Nyaudo using international break to fix Ulinzi Stars

After enduring a three-winless streak in the FKF Premier League, Ulinzi Stars Head Coach Dunstan Nyaudo is now targeting to start posting positive results once the league resumes after the international break.

Nyaudo, welcomed the break saying it was a much-needed breather for his team which had played three high intensity matches without recording a win and hence it needed time to go back to the drawing board.

Before the break, the Soldiers had lost two matches, against leaders Kenya Commercial Bank [KCB] and Murang’a before collecting a point at home against Shabana FC at the Ulinzi Sports Complex, Nairobi.

Speaking to Citizen Digital, the tactician said the two-week break will give his boy enough rest as well as time to work on the weaknesses that have led to a slow start to the new season.

He added that they are going to train more on how to defend set pieces since the four goals that they have soaked-in thus far have resulted from set pieces.

“We had this problem last season where we conceded 17 goals resulting from set pieces. Again, this season we have started conceding goals resulting from set pieces. So I welcome the break because it will give us ample time to work on it [defending set pieces] then we see how it goes once the League resumes,” he stated.

The 2010 KPL Champions lost the league opener by a solitary goal to Juma Abdallah-led charges Murang’a SEAL courtesy of experienced forward Joe Waithira.

Ulinzi would a week later come from behind to share spoils in a two-all draw against Shabana, before losing to KCB 1 – 0, with in-form forward Francis Kahiro scoring the all-important goal in the 55 minute. All the four goals resulting from set pieces.

During “Tore Bobe’s” match, Ulinzi Stars broke the deadlock in the fifth minute through Staphod Odhiambo, but forty minutes later forward Mathew Tegisi restored parity forcing the match to go for break with both teams tied at 1-1.

On form Tegisi put Shabana ahead, twenty minutes after the restart, a goal that helped his side dominate the match until ninetieth minute, when Peter Glen equalized in stoppage-time to give the Soldiers first point of the new season.

“It’s the most disappointing thing because we worked on it last season, we have been working on it and we did the same during pre-season hoping not to repeat the same mistake this season but we are still finding ourselves committing the same mistake [conceding from set-pieces.”

“As much as we have a young team this does not give them room to allow complacency to cripple in, let us see if we are able to find remedy before the League resumes. No team has beaten us in open play in the last three matches,” he added

After the break, Ulinzi will face Kenya Police FC at home on October 19, 2024, before taking on Tusker away one week later, with the tactician believing his team stands a chance to register positive results.

“They are a formidable force, and we are meeting them when we are fighting to move from relegation zone, so it will be tough for us but with home advantage against Kenya Police and there is no way we will allow them to beat us at home,” vowed the tactician.

“We are still going to meet the Defending Champions [Gor Mahia] whom we were to face in the second week but due to their engagement in the Continental assignment the match was postponed but even if we are asked to play them tomorrow we are ready though it’s been a tough and slow start but I am hopeful results will come,” he expressed optimism.

Currently, Ulinzi Stars occupy the 17th position on the log with just a point in three rounds of matches.

Sofapaka has similar points but rooted at the bottom after losing three and drawing once in four outings.