Victor Wanyama up for Ayr

Kenyan international Victor Wanyama has signed for Dunfermline Athletic, bringing a wealth of experience to the club’s fight to secure their Scottish Championship status. The 33-year-old midfielder is set to make his debut in a crucial away match against Ayr United at Somerset Park, potentially facing a team managed by his former Celtic teammate, Scott Brown.

Victor arrives with a clear mission, identifying the team’s primary objective with characteristic directness: “The first challenge is to get the club to where they belong. At the moment they’re sitting not in a good place, so we have to fight as a team. Our challenge is to be safe, and that’s what we’re going to play for.”

The experienced midfielder sees avoiding the relegation play-offs as a key goal, adding, “If we can avoid the play-off, that would even be a plus. We will take it game by game and see how we can get out.”

Reflecting on his relationship with Scott Brown, Victor speaks with deep respect: “You know Scott, he’s a great guy. He’s a great manager and has been doing well. As a player, he was a fantastic player. He’s been a leader, he’s shown us the way how it should be done. He’s an example and I have big respect for him.”

After his season with CF Montreal ended in November, Victor has been maintaining his fitness. “I finished in November, so the break over there is too long,” he explained. “In January, I moved to London and I’ve been training at the local team in London, at Barnet.” Despite interest from the Middle East, he chose Dunfermline, describing it as a “special offer.”

While Wanyama has played across Scottish football during his Celtic days – including stops in Dingwall, Inverness, and Kirkcaldy – Somerset Park remains uncharted territory. “I haven’t played there,” he admits. “I played here at Dunfermline before in a game and scored here. It was a tough game and I remember the fans, they were fantastic. I saw the fan base was really good.”

Manager Neil Lennon has strategically brought in Victor Wanyama to address the squad’s lack of experience. With 472 senior appearances across Southampton, Tottenham, and Celtic, Victor is expected to be a crucial leader.

The midfielder embraces this role enthusiastically: “I’m looking to drag a few players with me and try and help them to be on the same page. I know the talent is there. Just try to put a lot of belief in them and not to be scared to make a mistake. Football is a game of mistakes. You make a mistake and then you get up and try again. That’s what drives players and gets you to improve.”

His approach is about building confidence and encouraging a fearless playing style: “Hopefully, we can do that, not be shy, try things and get a good team that can get us out of this position.”

With Victor Wanyama’s arrival, the club has added not just a player, but a seasoned professional committed to guiding the team to security in the William Hill Championship. Let’s hope his first experiences of Somerset Park is as a winner.