Anyangu, AFC Leopards' defender like no other

Wycliffe Anyangu’s father hails from Bunyore but responded to population pressure in the early days of independence and moved to Kapsabet, Nandi County. Wycliffe popped up in the Kakamega High School Green Commandoes squad of 1981. They beat the John Zangi Okello orchestra of Kisumu Boys High School in the national championships finals. Before that, he attended Kapsabet Township Primamry School. It is his football prowess in Kapsabet that caught the hawk eyes of Kakamega High School teacher, Chris Makokha.

Ironically, little is said of Kapsabet as a football den. Many players emerged from the sleepy town in the 1970s. Edward Bulungu and Alex Kibet played for Thika-based KTM FC, Jonathan Kibet played for Eldoret KCC and later Jacob Lijodi went to Mumias Sugar SC. Long before the wingback position became as popular as it is now, we had players like Anyangu. He made forays from the righ fullback position into the right wing with ease. He also had the gas to fall back fast and cover. Defenders rarely get their flowers for their prowess on the pitch. Wycliffe Anyangu is one such defender whose memory faded faster than the midfielders he played with and strikers he stopped with ease.

Anyangu perfected his art under coach Makokha who allowed him to play for Motcom FC in the league while still a student. In the 1981 secondary schools national finals in Kisumu, Kisumu Boys High School had a good squad to stop Kakamega’s quest for a third consecutive title. Kisumu had John “Zangi” Okello and James “spinks” Mbidha in a squad that shoved aside opponents to face Kakamega in the final.

It was tight match with Mike Amwayi, Ben Musuku, Peter Lichungu and Wycliffe Anyangu  showing their mental strength in front of a partisan crowd to win their third consecutive title on post-match penalties.

Later in December 1981, Motcom FC played Gor Mahia at City Stadium in a five-goal thriller that Gor miraculously won by three goals to Motcom’s two. The crux of Motcom squad was made up of players from Green Commandos title winning side. They were known for Chris Makokha’s Brazil type football where the ball must kiss the grass.

The top players like Amwayi and Musuku left Kakamega to Robert Kiberu-coached AFC Leopards in 1982. Anyangu had training stints with Bushiere FC before joining Limuru based Bata Bullets FC. He later had a season at Volcano United before joining AFC Leopards in 1987. This is not necessarily due to Anyangu’s lack of talent but the talent at Leopards.

There was Mickey Weche, Arieno Papa, Patrick Shilasi and Pius Masinza. Going to Bata Bullets FC was a way of guaranteeing playing time in the top flight league. He earned the nickname Josimar, after the Brazilian right back who played for Botafogo FC and Brazilian national team. He is remembered for his screamer from the outside the box straight into Ireland’s net at the 1986 World Cup.

Anyangu turned into a versatile defender who could also play in central midfield. Motcom FC also sent Alfred Mukangula and Alex Shikanga to Bata Bullets so Anyangu was at home in Limuru. They made Limuru a hostile hunting ground for points for many clubs. In 1986 when “semi-professional” side Volcano United came into the scene with hype, he left Limuru for the new outfit. As they forced their way to the top flight league in 1987, Anyangu left and joined AFC Leopards.

Mickey T9 Weche was still the preferred right back but Anyangu was needed to provide cover. Weche was strong in defence while Anyangu was had attacking subskills which guaranteed him playing time depending on the opponents of the day. He joined a defense that had won the 1986 league unbeaten, so pressure was high, but Anyangu quickly slid and fitted in. The same year he joined Leopards, he also got a call up to the national team through coach Reinhardt Farbisch.

He played for Kenya at the 1987 All African Games in Nairobi when he came in for Weche in the second half of the final against Egypt. Kenya narrowly lost the title by 1-0 to the North Africans. He also got a call up for the 1988 AFCON in Morocco.

He also got a call up to the 1990 Afcon squad in Algiers. Kenya played against Cameroon and Senegal in Group B. Kenya played to a goalless draw against Senegal.  In the 1992 Afcon in Senegal, Kenya met the hosts in group A and lost 3-0.

Tobias Ocholla was the preffered right back with Weche moved to central defense. Anyangu is one of the few players who featured for Kenya in the three AFCONs Kenya played in between 1988 and 1992.

He won the league with Ingwe in 1988 and 1989 with the former supposedly being won unbeaten. In the 1988 CAF Cup Winners Cup, Leopards reached the quarter finals where they met Diamant Younde. Leopards won the first leg 1-0 in Nairobi before Anyangu was sent off in the second leg in Younde. They lost the match by one goal to nil after referee awarded a controversial penalty.  They lost the match on post-match penalties.

He left the den in 1990 and went to Bandari before hanging his boots and going into coaching.

Kenya Ports Authority gave him a job which meant he was based in Mombasa after retiring from football.