14 Dec 2021
NCS, Team News Permalink
Pinchez
Mid kingpin Peter 'Pinchez' Opiyo celebrates one of his two goals against Mathare United on Sat 11 Dec 2021 in Ruaraka. City Stars won 2-0

‘Pinchez’ takes in Mathare United win

December 14, 2021

Peter Pinchez Opiyo broke his duck this season with his first-ever brace in Nairobi City Stars colors that aided Simba wa Nairobi to a 2-0 win over Mathare United during an FKF Premier League matchday nine tie in Ruaraka on Saturday 11 December 2021.


Pinchez, City Stars top scorer last season with eight goals, smacked home a perfect freekick won by Ezekiel Odera in the 20th minute for the opener then doubled matters in the 36th minute with a low drive off a Nicholas Kipkirui feed.

“It’s great to have scored my first goals, but mostly for the win. We really needed it after two games without positive results,” said Pinchez who went on to clock his first full game of the season

Prior to the Mathare game, City Stars had gone down 2-1 to Kariobangi Sharks then forced to a 0-0 draw by Nzoia Sugar. Both games were played in Ruaraka.

Back in August this year, City Stars was taken down 2-0 by the same Mathare, at the same venue, but on Saturday it was a reversal of fortunes.

They fired the first salvo, winning two corners inside the first four minutes, but later on, let Simba wa Nairobi into the game.

“Mathare really started brightly,” attested Pinchez before adding; “They pinned us but somehow we struck first, and that gave us a great boost to chase the second. All in all, we are grateful for the win.”

Pinchez could have easily ended up with another goal in the game had one of his other freekicks not echoed off the upright at the half-hour mark. Sven Yidah pounced on the rebound to score but it was ruled out for offside.


With all spoils from the Saturday game, City Stars stayed in the top four after the weekend games with 17 points, one point off the leading trio.

11 Dec 2021
NCS, Team News Permalink
Pinchez
Mid kingpin Peter 'Pinchez' Opiyo celebrates one of his two goals against Mathare United on Sat 11 Dec 2021 in Ruaraka. City Stars won 2-0

Mathare United 0 Nairobi City Stars 2

December 11, 2021

Peter Pinchez Opiyo fired a first-half brace that led to Nairobi City Stars 2-0 dispatch of Mathare United in Kasarani on Saturday 11 December 2021 during a ninth-round FKF Premier League tie.

Opiyo opened the scores with a sublime freekick in the 20th minute off the edge of the box that had been won by Ezekiel Odera.

He earned his first-ever brace in City Stars colors after receiving a Nicholas Kipkirui pass in the 35th minute. With a swift turn, he hit the ball low to the far post past a Mathare keeper Bryne Omondi.

Though on the losing end, Mathare started on a bright note forcing two fruitless corners off City Stars in the opening four minutes.

By the time the clock has hit ten minutes, Odera had tried had an unsuccessful shot at goal as stopper Edwin Buliba had a freekick straight at Bryne.

The next three minutes saw Danson Kago of Mathare fire straight at keeper Jacob Osano from the right as City Stars responded with Odera’s shot that bore a wasted corner.

Odera was to force a freekick in the 19th minute outside the box with a straight sight of the goal that Pinchez buried past Bryne for the opener.

Odera could have doubled matters three minutes later but his dinking header off a cross from the left by Davis Agesa flew wide.

By the half-hour mark, City Stars had failed to make use of a corner earned by Timothy Ouma, and had a freekick by Opiyo hit the crossbar. Pounce on the second ball by stopper Salim Abdalla yielded a goal but the referee called for offside.

A minute later City Stars had a direct attack on Mathare after Ouma drifted from the left inwards only to fire straight at Bryne. The move was off a counter after a Mathare corner was cleared.

With ten minutes to go, Opiyo had doubled matters after good communication – then a pass – from Kipkirui from the left. He grabbed his brace with a far-post effort.

The goal came on either side of Daniel Otieno’s tame shot on City Stars goal and a freekick that he had won and taken by Ken Ochieng ended up with Osano.

Action in the first half came to a wrap with Ouma firing straight to Bryne as Alphonse Ndonye of Mathare doing the same on the other end as his hard shot ended up with Osano.

The second half was a tale of missed chances for, especially, City Stars.

