Tusker FC head coach Charles Okere was visibly frustrated after his team squandered a 2-0 lead to fall 3-2 against Kariobangi Sharks in a thrilling Kenyan Premier League clash at Dandora Stadium on Saturday afternoon.The Brewers raced to a 2-0 lead in the first half, with goals from Ryan Ogam and Charles Momanyi. However, a second-half collapse allowed Sharks to stage a stunning comeback. Keith Imbali initiated the fightback with a goal, before new signing Ally Salum stole the show with a brace, including a dramatic stoppage-time winner. The victory propelled Sharks to the top of the FKF Premier League standings.##NAJAVA_MECA_8333866##For Tusker’s interim coach, Okere, the result was a bitter pill to swallow. Despite opening the season with a hard-fought 1-0 win over a depleted Sofapaka three weeks ago, Saturday’s capitulation left him dismayed.In his post-match interview, the former Harambee Starlets boss expressed frustration at how his side allowed Sharks too much control in midfield, which ultimately led to their undoing. He pointed out that his forwards failed to assist in closing down spaces, allowing the opposition to dictate the tempo of the game.”We were in control of the match, and given it was an away game, our plan after going ahead was to defend smartly and launch effective attacks. We made substitutions, but unfortunately, some players, especially the strikers, did not help cover the midfield, which opened us up,” he lamented in an interview with the club’s media team.Red card scare for Olunga as 10-man Al Duhail secure victoryWhile acknowledging the heartbreak of losing in such a manner, Okere stressed the importance of learning from the experience, with a focus on building mental resilience within the squad.”Every match is a chance to fix areas where we fell short as a team. I won’t single out any player for the defeat because we play as a unit. We also need to work on the players’ mental strength—being 2-0 up and then conceding and losing is very disappointing. It’s something we must improve.”Tusker now turns its attention to their next challenge, a home fixture against Kakamega Homeboyz.CAF president set to tour two Kenyan stadia
