Victor Wanyama Childhood Story Plus Untold Biography Facts

LifeBogger presents the Full Story of a Kenyan Football Bull best known by the Nickname; “The Brute”.

Our Victor Wanyama Childhood Story plus Untold Biography Facts brings you a full account of notable events from his childhood time to date.

The analysis of Victor Wanyama’s Biography involves his Childhood Story, Early Life, Parents, Family background, Wife (Tracy Macniven), Lifestyle, Net Worth and Personal Life.

Yes, everyone knows about his history as the first Kenyan to be featured in the Premier League.

Also, the fact that he, alongside Patson Daka and the retired Enock Mpewu, are among the names of East Africans who have played in the Premier League.

Despite the above accolade, we notice that not many fans have read an in-depth version of Victor Wanyama’s Biography, which is quite interesting. Now, without further ado, let’s Begin.

Victor Wanyama Childhood Story – Early Life and Family Background:

For Biography starters, his full name is Victor Mugubi Wanyama. He was born on the 25th day of June 1991 in Nairobi, Kenya. Born to poor parents (Mr and Mrs Wanyama) who later got an opportunity in sports.

Despite having a tough childhood start, Victor, while growing up, was just an ordinary child who played the popular African “cha baba na cha mama”, AKA “Mama and Papa Play”, like the rest of his childhood friends.

He passed through a lot of hardship growing up. Severally, Victor was chased home for school fees, and sometimes, he would go without food for days.

In a bid to survive the harsh realities, he started hustling by selling little provisions to keep body and soul intact.

Sometimes in the streets, he would severally see criminal gangs being chased by the Kenyan police Force.

The thought of football came when I watched and admired Patrick Vieira’s football energetic displays on the pitch of play.

This also came after his elder brother and then local footballer McDonald Mariga advised him to give football a try.

Considering he was developing a body similar to the great Patrick Viera’s, which is rare among Kenyans, Victor decided to give football a try with his parents supporting him under the condition that he must finish his secondary education.

Despite his elder brother’s first going into football, his parents believed the career had no future and guarantee within the country.

Wanyama, upon receiving advice from his parents and with financial support from his brother, went on to attend Kamukunji High School, which fields a successful football team.

Upon leaving High School, he also played with JMJ Academy for three years, during which time he also joined the Kenyan Premier League club Nairobi City Stars.

Victor Wanyama Early Years – The Miracle:

A miracle first came to his family when Wanyama’s elder brother, McDonald Mariga, got observed by Swedish scouts who took him to play for the Swedish club Helsingborg.

McDonald had a similar stocky buildup to his kid brother, Victor, and their Swedish club loved it. Below is the difference between Victor (left) and his big brother (pictured right).

After finding no replacement for Mc Donald and having been informed of the potential of Victor Wanyama back in Kenya, they sent scouts to come pick him up in Kenya.

Victor Wanyama’s first move to Europe came in 2007 when he joined the Swedish club Helsingborg in 2007, where his brother, McDonald Mariga, played football.

After the departure of his brother McDonald Mariga to Serie A side Parma in 2008, Wanyama returned to Kenya for a little break.

During this period, his transfer was being initiated to Beerschot A.C. of the Belgian League. He stayed there for two seasons before moving to Scottish giants, the Celtics.

Wanyama arrived at Celtic as an unknown commodity. The first team had been lumbering in past seasons from bringing in ‘men of steel’ who were supposed to give the side some gravitas and instil some fear into the opposition.

Hitting the ground running, Wanyama came into the Celtic squad, which was already overburdened with midfielders, with some wondering why he was bought. From early on, he commandeered the midfield and, at some point, thought of moving to a more recognized league.

After much speculation and a previous breakdown in talks, on 11 July 2013, Wanyama signed for Premier League side Southampton for a fee claimed to be £12.5 million, making him the first Kenyan to ever play in the Premier League. The rest, as they say, is now history.

Who is Tracy Macniven? Victor Wanyama’s Wife:

Victor Wanyama is a man who truly believes and knows where to find love.

The whole Kenyan people have approved of the romance between the midfielder and Kenyan model  Tracy Macniven. As often said, both lovers are a perfect match for each other.

Tracy is a very beautiful lady. She is a model for “Nywele Creative”, which deals with hair products and extensions.

She once posted a photo alongside the seemingly lovestruck footballer. The comments which came afterwards laid speculations to rest.

Comments from their fans included one that affirmed their relationship had been on for over a year and another that urged them to “get married already.“

“You guys are such a beautiful couple; it been over a year now!” It’s only a matter of time before Victor settles down.

Personal Facts:

He has the following attributes to his personality.

 

 

Victor Wanyama’s Strengths: He is powerful, tenacious, highly imaginative, loyal, emotional, sympathetic, and persuasive.

