17 Dec 2020
NCS, Team News Permalink
Ezekiel Odera
Ezekiel Odera in a City Stars vs Coast Stima game at Camp Toyoyo in Jan 2020

Bidco vs City Stars: Starts for Odera, Jamaica

December 17, 2020

Seasoned striker Ezekiel Odera and teenager Vincent Otieno Okoth aka Jamaica will both start for Nairobi City Stars as they take on Bidco United in a fourth round premier league game at Utalii grounds on Thursday 17 December 2020.

The two started off on the bench in the last encounter against KCB but have since earned elevation in place of the unavailable Davis Agesa and Oliver Maloba who drops to the bench.

Save for the two changes, the rest of the lot remains as is.

For a second straight game Sven Yidah will start ahead of teenager Elvis Noor Ojiambo as Steve Njunge claims his place between the posts for a fourth straight game.

The backline of Herit Mungai Atariza, Kenedy Onyango, Salim Abdalla and Azizi Okaka is unchanged as Peter Opiyo provides cover.

Teenager Timothy Noor Ouma will, for a second straight game, start and will play in midfield alongside skipper Anthony Muki Kimani.

The bench is a familiar one with overall skipper Calvin Masawa, utility back Edwin Buliba, roving wingers Rodgers Okumu and Jimmy Bageya handing company to Ojiambo and Maloba, as well as teenage keeper Elvis Ochoro.

The new arrival on the bench is big Wycliffe Otieno who missed the last two games due to injury.

Starting lineup vs Bidco United: 23. Steve Njunge (GK), 28. Herit Mungai Atariza, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 4. Salim Abdalla, 27. Azizi Okaka, 10. Peter Opiyo, 18. Sven Yidah, 20. Timothy Ouma , 30. Anthony Kimani (Captain), 9. Vincent Otieno Okoth, 32. Ezekiel Odera,

Subs: 1. Elvis Ochoro (GK), 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo, 7. Rodgers Okumu, 8. Calvin Masawa, 12. Edwin Buliba, 19. Jimmy Bageya, 21. Oliver Maloba,

Not considered: 29. Ebrima Sanneh, 3. Charles Otieno, 24. Erick Ombija, 11. Davis Agesa, 16. Jacob Osano, 5. Wesley Onguso, 15. John Kamau, 17. Yusuf Mukisa Lubowa

Technical bench: Sanjin Alagic (Head Coach), Nihad Nalbantic, John Amboko (Assistant coaches), Noah Abich (Team Manager)

16 Dec 2020
NCS, Team News Permalink
Wycliffe Otieno in a game against Mt. Kenya United at Dagoretti High on Sat 14 Nov 2020
Wycliffe Otieno in a game against Mt. Kenya United at Dagoretti High on Sat 14 Nov 2020

One change as City Stars plots for Bidco

December 16, 2020

After sitting two games out, defender Wycliffe Otieno has shaken off an injury suffered against Nzoia Sugar on match day one, and is in the setup for the upcoming game against Bidco United on Thursday 17 December 2020 at Utalii Grounds starting 3pm.

As Wycliffe returns, powerful forward Davis Agesa has been forced to miss the Bidco game due to sickness. Agesa started the first three games against Nzoia Sugar, KCB and Bandari.

Davis Agesa on the ball as Peter Opiyo looks on during a friendly against Mt. Kenya United on Sat 14 Nov 2020. It ended 1-1

Other than that change, the rest of the squad remains as is.

“Wycliffe is now fit enough to feature in the game but Davis is out due to sickness suffered over the weekend. He will have to miss the (Bidco) game.” said head coach Sanjin Alagic

Jimmy Bageya who provided an important assist in the last game against Bandari retains his place in the team.

Teenagers Elvis Ochoro, a keeper, Elvis Noor Ojiambo, Vincent Otieno Jamaica Okoth and Timothy Noor Ouma have, for a fourth straight game, been named to the squad.

All other regulars, led by Anthony Muki Kimani and Calvin Masawa, the field and overall captains, correspondingly, have maintained their places in the squad.

