Tusker FC’s Okere confident fresh stars will win a double in the new league season

FKF Premier League (FKF-PL) side, Tusker FC, head coach Charles Okere says he has been impressed by the 11 new recruits who joined the team earlier this month as part of preparations for the new season.

With just three days to the start of the 2024/25 league season, Okere says the new signings have adapted to the club's philosophy of play 'very fast', ensuring they are ready for the upcoming season which kicks-off on Saturday, August 24, 2024.

This comes one week after the club officially unveiled the 11 new signings to replace 11 others who had left the club, including immediate former head coach Robert 'Lion' Matano.

Tusker also unveiled new kits for the upcoming season, which according to the club, were designed locally for the first time in the club's history.

The new signings who were unveiled last week are winger Eric Naaman ‘Aviator' Balecho (Murang'a SEAL), custodian Joseph ‘Spiderman’ Ochuka (Bandari), and two Uganda imports, George Kaddu (Wakiso Giants) and Boban Zirintusa (Biashara FC).

Others include Yusuf ‘Afande’ Mainge (Kenya Police), Jacob Onyango (Sofapaka), Dennis Wanjala (Nairobi City Stars), Ryan Ogam (Rainbow FC), Thomas Omole (Vihiga Bullets), Alex Onchwari (Muhoroni Youth), and Teddy Dok Onyango (Tusker Youth).

Speaking to Citizen Digital at their training grounds in Ruaraka, Nairobi, the former Vihiga Queens coach expressed satisfaction with the progress made by the new boys, whom he said have adapted into the team’s philosophy.

“We are in week six in our pre-season and the first five weeks have been okay. I have interacted with the new boys and the team. I have been impressed by the new boys because they have adapted well to our philosophy of play,” said a confident Okere.

“Someone like Ryan Ogam who we signed from Rainbow FC even scored a beautiful goal against Bright Stars during our pre-season tour in Kampala, Uganda a week ago,” he added.

Okere, who was managing Tusker Youth FC before his promotion to the senior team, said the new signings are ready for the new season, as he targets to win a double next season.

“I have told the whole team that our target in the coming season is to win the Premier League and FKF Cup. We are ready for this, and as we do this, we are preparing a team that will compete beyond Kenya because if we win the league we will represent the country in the CAF Champions League next season,” he stated.

When asked about making more signing, Okere, who will be acting on an interim basis, remained coy.

“The window is closing on ninth of next month (September) so we wait and see what happens before then, but in the meantime, a 29-man squad that we have at the moment can help us achieve our goal,” said the tactician.

On his part, Tusker FC assistant captain, Mike Kibwage, said the mood in the camp is high as they prepare to take on 2009 Kenya Premier League champions, Sofapaka in their league opener on Saturday.

“We now have good depth in the team, and the new players have gelled in well with the rest of the team and we are now targeting to have a high start because our league opener might determine how our season will look like, and with the squad we have I am pretty sure we will take home three points,” said Kibwage.

Twice, under the tutelage of immediate former coach Robert Matano, Tusker played second fiddle to Gor Mahia, who lifted two back-to-back league titles.