Wanyama hoping to raise profile of Kenyan football

Victor Wanyama is looking to put Kenyan football on the map with his performances for Southampton in the Premier League.

The 22-year-old, who moved to St Mary’s Stadium from Celtic in the close-season, has impressed in a Southampton side that is a combination of young English talent and foreign imports such as Wanyama.

The midfielder returned to the Southampton starting line-up for Saturday’s 3-0 win at Fulham after struggling with a calf injury and hopes his displays can help alert the football world to more potential stars back in his homeland.

“We Kenyans have a lot of talent,” he told the Evening Standard.

“It’s just that we don’t have scouts going there.

“I hope I will raise the profile so in the future the scouts go there, then our players can show their skills.

“Everyone back home is looking up at me to show people that Kenyans can play and open doors to others.”

Wanyama has been likened to former Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira in playing style, but he was quick to distance himself from such claims.

“People did say I play like Vieira,” he said.

“But it is not for me to say I am a Vieira.

“I like going forward from midfield. The manager does not ask me to stay back but you have to pick the moments to go.”