Uganda Cranes captain and goalkeeper has announced his retirement from international football.
Onyango made his Cranes debut against Cape Verde in 2005 and retires with 79 caps for the national team. His retirement comes just days after defender Hassan Wasswa also announced he was hanging his boots on Saturday.
The custodian features for Mamelodi Sundowns in South Africa and in 2016, he was named Africa-based Player of the Year by CAF.
He was named Cranes captain in April 2017 following the retirement of veteran striker Geoffrey Massa.
Onyango also wrote to FUFA President, Moses Magogo notifying him and the Federation about his decision.
“This letter represents my official notice of retirement from the Uganda National Football Team, The Cranes effective April 12, 2021.” Part of the letter reads.
Below is Onyango’s full statement on his retirement;
I sit here with tears rolling down my eyes because after a lengthy consideration I have come to the decision of retiring from international football with immediate effect.
It is a sad day in my life knowing that I will never wear the jersey of my beloved Cranes in front of passionate fans again. I will now become the number one supporter who wears the jersey watching from the stands or from home. It is through the Ugandan national team that I have grown from a boy into the man and father that I am now.
For all the success that I have enjoyed in my career I owe so much of it to the national team. It was because of my national team that I got to play against all the best players from across the continent who play in top leagues all over the world. I played at the AFCON finals because of the Cranes. The joy of being at the AFCON finals after so many years was sweet. To sing my national anthem was the greatest joy that I will ever have being the ‘proud boy’ from Uganda that I am.
I didn’t want to retire but I felt it is better to leave good memories and allow for the younger goalkeepers to compete for that jersey which I have worn with pride for 16 years. Everyone who has worked with me knows how much I enjoyed playing for the national team. My commitment and hard work were never in question. To everyone that I worked with especially coach Micho (Milutin Sredojevic) thank you for the patience, understanding and wisdom that you brought to me.
To my friends, management of the Federation of Uganda Football Associations, Nsambya FC and SC Villa, teammates, managers, coaches, I say thank you. My biggest appreciation is to the fans and all the people of Uganda. I love you all. Football can never be as beautiful as it is without fans. Nothing can ever be better than captaining your national team. It was real. Salute to every Ugandan.
