From mid-table uncertainty to cup glory: How Mette revived Tusker FC

Some wrapped their arms around the Frenchman, the head coach, while supporters celebrated a triumph that had seemed unlikely just four months earlier.

The magnitude of the moment was impossible to miss. Mette had just guided the brewers to a 2-1 victory over Kenya Police FC in the FKF Cup final, securing the club KSh3 million in prize money and a place in next season’s CAF Confederation Cup.

When Mette arrived at Ruaraka in February, replacing Charles Okere, Tusker were languishing in the lower half of the FKF Premier League table and struggling for consistency.

The 12-time league champions had lost eight of their first 20 league matches, sat 10th on the standings and faced the prospect of ending another season without silverware.

Fast forward to June, and the picture could not have been more different. 

For Mette, whose coaching journey has taken him through Congo, Djibouti and Rwanda before arriving in Kenya, the triumph was more than just a trophy. It was validation of months spent rebuilding confidence, demanding discipline and convincing a struggling squad that it could once again compete among the country’s elite.

The final itself reflected the resilience the French tactician has worked to instil in his players.

Simuyu opened the scoring in the 24th minute before Kenya Police responded three minutes later through defender Abud Omar, who converted a free kick after a foul on Yves Koutoua near the edge of the box.

Rather than allowing the setback to affect them, Tusker responded positively, with Simuyu striking again in the 37th minute to restore their lead before halftime.

Police pushed for another equaliser and earned several set-piece opportunities, including a free kick after Tusker captain Charles Momanyi was cautioned, but the law enforcers failed to break down a disciplined Tusker defence even after seven minutes of added time and secured the trophy.

“It was a tough match. We scored a beautiful first goal, and we celebrated too much, and we lost concentration…We were ready, and I am very proud they were able to overcome that and score the second goal because this season we have been very down every time we conceded goals. Today was the reward for the hard work,” Mette said after the match.

The coach revealed that his halftime message focused on keeping emotions in check after tempers flared in the closing stages of the first half.

“I had to tell them to calm down. We were leading 2-1 and had to stay focused. I think that’s the lack of experience and immaturity of some of our players because they don’t always manage their feelings well. My speech was mainly about concentration, focus and staying calm down tactically, and that’s why we didn’t make many mistakes in the second half,” the tactician noted.

In the final match, no player symbolised Tusker’s transformation more than Simuyu.

The forward, who rose from the second division to become one of the club’s most influential players, delivered the decisive performance of the final and was rewarded with both the tournament’s Most Valuable Player and Best Midfielder awards.

“The match has been hard, but I thank God for that win. It’s been a tough game, but I was prepared mentally,” Simuyu said.

Asked what had changed at the club since Mette’s arrival, the forward pointed to a renewed belief within the squad.

“We’ve changed a lot of things in terms of mentality and confidence in the team. As we play, we believe we can win as Tusker,” the attacker revealed.

To Mette, Simuyu’s emergence is one of the success stories of his short tenure.

“When I arrived at the end of February, Simuyu was more on the bench. But every time I put him in, he scored and worked very well under pressure. Today the two goals helped the team. It’s his first season in the first division, and he’s a good discovery for Kenyan football,” Mette noted.

For Kenya Police, the defeat denied them the chance to complete a domestic double after their FKF Premier League triumph.

“The match has been hard from the beginning. We had defeated Tusker twice, and this third one they had to step up,” said Police FC coach Nicholas Muyoti.

“I would like to congratulate Tusker. The boys pushed through until the end even though we didn’t get the result we expected,” he added.