Dennis Wanjala, Nairobi City Stars
Naiirobi City Stars left back Dennis Wanjala in action against Posta Rangers in an FKF MD4 Premier League tie in Thika Stadium on Sun 11 Dec 2022. It ended 0-0

Head-to-head: Posta Rangers (H) vs Nairobi City Stars (A): 2023-24 FKF Premier League season

For the ninth time since 2010, Posta Rangers will host Nairobi City Stars in Kenya’s topflight league, this time in Machakos Stadium, on Saturday 2 December 2023 during a 14th-round 2023-24 FKF Premier League game starting at 3 pm.

Posta Rangers last hosted Simba wa Nairobi close to a year back, on 9 December 2022 at the Thika Stadium. The game ended 0-0.

The shared spoils in that game was the sixth straight in City Stars trips to Posta since the year 2012. The other two games before that were a win apiece by either side.

It’s been low scores when City Stars travels to Posta, where the hosts have only managed to score three times compared to four by City Stars.

Into the game, both sides come with their ‘A’ game having won their immediate past encounters. While Posta Rangers parades a 3-1 rout over Shabana, Simba wa Nairobi comes to the party with a 3-1 win over Kariobangi Sharks.

Once again, coach Nicholas Muyoti will have another chance of squaring it out with his Rangers counterpart John Kamau who handled the team in the last home encounter.

Log-wise, Posta are top of the 18-team chart with 26 points with a clear 11-point buffer over City Stars who occupy spot 12.

Who wins this one?

Summary

City Stars away games to Posta: 8 – Posta Rangers wins (1), Nairobi City Stars wins (1), Draws (6)

10-Jul-10; Posta Rangers vs City Stars, 1-3 (W)
29-May-11, Posta Rangers vs City Stars, 2-1 (L)
3-Nov-12, Posta Rangers vs City Stars, 0-0 (D)
10-Jul-16; Posta Rangers vs City Stars, 0-0 (D)
10-Jul-16; Posta Rangers vs City Stars, 0-0 (D)
08-Jan-21; Posta Rangers vs City Stars, 0-0 (D)
30-Oct-21; Posta Rangers vs City Stars, 1-1 (D)
09-Dec-22; Posta Rangers vs City Stars, 0-0 (D)
02-Dec-23; Posta Rangers vs City Stars, ??

Vincent Owino against Kariobangi Sharks in an FKF Premier League matchday 12 tie  in Kasarani Annex on Sat 25 Nov 2023. He scored twice as City Stars won 3-1
Vincent Owino against Kariobangi Sharks in an FKF Premier League matchday 12 tie in Kasarani Annex on Sat 25 Nov 2023. He scored twice as City Stars won 3-1

Vincent Owino inspired by brace

Nairobi City Stars midfielder Vincent Owino struck a brace during a 3-1 romp over Kariobangi Sharks on Saturday 25 November 2023 in Kasarani to improve his season tally to five goals.

Owino converted two penalties in either half to top up on Mohammed Bajaber’s early goal for Simba wa Nairobi to cruise to a comfortable 3-0 lead during the matchday 12 league tie.

“I really feel good as it’s the first time to score a brace in Nairobi City Stars colors. Though, I feel I can do more, nothing is impossible,” said the soft-spoken midfielder

Owino won the first penalty in added time of the first half after being fouled in the box while speeding to receive a flicked ball by Robinson Asenwa. He dusted himself up to place the ball home to double Simba wa Nairobi’s lead.

Within three minutes of the restart, he was at it again to score his second penalty after Asenwa had been felled in the box.

However, in under ten minutes after that second penalty, City Stars gave away a spot kick that Geoffrey Onyango converted for the Sharks’ consolation.

Coming off the game without a clean sheet, as has been the case in previous games, is a concern for Owino.

“We are progressing very well despite the team conceding many goals this season. I believe that if we fix this, we will win a lot more league matches going forward,” he said

Owino has so far featured in all 12 games for City Stars in the 2023-24 FKF Premier League season clocking 937 regular time minutes.

Besides his five goals, Owino has an assist, and five-second assists to his name.

Owino
Vincent Owino celebrates on of his two goals against Kariobangi Sharks on Sat 25 Nov 2023 in Kasarani Annex. City Stars won the game 3-1

MD12: Owino in TOTW, earns nomination with Coach Muyoti

Following his heroics at the weekend, where he scored a brace in a 3-1 win over Kariobangi Sharks, Nairobi City Stars midfielder Vincent Owino has been nominated in the team of the week (TOTW) after matchday 12 games.

Owino scored a penalty in either half to seal the game after topping up on Mohamemd Bajaber’s early opening goal.

He was named the man of the match and ultimately made it to the team of the week to become the fourth player from Simba wa Nairobi to achieve that fete.

The pair of Samuel Kapen and Brian Mzee, Dennis Oalo, Kelvin Etemesi, and Rowland Makati previously featured in the TOTW after matchdays ten, seven, four, and three, in order.

