The day Uganda Cranes shotstopper Denis Onyango hangs his gloves, he will look back at 2016 as one year the stood out in an industrious career for both club and country.
From becoming the first Ugandan to win the CAF Champions League to making sure Uganda qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since 1978.
It was based on those facts that the former SC Villa custodian got nominated by CAF in the January 5, 2017 CAF Awards in two categories.
Onyango was nominated in the 30 man list for African Footballer of the year and the 25 man list for the African Footballer of the year based on the African continent.
He made the five man shortlist for the latter and that put a beaming smile on his already jolly face.
For me it’s a great feeling being nominated among the best 5 players playing on the African continent and am humbled to be there
Onyango told Kawowo Sports from his South African base before adding.
Plus having all my efforts being recognized by CAF and the African coaches that shows that my efforts towards the qualifications of AFCON and winning champions league are being appreciated.
Onyango is nominated alongside fellow teammate at Sundowns Khama Billiat, Hlompho Kekana and Keegan Dolly, the former is also a Zimbabwean international while the latter are both South African Internationals.
The other is Zambian Rainford Kalaba who led TP Mazembe to the 2016 CAF Confederations Cup.
The 2015 Uganda Sports Press Association Male footballer of the year is also a strong contender for the December 2, Airtel FUFA Awards,. He will compete with 2015 winner Farouk Miya, Joseph Ochaya, Erisa Sekisambu and Mohamed Shaban for the award.
For the African Player of the Year, they are
1. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon & Borussia Dortmund)
2. Riyad Mahrez (Algeria & Leicester City)
3. Sadio Mane (Senegal & Liverpool)
4. Mohamed Salah (Egypt & Roma)
5. Islam Slimani (Algeria & Leicester City)
For the African Player of the Year (Based in Africa), the top five are
1. Khama Billiat (Mamelodi Sundowns & Zimbabwe)
2. Keegan Dolly (Mamelodi Sundowns & South Africa)
3. Rainford Kalaba (TP Mazembe & Zambia)
4. Hlompho Kekana (Mamelodi Sundowns & South Africa)
5. Denis Onyango (Mamelodi Sundowns & Uganda)
