Blog | Page 171 | Nairobi City Stars

29 Nov 2020

Patrick NCS, Team News Permalink

Nairbi City Stars during a friendly on Wed 11 Nov 2020 at Public Service Club. KCB won 1-0

How we lineup against Nzoia

Patrick November 29, 2020

Save for skipper Anthony Muki Kimani and offensive Oliver Maloba, there will be nine new players lining up in Nairobi City Stars colors as the team hosts Nzoia Sugar at the Narok Stadium on Sunday 29 November 2020 starting 1pm.

This is as head coach Sanjin Alagic from Bosnia makes his bow in the Kenyan top flight in Nairobi City Stars 321st Premier League game, the first since 19th November 2016 in the season when the team got relegated.

While Muki last featured for City Stars in the Premier league in 2009, but rejoined the club in July 2019, Maloba was part of the 2016 lot.

Four offseason signings; Keeper Steve Njunge from Wazito, Kenedy Vidic Onyango from Kakamega Homeboyz, striker Erick Jibaba Ombija from Gor Mahia and left back Herit Mungai Atariza from Coast Stima will all start against Nzoia.

They are joined in the starting 11 by defenders Salim Shitu Abdalla and Wycliffe Wiki Otieno, as well as midfielder Elvis Noor Ojiambo who all joined the team in July 2019.

Vidic and Shitu will be the stoppers as Herit and Wiki take their places as fullbacks.

Teenager Elvis will have Peter Pinchez Opiyo, and Muki for company in the mid as Ombija and Maloba operate on either wings. Agesa, the City Stars all-time top scorer in the NSL, will lead the lines upfront.

Three teenagers; Elvis Ochoro and Vincent Otieno Okoth, both signed from Hakati Sportiff, as well as Laiser Hill alumnus Timothy Babu Ouma, will start off the bench.

Ezekiel Odera who scored the clubs 304th and last Premier League goal in 2016 is part of the firepower on the bench as well as overall captain and City Stars longest serving player Calvin Masawa.

Utility back Edwin Buliba and new signings Sven Yidah and roving winger Rodgers Okumu complete the bench.

Starting XI: Steve Njunge (GK), 28. Herit Mungai Atariza, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 4. Salim Abdalla, 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo, 10. Peter Opiyo, 30. Anthony Kimani, 21. Oliver Maloba, 24. Erick Ombija, 11. Davis Agesa

Subs: 1. Elvis Ochoro (GK), 12. Edwin Buliba, 18. Sven Yidah, 20. Timothy Ouma, 9. Vincent Otieno, 7. Rodgers Okumu, 8. Calvin Masawa, 32. Ezekiel Odera

Out of game 1: Ebrima Sanneh, Yusuf Mukisa Lubowa, Charles Otieno (injuries), Azizi Okaka, Jimmy Bageya, Jacob Osano (sickness), Wesley Onguso, John Kamau

28 Nov 2020

Patrick NCS, Team News Permalink

Pep talk at the water break by coach Sanjin Alagic during a City Stars - Bidco United game on Sat 7 Nov 2020 at Thika Stadium

19 named for historic Narok clash with Nzoia

Patrick November 28, 2020

Nairobi City Stars head coach Sanjin Alagic has named a 19-man squad for the opening 2020/21 FKF Premier League game against Nzoia Sugar to be played at Narok Stadium on Sunday 29 November 2020 from 1pm.

On many fronts the game is historic as Nairobi City Stars has never faced off with Nzoia Sugar at any level since the club’s inception back in 2003.

Neither has Nairobi City Stars played a game at the Narok Stadium and never has coach Sanjin, who led Simba wa Nairobi to promotion from the National Super League (NSL), ever handled a game in the top flight.

The upcoming game will be Nairobi City Stars’ first Premier League game since 19 November 2016. In between then and the upcoming game, Simba wa Nairobi had been featuring in the second tier following relegation at the end of the 2016 season.

Of the travelling lot, only three players; Oliver Maloba, overall captain Calvin Masawa and Ezekiel Odera are the survivors from the team that played the last game in 2016. Odera scored the team’s 304th and last Premier League goal in that finale.

Field skipper Anthony Muki Kimani, who rejoined the club last year to lead the side to promotion, also makes the team. He last played a Premiership game for City Stars back in 2009.

Beyond those four, the other 15 players heading to Narok will be aiming at clocking their debut games for City Stars in the Premier League.

They include eight offseason signings; keeper Steve Njunge from Wazito, stopper Kenedy Onyango from Kakamega Homeboyz, striker Erick Ombija from Gor Mahia, left back Herit Mungai Atariza and winger Rodgers Okumu from Coast Stima, defensive mid Sven Yidah from Kariobangi Sharks, keeper Elvis Ochoro from Hakati Sportiff and creative mid Timothy Babu Ouma from Laiser Hill Academy, the reigning Rift Valley Chapa Dimba MVP.

