08 Jan 2022
NCS, Team News Permalink
City Stars, Sven
Sven Yidah going for goal in the 36th minute against F Talanta in Kasarani Annex on Sat 8 Jan 2022. His goal added to Muki's for City Stars to register a 2-1 win

FC Talanta 1 Nairobi City Stars 2

January 8, 2022

Nairobi City Stars hit home team FC Talanta 2-1 in the first-ever Premier League meeting between the two played in Kasarani Annex on Saturday 8 January 2022.

Skipper Anthony Muki Kimani and Sven Yidah scored in the 31st and 36th minutes, respectively, as FC Talanta got their consolation through Francis Kahiro in the 79th minute in the round 13 FKF Premier League clash.

The scores could have been different had City Stars not clipped the upright and/or crossbar three times, and had left back Dennis Decha Wanjala not headed out a Talanta shot off a corner at the line in the third minute of added time.

The win was a bounce-back for City Stars after a 1-0 loss in their previous assignment against AFC Leopards that sees the side move up from fifth to third with 23 points.

On the other hand, it was a reversal of fortunes for FC Talanta who came to the game on the back of a massive 1-0 win in Bukhungu that ended Kakamega Homeboyz unblemished run in the league.

As early as the second minute, City Stars, fielding three changes from the last game, believed they had scored when Sven Yidah put his head to a perfect John Kamau delivery from a corner.

The ball rammed the undersigned of the crossbar and seemingly diverted inward but the referee made no call after Talanta keeper Isaiah Wakasala picked the ball before it bounced on the surface.

Within the next four minutes either side wasted a corner each and in the seventh minute overlapping City Stars fullback Kevin Chumsy Okumu raced up the channel to serve Kamau with a perfect cross but his header was feeble and only ended up with Wakasala.

By the eleventh minute FC Talanta had forced two corners and in between Michael Bodo had a low shot for goal go just off.

By the quarter-hour mark, City Stars had two unaccounted freekicks by returning Peter Pinchez Opiyo and left-back Wanjala.

The exchanges would play out and in the 24th minute, the referee was forced to fish out a yellow card after Talanta stopper Nicodemus Malika aka Mariga checked Timothy Babu Ouma. Muki fired the freekick wide.

Two minutes later Muki almost atoned for his miss when, unmarked, he went for a low header to meet Decha’s free-kick only for the upright to deny him a goal. Another City stars freekick shortly after was also wasted.

The action then swung to the other end and Talanta should have gone a goal ahead had Hassan Mohammed, left unmarked in the box, shockingly shot at City Stars keeper Jacob Osano when it was easier to score.

That near-miss led to a no-miss by City Stars moments later when Chumsy swung the ball the other way, stormed into the box to square the ball to Ezekiel Odera who then laid it up for Muki to fire home the opener in the 31st minute, his fourth goal this season.

Five minutes later, Babu forced a corner that Opiyo drove to the box. A failed clearance left the ball on Sven’s feet who then fired it home for City Stars

In the buildup to the goal, FC Talanta lost left-back Evans Maliachi to an injury and he had to be replaced by Eric Wanjala.

The second half saw Talanta enter the game with purpose as by back-to-back crosses into the City Starsbox especially from the right by Georson Likono and Alvin Ochieng.

Two minutes after the hour mark Babu gave way to speedster Rodgers Okuse Okumu and six minutes later Talanta double changed bringing on Enock Momanyi and Kevinton Machika for Maurice Dukuly and Georson Likono, respectively.

Five minutes later Talanta added firepower upfront with the introduction of striker Brian Yakhama for Hassan Mohammed.

In between the changes, either side had wasted a corner and City Stars keeper Osano had seen yellow for taking his time before a goal kick.

Substitute Wanjala of Talanta also went to the referee’s book in the 67th minute for a shove on Odera on the line as stopper Shela Mandela got carded for mouthing the referee for awarding a freekick after the same Odera was fouled at the edge of the box.

Odera left the pitch soon after with Erick Ombija coming on for his first game after skipping the last seven due to injury and illness. He was accompanied by Oliver Maloba who took up Kamau’s place.

The resultant freekick taken by Opiyo ricocheted off the crossbar and back in play.

Two minutes later the ball was on the other end and a good cross foul into the box failed to receive a clearance that Kahiro pounced on to score for Talanta.

Not too long after the ball was on the other side and a Maloba drive and pass found Okuse who, from close range, fired at goal only for, once again, the ball to come off the crossbar and back in play.

The game had a very nervy ending as Talanta threw everything at Simba wa Nairobi.

At that point defensive-mid Charles Chale Otieno came in for Muki to help defend

The final action could have changed the score but City Stars will have to thank Decha for a line clearance off a Kahiro shot from one final corner by Talanta.

