Kenyan international and former Harambee stars captain Victor Mugubi Wanyama announced his retirement from international football on Monday, September 27.
Wanyama, who plays for FC Montreal in the USA, quit international football after having played for Harambee stars for 14 years.
According to his statement, Wanyama noted that he would return to help the Kenyan Football Federation.
“I hope to one day return to help the federation off the field but until then, I will still be the Harambee Stars’ biggest supporter and I will be cheering you guys on from the sidelines.” Wanyama’s statement read.
Wanyama’s statement seems to raise eyebrows on the state of the football federation, as he alluded to coming back to help the federation off the pitch.
On Sunday, Football Kenya Federation (FKF) unveiled the appointment of the 51-year-old Turkish tactician to replace Jacob ‘Ghost’ Mulee, who parted ways with the national team a week ago after only 11 months in charge.
The new national team head coach was appointed on a short contract of 60 days which brought about the debate on how the new appointee will work.
Wanyama was recently left out of the squad named for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers which also sparked a debate among football enthusiasts in Kenya.
The soccer star was appointed as the nationals' team captain in 2013 captaining the team in the AFCON finals in Egypt in 2019.
“We have shared great moments together and I am proud to have been your captain and leader," his statement read.
He highlighted that it was time for the young generation to rise to the occasion and take the countries football to higher places.
“It has been an honour to represent my country and I think the time has come for me to pass the mantle to the young ones, I’ll always be a part of the National Team and their biggest supporter," the footballer stated.
Wanyama made his debut for the Kenyan national team in May 2007, aged just 15 in a friendly against Nigeria.
