How AS Otohô's Coupe du Congo final defeat Is fueling Tusker's Mozzart Bet Cup quest

Tusker head coach Julien Mette will head into Sunday's Mozzart Bet Cup final carrying valuable lessons from previous cup heartbreaks during his coaching career.

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The French tactician has experienced painful exits in knockout competitions in both Congo and Rwanda despite enjoying success in league football.

While in charge of AS Otohô, Mette guided the club to the Congolese top-flight title and oversaw a club-record 21-match unbeaten run.

However, success in cup competitions has proved elusive.

His most painful setback came in 2023 when AS Otohô reached the Coupe du Congo final but suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to Diables Noirs.

The loss extended the club's long-standing frustrations in the competition despite its domestic dominance.

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Mette later endured another cup disappointment in Rwanda when his Rayon Sports side were eliminated by Police in the semi-finals of the Heroes Cup.

Ahead of Sunday's Mozzart Bet Cup final against Kenya Police at Kwale Stadium, the Frenchman says those experiences have shaped him into a better coach.

"I lost a cup final in Congo, which was painful considering the success we had built," Mette told Mozzart Sport.

"I remember we did not lose the final because we played badly. The board had promised the players a lot of money if they won the game. The players were already mentally out of the match and were thinking about the bonus."

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The tactician, who is yet to win a major domestic cup final in his coaching career, believes this is the perfect opportunity to finally break that hoodoo.

"Those setbacks have taught me valuable lessons that I will honestly apply tomorrow. We want to win and the mistakes from previous experiences cannot be repeated. I have truly learnt a lot from the past."

At both AS Otohô and Rayon Sports, Mette's teams suffered penalty-shootout heartbreak after competing strongly during normal time.

With that experience in mind, he acknowledges penalties could once again play a role but hopes Tusker can settle matters before then.

"We are prepared for penalties because anything can happen in a final, but of course we would prefer to finish the game in regular time," he added.

The same sentiments are shared by Tusker captain Erick Kapaito, who insists the players are mentally ready for the challenge.

"We are mentally ready for the game. We will try to finish the match in regular time and avoid penalties, but if it gets there we are ready for it," Kapaito told Mozzart Sport from Kwale Stadium.

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Young striker Thomas Omole is also relishing the occasion, having come a long way in a short period.

The forward, who scored a brace against Mwea United in the opening round, says reaching a cup final barely two years after battling relegation is a special achievement.

"It is a happy moment for me. Tusker is home and they gave me a warm reception when I came from the NSL. It feels good to be playing in a final and hopefully I can get a goal or an assist," said Omole.

The winner of Sunday's final will pocket KSh3 million from sponsors Mozzart Bet and earn the right to represent Kenya in next season's CAF Confederation Cup.