A Saturday afternoon FKF Division One fixture brought together two exciting sides which embrace the need for expression when it comes to football. Teams heavily based on “Relationism” as a footballing principle, and deeply rooted with the communities they represent; Dandora Youth and Kibera Soccer.The two clashed at the dusty MYSA Grounds, Komarock with the visiting Kibera Soccer emerging victorious 3-2 courtesy of a hattrick by Dickson Karanja with Stephen Musyoka and Brian Njoroge from the spot..Following the defeat, Dandora Youth missed the chance to move to fourth on the table with what would be 35 points while Kibera only managed one position up to ninth with 28 points.##NAJAVA_MECA_7234406##In this piece, we decode how both teams set up tactically. How the two coaches looked to ensure they had control of the proceedings and the directness of Kibera Soccer won them the game.Dandora Youth under the tutelage of former KCB FC, Nakumatt FC and Gor Mahia goalkeeper Sammy Okinda, set up in a 1-3-4-3 formation. Victor Ango was tasked with the role between the sticks, a back three made of Hillary Amoke, Innocent Kenneth and Collins Odero. Brian Njoroge and Clifford Kipenzi were tasked to ensure there is continuity and progression between the defensive and offensive lines as the double pivot. Nester Wangema and Brian Ndegwa were the wingbacks while the attacking trio comprised of Fidel Ochieng and Teddy Sowe, with Lewis Maina between the lines, off the two forwards.Coach David Butego-led Kibera Soccer FC set up in a 1-4-2-3-1 formation with emphasis on compactness and being clinical in the opposition’s final third. In goal was Kevin Mwagana, a player who has very good ball distribution. Chris Okoth and Lam Wickier were the two centre backs with Henry Ochieng and Elphas Okukali the fullbacks. Brian Eronde and Ali Abdu were the double pivot with main man Mark Kithome playing in the advanced midfield role. Walter Chetai and Javan Mukoya were on the flanks as Dickson Karanja led the line.Dandora Youth fancied dominating possession while looking to create goal-scoring opportunities from neat interplay through wide rotations and neat combination play. Kibera Soccer looked to go direct in their approach, seeking to take advantage of disorganization and errors, punishing them on the possession turnovers.In build-up, we could see good work on the training ground from Dandora Youth, the two wide centre-backs looked to split wide of the goalkeeper, stationing outside the penalty area, this would be the cue for Innocent Kenneth to drop next to the goalkeeper forming a 4 at the back while the double pivot dropped to aid in providing numbers in the first phase. The wingbacks stayed high and wide to pin back the opposition fullbacks.Kibera Soccer looked to counter this by playing in a 1-4-2-3-1 midblock, looking to funnel play out to the wide channels. When Dandora Youth were able to play the ball into the midfield, Brian Njoroge would be able to act as the conductor in the first phase. The team relied on his extreme pass quality to create advantage on the flanks, or between the lines.Kibera Soccer looking to access the right channel where they were always a threatDandora Youth however struggled to get clear-cut chances in the first half, due to the rather poor movement of their forwards, their attacking trio was closely marshaled and minimal movement from the front three caused the team to lack a cutting edge. When Dandora Youth were able to switch the ball wide to their wing-backs, they seemed to get crosses off which led to dangerous chances.The hosts were bypassing the ineffective Kibera Soccer block and looked to ensure they avoided being overloaded in the midfield. They looked to focus on creating possibilities of 1v1 on the flanks and overloading the wide regions to create space for crosses, with Mark Kithome drifting wide. This is key in their(Kibera Soccer) first goal as after neat interplay, an overlap by the right back sees him send in a well-weighted cross that was dispatched well by Dickson Karanja.Dandora Youth 1-3-2 out of possession structureAfter the break, Dandora Youth tactician Samuel Okinda rung the changes, he brought on Edwin Njumba and Stephen Musyoka, ball players who would look to break down the stubborn Kibera Soccer defensive block. The visitors’ defensive block caused problems for Dandora Youth as after the goal, the backline of four did not look to step vacate their positions, working with a rest defense of 4-2. Ali Abdu was the more reserved midfielder, dropping into the backline when there were possibilities of overloading the last line.The fresh players brought in on the Dandora Youth side brought technical security. There was an increased emphasis on movement between the lines, which created the ability to play line-breaking passes. Dandora Youth’s first goal came as a result of Lam Wickier having to follow his attached marker into the central area, the space in behind was then well exploited by Stephen Musyoka who sneaked behind to slot home. Kibera Soccer looked now to be more compact and aimed to hit Dandora Youth on transition, this saw pacy and skillful Anthony Ngethe brought on to act as the out ball in transition. Kibera Soccer still looked to hit the channels behind the Dandora Youth defense line.Okumu, Wanyama victorious in Belgium, USKibera Soccer got two more goals from errors by the Dandora Youth side, errors they clinically capitalized on. The runs in behind by Dickson Karanja caused chaos in the Dandora Youth defensive line, he got a hattrick on the day. Dandora Youth looked to go long into the channels, or into the target man where they could win the second balls, and look to recycle possessions. The balls into the channels were working well considering the impeccable ball distribution of their goalkeeper Kevin Mwagana.This was a game that both teams will feel they did not deserve to lose, a close affair as the stats below state. The direct approach and clinicality by Kibera Soccer saw them grab three much-needed points. Dandora Youth will look to pick themselves up after a gutting result in front of their passionate home following and seek to do better. Individually in the defensive front and the team’s off-the-ball structure as a whole.
