At 34, Williams is one of the senior figures in the squad and his leadership extends well beyond organising the defence. The report says he views a captain’s role as providing “stability” and being “the glue” for the team.
That perspective is particularly important for a goalkeeper. Williams rejects the traditional idea that a player stationed behind the action is too detached to lead. His authority comes from reading danger, calming teammates and carrying responsibility when matches become tense.
His penalty-saving reputation adds another layer to that influence. Should South Africa reach the knockout phase, Williams could again become a decisive figure in the moments that demand composure.
The report credits Hugo Broos with helping rebuild belief after a difficult period for South African football. The Belgian coach has reportedly restored a stronger connection between the team and its supporters, while improving results in continental competition and World Cup qualifying.
Williams describes Broos as a “father figure”, a reflection of a relationship that appears to have grown well beyond the training ground. Broos’ decision to make him captain also carried deep personal meaning for the goalkeeper and his family.
The opening fixture carries emotional weight. The report says it echoes South Africa’s first match at the 2010 World Cup, when the hosts faced Mexico. Williams was a teenager then, dealing with the loss of his older brother and considering whether football still had a place in his life.
Now, he is reportedly preparing to lead his country into a tournament that once seemed impossible to imagine. The next test will be whether that history can fuel South Africa’s most ambitious World Cup campaign yet.