10 Jan 2020
NCS, Team News Permalink

Agesa, Abich to miss Shabana clash

January 10, 2020

Head coach Sanjin Alagic will be without two key players; Striker Davis Agesa and defender Noah Abich ahead of a 20th round National Super League (NSL) game against host Shabana at the Gusii Stadium on Saturday 11 January 2020.

Agesa limped off training on Wednesday with a knee discomfort and out of precaution was left out of the travelling party.

Abich recently interred his father and is yet to return to team duties. Both players featured in the season opener against the same side at Hope Centre.

Added to his list of absentees is left back Wesley Onguso who has been missing from game day squads since the third week of November due to an illness. Though training he is yet to return to full fitness.

Away from the two Sanjin has the rest of his regulars including plus his latest addition – striker Azizi Odenyi Okaka who was roped in during the week. He’s expected to make his debut at the game.

Another new signing Peter Pinchez Opiyo is part of the traveling party but will sit out the game as his International Transfer Certificate from the Turkmen Federation is yet to arrive.

Squad to Kisii

23. Levis Opiyo, 8. Calvin Masawa, 4. Salim Abdalla, 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 28. Kevin Okumu, 3. Charles Otieno, 2. Elvis Ojiambo, 30. Anthony Kimani (Captain), 21. Oliver Maloba, 25. David Gateri, 1. Ronny Kagunzi, 19. Jimmy Bageya, 16. Vincent Otieno, 26. Ebrima Sanneh, 13. Eric Ochieng, 12. Edwin Buliba, 27. Aziz Okaka, 10. Peter Opiyo

09 Jan 2020
NCS, Team News Permalink

Fact file; City Stars in search of first points at Gusii

January 9, 2020

19-points separates Shabana and Nairobi City Stars ahead of a 20th round National Super League (NSL) tie at the Gusii Stadium on Saturday 11 January 2019 starting 3pm EAT.

Into the duel, Shabana stands at the vantage point as, one, they are home, and two, they beat the same side last time round; 1-0 at the same venue.

Nonetheless City Stars carries their own bucket of advantages as they are unbeaten in eight away games this season – seven wins and a draw and are top of the table with 43 points from 18 games, way ahead of eleventh placed Shabana.

The Shabana – City Stars game is the one of eight lined up at the weekend and is the first league game for either side in the new year.

Shabana will have lots to prove as, during the first round of games on 11 September 2019, they went down 2-0 to City Stars at Hope Centre. Ebrima Sanneh and Jimmy Bageya scored on either half for that win. Both are in the contingent to Kisii.

The two head to the game in contrasting fashions; Shabana still on the high of a respectable 3-2 win over the season’s form team Migori Youth at the same venue during the final first round games on 20th December.

City Stars on their part are still wounded and will always recall a 1-0 loss to Kibera Black Stars on the same day that ended their 22-match unbeaten streak in the NSL that started in late May 2019.

That aside, reality on their table is, they are yet to score, or pick any points at Gusii Stadium.

Shabana vs Nairobi City Stars records

Sun, 01/09/19, Nairobi City Stars 2 – 0 Shabana

Wed, 20/03/19, Nairobi City Stars 3 – 1 Shabana

Sun, 09/12/18, Shabana 1 – 0 Nairobi City Stars

08 Jan 2020
NCS, Team News Permalink
Photo credit - Hassan Mandevu
Peter Opiyo aka Pinchez in a friendly game with City Stars at Kamiti on 11 Dec 2019. He 's officially joined the club on a one and a half year deal

City Stars sign ‘Pinchez’

January 8, 2020

Peter Opiyo Odhiambo, famously known as Pinchez, is now in the ranks of Nairobi City Stars.

Pinchez completed his move to the second-tier table toppers on Wednesday after signing a one-and-a-half-year deal.

Till the confirmation Pinchez – the 2019 Kenyan Premier League (KPL) midfielder of the year and runners-up Player of the year that same season – had been shaping up with the Kawangware based club since mid-November 2019.

