Keeper Jacob Osano distributing food at Mukuru kwa Reuben in a #JengaJirani initiative on Mon 10 Aug 2020
Keeper Jacob Osano distributing food at Mukuru kwa Reuben in a #JengaJirani initiative on Mon 10 Aug 2020

City Stars deliver over 130,000 meals in latest #JengaJirani drive

Nairobi City Stars players, acting as ambassadors of the Jonathan Jackson Foundation (JJF), spearheaded the dishing out of over 870 food hampers that equates to over 130,500 meals over the past week.

Team players as well as officials, led by Chair Jonathan Jackson and CEO Patrick Korir, were joined by JJF team, partners Kubamba Krew and Spread Truth Africa on selected days.

The latest activity, that concluded on Monday 10 August 2020, involved visits to Mukuru kwa Reuben in Industrial area and Mukuru kwa Njenga and parts of Pipeline as well as Tassia, and Mwiki where about 64 food hampers were issued out.

The latest distribution, under the initiative #JengaJirani, kicked off last week Monday with donations of 200 food hampers in two points in Kamukunji Sub County – Kitui Village, Pumwani Ward and Biafra Community in California Ward.

The rest of the days in the week saw households in Saika, Dandora, Masai Mater, Shimo La Tewa, Mariguini, Fuata Nyayo, Commercial, Kisii Village and Kathethera benefit from the visits.

“Jenga Jirani is an act of kindness where the little that we have is shared out to the vulnerable in the society,” said CEO Korir

“The impact it brings to families is what most important to us and that objective on any given day supersedes the number of people we have reached.” he added

Madiaba, Kabiro and Satelite Community as part of the larger Kawangware community, Waruku in Kileleshwa ward were part of the stop points.

The weeks’ activities also included visits to two children’s homes; Filomena (Kayole) and Paradise Community Centre in Bombolulu, Kibra, as well as a revisit to Rehoboth Blessed Assurance Home in Mwiki.

At Filomena, City Stars players led by the likes of Wesley Onguso, Jacob Osano, Elvis Ojiambo, Charles Oduro and Vincent Otieno, in conjunction with Kubamba Krew and leading Gospel artists such as Lady B and Evelyne Wanjiru, helped to cook, then fed with the children.

Part of those targeted in the latest #JengaJirani drive included households with cerebral palsy persons, those with cancer, disabilities, the severely sick, among others.

Pictorials

City Stars assistant coach Tiellen Oguta
City Stars assistant coach Tiellen Oguta

City Stars assistant coached bereaved

It is sadness at the Nairobi City Stars stable following the demise of assistant coach Tiellen Timothy Oguta’s father in Nairobi on Saturday 8 August 2020 after a long illness.

“We have been made aware of the demise of Oguta senior and we as the Nairobi City Stars community do forward our sincere and heartfelt condolences to Tiellen and his family for the great loss,”

“As a family we stand by him and will support him in any way during this difficult time.” said club CEO Patrick Korir

Plans are at an advanced stage for the final journey of Mzee Oguta for his interment at Kakiimba Village in Mfangano out in Homa Bay County. In the meantime his body will be transferred from Nairobi to Kirindo Med Hospital on Wednesday 12 August 2020.

Nairobi City Stars players in a past NSL game in the 2019/20 season
Nairobi City Stars players in a past NSL game in the 2019/20 season

Player retention excites Otieno

Nairobi City Stars team coordinator Samson Otieno is excited by the fact that 18 players who led the team to Kenyan Premier League (KPL) promotion are still in the club’s books for next season.

According to Otieno, the number could be more should a few more of the out of contract players chose to remain in the team once discussions with the management conclude.

“The core unit that kept Simba wa Nairobi at the top of the NSL for a better part of the season to eventually promote the team is still intact heading to next season. This is important as it guarantees us continuity,” said Otieno

“When we started out last season a number of players were on one-year engagements but mid-way through we extended those contracts as the view to the Premier League became crystal clear. Just two teenagers – striker Vincent ‘Jamaica’ Otieno and midfielder Elvis Ojiambo started out with long term deals,”

“Part of the early players to extend their contracts were defender Wycliffe Otieno who added another year as well as midfielder Anthony Kimani, long serving defender Calvin Masawa, defensive mid Charles Otieno Oduro and striker Davis Agesa who committed to a further two years,”

