No one has lifted more league titles in South African football than Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Denis Onyango, who has credited players like Teko Modise for laying the foundation for his success as he now has 11 winners medals.
Modise and Onyango featured alongside each other for one season at SuperSport United before later reuniting at Chloorkop in 2011.
Onyango had previously lifted three league titles with Matsatsantsa A Pitori and went on to win eight more titles with Sundowns, making him the most decorated player in the DStv Premiership.
“It is courtesy of my teammates, trying to keep going, trying to inspire the next generation because if Denis can do it then a lot of people can do it and we can only show it on the pitch,” Onyango told the Pitchside Podcast.
“The way the club looks after me is incredible and I am very grateful to the club for giving me an opportunity and believing in me all these years. I have won eight league titles with Sundowns, seven in a row and 11 all in all, what else can I ask for?
Pitchside Podcast co-host, Modise recalled his first encounter with Onyango, commending the goal-minder for his rags-to-riches journey.
“I saw you the first day when you came to South Africa with a plastic bag, and to see you now with 11 titles, it is unbelievable,” said Modise, who has two league titles to his name.
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“This team has been incredible with good youngsters but the foundation was set by you (Modise) because if the team did not have a good foundation, we would have not done this.
“Winning the seventh title in a row means that there is a generation that won it maybe three or four times, so it was just a continuity. I would not have been 11 without the other club (SuperSport), but for me being at the right club to win eight more has been incredible,” Onyango explained.
“I am giving back to football because football has looked after me from a young age, and of course, it is my bread and butter. I came to South Africa because of football.
According to Transfermarkt, Onyango’s contract expires at the end of this month and unconfirmed reports suggest that Downs have offered the 39-year-old a one-year extension. Be that as it may, Onyango is believed to not be contemplating retirement at this point.
“The day the body says ‘ah, boss, you are done’, I will stop. But at the moment I feel I have the energy and the club is trying to look after the goalkeeping department.
“Wendell Robinson and Kennedy Mweene (goalkeeper coaches) train me according to my age but I always give my best when I am given the opportunity.
“It is not about me being on the pitch, it is about delivering the results at the end of the day and I have to be professional, focus and keep going,” Onyango explained.
Onyango and his teammates are preparing for the Nedbank Cup final against Orlando Pirates this Saturday at the Mbombela Stadium, where they will look to complete a treble. Downs already have the league crown and the African Football League title.
“We have a cup final coming up and we need the momentum. We need everyone to be within the right space of mind. We are not going to wait for people to catch up with us.
“We have to break our own records. No one understands how it has been difficult for us. We do match analysis even after winning the league with six games to go, we used to sleep late and do the basic things.
“We had to put in the work because at the end of the day, the club still paid us and we had to do the job,” Onyango concluded.
𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙋𝙄𝙏𝘾𝙃𝙎𝙄𝘿𝙀 𝙋𝙊𝘿𝘾𝘼𝙎𝙏 𝘾𝙃𝘼𝙈𝙋𝙄𝙊𝙉𝙎𝙃𝙄𝙋 𝙀𝙋𝙄𝙎𝙊𝘿𝙀 🏆
— Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) May 27, 2024
Teko Modise and DJ Naves are joined by Chairman Tlhopie Motsepe, Themba Zwane, Ronwen Williams and more in a star-studded episode after The Brazilians lifted the #DStvPrem trophy! 🤩
Watch the… pic.twitter.com/6SUUWo97Nm
