By Ronnie Lusulire
Denis Masinde Onyango made history last night after winning the African Player Of The Year Award Based In Africa at the 2016 Glo CAF Awards in Abuja, Nigeria becoming the first ever Ugandan and first East African goalkeeper to win the big award. He beat club mate Khama Billiat of Zimbabwe and TP Mazembe and Zambia skipper Rainford Kalaba to the top prize award.
Soka25east reporter Ronnie Lusulire analyses why Onyango emerged winner over his rivals in particular club mate Khama Billiat who was named PSL player of the season in South Africa over Onyango.
Denis Onyango
If there is a year the lanky custodian wouldn’t forget then that must be 2016. It’s his out standing that guided Mamelodi Sundowns to the ABSA Premier league title, Telekom Knock out cup title against rivals Kaizer Chiefs in which he saved two penalties from Chiefs skipper Siphiwe Tshabalala and Togolese forward Camaldine Abraw, best goalkeeper of the season 2015/2016 as well as guiding them to the CAF Champions triumph over Egyptian giants Zamalek.
On the national level, he guided Uganda Cranes to the AFCON that will take place in Gabon in January, 2017 after 38years of absensure and also guided Uganda to the Russia 2018 World Cup qualifiers groups after defeating Togo 4-0 on aggregate in a two legged match. He ended the year in high gear as he was named the number ten best goalkeeper in the world
Khama Billiat
What a year he has had from his dazzling dribbles, winning personal accolades(PSL MVP), brilliant goals as well as assisting his teammates. The Zimbabwean is one of the biggest reasons Sundowns achieved glory in 2016, he scored decisive goals both at home and continent and on national level, he guided his Zimbabwe nation to the 2017 AFCON in Gabon but failed to guide them to the 2018 Russia World Cup qualifier group stages.
Rainford Kalaba
The Zambian skipper is a major competitor in this. He guided his TP Mazembe side to the CAF Confederations triumph in which he was also leading scorer with eight goals plus as well as inspiration them to vital wins in the DRC Premier League. On the national side, he inspired Zambia to the 2018 Russia World Cup qualiers but failed to guide them to the 2017 AFCON in Gabon.
From the analysis above, Uganda Cranes and Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Onyango beats his rivals with his national team achievements that is being both at the AFCON and in the World Cup Russia 2018 Qualifier groups while his rivals are each in one of the two as seen in the analysis above but not both.
