Former Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama and his elder brother, former Kenya international McDonald Mariga, have stepped up their youth development project with the Wanyama Football Academy, announcing dates for its latest player recruitment trials.Download our MozzartSport App For More NewsThe academy has set Saturday, 29 August, as the date for trials aimed at identifying young footballers, who will join its development programme.According to information shared by the academy, the trials will be held at Kilimani Primary School from 12 noon to 2pm, with registration scheduled to begin at 11:30am.FKFPL 26-27 PREVIEW: Mette-resurgency has Tusker believing they can do it allThe recruitment exercise will target three age categories — Under-12, Under-15 and Under-17, as the academy continues with its mission of identifying and nurturing the next generation of Kenyan football talent.For the Under-12 category, players born in 2013 and 2014 will be eligible for assessment, while the Under-15 trials will target those born between 2010 and 2012.The Under-17 category will comprise players born in 2008 and 2009.##NAJAVA_MECA_9921999##Prospective players have been asked to report with their own training kits, football boots, shin guards and water bottles for the assessment.The initiative is part of a wider project spearheaded by Wanyama and Mariga, two of Kenya's most accomplished football exports, who have sought to use their experience from the international game to create a structured pathway for young players.STARS ABROAD: Vyner, Anyembe, Ochieng all in action on Friday nightThe Wanyama Football Academy currently operates across Nairobi and Busia, with its main residential and academic complex situated in Nambale, Busia County, while its Nairobi elite training centre is based at the KCB Leadership Centre in Karen.The academy's official platform says the Busia facility sits on 21 acres and combines football training with formal education, life skills and accommodation.The Busia project has been under development for several years, with administration and classroom blocks already established.Harambee Stars-eligible defender reveals struggles he faced in his early days at WrexhamIn the latest significant update, Wanyama revealed in April 2026 that progress had been made after earlier challenges surrounding construction of the playing surface were addressed.The academy was conceived through the Wanyama Foundation, with the brothers drawing from their own experiences playing professional football in Europe.TACTICAL ANALYSIS: A look at Harambee Stars forward's impressive maiden start against Real MadridVictor played for Celtic, Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur, while Mariga became the first Kenyan to win the UEFA Champions League with Inter Milan.Their academy is designed to go beyond football, combining professional coaching, player development, academic education, mentorship and competitive opportunities, with the ultimate objective of creating clear pathways for talented youngsters to progress into professional football.The upcoming Nairobi trials therefore offer another entry point for aspiring footballers seeking to turn their potential into a professional career.##NAJAVA_MECA_9922026##
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