Ronwen Williams deserves Ballon d'Or Yashin Trophy - Hugo Broos

Williams became the first South African player to be nominated in the Ballon d'Or awards, and is up against top goalkeepers such as Italy number-one Gianluigi Donnarumma and Argentina’s World Cup winner Emiliano Martinez. 

READ: Williams on Ballon d’Or nomination: I thought they were joking

Broos says Williams has tough competition, but deserves the award for his fine displays with both the national team and his club Mamelodi Sundowns.

"Surely something I'm proud of. If one of your players are nominated for a Ballon d'Or, but on other the side, if you look at Ronwen's performances – not only in the national team but also with Sundowns, and especially perhaps at the last AFCON, I think you can only say he deserves it," said Broos.

"I looked a little bit at who he is on the list with – for me, he has a chance to win it. But he's only a South African, and you know in [votes], and things like that, they're sometimes looking for a bigger name.

"But when you look at the performances of Ronwen, I think he deserves it and he makes me proud."

Meanwhile, Themba Zwane says he'll draw strength from his experience as he prepares to wear the armband as a stand-in captain in the absence of Williams and vice-captain Percy Tau in the back-to-back AFCON qualifiers against Uganda and South Sudan.

"I have not spoken to him, but obviously 'Ronza' is more experienced than me in terms of captaincy, and he obviously gives me advice in the team, and he's always there trying to push me," said the veteran midfielder.