The business end of the Mozzart Bet Cup is just hours away with both semifinal matches set to be played at Nyayo Stadium on Saturday starting at noon.With a final berth up for grab, Ulinzi Stars will take on Tusker FC in the first match set to kick off at noon with Kakamega Homeboyz and AFC Leopards squaring out in the other match with all teams having their sight on representing the country in the CAF Confederation Cup next season.On the eve of the match, Ulinzi have been dealt a blow with reports that coach Bernard Mwalala is set to step down from his role after the match on Saturday.Ulinzi have slowly but surely grown into a formidable cup side. Their ability to fight till the end and put up resolute performances has aided in bringing them this far.##NAJAVA_MECA_7268598##In this piece we set out to look at how both managers will look to approach this game tactically, their strongest lineups, head-to-head record, and where the game could be won or lost.Tusker FC, under the tutelage of experienced Robert Matano have been on a roll recently, amassing 10 points from their last 5 league matches. Their aggression on second balls and precision of fullbacks with pinpoint crosses as their major strength and this is something they will look to maximize against Ulinzi Stars. The probable lineup in a 1-4-3-3 could be Brian Bwire in goal, Tom Teka and Charles Momanyi have been the preferred centre-back pairing for the brewers. Levin Odhiambo and Daniel Sakari will provide the fullback options, they are very key in the Tusker FC setup. The midfield trio should consist of Humphrey Mieno, David Odoyo and Siwa Shaphan. The Brewers could go with Eric Zakayo, Eric Otieno, and Michael Oduor in attack. There are also shouts for Lawrence Luvanda to start, with the dynamic of Siwa Shaphan in the frontline while Rodgers Ouma coming into midfield.Ulinzi Stars are arguably one of the most lethal sides in matters of verticality on the Kenyan footballing scene. The team is stacked with top final-third attacking quality and this is something Tusker FC should be wary of. In goal, the Soldiers could start with Stephen Ochieng, who has top-notch delivery and is good at coming out to deal with crosses. The centre-back pairing will be of Bonaventure Muchika and Boniface Andayi with Swaleh Chacha and experienced Omar Mbongi in the fullback positions. In midfield expect midfield dynamo Bernard Ongoma to partner with the exciting young duo of Staphod Odhiambo and Issa Lumumba. Lethal main man Boniface Muchiri will occupy one flank with Stephen Etyang or Clinton Omollo occupying the other. In attack expect club’s top scorer Hillary Simiyu.Ulinzi Stars.Ulinzi as stated above, are a heavily vertical team. Coach Bernard Mwalala has laid emphasis on this approach and with the attacking talent at his disposal it is warranted.In the buildup phase, Ulinzi Stars are able to play the ball out with low output. This coupled with the impeccable ball playing of the center-back Bonaventure Muchika and the good short passing return of Boniface Andayi, when not pressed high they are able to play out well. In Issa Lumumba, they have a good first-phase player, who is not shy of dropping deep and dictating the tempo of the team in possession.When pressed high, Ulinzi Stars are not coy about going long with the top delivery of Stephen Ochieng into the channels and the target man. When they opt to go long, Hillary Simiyu tends to drop deep and have Staphod Odhiambo run off him, the youngster is very dangerous with these runs in behind. In former Tusker FC man Boniface Muchiri and livewire Stephen Etyang, Ulinzi possess a major threat in the channels. Their wingers are able to take on their men 1v1, beating them with ease and bringing in wicked deliveries. In Swaleh Chacha and Omar Mbongi they also possess a dangerous threat on crosses. Swaleh Chacha having got 2 assists in their game against Vihiga Bullets.BREAKING: Ulinzi Stars coach resignsOut of possession, Coach Bernard Mwalala has a very solid outfit. The 1-4-1-4-1 midblock shape is compact and hard to break down. Ulinzi Stars look to deny any Central penetration, funneling the opposition wide, where they look to double-team the opponent. In this instance, an opponent manages to let in a cross. The Ulinzi Centre backs are aerially very good and deal with aerial balls well.Bernard Ongoma will be key in this fixture. How he marshals the central area, screening the backline and aiding in tracking of runners from deep, also of the overload between the lines will most likely determine the result.Tusker FC.Being the log-leading team is no fluke, you have to be a well-drilled side and Robert Matano’s charges are just that.In possession, Tusker FC take up a fluctuating 1-4-2-4 / 1-3-2-5 shape.The left-back, Levian Odhiambo, takes up an advanced position, looking to majorly overload the opposition right back. They scored in a similar situation against Kariobangi Sharks in their last league encounter. Daniel Sakari is the more reserved fullback, creating a proper rest defense structure. However, his intelligence ensures he is able to note deficiencies in the opposition’s backline and look to use them to his advantage.OPINION: High turnover of coaches at Bandari worryingMajorly on the right side of the attack, Tusker tends to use an out-and-out 1v1 winger. They however also heavily rotate among their forwards. The Brewers have also the tendency to commit numbers in the box, attacking the box in numbers on crosses.Humphrey Mieno!! It would not be a piece on Tusker without talking about him. Humphrey Mieno makes Tusker FC tick. On his day, he bosses the midfield, making the team play, and dictates the tempo as he pleases. His short and long-range ability are rivaled by very few in the league. He has also taken up a very interesting role out of possession, he can be seen dropping deep to cover Levian Odhiambo when the fullback has advanced ( Something similar to what Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta used to do with Granit Xhaka) when the team is pressing high, Mieno’s intelligence in cornering opposition first phase players is key as he can win the ball back, a good example being how he won the ball back for Tusker FCs second goal against KCB in the quarter-final.Out of possession, Tusker look to press high when the opportunity arises, they push their lines up and look to be compact in a 1-4-4-2. The frontline aids in pressing with the wingers playing in a rather inverted role to also look to deny central penetration. They have however been susceptible to balls in the channels with the wide attackers not very keen on tracking back, exposing their fullbacks to 1v1 threat.Masterstroke Tactics: How AFC Leopards outfoxed Gor Mahia in the Mashemeji DerbyHow and where the game can be won.If Ulinzi Stars are able to deny the Tusker fullback or fullbacks entries into the channels, then they will have stifled Tusker’s main attacking threat.If Tusker are able to defend their wide channels well and properly deny any central penetration then they will have set themselves up well.The game should however come down to who uses their set pieces well.Noting the teams have drawn in their entire league encounters this season and the pre-season friendly too, the possibility of a penalty shoot-out cannot be ruled out.
