The FKF Premier League serves up another firecracker of a match this weekend when giants AFC Leopards host glamorous Kariobangi Sharks at the Nyayo National stadium in Nairobi on Sunday afternoon. The teams come into the game in contrasting form With Ingwe enjoying a good run, coming off a 6-0 drubbing of Talanta, with the Patrick Aussems team playing really attractive football. Kariobangi Sharks on the other hand are going through a slump in form with their last game, a derby against Mathare United ending in a 2-1 loss. The William Muluya side has been very entertaining and intriguing to watch, putting up some good performances, not forgetting they are the leading scorers in the league with 23 goals.The two elite tacticians go head to head and in this piece we look at what can be expected tactically from the teams. AFC Leopards under Aussems seem to fluctuate between a 4-2-4/ 4-2-3-1 in buildup and settled possession before transitioning into a 3-2-5/ 2-3-5 in the final third. Ingwe have partnered this structure with technically very good players and this is a special team, something good is brewing at the den. The starting 11 dynamics include Opiyo Levis, Boniface Mukhekhe / Peter Thiongo on the right back position, Kaycie Odhiambo could partner with Esilaba Tedian at center back while Bandi Lewis could be trusted at left back again. The midfield could consist of Musa Oundo, Wanyama Brian and in form Victor Omune in the attacking midfield position, nailed wing starters are Jaffar Owiti and Nyakeya Cliff with a toss up for either Otieno Maxwell or Ojo Olaniyi in attack.The Leopards shape in majorly in a 4-2-3-1 but Omune joins the attack in build up to form a 4-2-4. As the ball is progressed, depending on the opposition and ball side the fullbacks can stagger, with one deep and the other wide to form a 2-3-5 or a 3-2-5 shape. This rest defense structure looks to protect leopards from dangerous transitions. ##NAJAVA_MECA_7031458##In the final third Nyakeya and Owiti are allowed to drift where they want due to their technical security. Their main role is however giving width but the two have a license to drift inside when their fullback advances, this drifting inside drags out markers so there is space wide. They also tend to drop between the lines and swap sides to influence the game with their technical security.Out of possession, AFC look to set up in a 1-4-4-2/ 1-4-1-4-1 mid and low block. In form midfield maestro Musa Oundo is the core of the defensive set up with his ability to cut passing lanes and when teams go long, as they normally do against Leopards he looks to win the second balls with unrivalled aggression in the duels. AFC Leopards look to press high when opposition plays low from goalkeeper, they have a very good pressing structure and principles as shown in previous games where they can invert wide players to press opposition centerbacks and their fullbacks can join the press. This leaves mostly Oundo and the centre backs to communicate to manage the ball side wide midfielder and attacker. If their press is successful they have the quality to punish teams. Ingwe custodian Levis Opiyo credits teammates for impeccable form in goalAgainst a back three we could see AFC wingers invert onto the outside centerbacks, the midfielders marking the opposition pivots and the number 6 protecting between the lines while the defenders can man mark opposition forwards who can drop deep to receive.Kariobangi Sharks Kariobangi Sharks set up in a 3-4-3 formation, they are very good on transitions but do not be fooled they also look to thrive on control. Tactician William Muluya uses a 3-2 buildup shape with technical security in Keith Imbali and Fortune Omotto. Due to the good AFC pressing structure we could see Sharks build up from the back in settled play and not goal kicks, the goalkeeper will go long and they will battle for the second balls, after that they will look to build from this. They are not as physical, well neither are Leopards but Sharks are very quick in behind , they thrive off good positioning by winning second balls and from this can directly exploit opposition in transition or recycle the ball with their technically gifted players. The young team can go toe to toe with the very best and apart from defensive frailties they are a very solid team in possession. General set up of the two teamsWith 23 goals to their name, Sharks final third is dangerous with quick players, with very good movement in the final third and box occupation. They constantly look to create overloads against opposition defenses while still being compact and with their good counter press, they can easily sustain attacks and create chances.Sharks playing out in settled play with Kibiwott drifting wide to overload left and AFC looking to block passing lanes into midfield by inverting wingers and going man for man in wide areas and defense with defensive midfielder screening the backlineIn this game, both teams need to nail the basics to have optimal chances of winning, Sharks will need to try and go long into the channels to avoid the Leopards press, they will need to win duels in midfield and use the pace and movement of their attackers in Mathew Kibiwott and Shariff Musa. They should also look to keep the ball, should be no problem when a team has Keith Imbali and Tyson Otieno in their ranks. Nzoia Sugar’s Babu wants to retain his best playersAFC will have to look for overloads in their last line with Nyakeya and Owiti tormenting the wide centerbacks in the channels with their sensational 1v1 qualities and ability to drift in at the back post to create overloads. How Omune attacks the opposition box with his late runs into the box and if Sharks can mark him and track him will be key.All in all Sharks want transitions while AFC do not. This makes for a spectacle by the two top tacticians.
