13 Dec 2019
NCS, Team News Permalink
Elvis Ojiambo taking on a Migori Youth player in the NSL on 2 Nov 2019
Elvis Ojiambo taking on a Migori Youth player in the NSL on 2 Nov 2019

No changes against Kibera Black Stars

December 13, 2019

For the first time this season, Nairobi City Stars head coach Sanjin Alagic has made no change to his squad of 18 ahead of a derby with Kibera Black Stars in the year ending National Super League (NSL) match 19 at Camp Toyoyo, Jericho on Saturday 14 December 2019. The game kicks off at 3pm EAT. 

Sanjin will start the same 11 players who pinned down Administration Police 3-1 in the last assignment last Saturday at the same venue.

With the same script, Davis Agesa starts ahead of Gambian Ebrima Sanneh for a third straight game.

Play maker Elvis Ojiambo will habor mixed feelings in this game as he will be facing his immediate former side Kibera Black Stars. He starts as a free roller in the mid of the pack.

Off field skipper Calvin Masawa starts at left back with the marauding Kevin Okumu on the opposite end. Salim Abdalla and Wycliffe Otieno, for a 13th straight NSL game, are the center back pairing to shield keeper Levis Opiyo.

David Gateri and Oliver Maloba will start on either wings as Charles Otieno and skipper Anthony Muki Kimani take their places at numbers 6 and 10, respectively.

Veterans Eric Ochieng and Noah Abich add up to the bench power that is spruced up with budding teenage striker Vincent ‘Jamaica’ Otieno, Ebrima Sanneh, Jimmy Bageya, Edwin Buliba and Ronny Kagunzi.

Lineup: 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, 11. Davis Agesa,

Subs: 1. Ronny Kagunzi, 19. Jimmy Bageya, 16. Vincent Otieno, 26. Ebrima Sanneh, 17. Noah Abich, 13. Eric Ochieng, 12. Edwin Buliba

13 Dec 2019
NCS, Team News Permalink

High stakes as City Stars face-off with Kibera Black Stars in derby

December 13, 2019

Jonathan Jackson Foundation (JJF) has introduced a Community Cup to be contested between Nairobi City Stars and Kibera Black Stars on Saturday 14 December 2019 starting 3pm at Camp Toyoyo, Jericho.

This is during the National Super League (NSL) match day 19 clash.

JJF acquired Nairobi City Stars back in April 2019 and are the club’s bank-rollers and the Cup being presented, dubbed JJF Jamii Cup, will be contested by the same teams in the first leg as well as second leg of the 2019/2020 National Super League (NSL). Its basic objective is to attract fans back to the stadium.

Ahead of the mouthwatering Kawangware – Kibera derby on Saturday, Musalia Mwenesi, the JJF CEO shared his sentiments;

“JJF Jamii Cup aimed at raising competitiveness of both sides as a Nairobi City Stars and Kibera Black Stars is a derby in its own right,”

“In this initiative we as JJF are floating a Cup for the winner to be accompanied with a Kshs 20,000 cash prize. The losing team will walk home with Kshs 10,000. The MVP on either side will receive a pair of football boots,”

“We plan to grow the initiative further in years to come and turn it to a major fan attraction event even at the point the two sides may end up playing in separate leagues.” Added Mwenesi

City Stars CEO Patrick Korir echoed Mwenesi’s sentiments adding;

“Over the years each Black Stars and City Stars meet the game is on a knife edge; it’s always a close call. This time we are providing fans from either divide a real platform to come cheer their teams to victory as there is a ready take-home right after,”

“Ideally the game should have been played at Hope Centre in Kawangware, a ground both sides use for their home games, but with the facility closed for renovations till next year, the venue has had to shift to Camp Toyoyo.”

FKF Nairobi West Branch Secretary General Caleb Ayodi Malweyi is excited at the concept and has given it full backing;

“This is an interesting initiative especially the idea of getting fans back to the game. This and many more will excite the fans. And if fans see reason to come to the cheer their teams the better.” He said

Should the game be tied at full time penalties will be called in to determine the winner.

