He was one of the most powerful Latvian forwards of the 1930s who didn't have a very good technique but compensated it mostly by his physical strength.
[2] After just one season with Olimpija Kaņeps moved to Riga where he joined the strongest local side - RFK.
[3] In the first year with RFK Kaņeps scored 11 league goals, a tally which he could have improved had he not gotten ill before the end of the season.
In addition to good success with the club since 1937 he became a regular selection for the Latvia national football team.
He made his international début in a 1937 friendly against Germany alongside his main competitor as the best goalscorer in the Latvian league Aleksandrs Vanags.