18 Jun 2021
NCS, Team News Permalink
Nairobi City Stars, Simba wa Nairobi
Nairobi City Stars players celebrate one of two Anthony Kimani goals against Tusker at Utalii grounds on Sat 20 Mar 2021. The game ended 2-2

No changes against Homeboyz

June 18, 2021

There are no changes to the squad that faced Western Stima on Tuesday as City Stars seek out Kakamega Homeboyz on Saturday 19 June 2021 at Ruaraka during a premier league matchday 21 tie starting at 1 pm. 

Head coach Sanjin Alagic has maintained the lot of 20 that delivered a 2-1 come-from-behind win over Western Stima at the same venue on Tuesday.

The squad remained as is after Herit Mungai, who forced a penalty that won the last game, maintained his spot for yet another game.

Though the squad remains the same from the immediate past game, there are four changes and one new addition to the 19-man squad that travelled to face Homeboyz in the first leg in early February for a game they lost 2-0 in Bukhugu Stadium.

Sven Yidah missed the first leg game due to a knee injury but is in for the upcoming one.

Overall skipper Calvin Masawa and field skipper Anthony Muki Kimani – nursing a shoulder injury then – are the other players that missed the fall in Bukhungu.

Striker Nicholas Kipkirui and right back Kevin Chumsy Okumu who were yet to join the club then, are the last two ‘new’ players in for the Homeboyz duel.

The new entrants take up the places of winger Aziz Okaka, striker Vincent Otieno aka Jamaica, defensive midfielder Charles Otieno and attacking midfielder Timothy Babu Ouma were all part of the first leg game.

20-man squad to face Kakamega Homeboyz

Goalkeepers: 16. Jacob Osano, 23. Steve Njunge

Defenders: 8. Calvin Masawa, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 4. Salim Abdalla, 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 26. Bolton Omwenga, 19. Kevin Okumu, 28. Herit Mungai Atariza

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,  12. Edwin Buliba, 27. Azizi Okaka, 20. Timothy Noor Ouma, 15. John Kamau, 9. Vincent Otieno Okoth

17 Jun 2021
NCS, Team News Permalink
Erick Ombija
Erick Ombija in action recently against Bidco United in the quarters of the Betway Cup at Ruaraka on 10 June 2021. City Stars lost 1-0

Ombija: We will fight to the end

June 17, 2021

On Tuesday Erick Ombija and Peter Opiyo scored late to complete a come-from-behind 2-1 win over visiting Western Stima at Ruaraka in a round 20 premier league game.

Interestingly, the two scored against the side during the first leg in Kisumu to deliver a 2-0 win in February.

Ombija’s goal arrived in the 85th minute before Opiyo added the second four minutes later with a penalty.

Western Stima led the game from the 39th minute after promising Rodgers Ouma tapped home a perfect pass from Baron Oketch who got to the end of a deep pass to initiate a counter-attack.

Ombija, signed from Gor Mahia in the offseason, admits his lever came at a critical time in the game to continue his fine scoring against the Westerners.

“I am humbled. I scored the goal at a very crucial time in the game,”

“On my side, I have to say I have had a good record against Stima as I have only failed to score once in the last four encounters,”

“I want to congratulate my teammates for the character they should in the game and to thank all those that contributed to the win. We will fight right to the very end.”

Prior to his two premier league goals against Stima this season, Ombija had scored once; a debut premier league goal that delivered a 2-1 win against Zoo FC in February.

Nairobi City Stars

Striker Erick Ombija in action against Western Stima in a Premier League match day 13 tie at Moi Stadum, Kisumu on Wed 23 Feb 2021. He scored once as City Stars won 2-0

Nairobi City Stars

Erick Ombija is congratulated by team mates after scoring the winning goal against Zoo FC on Sat 20 Feb 2021 at Kasarani. Nairobi City Stars won the game 2-1

17 Jun 2021
NCS, Team News Permalink
Bolton Omwenga, City Stars
Bolton Omwenga onto a throwin against Western Stima on Tue 15 June 2021 at Ruaraka. City Stars won the game 2-1

Bolton in matchday 20 TOTW

June 17, 2021

Left-back Bolton Omwenga was included in the team of the week (TOTW) at the close of matchday 21 games played between Tuesday 15 June and Thursday 17 June 2021.

