Denis Onyango

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.

Denis Onyango
Onyagno in 2023
Personal information
Full name Denis Masinde Onyango[1]
Date of birth (1985-05-15) 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 14
Youth career
Sharing
Nsambya
Villa SC
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2005 Villa SC
2005–2006 Saint George
2006–2010 SuperSport United 70 (1)
2010–2011 Mpumalanga Black Aces 1 (0)
2011– Mamelodi Sundowns 117 (0)
2013–2014 → Bidvest Wits 4 (0)
International career
2005–2021 Uganda 82 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 1 August 2020

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 Africa Cup of Nations, and captained them until his international retirement in 2021.[5]

Club career

Early career

Born 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

In 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

In 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

Onyango 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

Onyango 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
As of match played 15 July 2019[22]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Uganda 200520
200620
200740
200860
200910
201030
201160
201260
201330
2014100
201560
201650
201780
201870
201960
Total750

Honors

Super Sport United

Mamelodi Sundowns

Individual

References
  1. Denis Onyango at WorldFootball.net
  2. "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.
  3. "36. Denis Onyango | Mamelodi Sundowns". Archived from the original on 10 December 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  4. Reporter, Phakaaathi. "Onyango named in top-10 list of best goalkeepers in the world". The Citizen. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  5. Mwine, Julian (10 September 2016). "Interview: Uganda Cranes goalkeeper on qualifying for AFCON and the future". www.ntv.co.ug. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  6. "Denis Onyango signs with Mpumalanga Black Aces". Kick Off. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  7. "Mamelodi Sundowns exercise Denis Onyango contract option". Kick Off. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  8. "Onyango loaned out to Wits - BigEye.UG". bigeye.ug. 5 August 2013. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  9. "Denis Onyango voted South Africa's best". www.newvision.co.ug. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  10. "USPA votes goalie Onyango as October's best sports personality". Kawowo Sports. 7 November 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  11. Isabirye, David (6 January 2017). "Onyango, Uganda Cranes clinch CAF Awards". Kawowo Sports. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  12. "Glo CAF Awards 2016: Mahrez crowned African Player of the Year – IgbereTV News". igberetvnews.com. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  13. "Uganda - Cape Verde 1:0 (WC Qualifiers Africa 2004/2005, Group 2)". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  14. "Denis Onyango » Internationals". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  15. "Ugandan football needs creativity". SuperSport official website. Archived from the original on 28 July 2017. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  16. Isabirye, David (4 September 2016). "Uganda Cranes qualify for AFCON after 38 years". Kawowo Sports. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  17. "Gabon named hosts of AFCON 2017". CAF. 8 April 2015.
  18. "Onyango to retain Uganda captaincy under new coach McKinstry". BBC Sport. 6 October 2019.
  19. "Denis Onyango: Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper announces Uganda retirement". Kick Off. 12 April 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  20. "Sundowns Player Ratings for Telkom Knockout Final against Kaizer Chiefs". Kick Off. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  21. "Former Sundowns goalie Anderson heaps praise on Denis Onyango". www.kawowo.com. Archived from the original on 11 June 2015.
  22. "Denis Onyango". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  23. Denis Onyango at Soccerway. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
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