Victor Wanyama has shared his confident yet playful take on Kenya's football rivalry with Tanzania, expressing strong belief in the Harambee Stars while keeping the banter friendly.
Former Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama has reignited the friendly rivalry between Kenya and Tanzania, confidently stating that the Harambee Stars could defeat the Taifa Stars even without full preparation.
Victor Wanyama remarked while responding to a question about whether Kenya could overcome Tanzania if the two sides were to meet at the African Nations Championship (CHAN 2024).
Both teams were eliminated at the quarterfinal stage of the tournament, Kenya bowing out to Madagascar after a 1-1 draw and a penalty shootout loss.
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Victor Wanyama: Tanzania Should Not Take it Personally
Victor Wanyama expressed strong confidence in Kenya’s ability to triumph over Tanzania, saying he saw no reason the Harambee Stars could not win whenever the two sides meet.
The former Montreal CF mentioned that the two nations share a friendly rivalry, often exchanging playful banter about football, which he viewed as part of their sporting culture.
However, he clarified that his remarks were not meant to offend anyone, stressing that the friendly competition between the neighbouring countries should never be taken personally.
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“Kenyans can beat Tanzania anytime…they are our neighbours and friends, and we always joke about football almost all the time. However, Tanzania should not take that personally, but I believe we can beat them any day, anytime,” he disclosed in an interview with BBC Swahili.
Victor Wanyama added that if he had not pursued a football career, he would likely have chosen a very different path.
He joked that he might have become a doctor or perhaps ended up working a regular office job, noting with amusement how different his life could have been away from the pitch.
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“I would have been a doctor (laughs)… If I hadn’t been a footballer, I would be working in an office somewhere,” he revealed.
Victor Wanyama’s Football Journey
Victor Wanyama forged a significant professional career marked by milestones across Europe and North America. His success story began in Scotland with Celtic FC (2011–2013), where he quickly became a pivotal player.
During his time in Glasgow, he secured the Scottish Championship title twice, in 2011–12 and 2012–13, and added a Scottish Cup in 2013.
Perhaps his most famous club moment came in the UEFA Champions League when he scored in a stunning 2-1 victory over Spanish giant Barcelona, becoming the first Kenyan to score in the competition.
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His performances earned him individual recognition as the Scottish Premier League Young Player of the Year in 2013.
His prowess on the pitch led to a groundbreaking move to the Premier League with Southampton FC (2013–2016). The transfer fee made him the most expensive player ever sold by a Scottish club at the time, underscoring his rising profile.
Victor Wanyama later moved to Tottenham Hotspur (2016–2020), where he was a key squad member, contributing to their impressive run to the UEFA Champions League final in the 2018–19 season.
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In 2020, Victor Wanyama ventured into Major League Soccer (MLS) with CF Montreal, where he continued to collect silverware by winning the Canadian Cup in 2021.
Internationally, he was a long-serving captain for the Kenyan national team, earning over 60 caps and proudly leading the Harambee Stars at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.