Mamelodi Sundowns legend Denis Onyango believes the Brazilians are set up for a decade of dominance after lifting their second CAF Champions League title. The veteran goalkeeper spoke during Sundowns’ celebratory bus parade through Mamelodi on Tuesday, after the Brazilians secured their second continental crown with victory over AS FAR Rabat in Morocco.
For Onyango, the achievement carried emotional significance beyond simply adding another trophy to the club’s cabinet. The Ugandan international was also part of the Sundowns side that conquered Africa for the first time back in 2016 and admitted this latest success felt symbolic for the club’s growth over the last decade.
Building a Dynasty
“This is very special, we’re changing the day the badge looks like,” Onyango said, while standing alongside club captain Themba Zwane. “This feels like an anniversary for us because we last won it ten years ago as well.” Sundowns’ latest triumph also arrives during a new financial era for African football after CAF significantly increased prize money for continental competitions, as outlined on the CAF official website.
The 40-year-old believes one of the club’s greatest strengths lies in its ability to continuously regenerate talent through its development structures. Sundowns increasingly integrated younger players into the first team throughout the campaign, with several academy graduates contributing during their continental run.
Key Factors
Some key factors that contributed to Sundowns’ success include:
- Continuous regeneration of talent through development structures
- Integration of younger players into the first team
- Experienced leaders like Onyango and Zwane
- Increased prize money for continental competitions
That combination of experienced leaders and emerging talent is exactly why Onyango believes Sundowns can continue competing for major honours across the continent. The veteran goalkeeper admitted he feels privileged to have witnessed two separate golden generations at the club during his career.
According to Wikipedia, the CAF Champions League is the most prestigious club competition in African football. With Sundowns now returning to the FIFA Club World Cup, they will face the best teams from around the world, further testing their strength and resolve.
