Former Harambee Stars midfielder Victor Wanyama has shed light on his decision to join Scottish Championship side Dunfermline Athletic. Speaking in an exclusive interview with the club’s media, Wanyama disclosed that discussions with manager Neil Lennon and the club’s owner played a key role in convincing him to make the switch.
“Neil Lennon called me and asked for my help at Dunfermline. I also spoke with the owner, and his ambition for the club impressed me,” Wanyama stated. “I turned down other offers to join Dunfermline. It was a no-brainer for me.”
The 33-year-old midfielder, who completed his signing on Wednesday, is making a return to Scottish football, having previously played under Lennon at Celtic. He expressed excitement about reuniting with his former coach and helping the club in its battle to avoid relegation.
“Neil and I have a great history. He played a significant role in my career, and now we’re working together to keep Dunfermline up,” Wanyama added. “We want to work together to achieve our goal of keeping the club in the league.”
Currently, Dunfermline sits ninth in the Scottish Championship standings, with 27 points from 29 matches. Wanyama acknowledged the challenges ahead but remained hopeful about the team’s prospects.
“We have nine matches to save our season, and we’re confident that we can turn things around,” he remarked. “We’ll take it one game at a time, starting with our match against Ayr United on Saturday.”
The upcoming fixture against Ayr United adds an intriguing subplot, as Wanyama will face former Celtic teammate Scott Brown, now serving as Ayr’s head coach.
“Facing Scott Brown, with Neil and me on the other side, is like a fairy tale. We share a special bond, having played together at Celtic, and even share the same birthday, June 25,” he said. “It’s going to be a tough match, but we’re looking forward to it.”
While Wanyama’s current contract runs until the end of the season, he has not ruled out the possibility of extending his stay at the club.
“After the season, we’ll see what happens. I’ve enjoyed playing in Scotland before, and I’m planning to set up a home here,” he mentioned.
Wanyama, who will wear jersey number 44 at Dunfermline, boasts a wealth of experience, having previously played for Southampton and Tottenham in the English Premier League.
His football journey began at JMJ Youth Academy, followed by stints at Nairobi City Stars and AFC Leopards before moving to Europe. He later played for Helsingborg in Sweden and then joined Belgian side Beerschot in 2008, marking the start of his career in top European football.
