With Kenya’s Harambee Stars now knowing the hurdles they will have to overcome in order to qualify for the FIFA World Cup, the stage has now been set for the hard work. The Harambee Stars do not exude a lot of confidence, especially noting the four nations outing in Mauritius did not go as planned. Pooled in Group F against Cote D’ Ivoire, Gabon, The Gambia, Burundi and Seychelles the Harambee Stars will be looking to give a good account of themselves. As Kenyans we can only dream, and dream we will.
In this tactical analysis piece, I set out to understand why the trialed 1-4-4-2 formation by Harambee Stars Coach Engin Firat could be the key to a successful campaign. The Head Coach’s ability to create a cohesive and disciplined unit that will look to maximize on defensive solidity, press with relentless instensity, launch direct and effective attacks, excel in set pieces and foster good team spirit will be key.
At the heart of a 1-4-4-2 lies a very resolute defensive structure. Laying major emphasis on compactness and collective responsibility on the ball. The defensive set up the 1-4-2 defense structure should allow the team to form an impenetrable barrier, ensuring solidity and thwarting opposition advances. Why a 4-2/4-1/3-2 rest defense structure? Because it would be naïve to believe that Kenya can control and dominate possession against Cote D’Ivoire or The Gambia. Having the fullbacks remain deep and maybe one invert if necessary will reduce the risk of runners in behind as these teams also have very good wide offensive players. The 1-4-4-2 formation will also enable the team to double up on the wide attackers.
As the above paragraphs have highlighted, defensive solidity will be key. Now in the attacking phases of play there should be emphasis on directness that will catch opposition opponents off guard. Quick vertical passes and long balls to bypass midfield lines, aiming to exploit the spaces behind the defense will be vital if the team is to get goal returns. This direct approach, combined with well-coordinated movement and physical presence in Michael Olunga poses a threat to the opposition defensive lines.
According the previous tournament the team played in, in their two games there were some principles that the coach looked to employ. Principles like how the team looked to start play and instances in which the tempo of the game was changed, by throwing or kicking the ball forward quickly or playing forward as many times as possible but still being very keen on turnovers in possession.
Coach Engin Firat wants his team to play around a physically intense way rather than necessarily trying to play attractive short passing football. Harambee Stars showed glimpses of a very coherent and tactically disciplined shape.
So why the 1-4-4-2 and how will and can the Harambee Stars employ it.
Well, given the midfield options the country has, even most top clubs In the league employ it, the logical solution will always be playing with a double pivot who look to aid each other in the progression phase of play . There is need of a tempo controller, a role Richard Odada could excel in from deep. The midfield double pivot will suffice. This will enable the flair attacking players to occupy the forward four positions. To avoid midfield overloads by the opponent it will be key to have an extra layer of balance by having an inverted fullback? A profile if well coached Daniel Sakari or Amos Nondi can take up with aplomb. In Joseph Okumu, at centre back, Kenya has a player who can step up well and address oncoming traffic by halting opposition attackers in their tracks. His success rate at winning “must-win” tackles being very laudable.
Kenya has an abundance of quality wingers, a slot that caused major uproar as in the four nations tournament the head coach opted to play fullbacks in those advanced positions. However getting the right balance in these wide areas in attack will be very key. There is need for a dazzling touchline winger who is better at stretching play while the other should be an interior creator who can operate well in the half spaces and have him playing a bit narrow. This dynamic goes hand in hand with the above stated inverting fullback where now the opposite fullback can provide width on their side as the winger plays narrow. In Erick Ouma, Kenya has a fullback that can do this, as he has done at the highest level. He can offer the width that his winger cannot.
In the Four Nations tournament the front two positions also created a lot of uproar, with Michael Olunga being handed the creative acumen of the team by playing in the number 10 position, acting as the link between defense and attack. One would mostly want Olunga to lead the line but as we are preaching fluidity he could still work in this stead, especially on the long balls he can flick them well for runners in behind or give good wall passing options to release the rest. With this then Olunga can now arrive well in the box with late runs to finish off attacks. To complement his movements well Kenya will need to have a flexible forward too who is also not shy in drifting wide to create overloads but can majorly give strong box presence. Michael Shumah? Maybe? He could be our best bet. This could be complemented well by having the wide attackers to deliver cut backs or crosses well as Shumah is good at identifying gaps in the opposition last lines.
Kenya will surely be at its best when two or three players manage to wriggle from tight corners. This is why the 1-4-4-2 could be very helpful. The good use of the link ups will enable the team to find a proper outlet and then switch balls and we are in business. It is obviously not as easy as it sounds though. By employing Olunga deeper, the team will be able to lure the opposition deeper and create space for runners in behind. Because if you are formulating an opposition analysis piece on Kenya, you would know the man you want to stop is one Michael Olunga. By him dragging his markers out creates room for the wide winger and the narrow winger to advance and pick up clever and desirable areas between the lines.
The 1-4-4-2 employed in the Four Nations tournament could be our safest bet especially in the tougher away group. It might be all doom and gloom as things stand and the quality of opposition we may face but slight upgrades on the 1-4-4-2 could aid us in pulling a few surprises.
