Kenya’s leading player on his team’s fight to qualify
for their first African Nations Cup since 2004
“It used to make me
angry. But at least
I tell the truth”
VICTOR WANYAMA
Cup was expanded to 24 teams, which
meant two would qualify from each group...
It was good but we didn’t see it as a route to
the finals because we also had our belief at the
beginning when there was only the group winner
guaranteed to qualify. For me, I don’t think there
are any big teams left really in African football
and you saw in the qualifiers how countries
struggled. You saw how difficult it was for Nigeria
at the beginning of the qualifiers and they are
a big team. It shows there are no big teams
anymore. With the right mindset and fighting
spirit, keeping the team together, we can achieve.There are not many Kenyans playing in
Europe so most of the team is home-based.
Do you think there is enough quality in the
Kenyan league?
We have a lot of quality in Kenya; a lot of quality
in Kenyan football. There are small things that
we lack. We need some more belief and to show
some more passion and more fighting spirit. But
we’ve worked hard on that and if we can keep
that going we have the potential to go far.Being based in London with Tottenham
Hotspur, and focusing on your club career
and dealing more recently with injuries, how
does playing for the national team fit in,
given all the travel and disruption?
It’s not easy but it’s also nice to get back to
Kenya, knowing that I’m going to play for the
national team and represent my country. That’sthe best thing, I really enjoy that. But it’s not easy
to travel around, play the games in distant places
and then immediately you have to go straight
back to your club. It’s a bit hard but I do enjoy
playing for my country.Kenya is one of Africa’s stronger economies,
a powerhouse at the Olympics, and yet
underachievers in football. Why?
I would say it has been because of the wrangles
between the administrators in the past, the
lack of focus on what is important and how
the [national] team should be run. Arrangements
were also poorly done, making it hard to play for
the national team. It affected the players. But
with the resources and facilities we have now, the
better conditions, it is helping the players to be
better prepared. It used to make me angry and
when I spoke out about it [the officials] got angry
with me. But at least I tell them the truth. I think
now the federation that has come in listens more
and has taken onboard the things they need
to change and are trying to do it right – which
is good.What will it mean to you to play in the
Nations Cup finals in Egypt?
It has always been a dream for me to take Kenya
to the Afcon. It will be a very big experience for
me because that’s what I’ve been
fighting for, for many years and I hope
to give something now to our fans.
Interview by Mark GleesonYou’re a little like George
Weah in his playing days with
Liberia: the only recognised
international star in an
otherwise underperforming national team
that almost demands that you carry them on
your shoulders. How do you deal with that?
For me, it’s a bit difficult. It’s not easy being
the only one playing in a big league with a
major team and then having to perform for
my country. People look up to you and there
is an expectation, which is tough. Individually
it is nice to have all the recognition, but it is also
tough because the country needs more players
if it is to earn qualification for big tournaments
like the Nations Cup or the World Cup. There are
some positives to my situation but also negatives.Do you feel obligated to almost drag the
team along?
We’ve had a lot going on with our football in
Kenya, all the wrangles in the federation, but now
it seems to have settled down and it’s the right
time to start fighting to get the team up to a
better standard. Qualifying for the Nations Cup
means we can now plan for the future. It has to
start with me. I know my mentality is really good
and I always want to win everything. Going to
each game, I like to win. We started badly but we
managed to qualify. We fought together. I feel I
pulled the team together and we achieve a goal.PhIt helped in your situation that the Nations
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