Ulinzi Warriors head coach Benard Mufutu/ ULINZI WARRIORS

Ulinzi Warriors head coach Bernard Mufutu is challenging his side to translate victories into sustained, high-efficiency performances as the men's Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF)   Premier League season gathers pace.

The soldiers edged Stanbic Shields 67-54 over the weekend at Ulinzi Sports Complex. Looking beyond the scoreboard, Mufutu’s post-match reflection was less about celebration and more about refinement, insisting the result masked critical offensive inconsistencies that could prove costly against sharper opponents. 

“At times, you can win a game and still feel the team didn’t perform at their best. We missed a lot of free throws, which affected our rhythm offensively,” he said.

He was pointing to what he considers a controllable variable that must improve if Ulinzi are to evolve into genuine title contenders.

Even within that critique, the coach identified a defensive base beginning to take shape. He noted that their ability to limit Stanbic to 54 points reflects a system gradually gaining cohesion and discipline.

“Defensively, we are starting to get a good feel of it, but we need to be able to get good baskets, or quality looks offensively from those defensive stops,” he added, underlining the transition phase as the next tactical frontier.  Mufutu is now setting measurable performance targets for his squad, revealing a more data-driven approach to their upcoming fixtures.

The technical bench is pushing for improved free-throw efficiency to at least 75 per cent, better shot selection in half-court sets, and quicker ball movement to create higher-percentage scoring opportunities.

He is also demanding stronger execution in transition, where Ulinzi have shown flashes of pace but lack consistent finishing, particularly in second-quarter stretches where momentum often dips.

The coach added that he is keen on reducing turnovers and maximising defensive rebounds to trigger fast breaks, areas they believe can significantly tilt close contests in their favour. “Consistency remains one of the key areas we are still working on as a team,” Mufutu reiterated, framing it not just as a physical demand but a mental discipline maintaining intensity across all four quarters regardless of game state.

Beyond immediate fixes, the coach is also focused on building a resilient rotation, ensuring bench players can sustain the tempo without drop-offs.

That factor, the coach believes, will be decisive in the congested mid-season schedule. Training sessions this week are expected to emphasise situational play, late-game execution, clock management and composure under pressure. “Being able to perform at a high level on both ends of the floor is what we are pushing for. The players are putting in the work every day across all aspects of the game as we prepare for our upcoming fixture,” he noted.

As the standings tighten, Mufutu’s message is clear: that results alone will not define their season, but the ability to consistently execute a complete performance will. The victory lifted Ulinzi to 12 points from seven matches, with five wins and two losses, while Stanbic sit on 11 points from eight outings.