As Yanga fans continue to witness tactical changes under head coach Manqoba Mngqithi, a particular style of play is beginning to emerge in the midfield area where Fred Duval Ngoma operates.
The Republic of the Congo international from Brazzaville has started winning over Yanga supporters with his playing style, which combines exceptional composure with a high level of football intelligence.
Unlike many defensive midfielders known for their tackling and physicality, Ngoma is a completely different kind of player.
He is a classic deep-lying playmaker. He plays without rushing, knows how to protect the space in front of the defenders, and whenever he receives the ball under pressure from opponents, he uses his composed first touch to launch new attacks with accurate passes.
One of Ngoma’s outstanding qualities is his ability to anticipate play. Rather than running around aimlessly, he knows how to position himself correctly, allowing him to win back possession for his team with ease.
Yanga head coach Manqoba Mngqithi appears to have incorporated Ngoma into his tactical setup as a deep-lying playmaker, with many of the team’s forward moves beginning through him.
This is largely due to his excellent passing ability, which sometimes allows him to break through two lines of opposition defence with a single pass.
One area in which coach Manqoba has highlighted improvement in his squad is the ability to break down teams that defend deep in a low block.
Having midfielders like Ngoma in the Yanga squad could be one of the reasons behind that progress.
