Analysis : Coach Leo Neiva's 'samba-style' vision for Gor Mahia as evidenced in CECAFA outing

Gor Mahia did not have a good campaign at the CECAFA Kagame Cup under new coach Leo Neiva, but is there light at the end of the tunnel with the coach looking to play Brazilian-esque 'samba style' football?

Gor Mahia’s new Brazilian head coach Leo Neiva has already taken charge of three matches ever since his appointment as the club’s new coach right before the club jetted off to Tanzania for the 2024 CECAFA Kagame Cup.

Despite being at the club for three weeks now, he has already gone through some unprecedented on-pitch challenges, with Austin Odhiambo’s absence from their pre-season camp the biggest elephant in the room.

Odhiambo has been heavily linked with a move outside the country, with Belgian outfit AA Gent expressing interest.

They are, however, yet to table a bid to price away K’Ogalo’s most valuable asset from their collection, and he has also attracted the interest of clubs in Rwanda and Zambia.

While he waits for the dust to settle on his situation, we have already had a view of how Neiva wants to set his team up for the upcoming season, with the club aiming to do well in the CAF Champions League this season.

He took the job over from previous incumbent Johnathan McKinstry, who left the club for the Gambia national team job and he arrives at the club at the height of expectation, his predecessor having won back to back league titles.

McKinstry is more of a pragmatic coach who sets his team up to counter opposition strengths, and under his stewardship, the club was more tactically flexible, in that they would look to dominate possession whenever possible, play on the counter attack whenever possible and also sit back -an approach suitable for international football-.

Neiva by contrast, has a clear identity, in that he wants his team to be dominant on the ball at all times, and as we will see later in the article based on K’Ogalo’s three games in charge, the approach could reap reward once the players forge proper on-field relationships.

“The former coach did an amazing job with back to back championships. It is not easy. I arrived here with a very good foundation and we can develop step by step. I will implement my philosophy and football methodology but this has to be slowly,” the tactician said, speaking through the club’s social media channels at his unveiling.

“I cannot change everything quick but for sure, we will have some beautiful Brazilian football. I love to build from the keeper with more of the short passes. I enjoy possession football with good ball circulation.”

At the Kagame Cup, Gor Mahia played against Red Arrows, Djibouti Telecom and Al Hilal, losing twice and drawing once in the three matches. 

Although the results they produced were worth nothing to write home about, the way they played showed that there is light at the end of the tunnel about their playing style.

Under Neiva, Gor Mahia will seemingly try to take advantage of their flanks and create dangerous opportunities through their dynamic wingers and marauding fullbacks.

The wingers will try to isolate their men before whipping dangerous crosses towards the box, with the central players looking to overload the box in order to provide goal-scoring options. 

The fullbacks will also be key, Levin Odhiambo, who had to wait nearly three months to make his debut for the club, will be very integral on the left flank with that ability to make one-two passes with his teammates as well as to whip early crosses in whenever the opportunity arises.

Take this chance in the 11th minute of the match against Red Arrows.

Sharrif Musa receives the ball down the left flank and then creates a one v one situation against the defender. 

Geoffrey Ochieng (playing left back in this match) makes an overlapping run down the left flank, while in the box, Musa Masika (36), Benson Omalla (22) and newboy Samuel Kapen (15) overload the box.

Benson Omala however sees his attempt go just wide of target.

It is seen again in the 87th minute. Boniface Omondi receives the ball on the right wing before sending an early cross into the area. Omala and Chris Ochieng have overloaded the box, as well as Chris Pius Akena, who receives the ball, and has time and space to either shoot or produce a killer ball towards the danger zone.

He checks up before attempting to hit a cross back across goal, but it is mistimed and goes just wide.

Against Djibouti Telecom, we saw that the side could also try to create from central areas, but even saw, it was with channel balls hit forward which the wide players would try and exploit.

Take this situation in the 54th minute where Alpha Onyango executes a long ball into the right channel which Rooney Onyango chases, before whipping in an audacious cut back which is intercepted just in time.

Leo Neiva’s side will also seek to be front-footed off the ball, seeking to look for moments to turn over the ball, with new Ugandan signing Chris Akena very energetic, a ball carrier and with good ball striking.

 Although Austin Odhiambo is probably more creative and intelligent on the ball, he may lack Akena’s industry, and he will lead the press as is evidenced in the competition. 

 Take this situation against Djibouti Telecom in the 20th minute. Akena pounces on a lose ball by Djibouti before he drives with the ball forward, but he hits the ball wide.

However, it could take time for them to be fully expressive on the ball and take more risks given the shell they are coming from. 

They also tended to be vulnerable in transitional situations. Several times, they turned the ball over needlessly and the opposition would counter-attack, but fail to capitalise their chances mostly due to a lack of efficiency and quality.

One such example was against Djibouti Telecom right after kick off, where Rooney Onyango had a good chance to pass the ball into space towards Sharrif Musa but opted to pass the ball back to Alpha Onyango, who miscontrolled the situation allowing Djibouti to turnover the ball and create opportunities.

Conclusion:

Gor Mahia are trying to build a team to be competitive for the Champions League this season, as well as winning a third-consecutive league title.

They will face Sudanese side Al Merreikh, before the daunting possibility of playing Egyptian giants Al Ahly should they get past the opening stage.

This could be a step too far, but in football, anything can happen. Before Gor Mahia jetted out to Tanzania, Neiva revealed that the tournament may have come too early for him given he had only handled training for a week before their first match, meaning the players may need more time to adapt to his methods.

With the club flying out to Nigeria to take part in the Coal City Cup next month, the players may have adapted to his methods better, and there has also been the addition of Alphonce Omija on a free from Dhofar, which will strengthen both their center back and defensive midfield department.

The club will face Brazilian giants Corinthians, Coton FC and Remo Stars aiming to form a chemistry that will enable them to prepare for their Champions League campaign.

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