This archive report was first published on 15 July 2019.
Former Harambee Stars striker Allan Wanga recently retired from international football, but his legacy lives on through the tournaments he organizes. On July 13, 2019, Rift Valley Academy emerged victorious in the Diaspora 7 Aside tournament, which was organized by Wanga.
The finals saw Rift Valley Soccer Academy face off against Rongai All-Stars in a thrilling match that ended in a 0-0 draw. The two teams then headed into a penalty shoot-out session, where Rift Valley Soccer Academy came out on top, lifting the trophy.
The event also saw several Harambee Stars players form a team called Zuang FC, named after Wanga, to take on the present sides in the competition. The team included players like Zesco United's Jesse Were and Anthony Akumu.
Wanga spoke about giving youth a chance in football and echoed sentiments about his international retirement. 'You need to pave way for the younger generation, young talents that are also in the industry,' he said.
Wanga also expressed his confidence in the young players, saying, 'There is much talent on the ground and I think that is why we came up with this idea. We play with them to give them the confidence and also let them know that they can make it in terms of football.'
The tournament also provided a platform for the young players to interact with their idols and role models. Were and Akumu were present at the event and spoke publicly about Harambee Stars following their omission from the squad for the AFCON tournament in Egypt.
