05 Nov 2024
NCS, Team News Permalink
Stephen Bulugu vs Shabana in Gusii on Sun 3 Nov 2024
Stephen Bulugu vs Shabana in Gusii on Sun 3 Nov 2024

Stephen Bulugu confident

November 5, 2024

After sitting out the first six games of the season due to a slight injury, left back Stephen Bulugu made his way to Nairobi City Stars lineup in matchday eight against Gor Mahia in Machakos on Monday, October 28, 2024.

The Tanzanian nationals entry to the lineup – his debut for City Stars – came with good tidings as Simba wa Nairobi went on to win their first game of the season after seeing of Champions Gor Mahia 2-1 after erasing a 1-0 half time deficit.

“I would like to thank almighty God, we were able to finish our game safely, we won (2-1). That was the turnaround that everyone needed, and put in a lot of work to achieve,” said Bukugu

“It was a big game and there was a lot of pressure, but I would like to congratulate the coach, he was able to encourage us and we went on to do the work he sent us to do,”

Bulugu had a full debut in the Gor Mahia game and went on to pick another full game in the following game against Shabana in Gusii that City Stars won 1-0.

The back-to-back wins make Bulugu confident in the current Simba wa Nairobi outfit;

“We really have a good team to be proud of, I believe we will do well in the next set of games,” he added

Bulugu joined Simba wa Nairobi in the offseason from relegated Muhoroni Youth.

Bulugu

Stephen Bulugu on his City Stars debut vs Gor Mahia on Mon 28 Oct 2024 in Machakos

Stephen Bulugu

Stephen Bulugu ahead of his City Stars debut vs Gor Mahia on Mon 28 Oct 2024 in Machakos

Bulugu

Stephen Bulugu on his City Stars debut vs Gor Mahia on Mon 28 Oct 2024 in Machakos

03 Nov 2024
NCS, Team News Permalink
Mohammed Bajaber
Mohammed Bajaber against Kariobangi Sharks on Sat 2 March 2024 in Police Sacco Stadium during a matchday 23, 2023-24 FKF Premier League season match

MD8: Shabana FC 0 Nairobi City Stars 1

November 3, 2024

A Mohammed Bajaber goal in the sixth minute is all Nairobi City Stars needed to outwit home team Shabana FC 1-0 in a matchday eight tie played at Gusii Stadium on Sunday November 3, 2024. 

City Stars visit to Gusii Stadium to take on Shabana came 6,769 days from their last visit back on 23 Apr 2006. 

Bajaber got to the end of an assist from Kelvin Etemesi to bury home the winner handing Simba wa Nairobi a second straight league win. For his heroics, Bajaber was named the man of the match.

With the win, City Stars improved to eight points from as many seven games to move to the top half of the table as Shabana remained rooted in the 18-team log with two points.

Next up will be a home game against Tusker on November 23, 2024.

Lineups

 

03 Nov 2024
NCS, Team News Permalink
Pius Omachi in action against Shabana in an FKF PRemier LEague matchday 20 in Machakos on Sun 4 Feb 2024. It was his first topflight game in a year
Pius Omachi in action against Shabana in an FKF PRemier LEague matchday 20 in Machakos on Sun 4 Feb 2024. It was his first topflight game in a year

Head-to-head: Shabana (H) vs Nairobi City Stars (A): 2024-25 FKF Premier League season

November 3, 2024

Shabana will host Nairobi City Stars during an eighth round 2024-25 FKF Premier League tie to be held at the Gusii Stadium, Kisiii, on Sunday 3 November, 2024 starting at 2 p.m. 

It will be City Stars first premier league tie against Shabana at the Gusii Stadium since 23 April 2006. It is a massive 6,769 days since the last game and the current one at that venue.

Then, known as World Hope, and under Coach Robert Matano, City Stars went on to win the tie 3-1 after a brace from Samuel Ouma and one other by Geoffrey Okoth. Evans Moody scored the consolation for Shabana.

That aside, City Stars last played a premier league game at Gusii Stadium on 10 March 2012 against Sony Sugar. Then, coached by Gideon Ochieng, City Stars forced a 1-1 draw after an early Oscar Mbugua goal was cancelled out by Ismail Dunga’s consolation goal.

Simba wa Nairobi were last at Gusii Stadium while in the second tier, National Super LEague (NSL), on 5 Jan 2020 for a fifth round match against Shabana.

Then, under coach Sanjin Alagic, City Stars won it 1-0 thanks to a Salim Abdalla second half goal. He stands out as the last City Stars player to score at the Gusii Stadium.

Shabana last hosted City Stars on 22 Oct 2023, in Homa Bay County, during a seventh round 2023-24 season encounter. It was the next game since the one on 23 April 2006 in Gusii Stadium.

