Denis Onyango Reveals Next Move After Active Playing Career

Former Uganda Cranes Captain Denis Masinde Onyango says he wants to remain in football and also give back to Ugandans upon hanging up his boots.

The Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper made the remarks while appearing on the Square Pass Muntabwe Sports show that airs out every Saturday on 100.2 Galaxy FM.

To many players, once they call time on active playing, they take on several avenues as they try to make ends meet.

For Onyango, one of most successful players in the country, he has sights on giving back the nation through football.

“I want to remain in football to give back to the Ugandans because I want to share those ideas I have got as a player,” he told Galaxy FM Sports men.

“I want to help the young children back in my country Uganda. As of now I can’t open up an academy since am still in active football because you need to take care of these kids; availing equipment and in our country taxes are high on Sports equipments. But if you get companies supporting you, it is easier to get started.”

After 16 years of service, Onyango retired from National team Football earlier this year in April after the team’s failure to qualify for the 2022 AFCON finals under his captaincy.

Following his departure, many football lovers in Uganda looked at either Chippa United goalkeeper Ismael Watenga or then Al Hilal’s Jamal Salim as a possible replacement for Onyango as the Cranes number one goalkeeper.

However in a turn of events, it is now St. George and former KCCA FC goalkeeper Charles Lukwago who is ahead of the two said goalkeepers in Micho’s pecking order.

When asked about the matter, Onyango said: “I my self thought that Watenga could be ahead of Lukwago because there are some campaigns we had, when am not around and it’s not a FIFA calendar, Watenga was always in goal and impressed.”

“Yes, he is a promising goalkeeper but every coach has his own way of understanding his goalkeepers, Lukwago has also got some exposure on the continent while with KCCA and I think he has done well since has only conceded one goal in the five games of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.”

About the Kenya game where Uganda drew 1-1, Onyango said: “In our last match, Lukwago was Man of the Match on the Ugandan side, yes we played well but Kenya also had key players in the game. He needs our support, yes fans might abuse him you can see how fans treated him when he left KCCA after making a mistake during Express in Uganda Cup clash last season. You have to make mistakes and learn from them so that you can silence all the critics,” Onyango said.

Onyango will be remembered for helping Uganda qualify for the 2017 AFCON finals to break the 39 year jinx. The biggest highlight of the Sundowns goalkeeper’s time with Uganda was captaining them at the 2019 Afcon where he guided them to the Round of 16.

During his time with the Cranes, he was named the African Footballer of the Year in 2016 and a three-time CAF XI goalkeeper.

Throughout his career both at club and National team, Onyango has attained a lot of success and is without a doubt one of most successful Player in Uganda.


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