Ulinzi Stars head coach Benjamin Nyangweso admits he has lately been cringing with embarrassment anytime he takes a glance at the Kenyan Premier League log.
The soldiers are currently rooted 14th in the standings with 26 points and Nyangweso concedes this could be one of their worst nightmares in recent years.
Their campaign took off on a torrid note and they have been plodding to find their footing while blowing hot and cold across their fixtures.
“It's embarrassing for a team of Ulinzi's calibre to be in such a poor position on the KPL log. We are not used to anything other than top-ten positions,” Nyangweso said.
Nyangweso, however, reckons that it's still not too late for them to jut out their claws and reclaim their rightful status in the cutthroat competition.
“We are eager to put matters right and we intend to start doing so in our next match against Sofapaka this weekend,” he added.
The two sides will be flexing muscles for the first time this season after their first-leg fixture aborted at the Nakuru ASK Grounds in January.
That was after Sofapaka refused to take to the pitch but instead rebuked the hosts for providing an ambulance with substandard equipment.
The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Caretaker Committee went ahead and ordered a replay.
A few weeks later, the soldiers suffered the same fate again when their clash against AFC Leopards was called off over a similar concern.
“I don't think it should have gotten to that point. Our rivals were simply malicious,” contended Nyangweso.
Other than grappling with a miserable run as well as the nagging ambulance problem that never tires to rear its ugly head, Ulinzi have another excruciating pain in the neck.
“We have been barred from playing our home matches at ASK grounds after the Football Kenya Federation Caretaker Committee declared the facility unfit to host top-flight matches due to a poor playing surface,” Nyangweso said.
The FKF Committee said it had reviewed the current state of the pitch and deemed it unsuitable for use. “Kindly make arrangements to reschedule your home matches to another venue,” said the committee.
Ulinzi now use either Kericho Green Stadium or Thika Stadium alternately for their home fixtures. The committee also banned Utalii grounds over the same issue.
