The FKF Premier League is coming to the business end of the season and the games are coming in thick and fast, with the added bonus of a title charge and a relegation playoff spot. Everything is at stake for teams, with others pushing for respectable league positions.League title challengers Tusker FC came up against struggling and relegation threatened Nairobi City Stars. In this piece we look at the tactical set-up of the game. How Nairobi City Stars resolute defensive display saw them frustrate Tusker FC.Tusker FC set up in a 1-4-3-3 formation; Coach Robert Matano had Brian Bwire in goal. The centre back partnership was of Michael Kibwage and Tom Teka, with Levin Odhiambo and Daniel Sakari occupying the fullback positions. The midfield three consisted of Humphrey Mieno, David Odoyo and Michael Oduor. In form Rodgers Ouma and Erick Mmata occupied the offensive flanks with burly Deogratious Ojok leading the line.Tusker FC came into this game, according to their first half display, looking for control. Noting that they were playing a relegation threatened side, it was rather obvious that Nairobi City Stars would sit behind the ball and look to hit on the counter. This dynamic saw Tusker look to keep the ball more and work towards fashioning an opening. In the build-up phase, the two Tusker FC central defenders would look to split each side of the goalkeper. This saw the fulllbacks advance, with left footed Levin Odhiambo moving higher up the pitch, to pin back the Nairobi City Stars defender while Daniel Sakari played a more reserved role, his attacking inroads limited as he was keeping a keen eye on City Stars man Samuel Kapen. Humphrey Mieno or David Odoyo would look to drop between the centrebacks, creating a triangle to aid in progression of the ball as Rodgers Ouma provided width on the right side. Michael Oduor operated between the lines as Erick Mmata, who had an underwhelming game, looked to invert more.In the initial stages of the game, Nairobi City Stars were comfortable with letting Tusker build up through them. This caused the Tusker FC side to be dangerous as they bombarded the City Stars backline, winning corner after corner and with numerous successful entries into the final third. Poor finishing, the lack of sharpness In front of goal cost them clear cut chances. On growing into the game, Nairobi City Stars decided to employ an aggressive 1-4-1-3-2 press, with emphasis on going man to man when Tusker FC was building up. This tactical tweak from Coach Nicholas Muyoti, changed the game. Tuskers FC were no longer in control as they struggled to find their wide men. They were also not able to string consecutive progressive passes, to aid in progression into the final third, leaving Deogratious Ojok cutting a distraught figure in the forward line. Tusker FC build up with City Stars man to man press in 1-4-1-2-3In the second half, Tusker FC decided to go long from the goal kick. This played directly into Nairobi City Stars plan. Going long into the channels and into a target man in front, requires strong aerial presence, do not get me wrong Tusker have this, but Nairobi City Stars are good when it comes to aerial duel success rate. Their backline has aerially aggressive players in Edwin Buliba, Kennedy Onyango and goalkeper Steve Njunge. This Tusker FC gameplan of going long or into the channels , dueling for the second ball and working it wide for crossing possibilities was thwarted at every attempt. When Tusker FC did manage to get a good cross in their forwards were thrown off with good marking in the box. Flexible structures and individual brilliance: Ulinzi Stars’ winning formula against AFC Leopards##NAJAVA_MECA_7226375##The introduction of Shami Mwinyi, Stewart Omondi and Siwa Shaphan gave Tusker more control, but Nairobi City Stars had also brought in James Mazembe and Newton Ochieng who with good combination and their top technical levels could punish Tusker FC on the break. This caused Tusker to not commit more numbers forward. Shami Mwinyi brought on a 1v1 threat out wide. Something Tusker FC had lacked all game. His good ball mastery brought problems to the Nairobi City Stars backline and even brought a rather quiet Humphrey Mieno back in, as they terrorized the Nairobi City Stars right back . They won two dangerous freekicks but could not make them count, and as the game wore on, the City Stars belief of getting something from the game grew stronger and stronger. Tusker FC third phase play. With Levin Odhiambo overlap.Creation of overload on City Stars last line and Deogratious Ojok pinning opposition centre backsThe 0-0 result sees Tusker FC now trail Gor Mahia FC by 4 points. Anything is possible in football but given the football Gor Mahia is playing now, it could be tricky. In a game where Tusker could have been more patient with their initial control approach, they will rue their missed chances. However, knowing the top mentality at the Tusker FC camp, they will still have the belief to push all the way.
