Ronwen Williams remains South Africa’s largely undisputed No. 1 despite criticism of his display in the 2-0 loss to Mexico last Thursday. Williams, 34, serves as Bafana Bafana’s captain and often wears the armband for Mamelodi Sundowns when club captain Themba Zwane is absent.
Few younger goalkeepers are playing regularly in the South African Premiership. Sekhukhune United’s Leaner, who turned 28 on Feb. 12, is the youngest regular starter among domestic goalkeepers. A trio of South Africans — Takalani Mazhamba (Kaizer Chiefs, then 18 now 19), Olwethu Mzimela (AmaZulu, 25) and Elson Sithole (Chippa United, 25) — have appeared as temporary starters but are not established first-choice options. Foreign keepers have also featured: Kenya’s Brian Bwire started for Polokwane City early in the season, while Ghana’s Fredrick Asare impressed late on.
Fletcher Smythe-Lowe is the principal young prospect, currently on the books at Portugal’s Estoril and 19 years old. He starred in South Africa’s U20 Africa Cup of Nations victory in Egypt and was named Goalkeeper of the Tournament. Former Bafana goalkeeper Andre Arendse has warned of a potential crisis in the position, and head coach Hugo Broos told News24 in March 2025 that the situation has been worrying for two years, noting that foreign goalkeepers often block opportunities for young South Africans and that goalkeeper development must improve.
Debate has touched on whether South Africa should emulate Egypt, where foreign goalkeepers are banned. On Egypt’s opening weekend, Al Ahly started Mostafa Shobeir (then 25, now 26) in a 2-2 draw with Modern Future and Zamalek’s Mohamed Sobhy (26) kept a clean sheet in a 2-0 win over Ceramica Cleopatra, examples cited when comparing age profiles.
Roughly half of Premiership starting goalkeepers are South African, but few are markedly younger than Williams. Ricardo Goss (Siwelele FC) is 32 and Sipho Chaine (Orlando Pirates) is 29; both were named as backups to Williams in Mexico. Kaizer Chiefs’ Brandon Petersen, 31, was dropped by Broos after the preliminary squad was cut. Williams told ESPN shortly before the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup that five different keepers saw opportunities for Bafana in 2024, citing himself, Veli Mothwa, Ricardo Goss and Sage Stephens among those who played.
