Tusker FC head coach Julien Mette says he is happy to have been part of the 2026 CECAFA Kagame Cup in Rwanda, hailing the tournament as one that will help his squad in the coming FKF Premier League season.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsThe Frenchman, speaking after his team’s 2-0 victory over Zanzibari side KVZ SC on Saturday, 1 August, said much of Tusker’s targets had been achieved, this despite The Brewers suffering an early group-stage exit.Tusker sign out of CECAFA Kagame Cup with victory over Zanzibari championsThroughout their week in Rwanda, Tusker registered just the one win, which came after back-to-back losses to Sudanese giants Al Hilal (2-0), and hosts Rayon Sport (1-0) on 26 and 29 August, respectively.Despite only finishing third in Group C, Mette was proud of the team’s showing in Kigali, and grateful for the experience gained against top-level opposition.##NAJAVA_MECA_9872935##“Since Day one, we came here to do a preseason; not friendlies, but to win, but we knew were not ready," Mette, who before the tournament did not view Tusker as one of contenders the Kagame Cup title, told the club media.“We won the Mozzart Bet Cup in the last half of June, and therefore we had less than a month to prepare the team. We were not ready, and it is not a shame to admit it.”Nairobi United beats Sudanese giants in race for highly-rated Congolese midfielderThat said, however, the former Rayon Sport coach was impressed with bits of Tusker’s showing, including displays from their sole win on Saturday to win end their tournament participation.“Happy for the win and the goals,” said Mette of the victory secured courtesy of two strikes in either halves from Ian Simiyu and Nigerian forward Victor Mbaoma. “It is always important for the strikers to score for confidence and morale, but I thought we should have done better, as we controlled much of the possession, but missed scoring opportunities.”KSSSA: St. Mary's Yala, Highway brave Thika cold to begin national title chase with victoriesOn taking the monkey off their backs with a win, Mette added: “There are lots of lessons from this one, just like the other two games, but with the reward of a good tournament. We played well in the first two games, today [Saturday] was not so well, but we got the goal we did not get before.”With the team undergoing a slight overhaul, Mette said it was important for his new players to get some minutes under their belts, and gel in with the squad quick and early.##NAJAVA_MECA_9872927##“We are already good in some areas, and the new players needed time to socially integrate, so we have to be patient and not be too hard on them,” the 44-year-old said. “It has been a good process, the level of opponents is what I said was the big benefit of this tournament, and also the stadiums; high-level-interms of psychology and stress. It Is a process of experience, and I am happy to have been part of this.”