Denis Onyango Explains What Ails Ugandan Goalkeeping as He Comments on Cranes Future

Legendary Uganda Cranes goalkeeper Denis Onyango has commented on why he feels the country is struggling to produce good goalkeepers.

Uganda was blessed with many great goalkeepers before but that is not the situation now. So bad is it that Onyango had to be persuaded to get out of international retirement ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations to come to the national team’s rescue.

Onyango, who had retired in 2021, was called back last year and played two matches as the Cranes were eliminated at the group stage.

With him was Salim Jamal Magoola, also based in South Africa, and Ethiopian-based Alionzi Nafian Legason. However, none of the two covered themselves in glory.

Magoola started their AFCON opener against Tunisia but was below par as Uganda lost 3-1 before Onyango was summoned for the 1-1 draw with Tanzania and he also started the 3-1 defeat to Nigeria but went out injured at halftime.

Magoola replaced him and was soon sent off only for Legason to come in and concede two quick goals. That has left the country worried over the state of goalkeeping ahead of AFCON 2027, which Uganda will co-host with neighbours Kenya and Tanzania, but Onyango feels the problem is multi-faceted.

“These youngsters nowadays want to be Messi and Ronaldo. I think that is the biggest challenge and we need to improve our goalkeeping department because we need to get modern goalkeeping coaches,” Onyango said on NTV.

“We need to get them to learn new trends in goalkeeping. We can’t rely on a goalkeeper who is only shot-stopping and goalkeeping has moved on from that. You can’t only be a shot-stopper, you must be a team player.

“When they read the team, they don’t read the 10 players, the system starts from 1-4-1-4-1. It does not start with the 4-2-2, 4-2 something. We need to bring in the keepers and make them aware how important they are in the modern game because without a goalkeeper, the game cannot be played.”

Besides bringing in coaches who will help goalkeepers become all-rounded players, Onyango also wants them trusted and allowed time to learn from their mistakes.

“We should do this to the ones we have and bring others but we must believe in them and give them that opportunity. Sometimes, when they make a mistake, we say he should have played like Denis but I am Denis and he is him. I made a lot of mistakes in the national team but they gave me the next opportunity,” he added.

Meanwhile, the 41-year-old is still open to representing Uganda if called upon.

“I am still active and even with Sundowns. I didn’t say I am back when I came back so I can as well leave just like that, but it is always important to know that I am still available whatever the situation,” he further stated.

“I came back because we had a little crisis and I had to come and serve the nation. Unfortunately, we did not serve it the right way because we did not get out of the group stages at the AFCON.”

Onyango has earned 83 caps for the Cranes and captained Uganda at the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.