'I Didn't Want to Go Near Him' – English Midfielder Remembers Tough Lessons from Victor Wanyama at Spurs

Victor Wanyama and Tashan Oakley-Boothe

'I Didn't Want to Go Near Him' – English Midfielder Remembers Tough Lessons from Victor Wanyama at Spurs

Abigael Wafula 11:00 - 25.06.2025

A former Spurs youngster has fondly recalled the tough lessons and lasting impact of sharing the pitch with Victor Wanyama.

Dunfermline Athletic midfielder Tashan Oakley-Boothe has gone down memory lane on his experience with Victor Wanyama at Tottenham Hotspur.

Victor Wanyama played for the Spurs from 2016 to 2020, with Tashan Oakley-Boothe joining Wanyama at the club in 2017.

Tashan Oakley-Boothe admitted that his time at the club shaped him into the player he is today, admitting that Victor Wanyama played a huge role in his career.

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Just three weeks after joining, he made his senior debut as a half-time substitute in a pre-season friendly against PSG in Orlando, an impressive start to elite football for any teenager.

When Victor Wanyama arrived at Dunfermline Athletic on a short-term deal in March, Tashan Oakley-Boothe relieved the memories he shared with the former Harambee Stars captain.

For about two years, the 25-year-old found himself training with Victor Wanyama, and the lessons were tough.

Tashan Oakley-Boothe: It Was An Incredible Environment

Victor Wanyama
Tashan Oakley-Boothe on Victor Wanyama's impact

Tashan Oakley-Boothe admitted that Victor Wanyama had a unique playing style, and most of the time, he would always avoid getting in the midfielder’s way.

He revealed that even when Victor Wanyama landed at Dunfermline Athletic, he warned every player about his playing style and told them to be careful.

However, after years of being apart, Tashan Oakley-Boothe revealed that Victor Wanyama had made a series of changes in how he played.

“It was an incredible environment to learn in. I had to look out for him when I was younger. He just used to step on my toes,” Tashan said as per Dunfermline Athletic.

“When I went up to the first team, I didn’t want to go near him. I warned everybody here before he came – I said watch your toes in training. He’s not like that anymore.”

Victor Wanyama joined Dunfermline for the final seven matches of the season, and Tashan Oakley-Boothe was one of the players who were excited about that.

He pointed out that despite playing only one match with Victor Wanyama, he got to enjoy the experience because, having played with the Kenyan before, he knew what to do.

“Of course, he remembered me. I was with him quite a lot when I was young. For almost two years. So yeah, we were quite close, to be fair,” he revealed.

“We only played one game together, to be fair, at Morton. I quite enjoyed it. I knew how he played, so it was easy to bounce off him.”

Although Victor Wanyama’s stint at Dunfermline was short, only four appearances, his influence on Tashan Oakley-Boothe and the entire squad highlighted the importance of seasoned players in any dressing room, no matter the level.

For Tashan, reuniting with Victor Wanyama was a powerful reminder of his journey since those early Tottenham days.