Fufa to gift Onyango land title
Cranes’ qualification for Afcon can be attributed to Onyango’s safe hands among other factors. FILE PHOTO
Uganda Cranes and Mamelodi Sundowns history-making shot stopper Denis Onyango will hope Fufa keep their word this time after being promised a land title for his Caf Champions League heroics.
Fufa president Moses Magogo yesterday during the weekly press briefing, assured the nation that the federation is set to reward Onyango with a land title in a prime area in the country for his extraordinary achievements.
As South African history makers Sundowns overcame Zamalek 3-1 to lift aloft the Caf Champions League title, Onyango broke a damning jinx by becoming the first Ugandan to achieve the feat – and is in line to win two Caf awards.
“He deserves to be recognised because he bravely represented the nation at the continental stage,” said Magogo.
“He still has a chance to shine in the December’s Fifa Club World Cup where he may come up against the likes of Real Madrid. Starting today, Fufa is going to reward every individual (coach, referee or player) that achieves big success.”
Magogo refused to divulge more details about the land title saying all will come out on November 12.
“We will present him with the land title at Namboole before the Congo game so that even the young players are motivated to work harder,” he added.
When contacted from his South African base, Onyango sounded excited but at the same time reserved.
“I can not comment on it now until he (Magogo) tells me himself but I will be grateful (if it happens),” Onyango, whose safe pair of hands guided Uganda to the Afcon showpiece after an agonizing 39-year wait, told Daily Monitor.
Onyango, the Uspa Footballer of the Year, says he is mainly looking forward returning to Uganda and presenting his coveted medal to his parents.
“I dedicate it to my mum and dad. They always wish me well and are always under a lot of pressure when I’m playing so I have to reward them with the biggest medal,” revealed the former Villa, St. George and SuperSport United gangly custodian.
The noble promise will be another stern test to Fufa. Although Fufa delicately never put date of paying up, they are yet to give each Cranes the $10,000 (about Shs34m) they promised for Uganda’s qualification to the Nations Cup finals.
The fans’ prize car also promised to a winner of a raffle draw in the Cranes game against Guinea, which was later moved to the next against Ghana, has also never been given out.
Fufa said at the time that the winner never showed up and up to now the said car has never been given away.
