Ulinzi Stars Secure Vital Win Against Mathare United

Ulinzi Stars have given their survival fight fresh oxygen.

A hard-earned 2-1 victory over Mathare United on Saturday did more than add three points to their FKF Premier League tally. It hauled the soldiers up to 15th place and, at least for now, eased the noose of relegation that has been tightening around their necks in recent weeks.

This was not a polished performance. It was a scrap. A necessary one.

Assistant coach Mohammed Hassan, better known as ‘Rio’, admitted the afternoon did not unfold as drawn on the tactics board.

“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.

The pressure finally told after the break. Ulinzi, who have flirted dangerously with the drop zone, played like a side fully aware of the consequences of failure. Every tackle carried a little more bite, every sprint a little more desperation. When the chances came, they made them count, turning a tense contest into a priceless victory.

For Rio, the significance of the result went far beyond the immediate jump on the table.

“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 said.

That message has clearly landed. Ulinzi, a club built on discipline and structure, have been forced into a different kind of battle this season: one for survival, where grit often matters more than style. Against Mathare, their resilience under pressure became the defining feature of the game.

Rio reserved special praise for his squad’s mentality, highlighting the determination that carried them through a fraught encounter.

He hailed their resilience, their willingness to run, chase, and close down until the final whistle. In a match loaded with tension, Ulinzi’s players refused to wilt.

There is no time to linger on the relief. Tusker FC await on Wednesday, and 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 noted, already turning his gaze to the next challenge.

The soldiers have stepped away from the edge, but the battle is far from over. With Tusker up next, the question now is simple: can Ulinzi turn one defiant win into a sustained escape march?