- Tusker secured a hard-fought 0-1 win against Bidco United at Kenyatta Stadium on Saturday.
- Deogratious Ojok came off the bench to score the solo goal.
- Tusker are in second place on the table, one point behind Kenya Police FC.
Tusker FC head coach Charles Okere has revealed the tactical approach he employed to guide his team to a hard-fought 0-1 victory over Bidco United on Saturday evening at Kenyatta Stadium.
Deogratious Ojok was on target wit a brilliant solo goal in the second half, securing three points for the Brewers and keeping their hopes alive in the Football Kenya Federation 2024/25 Premier League title race.
Tusker secured their second consecutive win, and with 47 points, they currently sit in second place in the standings, trailing Kenya Police by a single point after the latter’s victory over Posta Rangers.
Coming off a two-week international break, Okere acknowledged that the Bidco match was going to be challenging, therefore they needed to prepare his players mentally.
“I want to thank God for the three points. We had two weeks to prepare for this match, and we knew the opponents, who are at the bottom of the log, would be tough. Our focus was to motivate the players psychologically.
It was a hard-fought game; Bidco made us work for every moment, but I am grateful to the players for giving their best. It was not easy,” Okere said in an interview with the club’s media team after the match.
He also elaborated on the strategic plan that ensured his side kept control throughout the game.
“Starting slow in the first half, we knew there was a 50/50 chance of either starting high or on low note. Our approach was to weather the early stages and stabilize in the first two quarters. Once we had done that, I believed we could capitalize and score in the second half,” he explained.
“Bidco is a good team with experienced players, and their defense is tough. They set up with a back five, making it difficult for us to break through. Our focus was on maintaining composure, and we advised the players to be patient, which absolutely led to our winning goal from Deogratious Ojok,” he added.
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Tusker’s second half substitutions pay off
Okere also highlighted the impact of his second-half substitutions, which helped shift the momentum and break down the tough defense led by Antony Akhulia.
“Balecho, Ojok, and even Luvanda all came on with clear instructions, and they played their roles to perfection. To penetrate Bidco’s five-man defense, we needed creativity and individual brilliance, and that’s exactly what we got,” he concluded.