“I just needed a chance” - Enock Wanyama reflects on difficult spell at Gor Mahia

For many footballers, signing for Gor Mahia represents a moment of validation after years of chasing opportunity.

However, for midfielder Enock Wanyama, the move that should have marked progress instead became one of the most challenging chapters of his career.

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Now officially unveiled as a Tatung FC player in Taiwan, Wanyama opens up about a period defined by limited game time, professional uncertainty, and the emotional strain that came with feeling overlooked.

“I decided to hold on a bit longer, but honestly, it wasn’t working. No matter what I did, I just couldn’t impress, and all I needed was an opportunity to show that I belonged,” he told Mozzart Sport.

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Promise without minutes

He joined Gor Mahia on a free transfer ahead of the 2023/24 season, a move that placed him in the ranks of the country’s most decorated club. While he was part of the squad that lifted the FKF Premier League title that season, his contributions came largely from the sidelines.

He arrived during the January 2024 transfer window but struggled to break into then-head coach Jonathan McKinstry’s plans. Rather than improve following a technical bench reshuffle, his situation worsened.

“Things got tough, and day by day I kept hoping they would change, but they only worsened. My mental health was affected because I felt I needed to play, to be out there so that when national team selections came around, I could be a contender,” he said.

Watching peers progress while his own career stalled was particularly difficult.

“My friends were doing it; why couldn’t I? I wanted to be among the names people mention when talking about good players. I knew what I could do, and I was confident in my abilities,” he recalled.

By the time the January 2025 mid-season reshuffle arrived, Wanyama was among the players shown the door alongside Sydney Ochieng, Dolph Owino, Kevin Juma, and Musa Masika, as the club recalibrated its squad following a rare trophyless campaign.

A breaking point

The period leading up to his exit proved emotionally draining. Initial optimism under new coaches quickly faded, replaced by tension and uncertainty.

“When the new set of coaches arrived, things seemed fine on the first day, but in the days that followed, the relationship deteriorated completely. I felt there were influences at play; they could see my hard work, yet they were the same people pushing me aside,” he offered.

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At one point, he says, he was warned about being relegated to youth-team status if he failed to secure playing time elsewhere, a moment that deeply affected him. Attempts to arrange a loan move also failed to materialize before the transfer window closed.

“With two weeks left, I kept wondering why, instead of giving me reasons for not wanting me in the squad, they were trying to loan me out. I held on because I didn’t want to feel disrespected,” he recalled.

Eventually, he resigned himself to training without playing until he realized the toll it was taking.

“Yes, I was at a good club, but I wasn’t playing. By January, I decided to let go because it was hurting my mental strength. I asked for my release letter and left,” he admitted.

Walking away from a two-year contract was not easy, but he prioritized recovery and clarity over stability.

“I needed my sanity back and time to regroup,” he averred.

Trials, rejection, and persistence

Leaving Gor Mahia did not immediately bring relief or resolution. Instead, Wanyama entered a period of uncertainty defined by trials, travel, and rejection.

Taiwanese side Tatung invited him to trials following management changes, and he travelled after arranging documentation. While he impressed, the timing worked against him.

“The trials went very well, but they couldn’t sign me during that transfer window. I travelled in May, trialled in June and July, and returned to Kenya in August still without a team,” he recalled.

Back home, public perception added pressure. Attempts to secure opportunities locally brought further setbacks; unsuccessful trials at Nairobi United and Tusker, and silence after reaching out to AFC Leopards.

“Photos circulated on social media, with people questioning why I was going for trials. At that point, I saw no shame in struggling to achieve what I needed,” he said.

Just as hope was fading, APS Bomet provided a lifeline.

“I played my first full 90 minutes against Shabana, and the reception from fans was incredible. Getting my first full match on Kenyan soil, even in defeat, felt like making a statement. I was truly happy,” he recalled.

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A perspective reshaped

Through the highs and lows, Wanyama says his understanding of professional football has matured. He now sees playing time, not club prestige, as the true measure of progress.

“When I returned from Taiwan, my market value was high, but at Gor Mahia it dropped to zero. That’s when I remembered what Michael Olunga said in his documentary: a player’s value is measured by game time. That’s how you improve,” he reflected.

His openness about struggle is intentional. He hopes younger athletes learn from the reality behind the glamour.

“I’m not ashamed to show people that I’m struggling to get where I want to be. Many athletes don’t share that side of the story. Footballers may admire each other’s lifestyles without knowing the effort it takes to hold everything together, the mental resilience required to survive and thrive,” he said.

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Still chasing the chance

Today, Wanyama views his journey not as a setback but as a stage of growth, one that has strengthened his resolve.

“For me, the development stage is over. You have to fight for what you want,” he offered.

With Tatung FC, Wanyama now embarks on the next chapter of his international career, bringing experience and attacking flair to a club eager to make an impact in the second half of the season as they seek to mount a serious surge for the league title, as they currently sit fifth on the log standings on 15 points, ten adrift of leaders Fu Jen University.