Denis Onyango

Denis Masinde Onyango (born 15 May 1985)[3] is

Denis Onyango
a Ugandan professional footballer who plays as a
goalkeeper for South African Premier Soccer
League club Mamelodi Sundowns.

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 Onyango in 2023
International Federation of Football History & Personal information
Statistics.[4] Full name Denis Masinde Onyango[1]
Date of birth 15 May 1985
He represented Uganda at the 2017 and 2019 Place of birth Kampala, Uganda
Africa Cup of Nations, and captained them until his Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[2]
international retirement in 2021.[5]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information

Club career Current team Mamelodi Sundowns

Number 1
Youth career
Early career Sharing
Nsambya
Born in Kampala, Uganda, Onyango began his
SC Villa
career with SC Villa in Kampala and later joined
St. George SA in Ethiopia. Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2005 SC Villa
SuperSport United and Mpumalanga 2005–2006 Saint George
Black Aces 2006–2010 SuperSport United 70 (1)
In 2006, Onyango joined South African Premier 2010–2011 Mpumalanga Black Aces 1 (0)
Soccer League side Supersport United. 2011– Mamelodi Sundowns 166 (0)
2013–2014 → Bidvest Wits 4 (0)
On 8 July 2010, he was released by SuperSport International career
United.
2005–2021 Uganda 82 (0)
On 26 July, Mpumalanga Black Aces signed free *Club domestic league appearances and goals,
correct as of 30 June 2024
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
Appearances and goals by national team
and year[22]
National team Year Apps Goals

2005 2 0
2006 2 0

2007 4 0

2008 6 0
2009 1 0

2010 3 0

2011 6 0
2012 6 0

Uganda 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
Super Sport United

Premier Soccer League: 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10

Mamelodi Sundowns

Premier Soccer League: 2015–16, 2017–18, 2018–19,[23] 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22,

2022-23, 2023-24
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
Tom Ikara
Ismail Watenga
Ali Kimera

