Kenya: For the Wanyama Family, Sport is a Household Name

John Ashihundu

22 May 2011

Nairobi — AFC Leopards has produced a galaxy of stars, but dribbling, runs and finishing skills made Noah Wanyama stand out as one of the best strikers. “Land Mawe” was fantastic with his magical left foot, always quick on the mark.

The success of his children in sports can be attributed to their upbringing. While Wanyama played football, his wife Mildred Ayemba was a great netballer for Railways Club and the national team.

“I teach my children in my image and impart discipline and urge them to work harder,” says the father of 12. “I know how tough it is for a player to climb and stay at the helm.”

Among his children, sensational football superstar McDonald Mariga plays for Inter Milan in Italy. His brother Thomas turns out for former Kenyan champions Sofapaka and Mugabe plays professional football in Belgium.

Sylvester plays for Sony Sugar and last-born Harry for Kamukunji Secondary School.

The girls have not been left behind either. Mercy and Alice are basketballers while Sylvia plays netball.

One of the AFC Leopards longest-serving players, Wanyama took international retirement in 1980 and later bowed from club football in 1984 to take up a coaching career.

The 56-year-old veteran tactician in East Africa played for Nambogoto Primary School at 14 years and would feature for Nambogoto FC in Busia District competitions.

He was later spotted by George Amuke, a long-time sports officer, while playing for Busia Combined during the off-season Christmas tournaments.

Wanyama also played for Busia United and Jamhuri High School. In 1967 he joined Abaluhya FC, which was later renamed AFC Leopards in the 1980s.

His first international match was against Al-Mourada of Sudan in 1968. He was called up to the national team the following year and featured in the Friendly Cup in Ethiopia.

At Leopards, Wanyama took over from a retired hot striker, John Nyawanga, playing alongside Aggrey Lukoye, Jonathan Niva, Abdul Baraza, Josephat Murila, Timothy Matonye, Moses Okwaro, Mahamoud Abbas, Paul Maungu, Davies Nate, Jairus Adams, Haggai Mirikau and Joe Masiga. Other team mates included David Asibwa, Jones Ndombi, Aziz Abdi, Tony Lidonde, Wilberforce Mulamba, Edward Wamalwa and Joe Oyando.

Won for club and country

He was in the Harambee Stars squad that won the 1975 Senior Challenge Cup in Zambia and also guided Leopards to clinch the East and Central Africa Club Championship in Mogadishu, Somalia, in 1979.

Buoyed by his winner against hosts Horsed in their 2-1 semi-final victory, Stars would beat Kampala City Council (KCC) 1-0 in the final.

“Given the fact that we were not rated to go beyond the quarters, we won the title and back home we were accorded a rousing welcome. It was solidarity that helped us win the trophy,” Wanyama recalls.

“There were tears of joy and I was thinking of how people would be feeling at home in Kenya.”

The team, which remained intact but for a few new faces, went on to lift the regional championship three times between 1982 and 1984.

Wanyama also scored the Goal of the Year in 1977, against Re-Union in a local Premier League match. He also won many local and regional crowns for Leopards, including the Premier League, and deputised reputable Ghanaian coach Charles Gyamfi in 1992.

Establish football academies

He got Railways in the Premiership before leaving it to Robert Matano, Tonny Lidonde and Mickey Weche.

Wanyama was the assistant team manager to Joe Kadenge during Alfred Sambu’s tenure. Between 1996 and 1997 he was the team manager of Leopards under the late Peter Onalo.

He also coached Maragoli United (now Imara United) in the Nationwide in 1998 and later won the Premier League title with Nzoia FC.

Having saved Kericho’s Brooke Bond FC from relegation in 2002, he would repeat the feat with Uganda Heroes, who finished in 7th position.

The Sweden-trained tactician holds Belgian and British certificates.

Pledging to establish football academies in every province if he becomes Vice-Chairman during the national football elections, the legend from Busia is however against foreigners running the institutions.

AllAfrica – All the Time