Within the first ten minutes left-back Dennis Wanjala had a freekick end up with Bryne as Ouma and Kipkirui both failed to hit the target while within sight of the goal.

Kago had the best two chances for Mathare, the first at the hour mark and in the 71st minutes but he fired the first, a freekick, straight to Osano then shot wide while in good space. He was to do the same right at the death of the game.

The first changes in the game came in the 68th minute when Daniel Otieno of Mathare had to be pulled out injured. His place was taken by Eugene Wethuli.

For minutes later City Stars introduced flyer Rodgers Okumu for Agesa as Oliver Maloba rested Odera.

Seven minutes later Charles Otieno and Anthony Kimani came on for Sven Yidah and Kipkirui, respectively.

With three minutes of the game to play, Osano was forced to a double save, first from Kago then the fresh Wethuli, in what eventually earned him his fifth clean sheet of the season in eight games.

After that huge moment, Muki – starter of the previous eight games – fired two good balls wide while in the box as Kago replicated the same with the final action of the game.

With the win over Mathare, Simba wa Nairobi scales up the log from the fifth spot to second with 17 points from nine games as Mathare stayed 14th with seven points.

Next up for Simba wa Nairobi is a home game against KCB in Ruraka on Friday 17th December starting 1 pm.

Lineups

Nairobi City Stars: 16. Jacob Osano, 8. Calvin Masawa-captain, 12. Edwin Buliba, 4. Salim Abdalla, 26. Dennis Wanjala, 18. Sven Yidah (3. Charles Otieno-81), 10. Peter Opiyo, 11. Davis Agesa (7. Rodgers Okumu-72), 17. Nicholas Kipkirui (30. Anthony Kimani-81), 20. Timothy Noor Ouma, 32. Ezekiel Odera (21. Oliver Maloba-72)

Unused subs: 23. Stephen Njunge (GK), 28. Herit Mungai, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 27. Lennox Ogutu, 19. Kevin Okumu,

Out: 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 6. Ronney Kola, 15. John Kamau, 24. Erick Ombija, (all injured) 5. Michael Madoya, 14. Rowland Makati, 1. Elvis Ochoro, 29. Ebrima Sanneh, 9. Vincent Otieno Okoth, 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo

Coach: Nicholas Muyoti

Mathare United: 1. Bryne Omondi, 18. Kenedy Ochieng, 20. Martin Ongori, 23. Victor Odhiambo, 19. Tony Odhiambo, 14. Meshack Muyonga, 8. Alphonse Ndonye – Captain, 6. Martin Nderitu, 15. Danson Kago, 27. Daniel Otieno (28. Eugene Wethuli), 13. John Mwangi

Subs: 30. Job Ochieng (GK), Tom Kangeta (GK), 4. Harun Junior, Brian Chege, Khalid Jumaan, 26. Said Musa, Douglas Kibet

Coach: Ezekiel Akwana

Yellow cards

City Stars: 18. Sven Yidah (67), 11. Davis Agesa (68), 3. Charles Otieno (82)
Mathare United: 18. Kenedy Ochieng (84),

Goals: Peter Opiyo – City Stars (20,36)

Masawa, City Stars

An elated captain Calvin Masawa over the moon as City Celebrated one of two goals scored by Peter Opiyo in a 2-0 win over Mathare United in Ruaraka on Sat 11 Dec 2021

10 Dec 2021
NCS, Team News Permalink
City Stars, Mathare United
Nicholas Kipkirui in action for Nairobi City Stars against Mathare United on Sat 7 Aug 2021 at Ruaraka in a match-day 31 Premier League tie. Mathare United won it 2-0

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

December 10, 2021

For the 14th time in 17 years, Mathare United will host Nairobi City Stars in an FKF Premier League matchday 9 tie on Saturday 11 December 2021 in Ruaraka starting at 3 pm.

The last such match at the same venue left City Stars beaten 2-0 by a vibrant Mathare United side buoyed by relegation fears.

City Stars falls to Mathare United

The upcoming duel will only be the third time that Mathare United will host City Stars in Ruaraka.

The first time was back in August 2007 when, while known as World Hope, City Stars won the game 1-0. Defender Donald Mosoti scored the winner.

In the August 2021 game, Mathare scored on either side through Clifford Alwanga and Daniel Otieno to carry the day.

Both sides carry a loss and draw to the game from their most recent league assignments in the ended week.

