27 May 2021
NCS, Team News Permalink
Nairobi City Stars
Nairobi City Stars head coach Sanjin Alagic in a past game in the NSL against Kenya Police at Camp Toyoyo on 29 Feb 2019

Top honors for City Stars cast after round 18

May 27, 2021

Following Monday’s clinical 3-0 rout of 2009 Premier League champions Sofapaka at Ruaraka, Simba wa Nairobi took home three awards following voting from fans.

Coach Sanjin Alagic was voted the coach of the week beating three other coaches to the gong. He received 47.4% of the votes cast.

On Monday, Sanjin led Simba wa Nairobi to the most comprehensive win of the season, ending a streak of three winless games.

Stopper Salim Shitu Abdalla, who scored his first premiership goal in City Stars colors, and the third on the day, was voted as player of the week after receiving 47.9% of the votes to see off three other contestants.

Separately, after the game, Salim had been picked out as the Most Valuable Player.

Beyond the two individual awards, City Stars as an outfit was voted as the team of Week 18.

Further, three players; namely Salim Abdalla, skipper Anthony Kimani and left-back Bolton Omwenga who had two important assists, were named to the team of the week.

Three City Stars players; Salim Abdalla, Captain Anthony Kimani and left-back Bolton Omwenga from City Stars in team of the Week

“The recent result against Sofapaka shows that we can compete when we come out with the right approach. The win was well planned and executed to perfection by the coach and the players,” said team coordinator Samson Otieno

“Seeing Sanjin being named best coach and Salim as the best player and the team as the best in the ended round of games spurs us all and we now look forward to similar performances in upcoming games,”

“We had been missing from this bracket of awards in the recent round of games but we are glad that now we are back in it,” added Otieno

City Stars will be up against Kariobangi Sharks in their next game at the Utalii grounds on Saturday 29 May 2021 starting 1 pm.

24 May 2021
NCS, Team News Permalink

City Stars run down Sofapaka

May 24, 2021

Nairobi City Stars registered a comprehensive 3-0 win over Sofapaka at Ruaraka on Monday 24 May 2021 to move three places up the log from 13th to tenth.

A Peter Pinchez Opiyo penalty in the second minute, a rebound tap in from Davis Beast Agesa at the quarter-hour mark, and a header from stopper Salim Shitu Abdallah in the 37th minute accounted for the rout.

Sofapaka had a disastrous first half as mid kingpin Lawrence Juma missed a penalty in the 30th minute awarded after a Bolton Omwenga handball.

It got worse just before the breather when their goalkeeper Aigba Moubarak received a straight red card for an off the ball incident with Simba wa Nairobi striker Nicholas Kipkirui.

City Stars had a similar second half as skipper Anthony Muki Kimani missed a penalty seven minutes into the second half that could have improved the cushion to 4-0.

The spot-kick was earned after pocket rocket Rodgers Okuse Okumu flew into the box after beating his markers only to be hacked down by Ambrose Sifuna. Sub keeper Kevin Omondi punched Muki’s kick back in play.

Late in the game, with six minutes left, City Stars were reduced to ten men after one of the most outstanding players on the pitch Seven Yidah was ejected after receiving a second yellow card.

In moving up to tenth, Simba wa Nairobi sent Bidco United and Sofapaka a position down to eleventh and twelfth. Both are on 19 points.

In the first minute, Nicholas Kipkirui smacked a header against the crossbar off a cross from the right. A follow header by Sven Yidah resulted in a corner that yielded a penalty.

Opiyo, who missed the past two games against Tusker and Gor Mahia, stepped up to slot home the spot-kick for his fifth goal of the season.

Two minutes later right-back Kevin Chumsy Okumu had an attempt on goal but his long ball veered just wide.

In the 13th minute, Sofapaka earned a free-kick from a good distance. Skipper Lawrence Juma had a go but it weaved wide.

Two minutes later action was on the other end. Okuse on the right burst into the box and fired at keeper Aigba. The Togolese shot-stopper spilled the ball and Agesa was quick to gather the ball with a tap-in to double City Stars’ advantage with his second goal of the season.

At the half-hour mark, Juma had the chance to half the deficit but his spot-kick hit the base of the upright to the relief of Simba wa Nairobi.

Seven minutes on speedster Okuse was checked by Sifuna who received a yellow card. The resultant free-kick by Bolton found stopper Salim who powered a header – his first goal of the season – to triple City Stars lead.

A freekick from Sofapaka dangerman Timothy Otieno just moments later went straight to Njunge and on the other end saw Kipkirui’s header eventually end in Aigba’s safe hands.

Soon after Aigba being sent off for his charge on Kipkirui. It forced the Sofapaka bench to sacrifice stopper Stephen Kola for reserve keeper Kevin Omondi.

The last action of the half then saw a Timothy Otieno shot for goal fly wide.

