Kimilili Member of Parliament (MP) Didmus Barasa has called on Harambee Stars coach Engin Firat to consider naming former captain Victor Wanyama into his squad in the upcoming matches.

In a statement on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, Didmus Barasa stated that Wanyama is currently fit and playing for CF Montreal.

Barasa further argued that Wanyama’s presence in the national team would bolster the already exceptional talent at Engin Firat’s disposal.

“National team coach Engin Firat and the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) should unequivocally bring midfield maestro Victor Wanyama into the national team. As he is presently playing for CF Montreal, Wanyama’s addition would undoubtedly enhance the exceptional talent already present in the team,” Barasa wrote on X.

His sentiments come even as Firat’s charges prepare to lock horns with Namibia in their second match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers in Group J on Tuesday, September 10, 2024.

The match will kick off at 7 PM local time at Johannesburg’s Orlando Stadium in South Africa.

Harambee Stars will be looking to grab all three points following a lacklustre 0-0 draw against Zimbabwe at Stade Nelson Mandela Stadium in Kampala, Uganda.

By the time of this publication, Victor Wanyama, FKF, and Firat had not responded to Barasa’s proposal.

Wanyama’s absence

Initially, the midfield maestro had announced his retirement from national football before the then-Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba announced in December 2022 that Wanyama had rescinded his decision.

“I am delighted Victor Wanyama has agreed to return fully to Harambee Stars, rescinding his earlier decision to exit the team. In our mission to rebuild our football and raise the bar for our national teams, our elite players must be right at the heart of this renaissance,” Namwamba announced then.

Wanyama left Kenya’s senior team in 2021 after making 71 appearances and scoring seven goals.

His final Kenyan goal came in the 3-0 victory over Ethiopia, which helped Kenya qualify for the 2019 Cup AFCON finals in Egypt.

His final game for the Harambee Stars was Kenya’s 1-0 loss to Comoros in the 2021 AFCON qualifier.

However, in 2023, Firat responded to the return of Wanyama, making it clear that it is up to him to make up his mind on whether he is ready or not to feature for the national team.

“It is up to him. That is probably something you have to ask him. I also read about what Namwamba said, but when I talked to the player, he said he has not made up his mind to make a comeback,” Firat stated.

Despite the latest discussion ignited by Barasa, Wanyama had already made a name for himself by becoming the first player from East Africa to compete in the English Premier League.

Wanyama made his debut for the national team in 2007 at the age of 15, coming into the game against Nigeria as a substitute. He managed to play alongside his brother MacDonald Mariga, who nearly joined Manchester City during his prime.

After Dennis Oliech retired in 2014, former coach Adel Amrouche gave him the captaincy.