Ex-Orlando Pirates man Richard Ofori hits back at Gavin Hunt on foreign goalkeepers, credits expats as the force behind Ronwen Williams' rise- 'You must be the best goalkeeper to play in another country'

SuperSport United coach Gavin Hunt recently said the high number of foreign goalkeepers in the Premier Soccer League is stifling the development of homegrown talent.

But AmaZulu's Richard Ofori disagrees with the experienced coach and gives an example of Bafana Bafana captain Ronwen Williams as having been spurred by foreign goalkeepers in the local league.

“Improve other goalkeepers as well, if you can see Williams and co, the time when he was at SuperSport, and now, you will see the changes,” Ofori told iDiski Times.  

“Now, he needs to step up his game because Onyango and co are there, and it helps the country a lot.

“You can see now he’s one of the best goalkeepers in the world and competing for the Ballon d’Or, it also tells you that sometimes you need the best to beat the best.  

“If you compare him to the time when he was at SuperSport and now, you will see a different person and different personality and everything," he added.

“It’s not a debate; you must be the best goalkeeper to play in another country.”

At least 12 PSL clubs have foreign goalkeepers with the likes of TS Galaxy, Richards Bay and Golden Arrows having two non-South African custodians.

That has, however, not disadvantaged Bafana Bafana who currently have Williams, Sipho Chaine, Ricardo Goss and Veli Mothwa competing for places.

Williams has even been nominated for the prestigious Yashin Trophy at the Ballon d'Or as well as in three categories of the Caf awards.

It remains to be seen if South Africa will continue churning out local goalkeepers who are of international quality.

The likes of Kaizer Chiefs' Karabo Molefe as well as Siyabonga Dlala and Sphamandla Gumede of Orlando Pirates are upcoming stoppers expected to fully develop in the near future into the mould of Itumeleng Khune.