Wazito FC players during a past match.[Photo/the-star.co.ke]
In typical hard-fought progression in the torturous football arena, University of Nairobi (UoN) side Wazito have clawed their way to the epitome of Kenyan football competition in the gracious side, baffling many and astounding doubters as they carry with them an ever-growing army of loyal supporters.
Ticking all the boxes in the game, it is one of the few in the country; actually, it was the third to comply with the government and Fifa club compliance, which demands a professional approach to the running of clubs and the sport in general.
Born out of the urge to participate in recreation football by a group of former UoN students in 2011, the team has defied all odds, drafted members from far and wide to remain active in a country that sees a high turnover of clubs in the competitive leagues.
So determined has the small army of fans roped in all genders, ages, and the general public, following the team and present in most of their matches countrywide. Indeed, Wazito pulls a bigger crowd to their matches that most in the Kenyan Premier League (KPL), averaging 1,000 traveling supporters and the figure is expected to grow when they plunge into the top league, considering the spread of the UoN alumni in the country.
“The team was formed in 2011 from the ambitions of a small number of former university students who thought of the idea of playing football and through that, a determination to play in a competitive game saw us register many fans from the ex-UoN base and interested parties lured into the team by our exploits on the field,” says Luthers Mokua, the club CEO.
The professional ethics instituted by the team’s leadership has seen fortunes improve for better, improving with times as they sought to get the best in terms of technical expertise, a vibrant playing unit and adherence to the rules of the game.