Nairobi City Stars

Month: March 2020

  • It’s first vs fourth when City Stars hosts Nairobi Stima

    It’s first vs fourth when City Stars hosts Nairobi Stima

    In mid October 2019, goals from Wesley Onguso – a free kick – and one more from close range by Davis Agesa handed Nairobi City Stars a 2-1 win over ten-man Nairobi Stima at Karuturi grounds in Naivasha.

    The triumph was historic as it was the only time that City Stars had seen off Nairobi Stima in seven second tier league games across four seasons.

    On Saturday 14 March 2020 the two will face off once again in a Betika Super League (BSL) match day 28 clash at Camp Toyoyo, Jericho from 3pm.

    Into the highly profiled game Nairobi City Stars tops the BSL charts with 61 points and has a 13-point buffer over their rivals Nairobi Stima who sit fourth with 48 points.

    Gap aside, the truth of the matter is City Stars has never beaten Nairobi Stima in three past home encounters.

    In 2017 and 2018 City Stars lost by identical 2-0 margins while in 2019, a 10-man Simba wa Nairobi was diminished to second best after going down 1-0 at Hope Centre.

    Both teams come to the game on the high of wins from their immediate past encounters; City Stars with a 2-1 away win over AP Bomet in Kericho and Nairobi Stima with a 1-0 win over FC Talanta out in Naivasha.

    For the upcoming Nairobi derby will it be Stima’s history that will lighten up the day or will it be City Stars current form that will darken their counterparts? Only the Toyoyo turf will tell the tale of who finds the switch first come Saturday.

    Head to Head; Nairobi City Stars vs Nairobi Stima

    Sat, 14/03/20, Nairobi City Stars Vs Nairobi Stima
    Wed, 16/10/19; Nairobi Stima 1 – 2 Nairobi City Stars
    Sat, 11/05/19, Nairobi City Stars 0 – 1 Nairobi Stima
    Sat, 09/02/19, Nairobi Stima 1 – 1 Nairobi City Stars
    Sat, 16/06/18, Nairobi Stima 1 – 1 Nairobi City Stars
    Sun, 11/02/18, Nairobi City Stars 0 – 2 Nairobi Stima
    Sun, 26/11/17, Nairobi City Stars 0 – 2 Nairobi Stima
    Sat, 22/07/17, Nairobi Stima 0 – 0 Nairobi City Stars

  • Maloba returns

    Maloba returns

    After weeks out, Nairobi City Stars offensive midfielder Oliver Maloba is back at the club.

    Maloba, whose trail had gone cold on the club since the second week of February, met the club honchos on Monday and after lengthy discussions was allowed back in training starting on Tuesday.

    Speaking on the matter club CEO Patrick Korir said;

    “We chose to take a pragmatic view of the matter. After productive talks we have accepted his apology and he is now back in training,”

    Upon meeting his team-mates in Tuesday sessions a remorseful Maloba said;

    “I apologies to the club and my fellow players for staying out without communicating. Let’s leave what happened behind. I am back and fully committed to give my all to keep the ship sailing.”

    Maloba has now been challenged by head coach Sanjin Alagic to work his way back to the team as his position has already been grabbed by other deserving players.

    “Staying out for a month means all work done since July last year is lost. He has another few weeks to work on basics then work his way up to the team.”

  • Odera wins it in Kericho

    Odera wins it in Kericho

    Striker Ezekiel Odera was the toast for Nairobi City Stars as his goal inside the first 15 minutes delivered a 2-1 win over AP Bomet in a round 27 Betika Super League game played at the Kericho Green on Sunday 8 March 2020.

    Odera forced AP Bomet defender Japheth Ekuba into scoring an own goal in just the first minute then added a classic goal in the 15th minute to hand Simba wa Nairobi a 2-0 cushion heading to the break. Both goals were assisted by winger David Gateri.

    AP Bomet pulled a consolation goal in the second half to half the scores but Odera’s goal stood out and proved the difference in the game.

    Despite Odera’s heroics, he was to be ejected from the game late on after being given matching orders after earning a second bookable offence.

    Score-wise, it could have been worse for the home team had a Salim Abdalla tap in from a free kick not have been ruled offside, and a Jimmy Bageya thunderous shot not ricocheted off the horizontal.

    The win in Kericho ensured City Stars completed a double over AP Bomet having won the first leg tie at Toyoyo in October last year by the same scoreline.