A 2-1 loss to Kariobangi Sharks and 0-0 draw to Nzoia Sugar, both at Ruaraka, are Simba wa Nairobi’s latest results while Mathare United carries a 2-0 loss to FC Talanta and 2-2 draw away to Kakamega Homeboyz to the game.

Either side has a change in touchline honchos; John Amboko and Frank Ouna were in charge for City Stars and Mathare in August, respectively, but their positions have since been taken up by two former Kenyan internationals Nicholas Muyoti and Ezekiel Akwana.

Tablewise, City Stars sits up fifth with 14 points as Mathare is 14th with half of Simba wa Nairobi’s tally.

Who wins the Saturday affair in Ruaraka?

Summary

City Stars KPL Away games to Mathare United-13; Wins (2), Draws (3), Losses (8)

11-Dec-04; Mathare United vs World Hope, 2-2 (D)
19-Mar-06; Mathare United vs World Hope, 4-1 (L)
5-Aug-07; Mathare United vs World Hope, 0-1 (W)
25-May-08; Mathare United vs World Hope, 2-1 (L)
18-Feb-09; Mathare United vs City Stars, 3-0 (L)
24-Jul-10; Mathare United vs City Stars, 2-0 (L)
9-Jul-11; Mathare United vs City Stars, 0-0 (D)
24-Mar-12; Mathare United vs City Stars, 1-0 (L)
7-Jul-13; Mathare United vs City Stars, 2-2 (D)
11-May-14; Mathare United vs City Stars, 1-0 (L)
5-Apr-15; Mathare United vs City Stars, 2-0 (L)
30-Mar-16; Mathare United vs World Hope, 0-2 (W)
07-Aug-21; Mathare United vs City Stars, 2-0 (L)
11-Dec-21; Mathare United vs City Stars, ??

10 Dec 2021
NCS, Team News Permalink
Okuse, City Stars
Match winner Rodgers 'Okuse' Okumu celebrates his winning goal with Oliver Maloba in Narok after a Nzoia United - Nairobi City Stars match on Fri 25 June 2021

Okuse back for Mathare United match

December 10, 2021

From the Nzoia Sugar clash on Wednesday, head coach Nicholas Muyoti has made a single change as he trains his guns on Mathare United on Saturday 11 December 2021 in Ruaraka starting at 3 pm.

Flyer Rodgers Okuse Okumu joins the 20-man squad at the expense of striker Vincent Otieno aka Jamaica who had made the squad in each of the last eight games so far.

Comparative to the squad that faced Mathare United at the same venue in August this year, and fell 2-0, the changes are eight.

Stopper Wycliffe Otieno who started then and exited the game with a dislocated ankle is out, and three other starters then; Bolton Omwenga, John Kamau, and Elvis Noor Ojiambo, are all out.

Substitutes then; Ebrima Sanneh and Erick Ombija, as well as unused substitutes Wesley Onguso and Azizi Okaka, besides Vincent Otieno, are all out.

Their places have been taken by new defenders Dennis Decha Wanjala and Lennox Ogutu and forwards Davis Agesa and Nicholas Kipkirui.

Other than Okuse, other midfielders returning from the game include Peter Opiyo, field skipper Anthony Kimani and Oliver Maloba.

City Stars squad to face Mathare United

Goalkeepers: 16. Jacob Osano, 23. Stephen Njunge

Defenders: 4. Salim Abdallah, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 26. Dennis Wanjala, 19. Kevin Okumu, 27. Lennox Ogutu, 8. Calvin Masawa, 28. Herit Mungai, 12. Edwin Buliba

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

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

09 Dec 2021
NCS, Team News Permalink
City Stars, Muki
Nairobi City Stars skipper Anthony 'Muki' Kimani skipping away from Nzoia Sugar leftback Vincent Mahiga during an 8th round FKF Premier League match on Wed 8 Dec 2021 in Ruaraka. It ended 0-0

Nairobi City Stars 0 Nzoia Sugar 0

December 9, 2021

Visiting Nzoia Sugar grabbed a vital point in Ruaraka on Wednesday 8 December 2021 after forcing host team Nairobi City Stars to a 0-0 draw during an FKF Premier League matchday eight tie.

Both sides came to the game on the back of immediate losses, City Stars having gone down 2-1 to Kariobangi Sharks at the same venue on Saturday as Nzoia had dropped all spoils after a 1-0 loss to Kakamega Homeboyz in Sudi on the same day.

