11 Apr 2020
NCS, Team News Permalink

City Stars players turn to community caregivers

April 11, 2020

On Wednesday and Easter Friday, Nairobi City Stars players put behind their footballers’ tags to serve several communities across the City of Nairobi.

Led by skipper Noah Abich, his assistant Calvin Masawa and field captain Anthony Kimani, a long list of active players joined hands with team owner and sponsor Jonathan Jackson Foundation (JJF) to lend a hand in distributing food hampers to the vulnerable families in Kibera and Deep Sea in Parklands.

This is in the wake of the Corona Virus pandemic that, from mid-March 2020, disrupted operational norms not only in the country but across the globe.

JJF joined hands with Team Pankaj who on their own accord rallied major corporates to contribute food stuff and other household items towards the noble idea.

Speaking on the same, Jonathan Jackson, the chair of both City Stars and JFF said;

“With a reset from normal life there are communities that are adversely affected by the Corona Virus pandemic. A work-from-home call by the Government that has been heeded by many as a way to contain the spread of virus has left many a common person without a livelihood. These are part of reasons we are joining hands with the likes of Team Pankaj and the helpful hands of City Stars players to distribute foodstuffs to the most hit communities. We have done this across the week and hope to continue in days to come.” he added

Commenting on the same, Abich who led the team in distributing the hampers on Wednesday across different centers said;

“This is a worthy cause and when we were informed there was work to be done, we quickly availed ourselves for that purpose,”

“The Corona Virus has affected many families as home providers are now temporarily jobless due to a shutdown to many earning opportunities. We will continue to lend a hand to JJF as I thank all those that have come forward to donate and put a smile to these families.”

Masawa who led another team back to Kibera and Deep Sea on Friday said;

“With our league on hold due to Corona Virus we have now turned our focus to serve the community and are working hand in hand with JFF to see to it that we put a smile to the most affected families across different communities.”

A final comment came from the team CEO Korir who said; “I must thank Team Pankaj for minding the society during this hard times. Their generosity is simply second to none. As they provide the goodies, my team and I, and in conjunction with JJF, will always be at hand to deliver the same to the most deserving in the communities.”

Other than the distribution, the City Stars team has also been actively involved in packaging of the hampers at Team Pankaj’s Pack House in Westlands.

Midfielders Charles Otieno, Elvis Ojiambo and Oliver Maloba, keeper Ronny Kagunzi, left back Wesley Onguso and striker Ezekiel Odera, team trainer Arthur Museve and CEO Korir were part of the Wednesday team.

Right back Kevin Okumu, defender Edwin Buliba and winger David Gateri joined in on Friday as Maloba, Kimani and Odera took a break. More players will be activated in days to come.

08 Apr 2020
NCS, Team News Permalink
Nairobi City Stars
Eric Ochieng (No. 13), Noah Abich, Tedian Atuto (No. 6), Levis Opiyo (in orange)

Second schedule of home workouts

April 8, 2020

City Stars players have been put on a second schedule of work-from-home exercises as Corona Virus pandemic continues to render normal programming an impossibility.

With Covid-19 still in our wake, and with league games still suspended indefinitely, head coach Sanjin Alagic has rolled on to a second set of home workouts for all players.

Stabilization exercises such as various planks, strength exercises ranging from weighted squats, push ups, etal, running as well as selected technical exercises for the rest of April, are all part of the second schedule which is an advancement of the first schedule issued out in the third week of March. The fresh one overruns the former.

In observation of Ministry of Health guidelines, no player is allowed to visit any public places to have their workouts.

According to the coach, home workouts “will continue till a time when normalcy returns.”

05 Apr 2020
NCS, Team News Permalink
Nairobi City Stars, Masawa
Calvin Masawa in a past game for Nairobi City Stars against Vihiga Bullets in Feb 2020 at Camp Toyoyo

One on one with fullback Calvin Masawa

April 5, 2020

No player in the current lot understands Nairobi City Stars better than one Calvin Okoth Masawa.

The right footer, who recently extend his stay by another two years to the end of the 2021/22 season, surprisingly prefers to play as a left back – he tells us why – has been in the ranks of the Kawangware based club since 2011 after joining from Migori.

In his decade at City Stars, Masawa has featured for no less than 18 coaches. He started out under tactician Kennedy Odhiambo and is now under the eyes of Bosnian Sanjin Alagic.

Beyond the lengthy instructions he has soaked in form the endless list of coaches, he has seen players come and go, was in the team when it suffered relegation from the Kenyan Premier League, and almost from the second tier during the transitional 2018/19 season.

Why hasn’t he ever moved from City Stars ten years later even when things were at their worst?

And when he finally calls hangs his boots, what next?

