10 Africans unsettled in the English Premier League: #5 Victor Wanyama

Victor Wanyama of Tottenham Hotspur and Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur warm up prior to the Group B match of the UEFA Champions League between Tottenham Hotspur and FC Barcelona at Wembley Stadium on October 3, 2018 in London, United Kingdom.

(Oct. 2, 2018 - Source: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images Europe)

Of course, it is nice to see the likes of Mo Salah, Percy Tau and Hakim Ziyech shine for their nations over the most recent international break but it also raises questions about some popular names who are finding themselves in sticky situations. There are a number of African players dubbed to be the next Sergio Ramos and Xavis of this world but are currently unsettled at club level. Their potential is endangered by their lack of game time. Here’s a list of the XI players whose progress has stalled. What better time to look at these than now when the January transfer window is fast encroaching?

DM – Victor Mugubi Wanyama

Enough has been said already about the Kenyan defensive midfielder who is finding minutes very hard to come by at Wembley Stadium (Tottenham Hotspur’s temporary home stadium). Mauricio Pochettino was right to identify the player as the solution to the hole in the middle that had been left by Sandro at Tottenham. In all fairness, the player was thrown straight into the team and shined in his first season at the club in the 2016/17 English Premier League season. He however, has been ousted by the likes of Harry Winks, Eric Dier and even Moussa Sissoko. Wanyama is currently being played in the cup games against lesser teams whilst Pochettino’s first preferences are given a necessary break. This is an unusual situation for a player who was one of the first names on the team sheet at both Celtic and Southampton before his big move to the North London club. At 27, the player is reaching his prime years and cannot be wasted warming the bench at Tottenham when he is more than capable of competing for a first team position within the defensive midfield role at any top club in Europe.

Verdict: He should drop his CV by Manchester City and Arsenal’s doors as he walks out of White Hart Lane.

Will Spurs ever win the English Premier League?

They have earned the tag of being a “cursed” team in the premier league for the wrong (or right reasons). They have done almost everything right but somehow they continue to miss out on the coveted premier league title or less still some silverware. This begs the question: what will it really take for Tottenham Hotspurs to win the league?

Tottenham Hotspur's English midfielder Dele Alli (R) celebrates with Tottenham Hotspur's English defender Kieran Trippier after scoring the opening goal of the UEFA Champions League Group H football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Real Madrid at Wembley Stadium in London, on November 1, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Ben STANSALL

(Oct. 31, 2017 - Source: AFP)

Most Balanced Team in the EPL?

Many would argue that they certainly are. From the last line of defence all the way to the front, Spurs seem to be covered with great quality players. In the goalkeeping department, the team is led by their world cup winning captain in Hugo Lloris thus providing little or no concern in this department. Defensively, the team is ridiculously strong, possessing fast and ball crossing wing backs such as Kieran Trippier and Danny Rose has made Tottenham more threatening going forward. Moreover, the central defensive pairing of Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld has been pivotal for the team’s disciplined play. That’s not the end, the team also boasts quality in players like Davinson Sanchez and Ivory Coast’s Serge Aurier who can also perform defensive duties to their very best and up to the accepted standard. Looking at the team’s midfield, there is also plenty of talent and experience in players such as Mousa Dembele, Eric Dier, Moussa Sissoko as well as Erik Lamela. These internationals possess high level quality that can breakdown any team in the premier league on any day. Not only the midfield, but the team’s attacking threat is the pick of the crop. One would think having a striker of Harry Kane’s quality coupled with the trickery of Dele Alli and Son as well as Danish ace, Christian Eriksen’s creativity would make this team unstoppable. We’ve seen these players break down a majority of the teams in the premier league with their brilliant displays yet still that hasn’t been enough to bring glory to the other half of North London.

“They have been near yet so far. With all of that, can we say the team is “cursed” and will never in the league anytime soon? Or would one be right to say that its now only a matter of time, probably a couple of seasons before the team breaks its duck and finally claim the premier league golden prize? Personally I think it’s just a matter of time.”

— Siphosethu Thwala, FirstTouch Africa

A seemingly good coach

Not only is Spurs an overall balanced and very strong team, but in Mauricio Pochettino they have a young coach who has shown a great deal of hunger to succeed but has fallen short now and again. Some attribute this problem to lack of experience, while some strongly believe it's just bad luck. But looking at the Argentine’s coaching record, he has not won any cup with the teams he has coached, dating from his time at Espanyol and present. This then raises the argument that maybe Tottenham need a coach with a proven record of winning titles and cups and tit is only then that the team would possibly win the premier league title.

Is it in their hands to win it?

Lucas Moura of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates after scoring his second goal and his team's third goal during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on August 27, 2018 in Manchester, United Kingdom.

(Aug. 26, 2018 - Source: Clive Mason/Getty Images Europe)

Looking beyond surface value, one could be tempted to think that perhaps it's not really what the team is (or not) doing but rather, external forces could be the cause to Spurs’ failure to win the league. In recent times, we’ve seen Tottenham forcing their way into the top four after languishing in the top eight bracket for a long time. This has been evidence of the fact that the team has been improving and growing in leaps and bounds. The fact that the team has been on an upward horizon is not up for debate. They have moved from being a top four side to landing third place as well as pushing Chelsea all the way to the end before becoming runner ups in the 2016/2017 EPL season. Such showing has made Tottenham become pat of the conversation of teams that can win the league at the start of every season, but still no one really fancies them to go all the way. A key reason for this is the team’s competitors such as Manchester City who have a squad to die for while also having a financial backing second to none. Such an advantage make it difficult for teams like Spurs who operate on a very tight budget to acquire more players that can help the team challenge for the title.

Time and time again we have witnessed Spurs’ quality on the football pitch. They have shown countless times that they can be a force to be reckoned with as they have been able to defeat a lot of the so-called big teams convincingly in some of their games. But even so, that has not delivered league glory for the team. They have continuously been able to keep a majority of their key players almost every season, showing an element of continuity and trust in the progress being made. They have been near yet so far. With all of that, can we say the team is “cursed” and will never in the league anytime soon? Or would one be right to say that its now only a matter of time, probably a couple of seasons before the team breaks its duck and finally claim the premier league golden prize? Personally I think it's just a matter of time, they have the right attributes to win it. But will they? What do you think?