After serving Nairobi City Stars for four and a half months, assistant coach Nihad Nalbantic has returned home to Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Nihad, 66, arrived at the onset of October 2020 alongside head coach Sanjin Alagic to set up structures as the team prepared for the Premier League for the first time in four years following promotion at the close of last season.
“Nihad is no longer with the team following the completion of his mission which included setting up key training programmes and methodology,”
“We appreciate all the work he put in and for his professional approach that saw the team make a successful start to the top league. We wish him all the best in his future assignments.” said Simba wa Nairobi CEO Patrick Korir
Prior to coming to Kenya Nihad, a former professional goalkeeper, had coached clubs in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kuwait as well as in Slovakia, among others, alongside Sanjin.
Hosts Kakamega Homeboyz handed City Stars a 2-0 defeat in a match day 11 Premier League clash at Bukhungu Stadium on Saturday 6 February 2021.
The defeat, the third straight for Simba wa Nairobi, was confirmed by second half goals by Shami Kibwana in the 71st minute and one more at the death by super sub David Okoth.
It mattered little that Homeboyz played a man less from the 82nd minute after Brian Shikanda was slapped with a second yellow card to exit the game.
As was the case in the previous game against Kariobangi Sharks, City Stars were victims of their own missed chances in the first half with no less that four attempts on goal not made use of.
Davis Agesa rounded up two Homeboyz defenders eleven minutes in but his aim for goal was off. Four minutes on Homeboyz winger Stephen Etyang had a response on the other end but his shot was off the mark.
25 minutes in Elvis Noor Ojiambo, in for injured Sven Yidah, timed a cross well but his shot for goal was just off.
He mistimed yet another delivery from skipper Peter Pinchez Opiyo ten minutes later to increase City Stars near misses count as his header went wide.
A few minutes later Agesa saw his header miss the target and with three minutes left to the break, Pinchez forced the best of reflexive stretches from Homeboyz keeper Geoffrey Oputi to keep out his freekick.
While City Stars owned the first half, the tide changed in the next one. Ten minutes after the restart City Stars had to clear a dangerous corner from Homeboyz to stay in the game.
The hosts were not to be denied tough with 19 minutes left when an uncleared ball in the box was rammed home by Shami Mwinyi for the opening goal.
The hosts confirmed all spoils when marauding winger David Okoth outran his former team mate Kenedy Onyango to slam home a late add-on.
With the latest win, Homeboyz shot to tenth spot with 11 points in the process pushing City Stars – currently on ten points – down a spot to 13th.
Next up for Simba wa Nairobi is a home game against Zoo FC of Kericho on Saturday 20 February 2021.
Lineups
Kakamega Homeboyz: 26. Geoffrey Oputi (GK), 44. Brian Shikanda, 13. Thomas Wainaina, 15. Sylvester Wanyama, 20. George Odiwuor, 8. Stephen Mukongolo, 10. Moses Mudavadi, 24. Ali Bhai-Captain, 22. Chris Masinza, 2. Shami Mwinyi (16. Collins Odhiambo-84), 7. Stephen Etyang (9. David Okoth-56)
Unused subs: 32. David Juma (GK), 21. Estone Esiye, 6. Benjamin Oketch, 11. Emmanuel Amwehe, 11. Robert Arot
Coach: Nicholas Muyoti
Nairobi City Stars: 23. Steve Njunge (GK), 28. Herit Mungai Atariza (32. Ezekiel Odera-81), 25. Kenedy Onyango, 4. Salim Abdalla, 10. Peter Opiyo-Captain, 21. Oliver Maloba (20. Timothy Noor Ouma-81), Elvis Noor Ojiambo, 22. Wycliffe Otieno (27. Azizi Okaka-81), 24. Erick Ombija (26. Bolton Omwenga-63), 11. Davis Agesa, 7. Rodgers Okumu (9. Vincent Otieno Okoth-70)
Unused subs: 16. Jacob Osano (GK), 3. Charles Otieno
Not considered: 6. Ronney Kola, 14. Rowland Makati (both on loan at Nairobi Stima), 12. Edwin Buliba (thigh injury), 8. Calvin Masawa (thigh injury), 1. Elvis Ochoro (GK), 15. John Kamau, 30. Anthony Kimani (shoulder injury), 18. Sven Yidah (knee injury), 29. Ebrima Sanneh, 5. Wesley Onguso
Coach: Sanjin Alagic
Yellow cards: 44. Brian Shikanda-40, 82 (Kakamega Homeboyz)
Goals: 2. Shami Mwinyi-73, 9. David Okoth-90 (Kakamega Homeboyz)
Match Officials: Israel Mpaima (centre ref), Steve Adeya (AR1), Doreen Kendi (AR2), Ageneta Mutubo (4th Official), John Aketch (Match Comm)
Davis Agesa against Homeboyz on Sat 6 Feb 2021 during a Premier League match day 11 game. Homeboz won 2-0Elvis Noor Ojiambo against Homeboyz on Sat 6 Feb 2021 during a Premier League match day 11 game. Rodgers Okumu looks on. Homeboyz won 2-0Oliver Maloba against Homeboyz on Sat 6 Feb 2021 during a Premier League match day 11 game. Homeboyz won 2-0
Nairobi City Stars will take on Kakamega Homeboyz for only the fifth time in a Premiership tie on Saturday 6 February 2021 at Bukhungu Stadium starting 3pm.
The two have met four times before; twice in 2013 and 2016 seasons and Homeboyz carries a two win record, a draw and a single loss. In the four games Homeboyz has outscored City Stars four to two goals.
In their first match up in May 2013, a Justus Basweti strike in the first half at Hope centre delivered a 1-0 win.
