Heroics by Nairobi City Stars’ star boy Kelvin Etemesi on Monday 29 May 2023 against AFC Leopards, where he scored a brace to earn a come-from-behind 2-1 win during a matchday 31 premier league tie, has moved to the top of a rare club record.
Star boy ????????
Last minute goal from @etemesi10 #simbawanairobi pic.twitter.com/Jb7YqhkPEW
— Official Nairobi City Stars Fc (@NrbCityStars) May 29, 2023
The Monday brace for Etemesi was his fourth this season making him the first player to achieve that feat at City Stars in the Kenyan topflight league since the 2005/6 premier league season.
Etemesi has now gone past Samuel Ouma who scored three braces that season. He top-scored for the club – then known as World Hope – with 13 goals.
In the Monday game, Etemesi finished off an Edwin Buliba delivery in the 64th minute to cancel Victor Omune’s 18th-minute opener. He grabbed the winner in the 89th minute after pouncing on a James Mazembe assist.
Not only did he break the record of braces scored across 15 years in the Kenyan top league, but it also ended a 16-year wait of City Stars never beating AFC Leopards in an away game.
Further, his goals guaranteed Nairobi City Stars’ premier league status as the team moved to the 33-point mark from 31 games, opening a ten-point buffer with three rounds of play left.
The club – then known as World Hope – last beat Leopards (1-0) on 22 January 2006 in Nyayo Stadium during a 14th-round clash in the 2005/6 season. Steve Biko scored the lone goal in the 12th minute.
Between then and Monday, City Stars had only managed six away draws and four away defeats against AFC Leopards.
Etemesi scored his first brace – and top-flight goal – in a 3-0 win over Mathare United on 29 Mar in Kasrani Annex. He skipped a game and followed it up with his second brace on 9 Apr in a 3-2 loss to Posta Rangers in Police Sacco Stadium.
At that point, Etemesi drew level with past City Stars forwards; Ugandan hitmen Jimmy Bageya and Dan Sserunkuma who scored two braces in the 2009 and 2011 seasons, respectively, and Gambian Ebrima Sanneh in the 2015 season.
He skipped another game and scored his third brace in a 5-2 win over Vihiga Bullets in Kasarani Annex which drew him level with Samuel Ouma.
Etemesi missed out on a consecutive brace in the next game against Kariobangi Sharks at the same venue. He scored once in a 2-1 win.
Those goals, added to his latest brace that separate him from the past club hitmen, brought his tally this season to nine.
“Etemesi had a slow start to the season. But you can understand that he came from the third tier (Kangemi AllStars) and it took him a while to fully adapt and integrate into the team,” said City Stars team coordinator Samson Otieno
“But when he got the hang of the premier league, we are seeing a totally different player in the second leg. He has the hunger, has no fear, and has become a go-getter and our go-to forward,”
“It’s little wonder that the goals in him are now coming out and so far he has scored nine times in the second leg. I believe he will close the season with double digits,” added Samson
So far, Etemesi has featured in 22 of 31 games this season registering 1,494 minutes. His nine goals have been scored in the last 11 games.
Past braces (seasons, player, number)
2004/5-Edward Karanja-1, Collins Tiego – 1
2005/6-John Njoroge-1, Samuel Ouma-3
2006/7-none
2008-none
2009-Collins Tiego-1, Jimmy Bageya-2
2010-none
2011- Francis Thairu-1, Dan Sserunkuma-2
2012-Dan Sserunkuma-1
2013-Bruno Sserunkuma-1
2014-none
2015-Ebrima Sanneh-2
2016-none
2017-2020 (not in the premier league)
2020/21-Anthony Kimani-1
2021/22-Peter Opiyo-1
2022/23-Kelvin Etemesi-4
Kelvin Etemesi up against Mathare United on Wed 29 Mar 2023 in Kasarani Annex. He scored a brace – his maiden premier league goal – as City Stars won the game 2-0
Forward Kelvin Etemesi celebrates one of two goals against Vihiga Bullets in Kasarani Annex on 16 April 2023 during a Premier League game. City Stars won the game 5-2