05 Jan 2024
NCS, Team News Permalink
Newton Ochieng
Newton Ochieng vs Muhoroni Youth in Kasarani Annex on Sun 26 Aug 2023

One change against FC Talanta

January 5, 2024

Newton Ochieng has been included in the 20-man squad to face FC Talanta during a matchday 17 FKF Premier League tie in Ruaraka on Saturday 6 January 2024 starting at 3 p.m.

Newton, aka Tony, is the only change from the one that traveled and saw off Kakamega Homeboyz 1-0 in the 2023 year-ender. He takes up the place of Kelvin Etemesi who is ill, and out of the first leg-ender.

Ochieng was last fielded in late October 2023 against Shabana in matchday seven where he picked up an injury. He returned for a matchday 13 game against Posta Rangers but sat out the last three games against Bandari, Ulinzi Stars, and Kakamega Homeboyz.

Squad to face FC Talanta

Goalkeepers: 1. Edwin Mukolwe, 13. Elvis Ochoro,

Defenders: 4. Timothy Muganda, 8. Calvin Masawa-captain, 12. Edwin Buliba, 15. Wycliffe Omondi, 26. Dennis Wanjala, 30. Rowland Makati, 32. Sosthenes Idah

Midfielders: 2. Elvis Noor, 5. Newton Ochieng, 11. Andrew Kisilu, 18. Clifford Ouma, 19. Vincent Owino, 25. Brian Mzee

Forwards: 3. Robinson Asenwa, 9. Mohammed Bajaber, 10. Dennis Oalo, 22. Samuel Kapen, 27. Gilbert Abala

Out: 6. Ronney Kola, 7. Pius Omachi, 17. Brian Mose, 20. Kelvin Etemesi, 21. Yuto Kusaba, 23. Julius Ombacho, 31. Abuyeka Kubasu

Coach: Nicholas Muyoti

04 Jan 2024
NCS, Team News Permalink

Abel Omuhaya: Stats have shaped our season

January 4, 2024

Nairobi City Stars goalkeeper trainer Abel Omuhaya is of the view that a keen look at statistics, and application of findings, is what has turned around the club’s fortunes in recent games.

Omuhaya, best known as Abelo, states that keenness in stats has been an eye-opener.

“You can never argue with stats. The figures tell it all. After every few games, we sit down with the management to look at the captured stats during our league games. They are detailed and very revealing,” he said

“In my goalkeeping department, I always have a key look at claims, runouts, throw-outs, long and short goal kicks, as well as saves from situations which informs me on who is the right personnel for an upcoming game,”

“Overall as the technical bench, we look at parameters that relate to other departments in the same manner, which guides us on how to utilize players in games. It has worked well for the team.” added Omuhaya

Omuhaya, a former Tusker, and AFC Leopards keeper, amongst other clubs, joined Nairobi City Stars at the beginning of the 2022/23 FKF Premier League season from Kakamega Homeboyz and extended his stay for the current season.

In his first season, Omuhaya worked with goalkeepers Jacob Osano and Stephen Njunge, as well as Elvis Ochoro who stayed on for the current season. Ochoro has since been joined by Edwin Mukolwe, and Julius Ombacho from Bidco United and Luanda Villa, respectively, for the current season.

Nairobi City Stars goalkeeper trainer Abel Omuhaya

02 Jan 2024
NCS, Team News Permalink
Calvin Masawa
Nairobi City Stars skipper Calvin Masawa in action on Sat 3 June 2023 against Nzoia Sugar during a matchday 32 tie in Kasarani Annex

Calvin Masawa: Defensive seal the difference

January 2, 2024

Nairobi City Stars skipper Calvin Masawa reckons the club’s recent rise in games, win-wise, is directly attributed to defensive maturity that has seen the team shoot up to fifth in the standings.

Nairobi City Stars had conceded in all games between matchday two and twelve, but has since dropped that tag to post three clean sheets – in identical 1-0 wins over Posta Rangers, Bandari, and Kakamega Homeboyz – in the last four games.

Simba wa Nairobi has conceded just twice in the last five games compared to 13 goals shipped in from the prior set of five games.

In sealing the backline, City Stars has managed to piece up five straight wins matching a rare record set in the 2020/21 Premier League season. The contiguous run adds up to another win to make it six triumphs in the last seven games.

Masawa, City Stars longest serving player having joined back in the year 2011, talks up that improvement.

“First I thank God for the far he has brought us. It wasn’t particularly a good start for us due to the fact cohesively we were not that good,”

“We conceded a lot of goals although we were scoring in each game. We had to go back to the drawing board and come up with defensive strategies. That’s why we concede fewer goals, and of course, if you don’t concede chances of winning matches are high and the results can testify,”

“That has brought confidence in every player and to the entire team,” added Masawa.

City Stars started the season with a barren draw against Muhoroni Youth and had to wait till match matchday 13 in the 1-0 over the then log-leader Posta Rangers, to register the second clean sheet.

Incidentally, that second clean sheet arrived when Masawa clocked his first full game since early June 2023, against Nzoia Sugar in Kasarani Annex.

