Ulinzi rise off the floor as Okoth ignites late-season recovery

Ulinzi Stars forward Paul Okoth during a past KPL match/HANDOUT 

Relief is slowly returning to the military camp after Ulinzi Stars climbed to 14th place in the Sportpesa Premier League standings, easing pressure in a season that had threatened to spiral into full-blown survival panic.

With 25 points from 26 matches, the soldiers are still not safe, but the recent shift in form under head coach Mulinge Ndeto has injected renewed belief into a campaign that had long been defined by frustration, narrow defeats and wasted opportunities.

Back-to-back victories — a 2-1 away win at Nairobi United followed by a commanding 2-0 home success over Sofapaka on March 29 — have offered something priceless at this stage of the season: breathing space, momentum, and a rare sense of control over their own destiny.

For a side that has spent much of the campaign trapped in the tension of the lower table, the points have improved their position, reshaped their mentality and restored a fighting edge that looked lost only weeks ago.

Striker Paul Okoth has emerged as the emotional and attacking heartbeat of this revival, delivering goals at a crucial moment and openly setting the tone for survival.

“We are starting to believe again,” Okoth said. “Earlier in the season, we were playing good football but not getting results. That breaks your spirit, but we have refused to stay down.”

He added that the change has come from unity inside the dressing room rather than individual brilliance.

“The biggest difference now is togetherness. Everyone is fighting for everyone. You can feel it in training, you can feel it on the pitch. Nobody is hiding anymore,” he said.

The wins, he said, must be treated as a foundation rather than a turning point.

“Two wins do not save a season. We are not safe, not even close. We have to stay humble and keep working because this league punishes any relaxation,” he said.

“Survival is not about moments of happiness. It is about consistency in pain, discipline in tough matches and belief when things are not going your way. That is what we must show now.”

He made the mission clear in simple terms: “Every game is a final for us. Every point matters. We are not playing for comfort, we are playing for survival.”

Ndeto has been equally firm in managing expectations, refusing to let the dressing room drift into comfort despite the results. He said Discipline, not emotion, has been the foundation of the recent improvement.

“We are happy with the progress, but we are still in a war,” said Ndeto. “Nothing is safe yet and nobody here is thinking about comfort. Two matches do not define a season. We are still fighting for every point and that is the reality we must accept every single day.”

He credited the turnaround to improved concentration and tactical discipline.

“What has changed is concentration. The players are responding to instructions, they are staying compact, and they are understanding moments in games much better than before. That is what we lacked earlier in the season," said Ndeto. 

He highlighted the psychological shift within the squad as equally important as the results themselves.

“Earlier, there was fear in the team. Now there is responsibility. That difference is huge in football. When you stop fearing and start taking responsibility, results follow," he said.

Still, he warned against any sense of relief, saying, “We cannot relax because we are 14th. The gap is small, the pressure is real, and one bad week can take us right back into danger. We are more compact now, we suffer less in transitions, and we are beginning to control games better in key moments. That gives us a chance, but it is only a chance — nothing more.”

With six wins, seven draws and 13 defeats so far, Ulinzi’s season remains fragile, defined by narrow margins and moments that could have gone either way.