Six lessons learned from FKF Premier League match week 24
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Reading Time: 5min | Mon. 16.03.26. | 21:27
Mozzart Sport was there to cover all nine matches and, in this weekly article, explores six key lessons that we learned from match week 24
After an over 10-day hiatus occasioned by the Mozzart Bet Cup, the FKF Premier League resumed over the weekend, with a total of nine matches, which left us with plenty of lessons to learn.
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Kenyan giants Gor Mahia were the biggest winners as their title push received a major boost following a win over Ulinzi Stars, but most importantly, their fellow contenders, AFC Leopards and Shabana FC, dropped points.
While the major focus was on the title race, the battle against relegation also continued to intensify, but with minimal changes in the end. Kariobangi Sharks were the biggest beneficiaries in this front, having secured a crucial win that handed them breathing space in the red zone.
Mozzart Sport was there to cover all nine matches and, in this weekly article, explores six key lessons that we learned from match week 24.
When Shariff is on fire, Gor is unstoppable
Shariff Musa has established himself as one of the most dependable players for Gor Mahia head coach Charles Akonnor this season.
The winger has also established himself as one of the best players this season and a real attacking threat for K’Ogalo.
Opponents have often struggled to contain him, while those who did had to give special attention to him, lest he overwhelms them.
Shariff’s influence at K’Ogalo was evident in the club’s 3-1 win over 2010 league champions Ulinzi Stars, where he won the penalty for the first goal, provided the assist to the second strike, and expertly curled his strike past Sylvain Ricks to seal the victory.
Apart from the goals contribution, the former Bandari FC man tormented the Ulinzi defense with his speed, dribbling ability and big chances that he created for his side, much to the appreciation of Akonnor.
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Should Gor Mahia, who have since opened the gap at the top of the table to 10 points, recapture the league title, Shariff will be a constant figure in that success story.
AFC Leopards might wait longer for the FKFPL title
Kenyan giants, AFC Leopards’ chances of winning the league title dwindled greatly following their heavy 4-1 loss to Mathare United on Saturday, 14 March at the Nyayo National Stadium.
Ingwe have been in decent form this season and were at the summit of the league table at Christmas and for the better part of January, with their fans hoping that the club will bag this season’s league title.
However, the club has shown signs of running out of steam to compete for the title, the latest being their deflating loss to Mathare, who outplayed them on all fronts throughout the match.
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Ingwe were keen to end their 28-year wait for a league title, but with a 10-point gap separating them from their arch-rivals Gor Mahia and judging from their last performance, the wait might just be longer.
Shabana must eliminate costly mistakes
Were it not for costly mistakes that left more questions than answers, Shabana FC would have been toe-to-toe with Gor Mahia and in a better position to challenge for the title.
However, the club has witnessed players making comical errors, or better still, as head coach Peter Okidi puts it, worse mistakes than even what schoolboys would commit.
Such was the case once again, when they let a lead slip through their hands and, in a span of two minutes, conceded two goals that saw Kariobangi Sharks secure a comeback win.
For the first goal, fans and pundits felt that goalkeeper Stephen Ochieng could have done better to dive and save the feeble strike by Razel Omondi.
For the second goal, experienced defender Mark Okola delayed releasing the ball before attempting to dribble past Markvivan Kesa, who dispossessed him to score the winner.
Shabana’s season has been littered with such mistakes, especially from the goalkeeper and defense line, with fans now suspecting match manipulation.
John Kamau's tactical masterclass
Mathare United head coach John Kamau is among the tacticians known in the country for their tactical prowess, and that was on full display during their 4-1 win over AFC Leopards.
With Leopards full backs overlapping high up the pitch, Kamau deployed speedy and direct wingers in Isaac Omweri and Musa Masika to explore the spaces left during transition.
The former Harambee Stars assistant coach also deployed a double pivot of Brian Ouru and Brian Ochieng to handle the Ingwe attacking midfield duo of Kelly Madada and Tyson Otieno.
The Slum Boys also attacked through the middle, where Masika drifted to and alongside Asieche, creating a two versus one against Musa Oundo, who was left helpless as Mathare ran riot at Nyayo in a pure show of tactical masterclass from Kamau.
Tusker FC delayed in hiring Julien Mette
Tusker FC have been a revelation since the appointment of French coach Julien Mette, who has now won three of the four matches in charge.
The Brewers are now playing with purpose and adopting possession-based football, building from the back with quick passes as opposed to the direct long balls that faced much criticism from the fans.
Their new style proved too much for Kakamega Homeboyz as the 12-time league champions cruised to a comfortable 2-0 win.
Had they sacked former coach Charles Okere and hired Mette much earlier, perhaps they would be in the title race.
Coaching clearly not Police FC’s problem
The 2024 Mozzart Bet Cup champions will have to reflect and find the root cause of their problems, as coaching may not just be one of them.
The coaching door at Police has been revolving rapidly as this season alone, they have had three different tacticians, the current one being Nicholas Muyoti.
However, while coaches have been tinkered, the results have been the same, if not worse, the latest being a 2-0 loss to Posta Rangers.
In that match, players were too casual, played without urgency and made costly mistakes that allowed Posta to end their 11-match winless streak.
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Chairman Munga Nyale must now look outside the coaching role for the problems that bedevil his team.