Blog | Page 151 | Nairobi City Stars

12 Mar 2021

Patrick NCS, Team News Permalink

Teen Timothy Ouma comes in for praise

Patrick March 12, 2021

Teenager Timothy Ouma Noor aka Babu has received a heavy pat on the back from Nairobi City Stars coach Sanjin Alagic.

The youngster, current reigning Chapa Dimba Rift Valley MVP, is an offseason acquisition from Laiser Hill Academy who plays as creative or attacking midfielder.

Into the current season, the Kenya U20 callup who ended up missing CECAFA U20 last year due to lack of a passport, has featured in all but one of the 15 games played in the Premier League.

“Babu has made amazing progress, day to day he looks better and gaining more experience in professional football. He’s only a teenager, so I’m very careful with minutes and playing time he gets,” said Sanjin

“But I believe he’s huge potential and that’s reason he has played almost every match this Season. I worked for many years in youth football so I’m the coach who likes to give opportunity for young talent and I believe that sometimes in your life you just need to get opportunity in right moment to achieve your dreams. I’ll try to help this boy to achieve his dreams.” added Sanjin

Speaking to our news desk, Babu talked up his steady progression in the top flight league.

“I have really grown in those games. Initially I wasn’t getting enough minutes but thereafter the playtime graduated which has really helped in the growth,” he said

He marked his Premier league debut in the season opener against Nzoia Sugar in Narok in late November 2020 after coming on for Oliver Maloba in the 83rd minute.

In the 15 games played so far, Ouma has earned starts in games against Bidco United, Vihiga United and Sofapaka and is looking forward to a full game. Just once against Posta Rangers did he miss on playtime as he did not come off the bench.

As he looks forward to a big game against Tusker on 20th March, Babu revisits the last game against AFC Leopards which he reckons was one of the toughest he’s played in the league.

“I came on when the tempo and the pressure was really high. I would have been elated had we won it, but . . ” said the lad who replaced Sven Yidah in the 79th minute in that game.

In scaling up from high school to City Stars, Babu joined his elder sibling Elvis Noor Ojiambo at Simba wa Nairobi. They both contest for minutes in the mid of the park.

City Stars forward Timothy Ouma up against Bandari left back Siraj Mohammed during a 3rd round FKF PL match at Kasarani on Fri 11 Dec 2020. City Stars won 2-0

Timothy Ouma in a game against Mt. Kenya United on Sat 14 Nov 2020 during a preseason friendly. It ended 0-0

City Stars midfielder Timothy Ouma aka Babu faces off with KCB’s Rama Walumbe during a friendly on Wed 11 Nov 2020. KCB won 1-0

Timothy Ouma aka Babu on the ball against Bidoc United at Kasarani in a fourth round Premiership tie at Utalii grounds in Dec 2020. It ended 0-0

10 Mar 2021

Patrick 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

Betway Cup: Fortune Sacco date revealed

Patrick March 10, 2021

The date is out; Nairobi City Stars will take on Fortune Sacco at the Kianyaga Stadium in Kerugoya on Sunday 18 April 2021 starting 2pm in the second round of the Betway Cup.

The date for the second round of the domestic cup tie was confirmed by the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) on Wednesday, as well as for the rest of the 15 games that make the round of 32.

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.

Though the weekend of play was identified then, exact playing days and times were not revealed.

Azizi Okaka during a round 64 Betway Cup against Mutomo Tigers on Sat 13 Feb 2021 at Kitui Stadium. Simba wa Nairobi won it 4-1 to progress to round of 32

09 Mar 2021

Patrick NCS, Team News Permalink

Sanjin sweats over Pinchez suspension

Patrick March 9, 2021

Nairobi City Stars will take on log leaders Tusker on Saturday 20 March 2021 without dependable midfielder Peter Pinchez Opiyo due to suspension.

