Evelyne Anyango’s rise to become top coach in women’s football

Evelyne Anyango during a past FKF coaching class. [Photo: Charles Shisia, EV]

By Charles Sisia
Sunday, July 21, 2024

Recently, she led Team Kenya to a third-place finish in the Homeless Africa Women’s Cup in Arusha, Tanzania.

Evelyne Anyango, the head coach of Mrembo Girls Football Club, has become a prominent figure in promoting women's football in Kamukunji Sub-County. Holding a CAF C Coaching Licence, Evelyne has led her team in the FKF Women’s Regional League since 2017.

Her passion for football was evident from a young age as she grew up in MOW Estate, Pumwani Ward. Despite her enthusiasm, her father did not allow her to play. After her father's retirement, the family relocated to their rural home, where they spent five challenging years doing manual labour work to survive. After both of her parents died, Anyango returned to Nairobi to live with her aunt while seeking employment.

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She found work as a house manager and worked for three years before moving to Kiambiu slums to stay with her elder brothers.

In 2005, Anyango became a founding member of the Kiambiu Youth Group, which aimed to engage young people both socially and economically. The group provided essential services such as waste management, and clean water, and built a public restroom which was funded by Maji Na Ufanisi, a community-based based organisation.

The youth group also formed a sports committee, and Anyango was selected to help establish a football team known as Kiambiu Youth FC. She played a key role in organising tournaments and providing sports equipment.

Evelyne Anyango at the Homeless Africa Women's Cup. [Photo: Charles Shisia, EV]

When the head coach, Peter Onyango fell ill, he asked Anyango to step in as coach. After he died in 2007, Anyango assumed the role full-time, despite her lack of prior coaching experience.

Evelyne Anyango at the Homeless Africa Women's Cup. [Photo: Charles Shisia, EV]

To enhance her coaching skills, she pursued formal training. In 2015, she attended her first coaching course organised by World Football Coaches at Stima Grounds on Thika Road. She earned her CAF D licence in 2018 and a certificate in sports management from Kenyatta University in 2019.

“I realised that I have leadership skills and the ability to instruct, thanks to feedback from my colleagues and instructors during the coaching courses,” Anyango told The Eastleigh Voice.

She has attended various significant events and achieved notable milestones throughout her career. In 2015, she attended a coaches' conference organised by Discover Football in Berlin, Germany. In 2017, she participated in the Discover Football Festival in India, and in 2020, she led Team Kenya to win the Peace Cup in Seoul, South Korea. This team featured talented players like Keith Imbali, currently with Kariobangi Sharks, Said Musa of Mathare United, and Sylvia Makungu, who plays for FC Wacker Innsbruck in Austria.

Recently, Anyango completed the Liverpool Train the Trainer Course in Nairobi and led Team Kenya to a third-place finish in the Homeless Africa Women’s Cup in Arusha, Tanzania.

Team Kenya has been invited to participate in the 2024 Homeless World Cup in Seoul, South Korea, under the partner organisation Vijana Amani Pamoja. Serving both as the sports officer and a football coach, Anyango will lead the team to the world event as head coach.

“This will be my second time going to South Korea, but this time with an all-female team and a different competition. I performed well last time, and I strongly believe I will do even better this time,” she told The Eastleigh Voice.

Anyango's journey from facing numerous personal challenges to becoming a top football coach is an inspiration to many in Kamukunji. Her story exemplifies resilience, dedication, and the power of sports to transform lives.