In Summary The soft-spoken Italian also challenged local football officials to raise the performance of the national football team if Kenya is to export more of her football talent to Europe, saying that having players in the EPL and other top leagues go hand in hand with Fifa rankings Former Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo has tipped Harambee Stars skipper and Southampton midfielder Victor Wanyama to have an illustrious career in the English Premier League. In a wide-ranging interview with the Daily Nation on Wednesday in Nairobi, the 2012 UEFA Champion’s League-winning tactician also said that Wanyama’s move to Southampton should open opportunities for more Kenyan footballers to play in England. “Wanyama has made a very important step for Kenyan football. He now has a big responsibility of raising the profile of Kenyan football and exposing football talent in this country,” the Italian said at the Hotel Intercontinetal in Nairobi. The former Chelsea and West Bromwich Albion manager, who was on a one-day tour to Kenya to promote Guinness Football Manager, an international programme aimed at promoting football in Africa, exuded confidence that the Kenyan holding midfielder who recently made a Sh1.3 billion switch from Scottish giants Celtic to the Saints will enjoy his football in the lucrative English league. “I am here to exchange views and opinion in football and see what needs to be done.”

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