Blog | Page 179 | Nairobi City Stars

14 Jun 2020

Patrick NCS, Team News Permalink

Calvin Masawa and Vincent Otieno of City Stars distributing food stuff provided by Light for the World at Dandora 44 on Tue 9 June 2020

City Stars join hands with JJF, Light for the World to distribute food hampers

Patrick June 14, 2020

In the ended week, Nairobi City Stars players turned to ambassadors for the Jonathan Jackson Foundation (JJF) and continued to distribute more than 830 food hampers donated by Light for the World to families with disabilities across Nairobi.

The tag team, in conjunction with Kubamba Krew who provided free transportation, helped to dish out food stuff enough to feed a family of five for 14 days.

Light for the World, an international disability and development organization, partnered with JJF who in turn called on City Stars to distribute the hampers – each with food stuff estimated at Kshs 2,000 – to most vulnerable families in Kawangware, Githurai, Mathare North, Kayole, Umoja, the larger Dagoreti as well as Sinai and Mukuru.

Others targeted were those in Undugu, Silanga, Soweto, Lindi B, Mashoni and Kisumu ndogo all under Langata sub County.

City Stars left back Wesley ‘Wiseman’ Onguso has been one of the most active players serving the community.

“I will always come through to serve the community when called upon and that’s why I have actively participated this week. It is a joy to see the smiles on families once we deliver the hampers and this makes the entire course worthwhile.” he said

Calvin Masawa, one of the captains at the forefront of the process added his voice to the activity, as he echoed Onguso’s sentiments;

“As City Stars players we are always at hand to help out. We did this earlier by targeting the vulnerable in Kibera, Deep Sea in Highridge and Kawangware but this time round it’s been more intense as the reach was wider for a target group as that involved those with disabilities.”

City Stars team coordinator Samson Otieno who was also part of the activities thanked Light for the World on behalf of the club.

“Coming through for more than 830 families with food hampers that can feed a family of 5 for about two weeks is no mean feat. I thank and appreciate Light for the World for pulling through resources to facilitate the same. On behalf of the families, may they be abundantly blessed.”

“I also wish to thank City Stars players for providing the necessary manpower in packaging and distribution as well as the Kubamba Krew who provided the necessary transport for the foodstuff for free.”

10 Jun 2020

Patrick NCS, Team News Permalink

Defender Wycliffe Otieno training ahead of a past game for City Stars

City Stars dig into archives for stats

Patrick June 10, 2020

Promoted Nairobi City Stars is at the collection point for all its past statistics.

According to team coordinator Samson Otieno and CEO Patrick Korir, stats gives a rare view that’s important as the team forges forward.

“Reasons for collecting stats are varied but in our case at City Stars we want to capture trends by looking at past seasons,”

“This will help in identifying important events as we look ahead to upcoming seasons.” said Samson

For the CEO, numbers will help identify,among others, the legends of the clubs.

“I have always been curious about numbers and hence the City Stars retrospective numbers search. For example who is the team’s all-time top scorer, assist provider? Which are the bogey teams? Who played the most games across the top leagues and second tier?

“Assembling the stats will give us an analytic start point as a view backwards guides us going forward. It will also help identify the true legends of the club.” said Korir

In relating to the mission at hand, Samson revisited the 2018/19 season where the team was fighting relegation.

“In that season the team had only one win and just 11 points after 20 rounds of play with just one clean sheet and deep in relegation danger. It guided us in mid season transfer signings to a point the team survived the chop,”

“Once we have the stats we will share them with our followers to help understand the team better.” added Samson

City Stars recent elevation back to the top tier ended four seasons in second tier cold.

28 May 2020

Patrick NCS, Team News Permalink

Peter Pinchez Opiyo in a past game for Nairobi City Stars

One on one with midfielder Peter Opiyo

Patrick May 28, 2020

Preludes are not needed for one Peter Pinchez Opiyo Odhiambo, for his reputation precedes the mid fulcrum.

Capped 34 times for the Kenya National team, Pinchez, whose younger sibling Levis – his teammate at Nairobi City Stars, refers to as ‘Pish’, had his star rise in 2009 after joining Gor Mahia from Thika United albeit on loan.