With 23 points and a third placing, City Stars takes a week’s rest before taking on defending champions Tusker in Ruaraka on Saturday 15 January 2022 starting 3 pm.

Lineups

FC Talanta: 30. Isaiah Wakasala, 24. Alvin Ochieng, 3. Evans Maliachi (6. Eric Lusala-39), 22. Nicodemus Malika, 9. Shela Mandela, 28. Maurice Dukuly (8. Enock Machuka-68), 29. Francis Kahiro, 2. Michael Bodo, 20. Hassan Mohammed (14. Brian Yakhama-73), 23. Edwin Lavatsa, 12. Georson Likono (19. Kevinton Machika-68)

Unused Subs: 25. James Omusinde, 15. Eugene Ambulwa, 21. Rodgers Mathew,

Coach: Ken Kenyatta

Nairobi City Stars: 16. Jacob Osano, 19. Kevin Okumu, 12. Edwin Buliba, 26. Dennis Wanjala (28. Herit Mungai-84), 18. Sven Yidah, 10. Peter Opiyo, 30. Anthony Kimani-Captain(3. Charles Otieno-87), 20. Timothy Noor Ouma (7. Rodgers Okumu-62), 15. John Kamau (21. Oliver Maloba-76), 32. Ezekiel Odera, (24. Erick Ombija-76),

Unused subs: 23. Stephen Njunge (GK), 8. Calvin Masawa, 5. Michael Madoya, 4. Salim Abdalla, 27. Lennox Ogutu,

Out: 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 6. Ronney Kola (all injured), 1. Elvis Ochoro, 29. Ebrima Sanneh, 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo, 9. Vincent Otieno Okoth, 14. Rowland Makati, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 11. Davis Agesa, 17. Nicholas Kipkirui

Coach: Nicholas Muyoti

Yellow cards

FC Talanta: 22. Nicodemus Malika (24), 6. Eric Wanjala (69), Shela Mandela (75),
City Stars: 18. Sven Yidah (43), Jacob Osano (65)

Goals

FC Talanta: 29. Francis Kahiro (79)
Nairobi City Stars: 30. Anthony Kimani (31), Sven Yidah (36)

07 Jan 2022
NCS, Team News Permalink
Talanta, City Stars
Ebrima Sanneh in a game against FC Talanta at Camp Toyoyo on Sat 8 Nov 2019. He scored a late penalty for a 1-0 win

Head-to-head: FC Talanta (H) vs Nairobi City Stars (A): 2021/22 FKF Premier League season

January 7, 2022

FC Talanta and Nairobi City Stars will, for the first time ever, meet in the Premier League during a matchday 13 tie at the Kasarani Annex on Saturday 8 January 2022 starting 3 pm.

FC Talanta joined the Premier League this season after winning the National Super League (NSL) at the close of last season to join Nairobi City Stars who achieved the same the season before.

Though unfamiliar foes in the top flight, FC Talanta and City Stars faced off seven times in the NSL across 2017, 2018, 2018/19, and 2019/20 seasons.

City Stars won four of those games, lost two, and one was drawn. All those games were played at Camp Toyoyo.

But it’s a whole new level, and setting, as the two train their guns on the upcoming showdown at a new venue – Kasarani Annex.

Into the game, after playing 12 games each so far, City Stars sits fifth in the 18-team log with 20 points and are just ahead of sixth-placed FC Talanta on goal difference.

FC Talanta, coached by Ken Kenyatta, comes to the game on the back of a 1-0 win that ended  Kakamega Homeboyz unbeaten check into the season as City Stars, under coach Nicholas Muyoti, is reeling from a similar fall from AFC Leopards in their last assignment.

Who wins this one?

Summary

KPL games: None

07 Jan 2022
NCS, Team News Permalink
Erick Ombija, City Stars
Erick Ombija in full celebration, and hugged by Timothy Ouma, following his goal against Bidco United at the Thika Stadium on Sun 24 Oct 2021. City Stars won the game 2-0

Ombija returns for Talanta showdown

January 7, 2022

Forward Erick Ombija, midfielder Peter Opiyo, and stopper Lennox Ogutu are the three notable changes as Nairobi City Stars plot for FC Talanta at Kasarani Annex on Saturday 8 January 2021 starting 3 pm.

The three are in for the historic game, a first-ever in the premier league against the promoted FC Talanta, after taking up the places of Nicholas Kipkirui, Kenedy Onyango, and Davis Agesa who all featured in the last game against AFC Leopards.

Both Kipkirui and Onyango picked up injuries in that game while Agesa takes a rest after featuring in the last eleven straight games.

