Coach ‘Rio’ upbeat Ulinzi Stars can mount artillery to avoid the KPL chop

Ulinzi Stars boosted their hopes of surviving the dreaded relegation axe after securing a crucial 2-1 victory against Mathare United on Saturday, earning three vital points in the FKF Premier League standings.

The win hoisted Ulinzi Stars to position 15 on the table, a major relief for the soldiers who had been dangerously close to the relegation zone in recent weeks.

The win has injected hope and believe that the soldiers can mount a serious campaign to evade the dreaded chop, and assistant coach Mohammed Hassan 'Rio' is reading from the script.

 “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,” said Rio.

‘Rio’ described the victory as very important for the club as they continue fighting to remain in the top flight league.

“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.

Rio also revealed that the team has now shifted focus to their next league assignment against Tusker FC on Wednesday, noting that they hope to approach the match differently as they continue their battle for survival.

“We have another tough match on Wednesday against Tusker and we hope to approach it in a different manner,” he said.

Rio hailed his players for showing determination and resilience during the match, praising their fighting spirit in a pressure-filled encounter.