17 Aug 2021
NCS, Team News Permalink
City Stars
Elvis Ronack eyes the ball on Nicholas Kipkirui's during a Nzoia United - Nairobi City Stars game at Narok Stdium on Fri 25 June 2021. City Stars won it 1-0

Narok to host City Stars season-ender

August 17, 2021

Nairobi City Stars matchday 34 against KCB, the final game in the 2020/21 season, will be held at the Narok Stadium on Sunday 22 August 20221 starting 3 pm.

The City Stars – KCB clash is one of seven on the cards on the final day. And all those games must kick off simultaneously.

“We have planned for round 34 matches on the same DAY and TIME on Sunday 22nd August 2021. Your club is the host and therefore required to secure the venue and communicate with us early next week (by Tuesday 17th August 2021) to avoid the last-minute rush,”

“Please note there will be no doubleheaders matches on that day.” was part of a communique from FKF Premier League secretariat to the club CEO’s

Hosting KCB in Narok means City Stars ends the season as it started having played Nzoia Sugar at the same venue in their season opener on Sun 29 November 2020. That historic game ended in a 2-0 win in favor Simba wa Nairobi.

The team returned to the same facilities as a guest to the same Nzoia Sugar on 25 June 2021 during matchday 22. Nzoia were forced to shift to Narok following partial lockdown of their county due to a surge in coronavirus numbers. City Stars won that game 1-0.

“Lately we have been using Ruaraka as our home ground but with the home team Tusker hosting a game on the final day, we were left with little choice but to move out of town,”

“The other alternates such as Utalii and Thika Stadium as well as ASK showground in Nakuru are all booked for that final Sunday.” said club CEO Patrick Korir

KCB won the first leg duel held at Kasarani Annex 1-0.

16 Aug 2021
NCS, Team News Permalink
FIFA Best
FIFA Best, with 8 Nairobi City Stars players in their ranks, won the Dennis Oliech Cup to take home Kshs 300,000

‘Babu’ inspires FIFA Best to Cup, Kshs 300,000 bounty

August 16, 2021

An early brace from Nairobi City Stars Timothy Babu Noor Ouma handed FIFA Best a 2-1 win over Bundes at the Kenya School of Law grounds in Karen on Sunday 15 August 2021 to emerge the Dennis Oliech Cup Champions.

With the Cup came a cool Kshs 300,000 as prize money as the losers settle for Kshs 200,000.

The tournament, aimed at promoting behavior change as well as youth social-economic empowerment, was sponsored by lead gamer Mozzart Bet.

Fielding a list of Nairobi City Stars players that included Wesley Onguso, Herit Mungai, Anthony Muki Kimani, Erick Ombija, Noor siblings – Timothy Ouma and Elvis Ojiambo – as well as Edwin Buliba who came on in the second half, FIFA Best were off the blocks with quickfire goals before Bundes could settle in the game.

One other player Oliver Maloba was an unused substitute.

Four minutes into the game, Babu got the end of a defensive goof to poke home the ball past an advancing Bundes keeper for the opener.

Five minutes on, he cooled off a set piece with his chest before smacking home a left-footer to double matters.

Bundes, fielding Nairobi City Stars defensive-mid Charles Chale Otieno, however, regrouped and managed a consolation early in the second half through an overhead kick by Tony Baraza.

While FIFA Best took home the prized sum, Babu walked home with the top scorer award after adding on to his previous five goals in the tournament with his brace in the finals.

“We are proud our boys come out to help their club FIFA Best aiding them to the Cup. In turning out for the tournament we get to see their attachment and character to their community.” Said City Stars team coordinator Samson Otieno

For a place in the finals, FIFA Best had taken down Dagoretti HotStars that fielded, amongst others, City Stars attacking midfielder Rowland Makati, 1-0, as Bundes register a similar score over Mashimoni in the other semifinal.

