27 Oct 2019
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Mt. Kenya checks City Stars winning streak

October 27, 2019

Mount Kenya United denied Simba wa Nairobi an eighth straight win of the season after forcing a 1-1 draw in a match 11 clash played at Camp Toyoyo on Sunday 27 October 2019.

The goals came at the extreme ends of the first half to settle the tie watched by a size-able crowd at Jericho.

Jimmy Bageya was first on the score sheet inside the first minute after slamming home from the edge of the box off off a long range throw in by Wesley Onguso that was cleared by the defense to his path.

At the stroke of first half, City Stars back line gave away a penalty that John ‘Softie’ Ndirangu hit home for the leveler.

City Stars will rue missed chances in the second half that could have seen them kill off the game.

The game saw keeper Ronny Kagunzi start in between the posts ahead of regular Levis Opiyo was forced to rest following a nasty collision with the posts in the previous game against Fortune Sacco at Hope Centre. Kagunzi’s understudy Vincent Khatili was brought to the bench for the first time this season.

Regulars Ebrima Sanneh, Kevin Okumu and Oliver Maloba started off bench as Vincent Otieno, Noah Abich and Davis Agesa took their starting berths as Edwin Buliba and Elvis Ojiambo returned to the bench.

Lineups

Mt. Kenya United: 22. Adisa Zamu, 13. Boniface Kimani, 15. Bernard Omoii, 6. Bernard Odhiambo, 4. Harun Nyakha, 5. Edwin Wanjala, 3. Ali Musa, 12. Innocent Babu, 10. Erick Kipkirui, 11. John Ndirangu, 9. Hussein Puzo

Subs: 1. Alex Kakindu, 14. Francis Imbaya, 17. Samson Ndegwa, 16. Ndiwa Kevin, 7. Oreso Kevin, 2. Ndungu Kevin, 8. Masakidi Clement

Coach: Francis Mwangi

Nairobi City Stars: 1. Ronny Kagunzi, 5. Wesley Onguso, 4. Salim Abdalla, 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 17. Noah Abich (28. Kevin Okumu), 3. Charles Otieno, 30. Antony Kimani (Captain), 25. David Gateri, 18. Jimmy Bageya, 17. Davis Agesa (21. Oliver Maloba), 16. Vincent Otieno (29. Ebrima Sanneh)

Unused subs: 27. Vincent Khatili (keeper), 2. Elvis Ojiambo, 12. Edwin Buliba, 10. Nahashon Thiongo

Yellow cards; Wesley Onguso

Goals & Assists; 18. Jimmy Bageya – 1′ (5. Wesley Onguso)

MVP; 11. Davis Agesa

Coach: Sanjin Alagic

25 Oct 2019
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City Stars named NSL team of Sept in FKF Report

October 25, 2019

Five out of six wins in the month of September 2019 coupled with a number of key performances including for clean sheets earned Nairobi City Stars the team of the month award according to a report released by Football Kenya Federation (FKF) on Wednesday 23 October 2019.

The five wins and one draw saw City Stars assume pole at the end of the first month of the league with an unbeaten streak with 16 points, one ahead of Bidco United.

Simba Wa Nairobi won two of its three home games – the season opener against Shabana (2-0) and Northern Wanderers (6-0) plus all three away games; 1-0 over Bidco United in Thika, 2-1 over Coast Stima in Mombasa and 3-2 over Kenya Police in Naivasha. Adding on to the wins was a barren draw against Vihiga United in week three.

With 13 goals scored, City Stars was second best to Nairobi Stima who notched in 15. Their 8-0 win over Northern Wanderers overshadowed City Stars 6-0 win over the same outfit hence the tilt.

On the defense side City Stars was second best after conceding twice, one more than Bidco United.

Ultimately, the team performance in September led to a number of personal awards.

Tactician Sanjin Alagic from Bosnia and Herzegovina, in just his first season in Kenya, was named the Coach of the month.

With four assists each, Anthony Muki Kimani was listed as the best goal provider alongside Nairobi Stima’s Moses Ouma. Teenager Vincent Otieno had three assists.

With four clean sheets keeper Levis Opiyo was second best to Bidco’s Daniel Odiwuor who kept his goal clean in five games. He tied with Ushuru’s Boniface Baraza.

Gambian striker Ebrima Sanneh top scored with five goals alongside Dennis Wafula of Vihiga United.

The downside of the stats for September were yellow cards where City Stars was rock bottom on the fair play table with a record haul of 13 and one red card.

“Save for fair play, the stats are quite impressive. We hope the team can register the same or even better in weeks to come to maintain their top performance,” said club CEO Patrick Korir

He went on to thank FKF for the new initiative of coming up with monthly reports as it spices up performances by teams.

“This is a first and we hope the Federation can maintain this kind of reporting throughout the season. We will support them as it is a very good initiative.” he said

Summary of FKF NSL September 2019 report

Outstanding performance-Team: Nairobi City Stars

Outstanding performance – Coach: Sanjin Alagic

Goal Assists: Anthony Kimani (4)

Top scorer: Ebrima Sanneh (5 – joint)

Best Attack: Nairobi City Stars (2nd)

Best defense: Nairobi City Stars (2nd)

Clean Sheets – Players: Levis Opiyo (2nd)

25 Oct 2019
NCS Permalink

City Stars CEO attends Dispute Resolution workshop organized by FIFA in Lusaka, Zambia

October 25, 2019

City Stars CEO Patrick Korir attended a one-day workshop on Wednesday 23 October 2019 in Lusaka, Zambia as organized by World Governing body FIFA.

