With nine goals, the Ulinzi Stars striker sits atop the scoring charts, his efficiency offering a sharp contrast to a campaign in which goals have often been rationed.
Signed quietly from National Super League side Migori Youth at the start of the season, Okoth has transitioned seamlessly into top-flight football.
“I knew the level would be higher,” he says, “but I trusted my movement and my finishing. If you believe in your strengths, the step up doesn’t scare you.”
His impact has been immediate and measurable. Okoth’s nine goals have come from just 15 shots on target, a conversion rate of 60 per cent that stands out in a league where chances are often at a premium.
He also leads the division in touches inside the opposition box, with 53, highlighting a striker who consistently operates in high-value areas.
“I don’t chase the game,” Okoth explains. “My job is to arrive in the right space at the right time. If I do that, the ball will find me.”
That restraint has defined his season. Rather than forcing attempts from distance, Okoth has shown patience, trusting patterns of play and reading defenders’ movements before committing himself.
November proved a pivotal month. Three goals and an assist earned Okoth the SportPesa League Player of the Month award, with his contributions instrumental in lifting Ulinzi Stars away from the relegation zone.
“When you help the team win, individual awards follow,” he reflects. “That month gave me confidence, but it also gave me responsibility.”
It was during that period that Okoth publicly stated his ambition to win the Golden Boot.
“I don’t hide my targets,” he says. “As a striker, goals are your currency. I want to be the best.”
Since then, his performances have suggested that ambition is grounded in more than bravado. What distinguishes Okoth is the variety of his goals.
Penalties taken with composure, rebounds finished instinctively, headers guided with precision, and quick snapshots dispatched before defenders can react all feature in his tally.
“I don’t want defenders to predict me,” he says. “If you can score in different ways, you become harder to stop.”
His movement along the last defensive line has been particularly effective. By exploiting blind-side positions and delaying runs by a fraction of a second, Okoth regularly creates separation without needing physical dominance.
“Sometimes football is about waiting,” he notes. “If you move too early, you help the defender. Timing is everything.”
Against AFC Leopards, Okoth demonstrated that principle perfectly. Remaining just outside his marker’s vision, he anticipated the cross, peeled away at the decisive moment and headed home unmarked.
“I saw the defender watching the ball, not me,” Okoth recalls. “Once that happens, you know you have an advantage.”
His hat-trick against Posta Rangers on December 22 at the Ulinzi Sports Complex further underlined his instincts. The first goal came from reacting quickest to a goalkeeping error.
The second was the product of a perfectly timed run, staying onside before finishing calmly. The third, from the penalty spot, was struck with minimal ceremony.
“For a striker, those days are special,” he says. “Everything feels slower. You see spaces clearly.”
While not known primarily for aerial dominance, Okoth has contested 24 aerial duels this season, winning 11, a joint-highest success rate at Ulinzi Stars. More significantly, his pressing and positional discipline have enhanced the team’s structure in attack.
“I don’t just think about scoring,” he insists. “If I press well and occupy defenders, I help my teammates play.”
That awareness has impressed Ulinzi’s coaching staff, who view Okoth not merely as a finisher but as a forward capable of anchoring an attacking system. Interest from rival clubs is already growing ahead of the January transfer window, though Ulinzi Stars are expected to be reluctant sellers.
They are acutely aware that players with Okoth’s profile are rare in the current league landscape.
Statistical regression may temper his efficiency over time, but the fundamentals of his game suggest sustainability. Movement, anticipation and composure are repeatable traits. “I’m still learning every week,” Okoth says.
“This league tests you, and that’s what makes it exciting.”
For now, his rise represents one of the season’s most compelling narratives.
by TONY MBALLA
