Tusker head coach relishes Shabana test despite winless start

Tusker FC head coach Charles Okere is looking forward to Sunday’s league match against log leaders Shabana FC, saying these are the kind of matches he wants because they test his players’ mentality.

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The 12-time league winners, who remain winless three matches into the new season, will host a Shabana FC side that has started strongly with two wins from their opening two games and currently sit at the summit of the table.

The Brewers, on the other hand, lost their opening two matches to KCB FC and Posta Rangers before salvaging a point in a barren draw against Mathare United on Wednesday.

Reviewing that game, the former Harambee Starlets head coach said he is not afraid of facing the Glamour Boys and is actually looking forward to the contest, which he intends to use to gauge his players’ mental strength.

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“I like these kind of games because they test the character of the players. This is the Premier League; there are no small teams.

We will plan well for the next game. Yes, our opponents have started strongly, but you can start well and finish badly.

We may have started poorly, but I’m confident we will finish the season strongly,” he said.

The club managed to halt their poor start to the season with Wednesday’s draw, with Okere admitting that it was a tough match. He believes they had chances to win and regretted that none of their opportunities were taken.

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“It was a tough game,” he said. “We were chasing our first three points of the season and, looking back, everything went our way except finishing.

We created several clear-cut chances, especially in the first half, but failed to convert. In football, you don’t need ten goals to win—you just need to take one of your chances.”

However, he was appreciative of the point earned, praising his players for their effort and the discipline they showed in keeping their first clean sheet of the campaign.

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“I’m nonetheless grateful to the players. They really pushed themselves, showed tactical discipline, and we managed to keep our first clean sheet of the season. For me, that’s a step in the right direction.”

Looking ahead, Okere wants the team to build on the draw and, most importantly, for his players to step up.

“We now have to build on this performance as we prepare for our next assignment. I believe we can deliver an even better display. When we prepare the players, once they step onto the pitch, it’s up to them to give their best.

They have to play with confidence. When a coach gives you the chance to start, you must repay that faith by putting in a strong performance.”

Tusker currently find themselves in second-last place on the table—an unfamiliar position for the club.