Enyimba started as underdogs in 1976. Perhaps if a bashful school girl found herself in that position, the pregnancy was unexpected. Chief Jerry Enyeazu wanted to set up a team for newly created Imo State and found himself grappling with more than a battalion of players.
Enyeazu did not want to disappoint the young men who had come to Owerri from far and near. Instead of one team, Spartans, he ended up with two teams to accommodate the many that turned up for screening. The left overs were sent to Aba as Enyimba. So Enyimba came as after thought.
However, the Aba team began to trouble the main squad, Spartans, from day one. The Imo State government did everything possible to deplete Enyimba so that Spartans would thrive. It did not work. The Peoples Elephant came out like mosquitoes and continued to trouble their Owerri twin brothers.
In the first Imo State Challenge Cup final, Enyimba, proved a thorn in the flesh. Enyeazu had sent those who could not meet the Spartans standard to Aba. The rejected stones emerged tougher. The first duel ended in a draw. Everything was done to pamper Spartans and frustrate Enyimba. It did not work.
Among the Enyimba pioneers were goalie Ahamefula Umelo who joined from Vasco Da Gama, Enugu. There was also left back, Ikechukwu Madukairo, better known as ‘Man Mountain’. In the attack were the duo of Peter Mgbachi and one stubborn boy, Chijioke Anyiam, also known as ‘Anwunta'[mosquito]. He had joined from Port Harcourt side, Works Dynamos.
Coach Dan Anyiam and Enyeazu did not reckon with ‘Anwunta’, who like the former Rangers gaffer hailed from Nkwerre. Their eyes were on bigger names from Sharks and NPA, Port Harcourt like Sidney Ugorji, Tony Ukeachu and Amadi Nwokocha. It was a huge mistake.
‘Anwunta’ was a pain in the neck . He tormented the Spartans defence of Harrison Mecha, Ukeachu, Okey Nwaiwu, Charles Okorie and goalie, Goddy Ebomuche. Even the Spartans frontline of Kevin Onwana, Alphonsus Dike and Goddy Agbarakwe found it difficult to put the ball past Umelo.
Enyeazu and Anyiam devised an unwritten policy of taking the best from Enyimba to beef up Spartans. It did not change much. When Umelo left, another tough keeper, Evans Ikwuegbu [Mpoto] took over. Madukairo joined Spartans. Emma Ajunwa[Terror] and Chimeziri Igoni fortified the Enyimba rear.
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The deadly duo of Idika Aku[Pele] and Ben Akanu[Picolo] also appeared in Enyimba colours to continue the torment. At the end, all these players were drafted to Spartans. Even the most troublesome, Anwunta, changed base to Owerri. That was the situation until he quit.
Even in retirement, Anwunta continued to thrill Owerri fans. During intermission in any game played at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, he would be introduced to the crowd. His bit was to entertain with his skills which looked like magic. Anwunta could keep the ball on his head for 20 minutes, drop it on his chest, run round the pitch and finally command the ball to stay on his feet in an acrobatic surge.
Another ‘Mosquito’ appeared in Enyimba jersey in 2007. Bartholomew Ikechukwu Ibenegbu, flew in from El Kanemi, Maiduguri. With 10 goals, he was the Premier League’s Leading Goals Scorer in 2006. This Mosquito was also a member of the national Beach Soccer team, managed by Kelechi’Caterpillar’ Emeteole. Anwunta and Emeteole were contemporaries. The former played for Spartans.
Mosquito left Enyimba after one season to team up with Spartans who had become Heartland. He spent six seasons there and was unlucky not to win the CAF Champions League in 2010. Heartland lost on away goals rule to TP Mazembe of Congo. In that team were goalkeepers: Augustine Brown, Ikechukwu Ezenwa and Daniel Akpeyi. There was also a Zambian, Signs Chibambo.
Mosquito retuned to Enyimba in 2016 after a spell at Warri Wolves. He made his Eagles debut against Angola in 2010. One of his memorable goals came in 2010 against Monomotapa of Zimbabwe. In the next couple of days, Ibenegbu will be in Rwanda against Rayon Sports in a CAF Confederations Cup quarter finals match.
