Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has hailed the contribution of veteran goalkeeper Denis Onyango to the team. The 39-year-old is the most decorated player in the league’s history with 11 PSL titles.
Three of the titles were with SuperSport United, while he won eight with Sundowns. The Ugandan is on the verge of collecting his 12th league medal this season, as Sundowns have all but secured it.
Onyango was the number one shot-stopper at the club before the arrival of Bafana Bafana goalie, Ronwen Williams. He has featured 13 times in all competitions this season, including in the 3-0 win against Stellenbosch FC on Sunday.
MIGUEL CARDOSO COMMENDED THE BIG ROLE PLAYED BY VETERAN GOALKEEPER
“He is big and he is huge. He is huge in his heart and he is huge in his brains,” said Cardoso.
“Together with Ronwen [Williams], they make a wonderful team of goalkeepers. But we have more. We have Reyaad Pieterse, who also supports the team every day. Jody [February], who is also putting more pressure, and Sanele [Tshabalala].
“So we have a group of goalkeepers that are strong. But this is based and sustained by the work of Denis and Ronwen, of course. So we are blessed.
MAMELODI SUNDOWNS COACH APPRECIATES THE PRESENCE OF DENIS ONYANGO IN THE TEAM
Cardoso feels Onyango’s role is not just on the pitch but in the dressing room as well, as he commands respect from everyone.
“That’s exactly what I was talking about. Having a big man among us is very important. Denis is alive and kicking, as he usually says. Today [Sunday] we had to protect him because he had a small punch in a contact, and we had to protect him, which is normal.”
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