Calmness on the ball defines him, intelligence and spot-on deliveries are part of his acumen, and with those credentials it was little wonder that he earned a place in Antoine Hey-coached Kenya National team to command starts in high profile games against the likes of Tunisia and Nigeria towards the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations and World Cup campaigns.

His lows include missing opportunities at German side Fortuna Dusseldorf in 2009 and South African sides Maritzburg United, SuperSport United and Vasco Da Gama a few years later, and a near miss to the Danish topflight in 2015.

There were highs aplenty for the passer by excellence, that includes being named the 2009 Kenyan Premier League Midfielder of the Year and runner up Young Player of the Year and runners-up Player of the Year, winning the Premier League title with Tusker in 2012, the domestic title at AFC Leopards in 2013 as well as the coveted CECAFA Senior challenge Cup with Kenya the same year after a 19-year hiatus.

He arrived at Nairobi City Stars in January 2020 and led the team to promotion back to the Premier League after four seasons in the second tier.

The Chania High alumnus has scaled his football to Oman, Qatar, Finland and Turkmenistan and is not done yet.

He aspires to go into full farming after football and he now talks to us of his journeys to Asia and Europe, and why some trials were a ‘waste of time’.

City Stars; Take us through your background from primary to high school

Primary school was not bad for me. Went to Kenyatta Harambee Primary. Just like for most kids, school was fun at that age. This is where I did my KCPE.

City Stars; Share with us your football journey in high school and how far that took you.

There was a problem after Primary school. My father didn’t have money to take me to my favorite school which was Chania Boys.

Why Chania Boys? Because they had the best crop of players who could reach the National School games in soccer.

I had to settle for Broadway High, a day school nearby, for form 1. Football wise we managed to make it only to the district level.

The second year in High School I said to myself; “I must play in the Schools Nationals”. And why was that so important if you may ask? Because coaches from all over the country come to scout for talent there. I knew I was one.

A friend, who happens to be Bidco United goalkeeper coach now (Collins Washi Omondi), took me to his former school Kyulu High, in Eastern Province and he promised me national school football.

And indeed, when I arrived at the school there was enough material such as Saidi Mwarami, Davies Anemba and Mwandich to take us there. We made it that year.

Thika United noticed my talent at those games, and since they had a partnership with Brookside to scout and nature talent, they saw me through High School for the rest of the years. That’s how I ended up at my preferred school Chania Boys, from third term in second form all the way to fourth form.

City Stars; Talk to us about your football journey after high school – your early days at Thika United then moves to Gor Mahia, Tusker and AFC Leopards.

Opiyo; After I was done with school, life at Thika United wasn’t rosy, playing time was hard to come by, with internationals Anthony Mathenge and Nicholas Muyoti running the show.

The club gave me the option to seek a club I could move to and I sought to go to Gor Mahia which they agreed to.

City Stars; At Thika you didn’t have playtime. But suddenly after a loan move to Gor you became an instant star and broke to the National team. Explain the sudden spike

Opiyo; I found Gor Mahia was rebuilding under Coach James Siangá (RIP) and I joined them in (February) 2009 on loan.

Being young and bubbly, and given the fact I couldn’t be absorbed at Thika, the youth in me, and the lot I found at Gor had everything to prove. I guess that’s where everything started hitting a high for me including a National team call up.

City Stars; Playing for Harambee Stars; and winning CECAFA in 2013. Describe the feeling.

Opiyo; Fantastic! It’s every players’ dream to play for the national team. The caps are extremely important and that opened a lot of doors for me. Winning CECAFA simply crowned my four years in the national team setup.

Just the other day my child asked me if I have ever met the President (Uhuru Kenyatta) and I said yes; “we won CECAFA and we went to State House to see him.” Let’s just say I am my child’s hero because of that trophy.

City Stars; You had several trials in 2009 and 2010 in Germany and South Africa. Tell us about them

Opiyo; While at Gor I went to Germany for a trial (Fortuna Dusseldorf – Nov 2009) but it didn’t go well and I had to come back.

My loan to Gor ended after two years and Thika United decided to send me for trials with various clubs in South Africa which failed even before I got on the plane.

Part of the reasons they were not successful was because the club President’s had spoken about the trials. But the most critical part – the team coaches – had no idea of my arrival. A clear case was at Maritzburg United.