He has gone on to clock full minutes in three games thereafter, against Bandari, Ulinzi Stars, and Kakamega Homebyz to tally up 556 minutes this season in seven games.

Calvin Masawa

Nairobi City Stars skipper Calvin Masawa in action on Sat 3 June 2023 against Nzoia Sugar during a matchday 32 tie in Kasarani Annex

City Stars

Nairobi City Stars skipper Calvin Masawa with the ball against KCB’s John Mwangi during a 22nd round FKF Premier League tie in Kasarani Annex on Wed 5 Apr 2023. KCB won it 1-0

24 Dec 2023
NCS, Team News Permalink
Wycliffe Omondi
Wycliffe Omondi warming up before a league game

Wycliffe Omondi in WK16 TOTW

December 24, 2023

Ambipedal defender Wycliffe Awiko Omondi was named to the team of the week (TOTW) after matchday 16 games in the 2023/24 FKF Premier League games that concluded on Friday 22 December 2023.

Awiko was the hero after his lone goal handed visiting Nairobi City Stars a 1-0 win – the first-ever away win over Kakamega Homeboyz – at Bukhungu Stadium.

Awiko slammed home a rebound a minute after the hour mark after getting to the end of a spilled ball by keeper James Ssetuba.

Awiko’s maiden goal earned him the Man of the Match (MOM) award, and ultimately a place in MD16 TOTW.

It is the second time that Omondi has appeared in the TOTW following his maiden appearance at the end of MD14 – together with Mohammed Bajaber – following a 1-0 win over Bandari in Ruaraka.

23 Dec 2023
NCS, Team News Permalink
City Stars
Wycliffe Omondi on his debut for Nairobi City Stars against Muhoroni Youth in the 2023-24 FKF Premier League opener on Sun 27 Aug 2023 in Kasarani Annex. It ended 0-0

MD16: Kakamega Homeboyz 0 Nairobi City Stars 1

December 23, 2023

A debut Kenyan Premier League goal by center-back Wycliffe Awiko Omondi, at the hour mark, earned Nairobi City Stars a 1-0 win over home team Kakamega Homeboyz during a matchday 16 tie in Bukhungu Stadium on Friday 22 December 2023.

Awiko, upfield anticipating a corner, got to the end of a spilled ball by Homeboyz keeper James Ssetuba for the winning goal. He was later named the MVP.

Defensive midfielder Clifford Ouma had driven a belter goalward that was too much for the keeper Ssetuba to contain allowing Awiko to work on the spill.

In seeing off Homeboyz in the year-ender, Simba wa Nairobi registered a fifth straight win to match a record set in the 2021/22 premier league season. It was City Stars’ first-ever premier league win over Homeboyz’s at their backyard.

City Stars moved up three places from eighth to fifth with a new tally of 27 points to sit behind KCB, and Homeboyz on goal difference.

Next up for City Stars is a home game against FC Talanta in the 17th, and final first-leg tie to be played at Kaarani Annex on Saturday 6 January 2024 starting at 3 p.m.

Lineups

Kakamega Homeboyz: 28. James Ssetuba, 2. Erick Ambunya (24. Stephen Opoku-65), 25. Ebock Masinza, 36. Brian Chala, 17. Portipher Odhiambo, 21. Estone Esiye (26. Gospel Otieno-46 ), 10. Moses Mudavadi-Captain, 19. Hillary Otieno, 7. Davis Kasirye (8. Oscar Paul-65), 11. Ambrose Sifuna (3. Shami Mwinyi-65), 27. Moses Shumah (Chris Masinza-50)

Unused subs: 39. Farok Shikalo, 14. Farouk Musisi, 22. Chris Mbehelo, 6. Brian Wekesa,

Coach: Paul Odhiambo

Nairobi City Stars: 1. Edwin Mukolwe, 12. Edwin Buliba, 15. Wycliffe Omondi, 4. Timothy Muganda-Captain 1, 8. Calvin Masawa-captain, 18. Clifford Ouma, 2. Elvis Noor (10. Dennis Oalo-66), 22. Samuel Kapen (20. Kelvin Etemesi-86), 3. Robinson Asenwa (27. Gilbert Abala-86), 9. Mohammed Bajaber (11. Andrew Kisilu-66),

Unused subs: 13. Elvis Ochoro, 25. Brian Mzee, 26. Dennis Wanjala, 30. Rowland Makati, 32. Sosthenes Idah

Out: 5. Newton Ochieng, 6. Ronney Kola, 7. Pius Omachi,  17. Brian Mose, 21. Yuto Kusaba, 23. Julius Ombacho, 31. Abuyeka Kubasu

Coach: Nicholas Muyoti

Cautions
Kakamega Homeboyz: –
Nairobi City Stars: 12. Edwin Buliba (25), 2. Elvis Noor (49), 15. Wycliffe Omondi (88), [[32. Sostenes Idah (90+), Coach Nicholas Muyoti – Red, Trainer Arthur Museve – yellow, TM Ronny Kagunzi – yellow. All while on the bench]]

Goals
Kakamega Homeboyz: –
Nairobi City Stars: 15. Wycliffe Omondi (61)

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