Heredia praises Supersport shot-stoppers
SuperSport United goalkeeping coach Alex Heredia says he is delighted to be working with the Pretoria side's shot-stoppers, particularly the highly rated Ronwen Williams.
Heredia was confirmed last week as head coach Cavin Johnson's first choice for the role, having worked with Johnson at former club Platinum Stars.
Heredia, who doubles-up as Bafana Bafana goalkeeping coach, believes United have an excellent pool of goalkeepers to choose from, including the veteran and oldest member in the department Rowen Fernandez, as well as young Boalefa Pule.
"It's fantastic. I have three very good goalkeepers," Heredia said this week. "The level of goalkeepers is getting high and the fact that I came in and tried a new type of training, they are reacting very well. There is a lot of competition. What I've tried to do is make the training sessions enjoyable."
Considered among the continent's leading coaches, Heredia added that Williams was a fantastic prospect for the country, but hinted that Johnson could consider rotating his goalkeepers as the season unfolds.
"I can see from the last couple of weeks, the three of them are very committed. In a very healthy way, they are competing among themselves. I can guarantee, the three of them don't know who is going to play in the next game. The three of them are ready to play, but it's up to the coach to make the final decision, my job is to make sure that they are ready to play."
Having had first-hand insight into Williams's performance for Matsatsantsa, Heredia says the 21-year-old is in the envious position of being next in line for the national team, and has time on his side.
"To be this young and already be playing two full seasons for SuperSport, which is a big team, is great," Heredia said of last season's Premier Soccer League (PSL) Young Player of the Season. "There are a couple of goalkeepers who are really performing well. The next one is Ronwen Williams. He is doing fantastically well and he just needs to keep playing, working and waiting for the opportunity. It will come. He has a lot of time in front of him and sooner or later the opportunity will come."
Williams joined United at the beginning of 2011 and quickly established himself as first choice keeper under former coach Gavin Hunt, while Johnson looks set to follow suit.
"There is always room for improvement. Ronwen has the advantage in being very young," Heredia explained. "Ronwen has been in goal for the last two seasons and he has the benefit that he has a lot of room for improvement."
Supersport United have an MTN 8 date with Orlando Pirates on Sunday afternoon.
(File Photo:Gallo Images)
- Sapa
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