11 May 2021
NCS, Team News Permalink
Nairobi City Stars, Kola, Mungai
Ronney Kola and Herit Mungai sandwich as Dandora Youth player at the Public Service Club, Upperhill in a friendly on Tue 11 May 2021. Simba wa Nairobi won the game 4-1

Wins for City Stars over Dagoretti Santos, Dandora Youth

May 11, 2021

Nairobi City Stars registered two straight wins over Dagoretti Santos and Dandora Youth in back-to-back friendly games played at the Public Service Club (PSC) on Tuesday 11 May 2021.

The first City Stars lot took out Dagoretti Santos 2-0 with goals on either half by Oliver Maloba and Davis Agesa.

City Stars won the second game 4-1 over a fast-footed Dandora Youth. An Ebrima Sanneh penalty and header from Azizi Okaka had Simba wa Nairobi 2-0 up in the first half.

Rowland Babu Makati and Ezekiel Odera added two more in the second half to wrap up the scores at the slippery PSC surface.

Dandora Youth grabbed a consolation late in the game after a defensive goof allowed substitute Edward Omondi to sneak into the box to beat substitute keeper Elvis Ochoro.

Commenting on the two games, head coach Sanjin Alagic said;

“It was hard for guys to play (rain, muddy surface) but we needed these games to slowly come back.”

City Stars fielded 25 of it’s 30 players and accommodated two guest players; defensive mid Reydon Munala from Ligi Ndogo and central midfielder Roland Godwin Atsango from Zimmerman.

Striker Nicholas Kipkirui, winger Rodgers Okumu and midfielder Peter Opiyo missed out due to knocks, as well as stopper Kennedy Onyango (bereaved) and Timothy Ouma (unofficial leave).

The latest two friendly games followed on another two last Friday against Posta Rangers last Friday. The games ended 0-0 and 1-1.

Summary

Nairobi City Stars 1 (2), Dagoretti Santos (0)

Nairobi City Stars 1: Stephen Njunge, Bolton Omwenga, Salim Abdalla, Edwin Buliba, Kevin Okumu (Wycliffe Otieno, Sven Yidah, Elvis Noor Ojiambo (Charles Otieno), Oliver Maloba, Anthony Kimani, Davis Agesa, Erick Ombija (Ebrima Sanneh)

Coach: Sanjin Alagic

Dagoretti Santos: Iddy Ishmael, Bballa Brandon, Alvin Trumph (Celestine Mwelese), Mark Mkabwa, Melvin Macharia, Arnold Amadiva, Ali Mensa, Silvester Sulu (Ian Duncan), Abdul Malik (George Brian), Osman Hussein (Adrian Tame), John Kursi (Brian Biko )

Unused Subs: Kelvin Masika, Austine

Coach: Dennis Wise Okoth

Goals: Oliver Maloba, Davis Agesa

Nairobi City Stars 2 (4), Dandora AllStars (1)

Nairobi City Stars 2: Jacob Osano (Elvis Ochoro-46) Calvin Masawa, Wycliffe Otieno, Wesley Onguso, Herit Mungai, Charles Otieno (Reydon Munala-46), John Kamau (Rowland Makati – 4), Azizi Okaka, Ronney Kola, Ezekiel Odera,  Ebrima Sanneh (Roland Godwin Atsango-46)

Coach: Sanjin Alagic

Dandora Youth: Victor Okumu (GK), Juma Washington (Stephen Ado), Martin Murume [Zedekiah Ouma(Alex Mwema)], Emmanuel Adonai (Edwin Osongo), Job Kenga (Kevin Kompany), Brian Chege, Alex Ronaldo (Felix Ochieng), Brian Ochieng, Samuel Onyango , Samuel Nyaga (Mike Favor), Brian Ndegwa (Edward Omondi)

Coach: Anthony Wandonga Mwangi (Dino)

Goals: Ebrima Sanneh (Pen), Azizi Okaka, Rowland Makati, Ezekiel Odera (Nairobi City Stars)//Edward Omondi (Dandora AllStars)

Nairobi City Stars, Agesa, Okumu, Ombija

Kevin Okumu and Erick Ombija (24) celebrate with goal scorer Davis Agesa during a friendly against Dagoretti Santos at the Public Service Club, Upperhill on Tue 11 May 2021. Simba wa Nairobi won the game 2-0

Nairobi City Stars, Anthony Kimani

Anthony ‘Muki’ Kimani in action at the Public Service Club, Upperhill as Nairobi City Stars beat Dagoretti Santos 2-0 in a friendly on Tue 11 May 2021

Nairobi City Stars, Reydon Munala

Guest player Reydon Munala of Ligi Ndogo in action for Nairobi City Stars at the Public Service Club, Upperhill as Nairobi City Stars beat Dagoretti Santos 2-0 in a friendly on Tue 11 May 2021

 

11 May 2021
NCS, Team News Permalink
City Stars, Wesley Onguso
Wesley Onguso receiving his Covid-19 jab at Kasarani on Sat 10 April 2021.

