Tusker FC head coach Julien Mette remains remarkably upbeat despite his side’s early group-stage departure from the 2026 CECAFA Kagame Cup in Rwanda.

For the Frenchman, the regional tournament was never purely about chasing silverware; it served as the ultimate trial by fire ahead of the upcoming FKF Premier League campaign.

The Brewers concluded their Group C run on a high note, securing a comfortable 2-0 victory over Zanzibar’s KVZ SC thanks to strikes from Ian Simiyu and new Nigerian forward Victor Mbaoma.

The win offered a welcome silver lining following back-to-back losses to Sudanese powerhouses Al Hilal and host side Rayon Sport.

Finishing third in the group was hardly the ideal scoreboard result, but Mette insists his squad achieved their core objectives.

Reflecting on the campaign, the 44-year-old tactician candidly admitted that a short turnaround following their Mozzart Bet Cup triumph in late June left the team short of full match sharpness.

He emphasized that facing formidable continental opposition in high-pressure stadium environments provided invaluable physical and psychological conditioning.

Furthermore, the intense fixture schedule allowed newly signed players crucial minutes to gel with the core squad both on and off the pitch.

Though Mette acknowledged that the final match lacked some of the tactical fluidity seen in their earlier defeats, he highlighted the crucial confidence boost for his attacking line.

Moving into the final stretch of preseason, the Frenchman remains patient, confident that the lessons learned against top-tier opposition in Kigali will pay massive dividends once domestic action kicks off.