19-man team to face Bidco United

23. Steve Njunge (GK), 28. Herit Mungai Atariza, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 4. Salim Abdalla, 27. Azizi Okaka, 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo, 10. Peter Opiyo, 7. Rodgers Okumu, 8. Calvin Masawa, 32. Ezekiel Odera, 30. Anthony Kimani, 21. Oliver Maloba, 9. Vincent Otieno Okoth, 1. Elvis Ochoro (GK), 12. Edwin Buliba, 18. Sven Yidah, 20. Timothy Ouma,19. Jimmy Bageya, 22. Wycliffe Otieno

Not considered: 29. Ebrima Sanneh (rehab), 11. Davis Agesa (sick), 3. Charles Otieno, 24. Erick Ombija, 16. Jacob Osano, 5. Wesley Onguso, 15. John Kamau, 17. Yusuf Mukisa Lubowa

Wycliffe Otieno

Centre back Wycliffe Otieno in a past game for Nairobi City Stars against Migori Youth at Camp Toyoyo during the 2019/2020 NSL Season

Wycliffe Otieno in a league game at Camp Toyoyo in Jan 2020

16 Dec 2020
NCS, Team News Permalink

Head to Head: Bidco United (H) vs Nairobi City Stars (A)

December 16, 2020

Top flight newcomers Bidco United will on Thursday 17 December host Nairobi City Stars at Utalii Grounds in a fourth round FKF Premier League tie starting at 3pm.

The upcoming match is historic as the two teams have never faced off in the Premier League. The closest it has been is during a preseason friendly game in Thika, in preparation for the current 2020/21 season. It ended 1-1.

Eyes on the ball for City Stars forward Vincent Jamaica Otieno against Bidco United at Thika Stadium on Sat 7 Nov 2020. The game ended 1-1

Bidco and City Stars are familiar foes having contested the second tier – National Super League (NSL) – in the past four seasons.

After failing to navigate out of the NSL in recent years, the two sides finally earned automatic promotions in 2020. Bidco were City Stars accompaniment to the premier league having finished second on the log behind the champions.

While City Stars made a return to the Premier League after four seasons, Bidco up-scaled to the topmost league for the first time ever.

Into the Utalii meet, Bidco carries a record of two premier league draws (Western Stima 0-0, Kariobangi Sharks 2-2) and a loss (AFC Leopards 2-0) as City Stars has two wins (Nzoia Sugar 2-0, Bandari 2-0) and a loss (KCB 1-0).

Though they have never met in the Premier League level, games in the recent past in the second tier will be the spur at Utalii as the records are fully applicable. They shall be meeting for a fifth straight season.

In the fourth round of Super League games last season, City Stars ended Bidco’s three match winning streak with a 1-0 win in Thika and turned around a 1-0 first half goal to a 2-1 win in the reverse game at Camp Toyoyo to complete a season double to consolidate top spot.

In whole, across four seasons in the Super League, City Stars faced off with Bidco United eight times winning three, sharing the spoils as many times and losing twice.

In four away games to Bidco United, Simba wa Nairobi has only managed one win, two draws and one loss.

For the upcoming game, there shall be no coaching changes from either side as, Sanjin Alagic, the mastermind of the double win last season is still in charge at City Stars while Anthony Viera Akhulia is still the man at the helm for Bidco.

The Utalii ground is new to both teams as the previous encounters have been played across three surfaces; Thika Stadium (4 games), Camp Toyoyo (3) and Hope Centre (1)

Who will win this one? Stay tuned for the full updates on our social media pages.

Previous games

27-May-17: Bidco United vs City Stars, 0-0
1-Nov-17: City Stars vs Bidco United, 0-2
8-Apr-18: Bidco United vs City Stars, 3-1
1-Sep-18: City Stars vs Bidco United, 1-0
19-Dec-18: Bidco United vs City Stars, 1-1
28-Mar-19: City Stars vs Bidco United, 0-0
18-Sep-19: Bidco United vs City Stars, 0-1
2-Feb-20: City Stars vs Bidco United, 2-1
7-Nov-20: Bidco United vs City Stars, 1-1 (preseason friendly)

Summary

KPL games: None

NSL games – 8: City Stars (3 wins), Bidco United (2 wins), Draws-3

Away games – 4: Bidco United (1 win), Draws (2), City Stars (1 Win)

Bidco 0 Nairobi City Stars 1 @ Thika Stadium on Wed 18 Sept 2019

LEft back Herit Mungai (no. 28) goes for the ball in City Stars game vs Bidco United on Sat 7 Nov 2020 at Thika Stadium. The game ended 1-1

15 Dec 2020
NCS, Team News Permalink

Njunge, ‘Shitu’ in TOTW, Sanjin nominated

December 15, 2020

At the close of round 3 of games in the FKF Premier League,  Nairobi City Stars head coach Sanjin Alagic was nominated for Coach of the week after masterminding a massive 2-0 win over bandari as two players; keeper Steve Njunge and center back Salim Shitu Abdalla have been named to the team of the week (TOTW).

