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Mathare United head coach John Kamau is banking on a swift reaction from his players as the Slum Boys go in search of their first victory of 2026 when they face Ulinzi Stars on Friday, determined to arrest an early-season wobble.

Mathare’s year began on a sour note over the weekend with a 2-0 defeat to Murang’a Seal at the Kasarani Annex. Victor Haki struck in the 29th minute before Jackson Imbiakha sealed the result deep into stoppage time, leaving Kamau’s side licking their wounds.

The setback followed another disappointing result at the end of 2025, when Mathare fell 1-0 to Bandari, extending a run that has raised concerns heading into the second half of the season.

Stung by the Murang’a defeat, Kamau moved quickly to rally his charges, urging them to dust themselves down and refocus ahead of the clash against the Soldiers.

“We need to have a clear approach for that Ulinzi game and see what we can correct,” said Kamau.

Central to his concerns is Mathare’s lack of cutting edge in the final third — an issue the coach believes must be addressed urgently if results are to improve.

“We need to urgently get a player who will score goals for us because we are creating chances,” he noted.

Kamau admitted the Murang’a Seal match served as a timely wake-up call, underlining the need for a reliable striker to turn dominance into points.

“It’s a wake-up call and I think it’s very important that we get a striker because that’s where our problem is,” he added.

Reflecting on the game, Kamau conceded that his side were second best in the opening half, forcing a tactical rethink at the interval.

“In the first half, I’ll be honest, I think Murang’a dominated,” he said.

Mathare switched to a diamond midfield setup after the break, a change Kamau felt helped wrestle back control.

“When we went to halftime, we gave the team a solution and came up with a diamond style of play, which I think worked very well.”

The adjustment saw Mathare camped in Murang’a’s half for much of the second period, but once again the Slum Boys were left frustrated by their failure to convert chances.

“The whole of the second half, we were in Murang’a’s half. The most disappointing part was that strikers were not scoring,” Kamau lamented.

Beyond their attacking struggles, Kamau also pointed to lapses in concentration that proved costly.

“We also had lapses in concentration. For the first goal, we failed to keep the ball, and our opponent utilised that opportunity, and it was the same with the second goal,” he added.

Mathare currently sit 13th on the table with 18 points from 16 matches, just one place above Ulinzi Stars, who are 14th with 17 points.

Friday’s encounter also offers Mathare a chance to extend their unbeaten run against Ulinzi from last season. In the 2024/25 campaign, the two sides played out a goalless draw in the first leg before Mathare claimed a narrow 1-0 victory in the return fixture through Musa Masika.

Ulinzi head into the clash after a 1-1 draw against Nairobi United.