In an exclusive interview with Telecom Asia Sport, young coach Charles Okere shared that he is ready to step into the hot shoes of becoming the head coach of a big club as he prepares for his first competitive outing as head coach of Tusker FC, 12-time champions of the Kenyan premier League.
Tusker, the second biggest club in Kenya by virtue of titles, handed Okere the mantle after firing former boss Robert Matano at the end of last season. Okere, 41, was head coach of Tusker’s Youth team and second assistant at the senior team.
As a coach and as a human being, you always want to challenge yourself with bigger challenges. Opportunities come in this way, and I am ready for it. I have been at Tusker for the last six years and I know the kind of pressure that comes with this responsibility
Okere
His only other experience, as a head coach at the top level, was when he was appointed head coach of Kenya’s national women’s team back in 2020, but didn’t stay for long as the country was suspended by FIFA shortly after.
His first match in charge of Tusker is an interesting one, as it comes against Matano, his mentor and father figure in coaching. Matano moved to Sofapaka after leaving Tusker.
It will be an interesting match because he is a man I hugely respect and honor, and I can’t wait to get in the dugout against him on the opposing end.
Okere