THE CAPTAIN of Bafana Bafana and Mamelodi Sundowns, Ronwen Williams, described the late Jayden Adams as a lion when he was on the field but the way he smiled off it made you feel safe.
Williams was speaking at the memorial service for Adams (25) yesterday afternoon at Stellenbosch Town Hall, Cape Town.
The service was attended by different football teams led by Sundowns and Stellenbosch FC who raised Adams.
There were also soccer fans of different teams in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) and government officials at different levels.
What is clear from the various speakers who left the field is that South African football has lost a player with rare talent.
Williams was accompanied by Sundowns officials including the president, Thlopie Motsepe, Miguel Cardoso who is the coach and his team, he promised that the team will always highlight the contributions of Adams.
“Go live with angels like you, but the rest of us will do everything possible to ensure that your contributions to Sundowns and Bafana remain in the eyes of the people.
“The way he kept quiet about Adams would make you forget that he was there, but if someone made a joke and you were asked about him, he burst out laughing.
“He was humble off the field and had the patience to help others. This was different when he was on the field because he turned into a lion when he saw the need to protect his team,” said Williams.
Adams died at home in Cape Town after Sundowns gave him the opportunity to rest as he was part of the Bafana Bafana team that was playing in the World Cup.
He played in all three of the country’s group games against Mexico, Czechia and Korea Republic. He did not enter the Last 32 where Bafana lost to Canada.
The player, who was known as Grootman, grew up in Stellenbosch FC’s nursery school before being promoted to the senior team in 2020. This was followed by greener pastures for Sundowns in 2025.
In Sundonws, he won the Betway Premiership title in the 2024/25 season and the Caf Champions League in the 2025/26 season. He was present in Bafana which returned with a bronze medal at the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast in 2023.