Heading to the game, 30 points separates the two teams as Nairobi City Stars tops the 19-team NSL with 43 points and Kibera Black Stars is 16th with 13 points.

11 Dec 2019
NCS, Team News Permalink
City Stars Heritier Luvualu challenges a player from Kamiti. Photo credit Man Devu
City Stars Heritier Luvualu challenges a player from Kamiti. Photo credit Man Devu

Win for City Stars in visit to Kamiti

December 11, 2019

A big family made of Jonathan Jackson Foundation (JJF), Nairobi City Stars, Real estate firm Lordship Africa staff paid a courtesy call to Kamiti maximum prison for a get together with those serving varied sentences.

The group was accompanied by members of empowerment organization Mneti Huru a foundation made of ex-convicts as well as renown Tedium Rogers, an ex Mathare United player, who was recently released from the same facility after serving a 19-year term.

Collectively, the visiting lot was out to encourage the inmates, give them hope and tip them on how recoil back and be useful once they find freedom.

Other than take part in an exhibition game, the family presented the inmates with five GOTV subscriptions all paid for in full for the next one year as well as footballs for their soccer teams.

Jonathan Jackson, the City Stars chair and founder of JJF as well as Lordship Africa, said;

“We are here to give those at Kimiti hope that when they get out they have people like us to look up to.”

 

Photo Credit - Man Devu

City Stars Chair Jonathan Jackson speaking at Kamiti. He’s flanked by JJF CEO Mwenesi Musalia. Photo credit – Man Devu

Wainaina Kamau, a former player with Young Peles and Kawangware United who works as a community Volunteer with Mneti Huru, a setup that integrates and empowers ex-offenders through educative, trans-formative and sustainable initiatives at community level, said;

“As an ex offender I can tell you that getting acceptance back in the society is a tall order. We often come here to encourage those that we left behind,”

“To make it easier for them to seamlessly plug back to the society we talk to them about the need to acquire relevant skills while still in prison as that makes it easier for one to get a hussle once free hence a living .” Added Wainaina who served a year each at Kamiti and Nairobi West prisons

City Stars skipper Anthony Muki Kimani had words of encouragement and he said; “Do not despair. We are brothers and once you come out we will receive you and embrace you. We will hold your hand and help you get acceptance back to the society.”

City Stars skipper Anthony Muki Kimani speaking at the Kamiti. Photo credit – Man Devu

Rogers who was released in August 2019 from Kamiti said;

“I served my time here and through a series of appeals and prayer I was finally released after 19 years. It may have been a long time but finally it was God’s time that got me out. I return to Kamiti to give them hope as I am an example. At the right time all those in here will walk away and find their freedom just like me.”

Others who spoke during the visit included Moses Opula who was once in the ranks of AFC Leopards.

Opula, now an assistant coach appreciated the visit and asked for an early return; “We normally beat teams when they come here for a friendly. You beat us because you have a very quick and swift team. When you return we will tilt the tables against you.”

He went on to add; “We have 18 teams here and they gain quite a bit when teams like yours pay us a visit. We appreciate it.”

Moses Opula speaking during the visit

In the game, City Stars took out the Kamiti inmates 3-0 with goals from Stephen Mweni and Ebrima Sanneh and a top up in the second half by Victor Jakadingding Okulu.

10 Dec 2019
NCS, Team News Permalink
Nairobi City Stars keeper going up for a ball against Migori Youth on Sat 2 Nov 2019 at Camp Toyoyo. City Stars won the game 2-1
Nairobi City Stars keeper going up for a ball against Migori Youth on Sat 2 Nov 2019 at Camp Toyoyo. City Stars won the game 2-1

Nairobi City Stars in extraordinary league with Liverpool, Shaktar Donetsk

December 10, 2019

Football wise, there’s not a day that Kenya’s second tier National Super League (NSL) side Nairobi City Stars could be compared to English Premiership big wheels Liverpool, Ukraine’s Shaktar Donetsk, Greek sides Olympiakos and PAOK, Czechia’s Slavia Prague and Austria’s Red Bull Salzburg.