Another round of Covid-19 testing in the offing

May 11, 2021

Nairobi City Stars players and officials are required to undergo another round of Covid 19 testing ahead of their next league game against Gor Mahia on Sunday 16 May 2021.

The same testing will apply to all FKF Premier League clubs.

The new testing follows on the first Covid test done in October 2019 prior to league kick off, and Covid-19 vaccinations done in April 2020.

Football Kenya Federation (FKF), the managers of the top league, have written to clubs to confirm the new developments.

“We wish to inform you that FKF plans to roll out the COVID 19 testing exercise from tomorrow, Tuesday May 11 2021,” said part of a communication from the FKF CEO Barry Otieno on Monday

Speaking on the same, club CEO Patrick Korir said;

“Those are the new requirements and we will oblige. We have already presented names of our team members for the exercise to be done on Wednesday,”

“We live in extra ordinary times, in the wake of Covid-19, and any measures that puts the health of our players and officials first is more than welcome.”

The league was stopped in late March after a full suspension of Sports due to rise in Covid 19 numbers.

The suspension was however lifted on Labour Day, 1 May, opening way for league resumption in mid-May.

07 May 2021
NCS, Team News Permalink
Timothy Ouma, City Stars, Posta Rangers
Timothy 'Babu' Ouma gets the ball ahead of Posta Rangers' Josephat Lopaga during a friendly at the Jamhuri Park on Fri 7 May 2021. It ended 1-1

City Stars, Rangers post draws in friendly games

May 7, 2021

Two draws, 0-0 and 1-1, were the results when Posta Rangers hosted Nairobi City Stars in two 90-minute friendly games at Jamhuri Park on Friday 7 May 2021.

The first game ended 0-0 while the second game saw City Stars lead 1-0 at half time through a Davis Agesa strike.

Agesa drove down the middle after connecting to a sure Anthony Kimani pass to smack the ball home once inside the box.

Clinton Kisiavuki responded for Rangers a minute into the second half when he converted a penalty.

The spot kick was awarded after speedy Eliud Lokuwan was brought down in the box while cutting in from the left channel by Kevin Okumu.

Both teams were using the shape up games to gear up for upcoming league games starting the weekend on Saturday 15 May 2021.

The two Friday games were the first set of games City Stars was engaging in since their last league game against Tusker at Utalii on Saturday 20 March 2021.

The two games came at the end of the teams’ first week of training since the lid on the March suspension of Sports was lifted.

Thereafter, Sports was suspended in the country indefinitely due to the rise in corona virus numbers.

“It was important to play full games. They had missed games and you could see that.” said head coach Sanjin Alagic

“We intend to have one more friendly game next week ahead of our game against Champions Gor Mahia next Sunday.” added Sanjin

Adding his voice to the games was team coordinator Samson Otieno who said;

“The friendly games were intense with the right pressure that offered a real game situation,”

He further said; “The games brought out the rusty side of players considering they had not been actively playing since late March and we thank Posta Rangers for offering us two quality games.”

City Stars fielded 28 players in both games including Kenyan junior international Umar Rajab of Ligi Ndogo who has been training with the club from midweek as well as former keeper Ronny Kagunzi.

Due to official leave, striker Ebrima Sanneh and keeper Elvis Ochoro missed out the games, while newly signed striker Nicholas Kipkirui sat out as a precaution to cool off a slight knock.

Summary

Posta Rangers 1 (0), Nairobi City Stars 1 (0)

Posta Rangers 1: Kevin Omondi (GK), Evans Maliachi, Kevin Ouma, Suleiman Ngotho, Elvis Osok, Joshua Nyatini (Steiner Musasia), Jackson Dwang, Alex Luganji (Josephat Lopaga-60), Sammy Odera, Dennis Oalo (Francis Namute-80), Cavin Odongo

City Stars 1: Stephen Njunge, Calvin Masawa, Wycliffe Otieno, Kenedy Onyango, Bolton Omwenga, Charles Otieno (Ronney Kola-60), Elvis Noor Ojiambo, Ezekiel Odera (Umar Rajab-75), Herit Mungai (John Kamau-46), Azizi Okaka (Rowland Makati – 60), Vincent Otieno Okoth (Erick Ombija-46)

Posta Rangers 2 (1), Nairobi City Stars 2 (1)

Scorers; Clinton Kisiavuki (47-Penalty), Davis Agesa (42)

Posta Rangers 2: Jairus Adira (Bryne Omondi-33), Simon Mbugua, Dickson Mwenda, James Adera, Timothy Omondi (Michael Apudo), Peter Ngángá, Clinton Kisiavuki, Bernard Ondiek, Eliud Lokuwam (Gershon Likhono), Josephat Lopaga (Simon Kapen), Francis Nambute (Ezekiel Okare)

