30 Jun 2021
NCS, Team News Permalink
Wazito, City Stars
Nairobi City Stars vs Wazito in a Premier League round 23 game on Wed 30 June 2021 at Ruaraka. Wazito won it 1-0

City Stars goes down to Wazito

June 30, 2021

Wazito ended Nairobi City Stars fine five-game winning streak with a 1-0 win at Ruaraka on Wednesday 30 June 2021 during a Premier league matchday 23 tie. 

A lone strike by Musa Masika at the hour mark is what separated the two teams for Wazito to complete a double over Simba wa Narobi. They won the first leg 2-1 at Utalii in early January.

Wazito forced the first set-piece of the game in the seventh minute, a corner, but nothing much came out of it.

The next minute, a good flow by City Stars saw pocket rocket Rodgers Okuse Okumu break into the Wazito box only to be caught offside.

Okuse’s speed led to the bookings of Wazito’s Vincent Oburu and right back Ronney Onyango on either half.

In the eleventh minute, Musa Masika fired a freekick from the edge of the box straight to his former keeper Steve Njunge City Stars goal.

A minute after the hour mark, Wazito forced a second corner. As was the case with the first, it was wasted.

Inside five minutes after the half-hour mark City Stars had three half chances; a Sven Yidah’s belter – off a Nicholas Kipkirui knockdown – went just wide, a Bolton Omwenga freekick went straight to the keeper Frederick, then skipper Anthony Muki Kimani failed to pick out Davis Agesa in the box.

As the first half wore on, it is Wazito that looked most dangerous as Wyvonne Isuza, coming from deep, ran unchecked into the box, only for Njunge in City Star’s goal to force a fruitless corner.

The next minute Elli Asiche attempted a drive on goal. It flew wide.

Six minutes into the second half, City Stars wasted a corner and freekick.

The action then moved to the other end when, in the 55th minute, Masika’s low drive ended straight at Njunge.

At the hour mark City Stars striker Davis Agesa could have open the scores only to miss placing a Muki freekick.

And three minutes later it was Wazito 1-0 up when Masika met a pass across the top of the box to place the ball on his left foot before firing past Njunge.

The goal brought in immediate changes as Wazito introduced Eric Otieno for Oburu, and City Stars coach Sanjin Alagic responded by bringing on Oliver Maloba for Okuse.

At the 70th minute, Kipkirui just failed to trigger the ball home from a Maloba cross and moments later a Muki attempt on goal, from just yards out, off a Kipkirui bicycle kick, earned a corner instead of a leveler.

With 13 minutes left, Wazito opted to defend their solo goal with a triple sub that saw the arrival of Fidel Origa, Dennis Sikhayi, and Kevin Kimani in places of Brian Musa, Rooney Onyango, and Eli Asieche, in that order.

For City Stars, Ezekiel Odera came on for Kipkirui, as Calvin Masawa took up the place of Edwin Buliba at right back.

Into the last ten minutes, City Stars had near misses that could have changed the game but an Agesa attempt and Muki freekick, all in the box, failed to cross the line.

Even an extra two strikers in the dying minutes; Erick Ombija and Ebrima Sanneh for Sven and Agesa, could not change the course of the game.

But as City Stars chased the game, one move by Wazito could have ended the game at 2-0, but luckily a Masika drive ricochetted off the woodwork.

From the loss, City Stars, on 32 points, dropped to seventh following other Wednesday results, as Wazito moved up two places to eighth with 30 points.

Next up for City Stars is a Mombasa game against Bandari at Mbaraki on Sunday 4 July 2021 starting 3 pm.

Lineups

Nairobi City Stars: 23. Steve Njunge (GK), 26. Bolton Omwenga, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 4. Salim Abdalla, 12. Edwin Buliba (8. Calvin Masawa-77), 18. Sven Yidah (24. Erick Ombija-83), 10. Peter Opiyo, 30. Anthony Kimani , 7. Rodgers Okumu (21. Oliver Maloba-67), 11. Davis Agesa (29. Ebrima Sanneh-83), 17. Nicholas Kipkirui (32. Ezekiel Odera-77)

Unused Subs: 16. Jacob Osano (GK), 28. Herit Mungai Atariza, 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo, 22. Wycliffe Otieno

