NAIROBI, Kenya, January 11- National Under-20 player Charles Odete has joined Tusker FC from Mahakama for the 2011 Kenya Premier League (KPL) season.
Odete is just one of the seven players that have joined the gold shirts in the off season and coach Sammy Omollo hopes they will help them regain the title they last won in 2007.
“The important thing is that we want to improve from where we finished last season. I believe that with the quality of players we have, good organization and hard work, we can achieve our objective,” Omollo told Capital Sport on Tuesday.
Other players that have joined the brewers stable include former Sofapaka striker Abass Akinyemi, George Midenyo, Duncan Ochieng from Mathare United and a Harambee Stars’ player whose identity Omollo said will divulge later.
“Abass is a big bodied which I believe the team was lacking last season. We want to use his body in the box and it will be good if he gels with other strikers like Emeka (Joseph) and Midenyo from Sweden. Once we sharpen our striking force we will be a team to reckon with,” said the former Stars player.
Tusker finished third last season, a result that ultimately cost previous coach James Nandwa his job but Omollo is confident that he can handle the pressure cooker atmosphere.
“I want the players to learn my philosophy. Once I have given them that I believe we will be moving in the right direction.”
Omollo added that he would also like to see National Under 20 striker Paul Were mature as a player.
“Were is a very young player with good potential. If we use that potential and show him the right direction, I think we will have a strong team and we will get what we want from him,” said Omollo.
Tusker have just entered their second week of pre-season which has seen the team work primarily on cardiovascular endurance. Omollo said that they will start working on the tactical aspects of their game in the fourth week.