Surely, Victor Wanyama for obvious reasons requires a bold assertive introduction.
He is the Kenya National football team captain. He is as humbled as a cucumber despite playing with some of the world’s finest footballers in one of the top ranking football leagues. He is earning millions of wages per week at his English Premier League club, Tottenham HotSpurs.
Wanyama believes Uganda Cranes has improved for the better from the last time the two countries met at Namboole in 2012.
During a post match press conference at the Nelson Mandela Stadium after the goalless draw between long term rivals Uganda and Kenya, Wanyama stressed the progress the Cranes have registered over the years and is optimistic they will surely qualify for the nations cup.
Uganda Cranes has improved a lot technically and I wish them the best on Sunday against Comoros.
I am sure they will qualify this time round.
We are brothers. Your qualification will make the entire East Africa community happy.
Against Uganda Cranes’ longest serving midfielder Tonny Mawejje, the battle between Wanyama and Mawejje was long awaited for.
Indeed, it came to pass when Mawejje was introduced in the second half and two wore the arm bands to fully manifest their unquestionable leadership potential.
On the very first battle on the ball, Mawejje used his ball protection technique with a wonder body shield and Wanyama fouled.
The rest of the battles were fair challenges but overall, the Kenyan excelled with the two defense splitters to Eric Johanna that nearly killed the Uganda Cranes.
On both occasions, Wanyama released Johanna into space with Murushid Jjuuko and Hassan Wasswa Mawanda beaten flat.
Johanna looped over the advancing goalkeeper Jamal Salim (of El Merriekh). The first attempt rolled wide close to the right post of Jamal and the second was cleared off the line by Aucho Khalid.
As Wanyama left the post match press conference, he flashed the infectious smile, hugged Micho and Mawejje in a typical sportsmanship spirit.
“We hope to do well against Zambia. We had a slow start in the campaign from the change of administration at the Federation but we have since recovered well,” Wanyama said.
Kenya will train at the Phillip Omondi stadium in the heart of Kampala on Wednesday afternoon before traveling to Zambia well in time for their last AFCON 2017 qualification match.
