Kisii based Shabana FC, has been on the up recently. The team is currently top of the National Super League (NSL) table and looking to push for promotion to the Football Kenya Federation Premier League (NSL). Having played 11 games, Shabana are on 25 points with 8 wins, a single draw and 2 losses. There is major belief among the Shabana faithful that this might just be the year the Sammy Okoth-coached side gain promotion back to the country’s top flight. The main concern is the team’s two losses have come back to back against opposition they will likely be in a head to head battle to secure promotion with. In this piece we look at the ‘Bosongo derby’ which happened over the weekend between Shabana and Gusii FC, noting the tactical approach of Shabana in the entertaining affair.Shabana FC set up in a 1- 4-4-2 formation on paper. It is however very interesting as to how coach Sammy Okoth has set up his side with keen focus on structures in every phase of play they are in. The team line up had Remigious Ingosi in goal. Right back Sailas Abungane, Centre backs were Aduda Absalom and Bernard Otieno while Ochieng Stephen slotted in at left-back. Their Midfield double pivot consisted of Peter Ogechi and Magare Brian with the offensive four made up of skillful Gichira Brian, Omwando Justin, lethal Nyabuto Vincent and Wycliffe Mutua.Build-upGusii FC did not look to press high to the Shabana center backs. They let the goalkeeper play to the split center backs and then now look to step up. Shabana in the build-up phase looked to split the two centerbacks wide of the keeper, with the fullbacks pushing to the same line as the double pivots, who drop deep to give passing angle possibilities behind the first line of pressure.. The wingers stay high and wide with twin strikers attacking the half spaces and dropping between the lines in a very flexible way.Gusii FC were comfortable letting Shabana control territory as their approach was to duel on long balls and look for quick breaks and set-pieces. Shabana however struggled to assert dominance as in the build-up. Gusii FC locked central penetration, blocking Shabana access into the advanced central midfielders and forwards dropping off. This forced Shabana to go long on most occasions where they would lose the second balls to the overly aggressive Gusii FC. Team Structures Progression and Creation PhaseIn settled play Shabana set-up in a 1-3-2-3-2 structure, with the one fullbacks pushing very high to create possibilities of an overload on the Gusii last line. Midfielder Peter Ogechi was the leader of the orchestra as he looked to play and dictate the tempo of the game with his intelligence. Peter Ogechi was also the midfielder who looked to play his attackers in with very good vision. Shabana looked for heavy rotations among the forwards when they were in advanced possession with Gichira Brian and Wycliffe Mutua dropping wide of the Gusii FC block or playing between the lines to look and come up with moments of magic for their team. The only constant in the Shabana creation phase was the exceptional box presence of the lethal Vincent Nyabuto, who looked to pin back opposition defenders with Omwando Justin looking to play off him. Punter wins Ksh 190,738 from 100 bobShabana were struggling in this phase as the stepping out and good cover to deny central penetration and capitalizing on chaos from Gusii saw Shabana look to settle for long shots from edge of the box. Shabana 3-2-3-2 progression and creation phase With Gusii FC being the outright top scorers in the league with 21 goals, they were always going to be a threat in attack. They looked to capitalize on attacking the wide channels and making use of the dangerous set pieces they got, they looked to capitalize on these and transitions. Shabana looked to counter this in a very compact midfield block which was a 442 with the wide attackers playing very narrow, in line with the pivots to completely deny central penetration too this left their fullbacks Stephen Ochieng and Sailas Abungana isolated on 1v1 situations.On seeing Gusii FC set-up to be dangerous on transitions Shabana employed a 3-2 rest defense shape with one fullback inverting to join the center backs. This saw Gusii attacks stifled. Gusii however proved dangerous on set-pieces and a long distance effort from way out coupled with hesitant shot stopping by Shabana FC goalkeeper Remigious Ingosi saw Gusii take the lead and shut up shop completely. Shabana 3-2 rest defense shape with the right-back inverting to form a back 3 The two losses on a bounce are a source of concern for Shabana who need to fine tune their creation and progression phases of the game. The team however will for sure go a long way into the promotion battle. It is a good team with progressive players all over the pitch with some very exceptional talents like Peter Ogechi, Aduda Absalom, Bernard Otieno and Wycliffe Mutua. They have height in central areas of the pitch, with aggression in duels which is also very key and are complemented well with the strong movement amongst the forwards. A special and well-structured team which will have many eyes on them.
