Hall reveals the catalyst to Wazitos upturn

Wazito FC head coach Stewart Hall believes that hard work and determination have been the catalysts to his side’s recent resurgence in the Kenya Premier League (KPL).

Currently sitting 13th on the log with 19 points having picked eight points in their last four outings, Wazito have created some daylight between themselves and Kisumu All Stars who occupy the last relegation spot.

The money-bags have been on a roll avoiding defeat in their last five outings; two wins and two draws in the topflight league coupled with 1-0 win over Egerton University in the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Super Cup.

Speaking after hitting the relegation-threatened Zoo FC 4-1 on Sunday, a win which saw the KPL newbies move ten points above the relegation zone, Hall attributed his charges’ recent upturn to hard work after an awful start to their top tier league journey.

“We are working hard to try and build a new team. There is going to be some dips and turns but through hard work we are getting there. I always tell the players that I don’t expect it to be smooth or perfect but just keep working and give everything you have on the field and the results will come,” he explained.

The Briton also praised the establishment of January signing Dennis Ng’ang’a whose free kick goal against Zoo opened the floodgates in Machakos.

“Dennis works very hard in training and he goes extra mile by doing it individually without any supervision after the others have left and thus he deserves all the plaudits. He is excellent from free kicks and corners but that has come through a lot of training and dedication but he can only get better,” he added.

The club splashed more cash during the January transfer window roping in former Gor Mahia danger man Paul Kiongera and defender Dennis Ngángá from KCB.

The former AFC Leopards gaffer however revealed there are some departments in the team which require improvements on their journey to escape the KPL chop.

“Our pressing is good but when we get the ball we give it away too much. Our movements on and off the ball is not great too but these are areas we are working on,” Hall warned his charges against sleeping on their laurels.

Wazito will be hoping to continue with their rich vein of form this weekend when they come up against army men Ulinzi Stars who sit fourth on the log with 42 points.

“We watched their previous match against Sofapaka and they have a good team, very compact, they fight and are very fit; typical army team. The last time we played them we lost 1-0, one of my earliest matches. It will be a good match,” he averred.