Opiyo, incidentally City Stars top scorer this season with four goals, was slapped with a fifth yellow card this season in the last game against AFC Leopards.

The card was earned in the 61st minute after a challenge on a Leopards’ player deep in the City Stars territory.

“That card really disturbed me. I didn’t expect to get one but hey, that’s the nature of the game. You have to be prepared to miss some matches.” said Opiyo

For head coach Sanjin Alagic, his absence is a big blow but there is no choice but to dive into the brewers game without his lynchpin.

“Absence of Pinchez in the match against Tusker, the leading team in table, it’s big blow for us, because he’s such a important player in our team. When you play against the best teams in the league definitely you need all your best players in the squad,”

“But I don’t want to whine about that, we will try to prepare ourselves in the best possible way and get ready for the match to achieve a positive result.” said Sanjin

Thus far, Pinchez had clocked the full 90 minutes in all the 15 games into the season and he emerged as City Stars most valuable Player in four games against Wazito, KCB, Ulinzi Stars and Kakamega Homeboyz.

He scored in three straight January games against Wazito, Posta Rangers and Ulinzi Stars, then added a fourth against Western Stima in March.

Nairobi City Stars players celebrate a second goal by Peter Opiyo as Simba wa Nairobi beat Western Stima at Moi Stadium on Wed 23 Feb 2021 in a round 13 Premier League game

06 Mar 2021

Patrick NCS, Team News Permalink

Nairobi City Stars, Bolton — City Stars left back Bolton Omwenga mcontests the ball with AFC Leopards in a round 15 game played on Sat 6 March 2021. Leopards won 1-0

AFC Leopards snatch it at the death

Patrick March 6, 2021

Substitute Hansel Ochieng’s goal in the 90+4th minute led a ten-man AFC Leopards to a 1-0 win over Nairobi City Stars 1-0 in a 15th round Premier League game played at Kasarani on Saturday 6 March 2021.

Hansel powered in a cross from the right to the far post out of reach of City Stars keeper Steve Njunge who did all he could to stop the final ball of the game, but to no avail.

Leopards, facing City Stars for the first time in the Premier League since 2016, were reduced to ten-men four minutes into the second half after skipper Robinson Kamura was slapped with a straight red card when, as the last man, stopped a goal charging Oliver Maloba.

It is City Stars that had the first real chance of the game when, six minutes in, Bolton Omwenga whipped goalward a 40-yard freekick that received a spill from Leopards skipper Benjamin Ochan. The second ball seemed to have hit the hand of a Leopards player in the box but the referee waved play on.

In the 13th minute a conspicuous Maloba aimed for the far post but his shot went just off and two minutes later Eugene Mukangula had a response for Leopards but he skied an Elvis Rupia knockdown.

At the half hour mark Rupia attempted a shot from range but it fly wide. But two minutes on, in what was a chance for goal off a perfect Rupia layup, Mukangula sent the ball wide when it looked easier to score than miss.

Into the second half, a charging Maloba, connecting to a through ball from Davis Agesa, got to within inches of the box only to be tackled by the last man Kamura who saw red. The resultant freekick by skipper Anthony Muki Kimani went just wide.

Tactical changes from the red card a little later saw Bienvenue Shaka sacrificed for defender Washington Munene.

Ten minutes in, Bolton hammered a cross from the left but Erick Ombija, on for an injured Ebrimma Sanneh in the 28th minute.

Not too long after City Stars were forced to onboard stopper Wycliffe Otieno in place of Kenedy Onyango who could not continue with the game due to injury.

As the ball wore on, City Stars had the chances to finish off Leopards but a Timothy Ouma through ball and a freekick by Bolton all ended up with Ochan in goal. One other chance saw Maloba bullied off the ball after being put through on goal.

With 12 minutes to time, a long range shot saw Njunge spill it twice before Bolton showed up to clear out the danger.

The one final charge by Leopards saw the ball cross goal from the left to receive a lift from the right that sound Hansel’s head for the decider right at the death.

