Tusker head coach defends goalkeeper after school boy error [VIDEO]

Tusker FC head coach Charles Okere has come out in defence of goalkeeper Brandon Obiero following the costly error that condemned the Brewers to a 1–0 defeat against Nairobi United in an FKF Premier League match on Wednesday afternoon.

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The decisive moment came in the 15th minute when what appeared to be a routine save slipped through Obiero’s hands and into the net.

Kevin Otiende’s effort was struck straight at the goalkeeper, but the ball bounced off his palms and crossed the line, leaving Tusker players stunned and Obiero visibly frustrated.

The error added to a growing list of soft goals conceded by teams this season, with Tusker among those affected.

Earlier in the campaign, the Brewers also suffered a costly error in a 1–0 loss to league leaders Gor Mahia when goalkeeper Brian Opondo failed to clear a misplaced pass from Collins Odhiambo, allowing the ball to roll into the net. The goalkeeper has not featured for the club since that incident.

Speaking after the match, Okere dismissed any suggestion of foul play and described Obiero’s mistake as a simple misjudgment. The coach backed the former FC Talanta shot stopper, noting his strong performances in recent victories over Mara Sugar, Sofapaka, and Ulinzi Stars.

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“If you look at the goal, he simply misjudged the shot, and it went in. These things happen in football. It is a mistake that has already happened and, as a team, we take it in our stride,” Okere said.

“Brandon has helped us a lot in many matches. We will work on the mistakes that cost us today.”

Okere also played down the error as the sole reason for the defeat, pointing to missed scoring opportunities as a key factor. He stressed the need for improvement in front of goal to avoid similar outcomes.

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“We created several chances in the opponents’ half, but we were not clinical. The league is very competitive, and you must take your chances when they come,” he added. “We will work on our finishing ahead of the next match.”

In an interview last week, the goalkeeper spoke about his ambition to establish himself as Tusker’s first choice and finish the season among the FKF Premier League’s top performers in terms of clean sheets.

“My target at the start of the season was to keep 13 clean sheets. If I achieve that, it means I will be among the best goalkeepers in the league, so I have to keep working hard to earn more playing time,” Obiero said.

He also expressed gratitude for the recent run of matches, noting the confidence boost it has given him.

“I am thankful for the opportunity to play back-to-back matches. Keeping two clean sheets has really encouraged me,” he added in an interview with the club’s media team.

Tusker will wrap up the year with an away fixture against APS Bomet FC on Sunday in Kericho.