Wazito FC: win was for Kelvin ‘Razor’

Wazito FC head coach Francis Xavier has revealed his side was desperate to bag all the three points during their National Super League (NSL) season opener against Talanta FC as a dedication to fallen midfielder Kelvin ‘Razor’ Ikatwa.

While hailing the strength of their opponents, Xavier said the 2-1 victory was fully deserved saying Razor’s death was the team’s main motivation factor coming into the match.

“The boys were deeply motivated to go out there and earn a positive result for Razor. Most of our pre-match team talk majorly revolved around how there wasn’t any better gift to send him off with other than a win in our first match,” he told Citizen Digital.

“The fans could sense the atmosphere around our squad and they basically cheered us through to the last minute. We owe them a lot and hopefully we can replicate the performance in our next match,” he added.

Kennedy Okanda struck the winner for the Nairobi-based club after the two teams went into halftime deadlocked at 1-1, scoring with only seven minutes left to play.

“It’s an important win for the team and especially because we all played for Razor. He loved to win and was a real asset for the team,” said Okanda expressing his joy in netting the winning goal which he dedicates to the deceased who was allegedly stabbed to death by his ex-girlfriend on Tuesday, 15.

In an emotional twitter message, Razor’s closest friend and who filled in for the fallen midfielder revealed how they had earlier planned to work together towards bringing glory to the team.

“I promised myself I would do what he used to do best for the team. Deliver,” he said.

Razor’s death came just five days before the team was scheduled to kick off their NSL season. Coupled with a change in match venue from Ruaraka grounds to Kasarani stadium, Francis says the two were major set-backs in their preparations.

He lauded his team for responding well to the situation saying the win gives them confidence as the team prepares to face Nairobi Stima on Wednesday.

-Report by Mercy Rop-