Mamelodi Sundowns captain Ronwen Williams has admitted that the club's 3-1 defeat to USM Alger in the CAF Super Cup final will remain a painful memory for a long time, but he believes the team must find a way to recover and focus on the challenges ahead.

The Brazilians suffered a disappointing defeat in front of their home supporters at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Sunday, missing out on another opportunity to add silverware to their trophy cabinet. USM Alger, who won the CAF Confederation Cup, produced an impressive performance to beat the CAF Champions League winners and lift the Super Cup.

Williams returned to the starting line-up after spending a few weeks on the sidelines due to injury. His return was an important boost for Sundowns, especially with midfielder Teboho Mokoena also returning to action. Both players are important members of the team's leadership group and play major roles in the club's ambitions.

However, their presence was not enough to prevent Sundowns from suffering a painful defeat against the Algerian side.

Speaking after the match, Williams admitted that losing such an important final at home was difficult to accept, explaining that the disappointment would take time to disappear.

"Obviously, it's tough. This one will hurt for a very long time," Williams said.

The Sundowns captain also believes the result should force the players to look closely at their performances and understand what needs to change if they want to return to their previous standards.

He explained that the team must reflect on where they are currently as a group and compare that with the level they previously reached. Williams believes Sundowns have the quality and experience to improve, but they must show greater determination and work together to get through this difficult period.

The goalkeeper acknowledged that the club has experienced several memorable victories and painful disappointments over the years. He was also part of the Sundowns squad that suffered Champions League heartbreak in the semi-finals and final before eventually winning the competition last season.

For Williams, the Super Cup defeat is another difficult moment, but he insists that football comes with both success and disappointment.

He also admitted that losing in front of their own supporters made the result even more disappointing, especially considering the expectations surrounding the club.

"You can't win them all, but it's disappointing to lose at home. We have to regroup and keep going," he added.

Despite the setback, Sundowns cannot afford to spend too much time thinking about the defeat. The 2026/27 season is still in its early stages, with several competitions remaining and more opportunities to fight for trophies.

Williams will now turn his attention to international duty after reporting to the Bafana Bafana camp on Monday afternoon.

South Africa are preparing for their upcoming home and away 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Kenya. The Kenyan national team is coached by former Bafana Bafana striker Benni McCarthy, adding another interesting element to the upcoming meetings.

Williams and Mokoena will be important figures for Bafana as the national team prepares for the qualifiers.

For Sundowns, however, the immediate challenge will be finding the right response to their Super Cup disappointment. The defeat has raised questions about the team's current performances, and the players will be expected to demonstrate their character when domestic and continental football resumes.

Williams has made it clear that the disappointment will not disappear overnight, but the Sundowns captain knows that the team must move forward. Their response in the coming weeks will be important in determining whether they can put this painful result behind them and return to winning ways.

Source: IDiskiTimes