14 Aug 2021
NCS, Team News Permalink
City Stars, Babu
Nairobi City Stars attacking mid Timothy Babu Ouma on the ball during the a round 32 clash against Posta Rangers in Ruaraka on Sat 14 Aug 2021. It ended 2-2

City Stars rally to draw Posta Rangers

August 14, 2021

A late Nicholas Kipkirui goal, in the fifth minute of added time, handed Nairobi City Stars a 2-2 draw against Posta Rangers in an FKF Premier league matchday 32 tie at Ruaraka on Saturday 14 August 2021.

City Stars took an early 13th-minute goal when Ezekiel Odera lobbed Ranger’s keeper Kevin Omondi after getting to the end of a Davis Agesa pass for the opener.

Ten minutes later Rangers were level when Eliud Lokuwam fired at the far post after the City Stars defence failed to clear a ball that found him unmarked in the box.

Four minutes into the restart Joshua Nyatini buried home a freekick to hand the visitors the lead all the way to that final minute when Kipkirui decided it would be a game of shared spoils yet again, for the fifth time in City Stars home games versus Rangers.

A floated Bolton Omwenga freekick deep in added time was headed back to the box by Salim Abdalla who was at the far post.

It got a connection by stopper Kenedy Onyango but bounced off the upright straight to Kipkirui’s path who then fired it home to tie the game.

For the rescue, and for saving City Stars from the jaws of defeat, Kipkirui was picked out as the man of the match.

With the draw in the penultimate game of the season, Nairobi City Stars maintains the sixth spot in the standings with a new haul of 45 points as Rangers dropped to 13th spot with 36 points.

Simba wa Nairobi will wrap the season against title-chasing KCB on Sunday 22 August 2021 in Narok starting 3 pm.

Lineups

Nairobi City Stars: 23. Stephen Njunge, 19. Kevin Okumu (29. Ebrima Sanneh-88), 4. Salim Abdalla, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 26. Bolton Omwenga, 18. Sven Yidah, 30. Anthony Kimani – Captain (2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo-57), 20. Timothy Ouma, 17. Nicholas Kipkirui, 11. Davis Agesa (15. John Kamau-79), 32. Ezekiel Odera (24. Erick Ombija-57)

Unused subs: 1. Elvis Ochoro, 8. Calvin Masawa, 3. Charles Otieno, 12. Edwin Buliba, 28. Herit Mungai

Coach: John Amboko

Posta Rangers: 34. Kelvin Opiyo, 3. Timothy Omondi, 18. Michael Apudo, 5. Kevin Ouma, 26. Suleiman Ngotho, 17. Bernard Ondiek, 7. Dennis Oalo (31. Georson Likonoh-87), 4. Joseph Mbugi – Captain, 25. Joshua Nyatini (8. Peter Ng’ang’a-80), 11. Eliud Lokuwam (9. Josephat Lopaga-69), 12. Francis Nambute

Unused subs: 21. Jairus Adira (GK), 40. Faina Jacobs, 22. Elvis Osok, 30. Steiner Musasia, 27. Clinton Kisiavuki, 6. Cavin Odongo,

Coach: Stanley Okumbi

Yellow cards: None

14 Aug 2021
NCS, Team News Permalink
Timothy Ouma, City Stars, Posta Rangers
Timothy 'Babu' Ouma gets the ball ahead of Posta Rangers' Josephat Lopaga during a friendly at the Jamhuri Park on Fri 7 May 2021. It ended 1-1

Five changes for Posta Rangers duel

August 14, 2021

From the squad that faced off with Mathare United in the last league game, and lost 2-0, head coach John Amboko has made five key changes ahead of the next game against Posta Rangers on Saturday 14 August 2021 starting 1 pm at Ruaraka.

Keeper Elvis Ochoro returns to the fold for Jacob Osano as forward Davis Agesa who was sat out injured comes on for Vincent Otieno.

Three players suspended in the last game; field skipper Anthony Muki Kimani, and defenders Kevin Chumsy Okumu and Salim Shitu Abdala are all back to take up the places of Azizi Okaka, Wesley Onguso and Wycliffe Otieno who dislocated his ankle in the last game.

From the squad that faced Rangers in the first leg, and drew 1-1, the changes are eight in total.