Beyond, Owino has been nominated for the Player of the Week award alongside head coach Nicholas Muyoti who is on the list for Coach of the Week, while Simba wa Nairobi earned a nomination for the Team of the Week.

MD12: Nairobi City Stars 3 Kariobangi Sharks 1

Finally, in attempt four across as many seasons, Nairobi City Stars saw off Kariobangi Sharks, 3-1, during a matchday 12 game in the 2023/24 FKF Premier League season in Kasarani Annex on Saturday 25 November 2023.

Vincent Owino – later named the MVP – was the toast for Simba wa Nairobi as his brace of penalties in either half, in added time of the first half and 48th minute, topped up on Mohammed Bajaber’s early opening goal in the third minute. Robinson Asenwa assisted all three goals.

Visiting Sharks, with two wins and a draw from the previous three games on the road against City Stars, got a consolation via a Geoffrey Onyango penalty in the 58th minute.

From the win, City Stars temporarily – pending Sunday games – moved up four places from 13th to ninth with 15 points as Sharks dropped a place to 13th spot.

Next up for City Stars is an away game against table leaders Posta Rangers in Kasarani Annex on Saturday 2 December, 2023 starting at 3 p.m.

Lineups: 1. Edwin Mukolwe, 12. Edwin Buliba, 15. Wycliffe Omondi, 4. Timothy Muganda-Captain 1, 26. Dennis Wanjala (8. Calvin Masawa – 42 – captain 2), 18. Clifford Ouma (20. Kelvin Etemesi-67), 25. Brian Mzee (2. Elvis Noor-77), 22. Samuel Kapen (30. Rowland Makati-77), 3. Robinson Asenwa, 9. Mohammed Bajaber (11. Andrew Kisilu-77),

Unused subs: 23. Julius Ombacho, 27. Gilbert Abala

Out: 5. Newton Ochieng, 6. Ronney Kola, 7. Pius Omachi, 10. Dennis Oalo, 13. Elvis Ochoro, 17. Brian Mose, 21. Yuto Kusaba, 31. Abuyeka Kubasu, 32. Sosthenes Idah

Coach: Nicholas Muyoti

Kariobangi Sharks: 16. Bernard Jairo (1. Kevin Ouru-6), 22. Julius Masaba (26. Moses Shikanda-70), 13. Kevin Musamali (3. Frederick Alushula-46), 25. Kevinluke Otiala-Captain, 14. Timothy Ekhavi, 15. Biron Otieno, 23. Keith Imbali (6. Biko Omollo-60), 10. Fortune Omoto, 21. Leon Otieno, 9. Donald Ange (24. Henry Onyango-70), 11. Geoffrey Onyango

Unused subs: 2. Ghai Panchol, 20. Mathew Kibiwott, 5. Isaac Wasambo, 27. Lennox Kimani

Coach: William Muluya

Cautions
Nairobi City Stars: 18. Clifford Ouma (45+), 1. Edwin Mukolwe (56), 22. Samuel Kapen (64), 2. Elvis Noor (86)
Kariobangi Sharks:

Goals
Nairobi City Stars: 9. Mohammed Bajaber (4), Vincent Owino (45+ pen, 48-pen)
Kariobangi Sharks: 11. Geoffrey Onyango (58-pen)

Starting lineups

Etemesi
Kelvin Etemesi vs Sharks in Kasarani Annex on 25 Apr 2023

Three changes against Sharks

Nairobi City Stars has named a reduced 18-man squad to face Kariobangi Sharks in Kasarani Annex on Saturday 25 November, 2023 starting at 3.15 pm during a 12th round 2023-24 FKF Premier League.

There are three changes from the team that played Tusker in the last match. Out goes forwards, Dennis Oalo and Brian Mose, midfielder Ronney Kola, and goalkeeper Elvis Ochoro.

Ochoro’s place has been taken up by Julius Ombacho who makes just a second appearance in the lineup this season, as lead striker Kelvin Etemesi returns after sitting out for two games due to suspension.

Squad to face Kariobangi Sharks

Goalkeepers: 1. Edwin Mukolwe, 23. Julius Ombacho

Defenders: 4. Timothy Muganda, 8. Calvin Masawa, 12. Edwin Buliba, 15. Wycliffe Omondi, 25. Dennis Wanjala, 30. Rowland Makati

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

Forwards: 3. Robinson Asenwa, 9. Mohammed Bajaber,  20. Kelvin Etemesi,  22. Samuel Kapen, 27. Gilbert Abala

Out:  5. Newton Ochieng,  6. Ronney Kola,  7. Pius Omachi, 10. Dennis Oalo, 13. Elvis Ochoro, 17. Brian Mose, 21. Yuto Kusaba, 31. Abuyeka Kubasu, 32. Sosthenes Idah

Coach: Nicholas Muyoti