Dennis Onyango becomes the first Ugandan to win a continental club title
South Africans were breathing again in Alexandria after Dennis Onyango – who else? – helped them complete a desperately tense defeat of Egyptian side Zamalek on Sunday in the return leg at Borg Al Arab Stadium.
Faced with the prospect of becoming the first Ugandan ever to lift the Caf Champions League trophy, Onyango’s Mamelodi Sundowns side held their nerve in the final to a 1-0 win.
The number one choice goalkeeper for both club and country kept a clean sheet in the first leg that the south Africans won comfortably 3-0 in Pretoria and last night’s narrow victory meant Sundowns won 3-1 on aggregate.
On the night, Zamalek’s Ohawuchi in the 12th minute hurt on-rushing goalkeeper Onyango on the ankle and as a result of the injury, Uganda international was forced to leave the field on a stretcher not long thereafter, with back up goal-keeper Wayne Sandilands brought on after 28 minutes and did well to contain the North African onslaughts until the final whistle.
It was a first triumph for the South African club, whose only previous final appearance came in 2001 when they lost to Zamalek’s arch rivals Al Ahly.
Ssentamu, SC Villa near attempts
Two years ago, a then 20-year old Yunus Ssentamu featured in the Caf Confederation Cup final when his sole goal inspired AS Vita past Zamalek in the semifinals to book a slot in the final against ES Setif which they lost 3-3 on the away goals rule after conceding a stoppage time winner.
In 1991, Uganda’s most successful football side SC Villa lost to Tunisian outfit Club Africain 7-3 on aggregate after losing 6-2 in Tunisia before holding the North Africans to a 1-all draw in Kampala, but it was too late to save their fate.
