Victor Wanyama returns from retirement to Harambee Stars
Football
By
Washington Onyango
| Dec 08, 2022
Former Tottenham Hotspurs star midfielder Victor Wanyama is back at Harambee Stars.
Sports CS Ababu Namwamba on Thursday announced that the former Harambee Stars captain will be available for national team selection after agreeing to rescind his international retirement decision.
Namwamba, who has been instrumental in the revival of football in the country since taking office two months ago, took to Twitter to announce the new developments.
"I'm delighted Victor Wanyama has agreed to return fully to Harambee Stars, rescinding his earlier decision to exit the team. In our mission to rebuild our football and elevate our national teams, our elite players must be at the heart of this renaissance. Ogada Olunga too is in," posted the CS on his official tweeter account.
The immediate former CF Montreal captain called time on his international career last year in September.
This is after being overlooked for the FIFA 2022 Qatar World Cup qualifiers against Uganda and Rwanda by former coach Jacob 'Ghost' Mulee.
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Am delighted @VictorWanyama has agreed to return fully to Harambee Stars, rescinding his earlier decision to exit the team. In our mission to rebuild our football and elevate our national teams, our elite players must be at the heart of this renaissance. @OgadaOlunga too is in.?? pic.twitter.com/EDedqb5iQn - Hon Ababu-Namwamba, EGH?? (@AbabuNamwamba) December 8, 2022
Wanyama, who was capped more than 60 times, made his international debut on May 27, 2007, against Nigeria.
Five years later, he was appointed Stars' captain replacing Harambee Stars' all-time top scorer Dennis Oliech in 2013.
Wanyama, who has played for Tottenham Hotspur, Southampton, and Celtic in Europe, is one of the most experienced players to have ever featured for the country.
The last time Wanyama featured for Kenya was in the Afcon qualifiers played in November last year against Comoros which Harambee Stars lost 2-1.
His European football journey started in 2008 when he signed for Belgian side Beerschot AC. After three years at the club, Wanyama signed for Scottish side Celtic in July 2011, becoming the first-ever Kenyan to play in the Scottish Premier League.
A year later, Wanyama became the first ever Kenyan player to score in the Uefa Champions League when he scored the first goal in Celtic's 2-1 win over Barcelona on November 7, 2012.
On July 2013, Wanyama moved to English Premier League after signing for Southampton making him the first Kenyan to ever play in the
Premier League. He moved to Tottenham Hotspurs in 2016.
Wanyama left CF Montreal of the Major Soccer League two months ago and is currently in search of a club.