Onyango’s a quick healer

After it required an ambulance to take him off the pitch over a week ago when he collided with Mbulelo Wagaba in Mamelodi Sundowns’ 2-0 Absa Premiership win against Polokwane City, Denis Onyango has returned to training perhaps sooner than expected.

Also Uganda’s first-choice goalkeeper he was unconscious when he left the field and had to sit out the 2-0 MTN8 win over Golden Arrows at the weekend – something he is not familiar with.

“I’m not used to staying at home and staying away from football. It is good that I am with the guys and it very nice to be with the team,” said Onyango.

The Brazilians arrived in Morocco yesterday where they will renew their rivalry with defending champions Wydad Casablanca in the Caf Champions League on Friday night, and Onyango is still waiting on the medical team to give him the green light. He has trained just once since returning from his injury.

“As long as I am with the team, playing is not necessarily important,” he said. “Anyone can play and we can win. Kennedy (Mweene) played and we won the last game, so for me it is just to see the team winning. If I am given a chance and I am ready I will play, but at the moment anyone can play.”

The arrival of Reyaad Pieterse has increased the number of Sundowns keepers to four with Thela Ngobeni also in the mix. However, Onyango – who has usually been the first name on Pitso Mosimane’s team sheet – says he will fight hard to cement his place.

“Competition is always good, it improves you as a person and as a player but I still need to fight hard for my place because anyone else can step in.

“It is healthy competition because there are a lot of games to play and I welcome every challenge and I’ll fight for my position. When given a chance I have to do my best.”