Coach Maina happy with Tusker FC's preseason progress

Tusker Football Club assistant coach George Maina says the team will be ready to compete the new 2025/26 Football Kenya Federation Premier League season, going by the progress made so far in their preseason.

The 13-time champions are currently holding their pre-season camp in Kisumu, before returning to Nairobi to finalise preparations for the campaign, which kicks off on September 20 this year.

Maina, a CAF A Licence holder, spoke to Citizen Digital shortly after Tusker edged newly-promoted APS Bomet 1-0 in a friendly match, with striker Eric Kapaito netting the winner.

“Pre-season is very important for us. The new players have gelled easily because we signed players who were already active where they were,” said Maina.

He added that the Kisumu camp has provided a good platform to assess the team’s strengths and weaknesses.

“Every day we are learning new things. Coming to Kisumu for pre-season with the whole team has helped us identify where we are short. We went for specific players because we knew the weaknesses we had last season, and we have addressed them,” Maina added.

Despite the narrow win against APS Bomet, Maina admitted there is still work to be done defensively.

“That friendly match helped us know that we are not defending as a team, and that is a weakness we are going to work on before our season opener,” said optimistic Maina.

Tusker have endured notable exits during the off-season. They lost dependable defender Mike Kibwage to Gor Mahia, while last season’s top scorer Ryan-Wesley Ogam—who had a standout CHAN 2024 tournament—completed a high-profile move to Austrian Bundesliga side Wolfsberger AC.

Others who left the club after their contracts expired include; John Byamukama, James Kibande, Luke Namanda, David Odoyo, Boban Zirintusa, Deogratious Ojok, Mike Oduor, Lawrence Luvanda, Yusuf ‘Afande’ Mainge (returned to Kenya Police FC after loan) and Eric Naaman Balecho (joined Bandari FC).

To reinforce the squad, Tusker have already announced several new faces including goalkeeper Brandon Obiero, defenders: Eugene Ikutwa, Francis Oduor, and George Odhiambo (promoted from Tusker Youth).

Midfielders: Issa Rashid Lumumba, Vincent Otieno, Dennis Oalo, Cliff Oruko and forwards Ronny Otieno, Vincent Muteheli, Amos Wekesa, Douglas Nyaosi, David Polepole (promoted from Tusker Youth), and Eric Kapaito (returned from Tanzanian side Namungo FC)