Former Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama has urged retired footballers to support the sport by mentoring young players and helping them plan for life after football through sports education.
Speaking from his experience playing professionally abroad, Wanyama said Kenya can strengthen its football development structures by adopting systems that have worked well in countries with more advanced programmes.
“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 bring retired athletes into the process of developing 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, will be driven by Wanyama and his elder brother, McDonald Mariga, through the Wanyama Foundation.
Inspired by the brothers’ own rise into professional football, the academy aims to make the journey for aspiring players more straightforward by offering structured training, mentorship, and early access to facilities comparable to those in Europe.
The programme seeks to prepare young footballers for opportunities at the highest level while equipping them with the skills they need to succeed both on and off the pitch.
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