When the provisional Harambee Stars squad that will face Chad in two international friendly matches in June was announced, one name certainly made the headlines.
Newly appointed head coach Benni McCarthy had finally managed to do what his predecessors had failed to do, convincing former captain Victor Wanyama to come out of international retirement.
Before that, there had been hints of a possible return to the national team for Wanyama who disclosed having had discussions with the South African tactician.
“He is a big manager, he has been at Man United. Things have changed, the way the federation manages the players and the national team. Very soon, I will be making an announcement,” he said in an interview with BBC Africa.
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Less than a week later, the big announcement came in the form of his inclusion in the national team for the first time since September 2021 when he announced his retirement via social media.
His inclusion was met with a lot of positive and negative reactions on social media, and SportPesa Blog gives 4 reasons why his return is both a blessing and a curse.
Leadership and experience
Having played in the English Premier League, Scottish League and Major League Soccer among others, no player in the current Harambee Stars setup comes close to matching what Wanyama can offer in terms of leadership and experience.
As a former captain of the national team himself, Wanyama has what it takes to become the sounding board to a majority of the youngsters currently cropping up in the squad.
At 33 years of age, Wanyama’s heir apparent has been touted to be Richard Odada, currently playing for Serbian side OFK Beograd, who is only 24 years old.
His experience playing in the highest levels such as the UEFA Champions League make his return a timely boost to a squad desperately lacking natural leaders to steer the ship.
Grooming the next generation
In every locker room, there is always a player whose presence alone is enough to stir the team. Having Wanyama in the Harambee Stars arsenal would give the youngsters massive confidence heading into different games, knowing he has probably seen it all.
It would also be a dream for young players to share the dressing room with Wanyama who has rubbed shoulders with some of the best players on the planet.
Through this, the players would get to pick up some valuable lessons on and off the pitch on what it takes to play at the highest level from the Lion of Muthurwa.
Integration challenge
While it is difficult to predict this, Wanyama could find it difficult to immediately integrate with the current squad as most of his former teammates have moved on.
The team has also witnessed head coach changes under Sebastian Migne, Jacob ‘Ghost’ Mulee, Engin Firat and Francis Kimanzi who all had different playing styles to the recently appointed McCarthy.
Nonetheless, Wanyama is a top professional and is expected to level up to the task should he be given a chance to enter the playing field.
Team had moved on?
Many people agree that Wanyama’s exit from the national team was untimely. At the time, he was one of the guaranteed starters any day.
But having unceremoniously exited the stage, the team had no choice but to move on.
His return has also come at a very unexpected time with younger players fighting for a chance to don the national team jersey.
His return will definitely put a hold to those young ambitions in favour of a seasoned Wanyama who cannot be overlooked especially by the manager who has managed to get him out of retirement.
In all this it remains to be seen, what role Wanyama will play come the June friendlies against Chad.
These warm-up matches will serve as critical preparation for the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) pencilled to take place in August, with Kenya co-hosting the tournament alongside Uganda and Tanzania.
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When did Victor Wanyama retire?
Wanyama made his international debut for Harambee Stars in May 2007 in a friendly against Nigeria. He went on to feature in all six of Kenya’s 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches.
In September 2021, after a series of omissions from the squad during the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign, Wanyama officially called time on his 14-year international career.
Harambee Stars provisional squad
Goalkeepers:
Faruk Shikhalo (Bandari FC), Sepstianos Wekesa (Kariobangi Sharks FC), Brian Bwire (Polokwane City FC)
Defenders:
Siraj Mohammed (Bandari FC), Swaleh Pamba (Bandari FC), Abud Omar (Kenya Police FC), Daniel Sakari (Kenya Police FC), Lewis Bandi (AFC Leopards), Alphonce Omija (Gor Mahia FC), Kenneth Nyamwaya (Bidco United FC), Brian Mandela (Stellenbosch FC)
Midfielders:
Victor Wanyama (Dunfermline Athletic FC), Alpha Onyango (Gor Mahia FC), Timothy Ouma (SK Slavia Prague), Brian Musa (Kenya Police FC), Ben Stanley Omondi (Gor Mahia), Boniface Muchiri (Ulinzi Stars), Mohammed Bajaber (Kenya Police FC), David Sakwa (Bandari FC), James Kinyanjui (KCB FC), Adam Wilson (The New Saints FC), William Lenkupae (Central Coast Mariners FC)
Forwards:
Moses Shumah (Kakamega Homeboyz FC), Beja Nyamawi (Bandari FC), Emmanuel Osoro (FC Talanta)
