Relief as Ronwen Williams opens up on CAF title pressure

The Brazilians finally ended their wait last weekend after defeating Moroccan side AS FAR 2-1 on aggregate in Rabat to lift the continental crown for the second time – the first being back in 2016. 

Williams acknowledged that expectation created anxiety within the group but believes overcoming the psychological burden and finally getting over the line highlighted the character and resilience of the team. 

"It's amazing you know. I'm so proud of the entire team, the technical staff and the Masandawana family. For so many years we kept knocking and kept going and fell short so many times, its not easy. 

"It was difficult to motivate ourselves to go again and to fight again because we know how difficult it is to win the CAF Champions League - it's not for everyone."

READ: Thapelo Xoki - We blocked outside noise to win the title

Over those years, there was an apparent obsession with trying to win playing a certain style of football. Williams accepts they had to add grit to their style. 

The Bafana Bafana captain did add, however, that Sundowns have also found the balance between giving the fans what they want as well as what it takes to compete on the African stage. 

Williams nearly cost Sundowns the title by conceding a penalty late in the second half, but he managed to perform some heroics and made the save! 

"I was so disappointed and I'm still disappointed because it was a soft penalty to give away from my side. You don't want to put your team on the back foot at that time. Me being me, I'll be hard on myself for the longest time even though I saved the penalty, that is just how I am."