Blog | Page 185 | Nairobi City Stars

11 Mar 2020

Patrick NCS, Team News Permalink

Nairobi City Stars — Oliver Maloba (21) with team mates Vincent Otieno (9) and Kevin Okumu (28) when he returned to training on Tue 10 Mar 2020 after a month out

Maloba returns

Patrick March 11, 2020

After weeks out, Nairobi City Stars offensive midfielder Oliver Maloba is back at the club.

Maloba, whose trail had gone cold on the club since the second week of February, met the club honchos on Monday and after lengthy discussions was allowed back in training starting on Tuesday.

Speaking on the matter club CEO Patrick Korir said;

“We chose to take a pragmatic view of the matter. After productive talks we have accepted his apology and he is now back in training,”

Upon meeting his team-mates in Tuesday sessions a remorseful Maloba said;

“I apologies to the club and my fellow players for staying out without communicating. Let’s leave what happened behind. I am back and fully committed to give my all to keep the ship sailing.”

Maloba has now been challenged by head coach Sanjin Alagic to work his way back to the team as his position has already been grabbed by other deserving players.

“Staying out for a month means all work done since July last year is lost. He has another few weeks to work on basics then work his way up to the team.”

08 Mar 2020

Patrick NCS, Team News Permalink

Striker Ezekiel Odera was the toast for Nairobi City Stars as his goal inside the first 15 minutes delivered a 2-1 win over AP Bomet in a round 27 Betika Super League game played at the Kericho Green on Sunday 8 March 2020.

Odera forced AP Bomet defender Japheth Ekuba into scoring an own goal in just the first minute then added a classic goal in the 15th minute to hand Simba wa Nairobi a 2-0 cushion heading to the break. Both goals were assisted by winger David Gateri.

AP Bomet pulled a consolation goal in the second half to half the scores but Odera’s goal stood out and proved the difference in the game.

Despite Odera’s heroics, he was to be ejected from the game late on after being given matching orders after earning a second bookable offence.

Score-wise, it could have been worse for the home team had a Salim Abdalla tap in from a free kick not have been ruled offside, and a Jimmy Bageya thunderous shot not ricocheted off the horizontal.

The win in Kericho ensured City Stars completed a double over AP Bomet having won the first leg tie at Toyoyo in October last year by the same scoreline.

Three added points lifted City Stars to the 61-point mark from 25 games as they maintained a seven-point gap atop the league

Lineups

Nairobi City Stars

16. Jacob Osano, 8. Calvin Masawa, 4. Salim Abdalla, 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 30. Anthony Kimani – Captain (5. Wesley Onguso), 12. Edwin Buliba, 2. Elvis Ojiambo, 10. Peter Opiyo, 25. David Gateri (19. Jimmy Bageya), 27. Azizi Okaka (15. John Kamau), 32. Ezekiel Odera,

Unused subs: 1. Ronny Kagunzi, 17. Noah Abich. 88. Tedian Esilaba, 3. Charles Otieno,

Yellow cards; 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 30. Anthony Kimani, 10. Peter Opiyo, Ezekiel Odera (x2)

MVP: 10. Peter Pinchez Opiyo

AP Bomet

31. Fredrick Otieno, 3. Dominic Kipkirui, 27. Paul Ndara, 25. Gideon Kibet, 30. Japheth Ekuba, 2 Eli John, 12. Vincent Lubembe, 10. Dickson Mwangi, 14. James Kaleha, 7. Philip Wasai, 20. Chris Wilunda

Subs: 19. Kevin Odongo, 18. Conrad Isigi, 2. Daniel Odhiambo, 5. Eric Chivatsi, 23. Brian Ngala, 21. Peter Juma, 11. Lawrence Kibet

Coach: Sebastian Owino

08 Mar 2020

Patrick NCS, Team News Permalink

Debut for Osano against AP Bomet

Patrick March 8, 2020

January signing Jacob Osano will stand between the sticks for the first time ever when Nairobi City Stars takes on AP Bomet at the Kericho Green Stadium on Sunday 8 March 2020 from 3pm.

Signed from Nairobi Stima, Osano takes up the place of regular keeper Levis Opiyo who sits out the game due to accumulation of five yellow cards.

As Osano steps up, reserve keeper Ronny Kagunzi made a return to the squad to start off the bench.

Also in for the AP Bomet is regular field skipper Anthony Kimani who was suspended for the last game against Kenya Police.

His return is a boost for head coach Sanjin Alagic who will be missing regular striker Davis Agesa who saw red from two yellow cards against Police.

One other change for the game is Edwin Buliba’s elevation from the bench to the right back spot to play in place of Kevin Oumu who was not passed fit for the Kericho trip.

Tedian Atuto, a January signing from Fortune Sacco, made the 18-man squad for the first time and will start off the bench as well as Charles Otieno who sat out injured in the last game.

