02 Dec 2019
NCS, Team News Permalink

Two City Stars NSL ties rescheduled

December 2, 2019

The final National Super League (NSL) first leg game between Nairobi City Stars and Kibera Black Stars has been rescheduled from Friday 20 December to Saturday 14 December 2019.

This is as per a communication from NSL Managers Football Kenya Federation (FKF) on Monday 2 December 2019 that confirms all round NSL 19 matches that were previously scheduled for Friday 20 December have been brought forward to the weekend of Sat 14/Sun 15 December 2019.

In view of the changes, the league will therefore take an early break; from Monday 16 December and not Sat 21 December 2019 and return a week later than scheduled; on Sat 11 January and not Sun 5 January 2020 as had earlier been scheduled.

City Stars were to play Shabana on that 5th at the Gusii Stadium but with the changes the game moves back by a week to Sat 11 January 2020.

“Note that we have rescheduled Round 19 Matches to the weekend of 14th/15th December 2019,”

“The League shall take a break from 16th December 2019 and shall resume on 11th January 2020.” Is part of a communication to all participating NSL clubs from Frank Ogola, the head of Leagues and Competitions at FKF

The reschedule of round 19 games became convenient after kickoff dates for the FKF Cup, Kenya’s domestic Cup, moved from Fri 13 – Sun 15 December 2019 to Sat 18th/Sun 19th January 2020.

While contributing to the mild fixture changes City Stars CEO Patrick Korir said;

“We fully welcome the changes by FKF. Changing the dates for final games means we can take an early break and recuperate accordingly for the second leg,”

“First leg fixtures came thick and first and sometimes we played games four days apart. We can now reset, reassess and re-tweak appropriately. Pushing the start of the second leg is also important to us as the first weekend of January is always a busy time.”

The revised fixtures accommodate two postponed round 1 games for Kenya Police and Administration Police against promoted APS Bomet and Modern Coast Rangers, respectively. The games will be played on Wednesday 11 December 2019.

01 Dec 2019
NCS, Team News Permalink
Anthony Kimani
Muki being awarded a new pair of boots by Dev Kumar Parmar for being MVP against St. Josephs on Sun 1 Dec 2019

Muki named MVP, gifted by international Law firm

December 1, 2019

Nairobi City Stars ended a three-year bad home patch to take down bogey team St. Joseph’s 2-0 in a National Super League (NSL) round 17 match at Camp Toyoyo on Sun 1 December 2019.

Masterminding the win, the first at home over St. Joseph’s since dropping down to the second tier in 2017, was skipper Anthony Muki Kimani who rounded off the visitor’s keeper George Ouma in the second half to score a masterclass, the second goal.

He was the provider of the first goal as his final touch was put home by Davis Agesa in the 19th minute.

Muki, making a return to City Stars after ten years, commanded the midfield with ease and at the end of the contest was named the Man of the Match.

The mention earned him a pair of boots from Dev Kumar Parmar of international firm Parmars, a Sports Law and Business company based in the UK and Spain. The firm concentrates on Sports Business Development,  Athlete/player management and Dispute Resolution with plans to soon spread to Central Europe.

Dev Kumar Parmar who handed Muki the award in person said;

“It was an honour for Parmars Sports to be invited to gift some boots to the man of the match in today’s 2-0 victory. NCS is now unbeaten in 17, one of only a few unbeaten teams across the world this season,”

“We wanted to support the tremendous achievement of the team thus far this season, and to give the man of the match a little something whilst we were in Nairobi. We thought this would be the best way to show that we are following the team from afar and are hugely proud of what they are doing.”

Upon receiving the boots an excited Muki said;

“This is a great motivation not only to me but to other players whom I thank for bringing the best out of me in the game today. It will definitely spur me and the rest of the lot to give their best in games to come,”

“The boots are size nine and a perfect fit, it’s like they knew they were coming to me,” he said with a light laugh before adding “With them in my possession I no longer have to think about how I will train at Toyoyo. I truly appreciate the gift, thank you Parmars.”

Muki’s goal against St. Joseph’s was his second for City Stars this term. His first was against Kenya Police in early October 2019.

He has five assists so far and was named the best goal provider in the NSL at the close of the months of September and October 2019.

01 Dec 2019
NCS, Team News Permalink
Anthony Muki Kimani
Anthony 'Muki' Kimani on his way to score the second goal against St. Joseph on Sun 1 Dec 2019 at Camp Toyoyo

City Stars ends jinx, overcomes St. Joseph’s

December 1, 2019

A goal on either half handed Nairobi City Stars a 2-0 win over bogey team St. Joseph in a round 17 National Super League (NSL) match played at Camp Toyoyo, Jericho on Sunday 1 December 2019.

On form Davis Agesa, who scored a brace in the last game against Modern Coast Rangers, opened the scoring in the 19th minute from close range, off an assist by skipper Anthony Muki Kimani, after St. Joseph keeper George Ouma failed to hold on to a dangerous ball.

Skipper Anthony Muki Kimani then doubled matters ten minutes into the second half when he met a defense splitting ball from deep by Charles Chale Otieno before rounding off Ouma in goal to slam home the second for Simba wa Nairobi.

The win broke the jinx over the Nakuru-based St. Joseph’s as it was the first time ever since dropping down to the second tier in 2017 that City Stars won a home game against the team.

The scores should have been more but Agesa’s second ten minutes to the close of the first half was called for offside and one other in the second half was also negated for the same reasons.

Into the Sunday game, City Stars had hosted St. Joseph’s three times and had only managed a draw and two straight loses. Overall, City Stars had lost three straight NSL games to the bogey team.

With the win City Stars extended their tally atop the 20-team NSL log to 43 points from 17 games as St. Joseph’s, beaten for the 12th time this season, stayed 18th with eleven points.

