Nairobi City Stars
City Stars midfielder Oliver Maloba on the ball in a 7th round Premier League tie against Posta Rangers at Kasarani on Fri 8 Jan 2021. The game ended 1-1

Maloba set for mid-October return

Attacking midfielder Oliver Maloba is expected to be back in training from mid-October, or thereabout, according to Nairobi City Stars team physio Brian Otieno Odongo.

Maloba missed the last six premier league games last season due to Kenya U23 team duty out in Ethiopia from where he returned with a thigh injury.

“He has been under observation by the national team Doctor as well as the team physio and is getting better as the weeks go by,” said team coordinator Samson Otieno

Odongo gave this update on his injury;

“He has been on rehab and has about three weeks to go. He had some pain on the affected area but that has been progressively reducing,”

“We expect him to join the rest of the team in training by mid-October,” added Brian

On his part, Maloba said; “I am recovering well and hope that I’ll be back in the projected three weeks as stated by the physio,”

Maloba registered 1,627 minutes last season starting in 19 of 25 games played.

He scored twice, picked as many MVP titles, and had an assist.

Betway Cup, Maloba

Oliver Maloba on the ball against Bidco in the quarters of Betway Cup on Thur 10 June 2021 at Ruaraka grounds. Bidco United won 1-0

City Stars, Maloba

Oliver Maloba takes on a Posta Rangers player during a friendly at the Jamhuri Park on Fri 7 May 2021. It ended 1-1

Lennox Ogutu
Central midfielder Lennox Ogutu completing his paperwork at Nairobi City Stars

Lennox the final signing

Stopper Lennox Ogutu, 24, is the third and final Nairobi City Stars signing in the current transfer window.

Ogutu penned a three-year contract and comes in from Mathare United where he had been for the last six seasons.

His arrival adds competitiveness to the backline that has four other stoppers; Salim Shitu Abdalla, Kenedy Vidic Onyango, Wycliffe Wiked Otieno, and utility Edwin Malebo Buliba.

“Lennox adds the coach more selection options for the coach as well as solidify the backline,” said team coordinator Samson Otieno

“Other than his physicality and ball handling, Lennox is also well known for attending to dead balls which is an extra that he brings to the team. We welcome him on board,” added Sam

On his part, Lennox said; “It’s a new challenge being in a new home and I am looking forward to having a good season and helping the team achieve something,”

Left-back Dennis Wanjala and attacker Michael Madoya are the other new faces at Nairobi City Stars.

Lennox will don jersey no. 27.

The complete 30-man City Stars squad for the 2021-22 season

Goalkeepers: 23. Stephen Njunge, 1. Elvis Ochoro, 16. Jacob Osano

Defenders: 19. Kevin Okumu, 12. Edwin Buliba, 27. Lennox Ogutu, 26. Dennis Wanjala, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 4. Salim Abdallah, 8. Calvin Masawa, 28. Herit Mungai, 22. Wycliffe Otieno

Midfielders: 6. Ronney Kola, 14. Rowland Makati, 7. Rodgers Okumu, 10. Peter Opiyo, 30. Anthony Kimani, 5. Michael Madoya, 20. Timothy Noor Ouma, 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo, 18. Sven Yidah, 3. Charles Otieno, 15. John Kamau, 21. Oliver Maloba

Strikers: 17. Nicholas Kipkirui, 24. Erick Ombija, 29. Ebrima Sanneh, 32. Ezekiel Odera, 9. Vincent Otieno Okoth, 11. Davis Agesa

Nairobi City Stars
City Stars left back Herit Mungai challenges a Homeboyz player during an eleventh round Premier League tie at Bukhungu Stadium on Sat 6 Feb 2021. Homeboyz won 2-0

Herit extends City Stars stay

Left-footed Herit Atariza Mungai will stay on at Nairobi City Stars for yet another season after extending his contract for one more year. 

Herit, a left channel operator, joined Simba wa Nairobi in October 2020 for the 2020-21 season from second-tier side Coast Stima.

“I am humbled to stay on for yet another season at Nairobi City Stars. I look forward to a better one ahead.” Said Herit

Team coordinator Samson Otieno was excited by Herit’s decision to remain at Simba wa Nairobi;

“He is a hard worker and humble player. He was key to the team at the start of last season and was impactful thereafter when called upon from the bench,”

“We are happy to have him for yet another season as he gives the coach more options to the left-back and left-wing positions.” Added Otieno

In the ended season, Herit clocked 1,060 minutes gathered from 17 of 33 games. He started 11 times and went on to complete nine of them.

Timothy 'Babu' Ouma
Timothy Ouma at Wundanyi Stadium on Sun 26 Sept 2021 in the opening game of the 2021-22 FKF Premier League season. He scored his debut topflight goal as City Stars lost the game 3-1

‘Babu’ revels in debut top-flight goal

Finally, teenager Timothy Noor Ouma aka Babu got his Kenyan Premier League goal. 

This was as Nairobi City Stars kicked off its 2021-22 FKF Premier League campaign on Sunday 26 September 2021 away to Sofapaka in Wundayi, Taita Taveta.

City Stars lost the game 3-1 but one of the positives from Simba wa Nairobi was Babu’s goal in the 86th minute that sliced the scoreline to 2-1 before the home team added a last one in added time to carry the day.

“Before the game, I had told the CEO (Patrick Korir) I was determined to kick off the season with a goal,”

“It’s a good feeling to have scored even though the team did not win the game,”

“That was just the opening goal and I believe there are many more goals in me to score this season.” added the Laiser Hill alumnus

Head coach Nicholas Muyoti added his voice to Babu’s historic goal;

“It was a very good goal from him. It showed a lot of confidence.”

In the Sunday game, Timothy was a second-half substitute for field captain Anthony Muki Kimani at the hour mark alongside Peter Opiyo and Erick Ombija who came on for his sibling Elvis Noor Ojiambo and Rodgers Okuse Okumu, respectively.

Last season Ouma featured in 24 of 33 games earning ten starts and went on to complete three games. He went on to clock 935 minutes in his first top-flight season.

He had three assists and was twice named the MVP in games against Tusker and Posta Rangers towards season-end.

Nicholas Muyoti
Nicholas Muyoti in Wundanyi during the 2021-22 FKF Premier League season opener against home team Sofapaka on Sun 26 Sept 2021

Muyoti: Losing start an eye opener

Nairobi City Stars had a false start to the 2021-22 FKF Premier League season after going down 3-1 to home team Sofapaka on Sunday 26 September 2021 away to Sofapaka in Wundayi, Taita Taveta.

It was a debut game for head coach Nicholas Muyoti who took over the reins of the team in the offseason.

While he was obviously disappointed with the result, Muyoti states the mistakes were duly noted and will be rectified before the next assignment.

“Bad start, but a very good eye-opener,” he said before adding; “We have time to work on our mistakes before our next match,”

“At least we managed to pull a goal back and I am optimistic that the next result will be positive,” he added

As per the league calendar, the league takes an international break after the opening weekend to allow the national team adequately prepare for two 2022 World Cup qualifiers.

City Stars next premier league assignment is on Sunday 17 October 2021 against promoted Kenya Police at Ruaraka starting 3 pm.