FKF Premier League round 26 has again provided a highlight fixture. Kenya Police FC go head to head against title chasing Gor Mahia at the Kasarani Main Stadium. Coach Francis Baraza will be fresh from the painful one nil defeat his team suffered at the hands of Gor Mahia in the first leg, a goal scored from a quick transition that left his charges downbeat. It is safe to say Kenya Police FC have never been the same since that defeat, falling off the title chasing pack.Coach Johnathan Mckinstry’s charges on the other hand will approach this game with the added motivation of seeking to retain their top of the table status, Tusker led Robert Matano has overthrown them and this is something that clearly has not augured well with the Gor Mahia faithful, a team that was already planning for the CAF club competition.Kenyan trio brace for quarter final action in CAF CL and CCIn this tactical piece we take a deep dive into how the two managers could set up in this encounter, drawing references from their past few games and majorly their first leg encounter.Gor Mahia FC tactician Johnathan Mckinstry has come under fire the past few games, especially after the draws against Sofapaka and Posta Rangers and the Mozzart Bet Cup defeat to Kakamega Homeboyz has seen what was a rather steady ship hit tumultuous waters .Many of the K’Ogalo faithful finding a problem with his substitutions, asking why he so desperately wants to fix a working machine.In games against top opposition Gor Mahia have taken majorly the option of caution, setting up in a very defensively compact 1-4-4-2 formation. In this game expect Gad Mathews to start in goal, the centre back partnership should comprise of Sylvester Owino and Dennis Njire who have formed a fresolute partnership in the last few games, in the fullback positions captain Philemon Otieno has been called up to play on the right or left side with rotations between Geoffrey Ochieng and Paul Ochuoga. In midfield there will most likely be the double pivot of Ernest Wendo and the very impressive Ugandan Shafiq Kagimu with Peter Lwasa and Boniface Omondi outwide, the front two could consist of Austin Odhiambo and top scorer Benson Omalla.##NAJAVA_MECA_7202854##Gor Mahia, as stated above will look to approach this game with caution, in Gad Mathews they have an excellent goalkeeper whose balls in behind are top notch, this is a threat they will clearly pose especially when Police FC push up. Expect a structured defensive display from Gor Mahia with top marshalling between the lines to ensure minimal central penetration. In Shafiq Kagimu, they have an exceptional first and second phase player whose technical quality has seen them grow from strength to strength in their build up and progression phase. Ernest Wendo will be tasked with screening the backline and ensuring Kenya Police FC do not get into their passing rhythm between the lines. In Dennis Njire and Sylvester Owino Gor Mahia have two able and towering ball playing centre backs.The wide rotations from Gor Mahia will be the most interesting aspect of their game. In Paul Ochuoga and Geoffrey Ochieng they have fullbacks who have formed a rather psychic understanding with their wingers. The overlaps to allow the wingers to invert and underlaps to create space out wide for the wingers will be key for Gor Mahia in this match.Austin Odhiambo and Benson Omalla will lead the line. Benson Omalla’s box movement is impeccable and he will clearly be a threat aerially, Austin Odhiambo’s between the lines quality will help his team, however how quicik he releases the ball from his feet and his sharpness in decision making will be the major key in attack for Gor Mahia, especially facing a Patillah Omotto less Police FC.Coach Francis Baraza has been tinkering with his squad for the last few gameweeks, going with twin strikers or a single striker, going with a back 3 or a back 4. Playing with out and out direct wingers and playing with wide playmakers. This tinkering has seen his side not be consistent in stringing wins.In goal expect Job Ochieng. The most ideal centre back partnership would be David Ochieng and Musa Mohammed with Aboud Omar tasked with the left fullback position. In the right back position it is a toss-up between Baraka Badi and Erick Juma, however the latter could get the nod. In midfield we expect Charles Ouma to partner with tough tackling Marvin Nabwire with Duke Abuya playing in the advanced midfield role, club top scorer Elvis Rupia could get the nod in attack, especially since he scored when the two teams last met. On the flanks is where Coach Baraza is spoilt for riches, he can go with the tried and trusted partnership of Francis Kahata and Clifton Miheso which would give him a midfield overload with Kahata inverting to play in between the lines or he could go for Alvin Mangeni who is explosive in behind and will surely cause the Gor Mahia backline an issue or two, restricting them from adding numbers forward.Expect Police FC to look to take the initiative and stamp their authority on the game with their neat combination plays and central overload. Police FC will be most dangerous when they are allowed to create wide overloads and with neat combination play they could get Clifton Miheso to invert and shoot or a cross into the box for the dangerous Elvis Rupia. Gor Mahia will look to heavily restrict Police FC from playing the ball out wide, especially when they get to string two to three passes outwide.Out of possession, Police FC will look to manage the game through set triggers, they will most likely try to funnel the ball towards Sylvester Owino where Elvis Rupia will now look to jump and press. Duke Abuya will most likely look to screen the opposition first phase build up, it will be interesting to watch his battle with Shafiq Kagimu.Police will look to play in a very compact 1-4-4-2 block, how they manage to double team the Gor Mahia wide players will be key in this game.It is for sure expected to be a firecracker of a match, a spectacle for the local fans and especially with the quality on show on the pitch and on the sidelines, local fans should throng the stadium to see the two well-oiled teams battle it out.
