Joint 'decision as coaches' to start Ronwen ahead of Denis in CT City victory, says Mngqithi

Ronwen Williams start between the posts against Cape Town City ahead of veteran Denis Onyango was a joint decision made by Mamelodi Sundowns coaches, revealed Manqoba Mngqithi.

The newly-signed Masandawana goalkeeper made his debut for the club in their season opening 2-0 victory against the Citizens in a Premiership encounter at a sold-out Cape Town Stadium on Friday.

Williams joined from SuperSport United in late July after lengthy speculation that the 30-year-old was seeking a new experience after 19 years at Matsatsantsa.

The decision paid off for the Brazilians technical staff as Williams kept a clean sheet and was at his best between the post, making goalbound save late in the second-half from a Mogamat May effort.

"To be honest it's a decision that we did as coaches, to be honest Denis has also been very good in training," said Mngqithi told reporters after the match

"Ronwen also has been very good but it's also very important to induct a player that we think is going to be very important going forward to his in future.

"If you play him against a so-called smaller team and he does not perform then everybody is on top of him.

"In Ronwen we made the decision to try and induct him as quick as possible because the road ahead is a little bit rough.

"The competition in that space is equally rough but it's always better to induct against a team like Cape Town City, because then already he’s played a very intense game.

"The save that he pulled maybe will also make things easier for him. But that does not suggest he is the number one in the goalkeeping position.

"The competition is wide open and in all of them we trust."

Downs kicked off the defence of their PSL title superb fashion with a stunning left-footed free-kick from