Nairobi City Stars 2: Jacob Osano (Ronny Kagunzi), Wesley Onguso, Salim Abdallah, Edwin Buliba, Kevin Okumu, Peter Opiyo [Erick Ombija-28 (Ronney Kola-63)], Sven Yidah, Timothy Ouma, Oliver Maloba, Anthony Kimani, Davis Agesa

Rangers coach: Stanley Okumbi, Assistant: Charles ‘Korea’ Omondi
City Stars Coach: Sanjin Alagic, Assistant: John Amboko

City Stars, Maloba

Oliver Maloba takes on a Posta Rangers player during a friendly at the Jamhuri Park on Fri 7 May 2021. It ended 1-1

Davis Agesa, City Stars

Davis Agesa up against Posta Rangers’ Dickens Mwenda during a friendly at the Jamhuri Park on Fri 7 May 2021. Agesa opened the scoring in the first half. It ended 1-1.

Yasin Umar Rajab, City Stars

Yasin Umar Rajab (no. 20) featuring for City Stars against Posta Rangers during a friendly at the Jamhuri Park on Fri 7 May 2021. It ended 0-0

Ezekiel Odera, City Stars

Ezekiel Odera shields off Posta Rangers stopper Kevin Ouma during a friendly at the Jamhuri Park on Fri 7 May 2021. It ended 0-0

05 May 2021
NCS, Team News Permalink
Nairobi City Stars
Teenager Vincent Otieno aka Jamaica earned his

7 games for Simba wa Nairobi in May, June

May 5, 2021

Following the recent lifting of suspension on all sports, Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has gone on to release Simba wa Nairobi fixtures, and for the rest of the teams, for the remainder of the season.

City Stars final first leg game against champions Gor Mahia will now be played on Sunday 16 May 2021 starting 3pm at Kasarani.

The fixture was originally planned for Sunday 4 April 2021 but had to be shelved due to suspension of Sports in late March 2021.

Simba wa Nairobi will then close the month with two Nairobi games by hosting Sofapaka and playing away to Kariobangi Sharks on Monday 24 and Saturday 29 May 2021, respectively.

City Stars will then play four games in the last 15 days of June.

Home games against Western Stima and Kakamega Homeboyz on Wednesday 16 and Saturday 19 June will be followed by a trip to Sudi to face Nzoia United on Thursday 24 June. A Wazito game on Thursday 30 June will wrap up the month.

As per the fixtures, the Premier League season will conclude on Saturday 28 August 2021 with a home game against KCB.

“Though they are draft fixtures we can now plan our logistics accordingly as well as structure our training regime,”

“The fixtures gives us ample time to train and organize friendly games as we have sufficient days before our first game against Champions Gor Mahia.” said team coordinator Samson Otieno

Summary of fixtures till end of June 2021

Sun 16 May vs Gor Mahia (A). 3pm @Kasarani

Mon 24 May vs Sofapaka (H). 3pm @Kasarani

Sat 29 May vs Kariobangi Sharks (A). 3pm @Kasarani

Wed 16 Jun vs Western Stima (H). 3pm @Kasarani

Sat 19 Jun vs Kakamega Homeboyz (H). 3pm @Kasarani

Thu 24 June vs Nzoia Sugar (A). 3pm @Sudi Stadium

Wed 29 June vs Wazito (H). 3.15pm @Utalii grounds

03 May 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

Football returns after suspension

May 3, 2021

After close to five weeks of suspension, football has been handed the green light to return to action following a Presidential address on Labour Day (1 May).

During his speech to the Nation, President Uhuru Kenyatta announced a raft of lifts, one being that of Sports that had been suspended in late March due to a spike in Covid-19 cases and related deaths.

In light of the Presidential announcement, the Federation has since confirmed a return of league matches and have set a tentative date of 12 May as the return date.

A communique from League Manager David Thiru read;

“Dear Clubs

His Excellency President of Kenya announced the resumption of sporting activities in the country. Subject to adherence to the new Covid 19 protocols be put in place by the Ministries of Sports and Health.

We are tentatively working with the 12th of May as the start date.

Please note that the resumption will be in full compliance with the resumption protocols mentioned above.”

The lifting of Sports suspension was well received at Nairobi City Stars and the club has called for immediate return to training.

“This is indeed very good news. We were lost during the suspension and not sure what to do. Now we can focus on an immediate return to training and the remainder of games in the season,” said team coordinator Samson Otieno

“We are now waiting for fixtures from the league managers to allow us plan our logistics accordingly.” added Samson

Following the announcement, head Coach Sanjin Alagic, who did not hide his joy after the resumption announcement, has called for return to training on Monday 3rd May.

“I really look forward to start training. I am very happy. It was boring without training and matches. We shall start training on Monday.” said Sanjin

City Stars last game was a round 16 clash with Tusker, a game that ended 2-2 on 20 March 2021.

By the time of suspension, City Stars was tenth in the 18-team log with 20 points.

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