In this piece, I am going to do a post-match analysis of the game between Division 2 side Rhino Kamangu against Play master, a game fuelled with emotion passion and structure. Yes! The lower leagues also employ game plans and tinker too. The game ended in a 2-1 win for the hosts Rhino Kamangu with goals from Patrick Muiruri and Timothy Waweru.Team structureRhino Kamangu set up in a 1-4-3-3 formation. Simon Njaga was the goalkeeper with Francis Kamau and Boniface Ndun’gu as full-backs. The tall Joseph Muita and no-nonsense Gabriel Wairimu were the central defense pairing. In midfield was Samuel Njuguna, tasked with screening the back four, box to box John Kamau, a former player in the Kenyan premier league with Tusker FC.##NAJAVA_MECA_7347256##Ambipedal David Ng’ang’a was the creative of the trio, and what a player the former Kikuyu day captain could turn out to be. In attack were Patrick Muiruri and Simon Wairimu playing in the flanks. Hard working Timothy Waweru led the line.Play Master FC under the tutelage of Brian Aswani and John Olande set up also in a 1-4-3-3 formation. In goal was Teddy Ooko while Jackson Jumba and Wifred Mwihora were the centre backs.Isaac Wangari and Solomon Ayieke were the fullbacks. The midfield trio consisted of Salam Wasiu, Rodney Mwangemi and Andres Odhiambo while Bryson Katu, Charly Kalango and John Wamalwa led the line.In the buildup phase, Rhino Kamangu looked to employ a 1-4-2-3-1, their back four, midfield two in John Kamau and Samuel Njuguna looked to create a seven-man unit to bypass the opposition press.Squad depth a key factor as Tusker, Homeboyz battle for Mozzart Bet Cup honorsIn instances they would look to drop David Nga’ng’a and Timothy Waweru lower to draw deeper the Play Master back four so they could hit the space in the channels.The Rhino Kamagu wingers looked to stretch the opposition last line, when Play Master fixed their pressing shape by placing a man on Samuel Njuguna and forcing Rhino Kamangu to go wide in buildup they started to assert their dominance in a game that seemed to be slipping away from them.The strangle hold on the game by Play Master FC forced Rhino Kamangu to shift into a 1-4-4-2 block off the ball, looking to deny any central progression and passing angles wide, annihilating any verticality from Play Master.This tactic on denying central progression forced the Play Master coaches into an early substitution bringing on left footed winger Ryan Muriche for John Wamalwa.Ryan brought with him qualitative superiority in the 1v1 possibilities and a wicked cross getting first contact on 5 out of his 7 crosses. Ryan Muriche also brought the possibilities of good left wide overloads where his team (Playmaster) were now stronger.The Rhino Kamangu tactic on sitting and absorbing pressure after a livewire start did not augur well with their fans who wanted the team on the front foot.Sparkling Mary Moraa and Beatrice Chepkoech romp to victory in Lausanne DLHowever, their coach had a plan, ongoing long from goal kicks, the Rhino Kamangu players would passively contest for the first ball but position themselves strategically for the second balls.This saw them regain possession in the middle of the pack well through an overload they created around the isolated deep lying midfielder Salam Wasiu.On winning this second balls, Rhino Kamangu, through David Ng’ang;a would look to release their wingers in behind, the wingers timed their runs in behind well, such quick direct play led to their first goal where Patrick Muiruri picked out an a perfect cross-cum shot to fly past Play Master FCs Teddy Ooko.The overload on Salam Wasiu saw him get trapped, this denied his team the ability to play short vertical passes because of the off ball discipline from David Ng’ang’a and Timothy Waweru.Kenya Women Premier League players decry rampant match-fixingWith a tightened defensive line too Rhino Kamangu was not willing to let any goals in. In football when a team has a central tight defensive line, the opposition team can be able to shoot well from the edge of the box, Play Master did this but Rhino Kamangu defenders put their bodies on the line evidenced by the seven blocked shots.It was a game that was won solely on denying any form of rhythm in passing from Play Master FC, also commendable was huge participation by the Rhino Kamangu striker in creating unbalance in the Play Master ranks though his ability to drop deep and play or play on the last line well with runs in behind.It is a game Play Master will feel they should have won, with their whooping 22 attempts, some pulling out top saves. As Play Master FC chase promotion they will need to regroup, polish on finishing and they are good to go. Rhino Kamangu, although languishing in the bottom positions will look to use the three points as motivation in this second leg of the division.
