The surprise inclusion of Victor Wanyama in the national football team, Harambee Stars, has placed him among a rare class of elite Kenyan athletes who defied retirement, proving that class is permanent and legacy is worth one more game.
Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy on Tuesday named the 33-year-old former Tottenham Hotspur midfield powerhouse in his 25-man squad to face Chad in two international friendlies next month.
However, Wanyama on Friday pulled out of the team citing personal reasons and was replaced by Gor Mahia midfielder Austin Odhiambo.
Victor Wanyama never leaves Kenya without his packets of unga
Wanyama, who also featured for Southampton in the English Premier League and currently plies his trade at Dunfermline Athletic in the Scottish Championship, had announced his retirement from international duty on September 27, 2021.
Here are other notable Kenyan sports icons who returned to action after officially calling it quits:
The former Harambee Stars captain retired from international football in 2005 but made two comebacks — in 2006 and 2009. Then national coach Bernard Lama recalled the no-nonsense defender for Kenya’s match against Eritrea in 2006.
At age 35, Otieno was again recalled in March 2009 by coach Antoine Hey for a World Cup qualifier against Tunisia in Nairobi.
He started in both matches, where Kenya lost 2-1 to Eritrea and 1-0 to Tunisia. He retired for good from international football in November 2009 after Kenya’s 3-2 loss to Nigeria in another World Cup qualifier.
Former Harambee Stars captain Musa Otieno speaks during a past function in Nairobi.
Photo credit: File | Nation
Otieno made his debut against Zaire in 1993 at just 19 years old. He had a decorated club career with AFC Leopards, Tusker, South Africa’s Santos, and a loan stint with Cleveland City Stars in the USA.
He retired from active football in 2011 after over 300 club appearances and more than 30 goals for Santos.
Oliech retired from international football in 2016 but made a surprise return to the local football scene in January 2019 when he signed a two-year contract with Gor Mahia.
Despite a long layoff and being 33 years old, the striker showed glimpses of brilliance and became one of the highest-paid players in the FKF Premier League, earning about Sh200,000.
However, his stint was short-lived, with his contract terminated eight months later for missing training.
Gor Mahia's Dennis Oliech (right) celebrates his goal with team mate Jacques Tuyisenge during their Caf Confederation Cup Group D match against Zamalek on February 03, 2019 at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.
Photo credit: File | Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group
Oliech, who scored 35 goals for Harambee Stars—second only to Ouma Chege—impressed in his Gor Mahia debut against Mathare United.
Then coach Sébastien Migné praised his performance and encouraged him to work on his fitness for a possible national team return, which ultimately didn’t happen due to injury.
Karim is a true cricket legend in Kenya. He represented the country in three ICC World Cups — 1996, 1999, and 2003. Ahead of the 2003 tournament, Cricket Kenya persuaded the then 39-year-old to return for his spin expertise and leadership.
His most iconic performance came in a match against Australia, where he took three wickets in 8.2 overs, including six maidens, and conceded only seven runs.
Kenya cricket legends Steve Tikolo (left) and Aasif Karim display the Kenya Legends T20 match trophy to be contested for on Sunday at Sikh Union ground on January 3, 2023.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group
Despite Kenya losing the match, he was named Man of the Match. Karim retired permanently after the 2003 tournament.
Another revered name in Kenyan cricket, Tikolo made a comeback for the World Twenty20 qualifiers in November 2013 in the UAE—over two years after his previous appearance. He was 42 years old.
Steve Tikolo.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
Tikolo initially retired after the 2009 World Cup qualifiers, returned for the 2011 World Cup as acting captain, and then transitioned into coaching Uganda’s national team.
Atieno joined Harambee Starlets in 2014 and was instrumental in Kenya's debut at the Africa Women’s Cup of Nations in 2016. She retired in November 2021 shortly after leading Ulinzi Starlets to the FKF Women’s Cup and Super Cup wins.
Harambee Starlets striker Neddy Atieno takes part in a past training session. PHOTO | FILE |
Her retirement came soon after she joined the FKF caretaker committee. However, in 2023, she made a celebrated return to Ulinzi Starlets and in January 2024, she was appointed FKF Women’s Football Administrative Manager on an interim basis.
The Kenya Lioness rugby player retired in 2019 but made a return with Mwamba Ladies in 2021. Now serving as a player-cum-coach, Remour is transitioning into a technical role amid intense competition in the team.
She was part of the Kenya Sevens squad at the 2016 Olympics and also played in the 2016 France Women’s Sevens.
