Tusker head coach Robert Matano thought the defining moment in a game that, saw his team lose Mozzart Bet Cup final on Saturday afternoon to Kakamega Homeboyz was a costly error by the defense, wasting no time in calling the heads of his players.Speaking at the end the 1-0 loss at the Kasarani Stadium, Matano was distraught explaining how the all important goal from Kevin Amwayi was conceded, blaming his defenders for ‘offering space’ as a retreating Tusker defense failed to do the job in the moment resulting to a left footed shot scooping over to the left side of Brian Bwire’s goal.Mozzart Bet Cup 👌📍 Kasarani. Raha ya kushinda taji ndio hii 🔥. pic.twitter.com/Zs00K3vncX— Mozzart Bet Kenya (@mozzartbetkenya) July 2, 2023 “We had the plan to block and defend the game throughout,” the former AFC Leopards head coach said. “But our fullback switched off and gave space. We beat ourselves.”Given that Matano had witnessed Tusker miss out on the FKF Premier League title by a point last weekend, the game on Saturday always felt like a fall-on plan for the Brewers in their quest to return to continental football.“It’s sad. Very very sad,” Matano added. “We have to go back and then reflect, at least get some character. Players who can play a game of such magnitude and sustain pressure.”##NAJAVA_MECA_7347240##On the team’s future, Matano, apart from clamoring for the need to get players who have character, said; “We will definitely need to learn from this experience, bolster our squad with more quality players, but we had to work with just the players who were available.”Matano’s barrage comes at a point when much speculation is going around him leaving the team, with his name being linked to fellow FKF Premier League side Bandari FC.Matano noncommittal on future at Tusker FCThe winning coach – Patrick Odhiambo – on the other hand, was fully delighted with his team for their spectacular effort, noting how special the title was for his family and the team.“Its through teamwork that we have secured the title,” Odhiambo, a former Biashara United head coach said. “As a family, the title is very huge for us. Means a lot will be expected from us and so we will have to improve our squad in the offseason.”With the win, Homeboyz, who finished eighth in the concluded season, and had wins over Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards to the triumph, will get the chance to represent Kenya in next season’s CAF Confederation Cup preliminary rounds.