Starting XI against AP Bomet: 16. Jacob Osano, 8. Calvin Masawa, 4. Salim Abdalla, 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 30. Anthony Kimani, 12. Edwin Buliba, 2. Elvis Ojiambo, 10. Peter Opiyo, 25. David Gateri, 27. Azizi Okaka, 32. Ezekiel Odera,

Subs: 1. Ronny Kagunzi, 17. Noah Abich. 88. Tedian Esilaba, 3. Charles Otieno, 15. John Kamau, 19. Jimmy Bageya, 5. Wesley Onguso

05 Mar 2020

Patrick NCS, Team News Permalink

City Stars player Maloba goes AWOL

Patrick March 5, 2020

For unknown reasons Nairobi City Stars superstar Oliver Maloba has taken to the length of not showing up in training, and for league games, for three and a half weeks now.

Going absent without without official leave for Maloba has puzzled Nairobi City Stars establishment who are in the dark over his whereabouts as he is unreachable on his regular telephone lines.

According to City Stars team coordinator Samson Otieno, the gifted Maloba, an offensive midfielder, last appeared in training on Tuesday 11 February 2020, three days after a league game against Coast Stima at Camp Toyoyo.

“That Tuesday he showed up for training after two rest days. That was the last time we saw him. We can’t reach him on his phone lines, and we have no idea where he is or what he is up to. We are only receiving bits and pieces of information on his whereabouts but nothing satisfactory,”

“We had a game the other day at Toyoyo against Kenya Police and we were at pains to explain to the fans why he was missing from the match day squad. He has always been a crowd favorite and most of them come to watch him. We now want the same fans to help us track him down,” added Otieno

Team coach Sanjin Alagic is equally lost following Maloba’s absenteeism.

“I left for a two-week holiday after the Coast Stima game and when I returned, I was given information that he only appeared once for training once. I have sent several players and members of the technical bench to look for him he is still yet to show up in training. At this point we have to proceed with our plans for the rest of the season without him.”

Commenting on the same club CEO Patrick Korir had this to say; “When a player fails to attend training and does not communicate it becomes a big concern. It’s more worrisome when he can’t be reached on the contacts provided in his status file. As club we are left with no choice but to make it public as it is now three and a half weeks since we last saw him.”

Maloba is one of City Stars top performers at City Stars this season having scored five goals, provided six assists and named Most Valuable Player (MVP) six times from 23 games played.

29 Feb 2020

Patrick NCS, Team News Permalink

City Stars completes double over Police

Patrick February 29, 2020

A second half penalty from Ezekiel Odera ensured Nairobi City Stars beat Kenya Police 2-1 at Camp Toyoyo on Saturday 29 February 2020 in a Betika Super League (BSL) match day 26 tie.

Odera’s goal from the spot after a Police player had handled in the box completed a City Stars comeback to complete a season double over Police.

The visitors went up first when a counter attack saw City Stars keeper Levis Opiyo hack down a Police player on the edge of the box. Skipper David Oluoch stepped up to plant home the resultant six-yarder in the seventh minute.

With minutes to the end of the first half, Peter Pinchez Opiyo was brought down by Police centre back George Gaunya after bursting into the box following his receipt of a long ball from City Stars backyard. He dusted himself up to score his maiden goal for City Stars sending the teams’ level at 1-1 heading to the break.

The win margin could have been bigger had the outstanding Davis Agesa not been denied by Police custodian Juma no less than on three occasions – twice following perfect crosses from right winger Azizi Okaka.

The Toyoyo win was the first ever while hosting Police adding on to a 3-2 first leg win in October last year.

With all spoils on offer from the penalty laden tie, City Stars moved to the 58-point mark from 24 matches to improve their gap over tenth placed Police to 25 points.

Simba wa Nairobi are now seven points clear of second placed Bidco United. While City Stars won on Saturday, Bidco went down 3-0 at home in Thika to visiting St. Joseph’s from Nakuru.

Lineups

Nairobi City Stars

23. Levis Opiyo, 8. Calvin Masawa (Captain), 4. Salim Abdalla, 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 28. Kevin Okumu, 2. Elvis Ojiambo, 10. Peter Opiyo, 25. David Gateri (15. John Kamau), 27. Azizi Okaka (12. Edwin Buliba), 32. Ezekiel Odera (19. Jimmy Bageya), 11. Davis Agesa

Coach: Sanjin Alagic

Unused subs: 16. Jacob Osano, 17. Noah Abich. 3. Eric Ochieng, 5. Wesley Onguso

Yellow cards; Davis Agesa x2 (red card), Elvis Ojiambo

Kenya Police

37. Reuben Juma, 25. Michael Anyonga, 24. George Gaunya, 29. Philip Ochieng, 26. Steve Baraza, 22. Samson Ndungu, 6. Martin Mutua, 77. Soita Silicho, 7. David Oluoch, 20. Alvin Mang’eni, 35. Hillary Ojwang

Subs: Vincent Odhiambo, 2. Ambrose Kula, 21. Clinton Kinanga, 12. Peter Njoroge, 65. Said Jillo, 14. Peter Mwaura, 17. Abbas Khadeyo

Coach: Charles Omondi