16 Jul 2020
NCS, Team News Permalink

City Stars to benefit from new KPL naming rights

July 16, 2020

Newly promoted Nairobi City Stars is set to receive Kshs 8 million for the upcoming 2020/21 season following the sale of naming rights for the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) to leading gaming firm BetKing by Football Kenya Federation (FKF).

According to an announcement made on Thursday 16 July 2020 by FKF,  the overseers of the game in the country, BetKing has been drawn in as KPL’s title sponsors for a span of five years.

The partnership entails Kshs 220 million in the first year with the figures expected to escalate by 5% for the second year before further incrementing to 10% in consequent years.

Under the deal, all 18 top tier sides will take home Kshs 8 million in the first year.

“Our players and club officials have had it rough over the past few years because of an underfunded league,” said FKF President Nick Mwendwa

“I am happy today to announce BetKing Kenya as our title sponsor in the biggest deal in our history,” he added.

Internally the news was well received at Simba wa Nairobi and in a comment club CEO Patrick Korir said;

“This is indeed good news and it goes to show FKF have the interest of football in the country. For a few years clubs in the KPL have struggled with finances, lack off, and the partnership with BetKing, following a good shift of intent by FKF, is a descent one that we at City Stars truly appreciate.”

City Stars roared back to the KPL after four seasons in the cold after topping the recently concluded second tier NSL.

Official unveiling of the sponsor will be done in September 2020.

11 Jul 2020
NCS, Team News Permalink
City Stars Chair Jonathan Jackson and CEO Patrick Korir together with members of Kubamba Krew and Shibisha Initiative handing food to the Director of Rehoboth Blessed Assurance Children's Home in Mwiki, Kasarani on Sat 11 July 2020
City Stars Chair Jonathan Jackson and CEO Patrick Korir together with members of Kubamba Krew and Shibisha Initiative handing food to the Director of Rehoboth Blessed Assurance Children's Home in Mwiki, Kasarani on Sat 11 July 2020

City Stars end week at Rehoboth Home

July 11, 2020

On Saturday, a select number of Nairobi City players ended their active week by accompanying Shibisha Initiative, their sponsor Jonathan Jackson Foundation (JJF) and Kubamba Krew in paying a courtesy call to Rehoboth Blessed Assurance Children’s Home in Mwiki, Kasarani, to donate food and non-food items.

The Rehoboth Home houses and supports over 74 street children who are between the ages of 3-19 years. It is run by a Director, two matrons, as many patrons and eight volunteers. It was started in 2013.

According to Shibisha Initiative, a Charitable organization that reaches out to the less fortunate, orphans, street children and the neglected by society, Reboboth Home were in need of support due to the Covid-19 pandemic presented various challenges to the home one of them being the inability to provide food and basic necessities to the children under their care.

Speaking at the event, City Stars chair Jonathan Jackson promised to round up his construction firm Lordship Africa to setup a solar system at the Home to a tune of Kshs 100,000.

“This is one of the ways the Foundation and City Stars can provide a lasting solution to power issues that the Home faces. It’s geared to providing ample and constant lighting at the facility.” said Jonathan

City Stars left back Wesley Onguso who led a team of City Stars players added his voice to the visit by saying;

“When not playing football our functions change and we become ambassadors of the (JJ) Foundation. Our visit here today was to extend a helping hand to a Home that is taking care to members of the society who would otherwise have been in the streets,”

“Simple visits such as this where we get to mingle, play a little football and talk to the lads lights up their day and that gives us joy.” added Onguso

Prior to the Mwiki visit, City Stars, JJF and Kubamba Krew – accompanied by TV news anchor Betty Kyalo – oversaw the distribution of over 620 food hampers to households drawn from Kawangware, Riruta/Satelite, Uthiru, Ng’ando and Waithaka Wards as part of the #JerangJirani initiative initiated by JJF.

10 Jul 2020
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Nairobi City Stars, Chale
Charles 'Chale' Otieno getting closer to full recuperation after months of rehab

‘Chale’ at 86%, Buliba steady

July 10, 2020

Nairobi City Stars box to box master Charles Otieno Oduro aka Chale is now as good as fit after completing four months of attentive rehabilitation.  

A knee injury – a complex tear to the lateral meniscus – had seen Chale miss games in February and March.

As Chale gets clearance, defender Edwin Buliba who suffered a patella tendonitis and IT band syndrome back in February, is also getting closer to recovery.

The two have been undergoing weekly rehabilitation at the Muchatha Health Care, a renowned Physiotherapy & Sports injury clinic, since mid-March.

Brian Otieno Odongo has been keenly attending to the two, among others, and he gave his comments on their progress.

“Chale has highly improved and at the last stage of recovery. We grade his injury at 86% recovered.” said Brian Oduor who attended to him

Edwin Buliba

Edwin Buliba (left) in a past game against Nairobi Stima on Sat 14 Mar 2020

On Buliba he said; “He is still on rehab with an appreciated progress.” added Brian

Speaking to City Stars news desk, team coordinator Samson Otieno noted the progression of the players with glee.

“We are happy to see a number of players now leave the Doctor’s perch. And now we are down to the last two. By the time we kick off preseason we will have a fully fit squad.” said

In March, winger Jimmy Bageya, strikers Vincent ‘Jamaica’ Otieno and Ezekiel Odera, defender Wycliffe Otieno, keeper Levis Opiyo were all being treated for varied injuries. They are all fully healed.

14 Jun 2020
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
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

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
NCS, Team News Permalink
Defender Wycliffe Otieno training ahead of a past game for City Stars
Defender Wycliffe Otieno training ahead of a past game for City Stars

City Stars dig into archives for stats

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.

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