This follows a 57-62 loss to league newcomers NBK Phoenix on Sunday at Nyayo Gymnasium. “This was a terrible game—too many turnovers and a lot of carelessness. You can’t win games like that,” Mufutu said.
The remarks come after his side closed their regular season on a low. “We need to go back to the drawing board and be able to learn to play well consistently, and at a higher level, especially when preparing for playoffs.”
The soldiers wrapped up their regular season campaign in third place with 36 points, eight adrift of unbeaten league leaders Nairobi City Thunder.
The coach said they were left with much to ponder following a mixed run of results that saw them struggle to finish games strongly. Thunder completed the regular season at the summit with a record of 22 wins in 22 matches, earning 44 points and securing the top playoff spot.
They are set to face eighth-placed Strathmore University Blades in the quarterfinals. Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), who finished second with 39 points from 21 matches, are scheduled to play fifth-placed Lakeside in another best-of-three quarterfinal series.
KPA still have one match to play but are guaranteed to remain in second position.
Equity Dumas, who wound up fourth with 34 points after 12 wins and 10 losses, will take on Ulinzi Warriors in a quarterfinal pairing expected to be tightly contested.
Mufutu, a former Ulinzi player, emphasised that his players must raise their intensity and focus if they are to challenge for the national title again.
“The playoffs are unforgiving. It’s a different ball game. We’ve got to come with the right mentality or we’ll be out early,” he warned.
The final playoff match-up will see sixth-placed Zetech Titans face seventh-placed Umoja, both sides hoping to go beyond the quarterfinals for the first time in recent seasons.