Wanyama’s Weaknesses: He could be Moody, pessimistic and suspicious.

What Victor Wanyama likes: He like PlayStation, Eating Chicken, outdoor life, golf, home-based hobbies, relaxing near or in water, helping loved ones, a good meal with friends

Wanyama dislikes: Strangers, watching movies, any criticism of his mother and revealing of personal life

In summary, Wanyama is deeply intuitive and sentimental. He could be sympathetic and attached to people he keeps close. Wanyama is very loyal to his homeland, which loves him and his cub.

Victor Wanyama Family Facts:

Initially, his parents were not well off. Their story changed when their sons started making it in Europe. Hence, they became a sporting family.

While Victor’s brother McDonald Mariga is also a professional footballer, his other brothers, Thomas and Sylvester Wanyama, are also footballers in the Kenyan Premier League as at the time of writing.

Surprisingly, Victor Wanyama’s father, Noah Wanyama (pictured below), was once a footballer for A.F.C. Leopards in the 1980s. Noah never made it in football.

Noah looks like a poor man made him to be mistreated by security personnel during Kenya’s friendly against DR Congo.

Victor Wanyama’s Sister and Mother:

Wanyama’s sister Mercy has recently become a professional basketball player in the USA. Wanyama loves his mum, pictured below, very much.

He considers her as the best thing that has ever happened to him in his whole life. Below is a photo of Victor Wanyama’s mother and sister.

Victor Wanyama Brother:

Dogged by persistent injuries that have considerably slowed him down in recent times, former Kenya international midfielder McDonald Mariga is all too happy to bask in the meteoric rise of his little brother Victor Wanyama.

Ironically, while Mariga’s career has clearly nosedived into the lower echelons of Italian football, Wanyama is enjoying arguably the best of football in England. Mariga is a caring brother. In his words about his family…

“Our family are so close. My mum and dad made us close,” Mariga said.

“Growing up, they said, ‘I have help, my brother, a lot’. We would play football together and at school, I would finish first and wait for Victor so we can go home together – things like that. 

Sometimes I will be playing and I would see someone kick my brother. When it happened, I feel bad and would sometimes fight to stop it,”

Mariga further revealed in a subtle hint of just how much of his brother’s keeper he has always been. It’s more than a decade since Mariga first took Wanyama under his wings.

Victor Wanyama Biography Facts – Street Naming Controversy:

Some time ago, Wanyama was honoured in Tanzania after a street was renamed after him in Dar es Salaam.

The move, however, courted controversy after the street sign bearing his name was pulled down.

Favourite Quotes:

“The feeling I got after the goal against Barcelona was just unbelievable! I’ve never felt anything like that in my life. It was better than sex.

We didn’t celebrate the win in any particular way. I drank an orange juice, that was quite enough.” – Wanyama to the Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad after the 2-1 victory v Barcelona (he scored a goal) (Nov 2012)

“I made the right decision to join Celtic. They are a family club, where I can develop in the best way. I’m happy at Celtic.” – Victor Wanyama (Nov 2012)

Victor Wanyama Untold Biography Facts:

(1) Anger or Rage:

Victor Wanyama sometimes lacks the Intelligence to know when he does have to commit a red/yellow card offence, especially in the area of keeping his temper in check.

(2) Message To Kenyan Kids:

The Kenyan footballer has a message for any children dreaming of a similar rise like he had. He once said;

“Now there are a lot of other kids watching the Premier League on TV hoping they can be here when they grow up. I think I’ve set a good example and shown it can happen.

When I go there I try to encourage the young kids and tell them to believe and work hard so their dreams to play in the Premier League might happen. They should believe in yourself as anything can be done.”

(3) Victor Wanyama Acting Career:

In 2015, Wanyama participated in the production of a short film about soccer in Kenya called Mdudu Boy, written and directed by actress Ella Smith.

Also, he has been a starting actor in the short film “Lion of Muthurwa”. This is an inspirational film on his football journey from the slums to international football stadiums.

More recently, Wanyama has participated in the production of a short film about soccer in Kenya called Mdudu Boy, written and directed by actress Ella Smith.

Victor Wanyama Untold Biography Facts – Message To Kenyan Kids:

During his moments at Celtic FC, Wanyama influenced Celtic Charity Funds, a charitable arm of Celtic FC to visit Kenya. The charity is committed to supporting ramie relief effects in Africa.

And he hopes his journey from the outskirts of Nairobi to top-flight English football can inspire other kids.

Appreciation Note:

Thank you for taking your quality time to read our version of Victor Wanyama’s Biography.

At LifeBogger, our team strives with accuracy and fairness in our quest to deliver you the African Football Players’ Biography. The life History of Sofiane Boufal, Emmanuel Eboue, and Thomas Partey might interest you.