The big one is here! The FKF Premier League’s premier game, the Mashemeji derby will be played at the Nyayo National Stadium on Sunda 14th May.This match holds an added incentive for the home team Gor Mahia, the Jonathan Mckinstry led side is embroiled in a tough title battle and any slight slip up will see Tusker FC snatch at the chance to be champions. They have to win.AFC Leopards on the other hand have heavily downplayed the derby, terming it as a training match as they look to work towards being in the right state of mind and shape when they face Kakamega Homeboyz in the Mozzart Bet Cup semifinals.This is set to be a cracking match and in this piece we set out to look at how the two teams will set-up. What ace could Johnathan Mckinstry have up his sleeve? How AFC’s midblock could trouble Gor Mahia and where the game could be won or lost. All this while drawing inspiration from the team’s last league fixture which ended in a 0-0 stalemate.Gor MahiaExpect the home team to line up in a 1-4-4-2 that can easily morph into a 1-4-2-3-1 formation. In goal will be Gad Mathews with Dennis Nganga Njire and Emery Bayisenge providing the cover in central defense. Geoffrey Ochieng and a straight toss-up between Paul Ochuoga or Philemon Otieno, will look to provide options in the fullback positions.In central midfield expect Ernest Wendo to start, who partners him in the double pivot will be the main headache for coach Johnathan Mckinstry. He could go with calm and defensive Sydney Wakhongo, tough tackling fan favourite John Ochieng. Ugandan first phase maestro Shafiq Kagimu or Harambee Stars international, ball playing Alpha Onyango. In tough encounters Gor Mahia has usually gone with Sydney Wakhongo and this could be the case. The offensive flanks could be occupied by Boniface Omondi and Peter Lwasa with Austin Odhiambo in the advanced role. Benson Ochieng Omalla will for sure lead the line.##NAJAVA_MECA_7255621##Gor Mahia will look to mix things up in their build up phase. Expecting to start the game looking for control and an early opening, they will be calm and look to draw out AFC Leopard’s press with neat interplay in the first phase. This will then be the que for them to hit the ball into the channels for their wing players. Note that in Dennis Njire and goalkeeper Gad Mathews they have the technical ability to hit very good long balls into the channels.In the progression phase. Gor Mahia have looked to work in a 1-2-4-4 structure that is very flexible in wide rotations. On invitations forward, the fullbacks are ever willing to join the attack, working well with under laps and overlaps. Not forgetting they also possess deep and half space crosses in their arsenal. In this phase, the fullbacks will initially start on the same line as the double pivot, looking to operate in the same vertical lines as their wingers. When the ball is funneled wide, the wingers will look for possibilities to invert, dragging their markers with them. This will leave their fullbacks with enough space to hit the channels.In the creation and finishing phase, this is where Gor Mahia are at their most dangerous. They have scored 44 goals, making them the second highest scorers in the league, and this is why. It can be boiled down to one man, Benson Ochieng, I mean who would not the man has 25 league goals. However it is how Gor Mahia understands his strengths and plays to it that makes them so dangerous in the opposition alarming area. Gor Mahia FC majorly create through crosses, they let in wicked deliveries that have left most opposition dumbfounded. To let in this crosses Gor Mahia majorly look to overload certain areas of the pitch. They pick who they perceive to be the weakest link on the pitch and then overload that side. This overload draws out markers and allows room for fox in the box Benson Ochieng.The dynamic of Austin Odhiambo also creates chaos in the opposition last lines of defense. Austin Odhiambo is mercurial in playing between the lines and his ability to create possess major threat. He can drop and pick a killer pass or drive at you. This coupled again with Benson Ochieng’s decoy runs will always be the main issue. On set pieces Gor Mahia have a gem in Dennis Njire, his deliveries have troubled most if not all premier league teams and the same could be the case on Sunday.AFC LeopardsThere is expected to be a lot of tinkering on the AFC Leopards side, with Coach Patrick Aussems downplaying the importance of the derby. Not much is expected from him from a tactical point of view. The AFC Leopards side will majorly look to work on player relationism, quality, motivation- it being a derby and a resolute low block. The quality in their ranks is what will most probably pose a threat to Gor Mahia. Al Ahly’s Tactical Wizardry: How Marcel Kohler’s gameplan overwhelmed EsperanceHowever, this does not mean that AFC Leopards will not approach the game with given structures and principles. Expect AFC Leopards, when in settled possession to look to knock the ball around with ease, looking for an opening on the flanks. If Cliff Nyakeya starts, he will trouble the Gor Mahia backline with his movement. His ability to invert and create space out wide for the advancing fullback will be key, as Gor Mahia’s wingers are not the best at tracking back. This will create 2v1 or 1v1 scenarios.In Brian Wanyama and Giovanni Lukhumwa, AFC Leopards have technical security; this provided with left-footed Eugene Mukangula could see the Leopards look to boss the proceedings centrally, as they look to hit the ball into the channels for Victor Omune, Jaffar Owiti or advancing Washington Munene.What AFC Leopards could however make good use of is their 1-4-1-4-1 mid/low block. AFC Leopards will look to sit in this shape, minimize central penetration and look to ensure Gor Mahia funnel the ball wide to their fullbacks. This will then act as a trigger to press, using the touchline as the extra defender. The AFC Leopards mid-block, complemented with good communication of switches, good cover marking and double teams out on the flanks, not forgetting the pace in transition by the outlet Jafar Owiti or Victor Omune will be key in this game.Joseph Okumu’s Passing Masterclass: Kenyan defender leads Gent in passes attempted against West HamSummaryIt will be a tough outing, a televised game by Azam TV that could sell the Kenyan football brand, and what better way to do it than through these two tactically astute teams.Gor Mahia will pose the threat of overloads out wide and early deep crosses. The dynamic of Austin Odhiambo in a game that could see AFC Leopards lack midfield dynamo Musa Oundo will also give them added advantage between the lines. Set pieces and clinicality will most likely clinch the day.AFC Leopards’ Jaffar Owiti will also pose a major threat and how Gor Mahia deal with his 1v1 prominence will be key.