I had to come back and finish my contract with Thika in 2011. In 2012 I moved to Tusker and won the Premier League then moved to AFC Leopards (June 2013) with whom I won the Shield Cup over rivals Gor.

City Stars; In 2013 you moved to Oman. Later you moved to Scandinavia where you established yourself, and then later to Qatar. How do you compare the football out there?

Opiyo; While at ingwe I moved to Oman (Sept) and signed a two-year deal with Al Shabaab but Leopards refused to release me, so I had to come back.

It was a blessing in disguise as my next move (Mar 2014) was to Scandinavia (FF Jaro in Finland). And Leopards duly agreed to release me. That move changed my football completely as I was taught everything anew. I doubt that would have been the case in Oman.

The first few months at FF Jaro were very challenging; cold weather, very fast football. It was difficult to adapt, but eventually I got the rhythm.

The second year I was doing great, until a knee injury spoilt everything. I had surgery in Helsinki and had to return to Nairobi for rehab. That was a very tough time for me but God’s grace was sufficient.

After 8 months I was ready for a comeback. And that’s when God brought the Qatar deal (to Al-Markhiya in 2016-17). The season was perfect and we got promoted unbeaten.

I then went back to Finland to join SJK (2018) and did fairly well, and then decided it was the right time to taste other waters.

City Stars; After Finland you moved to Turkmenistan. Share the experience

Opiyo; That’s when a move to Turkmenistan champions Altyn Asyr sailed through. But issues with the country were complicated; the Visa never arrived and I didn’t even go there.

City Stars; How do you compare football in Europe and Asia to local football?

Opiyo; Football in Europe is very different compared to Africa and Asia. Europe is far much ahead, the quality of the game is really high, very fast passing game. And the infrastructure is top notch.

Asia has also seen great improvement over the years, but unlike other continents which are doing better by the day, they find themselves always lagging behind as far as work ethic is concerned.

City Stars; You arrived at City Stars, a team in the NSL, in Jan 2020 ahead of a long list of top tier clubs. That shocked many. Share with us the attraction to Simba wa Nairobi

Opiyo; Joining City Stars was a very easy decision to make. I loved the vision of the President (Jonathan Jackson), the quality of the coach (Sanjin Alagic) and the players that had joined the club. That sealed my decision.

The club is professionally run just like some of those I turned out for abroad. What I loved the most other than that was meeting young enthusiastic players such as Chumsy (Kevin Okumu), Maloba (Oliver), Chale (Charles Otieno) who were all raring to go.

Collectively the team has a good blend of players from the young to the experienced.

City Stars is now a promoted lot. Can they match up in the top league next season

Opiyo; The promotion announcement was one of my happiest moments. The players I found in the team had already played their part and it was only a matter of time that City Stars were declared champions of the NSL.

Can they match up? Definitely yes. With the President’s support, the kind of coach that we have, we only need to add a few more quality to help the already able playing unit.

City Stars; Your biggest regret(s) in football?

Opiyo; When I injured my ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) in late 2015. I couldn’t do anything to prevent it though.

This led to a lost opportunity in Denmark, in what was a sure deal. That would have been a gate to real success.

City Stars; Which coaches have inspired your game over time?

Opiyo; Locally, coach Sammy Omollo ‘Pamzo’, was the best for me.

Of course, (German) Antoine Hey who handed me my first cap for the national team, the lion himself Adel Amrouche – he had a big heart and taught me to have character.

Then came the best, Alexie Eremenko (Finnish coach at FF Jaro in 2016), basically brought all those together, taught me football afresh, added a bit of quality and positioning in the game.

City Stars; Locally, which players do you look up to?

Anthony Mathenge and Nicholas Muyoti. I learnt a lot under their guidance.

City Stars; Still on the local scene, Who did you dread coming up against?

Opiyo; Players who made me lose sleep were midfield generals Humphrey Mieno and Abdi Simba formerly of Bandari and Sofapaka.

The team I hated coming against in the league was always KCB; they were really organized

City Stars; You are known as the master passer. Where on the field (position) are you most comfortable playing? And who did you enjoy playing with most?

Opiyo; I enjoy playing as a supportive defense mid player. And I enjoy playing with a technically gifted co-midfielder.

