- The club was bought by a Kisumu-based businessman last year
- Muhoroni Youth had formerly played in the FKF PL before relegation
- The club survived relegation this year after winning the play-off
Wazito FC has formally changed its name to Muhoroni Youth FC, just a year into new ownership. The club was bought by a Kisumu-based businessman at the start of the season, from former owner Ricardo Badoer.
However, it has since changed its name to Muhoroni Youth FC. Muhoroni had previously played in the FKF Premier League, but were relegated.
Upon change of ownership, the club shifted base from Nairobi to Kisumu, and played its home matches at the Muhoroni Stadium, with Moses Adagala, the chairman of Muhoroni Youth being the man in charge.
They got another shot at Premier League football after edging out Migori Youth 3-0 in the relegation and promotion play-off.
Head coach Charles Odero has vowed that the team will not find itself in a similar predicament again, after the close shave.
They survived the play-off for a second time, having also greased through on the away goal rule against Murang’a Seals last season.
Learnt lessons
Wazito FC players during a past match
“We have learnt our lessons and we will not allow this to happen again. We want to start the season better and ensure we are in a good place and not leave it too late,” Odero said after the team’s victory in Muhoroni.
He added; “We played really well and we had planned to put them under pressure from the word go and our plan worked. It was a tough game and we had a slow start but at the end, we managed to recover well and win.”
Meanwhile, Migori’s head coach Kevin Oluoch says they have picked their lessons and has vowed they will fight for automatic qualification next season.
“I am proud of the players and the effort we put in. Where we lost the game was our failure to use our chances in both legs. In the first half today we had so many chances, but we were punished for failing to utilize,” the former Sony Sugar and Gor Mahia defender said.
He added; “We have learnt our lessons and if we find ourselves in the same situation, we will do better. I hope I can retain most of my players and if we do that, we will be fighting for the top two this coming season.
Undone by setpieces
Wazito FC players celebrate after securing Premier League status
Migori were undone by two set pieces from skipper Robert Onyango, before Collins Neto’s brilliant strike from the edge of the area capped the 3-0 victory.
Onyango’s freekick floated into the area was never cleared out convincingly, and Stephen Mbulere picked up the spills inside the box before firing home from close range.
Onyango then made it 2-0 when his well curled freekick evaded everyone’s body inside the box, taking a bounce just infront of the keeper to land in the back of the net.
In the second half, the home side put the icing on the cake, Neto firing from the edge of the area with the keeper yards off his line.
Wazito will have little time to rest as they will immediately switch their attention to pre-season, with less than five weeks before the new campaign starts.
They start their campaign away to Nairobi City Stars.
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