07 Aug 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

City Stars falls to Mathare United

August 7, 2021

Mathare United saw off a makeshift Nairobi City Stars lot 2-0 in a round 31 FKF Premier League tie played at Ruaraka on Saturday 7 August 2021.

An early Clifford Alwanga goal in the tenth minute and freekick by Daniel Otieno in the s69th minute ended City Stars two-game winning streak as Mathare registered a third straight win to ease relegation worries.

It was Mathare’s eighth home win over City Stars in 13 games since 2004 as they avenged a 2-0 first-leg loss.

In spite of the loss, both sides retained their positions in the log; City Stars at third in the standings with 44 points and Mathare at 15th with an improved haul of 24 points.

Next up for City Stars is the penultimate game of the season against Posta Rangers in Ruaraka on Saturday 14 August 2021.

Lineups

Mathare United: 1. David Okello, 18. Kenedy Ochieng, 25. Norman Ogola (23. Lennox Ogutu-19), 20. Martin Ongori, 19. Anthony Otieno, 8. Alphonse Ndonye, 10. James Kinyanjui (7. John Kago-60), 3. Khalid Jumaan, 21. Clifford Alwanga (29. Chrispin Oduor-60), 13. John Mwangi (24. Klinsman Omulanga-76), 27. Daniel Otieno

Unused subs: 30. Job Ochieng, 6. Dennis Ochieng, 16. Stephen Ochieng, 26. Said Musa, 11. Tyson Otieno,

Nairobi City Stars: 23. Stephen Njunge, 12. Edwin Buliba, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 22. Wycliffe Otieno (8. Calvin Masawa-31), 26. Bolton Omwenga, 18. Sven Yidah, 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo (24. Erick Ombija-70), 20. Timothy Ouma, 17. Nicholas Kipkirui, 32. Ezekiel Odera-Captain (29. Ebrima Sanneh-81), 15. John Kamau (28. Herit Mungai-81)

Unused subs: 16. Jacob Osano, 5. Wesley Onguso, 9. Vincent Otieno, 3. Charles Otieno, 27. Azizi Okaka

Yellow cards

Mathare United: 8. Alphonse Ndonye (56), 13. John Mwangi (75), 1. David Okelo (84)
Nairobi City Stars: 12. Edwin Buliba (15)

06 Aug 2021
NCS, Team News Permalink
Babu, City Stars
Timothy Ouma of Nairobi City Stars in a game against Mathare United on Tue 2 March 2021 at KAsarani Annex. City Stars won 2-0

Head to head: Mathare United (H) vs Nairobi City Stars (A)

August 6, 2021

For the 13th time in 17 years, Mathare United will host Nairobi City Stars in the premier league, this time in a matchday 31 tie on Saturday 7 August 2021 at Ruaraka starting at 1 pm.

It will only be the second time that Mathare United will host City Stars at 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.

Mathare United last hosted City Stars in March 2016 at Nyayo Stadium in a game they went on to lose 2-0 from goals scored by Ezekiel Odera and Oscar Mbugua. At the end of that season City Stars was sent packing from the top flight to the second tier.

Five years later Odera is still in the mix for another showdown with Mathare United.

Ahead of the Saturday fight, Mathare United calls the shots in their home games against the lads from Kawangware. From the previous 12 games away to Mathare, City Stars has managed two wins, drawn three, and lost seven.

In those games, Simba wa Nairobi has scored nine times against Mathare’s 19.

Both sides have personnel changes on the touchline for the reverse.

During the first leg played at Kasarani Annex in early March 2021, Bosnian Sanjin Alagic and Salim Ali were the coaches for City Stars and Mathare United. City Stars won that game 2-0.

City Stars roar past Mathare United

That has since changed and John Amboko and Frank Ouna are the men in charge, respectively.

Both sides are on a high having won their last two premier league games.

But while Nairobi City Stars is up third on the log with 44 points, Mathare is down 15th less than half that tally, 21 points.

Who will blink first in Ruaraka?

Summary

KPL Away games to Mathare United; Wins (2), Draws (3), Loses (7)

11-Dec-04; Mathare United vs World, 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)

Nairobi City Stars, Bolton

Bolton Omwenga of Nairobi City Stars in a game against Mathare United on Tue 2 March 2021 at Kasarani Annex. City Stars won 2-0

City Stars, Muki

Anthony Kimani of Nairobi City Stars in a game against Mathare United on Tue 2 March 2021 at Kasarani Annex. City Stars won 2-0

06 Aug 2021
NCS, Team News Permalink
City Stars, Muki
Anthony Kimani of Nairobi City Stars in a game against Mathare United on Tue 2 March 2021 at Kasarani Annex. City Stars won 2-0

Three changes against Mathare United

August 6, 2021

Head coach John Amboko has made three changes from the squad that beat AFC Leopards 2-1 on Tuesday as he trains his guns for a showdown against Mathare United on Saturday 7 August 2021 at Ruaraka starting 1 pm.

