Eric ‘Marcelo’ Ouma: The tactical dilemma Benni McCarthy must solve

Erick Marcelo takes on Cameroon's BrBrayan Mbeumo in previous fixture for Harambee Stars.

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Erick Marcelo takes on Cameroon's BrBrayan Mbeumo in previous fixture for Harambee Stars.

Eric ‘Marcelo’ Ouma: The tactical dilemma Benni McCarthy must solve

Stephen Awino 21:00 - 24.03.2025

High flying Harambee Stars fullback Erick 'Marcelo' Ouma is hot topic of discussion on his best position in Benni McCarthy's squad.

Harambee Stars defender Erick ‘Marcelo’ Ouma continues to divide opinions regarding his best role in Benni McCarthy’s squad.

The Rakow Częstochowa fullback has been a mainstay in McCarthy’s two matches in charge against Gambia and Gabon, with his deployment on the left flank becoming a topic of discussion.

Ouma, who started both games, showcased his attacking prowess with constant overlapping runs down the left wing.

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His offensive contributions were crucial, as he assisted Mohammed Bajaber’s equalizer in the 3-3 draw against Gambia on March 20.

Against Gabon, his driven low cross set up Michael Olunga’s goal, offering hope for a comeback, though Gabon ultimately held on to their 2-1 win.

While Ouma’s attacking output has earned praise, concerns have been raised about the defensive gaps left when he pushes forward.

His overlapping runs often leave the left-back position exposed, making Harambee Stars vulnerable when they lose possession.

This has fueled speculation about whether Ouma should be deployed as an outright winger, with a more defensively sound left-back taking his place in defense.

However, former Kenyan international Boniface Ambani has dismissed this notion, arguing that Ouma’s defensive weaknesses can be addressed through tactical adjustments and training.

“I wouldn’t go for that. Marcelo—let him play in his position,” Ambani said on Citizen TV when asked about moving Ouma further forward.

Ambani emphasized that defensive discipline is something that can be instilled on the training ground.

“It’s done in training. You just need to train the central defenders or the defensive midfielders. When this guy is up, you have to teach your role. So automatically, when Marcelo goes forward, the two central defenders have to cover. The issue of deploying Marcelo forward and maybe on the wing—that’s training ground stuff,” he explained.

In Ambani’s assessment, the central defenders should provide cover whenever Ouma surges forward.

However, in both matches, the defensive pairings struggled to offer that support.

Against Gambia, Daniel Anyembe and Brian Onyango were deployed at the heart of the defense but failed to find cohesion.

In the Gabon match, Anyembe was paired with Johnstone Omurwa, but the two struggled to contain the pace and movement of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who scored both goals for Gabon.

A key absentee in both fixtures was senior defender Joseph Okumu, who has often played alongside Ouma in defense.

His composure and leadership at the back were noticeably missed, further exacerbating Harambee Stars’ defensive woes.

As Benni McCarthy continues to fine-tune his squad, the debate over Ouma’s best role will persist.

His attacking threat is undeniable, but ensuring defensive stability without compromising his forward runs will be key in shaping Harambee Stars’ tactical identity moving forward.