Sanjin was nominated for alongside AFC Leopards coach Anthony Kimani and KCB’s Zedekiah Zico Otieno who led their respective teams to 3-0 and 2-0 wins over Sofapaka and Kakamega Homeboyz in the ended round of games.

Njunge, recently named the MVP for City Stars after Friday’s 2-0 win over Bandari, was named as the keeper in the TOTW.

Separately, he was also been nominated for Player of the week (3).

During the first round of games against Nzoia Sugar, Njunge alongside Oliver Maloba, were named to the reserve of the team of week 1 as skipper Anthony Kimani and Davis Agesa made it to the starting eleven.

Stopper Salim Shitu Abdalla, City Stars MVP in the season opening game against Nzoia Sugar, is included in the backline of the TOTW 3 alongside Vihiga United’s Norman Werunga and AFC Leopard’s’ skipper Robinson Kamura.

Peter Thiong’o (AFC Leopards), Fidel Origa (Wazito), Michael Mutinda (KCB), James Macharia (Tusker FC), David Owino (KCB) make the midfield as Emmanuel Mogaka (Bidco United) and Elvis Rupia (AFC Leopards) are named as the strikers

“It’s encouraging to see our players make the TOTW this early. It is a call to competitiveness not only the named players, but for the rest of the squad in the competitive league,” said team coordinator Samson Otieno

“We also note that our coach Sanjin too is, in just his first season, is mixing with the experienced coaches in the league in receiving nominations as coach of week.” added Samson

Gad Mathews-GK (Gor Mahia), Joseph Mbugi (Posta Rangers), Said Tsuma (AFC Leopards), Derrick Otanga (KCB) and Bernard Ochieng (Wazito) complete the bench of the TOTW.

Team of the Week 3 (Fri 11-Sun 13 Dec 2020)

Formation: 3-5-2

Goalkeeper: Steve Njunge (Nairobi City Stars)
Defenders: Salim Abdallah (Nairobi City Stars), Norman Werunga (Vihiga United), Robinson Kamura (AFC Leopards)

Midfielders: Peter Thiong’o (AFC Leopards), Fidel Origa (Wazito), Michael Mutinda (KCB), James Macharia (Tusker FC), David Owino (KCB)

Strikers: Emmanuel Mogaka (Bidco United), Elvis Rupia (AFC Leopards)

Substitutes: Gad Mathews-GK (Gor Mahia), Joseph Mbugi (Posta Rangers), Said Tsuma (AFC Leopards), Derrick Otanga (KCB), Bernard Ochieng (Wazito)

14 Dec 2020
NCS, Team News Permalink
Nairobi City Stars
Sanneh in action in Oct 2019 against Migori Youth at Camp Toyoyo

Sanneh kicks off rehab, Osano returns

December 14, 2020

After sitting out for six weeks due to a knee injury, lead striker Ebrima Sanneh from Gambia has kicked off his rehab.

Sanneh picked up his injuries during the first pre season friendly in late October that ruled him out of activity for the rest of the year.

At the same time, top keeper Jacob Osano has also resumed training after sitting training out due to sickness.

Lead keeper Jacob Osano has resumed training after sitting out for a week due to sickness

According to team physio Brian Odongo, Sanneh is under close observation while Osano is back to full training.

“Sanneh kicked off very light training last week on the sidelines of the rest of the team while Osano joined the rest of the team after missing a week of training,”

“Psychologically, coming to the field for Sanneh is important for his state of mind as he gradually works his way back to full training in the weeks to come,” added Brian

“Osano is now fully ok and resumed full training on Monday.” added Brian

In spite of kicking off rehab, Sanneh is expected to contest a place in the team in late January 2021 Osano is set to feature in games in due course.

Apart from Sanneh, and as confirmed by Odongo, all other players who had minor concerns such as Charles Otieno (wrist), Wycliffe Otieno (knee), Erick Ombija (knee) and John Kamau (thigh muscle), are all well now and back in full training.

→←