“Others that followed in staying at City Stars for two more years include offensive mid Oliver Maloba, striker Ebrima Sanneh, defenders Salim ‘Shitu’ Abdalla and Edwin Buliba. Keeper Ronny Kagunzi and left back Wesley Onguso were the latest with each adding a year to their contracts,”

“January arrivals Peter Opiyo and Azizi Okaka have a season to go while keeper Jacob Osano, returning winger John Kamau and striker Ezekiel Odera have two more seasons,”

“We have some players whose contracts have since expired but the coach has hinted he’d still want to keep some of them for longer should they agree to. Noah Abich, Eric Ochieng, Tedian Esilaba, Kevin Okumu, David Gateri and Jimmy Bageya are some of those players. That will give us a much more close knit unit,”

“Despite having the core intact we are also in the market to fill up some positions such as in goal keeping after lead custodian Levis Opiyo officially left the club and just in case some of the out of contract players chose to head elsewhere,”

“Had the corona virus pandemic not struck, City Stars would have concluded its engagement with players for next season as far back as April.” summed Otieno

Nairobi City Stars
Eric Ochieng (No. 13), Noah Abich, Tedian Atuto (No. 6), Levis Opiyo (in orange)

Keeper Levis Opiyo moves on

Keeper Levis Opiyo Omondi will not tend goal for Nairobi City Stars in the upcoming 2020/2021 season.

This is after the former Thika United, Western Stima, Mathare United, Posta Rangers, Fortuna Babelsberg and Vihiga United keeper opted to run out his contract and pursue other interests away from Simba wa Nairobi.

His exit was confirmed by team coordinator Samson Otieno who said; “We would have liked to keep him for our Premier League return but he had other plans and we did not want to stand in his way. We thank him for his services and for leading the team back to the topflight at the fourth time of asking,”

“With his exit the club will now shop around for a worthy replacement.” added Otieno

In his parting shot, Levis, who joined the club in mid-2019, said;

“It is with deep sorrow to leave Nairobi City Stars because we were like family. I had close friends. But sometimes in football there comes a time you have to move when a good offer comes,”

“I am happy to have enjoyed my time while at City Stars as it’s a good club with good management, one of the best coach I have ever come across (Sanjin Alagic), unbelievable players who were hungry to win which made it easy to perform each time,”

“I am also happy to have contributed to the team’s promotion and I believe with the combination above the team will do an amazing job in the Premiership.”

According to Nairobi City Stars 2019/2020 season statistics, Levis featured in 25 of 27 games played and only missed two due to a concussion (Mt. Kenya) and suspension (AP Bomet).

He was named the club’s Player of the month in September 2019, picked out as match MVP twice, and will be remembered for two penalty saves in away games against promotion contenders Nairobi Stima and Vihiga United that ultimately delivered all three points.

With Opiyo’s exit, City Stars goal keeping department is left with January signing Jacob Osano who was on-boarded from Nairobi Stima and long serving Ronny Kagunzi.

Charles Otieno
City Stars DM Charles Otieno Oduro doing distribution work in Kibera on Thur 16 Jul 2020 during the #JengaJirani drive

City Stars conclude #JengaJirani week

Nairobi City Stars players once again returned to the community on Thursday 16 July 2020, this time to parts of Katwekera and Soweto in Kibera, to hand out the final batch of food hampers to families of the severely sick.

The City Stars players were joined by members from Jonathan Jackson Foundation (JJF), celebrity TV anchor Betty Kyalo as well as partners Kubamba Krew.

The Thursday drive, that targeted 50 families, concluded the #JengaJirani drive which kicked off the previous week in the parts of Kawangware, Riruta/Satelite, Uthiru, Ng’ando and Waithaka Wards.

The latest visit improves the number of food hamper beneficiary families to over 8,000 in the past four months.

“Community service is part of our forte and the Thursday exercise brought an end to the drive that began last week,” said club CEO Patrick Korir

“We will be back to serve the community in the coming weeks once our parent JJF through its partners avails more food hampers for distribution,”

“May I take this opportunity to thank the City Stars players who are part of the initiative and all the partners who have sacrificed to see to it that families affected by the extended Covid 19 pandemic receive continued cushioning.” added Korir

More players will be activated for community service in the coming week as more prorammes are rolled out.