Land reward for Sundowns goalkeeper

MAMELODI Sundowns goalkeeper Denis Onyango will be presented with a land title by his football association for becoming the first Ugandan to win the Caf Champions League.

Onyango was instrumental in Downs’s victory in this year’s competition‚ although he had to be replaced due to injury in the 28th minute of the second leg of the final‚ which Downs lost 1-0 against Zamalek in Alexandria‚ Egypt‚ to run out 3-1 winners on aggregate.

The president of Fufa (the Federation of Uganda Football Associations)‚ Moses Magogo‚ has said the keeper will receive a prime piece of land in the country as a reward for his feats.

“He deserves to be recognised because he bravely represented the nation at the continental stage‚” Magogo said.

“He still has a chance to shine in 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 that achieves big success.

“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.”

Uganda meet Congo in a World Cup qualifier in Kampala on November 12.

The Downs keeper won last year’s Ugandan footballer of the year award and helped steer the country to next year’s Africa Cup of Nations.

“The public are simply excited. Onyango is the first Ugandan to win the Caf Champions League . It’s a huge honour‚” Ugandan radio journalist Tabu Peter said.

Sundowns players have already been told by club president Patrice Motsepe that they will share the R20-million prize money for winning the Champions League.

They were presented with a further R700 000 to share among themselves by Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula on their return on Wednesday morning.

‘ He deserves to be recognised because he bravely represented the nation at the continental stage