The Mozzart Bet Cup quarterfinals take centre stage this Thursday with a tantalising encounter between Kakamega Homeboyz and Nairobi United at Dandora Stadium.Follow our WhatsApp channel for more news Kickoff is set for 1 PM, and while both sides enter the match with momentum, their journeys and tactical profiles could not be more different.Homeboyz come into this fixture with history on their side. The Kakamega-based outfit are former winners of the Mozzart Bet Cup, having lifted the trophy in 2023.Harambee Stars prospect bags three individual awards in EnglandTheir experience in knockout football and recent consistency under Francis Baraza gives them the edge in pedigree. Nairobi United, on the other hand, are enjoying a fairytale run in the tournament.Under Nicholas Muyoti, they have eliminated two FKF Premier League sides—most notably KCB FC in the Round of 16 via penalties—and now find themselves just one win away from a historic semifinal.This will be the first-ever meeting between the two clubs in any competition. However, there is some recent history between Muyoti and Homeboyz.##NAJAVA_MECA_8894025##Earlier this season, while in charge of Nairobi City Stars, he faced Baraza’s men at Mumias Sports Complex and suffered a 2-0 defeat. That loss may still be fresh in Muyoti’s mind as he looks to finally outwit his former employers.Formation Focus: 3-5-2 vs 3-4-3Both teams favour systems that utilise three centre-backs, but the way they function within those setups is quite different.STARS ABROAD: Kenyan duo on course for a cup-double in ArmeniaFrancis Baraza has built a consistent 3-5-2 formation at Homeboyz, structured around control, width, and vertical movement. The wingbacks are crucial—John ‘Buba’ Omondi on the right has become a reliable assist provider, regularly whipping early crosses into the box for the likes of Moses Shummah.On the left, Kevin Amwayi (or his alternative) plays a similar role, stretching opposition defenses.In midfield, Baraza deploys three central players, with one typically playing a more attacking role to create overloads in forward areas. What makes Homeboyz difficult to press is their use of a ball-playing central defender—often Francis Omondi —who steps into midfield during build-up.##NAJAVA_MECA_8894041##This adds an extra man in central areas and makes transitions smoother when building from the back.However, the 3-5-2 is not without flaws. With wingbacks pushed high, there are often gaps in wide defensive areas, especially during turnovers.This exposes the side to quick counterattacks, particularly if the central defenders are slow to cover wide runners. Nairobi United will need to identify moments to spring attacks down the flanks behind the advancing wingbacks.Homeboyz defender wary of potential banana skin clash against Nairobi UnitedNairobi United, meanwhile, typically line up in a 3-4-3 formation—a system built around dynamism and fluidity. Their setup naturally overloads the right side, where midfielders, forwards, and even the right centre-back tend to drift, creating combination play and isolating defenders in 1v1 situations.This right-heavy approach has helped them create chances through short passing exchanges and quick diagonal runs.However, Muyoti’s 3-4-3 comes with its own risks. With only three out-and-out defenders, there is often vulnerability during transitions, especially when the wingbacks are caught high up the pitch.##NAJAVA_MECA_8894054##If Homeboyz win the ball and play quickly into the channels, players like Shummah or Pius Wangi can take advantage of the space left behind. Additionally, Naibos sometimes struggle with aerial balls into the box—a weakness that plays right into Homeboyz’s strength of early crosses.Second Balls & Central SpaceMidfield duels will be key. While Homeboyz look to dominate centrally with numbers and combinations, Nairobi United prefer a more spread-out approach, using width to open up gaps. Whichever side controls the second balls in midfield, especially around the halfway line, will dictate the tempo of the game.Police respond to attack on Daily Nation journalist at Dandora StadiumFrancis Baraza may opt to overload the central zone with more physical presence, while Muyoti could look to stretch the play horizontally to open vertical passing lanes into the front three.A Tactical Battle of Timing and DisciplineThis quarterfinal promises a contrast of tactical ideas: Homeboyz’s structured 3-5-2 built on control and supply into the box, against Nairobi United’s fluid, energetic 3-4-3 that thrives in chaos and space.##NAJAVA_MECA_8894036##Muyoti’s challenge will be to balance his team’s attacking flair with defensive discipline, especially in wide areas. Baraza, meanwhile, must ensure his wingbacks do not get caught too high and that his midfield does not get dragged too wide chasing shadows.In the end, the game may come down to which coach better adapts mid-game. Whether it’s Muyoti’s underdog run continuing or Baraza steering Homeboyz into yet another semifinal, Thursday’s clash at Dandora Stadium is set to be a tactical arm-wrestle worth watching.
