Kenya: Wanyama On Mission to Produce More Marigas

John Ashihundu

17 July 2011

Nairobi — The former Kenya international footballer is, for instance, torn between which team he will support between Scotland’s Celtic and Italy’s Inter Milan at next weekend’s pre-season, invitational tournament in Glasgow featuring the two European giants.

In the Kenyan Premier League, whenever former champions Sony Sugar and Sofapaka clash, Wanyama is caught in the middle. Well, understandably so. Wanyama’s four sons are all top-flight footballers.His most celebrated, McDonald Mariga, won the Scudetto (Italian title) with Inter Milan two seasons ago, in a most successful season that saw Jose Mourino’s Nerazzurri complete a treble, clinching the Italian Cup and the most prestigious Uefa Champions League.Mariga’s younger brother, Victor Mugabe, has just signed a five-year deal at Celtic, becoming the first Kenyan to play in the top-flight British leagues. Back home, Wanyama’s other two sons, Sylvester and Thomas, turn out for Sony Sugar and Sofapaka respectively.

The last born, Harry, plays for his school, Kamukunji Secondary School.

That, perhaps, explains why Wanyama doesn’t seem to want to take any sides as he guns for the vice-chairmanship of Football Kenya elections set for August 13. He is not in Hussein Mohammed’s camp, and neither is he in Kenya Football Federation chairman Sam Nyamweya’s team nor the other candidate, Twaha Mbarak.

The Sweden-trained coach, who holds Belgian and British coaching certificates, will be running as an independent candidate.

“My mission is to see our soccer progressing to a higher level,” said Wanyama. He said for the national team, Harambee Stars, to reclaim its lost glory, he will make sure the local FA goes back to the roots and encourage coaches who are talented. “For us to perform well, adequate preparations must be set aside for build-up matches.” He says players are often pushed to the national team too soon.

“They must be given enough time before being invited into the senior team. Coaches should also be given enough chance,” he added.

“We must also prepare our players mentally and physically.” Wanyama urged other former players to fight for seats from the grassroots to improve the game. He gave examples of countries whose FAs are run by former players that are performing well on the world stage.

He cited Kalusha Bwalya, a former Zambian international, who later became the chairman of his country’s FA. In Europe, former France international Michel Platini has done well as the Uefa president.

Winning goal

Closer home in Uganda, the late Dennis Obua also served as the president of the Ugandan Football Association.

“I’m urging those who cannot vie for seats to help teams in coaching,” Wanyama said.

Wanyama, nicknamed “Land Mawe” in his heyday, was a deadly striker before he retired from international football in 1980.

He played for AFC Leopards until 1984 before taking up a coaching career. He attributes the success of his children to the way he and his wife, Mildred Ayemba Wanyama, a great netballer who played for Kenya Railways and the national team, brought them up.

Wanyama played for Nambogoto Primary School from the age of 14 and later for Nambogoto FC in the Busia district competition.

He then joined for Busia United and Jamhuri High School before he signed for Abaluhya FC in 1967, which was later renamed AFC Leopards in the 80s. His first international match was against Al-Mourada of Sudan in 1968.

Wanyama was selected to the national team the following year and featured in the Friendly Cup in Ethiopia. He was in the national team that won the 1975 Senior Challenge Cup in Zambia and also guided Leopards to clinch the East and Central Club Championship in Mogadishu, Somalia in 1979.

Wanyama scored the winning goal in the semis against hosts, Horseed, in their 2-1 win and went on to beat Kampala City Council 1-0 in the final. “Solidarity helped us win the trophy as no one had given us a chance to go beyond the quarters.”

“There were tears of joy when we lifted the Cup. It was a magical moment,” says Wanyama. He scored the Goal of the Year in 1977 while playing against Re-Union in a Premier League match. He also won many local and regional trophies with Leopards including the premier league and was the assistant to reputable Ghanaian coach Charles Gyamfi in 1992.

Under his guidance, Railways FC qualified for the Premier League before leaving it to Robert Matano, Tony Lidonde and Mickey Weche.

Wanyama was the assistant team manager to Joe Kadenge during Alfred Sambu’s tenure at Leopards.

Between 1996 and 1997 he was the team manager of the same club under the late Peter Onalo.

He also coached Maragoli United (now Imara United) in the Nationwide in 1998 before moving to Nzoia FC helping them win the Premier League title.

He saved Kericho’s Brooke Bond FC from relegation in 2002 before crossing over to Uganda to coach Uganda Heroes who were also threatened by relegation making them finish in the seventh position.

AllAfrica – All the Time