SportPesa League: Tusker Coach Outlines Fixes After Poor Start Amid Title Battle With Gor Mahia, Police

Tusker head coach Charles Okere has promised a more compact and disciplined display when his side takes on Mathare United in their third SportPesa Premier League match of the season on Wednesday.

The Brewers have endured a tough start to the 2025/26 campaign, losing both of their opening games against KCB and Posta Rangers respectively , and are already under pressure to respond if they are to remain in the title picture with heavyweights Gor Mahia and Kenya Police. 

Mathare, meanwhile, head into the clash buoyed by a morale-boosting victory against KCB last weekend, setting the stage for a high-stakes battle.

PAY ATTENTION: Stay updated with the Latest Sports News in Kenya from Pulse Sports

Okere acknowledged that defensive frailties have been costly for his side, with Tusker conceding four goals in their first two fixtures. He revealed that the technical team has focused on tightening the backline in training ahead of Wednesday’s clash.

“We have to do better in terms of preventing goals because that is an area worth mentioning,” Okere said. 

“We need to defend aggressively closer to our goal because we’ve conceded mistakes we can easily avoid during match situations. The last two days of training we have taken as much priority as possible to curb those situations.”

The Slum Boys, coached by John Kamau,  come into the game with one win and one loss from their first two matches, and Okere was quick to acknowledge their quality.

“Mathare is a worthy opponent. They have quality players, technical players, and I believe they have confidence at the moment. It’s a match that if we approach cautiously, we can get positive results. For us, we need to get back to winning ways,” he said.

With Gor Mahia bouncing back from their opening defeat to Bidco United with a win against Sofapaka last weekend  and Kenya Police set to commence their title defence against Ulinzi Stars, Tusker cannot afford to let the gap widen. 

Okere, whose side lost the services of influential forward Ryan Ogam to Austrian outfit Wolfsberger following his successful CHAN 2024 exploits for Harambee Stars,  stressed the importance of picking up points quickly, even as he urged patience in the team-building process.

“It’s a tough start, but we also have to remember we had a good preseason. Team building is a process and we have to be patient, but at the same time, each game matters. 

“Tomorrow we must approach the game with confidence because football always gives you another opportunity to turn the tables,” the coach added.

Tusker will be facing Mathare United at the Kasarani Annex from 3.00 PM on Wednesday.