Victor Wanyama was widely expected to make a return to the Harambee Stars, but that has not materialized even after Cabinet Secretary for Sports Ababu Namwamba convinced to do so.The Montreal midfielder, was loudly missing when Stars coach Engin Firat named the squad that faced Iran in Tehran on Tuesday, 28 March 2023 in a friendly match.In an interview with the BBC Sport Africa, the former Tottenham Hotspur and Celtic FC player offered that he would only make a U-turn and come out of international retirement if the national team exhibits more “professionalism” in its management. ##NAJAVA_MECA_7153200##The 31-year-old took issue with high turnover of the Harambee Stars coaches and constant change of players, saying that it makes it “tough” for the team to do well.Again? Aussems escalates war of words with Tusker’s MatanoKenya have had seven coaches in six years, with Turkey’s Firat the current man in the hot seat – and Wanyama says the constant churn has been a source of frustration.”It’s a bit difficult because we have a lot of good players but the problem has been they didn’t settle for one coach,” he told BBC Sport Africa.”Having different coaches changing players all the time is tough. But now hopefully they have settled for one coach.”I spoke to the minister and I spoke to the (new) coach. They’re all asking me to go back but I said ‘I need a bit of time to think about this’.”Maybe I can come back and help the team, help the young players coming through to understand what it means to represent their country.”I think the players deserve better treatment and more professionalism.”Kenyan football was thrown into disarray last year when global governing body FIFA banned the East African nation for nine months after, the ministry dissolved the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) over alleged misappropriation of funds.Although the suspension has now been lifted, Kenya was expelled from qualification for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and Wanyama, feels his compatriots have missed out on a key opportunity for development.”I speak to some of the players a lot, trying to advise them on what they should do and I believe it is just a matter of time before they will be in the world’s top leagues,” he said.”But one of the biggest platforms for them to be seen is playing for your national team, representing your country.”When they take it away from young players then it is difficult for them.”Hopefully Kenya can get back to where they belong because we lost a lot when the country was not playing competitive games,” he added.
