I considered quitting Saints after massive player exit - Wanyama
Kenya's Southampton midfielder Victor Wanyama poses with the African EPL Player of the Month award for September in London on October 23, 2014. PHOTO | COURTESY
What you need to know:
- The 23-year-old now admits this development left him worried and forced him to consider his future as well.
- Wanyama has also backed his club to continue with the superb start to the current league campaign although he concedes executing the same will be 'tough'.
Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama says the number of high profile departures at Southampton unsettled him last summer.
Luke Shaw (Manchester United), Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert, Dejan Dovren (all Liverpool) and Calum Chambers (Arsenal) were among the half a dozen first-team players who joined coach Mauricio Pochettino (Tottenham Hotspur) in quitting the Saints last summer.
And the 23-year-old now admits this development left him worried and forced him to consider his future as well.
"I was worried when we were losing most of our top players in the summer and was always wondering whether I should also move," Wanyama said on Thursday, moments after receiving a glittering trophy for winning the African Player of the Month in September in a brief ceremony.
"But I stayed on (at Southampton)," the former Celtic FC midfielder - who has already scored two league goals including the winner away to Swansea said.
"The new manager (Ronald Koeman) has instilled self-belief in the team. He makes us work well and gives our midfield the freedom to express ourselves and move freely."
In the meantime Wanyama, who beat Nigerian Victor Moses, and fellow midfielders Mohamed Diame and Diafra Sakho to this award, has also backed his club to continue with the superb start to the current league campaign although he concedes executing the same will be 'tough'.
Southampton currently sit second on the 20-team EPL table behind leaders Chelsea, having garnered 16 points from their opening eight games.
On his part CEO and Director of New African Soccer Awards, Tunde Adelakun, who officially handed Wanyama the award in London, praised Kenya's skipper for his humility despite his outstanding talent.