Wycliffe Otieno and Peter Opiyo both clocked 90 minutes in that game as Azizi Okaka and Oliver Maloba started and were later replaced by Vincent Otieno and Rodgers Okumu, respectively. All six will miss the upcoming game as well as Jacob Osano and Wesley Onguso who were unused subs then.

Other than Ochoro and Chumsy, the new faces for the reverse Posta tie includes strikers Ebrima Sanneh and Nicholas Kipkirui, left-footers Calvin Masawa, John Kamau and Bolton Omwenga, as well as defensive-mid Charles Chale Otieno.

20-man squad to face Posta Rangers

Goalkeepers: 1. Elvis Ochoro (GK), 23. Steve Njunge (GK),

Defenders: 26. Bolton Omwenga, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 8. Calvin Masawa, 28. Herit Mungai Atariza, 12. Edwin Buliba, 4. Salim Abdalla, 19. Kevin Okumu

Midfielders:  3. Charles Otieno, 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo, 20. Timothy Noor Ouma, 18. Sven Yidah, 15. John Kamau, 30. Anthony Kimani

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

Not considered: 6. Ronney Kola, 14. Rowland Makati (both on loan at Nairobi Stima), (injured), 16. Jacob Osano (GK), 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 7. Rodgers Okumu, 21. Oliver Maloba, 10. Peter Opiyo (all 4 injured), 5. Wesley Onguso, 27. Azizi Okaka, 9. Vincent Otieno Okoth

13 Aug 2021
NCS, Team News Permalink
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

Head-to-head: Nairobi City Stars (H) vs Posta Rangers (A)

August 13, 2021

On Saturday 14 August 2021, Posta Rangers will, for only the fifth time in the premier league, visit Nairobi City Stars in a matchday 32 tie to be held at Ruaraka starting 1 pm.

It will be Simba wa Nairobi’s penultimate match of the season, one in which they will be seeking a first-ever win over a rugged Rangers who have held them to four previous home draws in the last encounters in 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2016.

While the first and last of those games were held at City Stadium and Nyayo Stadium, the 2011 and 2012 games were hosted at Hope Centre. But for the first time ever, the two will face off at Ruaraka.

The first two games ended in 1-1 draws and the last two in barren draws meaning that both sides walk into the Saturday on equal footing.

In overall premier league games – eight in total – Rangers has two wins to City Stars one win, with the other five games ending in draws.

During the first leg tie this season, City Stars came from behind with a goal from Peter Opiyo to cancel out Jackson Dwang’s first half strike for a 1-1 draw.

Changes from the game then and now is in touchline personnel; Rangers was handled by Sammy Omolo and his understudy Pascal Ochieng while City Stars had Coach Sanjin Alagic.

That has since changed and Stanley Okumbi is the man in charge of Rangers while John Amboko is the one handling Simba wa Nairobi.

From the last set of games, City Stars is reeling from a 2-0 loss to Mathare United as Posta Rangers comes to the game with a point from a barren draw with Western Stima.

Table wise, City Stars is up fourth on the log with 44 points, as Rangers is 13-points adrift in 12th spot.

Who comes out tops in this one?

Summary

KPL Home games vs Rangers – 4; Wins (0), Draws (4), Loses (0)

28-Mar-10; City Stars vs Posta Rangers, 1-1 (D)

30-Jul-11; City Stars vs Posta Rangers, 1-1 (D)

19-Feb-12; City Stars vs Posta Rangers, 0-0 (D)

22-May-16; City Stars vs Posta Rangers, 0-0 (D)

Nairobi City Stars

Kenedy ”Vidic’ Onyango takes on a Posta Rangers player during a 7th round Premier League game on Fri 8 Jan 2021 at Kasarani. The game ended 1-1

Nairobi City Stars

Salim ‘Shitu’ Abdalla keeps tabs on Posta Rangers winger Eliud Lokuwam during a 7th round Premier League game on Fri 8th Jan 2021 at Kasarani. The game ended 1-1

Nairobi City Stars

City Stars striker Erick Ombija goes for the ball in a 7th round Premier League tie against Posta Rangers at Kasarani on Fri 8 Jan 2021. The game ended 1-1

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