City Stars; When not training and playing football what else occupies your time?

Opiyo: I farm farmer back at my home, I love to chat with friends and travelling to see new things.

City Stars; After retiring from the game, what next for you?

Opiyo; Farming for sure, football agent and physical coach.

19 May 2020

Patrick NCS, Team News Permalink

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

One on one with defender Wycliffe Otieno

Patrick May 19, 2020

Were he to venture into acting, Nairobi City Stars center back Wycliffe Otieno Onyango would easily pick up a villains role, almost certainly.

Packing up 80kgs in a six-foot frame, Wycliffe – not too much of a talker – tags along with a mean face, a clean shave accompanied with a Rick Ross-like beard.

Not to be mistaken tough, hiyo ni sura ya kazi tu (work mode)! Wycliffe is nonchalant, and as cool as a cucumber.

The Upper Hill School alumnus was part of the crop of players called in to restock Nairobi Stima in mid-2012, after spending time with Kenya School of Law (Thola Glass).

After three dutiful years, he was roped in by Kariobangi Sharks in mid-2015 whom he lead to Kenyan Premier League promotion at the close of year 2016 and to the domestic Cup – a ticket to continental football – in 2018.

With his good omen in tow, he arrived at Simba wa Nairobi, in mid-2019, to form the ‘Wall of Nairobi’ with Salim Shitu Abdalla at the heart of City Stars defense, a partnership that turned out to be one of the best defenses in the NSL. The net effect? It immensely contributed to the team’s promotion back to the Premier League after four years in the cold.

He sat out the first City Stars game of the season against Shabana then made the bench in the next three games. 20 minutes in the fifth game against Coast Stima endeared him to coach Sanjin Alagic and after that, for the next 22 games, he clocked the full 90 minutes to improve his appearances to 2,000 minutes (82.3% of playtime) with one Man of the match award.

The articulate gentle giant, whose preference is possession football, speaks to us . . . .

City Stars; Share with us your schooling background, from Primary to High school

I went to Daima Primary School in Huruma. I didn’t quite play school football in primary to be honest…the school wasn’t so much into football labda zile za breaktime na PE lessons.

City Stars; In high school that is where potential if fully noted and noticed. Was that the same for you? How far did you go with high school football?

I went to Upper Hill high school for my secondary school education. My time there was a bad one for football in the school as my arrival coincided with the departure of Mr Orero, the deputy principal then.

To add salt to the wound, my departure from the school coincided with the re-arrival of Mr Orero, this time as the principal of the school, something that heralded the school’s emergence as a dominant force in the school games. So yeah, I never quite played “meaningful” football in High School.

City Stars; From High schools there is that transition to league football. Share with us your formative steps to club football.

After High School, I first joined Thola glass/Kenya School of Law in the second tier before moving to Nairobi Stima in the mid-season transfer period.

City Stars; In mid-2015 you landed at fast rising Kariobangi Sharks. Talk to us about that step up.

Yeah, I joined Kariobangi Sharks in 2015 during the mid-season transfer window. They had a very interesting project that they thought I would fit into very well and what can I say, I was sold.

City Stars; Still on Sharks, in December 2016 you were in the squad that ended Nzoia’s unbeaten home run to earn promotion to KPL. Share with us that feeling as well as your debut season in the topflight

Yeah beating Nzoia on the final day of the season to clinch promotion to the KPL was awesome. We had a very decent squad for our debut season so I settled in quite fast. The transition was seamless I would say.

City Stars; After Sharks you kind of ‘disappeared’ from football. Injury?

Yes. It was an injury enforced break. I sat it out for a whole season doing rehabilitation. Thank God it was a short season. But it was a very tough time for me. Working alone is very difficult especially for us footballers as we are used to a team setup and working in a group all the time.

Thankfully, City Stars had faith in me and gave me an opportunity even though I wasn’t even at 100% when I joined. The coach was patient with me. Something that I am very grateful for

City Stars; You arrived at City Stars in mid-2019 at a time when the club was going through rigorous changes from the office to the team setup up. Talk to us about your early days at Simba wa Nairobi.

Yes. Very positive changes. The project that was underway at Simba wa Nairobi was irresistible and I felt I could rediscover myself and grow with the club as it sought to re-establish itself as a force in Kenyan football.