Not an ounce will give them a chance against African colossal TP Mazembe from Congo DR, APR of Rwanda or Cypriot top tier side Anorthosis.

But months into the 2019/2020 season, Nairobi City Stars find itself cited with all the aforementioned as, across the globe, they are the very few teams still unbeaten into the first week of December 2019.

To be in the extraordinary league to walk the streets with Liverpool, Shaktar Donetsk, Olympiakos et al, City Stars is unblemished in 18 straight games and sits top of the 19-team NSL with 43 points, eight clear of the chasing pack.

The contiguous streak has been masterminded by Bosnian & Herzegovina UEFA Pro coach Sanjin Alagic who was roped in during the off season with the simple objective of leading the team back to the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) next season.

Though getting the right mention now, Nairobi City Stars is miles off previous unbeaten records set in Kenya’s second tier; Nzoia United went unbeaten in their first 31 games in the 2016 season while Kariobangi Sharks knitted up a 29 game unbeaten run in their last set of games the same season. With those impressive streaks both earned promotion to the 2017 KPL.

Vihiga United had an 18-game run on the way to winning the 2017 NSL while Nairobi Stima were unbeaten in 22 games in 2018 and 20 in the first set of games into the transitional 2018/19 NSL season. Ushuru FC too had an 18-game unbeaten streak in 2018.

Slavia Prague from the Czech Republic better City Stars’s unbeaten run by one as, 19-game into the season, they stay unchecked and top of the Czech Liga.

The team beat Slovan Liberec 3-0 at the u Nisy Stadium on Friday 6 December 2019 to extend their unbeaten run in the 16-team league to 25 games running into last season. The team sits on 51 points and carries a 14-point lead over second placed Viktoria Plzen.

On Saturday 7 December 2019, City Stars hit host Administration Police 3-1 at Camp Toyoyo in Jericho, Nairobi to extend their unbeaten streak to 18 games, and 22 considering the last four games of last season. Nairobi Stima comes second.

Red Bull Salzburg, Shakhtar Donetsk unbeaten in 17 games

On Friday 6 December 2019, Shakhtar Donetsk beat Olimpik Donetsk 3-0 in front of 2,372 spectators at the Oblasny SportKomplex Metalist in Kharkiv to make it 17 games unbeaten this season.

The team is now on 47 points to top the 12-team Ukraine Premier League with 14 points on second placed Zorya. Collectively Shakhtar Donetsk is unbeaten in an incredible 46 league games, a streak that began with a 4-1 beating of Vorskla back on 11 August 2018.

The only team to have beaten Shakhtar from the start of year 2018 is Dynamo Kyiv who registered three wins between April and August 2018.

On Saturday 7 December 2019, as witnessed by 8,107 fans, Salzburg walloped Swarovski Tirol 5-1 at Red Bull Arena in Wals-Siezenheim for their 13th Austrian Bundesliga win that kept them unchecked in 17 games this season.

The team sits on 43-points and carries a two-point advantage over LASK in the 12-team league. Last beaten by Wolfsberger in April 2018, Salzburg is now unbeaten in 21 league games going into last season.

In the English Premiership, an unstoppable Liverpool had a routine 3-0 walk through over host AFC Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium in Dorset for their 15th win in 16 games this season to hit the 46 point mark to stay eight points ahead of second placed Leicester in the 20-team log.

Liverpool is now unbeaten in 33 EPL games, their last loss being a 2-1 defeat to Manchester City in early January 2018.