City Stars Bosnian head coach Sanjin Alagic, a great admirer of the master passer since he first appeared for training, said;

“When he first showed up for training I said this is the one I want. His qualities are really unique; calm, sure on the ball and a great passer with super vision”

“But then I was told we was contracted elsewhere, and I could only get him once he ends his engagement with an Easter Europe team. I had to be patient till this January window, and I am glad we got him.” he added

On his part Opiyo, capped 34 times for Kenya between 2010 and 2014, said;

“I have been following City Stars steady progress this season and when I was invited to train I was instantly attracted by their approach, it was very professional,”

“Joining the club was an easy decision to make as, seven weeks since I joined them in training, I am very familiar with their style and all players currently in their ranks.”

In August 2019 Opiyo was snapped up by Turkmenistan top tier side FC Altyn Asyr on a one-year-deal. But failure to acquire a VISA to the nation and consequently a work permit left him with no option but to issue a two-week termination notice in mid-November after which he called off his engagement with the club in early December to relegate back to a free agent.

Locally Opiyo was in the books of Thika United from 2008 for three years. Within that time frame he had a two year loan stint with Gor Mahia and a team in Malaysia. He later turned out for Tusker and AFC Leopards in 2012 and 2013.

Beyond the local turf, Pinchez has been in the ranks of Finnish top-flight side FF Jaro (2014-2016), Qatari’s Al-Markhiya (2016-2017) and another Finnish side SJK in 2018.

In joining City Stars, Opiyo hands coach Sanjin options in defensive as well as central mid. Arrival of an International Transfer Certificate (ITC) from Turkmenistan’s Federation will dictate his debut date.

08 Jan 2020
NCS, Team News Permalink

Azizi confirmed at City Stars

January 8, 2020

Utility forward Azizi Okaka Odenyi has completed a move to Nairobi City Stars on a one-and-a-half-year deal.

Aziz, a functional option for all forward positions including either wings, as a support as well as out and out striker, was confirmed a Nairobi City Stars player on Wednesday 8 January 2019.

“He gives us the right forward options and we are glad to add him to our ranks. He came to us for training in December and has been looking very sharp. He’s a good addition to the team.” Said head coach Sanjin Alagic

On his part Aziz said; “I was well received by City Stars and happy to have joined them officially. Together we can focus on promotion chase.”

Aziz last featured for the now disbanded Sony Sugar, a team he joined after two years at AFC Leopards. He was scouted back in 2011 by the National Youth Talent Academy (NYTA) after his club FC 105 won the Safaricom Sakata Ball, for a six-month training programme.

Right after he joined Premiership side Sony Sugar, then in 2014 moved to FC Talanta, a franchise formed to absorb the NYTA apprentices. The same year, and out of a collaborative developmental partnership, Okaka moved to Swedish side Gottne IF then to Kiruna FF the year after where he ended up as the top scorer.

He returned from Scandinavia in 2016 join Premiership outfit Ushuru FC for the 2016 season then in mid-2017 he took a big stride in moving to AFC Leopards for a two-year span before returning to Sony.

06 Jan 2020
NCS, Team News Permalink

Focus shifts to Shabana duel

January 6, 2020

Nairobi City Stars has now shifted focus to the first game of the season – a round 20 National Super League (NSL) game away to Shabana next Saturday at the Gusii Stadium at 3pm.

This is after the team returned to training last Saturday. To gear up for the game head coach Sanjin Alagic has lined up a friendly at Camp Toyoyo against lower tier side Hakati Sportiff to help fine tune the squad as well as give him a chance to sample players who are angling to sign up for Simba Wa Nairobi.

The Shabana-City Stars game will be the first of the year, and is one of eight lined up to active the second tier league this weekend.

Both teams were last active on Friday 20 December 2019 during the final games of the first leg.

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