Mid kingpin and field captain Anthony Muki Kimani is suspended as well as right-back Kevin Chumsy Okumu due to accumulated yellow cards.

Adding on to Amboko’s list of absentees is marauding forward Davis Agesa who picked an injury during the Leopards’ games.

The places of the three in the 20-man squad have been filled up by Azizi Okaka, Wesley Onguso, and Ebrima Sanneh.

From the squad that faced Mathare United in the first leg and won 2-0, the changes are eight.

Other than the replaced three; Muki, Chumsy, and Agesa, keeper Elvis Ochoro, and stopper Salim Abdalla who is out due to suspension

Flyer Rodgers Okuse Okumu who scored in the first leg, attacking-mid Oliver Maloba, and another midfield king Peter Opiyo are all out injured.

Their vacated slots have been taken up by Elvis Noor Ojiambo, John Kamau, Vincent Jamaica Otieno Okoth, Herit Mungai Atariza, and striker Nicholas Kipkirui, keeper Jacob Osano and utility back Edwin Buliba.

20-man squad to face Mathare United

Goalkeepers: 16. Jacob Osano (GK), 23. Steve Njunge (GK),

Defenders: 26. Balton Omwenga, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 8. Calvin Masawa, 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 28. Herit Mungai Atariza, 12. Edwin Buliba, 5. Wesley Onguso,

Midfielders: 3. Charles Otieno, 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo, 20. Timothy Noor Ouma, 18. Sven Yidah, 15. John Kamau, 27. Azizi Okaka,

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

Not considered: 6. Ronney Kola, 14. Rowland Makati (both on loan at Nairobi Stima), 21. Oliver Maloba (injured), 1. Elvis Ochoro (GK), 4. Salim Abdalla (suspended), 7. Rodgers Okumu (rest), 10. Peter Opiyo (injury), 19. Kevin Okumu & 30. Anthony Kimani (both suspended), 11. Davis Agesa (injured)

Nairobi City Stars, Vihiga United

City Stars forward Davis Agesa goes for the ball during a round 27 Premier League tie against Vihiga United at the ASK Showground in Nakuru on Wed 21 July 2021. The tie ended 0-0

Chumsy , City Stars

Kevin Okumu goes for the ball with Ulinzi Stars’ John Njuguna during a matchday 25 Betking Premier League tie at the ASK Showground in Nakuru on Sat 10 Jul 2021. Nairobi City Stars won the game 2-0

06 Aug 2021
NCS, Team News Permalink
Odera, City Stars
Striker Ezekiel Odera against former club AFC Leopards on Tue 3 Aug 2021. He scored once as City Stars won 2-1

Odera, Bolton in TOTW 30

August 6, 2021

Two Nairobi City Stars players; left-back Bolton Omwenga and striker Ezekiel Odera both made it to the team of the week (TOTW) at the close of matchday 30 during the ending week.

Bolton and Odera were a class act leading City Stars to a deserved 2-1 win over AFC Leopards at Ruaraka on Tuesday to move third on the log.

The two combined for the first goal in the 34th minute – Bolton sweeping in a cross from the left, off an Antony Kimani freekick, for Odera to tap in a classic goal.

Separately, Odera was named the most valuable player in the game.

Their entry to the team of the week follows Timothy Ouma and Stephen Njunge who landed in the first eleven at the end of round 29 following a 1-0 win over Tusker.

Nairobi City Stars, Bolton

Bolton Omwenga of Nairobi City Stars in a game against Mathare United on Tue 2 March 2021 at Kasarani Annex. City Stars won 2-0

05 Aug 2021
NCS, Team News Permalink
John Amboko, City Stars
John Amboko is sandwiched by former coach Sanjin Alagic whom he took over from in mid-July 2021. To the right is assistant coach Noah Abich

Odera: Amboko has our full support

August 5, 2021

Striker Ezekiel Odera has made a rallying call to coach John Amboko who recently took over coaching reigns from Sanjin Alagic.

Amboko has now been in charge of four games from which he has picked two crucial wins over Tusker and AFC Leopards and a draw against Vihiga United. One other game went Bidco’s way.

“The boys are giving maximum cooperation to Amboko plus giving their all in training as instructed by the outgoing coach Sanjin. And by that, results and good performances have started coming,”

“Coach John has kept the unity among the players like it was during coach Sanjin’s time and we are happy about that,”

“The relationship between the playing unit and the technical bench is superb. We are just enjoying football and helping each other achieve our objectives as players and as a club.” added Odera

Odera, City Stars’ top scorer in 2016 (four goals) and  2017 (11 goals), has scored in the last three straight premier league games to improve his tally this season in all competitions to four goals.

After breaking his duck against Bidco United, he scored the lone goal – a winner – against Tusker before firing home a classic opening goal in the latest 2-1 win over AFC Leopards.

He emerged as the City Stars MVP in the games against Bidco United and AFC Leopards.

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