Gor Mahia and Kakamega Homeboyz lock horns in round 33 of the FKF premier league.The two sides have been very impressive in the past few weeks and this is a match that holds so much at stake for either side. Kakamega Homeboyz meet Tusker in the Mozzart Bet Cup finals, Tusker are embroiled in a league title chase with Gor Mahia.It will be in Kakamega Homeboyz best interests if Tusker clinch the league title, meaning they automatically qualify for the CAF Confederations Cup. For Gor Mahia it is straight forward, win your games and you are home and dry as league champions.The slight issue of revenge after Homeboyz eliminated them from the cup could be brought up too as a dynamic and added impetus for the Green Army.Why Kenya embarrassingly lost to MauritiusIn this piece I set out to look at the tactical set up, what should be expected in the encounter when Patrick Odhiambo meets Johnathan McKinstry; with a keen eye on Kakamega Homeboyz press.How will the Kakamega Homeboyz tactician impose his game plan and what solutions will McKinstry look to offer.Abana Abeingo have proven to be very aggressive in their press, they are a bold team with high levels of fitness. The true definition of a high risk-high reward team if their encounter against AFC Leopards is anything to go by.Odhiambo’s charges set up in an aggressive 1-4-4-2 pressing structure. They have set triggers to press, depending on the opposition they face. One of their predominant triggers is a heavy touch by an opposition first phase player or a lateral pass into the fullback.The front two in the press, could be Moses Shumah and Ambrose Sifuna looking to mark the opposition centre backs. The two are backed up by the wingers Felicien Okanda and Kevin Amwayi with Hillary Otieno coming forward to mark the main opposition first phase midfielder. This means the 1-4-4-2 structure can also morph into a 1-4-1 -3-2.##NAJAVA_MECA_7324413##When Homeboyz get their press right, for instance in their cup games against Kariobangi Sharks and AFC Leopards, arguably two of the best short passing teams in the league, they block short passes and look to force the opposition to play long balls.The risk in this high press system is the isolation of Eston Esiye in midfield, if the opposition can manage to play through the press, he is left stranded in the middle of the park where the opposition can out number him. There is also a large gap created between the midfield and defense.When they force the opposition to go long, they have very good aerial duel defenders in Harambee Stars call up Robinson Kamura and Brian Eshihanda.Therefore, coach McKinstry will most likely have to go with Patrick Kaddu, so that he can be the target man. He will look to receive the long ball and lay it off or flick it to a teammate.In Shafiq Kagimu and Dennis Njire, if he will have passed a late fitness test, they have a very good first phase players. The build-up versus press scenario should be very interesting in how it plays out.The aspect of buildup versus press will be key in this fixture. If Gor Mahia can find a way out of the Kakamega Homeboyz press, then they should be home and dry. They will also look to have qualitative superiority in the flanks where Homeboyz have looked to be at their weakest.However, to access these wingers they have to play through the press. It is set to be a firecracker.
