Mayiga lauds Denis Onyango as a role model footballer

The Katikkiro of Buganda, Charles Peter Mayiga, on Friday lauded Denis Onyango for leading a successful cranes campaign in the 2019 AFCON Finals in Egypt at Kingdom headquarters in Bulange, Mengo

“I have always wanted to meet Denis Onyango because he has raised our country’s flag so high as you all know he is Africa’s best goal keeper, among Africa’s best players like Mohammed Salah and Sadio Mane," Mayiga said.

Speaking to the press at the Kingdom headquarters in Bulange, Mengo, the Katikkiro also praised the Mamelodi Sundowns shot stopper as an example for kids.

The Uganda Cranes finished second in their group at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, progressing from the group for the first time in more than four decades, before being knocked out by Senegal at the Round of 16.

The Katikkiro also took a swipe at players who have wasted their glorious careers.

"These days football is business and you as a captain and a role model, I urge you to advise all the young and old footballers players to start saving for life after football. We don’t want to see them wasting themselves, let them at least invest their money because we don’t want to see them begging in their retirement,” he said.

Onyango, on behalf of the Uganda Cranes, thanked the kingdom for their support, urging all people to continue supporting and promoting sports, especially football.

“For me as a captain of the Uganda cranes it gives great honour to be here, and of course meeting the Katikiro of Buganda, Charles Peter Mayiga, I am here to represent Uganda Cranes as most of the players departed to their respective clubs," Onyango said.

The Cranes are the only team from the (CECAFA) region that qualified for the last 16 stage in the tournament.

The other representatives including Kenya Tanzania and Burundi failed to go past the group stage.