31 Dec 2021
NCS, Team News Permalink
City Stars, Odera, Maloba
Ezekiel Odera mobbed by Oliver Maloba after his goal against Vihiga Bullets on Sat 6 Nov 2021 in Ruaraka. City Stars won the duel 4-0

Gor Mahia 0 Nairobi City Stars 2

December 31, 2021

Ezekiel Odera and Anthony Muki Kimani struck on either half to hand Nairobi City Stars a 2-0 win over Gor Mahia on Thursday 30 December 2021 in Nyayo Stadium in their 11th match of the 2021/22 FKF Premier League season.

City Stars, buoyed by the return of five key players, had never beaten Gor Mahia in the top flight league since Jimmy Bageya’s 51st-minute goal delivered a 1-0 win in City Stadium on 9 April 2011.

But Simba wa Nairobi, playing a Premier League game at Nyayo Stadium for the first time since 11 September 2016, while hosting Western Stima, went ahead in the 40th minute when Odera sliced through two stoppers to meet a Timothy Babu Ouma float before firing past keeper Gad Mathews for the opener.

In the 71st minute Muki, on the pitch for just five minutes after replacing Davis Agesa, whipped in a perfect freekick past Gad to double matters.

The freekick was awarded after Gor Mahia left back Fred Nkata shoved Nicholas Kipkirui at the edge of the box. He was slapped with a yellow card for his crime.

The latest win, the fifth for City Stars over Gor Mahia in 25 attempts, pushes Simba wa Nairobi from seventh to third spot with 20 points, two more than Gor Mahia who are now down to seventh.

Inside the first ten minutes, City Stars captain on the day Peter Pinchez Opiyo, a former Gor Mahia player ten years back, had taken attempted two freekicks from outside the box. One went out and the other got to another Gor alumni Nicholas Kipkirui who headed straight at Gad in goal.

Gor’s response, one in between those two attempts and the other after, was a burst into the box from the left channel by George Blackberry Odhiambo who shot straight at keeper Jacob Osano, and an Austine Odhiambo shot at goal that won a fruitless corner.

On 14 minutes, City Stars left-back Denis Decha Wanjala floated the ball at goal but Gad did marvelously well to avoid a goal under the bar with a fingertip save for a corner that was wasted.

A minute later Austin whacked a freekick goalward that Osano did what Gad had done earlier to punch out for a corner.

In the 20th minute, a through ball by Odera found Babu in space, and into the box but as he planned to pull the trigger he was hacked down but the referee awarded no penalty. Odera’s immediate protestations earned him a yellow card.

Three minutes on, City Stars right fullback Kevin Chumsy Okumu flew up the right channel to square a low pass to Agesa in the box; he just failed to connect it home.

A freekick by Pinchez followed that piece of action plus a yellow card on stopper Kenedy Vidic Onyango as he gave away a freekick on the other end. Austin fired it wide.

At the half-hour mark, Odera drove a ping-pong at the edge of the box towards goal only for it to ricochet off the upright, for a sure near-miss, and to the safe hands of Gad.

Minutes later Odera broke into the Gor Mahia box only to be brought down. But again the referee waved play on.

With the clock reading 39 minutes, Gor had a freekick at the edge of the box but once again Austin sent it wide.

The next minute it was City Stars who went up 1-0 after Odera got in between two defenders to activate the scoresheet, a result that stood to halftime.

20 minutes into the second half, Gor Mahia stand-in coach Sammy Omolo, holding forte for the absent head coach Mark Harrisson, on-boarded a triple sub by sending George Blackberry Odhiambo, Peter Lwasa, and Jules Ulimwengu to the coolers as he brought on Benson Omala, Alpha Onyango, and Sando Yangayay, respectively, to try to turn things around.

Within the next four minutes, Gor Mahia had a shot on goal from James Kinyanjui that went straight to Osano. A wasted corner soon followed. Not too long after, substitute Omala attempted a header that went wide.

The next few moments saw Kipkirui fouled twice within seconds, but it is the second one by Nkata that earned a freekick which Muki floated with precision to double matters in the 71st minute

With 12 minutes left, City Stars flyer Rodgers Okuse Okumu took up the place of Odera who had picked a knock.

A few minutes later, Okuse chested down a ball and worked his way to the Gor box but he took the wrong option of shooting at goal – straight to Gad – instead of placing the ball to a free Kipkirui to his left.

In the next few minutes, Decha floated a freekick wide as Omala responded by breaking into the box to receive a cross only to sky the ball.

The final minutes of the game saw Charles Otieno take up injured Sven Yidah’s place in City Stars’ final substitution.

Gor was to end the game with a freekick that City Stars did well to block to register a sixth clean sheet from eleven games this season, and the first one against Gor Mahia since posting a 0-0 draw back on 4th August 2013 in Kasarani.

