Ali’s brigade aims fire at fresh Bandari

Ulinzi Stars’ new head coach Salim Ali faces his first test with the military side when he leads the soldiers against promoted Bandari in their first Tusker Premier League match this season at Nakuru’s Afraha Stadium on Sunday.

This will be a crucial match for the former Mathare United coach who camped with the team in Lanet as he seeks to guide the soldiers to victory.

The soldiers, who finished sixth in the league last season, have won the league title four times.

The soldiers have underlined their title credentials by overhauling their technical bench and recruiting a record 14 new players.

Ready for battle

“I have gone inside the armoury and picked the best weapons ahead of the battle. It will not be business as usual this season as Ulinzi want to reclaim the title,” warned Ali

“I have studied our past performance and from the records available, Ulinzi have not performed as expected in the last four seasons and that is why I’m taking Sunday’s match against Bandari with the seriousness it deserves,” said Ali after the team’s training session at Afraha Stadium on Thursday.

The soft-spoken coach said he will go all out to register his first victory at home to set the pace this season.

“I know Bandari have recruited heavily in the off-season. They have acquired some of the best players in the country and I will therefore not underrate them,” he added.

Ali’s main priority this season will be to strengthen Ulinzi’s midfield. Ulinzi have recruited former Mathare United player Elvis Nandwa as well as Oliver Agwanda and Salim Mohammed who are both members of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).

Heavy recruitment

The soldiers have also recruited goalkeeper Phines Odhiambo from Division One League side Agro-Chemical. Odhiambo will join James Saruni, Francis Ochieng’ and first choice stopper Jackton Odhiambo in the goalkeeping department.

“Last season, Ulinzi Stars’ midfield did not measure up to the standards  and that is one department which I want to improve. I want to introduce a new formation which I will maintain as we seek to have a well-oiled playing unit,” said Ali.

But Fredrick Chitai, formerly of Thika United, will have to wait for the second leg to join the team as his transfer papers had not been processed by the KPL at the time of submitting the list of new players.

Other new players expected to join Ulinzi are striker Kevin Amwayi, defenders Amon Mwamburi and Anthony Mureithi, and Sony Sugar’s Silas Shitote.

“We have acquired one of the best coach in Kenya today and with the kind of preparations we have undergone since the season ended we shall go for nothing short of victory this season,” said club chairman Lieutenant Colonel Juma Mwinyikai.

Name: Ulinzi Stars

Nickname: ‘Soldiers first’
Club Chairman: Lt Col Juma Mwinyikai

Head coach: Salim Ali;

Captain: Evans Amwoka