Tusker FC goalkeeper Brian Opondo has set his sights on the coveted Golden Glove award in the FKF Premier League as he continues to enjoy a rich vein of form between the sticks for the Brewers.
After keeping seven clean sheets in 15 league appearances this season, Opondo believes he is firmly in the race for the prestigious accolade. With eight matches remaining, the shot-stopper is targeting at least six more clean sheets to bolster his chances of walking away with the title.
The 26-year-old’s rise to prominence has been anything but smooth. Having joined Tusker from Bidco United two years ago, Opondo found himself down the pecking order, behind seasoned keepers Patrick Matasi and Brian Bwire. It required patience and persistence, and now he is finally reaping the rewards.
His emergence as first-choice goalkeeper came at the expense of Joseph Ochuka, and since being entrusted with the number one jersey, he has not looked back. Opondo has managed six of his seven clean sheets in Tusker’s last nine outings, underlining his growing confidence and consistency as Charles Okere’s side mount a serious title challenge.
The keeper attributes his progress to hard work and a strong mental approach. He admits the season did not begin as planned, owing to a pre-season injury, but he has gradually found his rhythm. Now fully fit and playing regularly, Opondo feels more determined than ever to achieve his goal.
“My dream is to fight for the Golden Glove this season. Even before the season started, I challenged myself that I wanted to be the number one keeper,” Opondo said. “For two seasons, I was patiently waiting and I knew if I got the chance, I would make use of it. I didn’t start the season in quite the best way because of injury, but I kept working and I am delighted that I am now playing consistently.”
Opondo’s ambition is further fueled by the strong bond and understanding he shares with his defensive line. The goalkeeper says their collective desire to finish the season with the league’s best defensive record acts as motivation before every match.
“I sleep and dream about it every day. I want to give my best because I know I can get at least six more clean sheets in the remaining matches. It would be such a huge achievement for me. We speak about it with my defense every time that we want to be champions and on top of it, have the best defensive line. So that is a motivation to me every single game.”
Tusker currently sit second on the league table with 48 points, just one behind leaders Kenya Police. Gor Mahia, the defending champions, trail the leaders by three points but have a game in hand, making the title race even more intriguing.
With the top three sides locked in a fierce battle for the crown, every point and every clean sheet will matter in the final stretch of the campaign. For Opondo, the remaining matches offer the perfect stage to solidify his claim for individual glory while helping his team stay in contention for the league title.
If he can maintain his current form and deliver on his target, Opondo could not only dethrone the current frontrunners in the Golden Glove race but also write his name into Tusker’s history books as a key figure in their potential title-winning season.