From the win, Leopards shot to second place on the 18-team log with 28 points as City Stars stagnates at ninth with 19 points.

Lineups

AFC Leopards: 99. Benjamin Ochan, 25. Lewis Bandi, 12. Isaac Kipyegon, 28. Clyde Senaji, 17. Fabrice Mugheni, 19. Eugene Mukangula (23. Austin Odhiambo-46), 26. Marvin Omondi, 10. Elvis Rupia (11. Hansel Ochieng-78), 13. Shaka Bienvenue (3. Washington Munene-52), 14. Peter Thiong’o ( 77. Caleb Olilo-70)

Unused subs: John Oyemba (GK), 2. Yusuf Mainge, 6.Tsuma Said, 7. Harrison Mwendwa, 27. Jaffari Owiti,

Head Coach: Patrick Aussems

Nairobi City Stars: 23. Steve Njunge (GK), 19. Kevin Okumu, 25. Kenedy Onyango (22. Wycliffe Otieno-76), 4. Salim Abdalla, 26. Balton Omwenga, 18. Sven Yidah (20. Timothy Ouma-76), 10. Peter Opiyo, 30. Anthony Kimani-Captain (7. Rodgers Okumu-64) 21. Oliver Maloba, 29. Ebrima Sanneh (24. Erick Ombija-28), 11. Davis Agesa

Unused subs: 1. Elvis Ochoro (GK), 32. Ezekiel Odera, 8. Calvin Masawa, 5. Wesley Onguso, 3. Charles Otieno

Not considered: 6. Ronney Kola, 14. Rowland Makati (both on loan at Nairobi Stima), 12. Edwin Buliba, 15. John Kamau, 16. Jacob Osano, 27. Azizi Okaka, 9. Vincent Otieno Okoth, 28. Herit Mungai Atariza, 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo

Coach: Sanjin Alagic

Red Card: 4. Robinson Kamura-50 (AFC Leopards)

Yellow cards: 23. Austin Odhiambo-65, 11. Hansel Ochieng-90+5 (AFC Leopards)//10. Peter Opiyo-61 (Nairobi City Stars)

Goals: 11. Hansel Ochieng-90+4 (AFC Leopards)

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

Davis Agesa in a game against AFC Leopards on Sat 6 Mar 2021 during a round 15 Premier League tie. Leopards won 1-0

06 Mar 2021

Patrick NCS, Team News Permalink

No change against AFC Leopards

Patrick March 6, 2021

It will be the same 20 players that faced Mathare United at Kasarani on Tuesday that will come up against AFC Leopards on Saturday 6 March 2021 at the same venue from 3pm.

It is the third straight game that head coach Sanjin Alagic has maintained the same 20 players.

They were all part of the past two league games that Simba wa Nairobi won with identical 2-0 margins over Western Stima and Mathare United.

20-man squad to face AFC Leopards

Goal keepers: 1. Elvis Ochoro (GK), 23. Steve Njunge (GK),

Defenders: 26. Balton Omwenga, 5. Wesley Onguso, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 4. Salim Abdalla, 8. Calvin Masawa,19. Kevin Okumu, 22. Wycliffe Otieno,

Midfielders: 18. Sven Yidah, 30. Anthony Kimani,21. Oliver Maloba, 20. Timothy Noor Ouma, 3. Charles Otieno, 10. Peter Opiyo, 7. Rodgers Okumu,

Strikers: 29. Ebrima Sanneh, 32. Ezekiel Odera, 24. Erick Ombija, 11. Davis Agesa

Not considered: 6. Ronney Kola, 14. Rowland Makati (both on loan at Nairobi Stima), 12. Edwin Buliba, 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo, 15. John Kamau, 16. Jacob Osano (GK), 27. Azizi Okaka, 9. Vincent Otieno Okoth, 28. Herit Mungai Atariza