10 Apr 2021
NCS, Team News Permalink
Covid 19, Elvis Ochoro
Keeper Elvis Ochoro receives his Ccovid 19 jab at Kasarani on Sat 10 Apr 2021

Players receive Covid 19 vaccinations

April 10, 2021

Nairobi City Stars players and technical bench officials were among those who received Covid 19 vaccinations on Saturday 10 April 2021 at Kasarani Gymnasium.

The vaccinations, as organized by the Ministry of Sports in conjunction with the Football Kenya Federation (FKF), was an exercise in the right direction as stated by club CEO Patrick Korir who accompanied Simba wa Nairobi players.

“Above all, safety of our players is paramount and we therefore thank the Ministry (of Sports) and the Federation for organizing the same,”

“With the exercise now over and done with we hope it will lead to the possibility of reopening up the sport following its recent suspension.” said Korir

Team Coordinator Samson Otieno gave a status of the exercise;

“We had a number of players who had reservations over the jabs due to alarmists posts on social media. We are however glad 28 players and eight officials showed up and participated in the exercise,”

“We had only two players missing out – Nicholas Kipkirui and Rodgers Okumu – who were out of town and could not travel in time for the same,”

“We will arrange for them to take the jab with the nearest team where they are when the exercise is organized outside Nairobi County.” added Otieno

Sports, football included, was suspended indefinitely towards late March by the President of the republic of Kenya due to a sharp rise in the Covid 19 infection numbers and deaths.

Covid 19, Zachary Onyango

Keeper trainer Zachary Onyango receives his Covid 19 jab at Kasarani on Sat 10 April 2021

Covid 19, Wesley Onguso

Left back Wesley Onguso receives his Covid 19 jab at Kasarani on Sat 10 April 2021

Erick Ombija, Covid 19

Striker Erick Ombija receives his Covid 19 jab at Kasarani on Sat 10 April 2021

Kevin Okumu, Covid 19

Left back Kevin Okumu receives his Covid 19 jab at Kasarani on Sat 10 April 2021

01 Apr 2021
NCS, Team News Permalink
Nairobi City Stars
Salim Shitu Abdalla in a past game for Nairobi City Stars in January 2020 at Camp Toyoyo

Shitu gutted by league suspension

April 1, 2021

On Friday 25 March 2021, his Excellency the President of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta addressed his 15th presser in regards to the exploding Covid-19 numbers and fatalities. 

Then he dropped the bombshell; suspension of all sporting activities with immediate effect as one of the measures to curb it’s accelerated rise.

Consequently, at the close of business on the same day, Football Kenya Federation (FKF), the managers of the local game, released a dispatch suspending all leagues across the country indefinitely.

The foregoing has however not gone down well with Nairobi City Stars center back Salim Shitu Abdalla who believes the inertia built in the last few weeks will be lost.

According to Shitu, Simba wa Nairobi was on the right path and was looking forward to their next game, a big one, against Champions Gor Mahia.

With the lockdown now at hand, it means the team has to reboot and start all over again when it’s finally called off, if it’s not immediate.

“We were on the right track with good performances in recent weeks. We were preparing mentally and psychological for the our next game against the champions Gor Mahia then the announcement came,”

“As players it is the least of what we expected and now we can’t train, can’t play, we feel lost.”

Shitu has been integral to the Simba wa Nairobi setup since joining in August 2019.

He led the team to promotion back to the Premier League and in the now stalled season, he had featured in 15 0f 16 games.

He only missed the Ulinzi game due to an ankle injury picked in the previous game against Posta Rangers.

Nairobi City Stars

Salim Shitu Abdalla takes on AFC Leopards Isaac Kipyegon in a round 15 Premier League played at KAsarani on Sat 6 Mar 2021. Leopards won the game 1-0

Nairobi City Stars

Striker Erick Ombija, defender Salim Abdalla ‘Shitu’ and skipper Anthony ‘Muki’ Kimani celebrate a goal against 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

 

30 Mar 2021
NCS, Team News Permalink
Sanjin Alagic, City Stars
Head coach Sanjin Alagic giving instructions to Edwin Buliba in a past game.

Sanjin delays return

March 30, 2021

Head coach Sanjin Alagic has delayed his return to the country following the suspension of Sports.

The Bosnian had travelled home for a scheduled holiday on Sunday after leading City Stars to a 2-2 stalemate against Tusker and was to return on Tuesday 29 March 2021.

However, while he was away, the Government announced suspension of Sports due to the rising numbers of Covid-19 infections and deaths.

The Federation followed up on that announcement by calling off all leagues across the country indefinitely.

“Sanjin took days off to be with his family as the weekend after playing Tusker was a free one due to Kenya’s involvement in two Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Egypt and Togo,” said team coordinator Samson Otieno

“But while he was away sport was suspended indefinitely due to rise of Covid-19,”

“From the management’s view there was no point of him returning as the team is now inactive and can’t even train due to the new containment measures by the Government,”

“He will be back once the suspension is lifted.” added Otieno

Speaking from his base in Sarajevo Sanjin said;

“I spoke with the chairman and he told me to stay back until the situation becomes better. If things change – like if the team can start training – then I will change my ticket and come back immediately.”

