Harambee Stars midfielder eyeing last gasp escape in Tanzania as relegation battle hots up
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Reading Time: 3min | Tue. 02.06.26. | 11:59
The experienced midfielder moved to Tanzania last year, reuniting with coach Zico whom he had worked under at KCB FC
When Michael Mutinda left Kenya for Tanzania, alongside fellow former KCB FC teammate Maurice Ojwang, the dream was straightforward — test themselves in a new environment, embrace a fresh challenge, and help Prisons finish as high as they could in the league.
Moving to Tanzania saw them reunite with their former coach Zedekia 'Zico' Otieno, whom they had worked under at KCB FC.
Their first season in Tanzania has, so far, not gone according to plan.
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With Tanzania Prisons sitting 15th in the 16-team league on 20 points and only five matches remaining, the club finds itself locked in a tense relegation fight.
Mbeya City sit just above them on 22 points, while Namungo are slightly further ahead on 25, leaving little margin for error in the closing weeks of the campaign.
The pressure has been relentless.
Results have been inconsistent, and coaching changes have disrupted continuity.
Zico was shown the door midway through and would later rejoin Posta Rangers, helping them to remain in the Kenyan top tier.
For Mutinda, however, the difficult circumstances have only strengthened his resolve.
"This season has tested us in many ways, but football is about how you respond when things are difficult. We still believe we have enough quality in this squad to stay up and finish strongly," says the former KCB captain.
The transition to a foreign league has not been without challenges.
Adjusting to a different football culture, building chemistry within a new dressing room, adapting to unfamiliar tactical demands and coping with the pressure that comes with a relegation battle have all played their part.
Yet despite the setbacks, Mutinda believes the experience has helped him grow both as a player and as a leader.
"Moving to a new country always comes with challenges. You have to adapt quickly, understand different expectations and prove yourself again. But these experiences make you stronger. Maurice and I have learned a lot and we are still fighting for this club."
Signs of a turnaround emerged recently when Tanzania Prisons secured a dramatic 3-2 away victory over Pamba Jiji, a side that features fellow Kenyans: Brian Eshihanda and Mathew Tegisi, formerly with Kakamega Homeboyz and Shabana respectively.
The result injected fresh belief into the squad at a time when every point carries enormous significance.
Mutinda sees that performance as evidence that the team still has the character required to escape danger.
"That win was important, not just because of the points but because it reminded us what we are capable of. The spirit in the team is good. We know the situation we are in, but nobody has given up,” adds Mutinda.
As the season enters its decisive stretch, every match now feels like a final.
For Mutinda, whose leadership qualities earned him the captain's armband during his time at KCB, the focus remains firmly on ensuring Tanzania Prisons retain their top-flight status.
"The table is tight and anything can happen in the remaining matches. We have five games left and our target is simple — collect as many points as possible and keep Tanzania Prisons in the league. We are ready for the fight,” he says firmly.
For now, survival remains the mission.
And with experienced figures such as Mutinda and Ojwang in the dressing room, Tanzania Prisons will hope their Kenyan duo can help inspire one last push away from the drop zone.