In a season filled with uncertainties for the league, Tusker FC triumphed with no uncertainty to match AFC Leopards record of 12 title wins and share the title of ‘second most successful club’ with Ingwe.For Jackson Macharia and Eugene Asike, winning the title perhaps rekindled their 2016 memories as they were the only two in the team that won the league with the Brewers in 2016.Tusker managed 65 points from 32 games, four points more than their 61 points tally from 30 games in 2016 when they last won the title, a statistical equivalent of 2.03 points per game in each of the two seasons despite the difference in games played. But, how did they do it?From their dominance in the second half of matches to their substitutions, home and away record, excellent goalkeeping, diverse goal scorers, and discipline, we delve into how all these factors have played a role in Tusker’s good run in the 2020/21 season.🏆| Ladies and gentlemen, the 2020/2021 FKF Premier League ChampionsCongratulations @tusker_fc 🎉🎊🐘#FKFPL #Tusker pic.twitter.com/nfSRlqm3dJ— Mozzart Sport Kenya (@MozzartSportKe) August 22, 2021 Second half dominanceTusker FC have been dominant in the second half in the just-concluded season and have lost points in only three instances in the second from situations where they went into the second half holding to at least a point in the first half.Against Posta Rangers, Tusker lost 1-0 at full time after going into the break with the game tied at 0-0, same case to their second leg game against Nairobi City Stars.They have lost at full-time from a winning situation at halftime only once in the away game to Bandari FC at Mbaraki Grounds where they lost 2-1 after leading 1-0 at the break.SubstitutionsIf there is something that Robert Matano has gotten right 100% in their run to championship, it has to be his substitutes.At a time when teams were allowed to change up to five players but in three different stoppages, Matano beat the other coaches in this game, with his substitutions having direct impacts on specific games.Against KCB, for instance, when the champions were trailing 2-0 in the 24th minute, the experienced gaffer made an early change to bring in Humphrey Mieno in a leaky midfield that needed some patching up.57: We will make three changes at a go.Mieno, Macharia and Chris Ochieng are on for Henry, Kepha and Madoya. (2-0).— 🏆Tusker FC (@tusker_fc) August 13, 2021 Not only did Mieno stabilize the middle of the park, but he also scored and set up another.Interestingly, he was set up by Jackson Macharia and he returned the favor 14 minutes later to see Macharia level the scores.Macharia has scored nine goals, making most of his appearances from the bench.At the 60th minute mark, either Macharia or Mieno and one other player have been getting introduced in most instances, and the impact of the substitution has been felt.Home vs Away recordFor the Brewers, ‘charity begins at home’ has not just been a saying. They have made sure to collect as many points while playing at home, managing 36 points from a possible 48.In their home games, they have lost only twice, against Nairobi City Stars and Posta rangers in identical 1-0 losses.Away from home, they have been in good form as well, managing 29 points same as KCB and Gor Mahia from eight wins and five draws while losing thrice.In their home games, the Brewers have scored 21 and conceded only nine goals while on the road they have scored 31 and conceded 17.GoalkeepingTusker’s goalkeeping has done a decent job this season conceding only 26 goals in total. KCB have conceded the least with 23.🧤| Our keepers stepping up the tempo. Important match away to Bandari in mind.#KenyaMilele #Brewers4Life pic.twitter.com/fB6FRU8Mn9— 🏆Tusker FC (@tusker_fc) August 2, 2021 All their three goalkeepers- Emery Mvuyekure, Robert Mboya, and Michael Wanjala – have featured at one time or the other, with Emery keeping 10 clean sheets while Wanjala and Mboya have managed two apiece.Diverse goal scorersIt is not a wonder that Tusker FC have scored 52 goals, five more than Bandari who are second on the scoring chart as a team with 47, going by the number of different goal scorers.15 different players have found the net for the Brewers, including four defenders. Rodgers Aloro, Kevin Monyi, Eugene Asike, and Sammy Meja have nine goals in total of the 52 scored by Tusker.Having diverse goal scorers has helped Matano’s side avoid an instance of over-reliance on a single player for goals. As such, having Henry Meja and Boniface Muchiri away with the national team in Ethiopia in July was not such a big blow for Tusker as it would have been thought to be.All the best to our two lads Meja and Muchiri who lead the line for the Harambee Stars thus evening.Get them boys!! https://t.co/5xf2iRaKLG— 🏆Tusker FC (@tusker_fc) July 18, 2021 DisciplineAll through the season, Tusker have received only one red card that was given to Aloro in their 4-2 win against Kariobangi Sharks in January.The only other case of suspension they have had has been that of Hashim Sempala, who left the team after his contract lapsed, for accumulating five yellow cards.In total, the Brewers have received 49 cards, 48 yellow and one red and that has helped them avoid unnecessary changes to their preferred team.
