Kakamega Homeboyz hosted the glamour boys of Shabana at Bukhungu Stadium in Kakamega looking to extend their winning run to 5 games in a row and move to second place a point behind league leaders Gor Mahia.The glamour boys came into this match sitting in the relegation zone and needing a win to go above AFC Leopards and out of the red zone. This was set to be an exciting match and for sure it lived up to the expectations.From kick-off, Kakamega Homeboyz coach Patrick Odhiambo set up his team in a hybrid 1-4-2-3-1 that would switch to a 1-4-1-4-1 depending on the position of his midfielders. Ugandan James Ssetuba started in goal with Brian Buleti and Enock Masinza in the fullback positions.##NAJAVA_MECA_7738483##Brian Chala and Potiphar Odhiambo were the center-back partnership. In midfield, Francis Omondi started alongside Eston Esiye. It was Eston’s position that determined whether the system would be a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-1-4-1. In form, Christopher Masinza was on the right flank with Moses Mudavadi holding the width on the left.Hillary Otieno started as the central attacking midfielder playing just behind Kenyan international Moses Shummah who was leading the line for Abana Ba Ingo.Shabana coach Oscar Kambona on the other side set up his team in a 1-4-4-2. Odour Mustapha started in goal with Aloro Rodgers and Justine Omwando as the central defenders. Brian Magare and Okinyi Bernard stated as fullbacks. Mark Okola and Brian Migiro partnered in midfield with Ouya Frank and George Orako manning the flanks. In the attack, veteran Eugene Mukangula partnered with Vincent Nyabuto.From goal kicks, Kakamega Homeboyz originally went with short goal kicks, trusting them center-backs who are good on the ball to start play from the back. The two CBs split either side of the goal while the fullbacks pushed slightly higher.Once the first pass was made, right-back Buleti would move further up the field while Masinza on the left flank dropped deeper. Omondi was the single pivot creating a 3-1 build-up shape. In other phases of play, Esiye would drop deeper alongside Omondi forming a 3-2 build-up.Logarusic’s tactical shift that has FKF Premier League defenses shakenThis back-3 build-up shape helped to outnumber and beat the Shabana press as Tore Bobe pressed with two players hence a 3v2. Homeboyz were a little bit more direct though with the center backs often playing it long over the Shabana press to the wingers or Shummah in attack, bypassing the middle third and going directly from build-up to attack.Kambona’s Shabana meanwhile opted to go long from all goal kicks. This was because their center-backs and goalkeeper were not comfortable on the ball.They went direct to the attackers, with Mukangula dropping a little deeper in the pocket to collect the second balls and start attacks from the second wave.In the middle third, both teams played with quick passing between the midfielders before releasing the wide players to attack space. However, Shabana’s midfield was often overrun and outplayed, and couldn’t hold the ball as much.Odhiambo’s charges on the other hand had players nearby and made it easier to play around the glamour boys. With the Mozzart Bet defending champions having 3 midfielders to Shabana’s 2, they already had an overload.Coach Kambona looked to counter this by asking Mukangula to drop a little bit deeper into midfield to balance and have a 3v3, however, when that happened, Moses Mudavadi who was playing wide left would tuck in and still create a 4v3 midfield overload meaning Shabana couldn’t match the Homeboyz midfielder. This explained why the Bukhungu housed club had a lion’s share of the possession.In attack, Homeboyz’s shape switched to a 3-1-3-3 with RB Buleti joining the midfield to make a 3-man midfield of Eston, Hillary, and Buleti. Masinza stayed back to for a 3-man rest defense while Francis Omondi was the single pivot.📹 | HIGHLIGHTS📺 | Watch Moses Shumah and Hillary Otieno goals that earned us full points against Shabana FC @mozzartbetkenya #AbanaBeingo pic.twitter.com/bXqOcSN4DT— Kakamega Homeboyz FC (@FcHomeboyz) December 11, 2023 This structure meant that Homeboyz always had numbers in attack and at some point, they could have as many as 6 players pushing against Shabana’s back 4. Shabana, on the other hand often had a 4-man attack with the wingers joining the attacking duo.Both teams looked to create chances from wide zones. And while Shabana struggled due to lack of physicality, Homeboyz’s striker Shummah enjoyed the game often being on the end of numerous crosses from his teammates and was unlucky not to score.How Nairobi City Stars managed to shoot past high-flying Posta RangersOverall, it was a great match Homeboyz deservedly were the runaway winners taking home the 3 points and 2 goals and keeping the pressure on league leaders Gor Mahia.
