Brother’s memory inspires Williams for World Cup opener
News
Football has a habit of throwing up poignant coincidences.
For South Africa and their captain Ronwen Williams, the 2026 Fifa World Cup’s opening match against co-hosts Mexico will be one such occasion, mirroring the fixture which began the 2010 tournament hosted by the Africans.
“That’s the beauty of sport, of football,” said Williams. “I can remember 2010. The atmosphere for that opening game [a 1-1 draw] was electrifying. Everyone behind the country.”
Details
For the Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper, the occasion in Mexico City will be particularly emotional. His older brother Marvin was killed in a car crash just two months before the 2010 World Cup kicked off.
Ronwen was 18 at the time and briefly considered quitting football. Not doing so proved to be the right call.
“He had so much high hopes for me,” Williams told Newsday on the BBC World Service.
Analysis
“To know I’ll be leading out my team in the opening game, I can’t put it into words.
“It gives me chills. Sometimes I find myself just laying at night thinking [about] it.
“I always say the two most important games at the World Cup is the opening and the final, and Bafana Bafana is going to be part of one.
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