Ombija, carrying a goal and two assists from the first five games of the season, last featured in the league for City Stars since the game against Posta Rangers in Thika at the end of October 2020.

He was forced to miss out on the last seven games due to injury and sickness.

Ogutu is back in the 20-man squad after skipping the last two games against Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards while Opiyo is back after only sitting out the last game.

20-man squad to face AFC Leopards

Goalkeepers: 16. Jacob Osano, 23. Stephen Njunge

Defenders: 26. Dennis Wanjala, 19. Kevin Okumu, 4. Salim Abdallah, 8. Calvin Masawa, 28. Herit Mungai, 12. Edwin Buliba, 27. Lennox Ogutu,

Midfielders: 30. Anthony Kimani-captain, 20. Timothy Ouma, 18. Sven Yidah, 3. Charles Otieno, 7. Rodgers Okumu, 21. Oliver Maloba, 5. Michael Madoya, 15. John Kamau, 10. Peter Opiyo,

Strikers: 32. Ezekiel Odera, 24. Erick Ombija,

Out: 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 6. Ronney Kola, 1. Elvis Ochoro, 29. Ebrima Sanneh, 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 14. Rowland Makati, 9. Vincent Otieno Okoth, 17. Nicholas Kipkirui, 11. Davis Agesa,

05 Jan 2022
NCS, Team News Permalink
City Stars, Leopards
City Stars vs AFC Leopards during an FKF Premier League game on Wed 5 Jan 2022. Leopards won it 1-0

Nairobi City Stars 0 AFC Leopards 1

January 5, 2022

Visiting AFC Leopards snatched all points from Nairobi City Stars after registering a 1-0 win during a 12th round FKF Premier League tie played in Nyayo Stadium on Wednesday 5 January 2022.

A Maxwell Otieno goal three minutes after the restart proved the difference in the game of very few chances.

Five minutes into the game, Nairobi City Stars could have been 1-0 up when Nicholas Kipkirui broke into the box from the left and outwitted his markers, then rounded keeper Levis Opiyo only to fire wide.

Kipkirui was at it in the 20th minute but his shot on target was contained by keeper Opiyo as he punched the danger back in play.

Six minutes later Washington Munene floated a freekick into the City Stars box only for stopper Kenedy Vidic Onyango to clear out the danger.

Two minutes later Vidic was on the other end of the pitch to connect to a Dennis Decha Wanjala cross but his shot for the near post went wide.

Within a span of four minutes, Munene had another freekick attempt that went straight to City Stars keeper Jacob Osano as the home team had one of their own by skipper Anthony Muki Kimani end up on the opposite keeper Opiyo.

In between the two dead balls, City Stars stopper Onyango was slapped with a yellow card for a challenge on Leopards forward Oluniyi.

With seven minutes left to the breather, Osano pulled a major save as he parried away a hard drive from an unmarked Olaniyi atop the box.

In the last few minutes to halftime, Kipkirui was slapped with a yellow card for a high challenge on a Leopards defender. A minute later he fired out a pass from Ezekiel Odera.

A wayward lob on goal by City Stars right-back Kevin Chumsy Okumu, and a wasted corner by Leopards, closed the first stanza.

Minutes into the second half, a floated ball from the left by Munene into the box found Mukangula who presented a layup for an unmarked Maxwell to fire home what turned out to be the only goal of the game.

Eight minutes later, Maxwell sneaked behind stopper Edwin Buliba on the right only to register a near-miss as his shot ricocheted off the crossbar and back in play.

In between his goal and his second attempt, Leopards had forced two corners that City Stars did well to clear.

In the 57th minute City Stars had the dead ball call off the box but Muki fired it wide.

As the clock struck the hour mark, Leopards brought in Peter Ng’ang’a for Eugene Mukangula and two minutes later City Stars responded with the arrival of Oliver Maloba and Davis Agesa for Timothy Babu Ouma and Rodgers Okuse Okumu, respectively.

The next ten minutes saw either side waste a freekick each, as Leopards skipper Marvin Omondi entered the referee’s book after some shirt tagging on a City Stars player.

On 73 minutes, City Stars forced a corner that yielded two other successive ones, but all could not deliver an equalizer.

Leopards were to throw away a corner of their own four minutes later as they invited Saad Musa into play for Olaniyi who took a rest.

In the 84th minute, Saad could have doubled matters when Leopards built a counter-attack but just before he could pull the trigger, a cross covering Sven Yidah and Buliba mugged the ball off him to arrest the danger.

The rest of the minutes saw City Stars seek the elusive leveler but all efforts, including a freekick from Herit Mungai who came for left-back Wanjala, failed to disturb Leopards.

The game was to end with Leopards collecting their fifth win from eleven games hosted by Nairobi City Stars.

