According to reports, Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Denis Onyango is considering retiring at the end of the season.
The 38-year-old former Ugandan Cranes captain will be turning 39 years old on 15 May.
IS DENIS ONYANGO HEADING FOR RETIREMENT?
According to FarPost, Onyango reportedly hinted at a potential retirement after the 2023/2024 season after a 13-year stint with Mamelodi Sundowns.
Surprisingly, his rumoured retirement comes barely three years after retiring from international football after a 13-year international career with Uganda. However, Denis Onyango and the club are yet to announce his retirement.
News of his retirement first made headlines in 2023. Earlier this year, media reports revealed that Sundowns was not renewing his contract. A source speaking on condition of anonymity to the media said, “Denis Onyango has done well for Sundowns, but let’s be honest, age is no longer on his side. He’ll be turning 39 in May.”
However, Denis Onyango hasn’t starred for Sundowns as he might have hoped for. Rowen Williams has been outstanding on goal. In 2023, he went down in the history books of the DStv Premier League after surpassing Orlando Pirates legend Moeneeb Josephs’ 17 clean sheets record in a season.
Williams had 18 clean sheets in 2023. The 32-year-old star also broke Andre Arendse’s clean sheets record in a tournament with five clean sheets at the African Cup of Nations.
CAREER
During his youth career, he starred for a string of academies, including Sharing, Nsambya and Villa SC. In 2004, he joined Villa SC’s senior team before joining Saint George in the 2005/2006 season.
At the end of the season, Denis Onyango joined SuperSport United. He left Matsatsantsa a Pitori for Mpumalanga Black Aces. However, his stint was short-lived. He switched floors to Mamelodi Sundowns in 2011.
Denis Onyango became the most successful PSL star in history in 2023. He became the first player to win ten leagues, surpassing former teammates Kennedy Mweene and Hlompho Kekana. However, he can cement his status as the most successful star in PSL history if Sundowns wins another league this year.
BEST SEASON
In 2016, Denis Onyango was named the best African Inter-Club player of the year. He also won the CAF Champions League and the Premier League with Sundowns. No doubt,2016 was arguably the best season in his career.
He earned international recognition the same year. Denis Onyango was ranked 10th in the IFFHS top 10 Goalkeepers in the world, ahead of former goalkeeper Petr Cech and Barcelona’s Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
HONOURS
No doubt Denis Onyango has capped his career with several silverware, which include:
- 10 Premier League trophies
- Three Nedbank Cups
- CAF Champions League
- CAF Super Cup
- Two Telkom Knockout Cups
- MTN8 Cup
- African Football League Cup
- Carling Black Label Cup
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ARTICLES BY LEEROY MUKOTEKWA
