AFC Leopards chairman Dan Shikanda has stated that the club is primed to welcome former Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama back to the club following his stints across different European clubs.
This is due to the fact that Wanyama is now a free agent after his contract with Canadian giants CF Montreal expired this year having stayed at the Major League Soccer outfit since 2020 when he joined Tottenham Hotspur.
Initially signing a two-year deal, the 33-year-old’s contract was extended for another two years in 2023.
Since leaving local football for Europe, Wanyama has been in the spotlight, representing other prestigious clubs such as Celtic and Southampton.
Before joining Leopards in 2006-2007, he had also played for Nairobi City Stars.
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Despite his contract ending, the former Harambee Stars captain believes he is not done with football and has expressed his openness to returning.
“I’m always open to new opportunities. The Kenyan league is growing, and I think there’s a lot of potential. But for now, my focus is on staying fit and exploring my options,” Wanyama said in an interview with SportsBoom.
With the offer, Shikanda has now confirmed that AFC Leopards is keen to bring the legend back, hoping he can give back to the club that helped launch his career and reconnect with his “mother club.”
“We are ready to have him at Leopards as early as yesterday. If there’s one deal we’d love to see happen, it’s the return of Wanyama to Leopards. His presence at the club would mean a lot to our players and to the league,” Shikanda told SportsBoom.
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Although the club faces financial constraints, Shikanda remains confident that Wanyama’s return is feasible, noting that the player is among the wealthiest in the country.
He emphasized that Wanyama’s potential move would not be motivated by money but by a desire to help grow the club and inspire its players.
“Obviously we can’t offer him money that is commensurate with his profile and experience. We will, however, appreciate his services in a decent way. I believe if Wanyama was to sign for Leopards, he wouldn’t do it to make money but, to promote the club and inspire players,” he said.
Shikanda, who may step down as the club chairman following his election to the National Executive Committee (NEC) for the Nairobi Region, also urged Wanyama to follow in the footsteps of Dennis Oliech who returned to contribute to his former club, Gor Mahia, after playing abroad.
“The Gor Mahia fraternity respects Oliech so much owing to what he did for the club in 2019. His decision to join Gor meant a lot to the fans and the league back then. I urge Wanyama to do so. It will be a big honour to play for Leopards again,” he added.
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