Lineups

Gor Mahia: 16. Gad Mathews, 3. Fred Nkata, 6. Frank Odhiambo, 33. Dennis Ng’ang’a, 12. Yusuf Mainge, 20. Ernest Wendo, 7. Austin Odhiambo, 10. Peter Lwasa (8. Alpha Onyango-61), 11. John Macharia, 5. George Odhiambo (22. Benson Omala-61), 25. Jules Ulimwengu (24. Sando Yangayay-61)

Unused subs: 1. Adama Keita (GK), 29. Caleb Omondi, 4. Joshua Onyango, 26. Philemon Otieno, 28. Victor Odhiambo, 21. Syndey Ochieng,

Nairobi City Stars: 16. Jacob Osano, 19. Kevin Okumu, 12. Edwin Buliba, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 26. Dennis Wanjala, 18. Sven Yidah (3. Charles Otieno-88), 10. Peter Opiyo – Captain, 11. Davis Agesa (30. Anthony Kimani-66), 20. Timothy Noor Ouma, 32. Ezekiel Odera (7. Rodgers Okumu-78), 17. Nicholas Kipkirui,

Unused subs: 23. Stephen Njunge (GK), 8. Calvin Masawa, 28. Herit Mungai, 5. Michael Madoya, 15. John Kamau, 4. Salim Abdalla,

Out: 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 6. Ronney Kola (all injured), 24. Erick Ombija, 1. Elvis Ochoro, 29. Ebrima Sanneh, 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo, 21. Oliver Maloba, 9. Vincent Otieno Okoth, 27. Lennox Ogutu, 14. Rowland Makati,

Yellow cards

Gor Mahia: Fred Nkata (70)
Nairobi City Stars: Ezekiel Odera (20), Kenedy Onyango (24)

Goals: 32. Ezekiel Odera (40), Anthony Kimani (71)

29 Dec 2021
NCS, Team News Permalink
Nyayo Stadium
Nyayo Stadium

Venue change alert: Gor to host City Stars at Nyayo

December 29, 2021

Multiple league champions Gor Mahia will host Nairobi City Stars at the Nyayo National Stadium – and not Kasarani as earlier planned – in an FKF Premier League match set for Thursday 30 December 2021. Kick-off time remains 3 pm

Nairobi City Stars were notified of the changes on the eve of the game following alteration from the venue managers, Sports Kenya.

Gor Mahia has since confirmed the same to Simba wa Nairobi via an email, which is based on a forwarded correspondence to their end from Sports Kenya that states in part;

“. . .kindly note that the above match will be played at Nyayo National Stadium and not at Kasarani as earlier planned.”

In receipt of the communication was club City Stars CEO Patrick Korir who said:

“The communication is clear that the game will be at Nyayo and not Kasarani. We have adjusted our plans accordingly in the wake of the foregoing.”

City Stars last played a premier league game at Nyayo Stadium on 11 September 2016, while hosting Western Stima.

The team was last hosted at the same venue by Gor Mahia on 15th Aug 2015.

29 Dec 2021
NCS, Team News Permalink
City Stars, Muki, Gor Mahia
Simba wa Nairobi skipper Anthony Muki Kimani shielding the ball off Gor Mahia's debutant Frank Odhiambo in a round 17 clash at the Utalii grounds on Sun 16 May 2021. Gor won 1-0

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

December 29, 2021

For a second time this year, Gor Mahia will host Nairobi City Stars in the FKF Premier League, this time at the Nyayo National Stadium on Thursday 30 December 2021 starting 3 pm.

The game was previously earmarked for Kasarani but had a late shift to Nyayo Stadium, a venue City Stars last played a premier league game back on 11 September 2016 while hosting Western Stima.

Gor Mahia last hosted City Stars at the Utalii grounds in mid-May and grabbed all points after a 1-0 win.

It will be Premier League game number 25 when Gor – City Stars face up on Thursday.

From the previous 24 games, Gor boasts the best record having won 12 to City Stars’ four. The other eight have been drawn.

In the 24 games, Gor Mahia has outscored Simba wa Nairobi 32-16 goals.

Scaled-down to Gor’s home games, such as the upcoming one on Thursday, Gor has posted seven wins in 12 games. City Stars has won three and the other two games have ended in barren draws.

Of note is that City Stars is yet to pick a win in games hosted by Gor Mahia since April 2011, and a point since May 2013.

Last time out when Gor hosted City Stars, Portuguese coach Carlos Manuel Vaz Pinto was in charge while City Stars was under the watch of Bosnian Sanjin Alagic.

Seven months later there will be changes on either side; Mark Harrison on the Gor Mahia side will be coming up against Nicholas Muyoti, the City Stars head coach.