Teenage forward Vincent Otieno Okoth, defenders Wycliffe Otieno and Salim Abdalla as well as midfielder Elvis Noor Ojiambo, all of whom joined City Stars in July 2019, are in the list to Narok.

Completing the squad are former Kenya international Peter Pinchez Opiyo, a January 2020 signing, utility back Edwin Buliba and powerful forward Davis Agesa Amuyunzu, the teams’ top scorer in the NSL.

Off the pitch, immediate former captain Noah Abich as well as former skipper and stand-in coach John Amboko will accompany the team to Narok.

This is alongside coach Sanjin, assistant Nihad Nalbantic, team physio Brian Odongo.

Nihad, a former keeper in his hey days in Serbia, will fill up for keeper trainer Zachary Onyango who is unavailable.

Travelling squad

Goal keepers: 23. Steve Njunge, 1. Elvis Ochoro

Defenders: 28. Herit Mungai Atariza, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 4. Salim Abdalla, 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 12. Edwin Buliba, 8. Calvin Masawa,

Midfielders: 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo, 10. Peter Opiyo, 30. Anthony Kimani, 21. Oliver Maloba, 18. Sven Yidah, 20. Timothy Ouma, 7. Rodgers Okumu

Strikers: 24. Erick Ombija, 11. Davis Agesa, 9. Vincent Otieno, 32. Ezekiel Odera

Not traveling: Ebrima Sanneh, Yusuf Mukisa Lubowa, Charles Otieno (injuries), Jimmy Bageya, Jacob Osano (sickness), Wesley Onguso, John Kamau, Azizi Okaka

Technical bench: Sanjin Alagic (Head Coach), Nihad Nalbantic, Noah Abich, John Amboko (assistant coaches), Brian Odongo (Physio), Neville Pudo (Team Manager), Winnie Nyasiri (Media)

Management: Samson Otieno (Team coordinator)

27 Nov 2020

Patrick NCS, Team News Permalink

Nairobi City Stars to host Nzoia in Narok

Patrick November 27, 2020

Nairobi City Stars 2020/21 season Kenyan Premier League opener against Nzoia Sugar, set for Sunday 29 November 2020, has been moved from Nyayo Stadium to Narok Stadium. It will kick off at 1pm and not 3pm as previously scheduled.

The change was necessitated by the unavailability of Nyayo Stadium.

“We had made a request to Sports Kenya to have the game played at Nyayo Stadium as scheduled but the communication that came back is that it was not available for this particular game,” said club CEO Patrick Korir

“We had to re-plan and have since confirmed the game will be played at Narok Stadium. Our opponents Nzoia Sugar have since been informed of the changes in good time.” added Korir

The team will depart on Saturday for the Sunday game.

26 Nov 2020

Patrick NCS, Team News Permalink

Nairobi City Stars, Chale — Charles 'Chale' Otieno getting closer to full recuperation after months of rehab

Sanneh, Chale out for the year

Patrick November 26, 2020

Lead Nairobi City Stars striker Ebrima Sanneh from Gambia will miss out on the starting games in the Kenyan Premier League following a knee injury suffered during a friendly game in late October 2020.

The same applies to defensive mid Charles Chale Otieno Oduro who had a nasty fall in training a week back leading to a fractured wrist.

According to team Physio Brian Odongo, both will return to training at different times in December.

“Sanneh has to sit out at least six to eight weeks before starting light training. That should be at some point in late December. Thereafter he will need to undergo rehab to fully recover,” said Brian

Gambian striker Ebrima Sanneh in a past game for City Stars against Coast Stima at Camp Toyoyo on Sat 8 Feb 2020

“As for Chale, two to three weeks out and he will be ok. He currently has a cast on the wrist and by mid December he should be back in training.” added Brian

Given the resumption dates, the two will miss all the Premier League games this year.

While Chale could start contesting for games in January 2021, Sanneh is likely to start featuring later in February after his rehab.

25 Nov 2020

Patrick NCS, Team News Permalink

Players to undergo Covid-19 tests

Patrick November 25, 2020

Nairobi City Stars players and officials will all undergo mandatory Covid-19 at the Ligi Ndogo grounds on Wednesday 25th November starting 1pm.

The tests will be carried out by Lancet Kenya as organised by the Football Kenya Federation (FKF).

“We obliged to the tests as it is important to know the status of all our players and officials ahead of the league kick off at the weekend,” said club CEO Patrick Korir

“We have been observing all protocols in training as laid out by the Ministry of Health since we kicked off preseason in early October. But you never know who the players come in contact with away from the ground hence the need for the tests.” added the CEO

The results are expected back before the weekend.