Fifth league title makes Onyango even hungrier

Kampala.

Denis Oyango joined just a handful of players to win the Premier Soccer League (PSL) five times after Mamelodi Sundowns clinched the 2017/18 championship with a game to spare last weekend.
The Ugandan and Africa’s number one goalkeeper, one of the most important players for the champions, now proudly stands next to South African legends Andre Arendse, David Kannemeyer and the late Ace Ntsoelengoe, who all did a five.
“For me,” Onyango told Daily Monitor this week, “The league means a lot because I’m among the few foreign players in South Africa and a few local players that have won it five times.”
Onyango won his first three league titles with SuperSport United in 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10 before adding two with Sundowns; the latest coming last Saturday. “It’s always very difficult to win the league. Orlando Pirates have pushed up to the second last game of season.
“We did all we could to wrap up the league as soon as possible. And yes, it’s been a very interesting season for me and the team because we have competed against a very good team in Orlando Pirates.
“Obviously coach Micho (Orlando Pirates) has turned them around. Looking at how they performed last season, when they finished 11th, and this season second, it is tremendous improvement.”

Unrelenting drive
Not that Sundowns have been sleeping. “And for us we corrected our mistakes. After finishing second (behind Bidvest Wits) last year, winning the league this year was the only option.

“This shows that the team was very focused on winning the league and there was a lot of changes in the team with new faces coming in to help the team achieve the club’s goal.”
Yet, even at five league titles, a Champions League winner’s medal and several individual honours, there is no sign of the fire burning down on the 33-year-old. “It’s not easy to win the league but these are the achievements that we look up to when you play football.
“I wonna win the league again and again; I wonna win the Champions League, and these are the things that drive me every day to go to work, to keep winning. Because if you stop thinking about winning that’s the day you quit.
Onyango paid tribute to his former Cranes coach Micho and Pirates for stretching them. “Of course as sportsmen we normally talk to each other, and we remind each other about the past few years we spent together and how football has changed our lives,” said the goalkeeper.
“We stay as sportsmen but when I’m on the pitch I have to do my job, I have to help my team win. He also has to help his team win and he has really transformed them.
“Look, he is one of the few people who sent me messages congratulating me for winning the league, and after I had a tough time last week, he is one of the guys who spoke to me and really encouraged me.”
Onyango was at fault for one of the goals as Sundowns were eliminated from Nedbank Cup. His coach Pitso Mosimane was also quick to the defence of his star, saying they have won so many because of Onyango.