J. AngatiaPlayer Scout Report: Titus Kapchanga
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Reading Time: 4min | Mon. 06.11.23. | 10:46
In his arsenal, he has a variety of runs and movement patterns that get your attention at the first instance
Titus Kapchanga is steadily pushing up to stake his claim to the throne of top local forward; the Murang'a Seal forward's reputation has been growing this season.
The youthful attacker, a former St. Anthony Boys high school alumni, was always primed for greatness. Kapchanga went through a somewhat unsuccessful spell with Nzoia Sugar and Kariobangi Sharks but rediscovered his playing time and his goal-scoring form in the National Super League with Murang'a Seal, guiding them to the FKF Premier League.
In the Premier League and at Seals, he now seems right at home, showing his flashes of brilliance and excellence on a competitive side.
So what makes Kapchanga worth all the hype,and why is he one of the most unique upcoming attacking talents in the country today?
To excel in the FKF Premier League, one has to have very strong movement, a decent frame—not necessarily aerially dominant but impeccable positioning—and the ability to link up play well and drive with the ball well. Kapchanga is key to that Seals attack for a reason; there is nothing quite like watching the forward in action and the variety of ways he contributes for his Seals side.
With his combinations with either Erick Balecho or John Kipagat, Kapchanga is most involved and provides proper aid to his team when they are in settled possession. In his arsenal, he has a variety of runs and movement patterns that get your attention at the first instance. Kapchanga looks to vary his runs constantly, and how he is able to rotate well with such unpredictability has been an incredible asset in ball progression for the Coach John Kingi-led Seals.
He has a good sense of understanding with Balecho and, in general, the Seals attackers employed. This is shown to have great effect when he can drop deep either centrally or in one of the inside channels and pull out one of the opposition center backs and open spaces for the forwards to run in behind, a tactic in attack Seal heavily use. Through these movements, the ball does not have to move through him directly, but his simple movement and connection with the other forwards allow for passes to be played over the top.
When it comes to combinations further in the opponent's final third, Kapchanga's ability is not yet at the elite level needed to make the passes into the box he makes in a game. However, it is important to remember that the Seals have very little possession on the attacking third, a heavy midblock side.
Though on some occasions Kapchanga has been employed as a winger, this shows how he is far from a one-trick pony in regards to his positioning. His wide positioning is evident in areas where he receives the ball and looks to move the ball significantly closer to the opposition goal. Seals play long vertical passes down the flanks into him.
He can receive an initial pass from a central area, lay the ball off, and start running in behind into an even wider position. From this zone, he can look to dribble inside for a shot. His unpredictability and ability to combine with his fellow attackers, both directly with the ball and indirectly with movement, are undoubtedly his most valuable assets.
Now what makes the striker one of the most threatening forwards in the country is how he combines his impeccable movements with the more traditional poaching area. In the box since his early days, Kapchanga shows a quick change of direction after dropping away from his initial zone, primarily zone 14, to receive a lofted pass into the box.
What is also interesting is that Kapchanga does not make runs into the wide areas of the box often; for him, it is much more valuable to get towards the centre of the penalty area. Through this, he positions himself well to receive cutbacks.
When he gets into shooting positions, he becomes a different beast. He has good ball-striking ability, and his ability to generate velocity and connect on the volley makes him somewhat of a complete package in terms of ball-striking. His ability to contort his body, shoot under high pressure in the box, and generate a good deal of power as he hits across the ball, keeping it at mid-low height, is exceptional.
However, there are areas that the young forward can definitely improve on, like his decision-making, which has exhibited a lot of inconsistencies. As a young forward, overcomplicating things or failing to identify the right option is understandable and can hopefully be sorted out by his coaches.
In conclusion, Kapchanga's strengths, traits, tendencies, and even weaknesses combine to make him a unique player. The value he brings to the Seals attack and his work in the box is immense. He should leverage that traditional poaching threat to push him to the upper echelon of his game. Maybe the former Nzoia Sugar forward will be named in the same breath as Elvis Rupia and Mark Bikokwa.
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