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.

03 Aug 2021
NCS, Team News Permalink
City Stars
Nicholas Kipkirui celebrates a second goal for Nairobi City Stars in a round 30 game played in Ruaraka on Tue 3 Aug 2021. City Stars won the game 2-1

City Stars maul Leopards to set record

August 3, 2021

A goal on either half by Ezekiel Odera and Nicholas Kipkirui handed Nairobi City Stars a 2-1 win over AFC Leopards in a round 30 Betking Premier League clash played at Ruaraka on Tuesday 3 August 2021.

The win enabled Nairobi City Stars to set two new records of surpassing 11 wins and 43-points in a 30-game season set back in the 2009 season as the team finished in the sixth spot.

It was a record 12th season win that saw Simba wa Nairobi scale up to a record 44 points to settle at third.

Odera tapped home a cross from Bolton Omwenga in the 34th minute for the opener for a 1-0 halftime lead.

Leopards clawed back to tie the game three minutes after the hour mark with a sublime Washington Munene freekick.

Five minutes later, a ball from fullback Kevin Okumu that was first met by Timothy Ouma ended up in Kipkirui’s path who then fired a low shot home for what eventually earned all spoils for Simba wa Nairobi.

The game was cagey in the starting minutes but it is Leopards that had pressure on the hosts after forcing a corner and few throw-ins within 12 minutes.

A timid shot to City Stars keeper Steve Njunge by Elvis Rupia, after pouncing on a miscued ball from Bolton Omwenga, soon followed.

With good numbers in midfield, Leopards pinned down Simba wa Nairobi forcing four fruitless freekicks as the clock struck half an hour mark.

In the 32nd minute, Leopards keeper Benjamin Ochan let a ball slip towards goal; Timothy Ouma gave chase but to no good effect. He gave away a foul.

Within the next two minutes, a freekick by skipper Anthony Kimani ended up with Bolton far up the field and the left-back fired the ball to the box that received a flick from Odera for the opener.

Leopards response was immediate and two minutes later, Marvin Nabwire smacked the upright after getting to the end of a flowing move. From that near-miss, City Stars forced two corners that Leopards failed to account for.

Odera could have added the score minutes later but was caught offside once, then fired a Kipkirui pass just wide.

Had he been more precise, Harrison Mwendwa could have leveled matters for Leopards in the 39th minute but he fired wide while in the box.

The final three minutes to halftime saw Odera miss to place a free header when unmarked in the box after being picked out from the right by Kevin Chumsy Okumu.

A response on the other end by Marvin for Leopards, a wide shot, ended the first half.

At the start of the second half, Peter Thiong’o should have done better from a lost Bolton ball; but he shot wide.

City Stars then won two important freekicks but one by Bolton and the other by Muki were both wasted.

To manage balls from a packed midfield, City Stars coach John Amboko brought on Sven Yidah for Elvis Noor Ojiambo in the 55th minute.

Not too long after, Davis Agesa and Timothy Ouma made it to the Leopards box only to fire wide and straight at Ochan, respectively.

Two minutes after the hour mark Leopards brought on Austin Ochieng and Caleb Olilo for Harrison Mwendwa and Collins Shivachi, respectively.

Within minutes Olilo had tested Njunge with a shot.

A freekick from good range a minute after saw Munene dump the ball at the far right corner past a diving Njunge for the leveler.

But within five minutes Kipkirui restored City Stars goal advantage when he fired low past Ochan.

It was his last action in the game as he came off for Erick Ombija as Herit Mungai came on for Ouma.

The action continued within eight minutes of the goal as Odera – later named the games’ MVP – fired wide while in the box as Agesa drove low to force Ochan into a good save.

As expected, Leopards were dominant in the final minutes after bringing on Shaka for Munene.

Two back-to-back throw-ins from ingwe however failed to bring about the much-sought equalizer allowing City stars to carry the day.

With a second straight win that avenged a 1-0 loss to Leopards in the first leg at Kasarani, City Stars moves up two places from fifth as Leopards dropped to seventh with 41 points.

Next up for City Stars is a Saturday game with Mathare United at Ruaraka.

Lineups

Nairobi City Stars: 23. Steve Njunge, 19. Kevin Okumu, 22. Wyclife Otieno, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 26. Bolton Omwenga, 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo (Sven Yidah-55), 30. Anthony Kimani (Captain), 20. Timothy Ouma (28. Herit Mungai-70) , 17. Nicholas Kipkirui (24. Erick Ombija-70) , 32. Ezekiel Odera (9. Vincent Otieno-82), 11. Davis Agesa

Unused subs: 16. Jacob Osano, 8. Calvin Masawa, 12. Edwin Buliba, 3. Charles Otieno, 15. John Kamau,

Coach: John Amboko

AFC Leopards: 99. Benjamin Ochan, 22. Collins Shivachi (77. Caleb Olilo-62), 3. Washington Munene (13. Bienvenue Shaka-80), 15. Robert Mudenyu, 12. Isaac Kipyegon (Captain), 6. Tsuma Said, 7. Harrison Mwendwa (23. Austin Odhiambo-62), 26. Marvin Omondi, 10. Elvis Rupia, 8. Brian Wanyama, 14. Peter Thiong’o

Unused subs; 16. John Oyemba, 2. Yusu Mainge, 20. Dan Sunguti, 11. Hansel Ochieng, 24. Omar Somoebwana, 18. Bonface Mukhekhe

Coach: Patrick Aussems

Yellow cards

Nairobi City Stars: 32. Ezekiel Odera (36), 19. Kevin Okumu (44), 30. Anthony Kimani (68), 22. Wycliffe Otieno (74)
AFC Leopards: 26. Marvin Omondi (87), 77. Caleb Olilo (89)

→←