FIFA used the seminar to issue Football Kenya Federation (FKF) a road map to form an impartial and independent tribunal that will be known as the National Dispute Resolution Chamber (NDRC) to handle disputes between clubs and players regarding employment and contractual stability as well as those concerning compensation and solidarity contributions between clubs belonging to the same association.

“As a club we have players on contracts and while our association with them is currently mutual and smooth disputes do arise occasionally. Should that be the case we as Nairobi City Stars as well as players within our ranks will look to the soon to be formed NDRC to resolve the issues,”

“It is a worthy course and I am glad to have given my views on the roadmap towards the formation of the tribunal. I look forward in working with FKF towards formation of the new entity all through to its implementation.” he added

Korir was part of a six-member team from Kenya that attended the workshop the others being two members each from FKF’s Player Status Committee (PSC) and Kenya Footballers Welfare Association (KeFWA) as well as a team representative from the Kenyan Premier League (KPL). He represented National Super League (NSL) teams.

The PSC is the existing tribunal at the federation and formation of the NRDC at the close of the first quarter of 2020 will ceases its functionality.

25 Oct 2019
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City Stars assistant coaches successfully complete CAF C Diploma courses
City Stars assistant coaches successfully complete CAF C Diploma courses

Amboko, Oguta earn CAF C Diploma

October 25, 2019

After a month of classes, two Nairobi City Stars coaches John Amboko and Tiellen Oguta graduated with CAF (Confederation of African Football) C Diploma licences.

The two coaches put in the ultimate sacrifice in juggling a busy month of league National Super League (NSL) games with the classes to attain the important certification conducted by Football Kenya Federation (FKF) and the overseer of the African game CAF.

Commenting on the recent achievement, Oguta, a former Kenyan international and Gor Mahia left back said;

“It gives me joy to have attained this rare certification. The course matter was extensive and an eye opener and the content of the training will certainly improve my handling of games and aspects of the game going forward,”

“I thank the City Stars management for facilitating the same as this goes a long way in improving my credentials as a coach.” said Oguta

Amboko, a long serving player and skipper at City Stars who turned to coaching, albeit in caretaker capacities since 2017, also added his tone of voice to the recently acquired papers.

“This is a dream come true and I am more than excited at the achievement. I truly appreciate the resources and support put in by City Stars to make this a possibility,” said Amboko

“Working under Sanjin (UEFA Pro Coach at City Stars) made it easier to absorb the classes as everything he has been implementing on the field were part of the course work. With this training my understanding and view of the game is a lot better now.” Added Amboko

In fronting the two coaches for the certification, City Stars sponsors Jonathan Jackson Foundation CEO Mwenesi Musalia had this to say;

“It is in line with the foundation’s Economic Empowerment pillars and the development of the community, I believe this is worthwhile.”

At City Stars Amboko and Oguta, as assistant and first assistant coaches, are current understudies to Sanjin from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

21 Oct 2019
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Late Abich penalty nails Fortune Sacco

October 21, 2019

A penalty at the death by Noah Abich handed a determined Nairobi City Stars a hard fought 2-1 win over visiting Fortune Sacco in a National Super League (NSL) round 10 clash at the Hope Centre Kawangware on Monday 21 October 2019.

Abich stepped up to slam the penalty home in the dying minutes of the game – his maiden goal this term and first from the spot from City Stars this season – minutes after Fortune Sacco had vehemently disputed a call by the referee to award the spot kick earned after striker Ebrima Sanneh, while breaking to the box, had forced one of the visiting defenders to handle the ball.

The game ended in a 0-0 draw at the close of first half but eight minutes into the second half David Gateri raced into space to slam home a long ball from defender Salim Abdalla.

That lead was however cut shot 15 minutes from time after substitute Babu Kisaji raced from mid pitch and while at the edge of the box, ahead of Abdalla and Wycliffe Otieno, hammered an unstoppable shot past he reach of substitute keeper Ronny Kagunzi.

A bizarre incident in the first half saw starting keeper Lewis Opiyo rushed to Hospital after hitting the upright while diving to clear a dangerous shot. A forced substitution saw the entry of Kagunzi for his first game this season.

It was all City Stars in the first half but missed chances seemed to have dominated the script. Davis Agesa perhaps had the most reasonable of all chances when, in the 28th minute, he beat the offside trap and got to within six yards of goal. But with just the keeper to beat, he saw the ball stolen right at his feet by a daring Fortune keeper to the awe of a reasonable crowd that had come to watch the game.

Abich’s late winner handed City Stars a seventh straight win that confirms the team stays top of the 20-team pile with 28 points, six clear of the chasing pack.

Lineups:

Nairobi City Stars: 23. Levis Opiyo (1. Ronny Kagunzi), 5. Wesley Onguso, 4. Salim Abdalla, 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 17. Noah Abich (28. Kevin Okumu), 13. Eric Ochieng (3. Charles Otieno), 30. Antony Kimani (Captain), 25. David Gateri, 17. Davis Agesa (18. Jimmy Bageya), 21. Oliver Maloba, 29. Ebrima Sanneh

Unused subs: 2. Elvis Ojiambo, 6. Augustine Ochieng, 10. Nahashon Thiongo, 8. Calvins Masawa

Fortune Sacco: 1. Melvin Nderitu, 40. Brian Solomon, 30. Dismas Odhiambo, 26. Ziyadi Kiwanuka, 29. Tedian Atuto, 23. Jesse Ngei, 21. Brian Odhiambo, 18. Kazeem Adekunie, 22. Dennis Karima, 28. Reuben Mwangi, 38. Godwin Irungu

Subs: 55. Patrick Kinyua, 36. Kenneth Otieno, 24. Peter Kilan , 31. Robert Mutua, 25. Babu Kisayi, 20. Vincent Wino, 34. Tyrone Owino

Coach: Julius Kariuki

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