Despite the loss, Simba wa Nairobi maintained the fifth spot in the 18-team log with 20 points from 12 games as Ingwe rose by a position to settle at 13th spot with as many points.

Next up for City Stars is an away game to promoted FC Talanta at Kasarani Annex on Saturday 8 January 2022 starting at 3 pm.

Lineups

Nairobi City Stars: 16. Jacob Osano, 19. Kevin Okumu, 12. Edwin Buliba, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 26. Dennis Wanjala (28. Herit Mungai-84), 18. Sven Yidah 30. Anthony Kimani-Captain, 20. Timothy Noor Ouma (21. Oliver Maloba-60), 32. Ezekiel Odera, 7. Rodgers Okumu (11. Davis Agesa-60), 17. Nicholas Kipkirui (15. John Kamau-86)

Unused subs: 23. Stephen Njunge (GK), 8. Calvin Masawa, 5. Michael Madoya, 4. Salim Abdalla, 3. Charles Otieno

Out: 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 6. Ronney Kola (all injured), 24. Erick Ombija, 1. Elvis Ochoro, 29. Ebrima Sanneh, 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo, 9. Vincent Otieno Okoth, 27. Lennox Ogutu, 14. Rowland Makati, 10. Peter Opiyo

Coach: Nicholas Muyoti

AFC Leopards: 32. Levis Opiyo, 22. Collins Shivachi, 3. Washington Munene, 4. Joachim Oluoch, 21. Daniel Musamali, 8. Brian Wanyama, 26. Marvin Omondi – Captain, 14. Ojo Olaniyi (40. Saad Musa-78), 29. Maxwell Otieno, 19. Eugene Mukangula (Peter Ng’ang’a-60)

Unused subs: Maxwell Mulili, Robert Mudenyu, Eric Mbithi, Giovanni Lukhumwa, Dan Sunguti, Mboya, Zachary Njite

Coach: Patrick Aussems

Yellow cards

Nairobi City Stars: 25. Kenedy Onyango (30), 17. Nicholas Kipkirui (38)
AFC Leopards: 26. Marvin Omondi (70)

Goals: 29.Maxwell Otieno (48)

04 Jan 2022
NCS, Team News Permalink
Bolton Omwenga
Bolton Omwenga vs Leopards' Mugheni on 8 March 2021 at Kasarani Annex

Head-to-head: Nairobi City Stars (H) vs AFC Leopards (A): 2021/22 FKF Premier League season

January 4, 2022

Spoils have never been shared when Nairobi City Stars hosts AFC Leopards in the Premier League.

That is the standout as Simba wa Nairobi gears to face Ingwe in their twelfth game of the 2021/22 FKF Premier League game in Nyayo Stadium on Wednesday 5 January 2022 starting at 3 pm.

It will be the eleventh time that Nairobi City Stars hosts Leopards in the topflight since the year 2006.

From the previous ten home games, City Stars has seen off Leopards six times and lost the other four in the process outscoring their opponents 12 goals to eight.

The two teams will be returning to duel at Nyayo for just the fifth time, but for the first time since April 2016 where City Stars came out 1-0 winners thanks to an Oscar Mbugua goal in the 65th minute.

The games held at Nyayo, as hosted by City Stars are shared with each winning twice and losing as many.

Heading to the upcoming game, City Stars carries a 2-0 win from the same venue over Gor Mahia, as Leopards comes to the game having picked a vital point in a 2-2 draw with high flying Kakamega Homeboyz.

At the touchline, Leopards will have the instructions of Patrick Aussems. He will be coming up against a third Nairobi City Stars head coach in under a year. This time it’s Nicholas Muyoti, a former AFC Leopards captain and assistant coach.

Aussems was up against Bosnian Sanjin Alagic and City Stars legend John Amboko during the first and second legs of last season.

Which team takes this one?

KPL home games vs AFC Leopards; 10 – Wins (6), Draws (0), Loses (4)

*Denotes games played at Nyayo Stadium

28-May-06; World Hope vs Leopards, 1-0 (W)
7-Feb-09; City Stars vs Leopards, 2-0 (W)
28-Aug-10; City Stars vs Leopards, 0-1 (L)
*17-Apr-11; City Stars vs Leopards, 1-2 (L)
*5-May-12; City Stars vs Leopards, 3-0 (W)
5-May-13; City Stars vs Leopards, 2-1 (W)
*23-Jul-14; City Stars vs Leopards, 0-2 (L)
21-Mar-15; City Stars vs Leopards, 0-1 (L)
*3-Apr-16; City Stars vs Leopards, 1-0 (W)
2-Aug-21; City Stars vs Leopards, 2-1 (W)
5-Jan-22; City Stars vs Leopards, ??

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