12 minutes into the game Collins Wakhungu of Nzoia flew down the right wind only to fire at the side netting.

A response came two minutes later from Simba wa Nairobi skipper Anthony Muki Kimani who drove to the Nzoia box only to miss out on space to shoot after being closed down.

A minute later Nzoia had a freekick at the edge of the box. Wakhungu managed to get a corner from it, but it was wasted.

Three minutes on, City Stars were on the opposite end when perfect neat passes between Muki and Oliver Maloba had the latter in the box only for the ball to end up with Nzoia keeper Benson Mangala.

Those four instances set the tone for the game played on a perfect mid-week afternoon.

In the 27th minute, Bonface Kweyu of Nzoia fired a shot straight to City Stars keeper Jacob Osano, off a cross from the right, as they promisingly grew into the game.

Seconds later they threw away the most glorious of chances for a lead when, after beating all his markers and within meters of the goal-line, Lewis Barasa took a touch too many allowing City Stars defense to bully him out of the box.

The minutes towards half saw City Stars force several corners taken by former Nzoia fullback Dennis Wanjala. Time and again, the Nzoia backline mopped up the danger.

At the stroke of halftime, Nzoia was denied what seemed a sure goal after Salim Shitu Abdalla combined with defense partner Edwin Buliba – who completed the full 90 minutes on his first season game – to clear a ball off the line.

At the start of the second half, Nzoia hoped to atone for their missed chance just before the breather but a freekick from good range went straight to Osano. A corner that followed right after bore no fruits.

At around the hour mark, in a bid to add punch to his squad, City Stars coach Nicholas Muyoti brought in Nicholas Kipkirui and Timothy Babu Ouma for Davis Agesa and Ezekiel Odera, respectively.

Less than seven minutes later Nzoia countered the subs by throwing in Ken Wasike for Leonard Kasembeli.

Within four minutes after the change, Nzoia threw away two freekicks in between a good effort from Peter Pinchez Opiyo whose shot off a Maloba cross went wide.

In the 73rd Nzoia brought in Dan Wafula and Ian Simiyu for Wakhungu and James Kibande and moments later, Vincent Otieno came on for skipper Muki.

In the 83rd minute, Babu fired a shot from outside the box but it flew just above the crossbar. that effort came three minutes after John Mwangi had fired straight at Osano in City Stars goal.

A bit more dead balls from either side dominated the final minutes of the game but goalless it remained.

With a point, City Stars moved to fourth with 14 points as Nzoia, now winless in eight games this season, remains 17th with three points.

Lineups

Nairobi City Stars: 16. Jacob Osano, 19. Kevin Okumu, 12. Edwin Buliba, 4. Salim Abdalla, 26. Dennis Wanjala, 18. Sven Yidah, 10. Peter Opiyo, 30. Anthony Kimani (9. Vincent Otieno-76), 11. Davis Agesa (17. Nicholas Kipkirui-57), 21. Oliver Maloba, 32. Ezekiel Odera (20. Timothy Ouma-57)

Unused subs: 23. Stephen Njunge, 8. Calvin Masawa, 28. Herit Mungai, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 27. Lennox Ogutu, 3. Charles Otieno

Coach: Nicholas Muyoti

Nzoia United: 39. Benson Mangala, 27. Kevin Maliachi, 29. Vincent Mahiga, 5. Ian Karani, 28. Randy Bakari, 6. Bonface Kweyu, 25. Collins Wakhungu (12. Dan Wafula-73), 21. Joseph Mwangi (7. Elisha Wekesa-84), 11. Lewis Okelo, 18. James Kibande (24. Ian Simiyu-73), 32. Leonard Kasemebeli (14. Ken Wasike-63)

Unused subs: 15. Humphrey Simiyu, 17. Emmanuel Esekon,

Coach: Ibrahim Shikanda

Yellow cards:

City Stars: None
Nzoia Sugar: 21. Joseph Mwangi (25), 27. Kevin Maliachi (53), Boniface Kweyu (90+)

Decha, City Stars

Many thoughts for left-back Dennis ‘Decha’ Wanjala during an 8th round FKF Premier League match on Wed 8 Dec 2021 in Ruaraka during a game against his former employers. It ended 0-0

→←