Peter Kioso has spoken warmly about the trust placed in him by Oxford United's management this season, saying the backing he has received from the dugout has been a key factor in his positive start to the campaign at the Kassam Stadium.

The defender, speaking to BBC Radio Oxford, kept his comments brief but pointed: "The gaffer put lots of confidence into me," he said, adding that the relationship with the coaching staff had helped him settle into his role at the club. For a player reflecting on the early weeks of a League One season, that kind of simple, direct endorsement of the management's man-management tells its own story.

Settling in at the Kassam

Oxford have had a season of considerable noise around them already. A transfer embargo has complicated squad planning, results have swung sharply in both directions, and the manager has faced scrutiny following a heavy defeat. Against that backdrop, a defender publicly crediting the coaching staff with building his confidence is a mildly reassuring piece of internal messaging, even if the language is fairly stock.

Kioso is a right-back or wing-back with experience of the third tier and of playing regularly at this level. The expectation around him, when he arrived at Oxford, was that he could provide reliable cover and competition down the right flank. Whether he has nailed down a starting berth consistently is something the coming weeks will clarify.

Cambridge United up next

Kioso also looked ahead to Oxford's forthcoming home fixture against Cambridge United, a match that already carries a degree of local interest given Cambridge's own League One ambitions this term. Cambridge head coach Ian Harris has previously described an Oxford away trip as the biggest test his side would face, which at least suggests the opposition are taking the fixture seriously.

Home form at the Kassam will matter if Oxford are to push in the right direction in the table. Attendances at the ground have fluctuated with form, as they tend to do at this level, and a win in a recognisable local derby would do more for the mood around the club than any number of upbeat radio interviews.

Confidence as currency

There is a tendency in post-training media clips for footballers to reach for reassuring phrases, and "the gaffer put confidence into me" sits squarely in that tradition. But the sentiment is not without meaning. Defenders, in particular, can find their form tied closely to the clarity of instruction they receive: knowing your role in and out of possession, knowing the manager will back you when things go wrong, matters more at the back than anywhere else on the pitch.

Oxford's season has already featured enough drama, a 4-0 defeat, late winners, managerial question marks, an embargo that limits their options in the market, to make stability in the dressing room a genuine asset rather than a cliche. If Kioso is finding that stability on a personal level, it is at least one consistent note in what has otherwise been a fairly turbulent opening stretch.

The Cambridge fixture, at home, gives Oxford a chance to build on any early-season momentum and to demonstrate that the togetherness Kioso describes is showing up in the right place: the results column.

Frequently asked

Who is Peter Kioso at Oxford United?
Peter Kioso is a defender who plays for Oxford United in League One. He has experience at the third-tier level and has spoken about settling into his role at the Kassam Stadium this season.
When do Oxford United play Cambridge United?
Oxford United are due to host Cambridge United at the Kassam Stadium in an upcoming League One fixture. The match was referenced by Kioso in a BBC Radio Oxford interview recorded on 18 September 2026.
Are Oxford United still under a transfer embargo?
Yes, Oxford United have been operating under a transfer embargo this season, which has restricted their ability to bring in new players and added extra importance to developing and backing the squad they already have.