Tusker land in Kigali with Kagame Cup glory in mind

Tusker salvaged their season with FKF Cup glory following an underwhelming Kenya Premier League season that saw the former champions finish a disappointing ninth.

The Brewers are among 12 clubs competing in this year's CECAFA Kagame Cup, which runs from July 24 to August 7 and brings together some of the top clubs from East and Central Africa.

Tusker were invited to replace Sudanese side Al Merriekh, who withdrew from the competition, handing the Kenyan outfit an opportunity to test themselves against some of the region's strongest teams.

Speaking upon the team's arrival in Kigali, club chairman Charles Gacheru confirmed that the entire contingent of 41 members, comprising 26 players and 15 officials, was ready for the contest.

"The team left this morning on two different flights, but I can confirm that everyone landed safely in Kigali. We have a squad of 26 players and 15 officials, including the Tusker Youth coach, who will assist the technical bench while also gaining valuable exposure ahead of the new season.

"We have everybody here, and the team will be captained by Aboud Omar, who joined us from Kenya Police after returning home following a decade of playing both abroad and locally. We also have a number of new signings in Kigali for the tournament," Gacheru confirmed.

Tusker open their Group ‘C’ campaign against Sudanese giants Al-Hilal Omdurman on Sunday at Amahoro Stadium.

Gacheru believes the competition will provide the ideal platform for the club's new and existing players to build chemistry following an active transfer window, while also helping the technical bench assess the squad ahead of the new campaign.

“The tournament will help us prepare for both the league and the CAF Confederation Cup because it features some of the best teams in the region. CECAFA is giving us an opportunity to play high-intensity matches that we would otherwise not have within this short period.

“These highly competitive games will help us understand where we are as a team and whether we are ready for the new season," the chairman said.

Beyond preparing for the continental campaign, Tusker are targeting a deep run in the regional competition.

"We are targeting a place in the semi-finals and, eventually, the final. More importantly, we want the team to gel, understand our strengths and weaknesses, and improve through this tournament.

"We really thank CECAFA because this is a perfect pre-season tournament for the top clubs in the region, and we are very grateful for the opportunity," Gacheru added.

After facing Al-Hilal Omdurman on Sunday, the Brewers will take on hosts Rayon Sport on Wednesday at Kigali Pele Stadium before concluding their group-stage fixtures against Zanzibar's KVZ SC on Saturday, August 1, at the same venue.

Only the three group winners and the best second-placed team across the three groups will advance for the semi-finals.