City youngster Zane Okoro says his loan spell at Coleraine has been “massive” for his development, with regular minutes helping the 18-year-old build confidence and gain more first team experience.
Okoro joined NIFL Premiership side Coleraine on loan in the late part of the summer transfer window after appearing three times for the Imps in the opening stages of the 2025/26 campaign.
He has been a regular at The Showgrounds since his arrival, making 30 appearances in all competitions. He scored his first goal in a 2-1 home win against Carrick Rangers in September. Coleraine are currently 2nd in the league, six points off league leaders Larne with two games to go.
Okoro said: "Getting consistent minutes has been massive in helping me build my rhythm, sharpness and confidence. Playing week in, week out, it’s at a really pivotal part of my development right now so having that opportunity to do that on the first loan of my career, it's been it's been really enjoyable.
"I think being in this type of environment accelerates my development even more. Being in such a competitive changing room, people inside the team just wanting to win and do well for the club and the town itself. We're in a strong position, but our main focus is to stay at the standards we need to be at. That's been our that's our goal for the season."
While this is Okoro's first loan away from the Imps, the American forward is no stranger to adapting to a new environment, having moved over from the USA at the age of 11 - he believes that experience helped him settle in quickly in Northern Ireland.
He said: "I felt like I settled down really quick, the lads and the staff made it really easy for me to get settled in straight away. It was really warm welcome when I first arrived.
"I was really young when I moved over to the UK from the USA, I think having that experience already has helped me going away from my first loan - it wasn't nothing too new for me. I think that having that extra edge from moving over from the USA at a younger age has really helped me."
Okoro spoke about the support he's received from the staff and players at City, highlighting Tendayi Darikwa and Jack Moylan as members of the playing squad that have closely monitored his development.
"I've been keeping in contact very closely with the staff, they check on me regularly, follow my progress and they've been very supportive throughout the loan. In addition to the coaching staff, I speak with all of the players as well.
"The last person I spoke to was Tendayi and he was just saying even when I'm not in the team, just to be as supportive as possible and that there will be highs and lows throughout the loan. I think having him in the background for me to help me even when things aren't going so well has been massive for me.
"I speak to Jack as well, he knows quite a few of the lads here at Coleraine. It's been really good to have the players like that off the pitch to speak to and ask for help if I ever need to be - I'm really grateful that I have them in my corner as well."