Sudi Stadium in Bungoma will play host to an entertaining league encounter between top teams Nzoia Sugar and KCB FC on Wednesday 21st June. Nzoia Sugar are third on the log and still with an outside chance of winning the FKF Premier league if Gor Mahia and Tusker FC slip up while KCB are fifth. KCB FC are a star studded side who were front runners for the league a few game weeks back but some uninspiring displays have seen them falter and slowly disappear into oblivion. The uninspiring displays have led to rumors of reshuffling the technical bench. That aside, KCB are still a very good side that on their day will cause any team problems.In this piece I look to decode the major tactical scenarios that could swing the pendulum towards either teams favor. How Nzoia Sugar’s half space attacks and inverted wingers to create overloads on the flank will fair against a team that has conceded the least amount of goals this season (17). On KCBs end, how will their attacks through the channels and deep crosses come up against very good headers of a football in the Nzoia Sugar FC centre backs Ian Karani and Randy Bakari. Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs opens up about 2023 track strugglesAll season, Coach Zedekiah Otieno’s men have used the wide channels of attack, from fullback to winger. When KCB FC wins possession they want to initiate fast transitions through the channels. This move looks to see them capitalize on the spaces vacated by opposition fullbacks who mainly look to join the attacks in most teams. In Kevin Okumu and Erickson Mulu as fullbacks with Musa Masika and Harrison Mwendwa on the wings, KCB have the quality. With the stated personnel it explains why they always look to get the ball wide and launch crosses. ##NAJAVA_MECA_7324640##Nzoia Sugar as stated above have two very good centrebacks aerially so they should be able to deal with the crosses into the box, however on the through balls into the channels is where they may face a problem. Coach Salim Babu will have to alter his rest defense structure from the initial 2-3 to a 3-2 one, he will have to play a rather reserved right back who will stay back with both centre backs. The 3-2 approach will place the wide defenders closer to the through-balls and look to cut them out before the winger can reach them, or look to engage the winger better using the touchline as an extra defender. This approach could work or Nzoia could also look to sit in shape and give the impetus to attack on KCB. However, this will not happen as they are the home team and in front of their adoring fans they always look to turn on the style. The change in defensive structure to cater for the channel attacks by KCB FC stated above will however hinder the creation structure that Nzoia Sugar employs. Nzoia has their fullbacks rather high, having one more reserved denies them the quantitative superiority against the opposition last line. The Salim Babu coached side has been playing some really good football, earning plaudits from football enthusiasts in the country. Their sleek passages of play and structured build up patterns are a joy to watch. John Baraza elated to see protégé Moses Shumah shine in the national teamNzoia Sugar FC is dangerous through half space attacks and wide overloads against the opposition last line of pressure. The array of talent at Nzoia Sugar, especially in attack has seen them score ten more goals than KCB FC. In Yassin Sije, Hassan Beja, Joseph Mwangi and James Kibande, the four attackers have a very good understanding among each other, with the wingers looking to cut inside and play in the half spaces, leaving the width to the advancing fullbacks, Joseph Mwangi looks to drift wide, especially on the left side to create an overload with the advanced fullback and the left winger. The neat combination play on the sides quickly a release Joseph Mwangi in behind, this movement has seen him emerge as the highest scoring midfielder in the league. Showing his prowess in this aspect. KCB FC will have to be very compact laterally; they should slide as a unit, ensuring too that the lines are compact enough. The wingers will have to put in a shift to drop back, avoiding possibilities of 2v1 against their fullback. Sudi stadium should brace itself for a tactical battle.
