Former Uganda Cranes captain Denis Onyango has offered words of encouragement to fellow goalkeeper Ismail Watenga following his tough outing in Uganda’s 3-1 loss to Mozambique on Wednesday.
Watenga endured a nightmare performance at Cairo International Stadium, playing a role in all three goals conceded before being substituted at halftime for Alionzi Nafian. However, Onyango, who once stood as Uganda’s number one, reminded him that even the best goalkeepers have had similar moments.
“Mistakes happen, Watenga. Even world-class goalkeepers have made massive errors,” Onyango shared on X. “The difference? They don’t let those mistakes define them.”
The Mamelodi Sundowns veteran, who had his own difficult moments in the Cranes’ goal, particularly in a painful defeat to Benin earlier in his career, knows firsthand what it takes to bounce back. He emphasized that in goalkeeping, scrutiny is inevitable, but resilience is what sets great players apart.
“As a goalkeeper, you live under a microscope. One mistake, and all eyes are on you. But listen carefully: The mistake is not what matters. It’s how you RESPOND that defines you.”
Onyango advised Watenga to quickly shake off the disappointment and refocus. “Your instinct might be to drop your head, overthink, or mentally check out. DON’T. You have seconds—literally seconds—to reset. Own it, no excuses, no blame—just accept it and move on.”
He further urged his fellow PSL-based shot-stopper to stand tall, show confidence, and trust the process. “Your teammates will believe in you again if you show belief in yourself. Stick to the basics, avoid risky decisions, and use this experience as fuel to come back even stronger.”
With Uganda set to host Guinea at Namboole on Tuesday, Watenga has an opportunity to respond in the best way possible, by proving that setbacks don’t define goalkeepers, but their comebacks do.
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