Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Victor Mugubi Wanyama has agreed to opt out of retirement and play for Harambee Stars once again.
While making the announcement on Thursday, December 8, 2022, Sports Cabinet Secretary (CS) Ababu Namwamba revealed that the former CF Montreal midfielder had agreed to return for national duty after discussions.
“Am delighted Victor Wanyama has agreed to return fully to Harambee Stars, rescinding his earlier decision to exit the team," Namwamba indicated in a statement.
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According to Namwamba, his ministry's mission to rebuild football and raise the bar for the national teams is pegged on the ability of elite players to be at the center of the renaissance.
“Michael Olunga is equally aligned,” read the statement from the former Budalangi Constituency Member of Parliament.
Wanyama, who previously captained the national team to the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2019 after a long hiatus, announced his retirement from international football on Monday, September 27, 2021.
However, the former skipper had on Wednesday, December 7, provided a hint regarding his official return to the national team after retweeting a statement by Bramwel Karamoja, a Nairobi-based sports promoter.
“Earlier on today, we paid a courtesy call to the Cabinet Secretary of Sports Ababu Namwamba at his office together with my brothers Victor Wanyama and Harry Wanyama.
“We held very constructive talks on how we can take Kenyan football forward,” read the statement by Karamoja.
Mugubi is one of the most successful footballers in Kenya having made his Harambee Stars debut at 15 years in a friendly match against Nigeria in 2007.
He comes from a family of football stars with his elder brother McDonald Mariga having won the Champions League with Inter Milan in 2010.
The Kamukunji High School alumnus has also featured for Southampton in the Premier League as well as for the Scottish side Celtic, in the Scottish Premiership.
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