05 Jun 2021
NCS, Team News Permalink
Keeper Steve Njunge gets the thumps up after saving a penalty against Nzoia Sugar in a season opener on Sun 29 Nov 2020 in Narok. He was named MVP on Fri 11 Dec 2020 after a 2-0 win over Bandari
Keeper Steve Njunge gets the thumps up after saving a penalty against Nzoia Sugar in a season opener on Sun 29 Nov 2020 in Narok. He was named MVP on Fri 11 Dec 2020 after a 2-0 win over Bandari

Betway Cup: Three changes for Ulinzi fight

June 5, 2021

Three changes have been made to the squad that saw off Fortune Sacco 1-0 on Tuesday in the Betway Cup round of 32, for the next assignment against Ulinzi Stars set for Ruaraka on Sunday 6 June 2021 starting 1pm. 

Fullbacks Bolton Omwenga and Kevin Okumu, as well as first-choice keeper Steve Njunge return to the squad in place of Wesley Onguso, Herit Mungai and Elvis Ochoro.

Away from the three changes, the rest of the lot is untouched for the upcoming winner-takes-all round of 16 affair.

20-man squad to face Ulinzi Stars 

Goalkeepers: 16. Jacob Osano, 23. Steve Njunge

Defenders: 8. Calvin Masawa, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 4. Salim Abdalla,  22. Wycliffe Otieno, 12. Edwin Buliba, 26. Bolton Omwenga, 19. Kevin Okumu

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), 28. Herit Mungai Atariza, 5. Wesley Onguso, 3. Charles Otieno (suspended), 27. Azizi Okaka, 20. Timothy Noor Ouma, 15. John Kamau, 9. Vincent Otieno Okoth

03 Jun 2021
NCS, Team News Permalink
Nairobi City Stars, Okuse
City Stars flyer Rodgers 'Okuse' Okumu in action against Mutomo Tigers at Kitui Stadium on Sat 13 Feb 2021 during a round 64 Betway Cup. City Stars won 4-1

Okuse comments on recent City Stars form

June 3, 2021

Simba wa Nairobi flyer Rodgers Okuse Okumu is all but excited about the team’s recent form.

This comes after straight premier league wins over 2009 champions Sofapaka (3-0) and title-chasing Kariobangi Sharks (2-1) that lifted City Stars off the lower reaches of the 17-team standings into the top ten.

“The games and the teams we have played have all been tough, but our team has been equal to the task,”

“The coach (Sanjin Alagic) has guided us well and the team spirit has been on a very high note,” started Okuse

Okuse, as he is fondly known to his peers, started both games which was a step up from previous games where he mostly made substitute appearances.

In the Sofapaka game, Okuse created three goal-scoring opportunities – an assist that yielded the second goal, a freekick that eventually led to the third goal, then earned a penalty in the second half that was unfortunately saved.

He hopes to cement a regular starting place in the team and more positive results.

“I have challenged myself to better my performance. That is now my aim, and to push the team to meet its set objectives.” added the speedy right-winger

Rodgers joined City Stars, alongside striker Erick Ombija, in the offseason from National Super League side Coast Stima.

03 Jun 2021
NCS, Team News Permalink
Makati, Kola
Ronney Kola (10) and Rawland Makati (14) walking off Jamhuri Park back in May 2021. The two lads are at Nairobi Stima on a season-long loan

Makati excited by latest NSL goal

June 3, 2021

Attacking midfielder Rowland Makati aka Babu, notched up only his third goal of the season as he guided Nairobi Stima, a club where is on a season-long loan, to a much-needed 3-1 win over Gusii United at the Migori Stadium on Wednesday 2 June 2021.

It took Makati six minutes to activate the scoresheet to hand the visitors the lead. Five minutes later Emmanuel Pala double matters as Stima took command of the game.

Benjamin Chaka added the third in stoppage time to end Nairobi Stima’s seven-game losing streak, consequently lifting the side out of relegation spot 19 to 17 with 22 points from 19 games.

Daniel Muhatia scored a consolation for Gusii United who until recently was known as Sony Sugar.

“We had a great game as all the players gave their all and we played as a team,” said Makati

“The team is now looking sharp and I believe it is the start of (more) wins,” added Makati

In mid-February, Makati scored the winner, leading his side to a 2-1 dispatch of visiting Kisumu AllStars at Camp Toyoyo, to lift his side up third from the sixth spot.

During the season-opening game away in Thika in mid-December 2020, Makati, on his debut for Nairobi Stima and in the NSL, came off the bench as his team trailed 2-0 to score once before providing an assist for John Njoroge to force a share of the spoils with a 2-2 scoreline.

On loan at Nairobi Stima with Makati is promising Nairobi City Stars midfielder Ronney Kola who is a regular in the squad.

Kola had an assist in a 2-1 loss to promotion-chasing Kenya Police in the game that preceded the Gusii United game.

02 Jun 2021
NCS, Team News Permalink
Betway Cup, Ezekiel Odera
Striker Ezekiel Odera celebrates his lone goal at the Kianyanga Stadium on Tue 1 June 2021 during a Betway Cup round 32 tie. City Stars won the game 1-0

Betway Cup: It’s Ulinzi in round 16

June 2, 2021

Nairobi City Stars will take on Ulinzi Stars in the Betway Cup round of 16 on Sunday 6 June 2021 at Ruaraka grounds starting 1pm. 