The second half started with Sofapaka bringing on Kilume Mohammed for Sebastine Sunday.

A minute to the half-hour mark Bolton fired home a hard shot but Omondi in Sofapaka’s goal only for Omondi in Sofapaka’s goal cooled it off intelligently.

Within the next eight minutes, Sofapaka had brought on freekick master David King’atua for Timothy Otieno but could not account for two freekicks that all went out.

In the 77th minute, Juma saw City Stars keeper off his line and fired a high riser. But the keeper reacted well and backpedaled to force a corner from what seemed a sure goal.

In the 80th minute, Sofapaka forced back-to-back corners but all were fruitless while in the dying minutes’ City Stars substitute Elvis Noor Ojiambo fired wide.

With the win, City Stars earned revenge over the 1-0 loss to Sofapaka in the first leg.

Next up for Simba wa Nairobi is a round 19 clash away to Kariobangi Sharks on Saturday 30 May at Utalii grounds.

Lineups

Nairobi City Stars: 23. Stephen Njunge, 19. Kevin Okumu, 4. Salim Abdalla, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 26. Bolton Omwenga, 18. Sven Yidah, 10. Peter Opiyo, 30. Anthony Kimani-Captain (2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo-81)), 7. Rodgers Okumu (21. Oliver Maloba-55), 11. Davis Agesa (12. Edwin Buliba-73), 17. Nicholas Kipkirui (32. Ezekiel Odera-81)

Unused subs: 1. Elvis Ochoro (GK), 28. Herit Mungai, 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 29. Ebrima Sanneh, 3. Charles Otieno

Sofapaka: 30. Aigba Moubaraka (35. Kevin Omondi-45), 10. Roy Okal, 11. Ambrose Sifuna, 12. Michael Kibwage (C), 15. Timothy Otieno (David King’atua-63), 20. Titus Achesa, 23. Isaac Mitima, 24. Lawrence Juma, 27. Stephen Okola, 28. Nixon Omondi (17. Alex Imbusia-22), 66. Sebastine Sunday (4. Kilume Mohammed-46)

Unused subs: 6. David Nshirimimana, 2. Michael Bodo, 16. Joseph Irungu, 7. Collins Wakhungu

Bookings:

Nairobi City Stars: 25. Bolton Omwenga (34-yellow card), 18. Sven Yidah (58,84-yellow cards)

Sofapaka: 11. Ambrose Sifuna (36-yellow),

23 May 2021
NCS, Team News Permalink
Nairobi City Stars
Sven Yidah takes on a Sofapaka player during a round 9 Premier League game played at Wundanyi Stadium on Sat 23 Jan 2021. Sofapaka won 1-0

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

May 23, 2021

Nairobi City Stars will host Sofapaka at Ruaraka on Monday 24 May 2021 in a round 18 Kenyan Premier league clash starting 3pm, 

It will be the ninth time that City Stars will be hosting Sofapaka in the premier league, but the first time since a 1-0 loss in April 2016 at Nyayo Stadium. City Stars was in the second tier the years between then and now.

In the Monday affair both sides will be hoping to rise up from immediate past losses to champions Gor Mahia.

City Stars went down 1-0 to the champs on Sunday at Utalii and a few days later Sofapaka fell 2-1 to the same side in Wundayi.

The upcoming tie will be the first in the second leg for both teams.

During the first leg tie back in January, Sofapaka needed a second half Ambrose Sifuna goal to win it 1-0 in Wundanyi and while they will be going for a double on Monday, City Stars will seek to reverse the tide.

In the previous eight home games over Sofapaka between 2009 and 2016, City Stars has managed two wins, three draws and three losses.

The two home wins, in October 2010 (2-0) and May 2011 (1-0) were, interestingly, masterminded by Ken Odhiambo, the current Sofapaka coach.

This season, Odhiambo and City Stars coach Sanjin Alagic are at one apiece in term of wins when facing each other.

When City Stars beat Bandari 2-0 in the third game of the season it was Odhiambo who was on the losing end as the coach of the dockers.

He then jumped ship to Sofapaka and earned his revenge over Sanjin as he led Batoto ba Mungu to the 1-0 win in Wundanyi.

Into the next game Sofapaka is placed tenth with 19 points and are two points and three positions ahead of City Stars.

Who will blink first at Ruaraka?

Summary of City Stars home games vs Sofapaka

Total home games: 8. City Stars (2 wins), Sofapaka (3 wins), 3 draws

26-Apr-09, City Stars vs Sofapaka, 1-1 (D)
24-Oct-10, City Stars vs Sofapaka, 2-0 (W)
4-May-11, City Stars vs Sofapaka, 1-0 (W)
18-Aug-12, City Stars vs Sofapaka, 0-0 (D)
20-Apr-13, City Stars vs Sofapaka, 1-3 (L)
12-Sep-14, City Stars vs Sofapaka, 0-1 (L)
2-May-15, City Stars vs Sofapaka, 0-0 (D)
23-Apr-16, City Stars vs Sofapaka, 0-1 (L)
24-May-21, City Stars vs Sofapaka, ??

