Victor Wanyama sees red on Dunfermline debut as relegation woes deepen

Victor Wanyama handles the ball to thwart an Ayr attack and is ultimately sent off. IMAGE; IMago

Victor Wanyama sees red on Dunfermline debut as relegation woes deepen

Festus Chuma 21:59 - 29.03.2025

Victor Wanyama’s Dunfermline debut ends in a red card as the struggling side suffer a heavy 3-0 defeat to Ayr.

Former Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama was sent off on his debut for Scottish Championship side Dunfermline Athletic  after just 21 minutes on the pitch.

The 33-year-old Kenyan midfielder, who signed for the club just days earlier, made his first appearance in the 64th minute, coming on as a substitute.

The 3-0 loss to Ayr United compounded the club's relegation troubles in a match that was played at Somerset on Saturday night.

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Wanyama, who previously starred for Celtic under Neil Lennon, joined Dunfermline as a free agent on a short-term deal reuniting with his former manager.

"I'm a midfielder, so was the gaffer and I played with Scott Brown," said Wanyama in an interview with BBC.

"Me and the gaffer playing against him, it's just a fairy tale. So, I'm looking forward to it."

The Kenyan international admitted that his decision to drop down to the Scottish second tier might come as a surprise to many.

"My intention now is to try and help the club, to help them stay in the league. And then after that, we can sit down and discuss again."

Wanyama was part of Tottenham Hotspur’s squad in the 2019 UEFA Champions League final under Lennon and says that his motivation has always been about pushing teams forward rather than chasing comfort.

"Wherever I've been, it has been always challenging myself, trying to get the club into the next level," he said.

"This is a challenge that I'm looking forward to accomplishing. I'm ready and hopefully, as a team, we can do it."

Wanyama, who has experience of playing Scottish Premiership before, believes his experience will be vital in the fight to help Dunfermline avoid the drop.

"I've been around, I've learned. I understand Scottish football and there's not much of a change. So we'll be good, we'll adjust with whatever is thrown my way."

The two-time Scottish Cup champions will hope Wanyama’s experience and leadership can turn their fortunes around once he returns from suspension.