Ulinzi Stars coach Mulinge Ndeto wants his revamped side to show a sharper attacking edge when they host Tusker FC in their SportPesa League opener at Ulinzi Sports Complex on Sunday.
The match, scheduled for a 2 pm kick-off, offers the soldiers an early opportunity to put last season’s relegation struggles behind them, while Tusker will be looking to carry the experience gained from their continental campaign into the domestic league.
Ulinzi ended their league campaign with a 2-0 victory over the brewers on May 27, a result that helped them avoid relegation. Tusker, however, had beaten them 2-1 in the Mozzart Bet Cup earlier that month.
Ndeto has made changes to his squad and wants his players to approach the new season with greater attacking intent without abandoning the defensive discipline that has long been associated with the military side.
“Ulinzi Stars need to embrace their attacking DNA. We cannot continue to make life difficult for ourselves by failing to take our chances when they come,” he said.
The coach has brought younger players, including Roy Onyango and Walter Wafula, into the fold as he seeks to inject fresh energy and creativity into a team that struggled for consistency last season.
He knows, however, that an improved attacking threat must be matched by defensive solidity, particularly against a Tusker side capable of punishing mistakes.
“We must find the right balance between being aggressive going forward and remaining disciplined at the back. We want to play with confidence, but that confidence must be backed by hard work and concentration,” Ndeto said.
Captain Brian Birgen believes Ulinzi have put in the work during pre-season and are ready to begin the campaign on a positive note. “The boys have worked hard during pre-season, and there is a good feeling in the camp. We understand what is expected of us, and we want to carry that energy into the league,” he said.
Friendly matches against Nairobi United, Kariobangi Sharks and Kenya Navy have allowed the squad to work on the coach’s tactics and build cohesion ahead of the new campaign.
Birgen insists the team must now translate that preparation into results, especially on home soil. “We have been working on the coach’s ideas, and now it is about showing that work on the pitch. Playing at home allows us to start well, but we must earn the result through our performance,” he said.
Tusker coach Julien Mette, meanwhile, will be hoping his team’s continental assignments against Sudanese side Al-Ahli Madani provide an advantage as they begin their domestic campaign.
The Frenchman has had to contend with injury setbacks during pre-season, including the absence of key forward Erick Kapaito, but the situation has also allowed younger players to stake their claims.
“It was an opportunity for the young players to show that they can compete at this level, and they responded very well,” Mette said.
The brewers will need to be alert against a Ulinzi side expected to press aggressively and use its home advantage. Mette is wary of the physical challenge posed by the soldiers and wants his players to remain composed under pressure.
“We know Ulinzi are a physical team that can make things difficult, especially when they press and compete for every ball. We have to be ready for that intensity and make good decisions when we have possession,” he said.
Tusker captain Abud Omar has also urged his teammates to put the frustration caused by repeated league postponements behind them and focus on the football.
The defender believes the squad must make the most of the opportunity now that the season is due to get underway.
“We have put in the work, and the most important thing now is to concentrate on football. We need to remain disciplined, support each other and make sure we are ready when the opportunity comes,” Omar said.
Mette is equally keen to see his players maintain their concentration throughout the contest, knowing a positive start could provide a timely boost for the challenges ahead.
“We have to stay focused for the entire match. The league is a long competition, and starting with a positive result would give us confidence for the challenges ahead,” he said.
For Ulinzi, the immediate task is to show that last season’s struggles have yielded valuable lessons rather than lingering doubts. Birgen says the players are determined to deliver a performance their supporters can take pride in.
“Our target is to compete, improve and make our supporters proud. We respect Tusker, but we are playing at home, and we want to give everything to get the three points,” he said.
With Ndeto demanding greater attacking purpose and Mette counting on his side’s experience, Sunday’s encounter will provide an early test of both teams’ readiness for the new campaign.
