Tactical Analysis: Breakdown of how Shabana's new midfield maestro will fit into their tactics
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Reading Time: 5min | Thu. 11.09.25. | 07:20
Otieno's issues at Shabana could stem from their route one approach, averaging 73 long passes per game compared to Sharks 51.
Shabana has been busy in the just-concluded FKF transfer window ahead of the 2025/2026 season, trying to maintain their top-four spot from last season.
Under the tutelage of Coach Peter Okidi, Shabana needed reinforcements in midfield, and they seemed to have found the right midfielder in Biron 'Ngolo' Otieno from Kariobangi Sharks.
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Otieno has been among the best defensive midfielders in the Kenyan Premier League over the last two years.
In this player analysis and scouting report, we will examine what Otieno brings to Shabana and how he fits Coach Okidi's tactics at Shabana.
At 24 years old, he has been the cornerstone of the Kariobangi Sharks midfield over the last two years.
Having suffered a broken arm against AFC Leopards in October, he was forced to miss 13 out of 34 league games.
What we have to understand about Otieno is that he is one of the best pure ball-winning midfielders in the league; his passing and quality on the ball are also highly commendable.
In the 30 data-coded Kariobangi FC-coded matches as per Kora Stats, Kariobangi Sharks were the highest passing team in the league with a total of 13,223 passes and a pass accuracy of 77%, averaging a total of 440.8 passes per 90 mins.
Known as a majorly short passing side, Sharks made 1187 total short passes, with an 85% accuracy. Thus, they had an average of 372.9 passes per 90.
To underline Otieno's key importance in this side, he had a total of 763 total passes per game, a passing accuracy of 83% and averaged 46 passes per 90 in the 16 games he featured from the 30 coded matches. This left Biron Otieno as Sharks 5th-highest passer.
Kariobangi Sharks build up in a 3-2 shape and thus heavily relied on Otieno and his counterpart Keith Imbali( who was snapped up) by Shabana too early in January to progress.
They were required to play lower and in the centre of the pitch, overloading opponents and playing through the middle, as below Sharks(white) building up with two midfielders)
This fit Otieno's strengths and saw him aid the team well in progression.
Last season, Otieno emerged as a top ball winner, his strength as highlighted above too.
He averaged 11.74 balls won per 90 and 8.84 balls recovered per 90.
As shown in his heatmap below, Biron is everywhere when it comes to fighting to win the ball back, below he is seen wide defending transition against a winger .
In Otieno Shabana are getting a player who is not afraid of anyone and doesn't need any help from another midfielder when defending in transition because he covers so much ground.
Biron Otieno at Shabana
We will begin with a data breakdown of Shabana in terms of passing, Shabana are a direct side averaging 15.84 minutes in possession time as compared to Kariobangi Sharks 22.08 minutes averagely.
Coach Okidi is majorly looking to control the midfield and in getting Otieno, Keith Imbali and still having Justine Omwando in his ranks he has very good progressive midfielders.
The main things Otieno provides Shabana with is progressing from deep, safety and the ability to free up Keith Imbali and/or Justine Omwando.
Coach Okidi uses a 3-1-1 build-up structure, but last season had Imbali and Omwando deep; these are players with threat, and one would want them higher up, not in the initial possession phase as below.
Shabana also struggled against low blocks mainly because they did not have the finesse to play through the middle. The ball had to go directly to the wingers.
This led them to losing the ball a lot as their wingers' dribble success rate was below average, with Brian Michira losing 16 dribbles out of 29 and Darius Mnyambo losing 13 out of 26.
This is something Otieno can fix well, as below he shows to receive, receives and plays a key pass to free the runner in behind.
Michira will look to develop a good understanding with Otieno so he can latch onto his trademark line-breaking passes.
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Otieno offering to receive
Otieno moving into forward space to receive
Otieno, having received, plays a line breaking pass in behind to the forward, showing his quality in progression.
Because Otieno is so good at covering so much ground, his midfield partner can push forward closer to the box without having to worry about defending. Sharks could commit numbers forward knowing Otieno would clean everything up.
Otieno acting as first line of defence when Sharks concede a transition
Otieno defending wide area against the winger in attack, shows his ability to cover ground and defend in wide areas.
This level of ball-winning is exactly what Coach Okidi and Shabana need to commit more players in attack when facing low blocks, but fix their issues defending in transition.
Shabana's main improvement will also be that when in a low block, they will have one of the best ball winners in the league to make sure the opponent can't open them up centrally.
Otieno's issues at Shabana could stem from their route one approach, averaging 73 long passes per game compared to Sharks 51.
Otieno likes play funnelled through him and not how Shabana always look to play long from goal kicks.
Conclusion
Biron Otieno helps Shabana with his elite ball-winning. In possession, he is key as Shabana now have good technical midfielders and they can treat their adoring fans to some good , possession-heavy football.
With AFCON 2027 coming up, Otieno will be looking to guide Shabana to silverware and let the gods if football do the rest.