Form-wise, Gor, and City Stars are carrying losses to the Thursday game. While Gor went down 2-1 to Kakamega Homeboyz in their last outing, Simba wa Nairobi had a narrow 1-0 fall to KCB.

Table-wise, Gor Mahia sits fifth in the 18-team FKF Premier League log with 18 points, one ahead of seventh-placed City Stars.

Summary

KPL games: 24 – Gor (12 wins), City Stars (4 wins), Draws (8)

 Gor home games vs City Stars

4-Dec-05, Gor Mahia vs World Hope, 0-1 (W)
21-Apr-07, Gor Mahia vs World Hope, 0-0 (D)
12-Jul-08, Gor Mahia vs World Hope, 1-0 (L)
10-Apr-09, Gor Mahia vs City Stars, 1-2 (W)
19-Mar-10, Gor Mahia vs City Stars, 1-0 (L)
9-Apr-11, Gor Mahia vs City Stars, 0-1 (W)
28-Apr-12, Gor Mahia vs City Stars, 2-1 (L)
18-May-13, Gor Mahia vs City Stars, 0-0 (D)
20-Feb-14, Gor Mahia vs City Stars, 2-0 (L)
15-Aug-15, Gor Mahia vs City Stars, 3-1 (L)
24-Jul-16, Gor Mahia vs City Stars, 2-1 (L)
16-May-21, Gor vs City Stars, 1-0 (L)
30-Dec-21, Gor vs City Stars, ??

29 Dec 2021
NCS, Team News Permalink
City Stars
Salim Abdalla on the ball as Nicholas Kipkirui and Kenedy Onyango look on during a round 17 clash against Champions Gor Mahia at the Utalii grounds on Sun 16 May 2021. Gor won 1-0

Quartet back for Gor Mahia duel

December 29, 2021

Nairobi City Stars head coach Nicholas Muyoti and his technical bench have made five changes to the squad that faced KCB in the last premier league game ahead of the match against Gor Mahia on Thursday 30 December 2021 at Nyayo Stadium from 3 pm.

Due to a flu outbreak, defenders Kevin Chumsy Okumu, Salim Shitu Abdala and Kenedy Vidic Onyango, midfielders Peter Pinchez Opiyo and forward Nicholas Kipchabet Kipkirui all sat out the game against the Bankers but are fully fit and a boost to Simba wa Nairobi against the multiple league champions.

The entry of the five means stopper Lennox Ogutu gives way at the back alongside midfielders Oliver Maloba, Elvis Noor Ojiambo and Rowland Babu Makati, and striker Vincent Jamaica Otieno Okoth.

Comparative to the squad that last faced Gor Mahia in the league in July in Ruaraka, and drew 1-1, changes in the playing unit amounts to six.

Stopper Wycliffe Otieno who made the bench in the July game, as well as Elvis Noor Ojiambo and forward Erick Jibaba Ombija, will also miss out.

Defenders Balton Omwenga and Wesley Onguso, as well as winger Azizi Okaka who have since exited Simba wa Nairobi.

Additions to the July squad include the left-footed trio of Dennis Decha Wanjala, Herit Mungai, and John Bombay Kamau who took up Kipkirui’s slot against KCB on the morning of the game.

Sven Yidah, who was out on CECAFA duty in July with the Kenya U23 squad, is in, and so is fast-rising stopper Edwin Buliba and midfielder Michael Madoya.

20-man squad to face Gor Mahia

Goalkeepers: 16. Jacob Osano, 23. Stephen Njunge

Defenders: 26. Dennis Wanjala, 19. Kevin Okumu, 4. Salim Abdallah, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 8. Calvin Masawa, 28. Herit Mungai, 12. Edwin Buliba

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

Strikers: 11. Davis Agesa, 32. Ezekiel Odera, 17. Nicholas Kipkirui,

Out: 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 6. Ronney Kola (all injured), 24. Erick Ombija, 1. Elvis Ochoro, 29. Ebrima Sanneh, 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo, 27. Lennox Ogutu, 21. Oliver Maloba, 14. Rowland Makati, 9. Vincent Otieno Okoth

17 Dec 2021
NCS, Team News Permalink
KCB, City Stars
Nairobi City Stars attacking mid Timothy Ouma challenged by KCB stopper Robinson Kamura during an FKF Premier League tie in Ruaraka on Fri 17 Dec 2021. KCB won the tie 1-0

Nairobi City Stars 0 KCB 1

December 17, 2021

Nairobi City Stars went down 1-0 to visiting KCB in an FKF Premier League clash played in Ruaraka on the evening of Friday 17 December 2021.

A freekick by David Ambulu, earned after he was fouled by stopper Lennox Ogutu outside the box, was turned home by a City Stars player with two minutes left in regulation time.

