Wazito FC's players, owner, stadium, players, trophies, world rankings

Wazito FC's players, owner, stadium, players, trophies, world rankings

Helix Odhiambo
updated at April 12, 2023 at 7:56 PM

Wazito football club is a Kenyan team that has attracted the attention of many soccer enthusiasts in the country and East Africa. The club's owner has invested alot towards its development to maintain its status in the country's top division, the FKF Premier League. Join us as we delve into details about Wazito FC's players, management, owners, history and much more.

Wazito FC
Photo: canva.com (modified by author)
Source: UGC

From purchasing a state of the art bus to recruiting a team of experts in managerial positions and unveiling a model of an upcoming modern stadium, the club is indeed setting the standards of football in the country. However, despite its massive investments, the team is still looking for success in the top tier league.

Wazito FC's profile

  • Full name: Wazito Football Club
  • Country: Kenya
  • Founded: 2011
  • Owner: Richard Badoer
  • Chairman/CEO: Dennis Gicheru
  • League: FKF Premier League
  • Colours: Yellow/black
  • Coach: Fred Ambani (interim, as of February 2022)
  • Captain: Elly Asieche (as of February 2022)
  • Stadium: Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos
  • Twitter: @wazitofc
  • Wazito F.C's Instagram: @wazitofc
  • Facebook: @wazitofc
  • Market value: Approximately $260 000

Wazito FC's history

Wazito FC's news
Wazito players celebrate a goal in a past match. Photo: @Officialfkfpl
Source: Twitter

The Nairobi-based club was founded in 2011 by the University of Nairobi (UoN) football team and the alumni members of the soccer team. Wazito is a Swahili word meaning heavyweights or bosses. The club played several friendly games against league sides and tournaments to build its squad.

After that, it climbed the ladder and in 2016 made it in the second division, the National Super League (NSL).

Wazito FC's achievements

Wazito F.C's trophies
Wazito F.C's players celebrate winning the National Super League (NSL) title on 9 June 2019 and securing a spot in the top division. Photo: @odhiambot28
Source: Twitter

In the 2017/18 season, the club finished second in NSL and secured its first top division qualification. However, the team got relegated back to NSL the following year. Nevertheless, through hard work and dedication, the club was crowned NSL champions in the 2019/20 season and returned to the FKF Premier League.

Wazito FC's owner

Wazito F.C's management
Ricardo Badoer is determined to make the Kenyan club compete in top-level football. Photo:@RobertAlai
Source: Twitter

Swedish businessman Ricardo Badoer bought the club in 2018 and became the president. He also bought CD Ursaria that plays in Spain's fourth division. Ricardo is among the top 10 wealthiest football owners in Kenya.

He is also the founder and CEO of Badoer Investments, an Equity and Investments Company based in Dubai. The business tycoon has spent over $897,175 on his Kenyan club since 2018.

Wazito FC's stadium

One of the most talked-about topics about the club is its proposed new stadium that will become among the best-owned by a club in the country. Badoer is determined to set up the structure and has even shared pictures of its unique design and look once completed.

The stadium will be a significant milestone in Kenyan football that continues to struggle to provide proper facilities for the development of the sport.

Wazito FC's bus

Wazito F.C's world ranking
The club unveiled a 45-seater team bus to help transport players and staff. Photo: @GhettoRadio895
Source: Twitter

Ricardo Badoer stunned many people by rewarding his team with a brand new Mercedes Benz bus to help the club move to and from training and matches. The 45-seater bus is estimated to have cost the flamboyant investor a whopping $105,552. The bus is the most prestigious in Kenyan football.

Wazito FC's squad

Wazito FC's players 2021
Anthony Njeru heads the ball during the team's training on 26 January 2022. Photo: @wazitofc
Source: Twitter

Former Mathare United winger James Kinyanjui was among Wazito FC's new signings ahead of the FKF Premier League 2021/22 season. The club also bought Erickson Mulu Kivuva from FC Malaga City of Spain, Swaleh Hamisi from NSL side Coast Stima, Amos Ekhalie from IFK Mariehamn in Finland, Bonface Owino from Kayole Youth and Tyson.

So, who is Wazito F.C's captain? Elly Asieche is currently the skipper of the club. He has played an integral role in rallying his teammates to work hard and avoid relegation. The versatile midfielder joined the team in February 2021 from Sofapaka. Here is a list of other players in the club.

Goalkeepers

  • Zachariah Onyango
  • Adisa Omar

Defenders

  • Jackson Saleh
  • Maurice Ojwang
  • Johnstone Omurwa
  • Dennis Sikhayi

Midfielders

  • Cliff Nyakeya
  • Ali Abondo
  • Anthony Njeru

Attackers

  • Musa Masika
  • Vincent Oburu
  • Kevin Kimani

Some of the club's players have also played for the Kenyan national football team, Harambee Stars. They include Johnstone Omurwa and Musa Masika, who was recently called to represent the team in the world cup qualifier.

Wazito FC's coach

The club parted ways with former Harambee Stars head coach Francis Kimanzi in January 2022 after suffering three consecutive defeats in the league. Youth team coach Fred Ambani took the reins in an interim position to help guide from the relegation zone.

Wazito FC players' salaries woes

Despite having a wealthy owner, the club could not escape from the financial issues that have affected many African clubs. In April 2021, the Nairobi-based team was banned by the world's football governing body, FIFA, from making new signings after breaching contracts of former players by failing to pay their outstanding dues.

Among the players owed by the team include Ghanaian forward Paul Acquah, Mansoor Safi Agu of Uganda, Togolese defender Issofou Bourhana, Liberian Augustine Otu, and Pisces Muhindo of DRC.

Fortunately, the club cleared the dues and got the ban reinstated.

Wazito FC's net worth

Currently, the club is considered the wealthiest team in Kenya, with a net worth of several billion dollars, thanks to Ricardo Badoer's investments into the club. According to sources, their market value stands at approximately $260 000 as of February 2022.

Ricardo Badoer might have emulated top European clubs like Manchester City and PSG, whose owners pumped money into the teams. However, that is always not a guarantee of instant success since Wazito F.C's players and the team continue to struggle to meet expectations. Therefore, the club requires more time and patience before reaping the benefits of the investments.

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Authors
Helix Odhiambo photo
Helix Odhiambo
Helix Odhiambo is an award-winning Kenyan journalist and content creator with over 6 years of experience. In 2016, he won the Goal Blaze Correspondent Award for young writers.