City Stars was to take on champions Gor Mahia on Sunday 4 April but that game has since been shelved as well as second leg ties.

Sanjin Alagic

Nairobi City Stars Head coach Sanjin Alagic

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

Sanjin Alagic

Nairobi City Stars Head coach Sanjin Alagic

29 Mar 2021
NCS, Team News Permalink
Nairobi City Stars
City Stars striker Nicholas Kipkirui challenges Tusker's Eugene Asike during a premier league game at Utalii grounds on Sat 20 mar 2021. It ended 2-2

Kipkirui talks up the season at City Stars

March 29, 2021

The latest entrant at Nairobi City Stars – Nicholas Kipkirui – has talked up his early days at the club.

The speedy finisher, known to his peers as Kipchabet (arrow), joined the club in mid-March from champions Gor Mahia with whom he severed ties with to onboard Simba wa Nairobi as a free agent.

Kipkirui, a former Matrix and Zoo FC sharpshooter, made a cameo appearance for his debut in the round of 16 clash against Tusker FC, a game that ended 2-2.

“The draw against Tusker felt like a loss. We had the game under control for the whole of 90 minutes. We scored two very well worked goals but then we conceded a soft goal and that allowed them back in the game,” said the 2018 Kenyan Premier League Young player and New Player of the year.

“They are experienced and seized the chance. But I am so happy how we fared against a team that is at the top of the league,”

The Tusker stalemate came after the team had contained AFC Leopards at Kasarani only to concede right at the death of added time to painfully fall 1-0.

At that point Kipkirui had not joined the club but even then, that containment of ingwe, as well as the even-stevens with the brewers, gives him a view of a respectable finish for the club at the close of the season.

“In our other match, we were so unlucky to lose against AFC Leopards at the last minute. These results show we can achieve something this season. I am looking realistically at a top-six finish, or even better,”

He took a look at the blend in the squad, and he likes the chemistry in the Sanjin Alagic coached team.

While the likes of Anthony Kimani, Peter Opiyo, Salim Abdalla, Kenedy Onyango, Ezekiel Odera bring on the experience, a long list of other players such as Timothy Noor Ouma and sibling Elvis Noor Ojiambo, as well as keeper Elvis Ochoro, Rowland Makati, Ronney Kola and Edwin Buliba are in to learn the ropes.

Ouma and Ochoro were in the recent past considered for the Kenya U20 while Oliver Maloba was called up the senior team Harambee Stars where he made the bench in two friendly games against South Sudan and Tanzania.

“The coach has selected several good players with experience and youngsters who have a good future,”

“This is our first season in the top-flight after a while and we have done well enough to attract players to the national team. Things can only get better and I am willing to help the youngsters who require guidance,”

In between his past club and City Stars, Kipkirui had stayed out for weeks without kicking a ball. He’s excited to be back and he is on a mission.

“My target is to score goals. I cannot say how many but if I can hit ten in the second leg of the season, then I will be satisfied,”

“I want to impress on my coach at the club level who has put a lot of faith in me, and also the national team coach because the World Cup qualifiers are coming up,””

“I am so relieved that I am back to playing football after a long time and this has put the smile back on my face,”

Kipkirui is expected to set alive the rest of City Stars season just as he did at his former club during derby days and at the continental scene.

Nicholas Kipkirui

Striker Nicholas Kipkirui completing his move to Nairobi City Stars at the club offices in Upperhill on Wed 17 March 2021

Nicholas Kipkirui

Striker Nicholas Kipkirui while club CEO Patrick Korir while completing his move to Nairobi City Stars at the club offices in Upperhill on Wed 17 March 2021

26 Mar 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

Season suspended

March 26, 2021

Football, alongside all other sports in the country, has been suspended by the Government indefinitely.

This follows the 15th Presidential address on the Covid-19 pandemic that put in check a number of activities across the country to contain the rapid increase in cases and deaths from what has been dubbed the ‘third wave’.

Following the address, the Football Kenya Federation (FKF), via official communication to clubs and its members, has gone on to confirm all football activities are suspended until further notice.

The most recent cessation is a reminder of year 2020 when, in mid-March, containment measures were put in place when the first cases of Covid-19 were reported in the country.

It led to the suspension of footballing activities, ultimately leading to the cancellation of all leagues. The game only reluctantly resumed seven months later, in October of that year.

At a club level, Nairobi City Stars has asked it’s playing unit and technical bench to remain at at home and observe the new measures put in place by the Government.

“While it’s very unfortunate, we are in full respect of the new directives by the Government and as such training, as well as playing any form of games is now suspended by Nairobi City Stars until such a time the recent containment measures are loosened,” said club CEO Patrick Korir

Till the suspension, City Stars had played 16 round of games into the current Premier league season and were placed tenth with 20 points.

The club was to play friendly games against Premiership side Posta Rangers and lower tier side Nation FC at Jamhuri and St. Mary’s School on Saturday 27 March 2021.

The two games, now called off, were to put the team in the right frame for the final first leg tie against champions Gor Mahia on Sunday 4 April 2021.

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