Sofapaka scratch Leopards' wounds

Sofapaka 2-1 AFC Leopards

The match between these two teams is becoming more of pride than the three points. The turn around for the 'cat fight' was Sofapaka's former Ugandan tactician Sam Ssibwa who chided ingwe fans in 2010 when his boys overturned a 2-0 lead to beat Leopards 4-2. Last season, Sofapaka won first leg encounter 3-1 then Leopards replied by the same margin in the second leg.

The weather was good, so the two teams took time sizing up each other. Sofapaka tried to go forward and Leopards replied with good runs engineered by Ben Mang'oli and Mike Baraza in the midfield. Leopards without injured Eric Masika, which sent skipper Imbalambala to the defence and Allan Wanga's absence meant a change in approach.

In brief, Sofapaka had a potent attack, while Leopards did not and that made the difference. So where did Sofapaka beat ingwe the hardest? The flanks, Hashim Mukhwana and Abdalla Juma locked out Etemesi and Oscar Kadenge completely. Etemesi fell deep while Kadenge got lost and was replaced by Okwemba Charles.

Midfield

Leopards have lacked a ball playing midfielder. Kinje is not your typical single strength midfielder. He is not an astute passer, destroyer nor ball player. He is a good ball controller but lacks the flow that moves the ball in the midfield.

Ingwe started with a 4-2-3-1 system on offensive. Kinje and Mang'oli holding with Baraza in the centre with Kadenge and Etemesi on the wings. Sofapaka challenged this by defending in a 5-4-1 system. Situma went in to cover defense while Mussa Mudde took up the holding role with Mieno. John Njoroge and Anthony Kimani fell deep for the cover. With Mudde facing left footed Baraza on his right foot, Baraza found himself displacing the left winger to find space.

Skipper James Situma was master destroyer, as the main holding midfielder. Mudde was the passing midfielder while Mieno alternated from the centre to assisting Baraza upfront. The Sofapaka 3 man midfield of Situma, Mudde and Mieno in a 4-1-4-1 system plays vertically with two wingers forming a cross or diamond with Mudde at the centre. This made sure that Situma picked Kinje and Mudde and Mieno changed on Ben Mang'oli and Mike Baraza. AFC was pinned.

Defence

Edgar Ochieng' in Sofapaka defense is no doubt a good centre half, but his speed has deteriorated a great deal. He lacks good recovery, so Eugene Asike came out as over worked, but the good thing is Situma always offered cover. Hashim and Abdalla, were not afraid to go forward unlike their ingwe opposite numbers.

Ugandan import Abbas Kiwalabye is a good defender, but was too cautious going forward. Ammon Muchiri I believe has learned his weaknesses in recovering back to space after a turn over and so never ventured far from the half way line. This inhibited Leopards from launching their trademark attacks from the flank as Oscar Kadenge and Etemesi lacked close supply and instant cover.

Nahimana and Imbalambala play the same type of hard tackling football, when Mudde pin point crosse went over Nahimana, Imbalambala was still going back to cover and watched as John Baraza headed hom his eleventh goal of the season. They both are cautious getting out of space, a factor that contributed to the second goal.

Attack
Ingwe's attack was lacklusture. Victor Ochieng' was a pale shadow of his former self when placed as a central striker. With Mike Baraza opting to run to the left, leaving hard working Situma or Edgar Ochieng' to lock out Victor to the crosses.

When Okwemba came in the second half and took up the central midfield role, there was change in Leoprads attack. He released Kinje and Mang'oli to share the spoilers roles and Mike Baraza to pile pressure upfront. Though Okwemba has lost the flavour that made him an attraction in the past.

John Baraza has rediscovered his form- a good  wine that gets better with age. He is good off the ball, a factor that makes him a predator in KPL. He watched as the defensive minded Mudde went off to the right to pick Hashim's pass then placed himself just behind Nahimana in anticipation of the cross. He pulled out of the goal moth pack to receive a pass from the right, tuned to his lethal left foot and fired a shot past Matasi. He deserved man-of-match.

Okwemba tapped wide an open shot he got in the dying minutes as the match seemed to be going to Sofapaka.

Substitutes
When Mudded walked out injured, Bob Mugalia came in to take up the right wing position pushing Muki Kimani into the midfield. This displaced Kimani as he got lost in the match and was brought off for Felly Mulumba who coverd the void left by Mudde. Sofapaka finished the match with 5 defenders, as Leopards piled pressure.

Jimmy Bageya came in for Victor Ochieng' and won the free kick that Imbalambala converted for the consolation goal. Of all the substitutions, these two made a mark as Leopard looked for an equalizer and Sofapaka stood their ground.

Transfers
Sofapaka will be happy to keep Mudde for a few more months into the second leg. Meanwhile Collins Okoth will be a good cover for Mudde and Situma. Selenga Demonde's return 'home' is a prodigal sons return, he will have to find a place on the table for himself.

Leopards must look at their midfield very keenly. KPL lacks the typical central midfielders type of ball players. Jan Koops must go out of his way and bring in a ball player to change the attack from the flanks to the centre. Without that, as Sammy 'pamzo' Omollo says, they will remain predictable.

Sofapaka goes into the one month mid-season break on top of the log with 32 points. AFC Leopards have a match in hand against SoNy Sugar, to trim the gap to two points.