With the transfer market having being declared open from today Monday 1st July 2024, teams are now into business mode to try and strengthen their squads as they prepare to kickstart the 2024/2025 Kenyan Premier League campaign.
For those who have followed this seasons Sharks campaign, you can easily spot that the William Muluya side play a fantastic ball possession football but they lack the ability to transition their defense and midfielders ball holding prowess into their attacker’s advantage.
The team which was facing a relegation battle earlier mid-season seems to only have one style of play where the team can only transition into attack through the wings whereby it becomes a disadvantage when playing against low block teams and that could be seen even in their last match in the Mozzart bet decider against Afc Leopards. Sharks started the match very well but couldn’t penetrate into the defence of Afc Leorpards.
The team looks shaky while transitioning to attack and it seems they miss a ball carrying midfielder of Tyson Otieno caliber whom they sold to Kenya Police Fc last season. Many may argue considering the comeback they had the second half of the season going almost 10 games unbeaten and thumping the likes of Posta Rangers and Sofapaka five goals each but that can’t be said without mentioning the Johnmark Makwatta masterclass that happened.
The likes of Victor Ngume and Fortune Omoto have really tried being the link between the midfield and the main man in front but it just hasn’t clicked. While Fortune is a beast while coming from the wings, Ngume is just not yet the man to help bring those balls through the midfield rather than the wings.
Something to also note is that Kariobangi Sharks also need to start and try putting their dead balls into use. Instead of always starting quick short passes on almost all dead balls, they can at least cross some into the box considering the height of players they have.
As Johnmark Makwatta’s six months contract is also coming to an end, they also need to look for a lethal striker whom the ball carrying midfielder they’ll buy should feed balls to.