References
1. Denis Onyango (https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/denis-onyango/#wac_660x4
0_top) at WorldFootball.net
2. "FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2016: List of Players: Memelodi Sundowns" (https://web.archiv
e.org/web/20171201033347/http://www.fifadata.com/document/FCWC/2016/pdf/FCWC_201
6_SquadLists.pdf) (PDF). FIFA. 14 December 2016. p. 6. Archived from the original (http://w
ww.fifadata.com/document/FCWC/2016/pdf/FCWC_2016_SquadLists.pdf) (PDF) on 1
December 2017.
3. "36. Denis Onyango | Mamelodi Sundowns" (https://web.archive.org/web/20171210090324/
http://sundownsfc.co.za/36-denis-onyango/). Archived from the original (http://www.sundown
sfc.co.za/36-denis-onyango/) on 10 December 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
4. Reporter, Phakaaathi. "Onyango named in top-10 list of best goalkeepers in the world" (htt
p://citizen.co.za/phakaaathi/phakaaathi-news/1384321/onyango-named-top-ten-list-best-goa
lkeepers-world/). The Citizen. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20170719075955/http://
citizen.co.za/phakaaathi/phakaaathi-news/1384321/onyango-named-top-ten-list-best-goalke
epers-world/) from the original on 19 July 2017. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
5. Mwine, Julian (10 September 2016). "Interview: Uganda Cranes goalkeeper on qualifying for
AFCON and the future" (http://www.ntv.co.ug/news/sports/10/sep/2016/interview-uganda-cra
nes-goalkeeper-qualifying-afcon-and-future-14160#sthash.W7YN7KHy.dpbs).
www.ntv.co.ug. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20180310010252/http://www.ntv.co.u
g/news/sports/10/sep/2016/interview-uganda-cranes-goalkeeper-qualifying-afcon-and-future
-14160#sthash.W7YN7KHy.dpbs) from the original on 10 March 2018. Retrieved 6 April
2018.
6. "Denis Onyango signs with Mpumalanga Black Aces" (http://www.kickoff.com/news/16896/d
enis-onyango-signs-with-mpumalanga-black-aces.php). Kick Off. Archived (https://web.archi
ve.org/web/20180522111200/http://www.kickoff.com/news/16896/denis-onyango-signs-with-
mpumalanga-black-aces.php) from the original on 22 May 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
7. "Mamelodi Sundowns exercise Denis Onyango contract option" (http://www.kickoff.com/new
s/46661/mamelodi-sundowns-exercise-denis-onyango-contract-option-). Kick Off. Archived
(https://web.archive.org/web/20180706163309/http://www.kickoff.com/news/46661/mamelod
i-sundowns-exercise-denis-onyango-contract-option-) from the original on 6 July 2018.
Retrieved 21 May 2018.
8. "Onyango loaned out to Wits - BigEye.UG" (http://bigeye.ug/onyango-loaned-out-to-wits/).
bigeye.ug. 5 August 2013. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
9. "Denis Onyango voted South Africa's best" (http://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/14
25809/denis-onyango-voted-south-africans). www.newvision.co.ug. Archived (https://web.ar
chive.org/web/20190401205523/https://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1425809/de
nis-onyango-voted-south-africans) from the original on 1 April 2019. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
10. "USPA votes goalie Onyango as October's best sports personality" (http://www.kawowo.co
m/2016/11/07/uspa-votes-goalie-onyango-as-october-s-best-sports-personality/). Kawowo
Sports. 7 November 2016. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20180522112409/https://w
ww.kawowo.com/2016/11/07/uspa-votes-goalie-onyango-as-october-s-best-sports-personali
ty/) from the original on 22 May 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
11. Isabirye, David (6 January 2017). "Onyango, Uganda Cranes clinch CAF Awards" (https://w
ww.kawowo.com/2017/01/06/onyango-uganda-cranes-clinch-caf-awards/). Kawowo Sports.
Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20170106064140/https://www.kawowo.com/2017/01/
06/onyango-uganda-cranes-clinch-caf-awards/) from the original on 6 January 2017.
Retrieved 6 January 2017.
12. "Glo CAF Awards 2016: Mahrez crowned African Player of the Year – IgbereTV News" (htt
p://igberetvnews.com/315178). igberetvnews.com. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20
180903215326/http://igberetvnews.com/315178/) from the original on 3 September 2018.
Retrieved 7 January 2017.
13. "Uganda - Cape Verde 1:0 (WC Qualifiers Africa 2004/2005, Group 2)" (http://www.worldfoot
ball.net/report/wm-quali-afrika-2006-gruppe-2-uganda-kapverdische-inseln/).
worldfootball.net. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20180406225850/http://www.worldf
ootball.net/report/wm-quali-afrika-2006-gruppe-2-uganda-kapverdische-inseln/) from the
original on 6 April 2018. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
14. "Denis Onyango » Internationals" (http://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/denis-onya
ngo/4/). worldfootball.net. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20180406163447/http://ww
w.worldfootball.net/player_summary/denis-onyango/4/) from the original on 6 April 2018.
Retrieved 6 April 2018.
15. "Ugandan football needs creativity" (https://web.archive.org/web/20170728154908/http://mo
bi.supersport.com/football/uganda/news/120106/Ugandan_football_needs_creativity).
SuperSport official website. Archived from the original (http://mobi.supersport.com/football/u
ganda/news/120106/Ugandan_football_needs_creativity) on 28 July 2017. Retrieved
7 January 2017.
16. Isabirye, David (4 September 2016). "Uganda Cranes qualify for AFCON after 38 years" (htt
ps://www.kawowo.com/2016/09/04/uganda-cranes-qualify-for-afcon-after-38-years/).
Kawowo Sports. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
17. "Gabon named hosts of AFCON 2017" (http://www.cafonline.com/en-US/NewsCenter/News/
NewsDetails?id=5EBYaO1Q3VpcNMG04lbrDA%3d%3d). CAF. 8 April 2015. Archived (http
s://web.archive.org/web/20170209065745/http://www.cafonline.com/en-US/NewsCenter/Ne
ws/NewsDetails?id=5EBYaO1Q3VpcNMG04lbrDA%3D%3D) from the original on 9
February 2017. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
18. "Onyango to retain Uganda captaincy under new coach McKinstry" (https://www.bbc.co.uk/s
port/football/49948610). BBC Sport. 6 October 2019. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/
20191008092541/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49948610) from the original on 8
October 2019. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
19. "Denis Onyango: Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper announces Uganda retirement" (https://w
ww.kickoff.com/news/articles/south-africa-news/categories/news/premiership/denis-onyango
-mamelodi-sundowns-goalkeeper-announces-uganda-retirement/697499). Kick Off. 12 April
2021. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20210418000124/https://www.kickoff.com/new
s/articles/south-africa-news/categories/news/premiership/denis-onyango-mamelodi-sundow
ns-goalkeeper-announces-uganda-retirement/697499) from the original on 18 April 2021.
Retrieved 18 April 2021.
20. "Sundowns Player Ratings for Telkom Knockout Final against Kaizer Chiefs" (http://www.kic
koff.com/news/61317/sundowns-player-ratings-for-telkom-knockout-final-against-kaizer-chie
fs). Kick Off. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20180623033233/http://www.kickoff.com/
news/61317/sundowns-player-ratings-for-telkom-knockout-final-against-kaizer-chiefs) from
the original on 23 June 2018. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
21. "Former Sundowns goalie Anderson heaps praise on Denis Onyango" (https://web.archive.o
rg/web/20150611072742/http://www.kawowo.com/index.php/football/item/22174-former-sun
downs-goalie-anderson-heaps-praise-on-denis-onyango.html). www.kawowo.com. Archived
from the original (http://www.kawowo.com/index.php/football/item/22174-former-sundowns-g
oalie-anderson-heaps-praise-on-denis-onyango.html) on 11 June 2015.
22. "Denis Onyango" (https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/11780.html). National
Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
23. Denis Onyango (https://int.soccerway.com/players/denis-masinde-onyango/62548/) at
Soccerway. Retrieved 18 April 2021.

External links
Official Website of Supersport United Football Club (http://www.supersportunited.co.za)
Premier Soccer League (http://www.psl.co.za)

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