J. AngatiaLogarusic's tactical shift that has FKF Premier League defenses shaken
Reading Time: 4min | Mon. 27.11.23. | 17:14
In a bold tactical move, Zdravko Logarusic's deployment of twin strikers has reshaped Police FC's destiny in the FKF Premier League, creating a formidable force
For the past few seasons, the thrill of a single out and out striking partnership has rocked teams in the FKF premier league. Most teams, should be noted that most not all have opted to go with one central bullish forward and a creative force behind him. This then leads to room for wide players, skillfull 1v1 specialists to patrol the flanks and work on service for the forward. This approach has worked well churning out predatory strikers like Elvis Rupia, Erick Kapaito, Benson Omala, Brian Yakhama and Yassin Sije just to name but a few.
Police FC last season thrived under the same approach a key player in Duke Abuya playing off league top scorer Elvis Rupia. The two combined and banged goals and assists for fun. However the duo departed and headed to pastures green in Tanzania. Their departure led Police to struggle in the initial stages and a sacked manager later, flamboyant Zdravko Logarusic was called in to set things straight. The former Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards tactician has come in with an attacking blue print that is gaining him plaudits in the football circles. The use of two out and out centre forwards.
With a statement win over Ulinzi Stars and a spirited draw against Gor Mahia. As a manager, Logarusic has set his side out in a 1-4-4-2 diamond. The revelation has been the use of David Owino, a left back as a left sided central midfielder and as a holding midfielder, this is an aspect that will be highlighted in the next articles.
With the 1-4-4-2, Logarusic favours a two up-front , Tito Okello and Clinton Kinanga as the strikers with either Kenneth Muguna or Tyson Otieno floating behind them.
And while Logarusic isn't the only manager that exclusively uses twin strikers, the partnership he is forging is causing defenses major problems
Police's game against Gor Mahia, though did not yield any goals, was a good demonstration of how devastating their front two can be.
Through the impeccable long ball playing of Musa Mohammed and Rashid Toha, Police would find Kinanga who dragged an opposition centre back up the pitch while holding up the ball, he then laid it off to Tito Okello before looking to race past the centre-backs to get the return pass. The issue of the final pass was something that should have irked Logarusic as his team with slightly better decision making should have sealed the game.
Typical to what Logarusic wants his frontline to play is drag markers out and create chaos and numerical superiority in between the lines. Through impeccable hold up play and getting ready to attack the space in behind so as to hurt the opposition.
An issue with the 4-4-2 diamond has always been the lack of width of formation offers, however in Aboud Omar and Baraka Badi Police can still gain width and be even more dangerous when the ball goes wide. The impeccable crossing quality of the duo and the ability to use one forward as a smokescreen for the other to peel off the markers and get space in the box.
Now the main area where Police are likely to cause problems with their striking partnership is their direct attacking. Sometimes when quick passes are played up to their strikers there is a lot of space in the channels to exploit .
Another aspect that has the ability to ensure the Logarusic strikeforce to thrive is the aggression they display in their press in midfield, case in point their game against Ulinzi Stars, when the Midfielders push high to win the ball they have two forward passing options always and against a team that pushes their fullbacks to attack like Ulinzi the creation of 2v2 situations is prevalent.
What the Police strike partnership has not properly hacked well however is how to vary their positions and still be on the same wavelength, when one drops to receive in space to always be alert of the other's movements.
Also when facing teams that switch their rest defense to a 3-2 Logarusic has to find a way to combat the spare man the opponents leave behind like Johnathan McKinstry of Gor Mahia tinkered in their match a tweak that looked to prevent Police FC strikers from receiving ball to feet.
In conclusion, it will be a relatively unusual challenge for most FKFPL teams on how to combat the twin strikers.
