He was the first Nigerian to train as a football coach abroad. Dan Amobi Amadi Anyiam also became the first indigenous coach of the national soccer team, in 1954. His loaded
profile included leading Enugu Rangers to win the Amachree Cup in 1971 and taking East Central State [ECS] Spartans to gold, back to back, at the National Sports Festival in 1973 and 1975 respectively.
As coach of Spartans in 1973, Anyiam drove his Ford Taunus to Lagos while other members of the contingent boarded an official bus. They left from Nsukka where they trained for the First National Sports Festival. He asked the trio of Patrick Ekeji, Kenneth Ilodigwe and Godwin Ogbueze to join him in the car. They arrived Lagos but failed to enjoy his free ride on the way back.
Anyiam had prepared the ECS Academicals for the Manuwa/Adebajo Cup in 1971. They emerged
champions after beating Kwara State 2-0 in the final. He did not travel to Lagos with the boys, they were led by his assistant, Paulinus Nzerem.
Ogbueze captained the squad. He came from St. Theresa’s College, Nsukka with Ilodigwe and Damian Odoh. Ekeji and Obed Ariri were from Holy Ghost College, Owerri. Christian Chukwu , from Nike Grammar School, Enugu, Dominic Ezeani, from Christ the King College [CKC], Onitsha and Ahamefula Umelo, from St. Augustine’s Grammar School [SAGS] Nkwerre were also part of it.
Ekeji joined Vasco da Gama, Enugu after the Manuwa/Adebajo Cup triumph. Ilodigwe and Ogbueze chose city rivals, Enugu Rangers.
Anyiam relied on the two Coal City teams to raise Spartans.. He took the three Academicals in his Taunus. It was one long journey to remember. According to Ekeji, it was the grace of God that took them to Lagos.
Anyiam drove like an attacker rushing to score a quick goal. As a defender, he stood solid like a rock and feared no attacker. Apparently driving to him was like playing football. There was nothing to fear but the passengers, his players, were praying to God to grant them journey mercies. Driving what Wande coal would consider bumper to bumper, the coach also overtook vehicles at will, hardly minding on coming traffic. They arrived Lagos quite alright. Anyiam did not see them on the journey back to Enugu. That first experience was enough.
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Anyiam was a star footballer. He was Vice Captain of the first Nigerian soccer team to travel abroad in 1949. The UK Tourists were captained by Richard Etim Henshaw. Anyiam played for Nigeria until 1960 even after undergoing training in England as coach in 1954 courtesy of the British Council, where he was attached to Chelsea.
After John Finch left the national soccer team, Anyiam was called upon to take over. Many did not know that he was a trained teacher from Government Teachers College, Calabar. The man had also won the Challenge Cup twice as Captain. In 1950, it was with UAC, Lagos. Two years later, Anyiam led Pan Bank, Lagos to victory over Warri.
It was an interesting game. Warri lost 6-0, the first time a team would be given such drubbing in the grand finale. Pan Bank paraded five members of the UK Tourists team: Anyiam,Teslim ‘Thunder’ Balogun, Peter ‘Baby’ Anieke, Baba Shittu and keeper Sam ‘Magnet’ Ibiam. In goal for Warri was Peter Esiri, who later won Triple Jump silver at the Commonwealth Games. Another Pan Bank player, Suleiman ‘Small Montana, later became national Light weight boxing champion.
As a player, Anyiam rose rapidly. He was brought to Lagos by elder brother, Fred Anyiam, who was an associate of Dr Nnnamdi Azikiwe. In 1943, the central defender joined Zik’s Athlethic Club [ZAC] Bombers even as he worked with the West African Pilot newspaper. It was from ZAC that UAC came calling. Anyiam also played for SCOA and PWD.
Popularly known as Skipper, he was national soccer team captain from 1950 to 1958 and is remembered for leading the Red Devils [ the name Green Eagles was adopted in 1960] to JALCO Cup victory with a 3-2 win over Ghana in Lagos,1958. The Black Stars won the trophy for keeps in 1959.
In 1956, Anyiam was dropped as national coach and the job went to Les Courtier. Both coaches met in the semi finals of the 1959 Challenge Cup. The former was in charge of Ikpeazu Redoubtables, owned by Justice Chuba Ikpeazu. The latter managed Ibadan Lions. Paul Hamilton and Sebastine Brodericks Imasuen played for the Onitsha team.
The game ended in a 3-3 draw. Ibadan relied on extra time to win the trophy for the very first time. Justice Ikpeazu was so excited that he bought bicycles for his players. It also showed that Anyiam was as good a coach as he was a player.
In 1963, Anyiam was called back to manage the Green Eagles. He had gone for another coaching course in Germany earlier. The job lasted for about two years before Jorge Majal Laos Pena, a Brazilian took over. Both men worked together in 1973 when the Eagles won All Africa Games gold. The man in charge was Pena, Anyiam his assistant.
Anyiam lost two battles. In 1971, Rangers were beaten 2-1 by WNDC Shooting Stars, Ibadan in the Challenge Cup final. It was another sweet win for Ibadan against his team after the 1959 defeat. The story of that 1971 loss was keeper Amusa Adisa who saved Ranger’s Skipper Godwin Achebe’s penalty when Shooting were 2-1 up. Achebe was the best penalty taker in Nigeria at the time.
In 1975, Rangers qualified for the finals of the CAF Champions League [it was known then as Africa Cup for champion clubs]. The Flying Antelopes were beaten home and away by Hafia of Guinea. It ended 1-0 in Conakry, no thanks to Alioune Keita [N’jo Lea] and 2-1 in Lagos. Mathias Obianika had raised Nigerian hopes with a goal from the spot.
Rangers ran out of gas because they arrived Lagos pretty late and did not have enough rest before the match. Petit Sory got one of the goals and was so delighted to beat Keeper Emmanuel Okala, a man he dreaded.
Dan Anyiam was born on November 26, 1926. He attended Central School, Nkwerre in today’s Imo State before proceeding to Etinan Institute. He passed on in his car on July 6, 1977. The Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri is named after him. The idea came from Ekeji when he was Director, Imo State Sports Council.
