Anaku: KCCA teen who nets, lives goals

Wonder boy. Anaku scored two crucial goals as KCCA won their first Cecafa title in Rwanda after 41 years. PHOTO BY eDDIE cHICCO

What you need to know:

Soccer. In his three seasons in the Fufa Juniors League, Anaku netted 84 goals; top scoring with 27, 26 and 31 respectively. No one else has ever done this in the league’s five-year lifespan.

Most people have goals. Sadat Anaku lives them. And the 18-year-old form six vacationist from Kibuli Secondary School talks about them so naturally he is unapologetic.
“I have scored so many goals,” he said, adding - through laughter, “Actually coach Mike (Mutebi) says maybe some of my goals in the junior league were not counted.”
Anaku had just finished a morning workout with his colleagues at Lugogo as KCCA prepared for today’s first leg of the Caf Champions League tie away to Angola’s Petro de Luanda, where he is expected to start.
The former Kasawo Secondary School student first arrived at KCCA in 2016, then in form four, filled with nothing but hope.
Anxious wait
He underwent medical tests at the club with over a dozen others but when results were out, his were not among the ready ones, and the doctor was not available that day.
So he went back home to Mukono to prepare for his O ‘Level exams. “I thought, maybe, I hadn’t made it,” explained Anaku. KCCA had seen him play at schools tournaments and somehow knew he had something.
A few days later, Jackson ‘Nelly’ Magera – KCCA’s U17 coach – gave Kasawo and Anaku’s school captain, Hassan Katumba, a call.
“When my captain told me coach Nelly wanted me, I said, laughing, ‘stop joking.’ He then told me ‘wait, he is going to call back.

First day, and the goals
“So Nelly called back and the coming Sunday KCCA had a juniors game against Onduparaka. My captain gave me transport from Mukono to Kampala.
“I arrived at KCCA on Saturday and trained. I didn’t know anyone and I was feeling out of place.
“So match day came and we beat Onduparaka 7-0. I scored two goals and gave many assists. The following Sunday we beat URA 2-0, I scored both goals too. Next we beat Vipers 2-0 and I also scored those.”
At this time, Anaku was in full flow. “That’s when Mike got interest in me. All this time he had not talked to me. I also feared him. So he came, held my shoulders and told me ‘Just keep going.’
“He asked me where I stay and when I told him - Mukono, he said that is too far. He asked me if I want to come to Kampala or stay in Mukono. ‘Whatever you like,’ he said.”
Setting, breaking own records
Long story short, KCCA chairman Aggrey Ashaba arranged and the boy was admitted at Kibuli SS mid-way his form five in 2017.
Meanwhile, action never relented on the pitch. In his three seasons in the Fufa Juniors League, Anaku netted 84 goals; top scoring with 27, 26 and 31 in 2016/17, 2017/18 and 2018/19 respectively. No one else has ever done this in the league’s five-year lifespan.
Amidst the above haul came doubles, hat-tricks, quadruples, and even a sextuple in the 13-0 rout of Proline two years ago.
“It reached a point where I would score two goals in a match and my coaches would say that I haven’t performed well,” said Anaku, an honest, boyish smile coating his innocent face.
His ridiculous form and ruthless finishing saw him handed some games in the senior team at KCCA, where he debuted as substitute in the goalless draw against Mbarara last season. “I still could not believe how my life had changed. I still had fear,” he said.

Full senior debut
He then set up two goals for Mike Mutyaba in his full debut in the 2-0 victory over Kirinya-Jinja, now Busoga United, as last season wound up.
But Anaku was not fully enlisted in the senior team until two months ago, promoted together with other academy graduates Joseph Kafumbe, Ramathan Musa, Samuel Kato, Hassan Jurua and Joseph Bukenya.
The wonder boy has since gone on to score two crucial goals as KCCA won their first Cecafa title in Rwanda after 41 years.
One of those was in the 1-0 win over Tanzania’s Azam and another, also a winner, in the 4-3 semi-final victory over Green Eagles of Zambia. He also scored once in a Super 8 victory over Wakiso Giants, with another super talent Allan Okello getting the other.
Anaku featured in both legs as KCCA eliminated African Stars of Zambia but missed the two opening domestic league fixtures through injury. He is now back. “Maybe I’ll score against Petro de Luanda.”
The departure of striker Patrick Kaddu to RS Berkane in Morocco had some wonder whether Anaku was ready to soak in the pressure but the boy bluntly says “I’m not under pressure. A goal is not scored by one person.
“I can help Mike Mutyaba, Muzamiru (Mutyaba) and Allan Okello to score and they can also help me.”

Andrew Mukasa similarities His manager, Mutebi, likens Anaku to Andrew ‘Fimbo’ Mukasa, who broke Jimmy Kirunda’s 32 goals a season record when he netted 45 in 1999.
“Uganda has not generated a centre forward like this since Mukasa Fimbo (Andrew),” said Mutebi.
“There are so many similarities between this boy and Mukasa Fimbo. When he was Anaku’s age, Mukasa Fimbo was playing for a first division side called Puma FC, and the three seasons he played there he scored 30-plus goals.
“I had brought him (Mukasa) here but you know our people. They did not appreciate at the time saying ‘you know he is a kid. He cannot do it.’ Then he went to Villa. The rest is history.”
Mutebi added: “Now, since then, we have gotten this boy. We have been progressively looking at his development path for the last three years. He is the future.”
Anaku was born to Asiku Kizito and Amina Elebu in Arua District but the parents later settled in Lugazi, Buikwe district where he grew up. “I see myself playing for the Cranes in a short time,” he affirmed.
To his age-mates and former teammates still looking for a breakthrough, Anaku says “Don’t quit. Continue working because everything has its time.” His is now.

“Uganda has not generated a centre forward like him since Mukasa Fimbo (Andrew). I believe he is going to serve us and the country for a long time.”
Mike Mutebi, KCCA manager

“He has his whole future ahead of him but more importantly he has an unending habit of scoring goals. I’m very proud of him.”
Jackson ‘Nelly’ Magera, KCCA U17 and Uganda U15 coach.

“He is a young, top upcoming striker that if handled well he will be one for the future. He is learning and improving a lot every day.”

Sadam Juma, teammate