Into the upcoming game, Shabana carries a 1-1 draw against Kariobangi Sharks while City Stars is buoyed by a morale boosting 2-1 win over champions Gor Mahia from the last game.

City Stars coach Nicholas Muyoti will be coming up against an unknown Shabana bench which is missing coach Sammy Omollo for unknown reasons.

Table-wise, City Stars is 14th on the log with five points while Shabana is at basement 18th with two points.

Who wins this one?

Summary

KPL away games vs Shabana: 2 Nairobi City Stars Wins (1), Draw (1), Losses (0)

23-Apr-06: Shabana vs World Hope, Gusii Stadium 1-3 (W)
22-Oct-23: Shabana vs Nairobi City Stars, Homabay Stadium 2-2 (D)
03-Nov-24: Shabana vs Nairobi City Stars, Gusii Stadium, ??

02 Nov 2024
NCS, Team News Permalink
Andre Kalama in action against Mara Sugar in Awendo, Migori, on Sat 21 Sep 2024. He made his debut for City Stars in the matchday 3 tie
Andre Kalama in action against Mara Sugar in Awendo, Migori, on Sat 21 Sep 2024. He made his debut for City Stars in the matchday 3 tie

Trio return for Shabana tie

November 2, 2024

After missing out the game against Gor Mahia last Monday 28 Oct 2024, flyer Andre Kalama left back Rodgers Wasega, and defensive midfielder Clifford Ouma are back in the squad to face Shabana in a matchday eight tie on Sunday 3 November, 2024 at Gusii Stadium, Kisii, starting at 2 p.m.

While Ouma was out due to National team duty in Juba, Kalama and Wasega missed out on the 18-man squad that faced Gor Mahia and picked a 2-1 win for the first win of the season.

Of the 18 players that featured in that game, there is only one change after the exit of Centre back cum right back Edwin Buliba who was ejected due to a red card after accumulating two yellow cards.

The rest of the squad remains as is.

Squad to face Shabana

Goalkeepers: 1. Edwin Mukolwe, 13. Elvis Ochoro

Defenders: 4. Timothy Muganda, 6. Brian Opinde, 8. Calvin Masawa,  15. Wycliffe Omondi, 21. Rogers Wasega, 22. Stephen Bulugu,

Midfielders: 3. Sven Yidah , 16. Elvis Noor Ojiambo, 18. Clifford Ouma,  25. Brian Mzee,

Forwards: 5. Robinson Asenwa, 9. Yuto Kusaba, 10. Dennis Oalo, 11. Mohammed Bajaber, 20. Kelvin Etemesi, 26. James Ssemambo, 27. Gilbert Abala, 28. Andre Kalama

Out: 7. Pius Omachi, 12. Edwin Buliba, 17. Brian Mose Nyambane, 19. Vincent Owino,  30. Rowland Makati, 31. Abuyeka Kubasu, 32. Byron Owino,

Coach: Nicholas Muyoti

01 Nov 2024
NCS, Team News Permalink
Brian Opinde in Machakos Stadium after City Stars vs Gor Mahia game on Mon 28 Oct 2924. City Stars won 2-1
Brian Opinde in Machakos Stadium after City Stars vs Gor Mahia game on Mon 28 Oct 2924. City Stars won 2-1

Brian Opinde earns top flight status

November 1, 2024

Centre back Brian Opinde Onyango became the latest player in the Nairobi City Stars rank to be scale up to Kenyan Premier league status after making his debut on Monday 28 October, 2024 in Machakos.

Opinde, signed in the offseason after turning out in Safaricom Chapa Dimba for PASC Langa, and for Langas Superstars, a fourth tier side turning out in Division 2, and based in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, made a cameo appearance – for his premier league debut – in a 2-1 win over champions Gor Mahia.

In the lead up to that game, Opinde had made the matchday squad in the previous five games against Sofapaka, Mara Sugar, AFC Leopards, Sofapaka, and Kakamega Homeboyz.

He talked up his new status, and it’s meaning;

“It was a very good experience. I wasn’t quite expecting my debut to come on that day. But when it did, it made me happy, as we went on to defend a lead for the first win of the season,”

“The debut impacts massively on my career, and now that it has come and gone, I look forward to many more league games,” added Opinde

In earning his maiden league game against Gor Mahia, Opinde follows in the footsteps of Pius Omachi who earned his debut against the same side in February 2023 in Kasarani, Robinson Asenwa and Abuyeka Kubasu at the same venue in September 2023, and Shem Odinga in Machakos in February 2024.

Overall, Opinde became the 24th City Stars premier league debutant under coach Nicholas Muyoti, coming right after Rogers Wasega, since the 2021-22 FKF Premier League season.

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