Kenya: Ulinzi Under Siege

Nairobi Star (Nairobi)

Francis Wadegu

15 March 2011

ULINZI Stars need to stop basking in the glory of their success last season if they are to retain their league crown. At this early stages, it doesn’t look like the soldiers will be battling for any honours come November.

The home loss against rejuvenated AFC Leopards on Saturday must surely send alarm bells ringing within the soldiers ranks if their opening day loss to Gor Mahia and the subsequent draw with Thika United did not.

Meanwhile, their would be challengers Tusker and Sofapaka continue to show they are more than ready to reap from the champions sorrow as they sit first and second respectively on the standings with three matches into the season.

Tusker beat Mathare United 2-1 on Sunday to maintain their perfect start to the season while Sofapaka sunk Bandari 3-1 in Mombasa to jump to seven points.

“It’s still early in the season but I am impressed with the way my team has been playing so far this season. But there is still a lot of room for improvement,” said brewers coach Sammy Omollo, ominously for their fellow title challengers.

It’s no surprise that Western Stima sit third in the table on similar points with Sofapaka after they beat Thika United 2-1 on Sunday.

Henry Omino, who took lowly Agro Chemicals to a surprise third place finish in 2008, has sewn together a side capable of taking on any team in the league as seen in their 1-0 win over Tusker in the KPL Top Eight Cup

Leopards, meanwhile, are finally getting back their groove as proved by their battling 1-0 win over the league champions.

Since the wrangles within the clubs hierarchy ended with the registration of Alex Magelo as the chairman, Ingwe have won twice on the trot nad it’s fans wish that the in-fighting is finished for good of the club.

AS expected, Bandari’s ship is sinking.The Coast side back into the top division after being relegated to the Nationwide League look like favourites to be shown the door yet again. They are yet to pick a point in their three matches, two of which have been home losses to Chemelil Sugar and now Sofapaka. What was not expected to be in their company even in these early days was Ulinzi Stars-the reigning champions.

WEEKEND KPL RESULTS

Tusker 2 Mathare Utd 1

Karuturi 1 Gor Mahia 1

W.Stima 2 Thika 1

Bandari1 Sofapaka 3

Ulinzi Stars 0 Leopards 1

Rangers 0 Congo Utd 0

Sony 2 Chemelil 1

KCB 2 City Stars 0

KPL CURRENT STANDINGS

P W D L GF GA GD Pts

1. Tusker 3 3 0 0 6 2 4 9

2. Sofapaka 3 2 1 0 5 2 3 7

3. W. Stima 3 2 1 0 3 1 2 7

4. KCB 3 2 0 1 6 2 4 6

5. Leopards 3 2 0 1 4 3 1 6

6. Thika United 3 1 1 1 5 4 1 4

7. Rangers 3 1 1 1 4 3 1 4

8. Chemelil 3 1 1 1 3 3 0 4

9. Sony 3 1 1 1 3 3 0 4

10. Karuturi 3 1 1 1 3 4 -1 4

11. Gor Mahia 3 1 1 1 2 4 -2 4

12. Mathare Utd 3 1 0 2 3 4 -1 3

13. Congo Utd 3 0 2 1 2 3 -1 2

14. Ulinzi Stars 3 0 1 2 1 3 -2 1

15. City Stars 3 0 1 2 0 3 -3 1

16. Bandari 3 0 0 3 3 9 -6 0

AllAfrica – All the Time