Weakened Ulinzi to misfire again?

Ulinzi Stars forward Stephen Waruru after he won the April Sports Journalists Association of Kenya (SJAK)/SportPesa Player of the Month Award at the award ceremony in Nakuru on June 22, 2017. He dedicated the award to Kenyan soldiers at the war front in Somalia, Southern Sudan and Sudan.Photo/Suleiman Mbatiah/Standard

Ulinzi Stars, who have previously won the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) four times, had one of the worst performances in the just concluded season, raising concern among fans.  

From a third-spot finish last season, the soldiers managed to finish seventh on the log with 48 points.

In 2015, under coach Robert Matano, they had finished in second position after collecting 58 points.

Added to this is the fact that a number of top players are opting to quit the club by resigning from Kenya Defence Forces, a move that will affect the team’s performance next year.

Two weeks ago, the team’s top scorer Stephen Waruru resigned from the disciplined forces and effectively quit Ulinzi Stars with reports linking him to a possible move to Tusker.

Another player Samuel Onyango also wants to quit and join Gor Mahia while winger Cliff Kasuti is being eyed by AFC Leopards.

Last year, John Makwatta, who had served in the military for just three years quit in a huff and he is currently playing in Zambia.

Investigations by Standard Sports paint a picture that all is not well at the club something that the top management however denies.

“Makwatta left the club a frustrated man after facing a series of mistreatments. Initially he had got an offer to go and play in Sweden but the club did everything to try and stop him but eventually he was forced to resign and move to Zambia,” said a source close to the player who requested not to be named for fear of reprisals.

Before leaving the club, Makwatta had emerged the league’s top scorer with 15 goals.

Regarding Samuel Onyango, the player’s parents are against him resigning from KDF and take up Gor Mahia’s offer.  

“Initially, Gor Mahia had requested to have him on loan but being a military man, he cannot be allowed to play for another club while serving in the military.

“He had opted to quit and get around this hurdle but his parents are against such a move, insisting he keeps his job, which he will need after retiring from football,” said another source.

AFC Leopards are also believed to have made a bid for Cliff Kasuti but the player could transfer as he has not been enlisted into KDF. Leopards only need to buy off his three-year contract.

The story of Waruru’s resignation has sent shock waves at the club. However, it has emerged that the player had disciplinary issues that saw him being sidelined towards the end of last season and this could have angered him.

Reports from the club indicate that Waruru had fallen out with head coach Benjamin Nyangweso towards the end of last season due to disciplinary issues forcing him to stay on the bench and only came on occasionally.

But club chairman Eric Oloo has denied that the club has any problems and sees nothing wrong with their performance this season.

“We cannot tie someone who wants to pursue greener pastures and the military is a voluntary service,” he responded when asked why players were ditching the club.

He added: “Some of those going away are being misled to sign short term contracts as opposed to having a permanent job. We have not mistreated anyone and even such departures will not affect us at all."