Give us your background from primary to high school

I am Calvin Okoth Masawa and my early primary days was just a normal one; that’s from 1998 to 2005 at Assar Johansson Primary School back in Migori town.

 Later I joined Migori Boys High School where I studied for free as I was on full scholarship due to football

Share with us your football journey in high school and how far that took you (provincials, nationals)

My football journey in high school was a good one because we used to dominate up to the District level where we faced stronger opponents in the likes of Kanga High School, Kodero Bara Secondary and Manyata High school. 

 But there came a breakthrough year in 2007 where we beat fancied Manyata High at the district level to represent Migori District at the provincials.

 The following year we followed suit and  beat Migori Day Secondary for a second stab at the provincials where we fell to St. Marks Mokorogoinwa from Kisii in the semi-finals having eliminated powerhouse and national defending champs Kisumu Day Secondary where Enock Agwanda scored the winning penalty.

Tell us how you arrived at City Stars and how your early years at the clubs were

I arrived at City Stars in 2011 as an amateur. I remember it was through a friendly match organised by one Mr Samson Obonyo (Aspirant Nyatike Constituency) – who later became the club Secretary – and former Nairobi City Stars Chairman Mr Peter Jabuya.

 We had traveled from Migori for that one friendly to give is a taste of what a Kenyan Premier League opposition was like. The match was played at City Stadium and we lost 6-0. I remember coming on as a substitute in the 75th min and 15 mins was all I needed for the then Coach Ken Odhiambo to notice me. And that’s how I joined City Stars.

Being an amateur and inexperienced it wasn’t easy getting in the first 18 because we had established and seasoned players in the team. That made me gain some experience. In the meanwhile, I featured for the u19s side where we played in the first edition of KPL U19. I was the Captain.

You have featured under no less than 17 coaches at City Stars. Tell us some of your favorites coaches from that lot

Indeed I have featured under so many coaches at City Stars. Some of the best being Coach Ken Odhiambo, Paul Nkata, Robert Matano, John “Bobby” Ogola, Bai Wadda, Jimmy Kintu and my current coach Sanjin Alagic

City Stars was relegated in 2016 after just surviving in 2014. What was the feeling?

In football relegation is always players lowest moments and it wasn’t different with me being that since I started playing professional football, I only knew one level and that was Kenyan Premier League.

 I was so devastated by the relegation and even thought of quitting football because I couldn’t imagine playing in the lower tier. But later on, through encouragement, I decided to go down with the team knowing that one day we will be back to the top tier.

 You have a lethal right foot but play as a left back. How comes?

When we played City Stars in that particular friendly match in 2011 I had come in as a substitute for a left back because I had a good left foot too. Everyone including Coach Ken assumed that I was only left footed and as the years went by I perfected playing at the left back and could easily slot in when called upon to date

 I do confuse a lot of people and Coaches and coaches with that but the truth of the matter is I can comfortably slot at both left and right back as I am a right back by default.

 It’s been five seasons of trying to return to the KPL. Do you believe at the end of this season that will be the end of trying?

It’s been hard actually playing in the lower leagues but we have been pushing each season knowing that at the end we will go back where we rightfully belong and that’s the Kenyan Premier League.

 Many a times they do say that “Numbers don’t lie” and indeed our numbers this season in points, goals and position justify that so I believe “WE ARE GOING UP”.

From April 2019 the club management changed. Tell us how different it has been since then

Honestly there has been a new breath of life at the club since the new management came on. I remember going for months without salaries, unsettled allowances and sometimes even lacking a training ground.

That’s contrary to the present where we have the best kits, balls, equipment and proper motivation in terms of allowances and salaries. Personally, as the longest serving player now captain I say a BIG THANK YOU to Chairman Jonathan Jackson (JJ) and the entire JJ Foundation.

I cannot fail to mention former Chairman Mr Peter Jabuya. He played a big part/role to make sure this mighty club stay afloat all those years without sponsorship until a time he handed it over to then new able management.

As a fullback share with us the wingers that have caused you hell

During my early days in KPL I remember I had I nightmare making Danson Kago; he was such a fast and skillful player. Others are Clifton Miheso, Moses Mudavadi and Lawrence Owino.

Which players do you admire most in the local scene?

Fast I admire myself (he laughs). Joash Onyango and Atariza Meja Amayi

Will you retire at City Stars?

Of course, yes I would love to retire at City Stars. I want to create a rare history in Kenyan Football as a one-man club and that can be made possible by hard work and with the help of the management.

 When not doing football what keeps you busy?

I am not an outgoing person so mostly I spend my time at home on net digging and reading past football articles and archival material because when I hang up my boots I will venture into sports journalism, analysis and commentary.

