Denis Masinde Onyango (born 15 May 1985)[3] is a Ugandan professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for South African Premier Soccer League club Mamelodi Sundowns.
 Onyango in 2023 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Denis Masinde Onyango[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 15 May 1985 | ||
| Place of birth | Kampala, Uganda | ||
| Height | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Mamelodi Sundowns | ||
| Number | 1 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Sharing | |||
| Nsambya | |||
| SC Villa | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2004–2005 | SC Villa | ||
| 2005–2006 | Saint George | ||
| 2006–2010 | SuperSport United | 70 | (1) |
| 2010–2011 | Mpumalanga Black Aces | 1 | (0) |
| 2011– | Mamelodi Sundowns | 166 | (0) |
| 2013–2014 | → Bidvest Wits | 4 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2005–2021 | Uganda | 82 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 30 June 2024 | |||
Having begun his career in his native country, Onyango went on to play in the South African Premier Soccer League with Supersport United, Mpumalanga Black Aces, and Mamelodi Sundowns. With Mamelodi Sundowns, he won the 2016 CAF Champions League and took part in the 2016 FIFA Club World Cup. He was named the 2016 African-based African Player of the year. He was also ranked as the tenth best goalkeeper in the world in the list for 2016, compiled by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics.[4]
He represented Uganda at the 2017 and 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, and captained them until his international retirement in 2021.[5]
Club career
editEarly career
editBorn in Kampala, Uganda, Onyango began his career with SC Villa in Kampala and later joined St. George SA in Ethiopia.
SuperSport United and Mpumalanga Black Aces
editIn 2006, Onyango joined South African Premier Soccer League side Supersport United.
On 8 July 2010, he was released by SuperSport United.
On 26 July, Mpumalanga Black Aces signed free agent Onyango.[6]
Mamelodi Sundowns
editIn 2011, Onyango joined South African Premier Soccer League club Mamelodi Sundowns.[7]
On 2 August 2013, he made a loan move to league rivals Bidvest Wits.[8]
In July 2014 Mamelodi Sundowns exercised their option to extend Onyango's contract by a year.[7]
Onyango won the PSL Goalkeeper of the Season award (best player in the South African top division) in the 2015–16 season and kept 14 clean sheets as Sundowns earned a record 71 points.[9]
The Uganda Sports Press Associations voted Onyango as the best sports personality in the month of October 2016 in Uganda.[10]
On 5 January 2017, he was voted the 2016 African-based African Player of the year at the CAF Awards held in Nigeria.[11] The final tally saw him pick up 252 votes, compared to 228 votes for second place Khama Billiat.[12]
International career
editOnyango made his international debut for Uganda on 18 June 2005 World Cup qualifying match against Cape Verde.[13] From then Onyango became a regular for the Cranes.[14]
Onyango helped the Cranes qualify for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations by conceding only two goals in six matches in their qualifying group.[15] He made his first appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations[16] in the 31st edition that was hosted by Gabon[17] from 14 January 2017 to 5 February 2017.
He became captain of the national team in April 2017.[18] On 12 April 2021, Onyango announced his international retirement, after Uganda failed to qualify for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.[19]
Style of play
editOnyango is renowned for his penalty-saving and his play in one-on-one situations.[20] He is all round, very consistent and calm as described by Mark Anderson, a former Sundowns goalkeeper coach.[21]
Career statistics
edit| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uganda | 2005 | 2 | 0 |
| 2006 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2007 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2008 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2009 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2010 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2011 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2012 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2013 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2014 | 10 | 0 | |
| 2015 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2016 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2017 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2018 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2019 | 9 | 0 | |
| 2020 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 82 | 0 | |
Honors
editSuper Sport United
Mamelodi Sundowns
- Premier Soccer League: 2015–16, 2017–18, 2018–19,[23] 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22
- Nedbank Cup: 2014–15, 2019–20,2021–22[23]
- Telkom Knockout: 2015, Telkom Knockout: 2019[23]
- CAF Champions League: 2016
- CAF Super Cup: 2017
- MTN 8: 2021
Individual
- 2016 African-based African Player of the year: 2016
- CAF Team of the Year: 2016, 2018
Read also
editReferences
edit- ^ Denis Onyango at WorldFootball.net
- ^ "FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2016: List of Players: Memelodi Sundowns" (PDF). FIFA. 14 December 2016. p. 6. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 December 2017.
- ^ "36. Denis Onyango | Mamelodi Sundowns". Archived from the original on 10 December 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
- ^ Reporter, Phakaaathi. "Onyango named in top-10 list of best goalkeepers in the world". The Citizen. Archived from the original on 19 July 2017. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
- ^ Mwine, Julian (10 September 2016). "Interview: Uganda Cranes goalkeeper on qualifying for AFCON and the future". www.ntv.co.ug. Archived from the original on 10 March 2018. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
- ^ "Denis Onyango signs with Mpumalanga Black Aces". Kick Off. Archived from the original on 22 May 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
- ^ a b "Mamelodi Sundowns exercise Denis Onyango contract option". Kick Off. Archived from the original on 6 July 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
- ^ "Onyango loaned out to Wits - BigEye.UG". bigeye.ug. 5 August 2013. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
- ^ "Denis Onyango voted South Africa's best". www.newvision.co.ug. Archived from the original on 1 April 2019. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
- ^ "USPA votes goalie Onyango as October's best sports personality". Kawowo Sports. 7 November 2016. Archived from the original on 22 May 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
- ^ Isabirye, David (6 January 2017). "Onyango, Uganda Cranes clinch CAF Awards". Kawowo Sports. Archived from the original on 6 January 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
- ^ "Glo CAF Awards 2016: Mahrez crowned African Player of the Year – IgbereTV News". igberetvnews.com. Archived from the original on 3 September 2018. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
- ^ "Uganda - Cape Verde 1:0 (WC Qualifiers Africa 2004/2005, Group 2)". worldfootball.net. Archived from the original on 6 April 2018. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
- ^ "Denis Onyango » Internationals". worldfootball.net. Archived from the original on 6 April 2018. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
- ^ "Ugandan football needs creativity". SuperSport official website. Archived from the original on 28 July 2017. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
- ^ Isabirye, David (4 September 2016). "Uganda Cranes qualify for AFCON after 38 years". Kawowo Sports. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
- ^ "Gabon named hosts of AFCON 2017". CAF. 8 April 2015. Archived from the original on 9 February 2017. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
- ^ "Onyango to retain Uganda captaincy under new coach McKinstry". BBC Sport. 6 October 2019. Archived from the original on 8 October 2019. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
- ^ "Denis Onyango: Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper announces Uganda retirement". Kick Off. 12 April 2021. Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
- ^ "Sundowns Player Ratings for Telkom Knockout Final against Kaizer Chiefs". Kick Off. Archived from the original on 23 June 2018. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
- ^ "Former Sundowns goalie Anderson heaps praise on Denis Onyango". www.kawowo.com. Archived from the original on 11 June 2015.
- ^ "Denis Onyango". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
- ^ a b c Denis Onyango at Soccerway. Retrieved 18 April 2021.