The FKF Premier League match between Bandari FC and Gor Mahia was a hype one, even before a ball was kicked. The build-up to the game was perfect, credit to Bandari’s social media administrator for a task well executed.Given their financial muscle, Bandari faithful would have expected a better result but it is the high-flying Gor Mahia who picked maximum points from the encounter.In this piece, we look at how the two managers set up to shut each other out; how Gor Mahia coach Jonathan McKinstry looked for continuity in the quick switches as his counterpart Anthony Kimani looked for the sucker punch of a ball in behind.##NAJAVA_MECA_7172028##Gor Mahia set up in a 1-4-2-3-1 formation. In goal was the ever-trusted Gad Mathews, and the fullback positions were occupied by the experienced duo of Philemon Otieno and Geoffrey Ochieng. The centre-back pairing was of the lanky Sylvester Owino and Dennis Njire. In the middle of the park, midfield dynamo Ernest Wendo was paired with Sydney Wakhongo, Austin Odhiambo played advanced midfield. Out on the flanks were Lloyd Khavuchi and Boniface “Bajaj” Omondi with top scorer Benson Omala leading the line.Bandari have been a joy to watch for football tactics enthusiasts as to how they approach the game with various structures in defense, the tinkering tactician went with a 1-4-4-2 structure on the ball. In the posts was Michael Wanyika, with Andrew Juma and Rodgers Aloro partnering at center back and Mohammed Siraj and Somobwana Omar on fullback duties.Tactical Masterclass: How Francis Baraza’s backup plan led Kenya Police FC to a 4-2 victory against Nairobi City StarsIn the midfield was Dennis Magige with Douglas “Mguu kijiko” Mokaya. Out wide the team posed a threat with Abdallah Hassan and Joseph Waithera who has been in top form. Up front was William Wadri paired with club’s top scorer Umar Kasumba.Build Up Phases.In this match, both teams and tactics were set up to defend their box zones. Gor Mahia approached the match in the air of caution, not wanting to get into the air of chaos given the Mombasa heat. In Wendo and Wakhongo, K’Ogalo looked to control the game’s tempo. In the build up phase, Wakhongo and Wendo looked to form a double pivot by dropping in front of the split center backs who would look to split either side of Gad Mathews, this build up structure would act as a decoy as when Bandari pushed up Gad Mathews would look to hit balls into the channels for the offensive players to attack.Okumu readies up for crunch Europa tie against West HamBandari also opted for a low build up structure forming a 3-1 structure with one fullback low and the other high, this was to look to add more numbers forward to create an overload on the opposition’s last line. They emphasized on quick ball progression into the forwards to run at Ng’ang’a and Owino.Progression PhaseBoth teams from build-up looked to play balls in the channels, with a twin strike partnership, Wadri would drop deep and link play by combining well with Mokaya between the lines and playing balls in behind to Kasumba, Bandari also looked to create possibilities of 1v1 situations for livewire Waithera who is a major threat 1v1 out wide. In Abdallah Hassan, Bandari have a reputable player, and the Kenyan International looked to combine well with wide overloads with Siraj.Matano demands apology from Ingwe coach Patrick Aussems over defamatory statementCoach McKinstry’s side looked to progress with low output and work quick switches into the channels for Omondi and Khavuchi with Wakhongo and Ng’ang’a tasked with that specific role of long quick switches out wide. This approach looked to inhibit the movement of Siraj and Somobwana tucked back to prevent opposition offensive inroads. In Austin Odhiambo and Omala Gor Mahia looked to have neat combination plays centrally. Omala was always going to be a major threat with his box movement playing on the blindside of the defender, the Bandari centre-back pairing could not keep up with his movements thus seeing him get a brace in the game with goals from inside the final third.This was a game of who would control the channels more and Gor Mahia with their depth in the wide channels the lethal Omala and mastery in 1v1 defending by their fullbacks were up to the task. Coach Mckinstry also had an ace up his sleeve going for height in the spine of his team with aerially very strong players in Ng’ang’a, Owino, and Khavuchi to provide height in the game.