He was picked to the team after his star performance against Western Stima that City Stars recovered very late to register a 2-1 comeback win at Ruaraka.

Omwenga has been a top performer for Simba wa Nairobi since his arrival back in February 2021.

He made a similar list, albeit the reserve one – alongside Erick Ombija – at end of matchday 13 in late February after a 2-0 win away to, just like now, Western Stima.

While Omwenga made the TOTW, the league analysts picked Peter Pinchez Opiyo as the MVP in after the game. He scored a very late penalty to win the game Tuesday game at Ruaraka.

Internally, Kevin Chumsy Okumu was picked as the MVP in that game. Two of his late deliveries from the right-wing brought about the goals by Erick Ombija and Opiyo that turned around the game.

Nairobi City Stars

Kevin Okumu of City Stars fending off Western Stima skipper Patrick Otieno during a roud 20 clash played at Ruaraka on Tue 15 Jun 2021. City Stars won 2-0

17 Jun 2021
NCS, Team News Permalink
Nairobi City Stars shared spoils (1-1) with Vihiga United in a fifth round Premier League game on Wed 22 Dec 2020 at Utalii grounds. Pictured - goal scorer Sven Yidah and Oliver Maloba
Nairobi City Stars shared spoils (1-1) with Vihiga United in a fifth round Premier League game on Wed 22 Dec 2020 at Utalii grounds. Pictured - goal scorer Sven Yidah and Oliver Maloba

City Stars duo called up to CECAFA squad

June 17, 2021

Sven Yidah and Oliver Maloba have been called up to the provisional Kenya U23 to kick start preparations for CECAFA U23 championship to be held in Ethiopia from 3-18 July 2021.

Yidah and Maloba best operate as defensive and attacking midfielders, respectively.

According to a communique from the Federation, the two players, as well as others from other teams, will hit camp on Saturday 19 June for ten days till Tuesday 29 June 2021.

The final squad is expected to travel on Saturday 30 June for Ethiopia and the players will be released back to their clubs on 20 July 2021.

Should Maloba and Sven make the final squad, they will be unavailable for premier league duty for matchdays 23 – 27 that includes games against Wazito (home-30 Jun), Bandari (away-4 Jul), Ulinzi Stars (awa-10 Jul), Gor Mahia (home-17 Jul), and Vihiga United (away-21 Jul).

While Sven is being considered for national duty for the first time from City Stars, it’s Maloba’s second call.

He had been considered to the provisional Kenya squad preparing for Africa Cup of Nations qualification games against Egypt and Togo towards the close of March 2021.

He made it to the bench of two friendly games against South Sudan and Tanzania.

Nairobi City Stars

Spoiler Sven Yiday 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

Sven Yidah up against Bandari’s Collins Agade on Fri 11 Dec during FKF Premier League round 3 game at Kasarani. City Stars won 2-0

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

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

16 Jun 2021
NCS, Team News Permalink
Sanjin Alagic, City Stars
Sanjin Alagic handling a past game for Nairobi City Stars

Sanjin: Win over Stima due to character

June 16, 2021

Nairobi City Stars left it late to see off visiting Western Stima 2-1 in a round 20 premier league tie at Ruaraka on Tuesday 15 June.

The visitors took the lead in the 39th minute when Baron Oketch fed Rodgers Okumu to end a perfect counterattack.

Stima protected that lead all the way to the 85th minute only for the home team to cancel it with a striker from substitute Erick Ombjia.

Four minutes later Peter Opiyo buried a penalty for his seventh goal of the season to complete the great comeback and confirm all points for Simba wa Nairobi.

Speaking in the wake of the win, head coach Sanjin Alagic said;

“First I want to congratulate my players for the great comeback and win. They showed the right attitude and determination. The real picture of the character that the team has came out,”

“I’m delighted at how they reacted in the second half. To be honest this wasn’t our best performance,”

“As much as we were the better and dominant team all through the match, it was obvious we failed to find the right solutions in the final third of the pitch,”

“But in the end, we deserved this win. We will enjoy it until the next game,” added Sanjin

The win came just days after the team had been knocked out of the Betway Cup after a 1-0 fall to Bidco United at the same venue.

That loss brought a four-match winning streak in all competitions to a rude end.

Next up for Sanin and Co. is a home game at Ruaraka against Kakamega Homeboyz on Saturday 19 June starting 1 pm.

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