Tusker’s Okere tells under-performing players to sober up

Okere said he was also worried about his side’s lack of killer instincts, citing two matches they led 1-0 and 2-0 against Police FC and Kakamega Homeboyz respectively, but failed to win as they ended 1-1 and 2-2.

Before the FIFA International break, the Brewers had lost 3-2 to second-placed Kariobangi Sharks, with the latter coming from two goals down to win the match.

“We have been having a problem of leading and controlling the game but end up dropping crucial points. Against Sharks we lost three points, against Kakamega Homeboyz we lost two points and against Ulinzi we dropped other two points, that is a total of seven points that we would have bagged by all means if we were able to concentrate and protect our lead.”

“In our recent loss to KCB, we allowed them hit us within first 13 minutes, we conceded in the 12 minute and in the next one minute they were up 2-0, they disoriented our pre-match plans because we ended up chasing the game but the moment we reduced the deficit we conceded again and we started chasing the game again, though my boys tried but we ended up losing 3-2”, he added.

Speaking after a build-up match against FC Talanta on Wednesday, a match Tusker won by a solitary goal courtesy of George Kaddu, the former Tusker Youth coach, said the match was meant to enable them work more on defending set-pieces and protecting the lead.

“I am glad that we scored early in the match and we ended up protecting our lead till the final whistle. This match has enabled us to work on our weaknesses and I have told them this is the way to go and they need to know how to close out games.”

The coach acknowledged his side’s poor form in the league is a constant source of worry but remained positive he will steer the former champions towards their season target.

“As much as we have not been getting maximum points, I have been impressed by Wesley Ogam, who has been bagging goals almost in every match. Scoring five goals in four matches despite this being his debut season in the Premier League, tells you that he has settled in the team very fast and that is why he has been called up to the National team for CHAN Qualifiers return fixture against South Sudan.

“I hope he continues his form and in the end these goals may propel us to where we want to be, he was injured and he ended up missing three matches and I am sure had he featured we would be talking of a different tally. He resumed against KCB and he still scored from a spot.”

After Saturday’s 3-2 defeat by KCB, the former champions are now placed sixth on nine points, eight adrift of leaders KCB.

They next face Bandari at home on Saturday, November 2, before taking on 14th placed Nairobi City a week later.