Enock Agwanda during his Sofapaka days. | image source: the-star.co.ke
Until recently, a throw-in was a mundane passage of play among Gor Mahia fans but all that changed when the club signed the stocky Enock Agwanda from Sofapaka.
Already famous for his long throws which are more dangerous than a through-pass from the boot of Ronaldinho Gaucho, it is not shocking that Agwanda is so popular among Gor Mahia fans who have since nicknamed him "Jowi" (Luo for buffalo).
Agwanda can throw a football further than Maina Kageni can go for a vacation and it is not surprising that Gor Mahia have already scored a goal from his trademark long throws (against Mathare United in a league match).
His "talent" has had some question why he did not take a sport like javelin, shot put or hammer throw where he could have still achieved some fame given that he has such strong arms that he can defeat Hercules in an arm-wrestling contest.
In a way they are right. Julius Yego, a person who Kenyan Rugby great Lavin Asego confessed that he fears being close to when he throws a tantrum, sharpened his nascent javelin skills on the football pitch touchline of Kapsabet Boys High School. He was a touchline cannon that caused problems for defending teams and once when he threw a football straight in to the net, the tantrum he threw for the goal being disallowed had the referee going back on the decision and pointing to the centre circle.
So if anything, the Jowi of Tok Komwanda would have still made a name for himself had he followed a path to similar to that of the man from Cheptonon.
The above statement is not to say that Agwanda is daft with the ball at his feet. The boy from Koderobara possesses a well-blended cocktail of trailblazing pace, immaculate skill and immense power. Agwanda has scored glorious goals, some even coming as early as 45 seconds from kick off (against Oserian in 2012), and he once finished a Kenyan Premier League season (2012) as the player with the most assists (12).
Throwing prowess, if there is such a thing, in football is not just unique to Agwanda.
Other footballers, with some being considered to be the most colourful and eccentric to grace the sport, have also been known to have cannon hands. The following are photos of footballers who, to use Lavin Asego's words, you would not want to be near them when they throw a tantrum.
