There was a point not too long ago when Allan Okello looked like a player struggling to breathe under the weight of expectation in Tanzania.
Every misplaced pass drew groans. Every quiet performance intensified the scrutiny. When Young Africans S.C. handed him a starting shirt, whispers of doubt often echoed around the stands.
For many, the move from Vipers SC to Dar es Salaam appeared to be unfolding into an uncomfortable miscalculation.
His opening nine league appearances produced just one assist. The criticism became louder with every passing week, and questions about his adaptation dominated conversations among supporters.
Yet while the noise outside continued to swell, Yanga’s coaching staff refused to lose faith in the gifted Ugandan playmaker.
That patience is now paying extraordinary dividends.
Agent Sultan Atubo: Allan Okello settling in well at Young Africans
Okello produced another electrifying display on Saturday as Yanga dismantled Coastal Union 3-0 at the KMC Complex, delivering a performance overflowing with authority, invention and cutting edge.
The 24-year-old was at the heart of everything dangerous.
Operating with swagger and intelligence between the lines, Okello constantly dragged Coastal Union’s defensive structure out of shape before punishing them with devastating efficiency.
His first goal arrived in the 18th minute after linking up brilliantly with Prince Dube, calmly steering home to hand Yanga control of the contest.
But he was far from finished.
Just after the hour mark, the Ugandan maestro struck again. This time, he latched onto Pacome Zouzoua’s delivery before applying a composed finish to double the advantage and effectively bury the contest.
Then came the moment that completed the exhibition.
With 15 minutes remaining, Okello swapped goals for creativity, carving open the defence before setting up Maxi Nzengeli for Yanga’s third goal of the evening.
It was the kind of all-round attacking performance that has rapidly transformed his reputation in Tanzania.
The same player once viewed with uncertainty is now emerging as one of the most decisive creators in the league.
Since overcoming his sluggish beginning, Okello has exploded into form, registering five goals and seven assists in only 16 Tanzania Premier League appearances.
Allan Okello at Young Africans SC: salary and transfer breakdown
Across all competitions for Yanga, he has contributed five goals and 10 assists, numbers that underline both his growing confidence and his increasing importance to the side.
When added to the three goals and three assists he managed earlier in the campaign for Vipers before his January departure, the statistics paint the picture of a footballer rediscovering his most devastating level.
More significantly, the narrative around him has completely shifted.
The skepticism that once shadowed him has evaporated. In its place stands admiration for a player now dictating matches with elegance and authority.
Yanga’s technical bench believed in him when the spotlight burned hottest. Now, Allan Okello is rewarding that trust by becoming one of the defining figures in the Tanzanian title race.