    Three added points lifted City Stars to the 61-point mark from 25 games as they maintained a seven-point gap atop the league

    Lineups

    Nairobi City Stars

    16. Jacob Osano, 8. Calvin Masawa, 4. Salim Abdalla, 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 30. Anthony Kimani – Captain (5. Wesley Onguso), 12. Edwin Buliba, 2. Elvis Ojiambo, 10. Peter Opiyo, 25. David Gateri (19. Jimmy Bageya), 27. Azizi Okaka (15. John Kamau), 32. Ezekiel Odera,

    Unused subs: 1. Ronny Kagunzi, 17. Noah Abich. 88. Tedian Esilaba, 3. Charles Otieno,

    Yellow cards; 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 30. Anthony Kimani, 10. Peter Opiyo, Ezekiel Odera (x2)

    MVP: 10. Peter Pinchez Opiyo

    AP Bomet

    31. Fredrick Otieno, 3. Dominic Kipkirui, 27. Paul Ndara, 25. Gideon Kibet, 30. Japheth Ekuba, 2 Eli John, 12. Vincent Lubembe,  10. Dickson Mwangi, 14. James Kaleha, 7. Philip Wasai, 20. Chris Wilunda

    Subs: 19. Kevin Odongo, 18. Conrad Isigi, 2. Daniel Odhiambo, 5. Eric Chivatsi, 23. Brian Ngala, 21. Peter Juma, 11. Lawrence Kibet

    Coach: Sebastian Owino

  • Debut for Osano against AP Bomet

    Debut for Osano against AP Bomet

    January signing Jacob Osano will stand between the sticks for the first time ever when Nairobi City Stars takes on AP Bomet at the Kericho Green Stadium on Sunday 8 March 2020 from 3pm.

    Signed from Nairobi Stima, Osano takes up the place of regular keeper Levis Opiyo who sits out the game due to accumulation of five yellow cards.

    As Osano steps up, reserve keeper Ronny Kagunzi made a return to the squad to start off the bench.

    Also in for the AP Bomet is regular field skipper Anthony Kimani who was suspended for the last game against Kenya Police.

    His return is a boost for head coach Sanjin Alagic who will be missing regular striker Davis Agesa who saw red from two yellow cards against Police.

    One other change for the game is Edwin Buliba’s elevation from the bench to the right back spot to play in place of Kevin Oumu who was not passed fit for the Kericho trip.

    Tedian Atuto, a January signing from Fortune Sacco, made the 18-man squad for the first time and will start off the bench as well as Charles Otieno who sat out injured in the last game.

    Starting XI against AP Bomet: 16. Jacob Osano, 8. Calvin Masawa, 4. Salim Abdalla, 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 30. Anthony Kimani, 12. Edwin Buliba, 2. Elvis Ojiambo, 10. Peter Opiyo, 25. David Gateri, 27. Azizi Okaka, 32. Ezekiel Odera,

    Subs: 1. Ronny Kagunzi, 17. Noah Abich. 88. Tedian Esilaba, 3. Charles Otieno, 15. John Kamau, 19. Jimmy Bageya, 5. Wesley Onguso

  • City Stars player Maloba goes AWOL

    City Stars player Maloba goes AWOL

    For unknown reasons Nairobi City Stars superstar Oliver Maloba has taken to the length of not showing up in training, and for league games, for three and a half weeks now.

    Going absent without without official leave for Maloba has puzzled Nairobi City Stars establishment who are in the dark over his whereabouts as he is unreachable on his regular telephone lines.

    According to City Stars team coordinator Samson Otieno, the gifted Maloba,  an offensive midfielder, last appeared in training on Tuesday 11 February 2020, three days after a league game against Coast Stima at Camp Toyoyo.

    “That Tuesday he showed up for training after two rest days. That was the last time we saw him. We can’t reach him on his phone lines, and we have no idea where he is or what he is up to. We are only receiving bits and pieces of information on his whereabouts but nothing satisfactory,”

    “We had a game the other day at Toyoyo against Kenya Police and we were at pains to explain to the fans why he was missing from the match day squad. He has always been a crowd favorite and most of them come to watch him. We now want the same fans to help us track him down,” added Otieno

    Team coach Sanjin Alagic is equally lost following Maloba’s absenteeism.

    “I left for a two-week holiday after the Coast Stima game and when I returned, I was given information that he only appeared once for training once. I have sent several players and members of the technical bench to look for him he is still yet to show up in training. At this point we have to proceed with our plans for the rest of the season without him.”

    Commenting on the same club CEO Patrick Korir had this to say; “When a player fails to attend training and does not communicate it becomes a big concern. It’s more worrisome when he can’t be reached on the contacts provided in his status file. As club we are left with no choice but to make it public as it is now three and a half weeks since we last saw him.”

    Maloba is one of City Stars top performers at City Stars this season having scored five goals, provided six assists and named Most Valuable Player (MVP) six times from 23 games played.

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