Africa-Press – Kenya. In the heart of the Sportpesa Premier League relegation storm, one man continues to stand tall like a soldier on duty.
Paul Okoth Odhiambo has emerged as Ulinzi Stars’ most lethal weapon, a striker whose goals have kept the military side breathing in a season defined by pressure, survival battles, and shifting fortunes.
Signed from Migori Youth in September 2025, Okoth’s rise has been swift, almost ruthless. Thirteen league goals later, he now finds himself not just as Ulinzi’s talisman, but also a genuine contender for the Golden Boot. Yet, for the striker, the mission remains simple: survival first, glory later.
“I am grateful for the chance Ulinzi Stars gave me, because it changed everything in my career,” Okoth says.
The journey has not been linear. From school football at Dagoretti High School to early struggles in the top flight, and a rebuilding spell in the National Super League, Okoth describes his career as a process of refinement rather than reinvention.
“I always believed my breakthrough would come if I stayed patient and kept working hard,” he says.
At Ulinzi Stars, that patience has transformed into productivity. His debut goal against Murang’a SEAL set the tone for a campaign filled with decisive finishes, including the season’s first hat-trick in a 3-0 win over Posta Rangers. Match after match, he has carried the attacking burden almost alone, often turning half-chances into match-winning moments.
“I don’t see pressure as a burden; I see it as responsibility,” he says. Despite his individual brilliance, Ulinzi Stars have struggled collectively, sitting deep in the relegation zone for much of the season. Wins have been scarce, and goals from other areas of the pitch even scarcer. Yet Okoth has refused to let frustration define his output. “When the team is struggling, that is when I must step up even more,” he says.
His consistency has placed him in direct competition with the league’s top scorers, including Joe Irungu Waithira. The Golden Boot race has become an unexpected subplot in Ulinzi’s survival fight, with Okoth refusing to be distracted by external noise. “I know people talk about the Golden Boot, but I focus on scoring in the next game,” he says.
Behind the numbers lies a striker who credits discipline and military structure for sharpening his mentality at Ulinzi Stars. Training sessions, tactical drills, and the expectation of discipline have all shaped his evolution into a more complete forward. “The environment here has made me stronger mentally and physically,” he says.
With interest already growing from top Kenyan clubs and even regional suitors in Zambia, speculation about his future continues to intensify. However, Okoth insists his focus remains firmly on the present battle. “I am not thinking about transfers right now; my focus is to help Ulinzi stay in the league,” he says.
Still, the ambition is clear. For a striker in peak form, personal milestones matter just as much as team survival. The Golden Boot remains within reach, and Okoth does not hide his desire to achieve it. “I want to finish the season as the top scorer; that is a dream I am working towards every day,” he says.
As Ulinzi Stars prepare for a tense run-in, Okoth’s role becomes even more critical. Each fixture now carries survival weight, and every chance inside the box could define not only his season, but the club’s fate. “I believe we can survive this situation if we stay united and fight in every match,” he says.
For now, the soldier striker marches on—goal by goal, game by game—carrying both hope and expectation on his shoulders. Whether Ulinzi Stars survive the drop or not, Okoth’s rise has already marked him as one of the league’s defining stories of the 2025/26 season.
And as the final stretch approaches, one thing is certain: the Golden Boot race is no longer just about numbers—it is about a striker who refuses to stop believing. “I will keep pushing until the last whistle of the season,” he says.
