Ulinzi Stars head coach Robert Matano issuing instructions to his team.PHOTO/Timothy Olobulu.
NANYUKI, Kenya, June 8- Ulinzi Stars have put up a high altitude training camp in Nanyuki as they prepare for a tough final five months of the season.
The military side will conclude its week long training in the Mount Kenya region on Friday and travel to Nairobi the following day ahead of their Kenyan Premier League Top 8 first leg semi-final match against Muhoroni Youth on Sunday.
Ulinzi, who are second on the Premier League standings on 27 points, have not won any domestic silverware since their Top 8 title win in 2011 and will be out to quench that thirst as they also aim to reclaim the league title as well.
“We are faced with a tough second leg and that’s why we need to prepare well. We know we have not won a trophy at home since 2011 and that is what is driving the team to work hard. We want to start with the Top 8 this weekend,” Ulinzi CEO Major Joel Birgen told Capital Sport.
The soldiers won the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2011 but since losing the final in 2012, they have failed to roll past the first round.
Ulinzi Stars head coach Robert Matano is happy with the team’s performance in the first leg so far.PHOTO/Raymond Makhaya.
The team is expected to name its final players for the second leg next week with head coach Robert Matano faced with a headache to select the team.
Striker Stephen Waruru has returned from military duty while new boy Samuel Onyango, who was signed from Sony Sugar, will be available after graduating from the Recruit Training School, same to midfielder Elvis Nandwa.
Also eying the team’s selection are defender Mohammed Hassan and winger Ezekiel Otuoma, who were locked out of the first leg due to injuries while Under-20 stars Vincent Ochieng and Ibrahim Shambi are lined up for promotions to the senior team.
“That will be left to the coach; he will analyze the team then give a report on whom he wants retained and who he wants brought on board. All that will be based on their output on the pitch and in training,” Birgen added.
Ulinzi Stars has already lost the services of winger John Nairuka who joined Posta Rangers after his contract expired June 1.
