‘Give back to the game’, ex-Stars captain Wanyama rallies Kenyan football greats

Former Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama has urged retired footballers to give back to the game by mentoring young players and helping them prepare for life beyond the pitch through sports education.

Drawing from his experience playing professionally abroad, Wanyama said Kenya can strengthen its football development structures by adopting successful systems used in countries with more advanced football programs.

“I have travelled and played outside Kenya for many years and observed how systems operate there. I believe that incorporating what I witnessed into our local setup will greatly benefit us. Most importantly, it will provide young people with access to training facilities similar to those found in nations with advanced football programs,” said Wanyama.

The former Celtic midfielder also called on the government and sports federations to actively involve retired athletes in nurturing the next generation of Kenyan talent.

“It is crucial for our central government and sports federations to involve former legends—not just in football but across all sports—to nurture emerging talent,” he said.

Wanyama also confirmed that the official launch of the Victor Wanyama Academy will take place at the end of July in Nairobi.

The academy, which has branches in Nairobi and Busia, is being spearheaded by Wanyama and his elder brother, McDonald Mariga, through the Wanyama Foundation.

Inspired by the brothers' own journey to professional football, the academy aims to simplify the pathway for aspiring players by providing structured training, mentorship, and early exposure to world-class facilities that mirror those in Europe. The initiative is designed to better prepare young footballers for opportunities at the highest level while equipping them with the skills needed to succeed both on and off the pitch.