The late goal, the decider, earned sent KCB top of the log with 21 points as City Stars remained fourth on 17 points.

City Stars, missing up to six team regulars – Salim Shitu Abdalla, Kenedy Vidic Onyango, Peter Pinchez Opiyo, Kevin Chumsy Okumu, Nicholas Kipkirui, as well as super-sub Erick Ombija due to varied ailments –  were on the back foot in the early parts of the game as KCB went in search of early goals.

In the sixth minute, City Stars ventured into the KCB box and one of their old boys – Ezekiel Odera – miscued the ball wide. It landed on Oliver Maloba to the left. He swung the ball back to him but rather than head goalward, Odera chose to chest the ball straight at KCB keeper Gabriel Andika.

Minutes later KCB had a freekick but a searching ball to skipper Baraka Badi flew out. City Stars had a similar dead-ball the minute after only for Anthony Muki Kimani to sky the ball.

KCB had one of the best chances for goals in the 20th minute, but winger James Mazembe, who had a field day on the left-wing, sent the ball out of a cross by Badi.

There was a four-minute stoppage in the game in the 26th minute when, while going for an aerial ball of a corner, Odera and KCB’s Dennis Odhiambo bumped their heads and had to be checked by the medics.

While Odhiambo got a heavy bandage on his head, Odera would later exit the game four minutes into the second half – his place taken up by speedster Rodgers Okuse Okumu – and had to seek professional treatment after the game.

In the last quarter of the first half, City Stars got into the game and forced at least two freekicks and a corner. All were fruitless.

The action in the first part of the game came to an end with a Robinson Kamura freekick at the edge of the box that was earned when Simba wa Nairobi stopper Edwin Buliba clipped a KCB player with a ball clearance. It flew just above bar.

In the second half, Buliba started it off with a freekick heading straight to Andika. KCB would retaliate with a header by Derreck Otanga that went straight to City Stars keeper Jacob Osano.

Odera’s last action was a break into the KCB box to meet a Sven Yidah put-through. He scored with a left-footer only to be ruled offside.

Nine minutes after the restart, Davis Agesa won a free kick on the right-wing. Left-back Dennis Decha Wanjala whipped it into the box but it, shockingly, received no connection and bounced just in front of goal and out of play.

The very next minute, Osano in City Stars goal had to be his best to punch out a thunderous shot from Henry Onyango.

The interchanges would continue as the game wore down. With a quarter of an hour left, KCB coach Zedekiah Zico Otieno throw in Ambulu for a tiring Mazembe. That turned out to be the difference as, with the clock reflecting 87 minutes, he drew Lennox off the box and was hacked down to the left of the goal.

He dusted himself up to send the awarded dead ball goalward to force City Stars into bundling the ball home for KCB to bank all spoils and hit the summit of the league.

After KCB, up next for City Stars is an away game to record champions Gor Mahia in Kasarani on 30 December starting 3 pm.

Lineups

Nairobi City Stars: 16. Jacob Osano, 8. Calvin Masawa-Captain, 12. Edwin Buliba, 27. Lennox Ogutu, 26. Dennis Wanjala, 18. Sven Yidah 11. Davis Agesa (2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo-68), 30. Anthony Kimani, 20. Timothy Noor Ouma, 32. Ezekiel Odera (7. Rodgers Okumu-49), 21. Oliver Maloba (15. John Kamau-80)

Unused subs: 23. Stephen Njunge (GK), 28. Herit Mungai, 3. Charles Otieno, 5. Michael Madoya, 14. Rowland Makati, 9. Vincent Otieno Okoth,

Out: 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 6. Ronney Kola (all injured), 24. Erick Ombija, 4. Salim Abdalla, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 10. Peter Opiyo, 17. Nicholas Kipkirui, 19. Kevin Okumu (all sick), 1. Elvis Ochoro, 29. Ebrima Sanneh

Coach: Nicholas Muyoti

KCB: 22. Gabriel Andika, 8. Dennis Odhiambo, 5. Nahashon Nanyendo, 13. Robinson Kamura, 23. Baraka Badi – captain, 4. Michael Mutinda, 19. Brian Ochieng, 28. Michael Oduor (10. Samuel Mwangi-64), 20. Henry Onyango (9. Reagan Otieno – 75), 21. James Mazembe (26. David Owino Ambulu-75), 11. Derreck Otanga (24. David Simiyu-64)

Unused subs: 1. David Okello (GK) 2. Rama Mwenda, 7. Simon Munala, 30. Curtis Wekesa, 27. Harun Thomas, 29. Kilume Mohammed,

Coach: Zedekiah Otieno

Yellow cards

City Stars: 12. Edwin Buliba (43)

KCB: None

Goals: 26. David Ambulu – KCB (88)

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