations and also at Sundowns, after the club won the inaugural African Football League.
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Debates would always emerge on who is the greatest goalkeeper to come out of the country, after Khune was highly rated as an heir to legends such as Brian Baloyi at Kaizer Chiefs.
Just like Williams, the 37-year-old shot-stopper was hailed for his ability to play with his feet and be that extra player on field, something that was new in the game during his peak years.
Former Moroka Swallows goalkeeper Greg Etafia found it hard to compare between the two goalkeepers but admitted that Khune took his breath away during his prime.
"For me I've seen Khune on another level. You talk about a goalkeeper taking goalkeeping to another level, Khune did [that] in his prime. He was unbelievable. Talking about goalkeepers playing [from the back], Khune started this thing, his distribution was on another level," Etafia said on TimesLive Video YouTube Channel.
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"He was very good in everything, in catching, crosses, stopping, kicking. So he was an all-round goalkeeper. You cannot compare [with Williams]. When Khune was there, Ronwen [also] in the national team, could see they were not too far from each other. At that time Khune was playing [as the number one].
"When you're playing, you always have the advantage. Now Williams is doing it, people are comparing. Both of them are top goalkeepers. [But] I think Khune when he was playing, he was unbelievable. I really admire him and what he has contributed, especially for the national team and Kaizer Chiefs, unbelievable goalkeeper," Etafia added.
Williams won the coveted 2023/24 PSL Footballer of the Season award, an accolade Khune also won in 2013, as the first goalkeeper to become footballer of the year since Andre Arendse in 2002.
