Ex- Celt Wanyama bidding to emulate his brother who lifted trophy with Inter

Former Celtic midfielder Victor Wanyama promised his family that he would emulate his brother by reaching a Champions League f i nal before his career was out.

Wanyama is part of Mauricio Pochettino’s side who are vying to win the prestigious trophy in tonight’s final against Liverpool in Madrid and an appearance this evening will fulfil a longstanding vow.

Wanyama, 27, was with his siblings in 2010 as elder brother Mcdonald Mariga helped Inter Milan win the Champions League with a victory over Bayern Munich. Mariga was an unused substitute in what was Jose Mourinho’s last game with the Italian side on a night when Wanyama announced a firm desire to do the same.

“It has been a great journey for me. It has been my dream all my career to go and follow in my brother’s footsteps,” he said. “He won the Champions League and that is something that I have also wanted to do throughout my career. It has been a dream of mine for a long time. I have spent so much of my career trying to achieve what he has achieved. Now I have this chance.”

Fo l l owi ng t he p u l s a t i ng comeback in the semi- final win over Ajax, Wanyama’s brother tweeted a reminder of the promise his younger brother had made to him almost a decade ago about making the final. The Kenyan internationalist has been a peripheral figure this season at Spurs but Pochettino made a point earlier this week about the need for him to use every member of his squad and Wanyama is primed for whatever comes his way tonight.

“I speak to Mariga every day,” said the Kenyan. “He tells me all the time that it is not about getting there it is about winning it. He also keeps telling me how important it could be to have two brothers winning the trophy with different clubs.

“It would mean everything t o me and t o him. He has always supported me and he has always been pushing me. That is the great thing that he has always wanted me to get there. He has done it so he knows what it takes and he knows how to push me.”

Wanyama: His brother won Champions League in 2010.