Sofapaka’s abysmal run of results continues with a loss to Kakamega Homeboyz.
In a match filled with emotions, Kakamega Homeboyz managed to put two goals past the struggling Sofapaka, who are rooted at the bottom of the league table.
Abana Abeingo sits third on the log, tied on points, 34, with Shabana but with a superior goal difference.
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How Kakamega Homeboyz wide overload frustrated Sofapaka
Tactically, Sofapaka showcased a disciplined defensive setup as they waited for the right moment to initiate their attack.
However, the visitors struggled in the aerial duels and defending the set pieces, as they conceded both goals from set pieces. Let’s unfold how the two tacticians set up their sides.
Patrick Odhiambo set up his side in a 1-4-4-2 formation. Between the sticks, Simon Masaka was dropped again for Ibrahim Wanzala. Shafiki Batambuze and John “Buba” Omondi started as fullbacks.
Boniface Onyango and Potifa Odhiambo partnered at the heart of the defense. Estone Esiye and Rodgers Ouma complemented each other in a double pivot midfield as Glen Otunga played in front of the pivot.
Henry Omollo and Peter Thiongo operated from wide areas with Oliver Machaka playing as center forward.
Abdala Juma’s Sofapaka lined up in what looked to be like a 1-4-3-3 formation. Brian Olango was tasked with manning the sticks.
Ronald Musumba and Derrick Khaemba started as fullbacks, with Charlce Junior and Stephen Bonnie playing as center backs. Yassin Rajab and Duncan Otieno operated in front of the defense as Musa Ndushu was tasked with the creativity of the team.
Joseph Kuloba and the Skipper, Clifton Miheso, played as wide players with Malick Natamba playing as a center forward.
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Coach Patrick Odhiambo’s Kakamega Homeboyz effectively utilized wide areas to overload Sofapaka’s defense, creating scoring opportunities. Sofapaka’s coach, on the other hand, struggled to counter this tactic, leaving his team vulnerable to set pieces.
The two center backs, Potiphar and Boniface, looked at playing long diagonal balls to their wide players. Peter Thiongo and Henry Omollo stretched the field and stayed wide to ensure they received the long balls from the center backs with ease.
Once in possession, the fullbacks overlapped as the wide players tucked in the half space. The attacking midfielder, either Glen Otunga or Rodgers Ouma, offered a passing option to the winger and overlapped fullbacks. This pattern of play constantly created overloads in the wide areas.
To counter this, Sofapaka’s wingers, Clifton Miheso and John Kuloba, had to drop back to offer defensive cover to the fullbacks. The Sofapaka’s fullbacks’ movement was limited, as they were not allowed to overlap to deny spaces for the Homeboyz to exploit.
Once the ball was played in wide areas, Homeboyz aimed at delivering early crosses in the box.
The delivery of the crosses was mainly from the fullbacks. Out of 14 crosses attempted, 8 crosses were from fullbacks, 3 from Shafiki Batambuze and 5 from John Omondi.
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Henry Omollo hold up play was instrumental for the home side as it allowed his teammate to join the attack or make the overlap runs. His ability to operate in tight spaces and ball carrying was an advantage to home side in unlocking the compact structure of Sofapaka defense
However, Abana Be Ingo struggled to keep possession and penetrate past a compact 1-4-4-2 Sofapaka’s side. Out of possession, the visitors resoluted to a midblock and allowed Homeboyz to have much time on the ball. To draw defenders out of their position, Oliver Machaka dropped to the midfield to receive the ball.
However, on most occasions, the home side was not patient with the build up as they aimed at playing long balls to their wide players. The visitors capitalized on their impatience and kept the ball most of the time as they won the second balls or intercepted their passes.
Sofapaka had a clear plan from the first minute of the game; Recycle the possession and wait for the right moment to initiate the attack. At halftime, they were leading in possession, they had 51% compared to 49% for the home side.
In the second half, Kakamega Homeboyz seemed to drop to a defensive shape in an attempt to maintain their lead, this allowed Sofapaka to have more time on the ball. In the second half, to help the team keep the possession Japheth Lihanda was introduced for Yassin Rajab. Japheth’s technicality helped him dictate the tempo of the game with his well timed passes.
Sofapaka aimed at using Clifton Miheso to create chances in the final third. Miheso’s link up play with Musa Ndushu and Rajab Yassin was instrumental as it caused serious troubles to the Homeboyz side.
Miheso looked at cutting in before, delivery a cross or carrying the ball to the box.
Kakamega Homeboyz’s two center backs constantly lost the ball as they tried to carry the ball to the middle third. With their turnovers, the vacated spaces were exploited by Malick Natamba and Joseph Kuloba. Their overlapped fullbacks also gave an opportunity for Sofapaka to target their vacated spaces.
Sofapaka wing play was flawed and it did not go as planned. While Homeboyz threat on free kicks proved to be the decisive factor in a tightly contested encounter