Football Kenya Federation (FKF) vice president McDonald Mariga has explained why Victor Wanyama was forced to leave the Kenyan national team early.
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Benni McCarthy recalled Victor Wanyama to the Harambee Stars squad after a five-year hiatus. The former Tottenham midfielder had hinted at a return to the team.
He told BBC Sport he had a chat with McCarthy, who was trying to convince him to come back.
The 33-year-old was recalled, but pulled out of the team days after due to personal reasons. Wanyama was a key player before he left the set up in 2020.
He led Kenya at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations but has rarely played for Kenya since. Coincidentally, Kenya have never played in another AFCON tournament since.
They failed to qualify for the 2025 edition in Morocco and didn't reach the 2023 edition in Ivory Coast.
Speaking to the media after the 9th FKF congress on Saturday, May 31, Mariga said his brother was disrespected.
“For a player, you tend to think fans do not give you respect. In other countries, if someone retires, you retire honourably, you have a retirement match, but you know here, it feels like people do not appreciate you, so you do not even care to do a memorial match because of the disrespect,” said Mariga.
Wanyama enjoyed a career in Europe and will go down as one of Kenya's best exports.
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The Kenyan joined Scottish second-tier club Dunfermline Athletic in March, and although he got a red card on his debut, they saw off the threat of relegation.
BBC Sport reported that he is open to re-signing with the club, but the decision will hinge on Neil Lennon remaining as manager.
“The manager is somebody that I respect a lot, you know, he’s done a lot for me, he’s taken me to another level in my career and I always appreciate that and I know how he works and he’s been very, very influential in my career," he said in April.
Kenya will play the Gambia and Seychelles in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers in September, and Wanyama will likely be involved.
Harambee Stars are fourth in Group F after six games, 10 points behind leaders Ivory Coast.
Earlier, reported that Benni McCarthy weighed in on Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim.
The Harambee Stars coach is confident the former Sporting CP tactician can turn things around at Old Trafford.
Amorim's spell since he took charge in November 2024 has been poor and has come under pressure.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