City Stars; After a slow start you established yourself at the club and with Shitu formed a formidable defensive pair; the best in the NSL. Talk to us about your partnership

Hahahaa..” The walls of Nairobi”…it’s a good partnership. I have a good relationship with Salim on and off the pitch. We learn a lot from each other and compliment each other well.

But we also have well able center backs in (Edwin) Buliba and Teddy (Esilaba) who are constantly pushing for a starting berth at the heart of the defense. We benefit a lot from this competition as there’s no room for complacency. I believe the four of us can play in any pairing and it would still be a decent partnership.

City Stars; In January you opted to stay on at City Stars for a further one year to the end of next season. What informed your extension?

I opted to extend my stay at the club because of the progress of the project and I also feel that I’m growing. There is a lot to come from the club n I want be a part of it.

City Stars; Other than being a header clearance specialist you dribble and play ball from the back. Is that your normal style of play?

I wouldn’t say that I have a particular style of play. I am very adaptable and would fit into most systems and philosophies of the game although, I must admit, that I am a sucker for a possession-based style of play.

City Stars; On a one v one, name the striker(s) you never want to come up against

I would say the combination ya (Meddie) Kagere and (Jacques) Tuyisenge ilikuwa moto (too hot!). Those guys were relentless.. They chased every ball for the entirety of the game. They never gave you space to breath as they were constantly pressing and making those runs into the spaces behind. You had to be alert for the whole ninety minutes when playing against them.

Hahahaha.. But bring them on. I fancy a challenge. I enjoy playing against top strikers that give you problems to solve for the entire game.

City Stars; You have played under numerous coaches. Name some of those that have positively shaped your football.

I have learnt different elements of the game from different coaches that that I have played for. I’m always open-minded and yearning to learn and challenge myself. Every coach has their way of viewing the game and you just have to try and see it the way they do because they are the ones who come up with the blueprint of how the team will play.

City Stars; Lastly, you are very eloquent and a good orator. When you retire shall we see you as a football anchor, analyst?

Hahaa.. Maybe. I fancy that I’d make a good sports anchor if I get the opportunity, but I believe it goes beyond just being eloquent. It is one of the options, along with coaching, that I’m seriously looking at once I hang my boots.

17 May 2020

Patrick NCS, Team News Permalink

Black Stars wins JJJ Jamii Cup after seeing off City Stars 1-0 at Camp Toyoyo on Sat 14 Dec 2019

JJF Jamii Cup return shelved

Patrick May 17, 2020

Had it been business as usual, the Betika Super League (BSL) would have wrapped its season with round 38 games on Saturday 16 May 2020.

The grand finale would have confirmed the final two promoted teams, and playoff team placed third, as well as the two teams to join already relegated Northern Wanderers out of the league.

But it’s been business unusual, as the league stalled two months before after round 28 on Saturday 14 March 2020 due to the Corona Virus pandemic that put a stop to all sporting activities.

Consequently, and with an unrealistic future ahead, the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) brought the league to an end and applied the rule book that confirmed Nairobi City Stars and Bidco United as promoted with Vihiga United destined for the playoffs. St. Joseph’s and Administration Police were sent downwards to division one.

On the final day that was not to be, City Stars would have been away to Kibera Black Stars just as was the case last season.

Stakes were at the highest in that season-ender for Simba Wa Nairobi as Black Stars ended the team’s 18-match unbeaten run in December – and 22 overall considering games from the other season.

Besides, Black Stars claimed a Kshs 20,000 bounty and the newly introduced Jonathan Jackson Foundation (JJF) Jamii Cup much to the chagrin of the City Stars establishment.

Speaking on the Cup, City Stars team coordinator Samson Otieno has hinted at having the reverse JJF Jamii Cup game somewhere before next season.

“It was a match up we had been waiting for. We wanted to end the season on a high by reclaiming the JJF Jamii Cup from Black Stars and avenge the first leg loss that ended our unbeaten check,”

“But with the prevailing conditions this has to be shelved till an appropriate time. We will consider the return game in the preseason.” he added.

During the last game between the two, MVP’s from either side; Charles Otieno (City Stars) and Bill Clinton Okumu (Black Stars) were each rewarded with a pair of boots from JJF.