Bandari FC and Kenya Police FC are teams that are stocked with unimaginable talent, an embarrassment of riches. The two teams boast of being able to attract the crème de la crème when it comes to players in the country, thus when they lock horns, quality is always expected. The head-to-head record in the top flight has seen the teams meet thrice with the encounters seeing two draws and Police emerging victorious once. This encounter was heavily marketed by both teams and the fans at the Mbaraki stadium were in for some really good football. Apart from the heavy downpour late in the first half and throughout the second half, the footballing bonanza on show did not disappoint. In this piece we look at the tactical adaptations the teams made coming into this encounter, decoding how the two managers offered solutions to questions asked not only by the opposing tactician but by the weather conditions too. In Anthony Kimani, Bandari have one of the sharpest tactical minds in the coaching scene in the country. His side has played some really good football and his tactical tinkering has been top-notch thus far. In this game he came up against widely experienced and seasoned tactician Francis Baraza who with the depth he possesses, has also not been shy in tinkering, setting up his team in up to three different formations in a game.##NAJAVA_MECA_7217559##Bandari’s formation with the ball imitated a 1-3-5-2. In goal was Joseph Ochuka shielded by a back three consisting of Bernard Odhiambo, Andrew Juma, and Rodgers Aloro. Abdallah Hassan and James Kinyanjui occupied the wingbacks, with tough-tackling Fidel Origa, flair player Douglas Mokaya, and resolute Enock Machaka in midfield. The front two consisted of the club’s top scorer Umar Kasumba with Shassir Nahimana playing off him. Looking at the wingback positions one would not expect Kinyanjui to always track back and defend but his coach had a plan for this by employing Machaka on that side he could also look to cover when Police Fc looked to create their well-famed tactical wide overloads.Baraza, on the other hand, opted for his tried and tested 1-4-2-3-1 formation in the first half. Patrick Matasi started in goal with Harun Shakava and David Ochieng partnering at centre-back while former Bandari man Abud Omar and Badi Baraka filled the fullback positions. In midfield were now mainstays Charles Ouma and Marvin Nabwire. Duke Abuya was employed further up in the advanced role, playing off Elvis Rupia. On the flanks were the fleet-footed duo of Francis Kahata and Cliffton Miheso.In the Bandari build-up phase, Police looked to wait until Bandari had disconnected from the goalkeeper. When they pressed in a mid/high block, they would look to use 6 players in a 4-2 structure. Laying emphasis on marking the frontline and depending on the ball side leaving Charles Ouma as the +1 for runners in between the lines. Bandari’s build-up structure was with the main emphasis of baiting the Police press and then look for quick ball circulation into either James Kinyanjui to isolate him 1v1 with Abud Omar, this dynamic with the halfspace runs of Enock Machaka seemed to cause a problem. The early dipped crosses in the box to find Umar Kasumba were also a predominant mode of creation.Mozzart Bet Cup: Zico puts behind league struggles, out to upset TuskerBaraza showcased his tactical flexibility in a rather traditional method. With the midfield looking to create an initial man-to-man 3v3 formation, Kahata was able to invert and looked to create a 3v4 in midfield. What was interesting was the flexible rotations between the front line, leaving the Bandari backline in limbo on who to pick up. The positioning of Duke Abuya between the lines was causing issues for Arsenal as he looked to drop majorly on the flanks to create overloads in the wide channels. This forced the likes of Enock Machaka to put in a shift as Fidel Origa was majorly tasked with protecting the central area of the pitch. The Law Enforcer’s first goal was a textbook move. Once Police FC drop to the right and strings a few passes any cross that comes in from that side is a dangerous one, noting the intelligent movement of Elvis Rupia in the box. The good balance between Police FC’s double pivot and their aggression on second balls, coupled with the fluid space occupation was causing a major headache for Bandari as now they could not work the ball into the wide areas through central penetration. Police FC were patient and looked to circulate the ball and look create passing options with passing options always around the ball carrier either in the form of a triangle or a diamond. When the pitch situation became untenable, Baraza decided to switch things up. He brought on towering forward Clifton Kinanga and the pacy Alvin Mangeni. This switched Police FC into a 1-4-4-2 structure with emphasis on long balls and knock backs. Police Fc now had a presence in the wide area and they looked to find Alvin Mang’eni with the long balls in behind who would look to cross early.Tactical Analysis: How Bidco United’s central overloads helped them overpower AFC Leopards’ midfieldIn Clifton Kinanga, Police FC side had a presence in the box, his towering back-to-goal play and aerial dominance was to be complemented well with the fluid box movement of Elvis Rupia. This combination of Alvin Mangeni, Elvis Rupia and Clifton Kinanga bore the second goal. As Alvin Mangeni was released on the right, he let in a good cross in which was knocked back by Clifton Kinanga and duly slotted home by Elvis Rupia to add to his tally.Coach Baraza once again came out on top due to his ability to read and contain a situation. His shift to a 1-4-4-2 won the game for Police FC. Bandari will rue their missed chances in the first half but it was not such a discouraging display from them. They struggled to get proper central progression due to the Police compact block. As they now travel for the Mozzart Bet Cup quarter finals they will look to sharpen in attack and be more incisive in build up.
