‘You Can’t Pay for Experience’ – English Midfielder Tells Harambee Stars, Dunfermline Fans to Cherish Victor Wanyama’s Value.

The former Tottenham youth product has told Harambee Stars and Defermline fans why they should appreciate Victor Wanyama more despite his advanced years.

Tashan Oakley-Boothe has urged Dunfermline Athletic fans — and Kenyan football supporters alike — to cherish the presence and experience of Victor Wanyama, hailing his former Spurs teammate as an invaluable figure both on and off the pitch.

Speaking ahead of the new Scottish Championship campaign, the 25-year-old English midfielder opened up about his reunion with Wanyama at East End Park last season, following the Kenyan international’s move to the club under new boss Neil Lennon in March.

Oakley-Boothe, who came through the ranks at Tottenham while Wanyama was a key first-team player, admitted their history goes back nearly a decade. 

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While the relationship is strong now, he joked that Wanyama’s physical style made him a feared figure on the training pitch in his teenage years.

“We were quite close, to be fair,” Oakley-Boothe told The Courier. “But he was a nightmare for me when I was younger. He just used to step on my toes! When I used to go up to train with the first-team, I didn’t want to go anywhere near him.

“I warned everybody here before he came. I said, ‘watch your toes in training’! But he’s not like that anymore, now he’s good.”

Wanyama, a 64-cap Kenyan international and former Champions League finalist with Spurs, made an immediate impression in his short stint in Fife. 

Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy also recalled him to the senior squad recently, having made the decision to retire from international football back in 2021, which elicited mixed reactions, with some fans believing McCarthy should be giving chances to younger players instead.

You Can't Buy Experience

However, Oakley-Boothe is convinced his presence would be invaluable to any side he choses to play for.

“You can’t pay for experience,” he stressed. “It’s people that have been there and done that. Especially for the younger players, I think it’s important to learn from the experienced ones.

“That’s one of the main things, in terms of if Victor was to come back or whatever. It’s important for everybody around to learn from someone like that.”

After penning a new one-year deal, Oakley-Boothe is focused on reigniting his career after a disrupted first spell with Dunfermline, which included a frustrating injury period. He also reflected on the challenges of a previous move to Estrela da Amadora in Portugal, describing his time there as a reality check.

“Portugal was very difficult,” he admitted. “Language was one thing. And I’d just say maybe the club itself has its own way of going about things.

“As a player, the first thing you need to be doing is playing. When you’re not playing, it’s going to affect you — especially at this age. I’m no longer 17, so it’s not about potential. It’s like, ‘has he played?’”

Back in pre-season with a full bill of health and renewed purpose, Oakley-Boothe is determined to make his mark. 

And if Wanyama returns for a second spell under Lennon, the Pars could have the perfect blend of youthful energy and battle-tested experience to make a serious push in the Scottish Championship.