Wanyama sets conditions for Harambee Stars return

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FOOTBALL Wanyama sets conditions for Harambee Stars return

Festus Chuma 15:30 - 06.04.2023

The defensive midfielder made his Kenya debut in May 2007 in a friendly against Nigeria at the age 15.

Former Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama has set the rules for his return into the national team 18 months after announcing his exit from the team.

The 31-year-old midfielder, who plays for Major Soccer League club Montreal Impact, retired from the national team in 2021, claiming he wanted to concentrate on his club.

But in December last year, Youth Affairs, Sports and Arts CS Ababu Namwamba announced that the star was back into the national fold.

However, Wanyama was excluded from the Harambee Stars squad that played against Iran in an international friendly last month.

The former Tottenham Hotspurs star now says some conditions must be met by the football authorities in the country before returning to the Harambee Stars position.

"I spoke to the minister and I spoke to the (new) coach. They're all asking me to go back but I said 'I need a bit of time to think about this', "Wanyama told BBC on Thursday.

"Maybe I can come back and help the team, help the young players coming through to understand what it means to represent their country.

"I think the players deserve better treatment and more professionalism."

The experienced midfielder also disclosed he had been disturbed by the hiring and firing of national team coaches in the past few years.

"Having different coaches changing players all the time is tough. But now, hopefully, they have settled for one coach, "added Wanyama.

Wanyama also revealed that he is always in constant communication with young Kenyan players who dream of becoming professionals in the future.

"I speak to some of the players a lot, trying to advise them on what they should do and I believe it is just a matter of time before they will be in the world's top leagues," he said.

"But one of the biggest platforms for them to be seen is playing for your national team, representing your country.

"Hopefully Kenya can get back to where they belong because we lost a lot when the country was not playing competitive games."

Wanyama announced his retirement from international football after 14 years of service for the nation in September 2021.

The defensive midfielder is one of the most-capped players in Kenyan history, with 64 appearances.

He has played in one Africa Cup of Nations since his debut in 2007, scoring seven international goals during his 14-year career.

His last appearance in Harambee Stars colors was against Comoros on November 15, 2020, in their 2022 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at Kasarani.