- Sundowns are reigning African champions
- Denis Onyango is the 2016 CAF Player of the Year – Based in Africa
- Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane is the reigning coach of the Year in Africa
Mamelodi Sundowns Ugandan goalkeeper Denis Masinde Onyango believes their CAF Champions League triumph last year has earned them respect across the continent.
The ‘Brazilians’ beat Egypt’s Zamalek to lift the trophy last year and Onyango says only winning the competition has earned them the respect.
“We are respected now because without winning the CAF Champions League, as much as you play and win the domestic, no one will obviously look at you as a big club,” he said as quoted by Kickoff.
So, for us winning Champions League was very, very important last year. It was important for the club and mostly for the players because you get to be recognised as top players in Africa because you get the exposure. You get the chance also to play at the FIFA Club World Cup; you win top awards because no one can reward you without winning the Champions League.
The Uganda Cranes captain adds that the competition exposes not only players but coaches and that they have learnt a lot as a club from playing continental games.
As everyone saw the coach Pitso Mosimane managed to win the CAF Coach of the Year in 2016, I won the CAF Player of the Year [based in Africa]. It gets to expose players; it gives them the ability to play at the highest level of football. It takes us to the next level and also for me I think it’s a learning curve for us because ever since we have been playing in the CAF Champions League I think we haven’t rested as a team.
Sundowns and Onyango lost Tunisia’s Esperance on Friday at Lucas Moripe stadium, Pretoria.
