Tusker coach concerned by team's defense a week before season kickoff

Tusker FC head coach Charles Okere has said he is impressed with a number of his new signings, but thinks the team needs to step up their defense ahead of the new FKF Premier League season.

The Brewers, who were busy in the off-season transfer market, are trying out their fresh acquisitions in a set of pre-season friendlies in Kisumu, which they hope will catapult them from an underwhelming domestic campaign last season.

Follow our WhatsApp channel for more news

The 13-time Premier League champions began their ramp up with a 1-0 win over fellow top-tier side APS Bomet earlier this week, before settling for a 1-1 draw with FKF Division two central zone D representatives TBM FC on Thursday, 11 September.

Tusker explain reason for pitching pre-season camp in Kisumu

Gauging his team’s performance thus far, Okere is positive about the look of his new players, who have all got the chance to play some valuable minutes.

“I am impressed by how they are playing, and they are giving us what we want,” Okere told Citizen Digital on Friday.

“Against APS, I saw good cohesion in the midfield from players like Ronny Otieno, Issa Lumumba, and Eric Kapaito. And, today, I have seen defenders Eugene Ikutwa and Francis Oduor, and midfielders Vincent Otieno, Cliff Oruko, and Curtis Wekesa doing great. This is a good sign for the team."

Tactical Analysis: How Curtis Wekesa’s strengths will aid Tusker reclaim league title

On the negative side however, Okere, entering his second season with The Brewers, is concerned about his rearguard, which on Thursday conceded early, and had to be bailed out in the second half by rising striker David Polepole.

“We need to start defending as a team,” Okere said. “Right now, we are making good attacks, but we are not defending well collectively.

We’ll be working on that, especially because we’re heading into a very tough season. Many teams have made significant signings and are well prepared for the challenge ahead.”

Speaking via the club website, defender Alex Onchwari weighed in on the importance of preseason camp, saying it was vital in exposing some of their gaps.

“These are the kind of tests we want in pre-season because they expose the gaps we need to work on before the new campaign starts,” Onchwari said.

“As players, we are starting to build more trust in one another, and that will be key once the season kicks off. It is not just about fitness, but also about mentality and unity, and I feel we are growing stronger as a group, and ready for our first match of the season next weekend.”

The team wraps up its stay in Kisumu with a friendly against 2023 Mozzart Bet Cup champions Kakamega Homeboyz on Saturday.