Nairobi City Stars are away to Homeboyz for just the third time and in search of their first ever win as the first visit in 2013 in Bukhungu ended in a barren draw and the second one in 2016 ended in a 1-0 loss at Mumias Complex. Andrew Murunga scored the lone goal.
A connecting factor in the game is stopper Kenedy Vidic Onyango Ouma (pictured) who crossed over from Homeboyz to join City Stars in the current season. He’ll be leading Simba wa Nairobi to a familiar surrounding.
City Stars head to the game under the auspices of Bosnian Sanjin Alagic who will become the fifth coach – and third foreigner – to face Homeboyz.
Gambian Bai Malleh Wadda, Charles Omondi Korea, John Bobby Ogola and Ugandan Richard Tamale Pinto guided the team in the last four games, in that order.
City Stars and Homeboyz have not had the best of results in the last five matches as each has registered three loses.
From ten games, City Stars is twelfth on the log with two points on Homeboyz who are down at 15th place.
While Homeboyz lost 1-0 away to Wazito in the last game, City stars was taken down 2-1 by Kariobangi Sharks.
The upcoming Bukhungu affair will be a battle of the wounded. Who will win this one?
Summary
KPL Games: 4
25-May-13, City Stars vs Homeboyz, Hope Centre, 1-0
20-Jul-13, Homeboyz vs City Stars, Bukhungu Stadium, 0-0
9-Apr-16, Homeboyz vs City Stars, Mumias Complex, 1-0
30-Oct-16, City Stars vs Homeboyz, Kasarani, 1-3
City Stars stopper Kenedy Onyango keeps vigil against two KCB opponents as the two faced off at Kasarani on Fri 4 Dec 2020 in a 2nd round premier league game. KCB won 1-0Kenedy Vidic Onyango in round 10 Premier League game against Kariobangi Sharks on Sat 30 Jan 2021. Sharks won 2-1
Chief spoiler Sven Yidah has been ruled out of Nairobi City Stars games for the next two weeks due to a knee injury sustained in the last league game against Kariobangi Sharks.
According to team physio Brian Otieno Odongo, Sven suffered a knee injury in that game and has to sit out a number of games to fully recuperate.
“Sven had a knee knock against Sharks and we have given him two weeks rest to heal. All necessary tests have been down on him and its nothing major. He should be back by mid of the month,”
Due to his injury, Sven will miss a round eleven Premier league clash against Kakamega Homeboyz as well as the round 64 match domestic cup match against Mutomo Tigers of Kitui.
“He is doing very well and the pain on his shoulder is gradually diminishing. He has started training and it’s a matter of time that he will be back on the pitch,” said Odongo
Overall team captain Calvin Masawa and utility back Edwin Buliba are also still on the sidelines due to knee and quad injuries.
According to Odongo, the two are still out of the most immediate game assignments.
The trio of Muki, Masawa and Buliba have so far missed games against Sofapaka and Kariobangi Sharks.
As all four stay out, head coach Sanjin Alagic from Bosnia has confirmed his 18-man to face Kakamega Homeboyz at Bukhungu Stadium on Saturday 6 February 2021.
From the 20-man team that faced Sharks in the last league game, left back Wesley Onguso and striker Ebrima Sanneh will miss out alongside Sven. Newly signed Balton Omwenga is the only addition to the travelling party.
Squad to face Kakamega Homeboyz
16. Jacob Osano, 23. Steve Njunge (GK), 28. Herit Mungai Atariza, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 4. Salim Abdalla, 27. Azizi Okaka, 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo, 10. Peter Opiyo, 32. Ezekiel Odera, 21. Oliver Maloba, 20. Timothy Ouma, 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 24. Erick Ombija, 11. Davis Agesa, 7. Rodgers Okumu, 3. Charles Otieno, 9. Vincent Otieno Okoth, 17. Balton Omwenga
Not considered: 6. Ronney Kola, 14. Rowland Makati (both on loan at Nairobi Stima), 12. Edwin Buliba (thigh injury), 8. Calvin Masawa (thigh injury), 1. Elvis Ochoro (GK), 15. John Kamau, 30. Anthony Kimani (shoulder injury), 18. Sven Yidah, 29. Ebrima Sanneh, 5. Wesley Onguso
Edwin Buliba (left) in a past game against Nairobi Stima on Sat 14 Mar 2020Muki celebrates the opening goal as City Stars sees off Nzoia Sugar 2-0 at Narok Stadium in their opening 2020/21 FKF Premier League game on Sun 29 Nov 2020Balton Omwenga in Nairobi City Stars colors during a friendly against Kibra United on Wed 3 Feb 2021. He’s joined the club permanently from Tanzania’s Biashara United
Nairobi City Stars wishes to announce the arrival of left back Timothy Balton Omwenga from Tanzania’s Premiership side Biashara United Mara.
The former Nzoia United, Kariobangi Sharks and KCB left channel operator joins Simba wa Nairobi for one and a half seasons.
The five-foot-six left footer, capped twice for Kenya, and four times for Kenya U23 team, was philosophical upon his arrival;
“It’s an honor to be part of Nairobi City Stars. Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is a progress. Working together is success,”
“Together as a team with good effort we will get good results.”
Speaking on his capture, head coach Sanjin Alagic stated;
“Balton has rare qualities as a player and has very good experience. I have no doubt he will be of great value to City Stars.” said Sanjin
Omwenga adds on to City Stars left foot department that also has Herit Mungai Atariza, Wesley Onguso, John Kamau and fullback utility Calvin Masawa, the team’s overall skipper. He will don jersey no. 17
His International Transfer Certificate (ITC) has already been issued by the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) and its only a matter of time before he makes his debut for Simba wa Nairobi.
Balton Omwenga in Nairobi City Stars colors during a friendly against Kibra United on Wed 3 Feb 2021. He’s joined the club permanently from Tanzania’s Biashara United
