19 Jun 2021
NCS, Team News Permalink
Kipkirui, City Stars
Nicholas Kipkirui celebrating his first-ever premier league goal for Nairobi City Stars. It earned Simba wa Nairobi a 1-0 win over Kakamega Homeboyz on Sat 19 June 2021 at Ruaraka during a matchday 21 tie

Kipkirui downs Homeboyz

June 19, 2021

Nicholas Kipkirui’s goal in the 63rd minute is all Nairobi City Stars needed to knock out Kakamega Homeboyz 1-0 in a premiership match 21 tie at Ruaraka on Saturday 19 June 2021.

Kipkirui’s goal, his first ever in the league for City Stars, came from close range after a sure pass from substitute Davis Agesa.

Agesa had only been on the pitch for three minutes, together with Anthony Muki Kimani, having come on for flyer Rodgers Okuse Okumu and Erick Ombija, respectively.

They brought the impact that turned around the game as Muki raced down the right wing to float a ball goalward. It received a knockdown to Agesa who squeezed the ball for Kipkirui to send it home for his maiden goal past Homeboyz keeper Geoffrey  Oputi who seemed unbeatable all evening.

The game could have taken a different dimension at the onset of the second half when Homeboyz won a penalty.

But City Stars keeper Steve Njunge pulled a massive save to deny Chris Masinza, ultimately changing the tone of the game.

Homeboyz, playing their traditional high press game, made their intent evident as early as the eighth minute with a freekick from winger David Okoth. It bounced off the City Stars wall.

City Stars had a response in the 21st minute when left-back Bolton Omwenga dropped a freekick in the goal area. It was cleared out.

On either side of the two set-pieces, two Homeboyz players; Francis Omondi, a defensive mid, and stopper Sylvester Owino had been slapped with yellow cards for bookable challenges as physicality in the game began to show.

Off a foul, Okoth was at it again with a freekick on 27 minutes but it went straight to Njunge. Again, Bolton responded to it with one for City Stars at the half-hour mark. It smacked the crossbar and back into play in what was the closest chance for a goal by the home team.

There were two further freekicks by Homeboyz moments later but freekicks by stopper Thomas Wainaina and Francis Omondi failed to hit the target.

The tide then shifted City Stars way but on two occasions, once by Kipkirui, the ball missed crossing the line by a whisker off a volley with the keeper beaten.

The game then rolled to halftime with either side wasting a free-kick each.

Straight into the second half, City Stars gave the ball away in midfield and it landed on Okoth on the right wing who then sent a floater goalward. It earned a penalty that Njunge parried out. It was the second time this season that Njunge has saved a penalty, adding on to his heroics in the season opener against Nzoia United in Narok.

22 minutes into the second half Homeboyz threw in three fresh legs to chase the game. Allan Wanga, Shami Kibwana and Collins Odhiambo all came on for Masinza, Stephen Opoku and Wainaina, in that order.

In the minutes that followed, City Stars were in the Homeboyz area with Kevin Okumu dropping a cross to the box, Oliver Maloba cutting back for Muki, and Bolton troubling Oputi with a freekick. None of those occasions bore fruits.

Homeboyz were to throw in their final card as they searched for points by introducing Stephen Etyang for injured Ali Bhai.

Moments later Homeboyz should have been level when Okoth raced down the left flank, burst into the box to fire home only for his attempt to be cut out by eventual game MVP Njunge.

The final minutes saw City Stars clean out the bench by bringing on Ezekiel Odera for Kipkirui, Elvis Noor Ojiambo for Maloba, and finally Wycliffe Otieno for Sven to protect the slim lead to the final minute.

With the win, that overturns a 2-0 first leg loss suffered at Bukhungu in February, Simba wa Nairobi now shoots upwards from eighth past Ulinzi and Bandari to settle at sixth spot with 29 points from 20 games ahead of Sunday games.

Next up for Nairobi City Stars is a round 22 tie away to Nzoia Sugar on Thur 24 June at Sudi Stadium.

Lineups

Nairobi City Stars: 23. Steve Njunge (GK), 26. Bolton Omwenga, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 4. Salim Abdalla, 19. Kevin Okumu, 10. Peter Opiyo-Captain, 21. Oliver Maloba (2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo-89), 18. Sven Yidah (22. Wycliffe Otieno-90+), 24. Erick Ombija (30. Anthony Kimani-60), 7. Rodgers Okumu (11. Davis Agesa-60 ), 17. Nicholas Kipkirui (32. Ezekiel Odera-89)

Unused subs: 16. Jacob Osano (GK), 29. Ebrima Sanneh, 8. Calvin Masawa, 28. Herit Mungai,

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

Coach: Sanjin Alagic

Kakamega Homeboyz: 26. Geoffrey Oputi (GK), 6. Benjamin Oketch, 13. Thomas Wainaina (16. Collins Odhiambo-67), 15. Sylvester Owino, 20. George Odiwuor, 4. Francis Omondi, 24. Ali Bhai-Captain (7. Stephen Etyang-84), 15. Stephen Opoku (2. Shami Kibwana-67), 10. Moses Mudavadi, 22. Chris Masinza (14. Allan Wanga-67), 9. David Okoth

Unused subs: 32. David Juma (GK), 8. Stephen Mukongolo,

Coach: Nicholas Muyoti

Yellow cards

Nairobi City Stars: 23. Steve Njunge (90+)

Kakamega Homeboyz: 4. Francis Omondi (10), 15. Sylvester Owino (22)

 

18 Jun 2021
NCS, Team News Permalink
Nairobi City Stars, Agesa
Davis Agesa against Homeboyz on Sat 6 Feb 2021 during a Premier League match day 11 game. Homeboz won 2-0

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

June 18, 2021

The last time Nairobi City Stars hosted Kakamega Homeboyz in the Premier League, they got relegated. 

A 3-1 beating by Homeboyz at Kasarani on 30 October 2016 in the third last game in the 2016 season left City Stars a broken lot, as they were stripped of their 12-year premier league status.

That happened to be the second, and last time, that City Stars hosted Homeboyz.

During the first ever Nairobi encounter, back in May 2013, City Stars won it 1-0 at Hope Centre. Club legend Justus Basweti scored the lone goal.

The Saturday game, at a whole new venue – Ruaraka, City Stars will be host Homeboyz for only the third time.

Heading to the game, City Stars sits eighth in the 17-team standings with 26 points from 19 games, and only ahead of ninth placed Homeboyz with a +1 goal difference.

There are no coahcing changes on either end ahead of the encounter as Nichlolas Muyoti who masterminded a 2-0 first leg win in Buhungu in early February, is still in charge of Abana Beingo.

Bosnian Sanjin Alagic will be up against Muyoti once again, this time to turn the tables and replicate, if not better the 2013 results.

In City Stars squad for the Saturday game are three players who were on the pitch on the day of relegation in 2016; Ezekiel Odera, Oliver Maloba, and Calvin Masawa.

The skipper on relegation day – John Amboko, as well as his co-stopper Arthur Museve, are part of the current City Stars technical bench in the capacities of coach and trainer, respectively.

Summary 

KPL home Games vs Homeboyz: Total (2); Wins (1), Draws (0), Loses (1)

25-May-13: City Stars vs Homeboyz, 1-0 (W)
30-Oct-16: City Stars vs Homeboyz, 1-3 (L)
19-Jun-21: City Stars vs Homeboyz, ?

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

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