The FKF Premier League 2024/2025 season kicked off with a tie between Posta Rangers and Bandari FC at Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos with both sides having a good 2023/2024 season and some expected changes it was interesting to see how they set up.In this tactical analysis piece, we set out to look at how Bandari and Harambee Stars assistant coach Ken Odhiambo sought to neutralize the tactical nous and stubborn out-of-possession structure of Posta Rangers. The match that ended 1-1 was not short of tactical tinkering from both managers.Posta Rangers set up in a 1-4-4-1-1 base formation. The side had recruited heavily in the off-season with head coach Bernard Kawinzi opting for his trusted compatriots from Kariobangi Sharks where he served for a while as an assistant coach.The recent CAF A graduate had former Kariobangi Sharks’ youthful keeper Kevin Ouru in goal. Lanky Mwema Dinken and versatile Ivan Ochieng were the fullbacks.AFC Leopards winger flies out for trail opportunity with Serbian clubMaurice Ojunga and Faustin Odhiambo were the centre-back pairing with Peter Oudu and Patillah Omoto forming the double pivot, a partnership that will be very key for Posta this season.Dangerman Caleb Olilo and Collins Shivachi provided the width with Henry Juma and Eliud Lokuwan, both of whom have an uncanny resemblance led the line, Juma playing slightly off Lokuwam who was the centre forward.The emphasis of Posta was to attack from the wide areas by creating 2v1 situations on the ball-side Bandari fullback.Coach Ken, who has had an on-and-off relationship with Bandari set his side up in a 1-4-1-3-2 formation. He laid emphasis on setting pressing triggers in the high block and intense counter pressing when in the Posta half.##NAJAVA_MECA_8298214##In goal was Kenyan international Bryne Omondi. Amubobe Shariff Majabe, who played majorly as a defensive midfielder last season slotted in central defence, partnering with Bandari mainstay Andrew Juma. Michael Apudo played left back with Joseph Onyango playing as a right back.The sole pivot was Fidel Origa with Nahimana Shasiri playing just in front of him, flanked by Mohammed Siraj and David Sakwa. Beja Nyamawi and William Wadri were tasked with the hunt for goals.In possession Posta looked to build up in a 2-4-3-1 structure initially, with this they looked to have numbers between the lines and stretch the opponent wide with the double pivot dropping to help in progression.When in the settled progression phase, in the minimal times they managed to evade the Bandari press and counter-press, they looked to have a 3-2 base shape with the ball side fullback pushing relatively high, seeking to create numerical superiority against the Bandari backline, this superiority was majorly on the left side as they overloaded 2v1 against Bandari right back.Engin Firat on why Michael Olunga sometimes struggles at Harambee StarsAn interesting aspect was the restriction of Dinken Mwema not to attack fully as usual with his trademark progressive carries, he stayed back majorly to invite the Bandari left back higher up so as to create space for Caleb Olilo to go 1V1 or 2v1 with the central midfielder pushing higher up.While trying to destabilize the Bandari shape in the final third, the central midfielders would look to offer the diagonal runs wide with the winger dropping deeper to drag out the fullback.Lokuwam and Henry Juma complimented each other well with runs outside and inside with also decent understanding to drop and receive while the other ran in behind. Their key emphasis however was their ability to have constant depth runs.Out of possession, Posta were the most impressive a very compact 1-4-4-2 / 1-4-4-1-1 midblock that was narrow and organized.##NAJAVA_MECA_8298270##In their midblock shape, they looked to let the Bandari centre backs pass within themselves but when the ball went wide to the winger they jumped aggressively to press the right back and left back.In their own half, they left Lokuwam or Juma higher up as an outlet, playing in a 441 block.Bandari employed an aggressive approach out of possession in a 1-4-1-3-2 structure, placing two strikers on opposition centre backs and the next line of pressure on the second line of build-up for Bandari.To cope with this structure, Posta opted to play long goal kicks to open formation leaving wingers high and wide. Kevin Ouru’s good balls to the wing aided in springing these attacks and bypassing the press.Marcelo, Okumu return as Engin Firat names Harambee Stars squad for AFCON qualifiersOn settled possession, Bandari had the numerical advantage in Posta’s half, with this they won the ball higher with high turnovers but they failed to capitalize. Posta on the other hand looked to still play long balls wide as their key outlets.This worked as it got them their goal as some good work down the left from Shivachi saw him cut the ball in for Juma to tap home the opener on 28 minutes.Bandari needed an answer to the in-game resolute Posta block and thus shifted to a 3-1-6 in possession, they opted to play diagonal balls into the strikers to flick or hold up play but they struggled with this as their wings were not as effective in pushing in to collect second balls or running behind and the Posta backline was comfortable defending the long balls and having the second balls.Bandari rang the changes hooking off Apudo, dropping back Siraj into his dutiful left-back role##NAJAVA_MECA_8298280##Youth prospect and highly rated William Gitama came on and was slotted in at left wing. With him, Bandari now had that directness on the left-hand side with an out-and-out winger.The bringing on of Juma Izziadin also showed Bandari’s intent to keep possession and draw Posta out from their block then look to attack the spaces in behind with depth runs.This allowed them to get their equalizing goal with movement from Wadri who played in a sumptuous through ball for Beja Nyamawi to keep his cool in the box and slot it home.From there on both sides structures cancelled each other out with a stunning save from Bryne Omondi enabling Bandari to go with an away point.Not a bland affair from both sides, with the tactical tinkering, it will be interesting to see how Bandari’s youthful prospects fair under coach Ken Odhiambo.
