Tusker FC head coach Julien Mette believes the 2026 CECAFA Kagame Cup will provide the perfect platform for his side to prepare for its return to continental football ahead of the upcoming CAF Confederation Cup campaign.
The regional tournament, set to be played in Kigali, Rwanda from July 25, presents the Brewers with an opportunity to test themselves against some of East Africa’s strongest clubs before embarking on their first CAF Confederation Cup campaign.
Tusker will be returning to continental football for the first time since featuring in the 2022/23 CAF Champions League and will compete in the Confederation Cup for the first time since 1994 after qualifying through the FKF Mozzart Bet Cup triumph.
Coach Mette believes the tournament comes at the perfect time, offering his squad valuable experience against high-quality opposition.
“We are preparing to go to CECAFA which was not initially in our plans, but we have been invited. This is something very good for us especially ahead of continental football,” coach Mette said.
He added: “We will go to the tournament to prepare and try to win, though that is not the real target. We will face strong competitors, hard workers and killers which is something good fir us. We will play at the Amahoro Stadium which is a top facility and the level of opponents will introduce us to the high level of Africa.”
Tusker has been drawn in a challenging Pool C alongside Zanzibar’s KVZ, hosts Rayon Sports, which is coach Mette’s former club and Sudanese giants Al Hilal.
The top team from each of the three groups will progress to the semi-finals, together with the best-ranked runner-up. While acknowledging the strength of the opposition, Mette says the team’s immediate objective will be to advance beyond the group stage.
“We have probably the favorite of the tournament, Al Hilal, in the same group. But all teams are facing the same situation as us, with many changes so it is probably useless to try and analyze the tactical gameplan of our opponents. They will have players on trial as we will but we just have to prepare to face very good players in terms of speed of play and mental,” the coach said.
Despite harbouring ambitions of reaching the knockout rounds, the French tactician insists the team will approach the tournament with realism, considering they are only beginning pre-season preparations.
“The expectation is to go out of the group and to reach the semi final which will be very good. But because of the late start of our pre-season we have to be realistic and go game by game. If we lose there will not be drama but we just have to represent Tusker and Kenya with good football and a good image in terms of fair play and attitude. That’s the main target.”
Tusker is currently wrapping up its first week of pre-season training, with the intensity expected to increase in the coming days as preparations continue for their tournament opener against Al Hilal on July 26.
