Tusker's Okere demands a strong 2026 Charge from his charges

*Dennis Oguta (L) and Vincent Owino celebrate during the previous match/ HANDOUT*

Tusker FC head coach Charles Okere has sounded a rallying cry to his squad, urging them to kick off 2026 strongly as the brewers step up the pursuit of their season objectives.

Tusker’s 2025/26 SportPesa Premier League campaign got off to a sluggish start, with a four-game winless run threatening to derail early momentum.

Losses to KCB (2-0) and Posta Rangers (2-1) were followed by stalemates against Mathare United (0-0) and Shabana (1-1), leaving the Ruaraka-based outfit searching for fluency.

The brewers, however, gradually found their feet, stringing together back-to-back victories over Murang’a Seal (1-0) and Kariobangi Sharks (2-1).

A hard-fought 1-1 draw with Kakamega Homeboyz came next before Tusker edged Bidco 1-0.

That upward curve briefly flattened as Tusker suffered successive defeats to Kenya Police (2-1) and Gor Mahia (1-0).

Okere’s charges, however, responded with renewed steel, embarking on a three-match winning run that included narrow 1-0 victories over Mara Sugar and Ulinzi Stars, followed by an emphatic 2-0 triumph against Sofapaka.

The brewers closed out 2025 with mixed fortunes, slipping to a tight 1-0 defeat against Nairobi United before grinding out a 1-0 win over league debutants APS Bomet.

Those results have seen Tusker collect 24 points from 15 league outings. Despite the early-season struggles, Okere believes his side has begun to hit its stride as the second leg of the campaign gets underway. “You can see the understanding improving with every match,” Okere noted.

“We started the season slow, but now the players are starting to connect better, communicate more and trust each other on the pitch,” he added.

The tactician pointed to the intensive work done behind the scenes as a key factor in Tusker’s revival.

“That kind of chemistry doesn’t come overnight because team building is a process, but we are moving in the right direction,” he said.

Tusker’s opening stretch of 2026 presents a stern examination of their form.

The brewers will lock horns with AFC Leopards on Saturday at Nyayo Stadium before heading to the Ulinzi Sports Complex to face Bandari on January 17.

They will then square off against KCB at the same venue on January 25 before rounding off the month with a clash against Posta Rangers at St Sebastian Park.

Skipper Charles Momanyi echoed his coach’s sentiments, admitting the slow start was challenging but insisting character within the camp proved decisive. “The start of the season was not easy either,” Momanyi conceded.

“But what stood out was the resolve in the dressing room. Nobody was pointing fingers. Everyone took responsibility and understood that only we, as players, could change the situation. We had a lot of honest conversations among ourselves,” he explained.

Looking ahead, the captain is bullish about Tusker’s prospects in the second half of the season.

“As players, we are focused, united and determined to push ourselves every day. The target is clear, and we are ready to give everything to achieve it.”