Ulinzi Stars coach slams poor officiating in AFC Leopards defeat

Ulinzi Stars

FOOTBALL Ulinzi Stars coach slams poor officiating in AFC Leopards defeat

Mark Kinyanjui 05:30 - 03.07.2023

The Soldiers were the better side for much of the game, creating a flurry of chances they squandered.

Ulinzi Stars assistant coach Vincent Otieno has bemoaned the standard of officiating as his side lost 1-0 in the Mozzart Bet Cup third-place playoff, losing courtesy of a Eugene Mukangula strike in the 66th minute.

The Soldiers were the better side for much of the game, creating a flurry of chances which they squandered, before Mukangula’s strike, very much against the run of play, cost them a deserved result.

“We played very well. We do not pinpoint anyone. We always work and lose as a team but the linesman denied me the win.

“He flagged almost all our balls in behind offside. We feel on our side that some calls were unjustified and it was not fair at all.”

Meanwhile, Ulinzi went through several problems in the second half of the season, and have been through turmoil since head coach Bernard Mwalala threatened to quit the club citing unfavorable working conditions.

Mwalala has been absent from the touchline for over a month now, but all things suggest that he will still be in charge for the next season.

Otieno believes that the team will bounce back next season, with key players having fully recovered from injury.

“We are planning for next season. I hope the players will get ample time to recover because we have some players suffering from knocks and hamstring issues,” he said.

“I am optimistic things will turn out just fine.”

Ulinzi finished the 2022/2023 FKF Premier League season ninth on 49 points, winning 12, drawing 13, and losing 9 of their games this season. They scored just 35 goals and conceded 34, making them have a very unhealthy goal difference of one.