Francis Xavier: The dependable midfielder for AFC and KCC

In August 2000, Kenya was preparing to face Tunisia in an AFCON qualifier on September 3. So on August 25, Kenya's national team left for Egypt under James Siang’a to play an international friendly match in Cairo. Kenya went down by two goals to one in what many believed was a close shave to the Pharaohs. Despite the loss, that match is etched in the memory of midfielder Francis Xavier. According to him, Kenya had one of their best shows against Egypt, despite the loss. They played to a goalless draw against Tunisia in Nairobi about a week later.

Francis Xavier Lugovane was born in Maragoli, Vihiga County in 1975. He attended Halombove Primary School and St, Peter’s Mumias Boys’ Primary School. He then joined St Peter’s Boys High School next door where he met Mr. Obwana and Mr. Otete.

The two teachers were their football coaches and they managed to guide them to Western Provincials games finals in 1990. However, they lost the match to Kakamega High School. Kakamega district where Mumias was back then has football powerhouses of Musingu and Kakamega High schools. To feature in a provincial final was like winning the national championship.

Panpaper FC, then under the tutelage of Jamaican Jean Decien, signed him while he was in Form Two. He had received a call up to the U-17 national team in 1990 under Sammy Nyongesa after featuring in the Panasonic Cup in Nairobi. The side toured Sweden for Ghothia Cup. This led to the interest of Panpaper FC who were in the Nationwide League. After completing secondary school in 1993, he signed for Shabana FC then coached by Maurice “Sonyi” Ochieng’ for the 1994 season.

Xavier can be described as a midfield utility player. He could play in all areas of the midfield but he was more comfortable as a central midfielder. He was a dependable player who was comfortable on the ball and could dictate play very well to suit his team’s desire. At Shabana, he met Moses Gikenyi, Richard Otambo, Henry Nyandoro and Rashid Omar who he had good partnerships with. He fitted in so well and they had some good outings in the top flight league. He was the club’s top scorer in 1995 scoring eight goals.

He was in Kisii for two seasons before crossing over to Eldoret where he joined KCC FC in 1996. At Eldoret KCC he met Wilberforce Kilibwa, Mark Sirengo, Tom Rero, Salim babu, Franklin Obare and Denis Chweya. His memorable match was the 1997 Moi Golden Cup final against AFC Leopards. AFC was in the process of assembling a strong side under Siera Leonean Abu Koroma.

Before the final against Leopards, Koroma who had a good side was reported in the media as saying that KCC FC was more athletics than football players. That statement angered KCC players who were camping in Kericho. They vowed to silence Ingwe. In that final at Nyayo Stadium, Mark Sirengo scored the first goal in the 13th minute. Francis “killer” Oduor pulled one back for Ingwe through a penalty in the 42nd minute.

In the 72nd minute, Mark Sirengo scored his second goal to silence Ingwe fans. Two goals were scored in the 82nd minute and 85th minute. Francis Xavier came in the second half and scored the third goal and Tom Rero put the match out of reach for Leopards. KCC FC also had Antony Shikubu, Ken Ambundo, Dave Chumba and Denis Ochieng’.

It was the second time Moi Golden Cup was going to Eldoret. Rivatex FC won it in 1995 when they beat Ulinzi by two goals to nil in the final. It was an ecstatic time for KCC FC who beat a star studded Ingwe. Leopards’ had Omar banza, Tom Juma, David “morale” Odhiambo, Eric “cantona” Ochieng’ among others. KCC represented Kenya in the 1998 CAF Cup Winners Cup.

In 1998 Xavier featured for KCC FC in the CAF Cup Winners Cup. They faced Costa Dol Sol of Mozambique in the first round and lost one nil in Maputo and won by one goal to nil in Eldoret. The one all draw aggregate meant they had to go to penalty shootouts. Xavier missed the return leg match as he had to go bury his dad. KCC FC lost the shootout by four goals to two.

In 1998 they lost the Moi Golden Cup finals to Mathare United. In 1999, Eldoret KCC Ltd announced that they could not sustain the club and had it disbanded. Players scattered and Samuel Angote, who was Traffic Police Commandant and Leopards’ vice chairman went to get some of the players from Eldoret. He joined the den in 1999 where he found Ezekiel Akwana, Nicholas Muyoti, Ramadhan Balala, Charles Okwemba, Mathews “ottamax” Owino, James Kayimba among others.

Things had begun to decline at the den after winning the 1998 league. The new signings brought some silver linings. They may not have won the league, but in 2000 they lost the Moi Golden Cup final to Mathare United and then they avenged the loss by winning the 2001 edition. Leopards’ have since won three more FA Cups in 2009, 2013 and 2017.

Xavier left the den in 2004 and played for Mumias Sugar for a season. He went back to Leopards’ when they were playing in the Nationwide League in 2005 and helped them to qualify for the 2006 Kenya Premier League. He played for that season and then retired. He became a team manager at Ingwe before taking up coaching. He Left Mara Sugar in 2023 under unclear circumstances.