Kenyan international midfielder Victor Wanyama has expressed his delight at joining English Premier League side Southampton, terming it as a dream come true.
Victor Wanyama
The Harambee Stars captain signed a four-year deal on Thursday night after completing his record breaking, Sh1.63 billion (£12.5m), Scottish transfer to the Saints.
Wanyama, 22, who made 55 league appearances for the Hoops, scoring 10 times and once in the Uefa Champions League after a Sh117m (£900,000) move from Belgian side Germinal Beerschot two years ago, will earn Sh 3.9m (£30,000) per week.
“This is what I was dreaming of and I’m very happy to be a Southampton player now,” Wanyama, told the club’s official website (www.saintsfc.co.uk).
“It means a lot. It has been my dream to play in the Premier League and now that I’m here, I’m very, very happy.
“ Southampton is a good club which has good players, so I just want to train hard, work hard and be part of the starting eleven,’’ he added.
Wanyama is the first Kenyan to sign for an EPL club, and, being a role model, he’s confident his move will inspire many youngsters back home.
“I think I’ve been a role model for the young kids, but now they’ve got a chance to watch me in the Premier League so it will be good for them to be watching me as a player,” he said.
Saints Manager, Mauricio Pochettino, also took time to express his excitement at Wanyama’s arrival.
Big Admirer
“I am very pleased to have secured the signing of Victor because we are a big admirer of his talents and he will fit in well to the team here at Southampton,’’ he said.
But the Scottish Premier League Young Player of the Year winner, admitted that it’s not an easy decision to leave the SPL Champions.
“It was really hard for me to make the decision, but I had to come here and I’m also delighted at the same time for being a part of Southampton, because this is what I was dreaming of and I’m very happy to be a Southampton player now,” said Wanyama. His former Kenyan Premier League club, Nairobi City Stars Chairman Peter Jabuya, welcomed the move saying that he’s put the country on global map.
“We are happy for Wanyama. His move has earned our team a big name for producing a player of his stature. The truth is, Kenya will now become a destination for many European scouts,’’ Jabuya told FeverPitch.
Due to his impressive performanace both at the club and internaional level, the former Kamukunji High School student was appointed Harambee Stars captain by Coach Adel Amrouche.
“Wanyama is a disciplined and hardworking player. All the players in the team respect him very much. He’s always there for the other players and that’s why we decided to give him the armband,’’ said Amrouche in a previous interview.
Wanyama was given the leadership role ahead of last month’s 1-0 defeat to the Super Eagles of Nigeria in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers, in Nairobi, succeding Dennis Oliech.
By RODGERS ESHITEMI, The Standard
