Cape Argus E-dition

Onyango determined to be Denis the GOAT

MIHLALI BALEKA Mihlali.baleka@inl.co.za

DESPITE being one of the most decorated players in the top flight, Denis Onyango still has a burning desire to win more silverware. In fact, the Mamelodi Sundowns number one says he won’t rest until he’s collected 10 league medals, having bagged eight so far.

Onyango arrived in the Premier Soccer League in 2006 to join SuperSport United under the tutelage of Pitso Mosimane from Ethiopian outfit Saint George SA. He won three titles in a row, from 2008-2010, with SuperSport under coach Gavin Hunt.

But he surfaced at Sundowns 10 years ago where his career blossomed. However, he didn’t have the perfect reunion with Mosimane – he was loaned to Bidvest Wits when Sundowns won their first title under him eight years ago.

Onyango used the time out at Wits to work on his weaknesses and returned to Sundowns as a fully-fledged shot-stopper. Since then, he’s inspired the Brazilians to various titles: five league crowns, the CAF Champions League, the Super Cup and three knockout trophies.

Following his exploits for the Brazilians, he collected a handful of PSL Goalkeeper of the Season accolades as well, while he was crowned the African Goalkeeper of the Year in 2016 – when he inspired Sundowns to the African crown.

Locally, Onyango shares his record of eight gold medals in the Premiership with his teammate and captain Hlompho Kekana. The recently retired Ugandan national team captain, however, says he won’t stop grinding until he’s won 10 league medals.

“It’s amazing to win my eighth league title. Of course, sharing that feat with Kekana is also amazing because I saw him coming from Black Leopards.

“He inspired youngsters and became one of the biggest captains at Sundowns,” Onyango reflected on his journey.

“These are things that drive me. We are here to win. I think Daine Klate was the most decorated player with titles (6) and we managed to beat that. We got to seven and eight. Keke and I want to make it to 10.

“So, it’s a challenge for youngsters. It's not easy though.”

It is not every day in the PSL that a foreigner goes on to become the most successful player in the top division – let alone a goalie. But Onyango says the club’s ambitions and his personal drive to be the best have made him stand head and shoulders above the rest.

“It was good to have Athony (Laffor, the Liberian who left Sundowns during the pre-season) making it as one of the top players in South Africa. We play and work for such challenges. It’s going to remain that Denis is one of the most decorated players in the country,” he said.

“It’s not easy. No one will ever say, ‘I am a foreigner and I am going to win eight league titles’. Sometimes, they play two or three seasons and they go back. It’s up to them.

“But whoever comes must take me on. I want nine and 10. Can they make 10? That's the question.”

However, Onyango, 36, knows that he can’t play forever.

He has backed his understudies at Sundowns, Jody February and Ricardo Goss, to succeed him one day.

But the veteran goalie has sent a stern warning to his juniors, saying: “They won’t get it on a platter. They have to work.”

SPORT

en-za

2021-06-20T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-06-20T07:00:00.0000000Z

http://capeargus.pressreader.com/article/281758452247547

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