Victor Wanyama announces launch date of his football academy

Former Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama has confirmed that the official launch of the Victor Wanyama Academy will take place at the end of July in Nairobi.

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The launch will mark a major milestone in a project aimed at transforming youth football development in Kenya.

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The academy, which has branches in Nairobi and Busia, is being spearheaded by Wanyama alongside his elder brother, McDonald Mariga, through the Wanyama Foundation.

Established in 2018, the foundation seeks to give back to the community by identifying and nurturing the country's next generation of sporting talent.

Wanyama said the academy was born from the brothers' own experiences of navigating difficult pathways to professional football and is designed to make that journey easier for aspiring players.

"The official launch will be at the end of July in Nairobi to shorten the pathway for young players. From our own experiences, we know how difficult it can be to make it, so we want to make the journey smoother for the next generation," he said.

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He added that the academy will also expose young footballers to world-class facilities that mirror those found in Europe, ensuring they are better prepared for opportunities abroad.

"We also want to provide better facilities for our players, similar to what you see in Europe, so that when they get opportunities abroad, they don't experience culture shock or find themselves overwhelmed," he said.

Beyond developing footballers, Wanyama believes the academy will play a significant role in empowering communities and producing players capable of competing at the highest level.

"We believe in giving back to the community by empowering young people. Our goal is to nurture more players like Wanyama and Situma, and eventually have teams strong enough to compete at the World Cup level. That is our long-term vision," he added.

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While the Nairobi branch is set for launch, Wanyama revealed that construction of the Busia academy is also progressing well, with only the playing pitches yet to be completed.

According to the former Celtic FC midfielder, the overall design of the project has already been finalised, with the playing surfaces proving to be the biggest hurdle.

Despite the delay, Wanyama expressed confidence that the remaining work is progressing steadily and that the Busia facility will soon be fully operational.

Once complete, the academy will offer structured development programmes for players across various age groups, guiding them from grassroots football through to the professional ranks.

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Wanyama also revealed that the initiative will bring together both local and international coaches to improve training methods, facilitate knowledge exchange, and raise coaching standards in Kenya.

He believes the collaborative approach will not only develop better coaches but also equip young players with the technical and tactical foundations needed to transition seamlessly into professional football, both locally and abroad.