APR, Olympiakos Piraeus and PAOK unbeaten in 13 games

In Rwanda 17-time League champions APR are on to a perfect run and are unchecked in 13 straight games. A 3-2 win over Gasogi United on Saturday kept their sails high lifting the team to the 31-point mark in the National Super League, three clear of Rayon Sports. Adding the final game of last season, APR is now unbeaten in 14 league games.

Two Greek Super League 1 sides Olympiakos Piraeus and PAOK are toe to toe in their race up to the top tier league and just like APR, are both are unbeaten in 13 league games to sit on 31-points. The former however leads the 14-team log with a superior goal difference.

To stay clear of a defeat this season, Olympiakos Piraeus beat the famed Panaitolikos 3-0 on Saturday as PAOK hit Xanthi on the same day.

PAOK is unbeaten in an incredible 48 straight Greek Super League 1 games while Olympiakos Piraeus is now unbeaten in 23 league games. PAOK’s last fall was a 3-0 defeat to AEK Athens back on 11 March 2018.

Tanzania Prisons unchecked in 12 games

Across the borders to the East African hood, Tanzania Prisons is on a 12-game unbeaten run in the 20-team Ligi Kuu Bara. The team’s real acumen in the league could have been put to test at the end of November but a game against big boys Young Africans (Yanga) was postponed.

In spite of their perfect run into the season, Tanzania Prisons is placed fourth on the Tanzanian log with 20 points, five off the pace set by giants Simba. They are the only team with an unbeaten run not topping the standings.

TP Mazembe, Anorthosis on ten

Out in Cyprus, 1 Division leaders Anorthosis stay unbeaten in 11 games. The team outmaneuvered AEL 2-0 on Saturday at Stadio Antonis Papadopoulos in Lárnaka to continue to lead the 12-team league by moving to the 27-point mark, two ahead of Omonia Nicosia.

Anorthosis run matches that of African powerhouse TP Mazembe who hit Dauphins Noirs 2-0 last Thursday to stretch to the 29-point mark to sit two points ahead of Groupe Bazano with three games in hand.

07 Dec 2019
NCS, Team News Permalink

City Stars disarm Admin Police

December 7, 2019

Nairobi City Stars beat host Administration Police (AP) 3-1 on Saturday 7 December 2019 at Camp Toyoyo, Jericho, in National Super League’s (NSL) match day 18.

Goals by David Gateri, Oliver Maloba and Kevin Okumu all within half an hour, in that order, gave Simba wa Nairobi a 3-0 cushion heading to the break.

Skipper Anthony Muki Kimani provided assists for the first and third goals as Davis Agesa was provider for the second.

AP were to get a consolation in the second half off a penalty by Nichodemus Asumwa in the 69th minute for their lone goal.

The results means unbeaten Nairobi City Stars shoot to the 43-point mark as AP remain 15th in the 19-team log with as many points.

Lineups

Admin Police: 1. Paul Khasenyo, 72. Gideon Baraza, 6. Herius Wekesa, 4. Riro Mokaya, 8. Ochola Omondi, 17. Wycliffe Wanyama, 11. Julius Muteti, 14. Nicodemus Asumwa, 15. Alfred Chule, 10. Salim Mzee, 2. Keffa Momanyi

Subs; 18. Victor Ogola, 5. Herbert Okoth, 9. Nicholas Aketch, 3. Alfred Oduor, 12. Humphrey Alemba, 16. Dennis Makenzi

Nairobi City Stars: 23. Levis Opiyo, 8. Calvin Masawa, 4. Salim Abdalla, 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 28. Kevin Okumu, 3. Charles Otieno, 2. Elvis Ojiambo (26. Ebrima Sanneh), 30. Anthony Kimani (Captain), 21. Oliver Maloba, 25. David Gateri (19. Jimmy Bageya), 11. Davis Agesa (16. Vincent Otieno)

Unused subs. 1. Ronny Kagunzi, 17. Noah Abich, 13. Eric Ochieng, 12. Edwin Buliba

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