Sportpesa Premier League side Ulinzi Stars have announced a change of guard at the helm of its leadership.
Chairman Col JS Mwinyikai will be stepping down from the post to attend to a one-year career progression course at the Kenya Defence College in Karen, Nairobi.
With the demanding nature of his course, Col Mwinyikai who was last year promoted to be the Recruit Training School Commandant will be leaving the post at the helm of Ulinzi to his vice, Lt. Col. Erick Oloo.
“It would be difficult to balance the two because both are demanding and so I made the decision to leave the leadership of the team to Lt. Col Oloo because then he can be able to carry on well. I trust in him and his abilities and I know he will steer the team to success, just the same path I was on,” Col Mwinyikai said.
He took over reins at the club in June 2011 and has reformed the team’s structure to one of the most efficient, well run and well managed clubs in the country’s top flight.
Under his leadership Ulinzi had three different sponsors, Metropolitan Insurance, UAP insurance and the biggest, ENGEN whose deal with the four-time league champions lapsed at the end of last season.
Ulinzi also slowly shifted to giving more youth a chance in the team and currently, the average of the team stands at 24.
He also oversaw the formation of a junior team, the Ulinzi Warriors which has acted as a feeder to the senior team, churning out talent like Brian Birgen, Churchill Muloma, Hamisi Adballah, Allan Abulala among others.
Under his watch, though the team is yet to win the Premier League, they have managed to twice win the East Africa Military Games title and most recently, the youth team, Warriors, won the KPL Under-20 championship.
“I will forever remain to be a part of Ulinzi and will be coming to the stadium to cheer the boys on as I follow closely to see whether my dream of winning the league will be achieved. I have enjoyed being here for the last five years and the progress we have made is immense. I will cherish every moment I spent here and my love and association with the team remains the same even after this,” Col Mwinyikai offered.
Lt. Col Oloo who has been Mwinyikai’s vice throughout says he looks up to the challenge and expects to steer the team under the same ideologies as his predecessor.
“I want to thank him for the service he has given to the team throughout because it is evident there has been so much improvement from the management to the work on the pitch. We wish him all the best as he starts his course and we know there are better things for him coming,” Lt. Col Oloo noted.
He adds; “Nothing changes, it is just the name of the chairman. Everything else goes on as we had started and we will keep the fire burning. It is a privilege being this team’s chairman and I look forward to the future with optimism,”