Not considered: 6. Ronney Kola, 14. Rowland Makati (both on loan at Nairobi Stima), 1. Elvis Ochoro (GK), 3. Charles Otieno, 5. Wesley Onguso, 27. Azizi Okaka, 20. Timothy Noor Ouma, 15. John Kamau, 9. Vincent Otieno Okoth, 19. Kevin Okumu (could not play against parent club Wazito)

Coach: Sanjin Alagic

Wazito: 1, Frederick Odhiambo, 33. Joseph Odhiambo, 24. Maurice Ojuang, 44. Jonstone Omurwa, 88. Ronney Onyango (15. Dennis Shikayi-77), 50. Brian Musa (12. Fidel Origa-77), 11. Wyvonne Isuza, 16. Eli Asieche (36. Kevin Kimani-77), 7.Vincent Oburu (29. Eric Otieno-64), 25. Musa Masika, 9. Michael Owino (2. David Otieno-88)

Unused subs: 77. Bixente Otieno (GK), 39. John Odhiambo, Roland Ashimoto, 10. Boniface Omondi,

Coach: Francis Kimanzi

Yellow cards

City Stars: 18. Sven Yidah (58)
Wazito: 7. Vincent Oburu (15), 88. Ronney Onyango (55)

Wazito, City Stars

Nairobi City Stars vs Wazito in a Premier League round 23 game on Wed 30 June 2021 at Ruaraka. Wazito won it 1-0

Wazito, City Stars

Nairobi City Stars vs Wazito in a Premier League round 23 game on Wed 30 June 2021 at Ruaraka. Wazito won it 1-0

29 Jun 2021
NCS, Team News Permalink
Buliba, City Stars
Simba wa Nairobi's Edwin Buliba clears the ball ahead of Gor Mahia's Geoffrey Ochieng in a round 17 clash at the Utalii grounds on Sun 16 May 2021. Sven Yidah looks on. Gor won 1-0

One change against Wazito

June 29, 2021

There will be one change from the squad that faced Kakamega Homeboyz and Nzoia United in the immediate past two premier league games as Nairobi City Stars prepares to take on Wazito on Wednesday 30 June 2021 at Ruaraka starting 1 pm.

Utility back Edwin Buliba, who missed the last three premier league games, comes on for overall captain Calvin Masawa for the round 23 tie.

Buliba’s addition notwithstanding, there are six changes from the squad that faced Wazito in early January during round 6 of games.

Three teenagers; Elvis Ochoro – a keeper, striker Vincent Otieno aka Jamaica and attacking midfielder Timothy Ouma, as well as left footer John Kamau, winger Azizi Okaka and defensive mid Charles Otieno are all out of the return game.

Their places have been taken up by keeper Jacob Osano, Nicholas Kipkirui, Davis Agesa, Bolton Omwenga, Kevin Okumu who is on loan from Wazito, and striker Ebrima Sanneh.

Lead keeper Stephen Njunge, a former Wazito shot stopper, is in line to face his former side once again.

20-man squad to face Wazito

Goalkeepers: 16. Jacob Osano, 23. Steve Njunge

Defenders: 25. Kenedy Onyango, 4. Salim Abdalla, 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 26. Bolton Omwenga, 19. Kevin Okumu, 28. Herit Mungai Atariza, 12. Edwin Buliba

Midfielders: 10. Peter Opiyo, 21. Oliver Maloba, 18. Sven Yidah, 30. Anthony Kimani, 7. Rodgers Okumu, 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo,

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

Not considered: 6. Ronney Kola, 14. Rowland Makati (both on loan at Nairobi Stima), 1. Elvis Ochoro (GK), 3. Charles Otieno, 5. Wesley Onguso, 8. Calvin Masawa, 27. Azizi Okaka, 20. Timothy Noor Ouma, 15. John Kamau, 9. Vincent Otieno Okoth

29 Jun 2021
NCS, Team News Permalink
City Stars, Muki
Nairobi City Stars skipper Anthony Muki Kimani takes on Wazito's Dennis Ng'ang'a during a round 6 Premier League game on Sun 3 Jan 2021 at Utalii. Wazito won it 2-1

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

June 29, 2021

For the first time ever, Nairobi City Stars will host Wazito on Wednesday 30 June 2021 at Ruaraka, starting 1 pm, in a 23rd round Premier League tie.

The upcoming reverse tie will only be the second premiership match between the two.

City Stars lost the first leg tie played at Utalii 2-1. A Kevin Kimani brace in the first half earned the win as Simba wa Nairobi grabbed a late second-half consolation from Peter Opiyo.

