Ulinzi Stars head coach Mulinge Ndeto is giving instructions to his players/HANDOUT Ulinzi Stars head coach Mulinge Ndeto has launched a passionate rallying cry to his players, insisting that the military side will drag the Sportpesa Premier League survival battle into the final whistle of the season as they scramble to avoid relegation.
With tension tightening around the bottom end of the table, Ndeto has turned to discipline, resilience and mental strength as the cornerstones of Ulinzi’s desperate escape mission following a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over Mathare United on Saturday.
The result breathed fresh life into the Soldiers' fading survival hopes, lifting the soldiers out of the relegation playoff position and into 15th place with 35 points ahead of the decisive final two matches of the campaign. “We know the job is far from finished, but we’ll fight to the end to protect our status,” Ndeto declared after the emotionally charged victory.
Ndeto admitted the battle ahead remains brutal, but insisted his players have embraced the responsibility of protecting the club’s top-flight status. “Every single player in this camp understands that we’ll fight to the end, regardless of the opponent,” Ndeto said. The Ulinzi coach has spent recent weeks demanding greater aggression, concentration and urgency from his squad, knowing even the smallest mistake could drag the club back into immediate danger.
While Ulinzi celebrated a crucial victory, the pressure has intensified on Kariobangi Sharks, who slipped into the dreaded 16th-place playoff spot after squandering a lead in a 2-2 draw against Kakamega Homeboyz at Police Sacco Stadium. They now sit on 34 points, one behind Ulinzi, leaving the relegation fight hanging on a razor-thin margin heading into the final stretch of the season.
Sharks coach William ‘Kanu’ Muluya attempted to shield his young players from panic after the disappointing draw, urging them to remain mentally strong despite the growing pressure.
“There is absolutely no time to feel sorry for ourselves because we just need to fight on,” Muluya said. Defensive lapses and missed opportunities have repeatedly haunted the Sharks throughout the campaign, and Muluya acknowledged that survival will ultimately depend on his side’s ability to remain composed under pressure. “At this stage of the league, the tactics matter less than the psychological need to fight on,” he added.
The survival race has already claimed two victims, with Sofapaka and Bidco United mathematically relegated to the National Super League after enduring miserable campaigns.
Sofapaka remain rooted to the bottom of the standings with just 18 points, while Bidco’s struggles leave them second from bottom on 24 points.
Despite the suffocating pressure surrounding the relegation battle, Ndeto insisted fear would not be allowed to consume his dressing room as Ulinzi prepare for their defining final fixtures. “The pressure is a privilege, and I can promise our fans that we’ll fight to the end,” Ndeto said boldly.
Ulinzi have intensified training with players approaching every drill and tactical session with the urgency of a cup final as the reality of relegation looms large. Ndeto believes the club’s destiny remains firmly in their own hands and has challenged his players to embrace the fight rather than fear it. “We control our own destiny, and our mindset dictates that we’ll fight to the end,” Ndeto concluded.
Across the city, Muluya delivered a similarly defiant message to his Sharks squad, urging them to channel belief and hunger into the final matches of the season.
“We have the talent and the hunger, so we must find it within ourselves to fight on until the final whistle of the season,” Muluya said.
