Tusker coach accuses Nairobi United goalkeeper of time-wasting in league defeat
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Reading Time: 3min | Thu. 07.05.26. | 09:55
The Frenchman also went on a tirade, pleading with Kenyan teams to "play football"
Tusker FC head coach Julien Mette on Wednesday, 6 May accused Nairobi United goalkeeper Kevin Oduor of time-wasting, moments after the Brewers lost 1-0 to Naibois at the Nyayo National Stadium.
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Tusker, who came into the game in search of a first league victory since beating Gor Mahia mid last month, were left on the losing side yet again, going down to a well executed finish by Rwandese midfielder Muhadjiri Hakizimana in the 18th minute.
The result, as per Mette, would however have gone the other way, should Oduor have not opted to “suicide.”
“Once a team scores the first goal, their goalkeeper is almost dead,” Mette told Azam TV post-match, describing Nairobi United custodian Oduor. “He suicides himself two or three times, he stays on the field. We could have had 15 minutes more to play today. Its horrible; as a coach it is frustrating. Of course if you are fans of Nairobi you are happy, but as a fan of football, its a totally different sport.”
Mette, who fielded a partially rotated side, was critical of time-wasting antics he thinks pervade the game in Kenya, pleading with teams to stick to the principles of the sport.
“Please play football,” the Frenchman said. “You are going to host AFCON next year guys. Play football; and the referee at least give a warning to the goalkeeper when he is faking an injury please. I accept to lose, but at least lets try to play.”
Reflecting on his team’s performance, Mette said he was “proud” of their effort, but decried their missed opportunities to score, including a Bless Bakai sitter that went begging in the ninth minute.
“If we score the first opportunity after 10 minutes, we have a totally different game,” Mette said. “After the first goal we had the ball, but we were not tactically good today, especially in the final third. We had good intentions, but you cannot miss such a chance so early into the game. We have to blame ourselves.”
As per stats provided by Azam, Tusker had an inferior count of two shots on target and five off target, as compared to Nairobi United’s four and six in those categories respectively.
Asked if there were any positives to draw from the result, which saw them drop to eighth with 41 points, Mette said: “There are a lot of positives, but the problem is a lack of consistency. I am quite disappointed with some individual performances; we need all the players involved, and that s the main thing I have to correct in my team.”
For such a down season, Tusker do still have a chance of winning silverware, having reached the semifinals of the Mozzart Bet Cup last weekend.
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