The match-up was confirmed on Wednesday after Ulinzi dispatched host Sofapaka 2-0 in a round 32 affair at Wundanyi.

Simba wa Nairobi had booked their place in the next round on Tuesday after seeing off home team Fortune Sacco 1-0 at Kianyanga Stadium. Ezekiel Odera scored the lone goal.

The upcoming City Stars – Ulinzi tie will be one of eight games at the weekend. The winning teams will proceed to the quarterfinals of the competition mid next week.

 

 

01 Jun 2021
NCS, Team News Permalink

Betway Cup: City Stars advance

June 1, 2021

An Ezekiel Odera goal in the 23rd minute of the first half is all Nairobi City Stars needed to see off Fortune Sacco 1-0 at the Kianyaga Stadium to proceed past Betway Cup round of 32 on Tuesday 1 June 2021.

Odera scored when he got to the end of a bouncing ball that outwitted keeper Martin Nderitu who failed to contain Sven Yidah’s cross into the box. With ease, Odera controlled the ball before placing it to an empty net.

Betway Cup: Seven changes against Fortune Sacco

Inside ten minutes, Fortune Sacco had fired two freekicks the City Stars way. The second was more dangerous as former Sony Sugar midfielder Vincent Oti Owino headed it marginally wide.

In the 12th minute, Fortune Sacco target man Elijah Mwanzia was well-positioned outside the box but had a feeble shot on goal that failed to trouble keeper Jacob Osano in City Stars goal

Five minutes later his counterpart Jesse Ngei fired just wide as the hosts continued to set the tone of the game as cheered on by their fans.

Then it switched City Stars way and 19 minutes into the game, striker Erick Ombija headed skipper Calvin Masawa’s corner wide.

Minutes later the near-miss led to a no-miss as Odera cooly finished off what was initiated by Yidah for the lone goal of the game.

Minutes to the half hour mark, Fortune Sacco wasted two more freekicks as City Stars responded with two shots on goal, both blocked, by Elvis Noor Ojiambo.

Ebrima Sanneh, City Stars top scorer in domestic Cup competitions (6 goals), failed to narrow his header goalward in the 37th minute after being served up perfectly by an Ojiambo freekick.

Action in the first half ended when Mwanzia, while in the box, fired backward, instead of goalward, after being picked perfectly by a precise Nicodemus Okanga pass from the right.

Within the first quarter of the second half, Ombija had two promising chances to score but missed both.

To add fluidity upfront, Fortune Sacco coach Frank Kim brought in Babu Kisayi for Jacob Wangui at the hour mark.

Two minutes after the changes, Sanneh failed to connect to Edwin Buliba’s high cross from the right, and, in end-to-end action, Fortune Sacco had an immediate response on the other end when Mwanzia got to the end of a cross from Okanga only to fire across goal to the dismay of his coaches.

Minutes later, with a clear view of the goal, Fortune Sacco’s Shadrack Kawa skied a shot after another good cross from Okanga.

As the game wore on, City Stars had the chance to increase their lead but two attempts by Ojiambo and Ombija, and a header from stopper Wycliffe Otieno all went begging.

Fortune Sacco tweaked their game a little by bringing on homeboy Bonface Njeru for Kawa to great applause from the home fans.

City Stars then rolled down the clock with the arrival of Davis Beast Agesa and Nicholas Kikpkirui for Maloba and Ombija, respectively, in added time.

With the win, City Stars proceeds to the round of 16 to face either Sofapaka or Ulinzi Stars on Sunday 6 June 2021.

City Stars earned a date with Fortune Sacco in the round of 32 after seeing off Mutomo Tigers 4-1 during the starting game of the tournament back in mid-February 2021 at the Kitui Stadium.

Lineups

Fortune Sacco: 1. Melvin Nderitu (GK), 15. Nepot Mwangi, 11. Isaiah Ongwe, 14. Brian Mandela, 12. Henry Kinyua, 2. Shadrack Kawa (8. Bonface Njeru-74), 3. Jacob Wangui (10. Babu Kisayi-60), 6. Vincent Owino, 13.  Jesse Ngei, 16. Nicodemus Okanga, 17. Elijah Mwanzia

Unsused subs: 1. Quelen Awange, 5. Omar Sarai, 7. Ronald Mendo, 4. Ziyadi Kiwanuka,  9. Brian Omondi

Coach: Frank Kim, Team Manager: Julius Kariuki

Nairobi City Stars: 16. Jacob OSano (GK), 12. Edwin Buliba, 4. Salim Abdalla, 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 8. Calvin Masawa, 18. Sven Yidah, 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo, 21. Oliver Maloba (17. Nicholas Kipkirui-90+2), 24. Erick Ombija (Davis Agesa-90+3), 32. Ezekiel Odera (Herit Mungai-79), 29. Ebrima Sanneh (7. Rodgers Okumu-69)

Unused subs: 1. Elvis Ochoro (GK), 25. Kenedy Onyango, 5. Wesley Onguso, 10. Peter Opiyo, 30. Anthony Kimani

Coach: Sanjn Alagic, Team Manager: Noah Abich

Yellow cards: Fortune Sacco – 8. Bonface Njeru-89, 10. Babu Kisayi-90+5//Nairobi City Stars – 32. Ezekiel Odera-23, 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo-43, 16. Jacob Osano (67), 21. Oliver Maloba-88

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