Ulinzi Stars Secure Vital 2-1 Win Over Mathare United

Ulinzi Stars clawed their way a little further from danger on Saturday, grinding out a vital 2-1 win over Mathare United that could yet define their FKF Premier League season.

It was not pretty. It was not comfortable. But it was everything they needed.

The result drags the soldiers up to 15th in the table, a small but significant climb for a side that has spent recent weeks staring anxiously at the relegation trapdoor. Three points, and with them, a flicker of belief.

Assistant coach Mohammed Hassan, better known as ‘Rio’, did not dress it up.

“The game was not easy. Our plan was to get an early goal but we were not successful in the first half. We managed to come back strongly in the second half and get the result we wanted,” he said after the match.

The pressure told after the break. Ulinzi, who had gone into the game knowing anything less than victory would deepen their crisis, finally found the composure and edge they had lacked earlier. The goals came, the tension eased slightly, and the mission – survival – felt a little more realistic.

For Rio, this was no ordinary win. It was a statement of intent from a group fighting to stay in the top flight.

“This win means a lot to us because we are fighting not to be relegated. I told the players to play for the badge and forget whether they are civilians or soldiers. What matters is fighting for the badge,” he added.

That line tells the story of Ulinzi’s season. Identity. Pride. A squad urged to strip everything back to the basics: commitment, work rate, and a refusal to fold when the pressure tightens.

The assistant coach reserved special praise for his players’ mentality, highlighting the determination and resilience that carried them through a tense contest. Under strain, they stood up. On this occasion, that was enough.

There is no time to bask in it.

Ulinzi now turn to another stern test on Wednesday against Tusker FC, a fixture that will again probe their character and tactical discipline. Rio knows the margin for error remains thin.

“We have another tough match on Wednesday against Tusker and we hope to approach it in a different manner,” he said, already shifting his gaze to the next battle.

One crisis averted, for now. Another challenge already looming. The soldiers have stepped away from the edge, but the fight to stay in the FKF Premier League is only just beginning.