City Stars will have head coach Sanjin Alagic at the touchline for the Wednesday game.

During the first leg tie, Sanjin was yet to return from his home base in Bosnia after the December festivities, and the game was handled by his assistant John Amboko.

Into the game, City Stars sits fifth on the log with 32 points from 21 games with a five-point buffer over tenth place Wazito.

29 Jun 2021
NCS, Team News Permalink
Steve Njunge
Nairobi City Stars keeper Steve Njunge warming up ahead of a round 22 Premier League game against Nzoia United at the Narok Stadium on Fri 25 June 2021

Njunge in TOTW 22

June 29, 2021

For a second straight match day, and for the fourth time this season, Nairobi City Stars goalkeeper Stephen Njunge was nominated to the Premier League Team Of The Week (TOTW), this time after matchday 22, played between Friday 25 and Saturday 26 June 2021.

Njunge’s heroics saw City Stars nick all points from home team Nzoia United after a 1-0 win triumph at Narok Stadium on Friday.

It was a second straight game that Njunge kept a clean sheet as City Stars followed up on a similar 1-0 scoreline against Kakamega Homeboyz the weekend before.

He was the outright MVP against Homeboyz which earned him a Player of the Week nomination for the second time this season after the first in Week 3. He emerged second.

In the Homeboyz game at Ruaraka, Njunge saved an early second-half penalty, an arrest that changed the tone of the game leading to the win.

— Betking Kenya Premier League (@Officialfkfpl) June 22, 2021

City Stars head coach Sanjin has commented on his steady rise ever since he joined Simba wa Nairobi in the offseason;

“Congratulations to Steve! In my opinion, he is the best goalkeeper in the KPL, with very huge potential,”

“He is a hardworking and disciplined player, a very humble and kind person, so I’m not surprised how he has developed this season,”

“I wish him to continue with his good performances so as to help us to achieve new victories,” added Sanjin

The soft-spoken Njunge has featured in all 22 premier league games for City Stars this season.

Nairobi City Stars

Keeper Steve Njunge during a the Western Stima game at Moi Stadium, Kisumu on Wednesday 23 February 2021 during a match day 13 Kenyan Premier League tie. Simba wa Nairobi won the game 2-0

OSano, Njunge

Nairobi City Stars goalkeepers Jacob Osano (Golden Poppy) and Steve Njunge (red) warming up ahead of a round 22 premier league game against Nzoia United in Narok on Friday 25 June 2021

Steve Njunge

Steve Njunge eyes the ball during a Nairobi City Stars – Western Stima clash in Ruaraka on Tue 15 June 2021. City Stars won the tie 2-1

28 Jun 2021
NCS, Team News Permalink
City Stars
City Stars players celebrate a long goal by Rodgers Okumu that earned a 1-0 win over Nzoia United at Narok Stadium on Fri 25 June 2021

City Stars run enlivens Sanjin

June 28, 2021

On Friday 25 June 2021, Nairobi City Stars hit home team Nzoia United 1-0 at Narok Stadium to register a record fifth straight premiership win to move fifth on the log with 32 points from 21 games.

Substitute Rodgers Okuse Okumu, signed from Coast Stima in the offseason, completed an Ezekiel Odera layup in the 87th minute for City Stars to complete a double over Nzoia having beaten them 2-0 at the same venue last year.

The win that set a record of straight wins in the top flight excited coach Sanjin Alagic who missed the game as he had had to travel back to Bosnia to receive a second coronavirus jab.

His able assistant John Amboko stepped up to his shoes and delivered.

“I congratulate my players and coaches for new victory, a fifth consecutive win which is a new record for NCS. I am pleased things are going good,” said Sanjin

He was however quick to point out that with back-to-back games, celebrations are already over and it’s time to focus on the next set of games.

“We don’t have time to enjoy our success. Matches are played every 3-5 days, so we must stay focused and dedicated to our job,”

“Every upcoming match will be even tougher so any type of relaxing is forbidden,”

We have an amazing run and I want to continue with the victories, match by match, starting from the next one, Wazito. We are ready.” he concluded

Previously, City Stars’ best record of wins – four on the trot – was back in 2006, 2008, and 2012, under coaches Robert Matano, John Bobby Ogola, and Gideon Ochieng, in that order.

With the record of five wins in his hands, Sanjin can now focus on the next game against Wazito set for Ruaraka grounds on Wednesday 30 June 2021 starting at 1 pm.

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