Tenuka Ranaweera, a former Nairobi United midfielder, chose to represent Sri Lanka over Harambee Stars due to competitive challenges and family ties. Born in Mombasa, he started with Sri Lanka’s U20 team and is now committed to helping them qualify for the upcoming Asian Cup.
Football Kenya Federation has attracted several players with Kenyan roots, such as Daniel Anyembe, Jonah Ayunga, Adam Wilson, and Alfred Scriven, to represent Harambee Stars. However, Tenuka Ranaweera, a former midfielder for Nairobi United, opted to represent Sri Lanka instead, showcasing a growing trend among Kenyan-born players. While many aspire to don the Harambee Stars jersey, Ranaweera made a choice motivated by family ties and competitive challenges.
Born in Mombasa, Tenuka Ranaweera decided to pledge his allegiance to Sri Lanka last year, starting his international journey with the U20 team. His father, Rajith Ranaweera, originally hails from Sri Lanka but settled in Mombasa. After participating in six matches with the U20 squad, he earned a promotion to the senior team in September of the previous year.
In an exclusive interview with Mozzart Sport, Ranaweera expressed that high competition within the Harambee Stars was daunting. He stated, “When the opportunity to play for Sri Lanka arose, I did not think twice about it. I considered it an opportunity to make my dad and grandparents proud, as they were born there. Much as I wanted to play for Kenya, I considered the long route of making it to the team, the challenges and competition for the few available slots.”
Ranaweera highlighted additional frustrations, including age fraud and unexplained omissions from the junior national teams, which influenced his decision. He also noted that Sri Lanka’s football infrastructure and management improvements attracted him to the 200th-ranked nation in FIFA standings.
Having made his senior debut for Sri Lanka, Ranaweera aims to assist the team in qualifying for the Asian Cup. He is eager to contribute during upcoming qualifiers against Thailand and Chinese Taipei in March. As the lowest-ranked team in the qualifiers, Sri Lanka is determined to rise above expectations in Group D.
Ranaweera expressed his ambition, saying, “My dream is to help the country qualify for the 2027 Asian Cup against the odds. We are determined to get off to a flying start later in the month and write history by qualifying the country to the finals in Saudi Arabia.” Sri Lanka, having struggled in past attempts, will seek a spot in the Asian Cup after emerging victorious against Cambodia in the playoff stage.
In conclusion, Tenuka Ranaweera’s decision to represent Sri Lanka rather than Kenya reflects a personal choice driven by familial connections and the challenges of competition within Harambee Stars. His commitment to the Sri Lankan national team indicates a promising future as they aim to qualify for the Asian Cup. Ranaweera’s ambitions signify a broader narrative of dedication and aspirations in international football.
Original Source: www.mozzartsport.co.ke
