Tusker coach Julien Mette stays positive despite Shabana defeat

New Tusker FC head coach Julien Mette remained confident of turning around the club’s fortunes despite suffering a 1-0 FKF Premier League away defeat against Shabana at Gusii Stadium on Saturday.

The French tactician was unveiled on Friday before the fixture. He came in to replace Charles Okere, who was fired by the Ruaraka-based club owing to a string of poor results in the top-flight.

FULL TIME in Gusii.

A gallant display, but we fall short. pic.twitter.com/ArjNTpKhaz

— Tusker FC (@tusker_fc) February 21, 2026

Speaking after the Shabana defeat, Mette said: “I can take 90 percent of positive things because I am positively surprised by most of the players as a team.

‘I am really positively surprised’

“They played as a team from the beginning to the end. We conceded a cruel goal; it was an own goal, and the opponent had zero shots on target. It was very cruel, but they kept pushing and kept playing football, not long balls like rugby.”

He added: “To improve mentality, you need time because mental strength is the hardest thing to train and improve. But after just one week of work, I am really positively surprised by the guys.

“I think they understood many principles of play and the way I want them to play. Of course, we need to correct things, but it is good to play games to correct them. Videos are better in training sessions. Normally, competitors want to play; training is work; the game is fun.”

He further called for patience, asking Tusker fans to give him enough time.

“People should not expect us to win 5-0 or something and make a complete change from the results of the previous games. I have given myself five games to completely change the outlook of the team, and so we will go step by step,” added Mette.

“But for the game we have to try and implement the small things we have done in training this week, and I have told them (players) they have to win. This is a competition.”

Tusker will return to action on against struggling Murang’a Seal on Wednesday.

Julien Mette Tusker FC Reaction: “90 Percent Positive”

Appointed just a day before the fixture, Mette replaced former head coach Charles Okere, who was dismissed after a string of poor performances.

While Tusker fell to a cruel own goal, Mette insisted the display itself offered hope.

“I can take 90 percent of positive things because I am positively surprised by most of the players as a team,” he said after the match.

The coach emphasized that Shabana registered no shots on target, underlining the misfortune of conceding through an own goal. According to Mette, the team’s collective effort and commitment were the key takeaways.

“They played as a team from the beginning to the end. We conceded a cruel goal. The opponent had zero shots on target. It was very cruel, but they kept pushing and kept playing football, not long balls like rugby.”

This Julien Mette Tusker FC reaction suggests the coach is prioritizing style, structure, and identity over immediate results.

A New Playing Philosophy Taking Shape

Mette’s comments revealed a desire to reshape Tusker’s tactical approach. Rather than relying on direct, long-ball football, he aims to implement a possession-based, structured style built on teamwork and understanding.

He admitted that improving mentality is a long-term project.

“To improve mentality, you need time because mental strength is the hardest thing to train and improve. But after just one week of work, I am really positively surprised by the guys.”

For a coach who has barely had time to conduct full training sessions, the performance offered signs that players are adapting quickly to his principles.

He also stressed the importance of using competitive matches as learning opportunities, noting that game situations provide valuable lessons that training sessions cannot fully replicate.

Patience Key to Tusker’s Revival

The Julien Mette Tusker FC reaction also included a clear message to supporters: patience will be essential.

“People should not expect us to win 5-0 or something and make a complete change from the results of the previous games. I have given myself five games to completely change the outlook of the team.”

By setting a five-game target, Mette is managing expectations while outlining a realistic timeline for transformation.

Step-by-step improvement, rather than instant success, appears to be the strategy.

Next Test Against Murang’a Seal

Tusker’s opportunity for redemption comes quickly. They will face struggling Murang’a Seal on Wednesday — a fixture that could offer the perfect platform to secure Mette’s first victory.

The match will test whether the encouraging signs seen at Gusii Stadium can translate into tangible results.

A Cruel Defeat, But Hope Remains

Although the scoreboard reflected defeat, the underlying performance gave the new coach reason for optimism. Defensive organization limited Shabana’s threat, while Tusker’s effort and teamwork aligned with the tactical blueprint Mette hopes to establish.

The Julien Mette Tusker FC reaction demonstrates belief rather than panic. Change rarely happens overnight, especially in competitive leagues like the FKF Premier League.

For Tusker supporters, the message is clear: trust the process.

If Mette’s philosophy takes root over the next few games, Saturday’s narrow loss may be remembered not as a setback — but as the starting point of a gradual resurgence.