Nairobi City Stars

Coach Sanjin Alagic and his City Stars players at Wundanyi on Sat 23 Jan 2021 during a match day 9 against Sofapaka. The hosts won the game 1-0

23 May 2021
NCS, Team News Permalink
Herit Mungai (28), Jimmy Bageya (19) during a friendly against Mt. Kenya United on Sat 14 Nov 2020 at Dagoretti High. It ended 1-1
Herit Mungai (28), Jimmy Bageya (19) during a friendly against Mt. Kenya United on Sat 14 Nov 2020 at Dagoretti High. It ended 1-1

Herit one of four changes for Sofapaka clash

May 23, 2021

Head coach Sanjin Alagic has unveiled his 20-man list for to face Sofapaka on Monday 24 May 2021 in the 18th round Kenyan Premier League tie at Ruaraka starting 3pm.

There are four changes from the lot that was named to face champions Gor Mahia last weekend.

Peter Pinchez Opiyo who missed the game due to a knock has been passed fit to face Batoto Ba Mungu.

He takes up a spot in the squad vacated by Erick Ombija who was red carded in the Gor game.

Opiyo returns after missing two games. He had missed an earlier game against Tusker due to accumulated yellow cards.

A second change sees the return of stopper Wycliffe Otieno who was rested in the last game. He takes the place of Nairobi City Stars longest serving player Calvin Masawa.

Masawa, at Simba wa Nairobi since 2011, has been a regular in match day squads.

The third change sees the entry of left footed Herit Mungai Atariza after missing the last six games.

Herit, who last featured against Kakamega Homeboyz in February, replaces another left footer Wesley Onguso.

One last change is in the goal tending sector where Kenya U20 consideration Elvis Ochoro Ochieng takes up the place of Jacob Osano.

20-man squad to face Sofapaka

Goal keepers: 1. Elvis Ochoro, 23. Steve Njunge

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

Midfielders: 18. Sven Yidah, 30. Anthony Kimani, 21. Oliver Maloba, 3. Charles Otieno, 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo, 7. Rodgers Okumu, 10. Peter Opiyo

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

Not considered: 6. Ronney Kola, 14. Rowland Makati (both on loan at Nairobi Stima), 16. Jacob Osano (GK), 27. Azizi Okaka, 9. Vincent Otieno Okoth, 5. Wesley Onguso, 20. Timothy Noor Ouma, 8. Calvin Masawa, 15. John Kamau, 24. Erick Ombija (suspended)

20 May 2021
NCS, Team News Permalink
Nairobi City Stars
Ebrima Sanneh celebrates one of his two goals for Nairobi City Stars during a 4-1 win over Mutomo Tigers in a round 64 Betway Cup tie at Kitui Stadium on saturday 13 February 2021

Betway Cup: New dates revealed

May 20, 2021

The second round Betway Cup clash between Nairobi City Stars and Fortune Sacco, originally set for 18 April 2021, will now be played on Tuesday 1 June 2021 in Muranga.

The new date was confirmed by the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) after revision of their original calendar that was rendered inapplicable following indefinite suspension of Sports in late March due to rise in Corona virus numbers.

According to the revised dates, all second round games will be played on 1-2 June.

Winning teams will then proceed to the round of 16 and face of the next weekend on Sat 5 or Sun 6 June 2021.

Another four days later, on Wed 9 or Thur 10 June, round of 16 winners will feature in the semis and another four days later, Sat 12 of Sun 13 June, have been reserved for the semis.

According to FKF, the crush programe has been necessitated by the need to register a representative for the CAF Confederations Cup by close of June 2021.

“We wish to bring to your attention the directive from CAF for all Federations to submit their representative Clubs in the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederations Cup on or before 30th June 2021,”

“In view of the aforementioned, we have adjusted the Competitions Calendar and the Betway Cup Match . . .” said part communication from FKF

The date for the final was however not revealed.

Simba wa Nairobi booked a place in the round of 32 after coming from behind to see off Mutomo Tigers 4-1 at the Kitui Stadium in Mid February.

Simba wa Nairobi booked Fortune Sacco, one of the leading lights in the second tier, during a draw held on 19th February 2021.

Summary of new dates

Round of 32: 1st – 2nd June 2021

Round of 16: 5th – 6th June 2021

Quarter Finals: 9th – 10th June 2021

Semi Finals: 12th – 13th June 2021

Finals: To be Confirmed

A Draw to determine the Fixtures from the Round of 16 to the Finals shall be conducted next week (Date to be communicated).

 

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