03 Apr 2020
NCS, Team News Permalink

Forced break a blessing in disguise

April 3, 2020

A number of Nairobi City Stars players have been handed lifelines to return to near, or full fitness, following indefinite cancellation of the leagues from mid-March due to the Corona Virus outbreak.

As the league wore on, some players were falling off from starting berths to the bench, or out of the squad all together, following varied injuries.

Defensive midfielder Charles Chale Otieno, strikers Jimmy Bageya and Vincent Jamaica Otieno, defenders Wycliffe Otieno and Edwin Buliba are some of the players who would have otherwise missed games had the Corona Virus disrupt not arrived.

Under treatment

For Chale (pictured), a atural deep 6, his season was as good as over had matters not reset from the norm following the arrival of the pandemic.

A knee injury – a complex tear to the lateral meniscus – diminished enforcer and spoiler Chale’s performance to an extent he had been asked to sit out the rest of the season. He’s been undergoing weekly observation and rehabilitation at the Muchatha Health Care, a renowned Physiotherapy & Sports injury clinic.

According to team trainer Grace Wang’ondu, “Chale may not be fully fit on time as his case is about managing the injury and pain. With strengthened muscles around the injury he may get to a point where he can play with rehab and physio”.

A take-two to a rebound in Kericho, in a game against AP Bomet at the Green Stadium on Sunday 8 March, left Bageya with a complex tear to his medial meniscus on his right knee.

Left to limp dangerously after, Jimmy missed the next game against Nairobi Stima on Saturday 13 March – his first miss of the season. He would have only returned, if all went well, after three to four weeks.

Teenage striker Vincent had been part and parcel of games 2 to 25 between September 2019 to early February but an acute knee injury during a friendly game in early February saw him off the squad for a month. He was to start normal training in readiness for league games.

Buliba suffered a patella tendonitis and IT band syndrome on his left knee during a crucial game against Nairobi Stima. He did not complete the match and has been undergoing physio sessions since then.

Big defender Wycliffe,a regular starter since match day 6 back in September 2019 has been playing while on rehab to a mild-Achilles tendon pain. Chances are he would have missed some games to fully recover.

Lesser cases

Away from those five cases, two other players; keeper Levis Opiyo and striker Ezekiel Odera are expected to fully recover from minor concerns suffered from recent games; patella tendonitis and mild Achilles, respectively.

Collectively, and baring any new developments, the seven players are expected to be on equal footing to contest for playing places once the league resumes at the end of the sporting lock-down due to Corona Virus.

Recovered

Right back Kevin Okumu, who missed out the last two games, had only recovered from grass burn around the knee and hip area and was rearing to reclaim his position in the team.

Two strikers; Ebrima Sanneh and Davis Agesa had had exited the physios desk by the time the league took a break.

Sanneh, the club’s top scorer had only featured once in four games but came off the bench to power in a winning header – for his ninth season goal – during the last game against Nairobi Stima.

It confirmed he had fully recovered from a patella tendonitis that had slowed him down since the turn of the year.

In that game Agesa clocked the whole 90 minutes for the first time in a month following the full healing of soreness and swelling around his knee.

Though league games were brought to a halt due to the corona virus pandemic, the new situation brought about by the forced break has since turned out to be a blessing in disguise for players seeking to recuperate.

31 Mar 2020
NCS, Team News Permalink

Captains speak on WFH

March 31, 2020

From Monday 15 March 2020, all football activities were brought to a halt due to the global corona virus outbreak.

With no clear line out sight to when matters will reset to the norm, Nairobi City Stars granted head coach Sanjin Alagic open leave at the close of that week.

The following week, in the wake of all sporting facilities having been closed based on directives from the Ministry of Health, he unveiled a month-long work-from-home (WFH) program for all 25 Nairobi City Stars players.

A week later, three captains in the team; Noah Abich (overall), Calvin Masawa (assistant) and Anthony Muki Kimani (field captain – pictured) have all spoken on the current situation and the dynamics of operating from home.

“We are all trying to adapt to it. This morning I was at my local gym for a workout with (Jockins) Atudo. I am following the program as it says and I want to believe the rest of the lot are doing the same.” said Abich before adding;

“But working from home is tough. It’s not what we are used to,” added the veteran dead ball specialist who captained the team to relegation survival last season

Masawa who joined City Stars back in year 2011 from Migori, and is the club’s longest serving servant, said;

“On my part I follow the schedule to the letter. It requires a lot of discipline to stick to the program. Those are the challenges that comes with working alone from home.”

Muki, the club’s leading assist provider, added;

“Working from home is a bit tricky because of this pandemic the World is going through. But again it’s fun at the same time because we get to tag along with our families who get to experience what we do on a daily.”

With the head coach out in Bosnia on leave, team trainer Grace Wang’ondu has been put in charge to check on the players.

→←