Next up for City Stars is an away game to Administration Police at Camp Toyoyo on Sunday 8 December 2019.

Lineups

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

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

Coach: Sanjin Alagic

St. Joseph’s: 1. George Ouma, 3. James Sadicky, 11. Luke Onesmus, 15. Kevin Atsiano, 16. Kevin Taabu, 12. Elvins Onyango, 14. Stephen Njoroge, 8. Thomas Onyiengo, 10. Salim Akatha, 5. Daniel Kamau, 9. John Likuwha

Subs: 2. Teddy Omondi, . Joseph Shitsokane, 6. Kennedy Onyango, 13. Victor Ngume, 7. Hassan Juma

Coach: Nicholas Mbogo

30 Nov 2019
NCS, Team News Permalink
Eric 'Çantona' Ochieng named for St. Joseph's clash on Sun 1 Dec 2019
Eric 'Çantona' Ochieng named for St. Joseph's clash on Sun 1 Dec 2019

Ochieng listed for St. Joseph’s clash

November 30, 2019

Two changes have been made by head coach Sanjin Alagic from the squad that travelled to face Modern Coast Rangers last weekend for the upcoming National Super League (NSL) round 17 tie against St. Joseph’s on Sunday 1 December 2019 at Camp Toyoyo starting 3pm EAT.

Winger Stephen Mweni and defender Cornelius Mwangi were not considered for the Sunday game and in their places defenders Edwin Buliba and spoiler Eric Ochieng have been called in.

Also read: Fact File: Nairobi City Stars vs St. Joseph’s

Both Buliba and Ochieng were unused substitutes when City Stars hosted, and drew 0-0, with Ushuru at Hope Centre on Wednesday 13 November 2019.

They were knocked out of the following game by Peter Mwangi Wainaina and center back Cornelius Mwangi and were to miss the immediate past game away to Modern Coast Rangers in Mombasa last weekend.

Striker Ebrima Sanneh who suffered food poisoning in the week has passed the test and is expected to start on the bench.

There is still no place for left back Wesley Onguso who missed the recent Coastal trip due to Malaria.

Regulars Levis Opiyo, Davis Agesa, Oliver Maloba, Salim Abdalla and reserve keeper Ronny Kagunzi are all in for St. Joseph’s.

City Stars squad against St. Joseph’s

23. Levis Opiyo, 17. Noah Abich, 4. Salim Abdalla, 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 28. Kevin Okumu, 3. Charles Otieno, 30. Anthony Kimani, 25. David Gateri, 17. Davis Agesa, 21. Oliver Maloba, 29. Ebrima Sanneh, 1. Ronny Kagunzi, 2. Elvis Ojiambo, 8. Calvin Masawa, 18. Jimmy Bageya, 16. Vincent Otieno, 13. Eric Ochieng, 17. Noah Abich

30 Nov 2019
NCS, Team News Permalink
Davis Agesa (No. 11)
Davis Agesa in a past NSL game against Migori Youth at Camp Toyoyo, Jericho on Sat 2 November 2019

Fact File: Nairobi City Stars vs St. Joseph’s

November 30, 2019

It’s an open secret that Nairobi City Stars has never won a National Super League (NSL) game when hosting St. Joseph’s from Nakuru.

That’s the grim awareness as Simba wa Nairobi plots for St. Joseph’s on Sunday 1 December 2019 at Camp Toyoyo starting 3pm EAT in an NSL round 17 tie in the 2019/20 season.

In their last meeting at the same venue on 22 May 2019, St. Joseph’s took all spoils at a time City Stars needed all points to boost their relegation fears.

In that game, City Stars were down 2-0 inside five minutes but quick recovery saw the hosts rally to tie the game 2-2 after a Robert ‘Sero’ Ndungu flick off Noah Abich’s free kick. The dead ball specialist Abich then stepped up to slot home a penalty three minutes later to level matters.

But on 23 minutes a power header by seasoned Daniel Kamau ended the contests as a ten-man St. Joseph’s registered another famous win over hosts City Stars. They played the last 28 minutes a man short after defender William Odunga was sent off for a second bookable offense in the 62nd minute.

Prior to that game, St. Joseph’s had flattened an out of sorts City Stars 4-0 in August 2018 at Camp Toyoyo.

That resounding win added on to a 3-3 stalemate from their first ever trip to face City Stars in May 2017. Overall, St. Joseph’s has beaten City Stars in their last three NSL games to take home all nine points.

Ahead of the fourth home tie against St. Joseph’s on Sunday, City Stars skipper Anthony Muki Kimani reckons the fortunes will change;

“We want to keep our composure in that game and play our game and certainly the results will come our way,”

“I am aware we have never beaten them at home but this time things will be different.” he said confidently

Heading to the game, City Stars tops the 20-team log with 40 points after going unbeaten in the first 16 games into the season. On their part St. Joseph’s is 18th with 11 points.

In their immediate past NSL games, both sides registered identical 3-1 wins; City Stars away to Modern Coast Rangers at Serani in Mombasa, and St. Joseph’s against FC Talanta at Afraha Stadium, Nakuru.

City Stars vs St. Joseph’s head to head records

Sun, 01/12/19, Nairobi City Stars vs St. Joseph

Wed, 22/05/19, Nairobi City Stars 2 – 3 St. Joseph

Sun, 17/02/19, St. Joseph 2 – 1 Nairobi City Stars

Sun, 19/08/18, Nairobi City Stars 0 – 4 St. Joseph

Fri, 30/03/18, St. Joseph 1 – 1 Nairobi City Stars

Sun, 30/07/17, St. Joseph 1 – 1 Nairobi City Stars

Sat, 06/05/17, Nairobi City Stars 3 – 3 St. Joseph

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