Tusker FC coach Julien Mette believes his side are better equipped to handle the demands of continental football when they begin their CAF Confederation Cup campaign next month.
The brewers will face Sudanese side Al Ahli Madani in the first preliminary round, with the first leg scheduled for September 5 and the return leg on September 12.
Mette says their participation in the Cecafa Kagame Cup in Rwanda, despite an early exit, gave his players valuable exposure to the intensity and physical demands they are likely to encounter in the Confederation Cup.
“The Kagame Cup was important for us because it gave us a preview of the level and intensity we will face in the Confederation Cup,” Mette said.
Tusker faced strong opposition in Kigali, giving the players a taste of the pace, pressure and tactical demands associated with African club football.
Mette admitted the team was not at its best when it entered the Kagame Cup because of a shortened pre-season, but said the experience ultimately strengthened their preparations.
“We were not ready when we started the Kagame Cup because our preparation was very short, but it was a good learning experience for the team,” he said.
The brewers have since made significant changes to their squad as they seek to build a team capable of competing on multiple fronts.
Among the notable arrivals are Nigerian striker Victor Mbaoma, Ivorian winger Aboubacar Doumbia, Congolese goalkeeper Pavelh Ndzila, Gambian forward Abdoulie Joof and experienced Kenyan defender Abud Omar.
Mbaoma, who joined from Remo Stars, scored 14 league goals last season and is expected to provide additional firepower in attack.
“We have brought in players who can add quality, but the most important thing is that they understand our philosophy and what we want to achieve,” Mette said.
The French coach has also praised the way the existing squad has helped the new arrivals settle into the team and adapt quickly to his tactical demands.
“The integration has been good because the players who were already here have helped the new players understand our principles,” he said.
Tusker received another major boost on August 23 when they defeated reigning league champions Gor Mahia 3-1 to win the Football Kenya Federation Super Cup at Nyayo Stadium.
Francis Oduor, Eugene Ikutwa and Ian Simiyu were on target as the Brewers produced an impressive performance to lift the trophy and strengthen their confidence ahead of the new season.
Mette viewed the victory as an important benchmark for his side, particularly because it came against a Gor Mahia team that had just competed in the CECAFA Kagame Cup final.
“It was not a friendly game. It was a competitive match against the champions, and it gave us a very good benchmark,” Mette said.
The coach, however, has injury concerns to manage before the continental campaign begins. Star forward Erick Kapaito missed the Super Cup, while Mette revealed several other players were also carrying injuries.
“We have many injuries at the moment, so we could not field our strongest possible team,” he said.
Despite the setbacks, Tusker’s squad depth was tested successfully against Gor Mahia, with several younger players stepping up and contributing to the victory.
“It was also an opportunity for the young players to show that they can compete at this level, and they responded very well,” Mette said.
Tusker will begin their domestic league campaign against Ulinzi Stars on August 29 before turning their attention to the continental assignment.
