Following reports that former Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama could potentially return to the Kenyan top tier, AFC Leopards chairman Dan Shikanda has opened the door for the former midfielder to serve a second stint and retire at the club.Wanyama is currently a free agent following the expiry of his contract with Canadian giants CF Montreal, a club he joined in 2020 after parting ways with English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur.Going by his rich profile and experience in professional football, which spans over a decade, Wanyama was expected to sign with a new club after it emerged that he would not be extending his stay with Montreal.##NAJAVA_MECA_8572262##However, the seasoned midfielder is yet to find a new home or, at the least, be linked to a club ahead of the mid-season transfer window which is expected to open in January.As Wanyama keeps his fans guessing about his next destination, Shikanda has boldly come forward to entice him to wear the famous blue and white colors for a second time.Shikanda, in an interview with SportsBoom.com, implored Wanyama to sign for Ingwe as a way of giving back, to the outfit that thrust him into the world, and reconnecting with his ‘mother club’.Kelly Madada confident of ending AFC Leopards’ 26-year title droughtWanyama played for Leopards between 2006-2007 before moving to Swedish side Helsingborg IF U21 team the following year.Before his spell at Leopards, Wanyama featured for Nairobi City Stars although details of his spell with the Kawangware-based club are scanty.Even though Wanyama is considered to have years left in his professional career, and returning to the Kenyan top tier would represent a massive downgrade, Shikanda has made a passionate appeal to the midfielder to retire at the Leopards.The former Kenyan international believes that a move to Leopards will motivate more players to strive for professional football and would market the competition in a special way.’Africa is worried about Kenya’ Hussein Mohammed ahead of CAF Awards in Morocco”We are ready to have him at Leopards as early as yesterday. If there is a deal we would love to see happen, is the return of Wanyama to Leopards. His presence at the club would mean a lot to our players and the league,” he said.Despite the reported financial challenges at Leopards, Shikanda believes that if Wanyama was to move to Leopards, his decision would not be influenced by money.Leopards have been struggling to make ends meet in recent months, with media reports suggesting that the situation has occasionally escalated to the point of players experiencing salary delays.Ademola Lookman and full list of winners at CAF Awards in MoroccoNonetheless, Shikanda says the club is willing to offer Wanyama, who is considered one of the richest sportsmen in the country and region, a decent package in the event that, he agrees to put pen to paper.”Obviously we can’t offer him money that is commensurate with his profile and experience. We will, however, appreciate his services in a decent way. I believe if Wanyama was to sign for Leopards, he wouldn’t do it to make money but, to promote the club and inspire players,” he said.
