Wanyama: I’m not a dirty player, just an unlucky one
Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama has responded to the five match ban handed to him by the English FA by insisting “I am not a dirty player”.
The Southampton midfielder is set to miss his club’s next five games, a sanction slapped on him for accumulating three red and six yellow cards over the cause of the current league season.
The latest red card was shown to him during his club’s match against West Ham last weekend.
FAMILY WATCHED
Disappointingly this happened in the presence of the player’s family who were in attendance at the game.
The 24 year old player however insists he has just been “unlucky.”
“I have been unlucky at times you know,” the Harambee Stars captain told Nairobi News.
He added: “All the cards have been because of mistimed tackles, or so the ref thought. None for violent conduct, abusive language or such a thing. Obviously I am so disappointed because of this outcome and owing to the fact that I won’t be playing for a long time.”
VITAL ROLE
Wanyama’s absence will be a big blow to his team. He has played a vital role in the club’s impressive performances during the last three seasons and especially after the transfer of Morgan Schneidelen to Manchester United at the start of the season.
Sections of the English media have also reported that Wanyama could face separate sanctions from the club, with an equivalent fine of two weeks wages being mooted.
SUPPORTIVE
Former Harambee Stars coach James Siang’a however believes that Southampton coach Ronald Koemen should be more supportive of him in public.
“The coach has been very critical of the boy’s (Wanyama’s) decisions. Yet this is someone who does the dirty job for him. My take is that this isn’t the best way to handle such a problem” Siang’a noted.
