09 Nov 2023
NCS, Team News Permalink
Pius Omachi
Pius Omachi

Pius Omachi nears full return

November 9, 2023

After sitting out game action for months, Simba wa Nairobi flyer Pius Omachi is now on the verge of making a full return.

Omachi has been undergoing rehab since March 2023 after an injury rendered his 2022-23 FKF Premier League season over.

According to team Physio Brian Otieno Odongo, Omachi is now good to go.

“All he now needs is match fitness. Otherwise, he has a clean bill of health,”

“It’s been a journey since his injury back in March. Progressively, he has come through to a point he will soon start contesting for a place in the team for competitive games,” said Brian

Brian’s sentiments were echoed by head coach Nicholas Muyoti;

“We have assessed him and he is now on the verge of returning to the squad. He has been part of our full training and we have tested him in friendly games,”

“Most recently he clocked a full half which goes to show he’s getting there. It’s now just a matter of time,” added Muyoti

Omachi on his part is optimistic that he’ll be picked up league games before the turn of the year.

“It’s indeed been a journey but finally I am back to full training and I have been topping up on minutes from one friendly game to the next,”

“The coach has told me that after featuring in another two friendly games or so I’ll be considered for league games. It is my desire to get there as soon as possible. I hope that will be before year’s end.” he added

Omachi made his Kenyan Premier League debut against Gor Mahia on Saturday 4 February in Kasarani during a match day 14 tie after coming on as a substitute in the second half. Till that big day, he had been named to the bench for three straight games.

As fate would have it, that was his first – and last league game – as the injury that kept him out for months on followed.

Pius Omachi

Pius Omachi

Pius Omachi

Pius Omachi

07 Nov 2023
NCS, Team News Permalink
Kapen, Mzee
Brian Mzee and Samuel Kapen against AFC Leopards on Sat 4 Nov 2023

Kapen, Mzee in MD10 Team of the Week

November 7, 2023

Following a stellar show against AFC Leopards on Saturday 4 November 2023, Nairobi City Stars pair of forward Samuel Kapen and midfielder Brian Mzee made it to the FKF Premier League match day ten team of the week (TOTW).

Mzee was outstanding in the game, ultimately being named the Man of the Match while Kapen came out of the game with a goal, an assist, and a second assist.

Their contribution led to a 3-0 advantage, and eventually a 3-2 win over Leopards in Kasarani.

Kapen and Mzee become the fourth and fifth Simba wa Nairobi players to make it to the team of the week.

Rowland Makati and Kelvin Etemesi started it all in matchday four and five against Nzoia Sugar, and Sofapaka in match days four and five, respectively.

Dennis Oalo was next when he made it to the matchday seven TOTW against Shabana.

“It is very encouraging to see our players constantly being featured in the team of the week. It goes to show that with extra work and smartness, any player making a positive contribution from the roles they have been given will get recognized,”

“It works well for the team as such recognition spurs the rest of the lot to step up.” said head coach Nicholas Muyoti

Mzee

Brian Mzee against AFC Leopards on Sat 4 Nov 2023 in Kasarani

Kapen

Samuel Kapen in action against AFC Leopards on Sat 4 Nov 2023 in Kasarani

06 Nov 2023
NCS, Team News Permalink
Muganda
Muganda against AFC Leopards on Sat 4 Nov 2023 in KAsarani

Timothy Muganda: No pressure with armband

November 6, 2023

After close to seven weeks, big unit Timothy Muganda returned to the Nairobi City Stars starting lineup, with a difference.

Muganda last started a game against Gor Mahia on 17 September 2023, in Kasarani during match day three, and 48 days later, was back on the same scene as the team captain, for the first time while at City Stars. He led Simba wa Nairobi to a 3-2 win.

“Wearing the armband against AFC Leopards came with absolutely no pressure. I was easy with it,”

“Remember previously I was at Soy United where I was the regular captain. I got used to the responsibilities that come with captaincy,”

According to head coach Nicholas Muyoti, command was required at the back and that role fitted the very vocal Muganda.

“We needed command at the back and thought giving him the armband would inspire him. We hope that it motivated him in that game, and that it will do the same in the games to come,” said Muyoti

On the game itself, Muganda was excited with the triumph that ended a two-game losing streak.

“It was a very important win considering we had had a patch recently. We had a good game approach that worked for us that delivered the win though we had to endure a nervy ending,”

“The win gives us confidence and we can now go to the next set of games on a high.” he added

After matchday three against Gor Mahia in mid-September, Muganda went on to miss the next five games but returned for the Muranga SEAL tie on 1 November as a substitute.

He completed the Leopards match in what was only his 15th Kenyan Premier League appearance.

Muganda, City Stars

Timothy Muganda wore the armband for Nairobi City Stars against AFC Leopards on Sat 4 Nov 2023

04 Nov 2023
NCS, Team News Permalink
City Stars
Nairobi City Stars players celebrate one of 3 goals scoted against AFC Leopards in Kasarani on Sat 4 Nov 2023 during a matchday ten 2023/24 FKF Premier League clash. City STars won it 3-2

MD10: Nairobi City Stars 3 AFC Leopards 2

November 4, 2023

Nairobi City Stars ended a two-game winless streak in the league, and at home to AFC Leopards, with a 3-2 triumph on Saturday 4 November 2023 during a 2023/24 FKF Premier League clash.

Simba wa Nairobi, with up to seven changes to the squad that lost 2-1 to Muranga SEAL in midweek, took a 3-0 lead before Leopards fought back to add respectability to the scoreline very late in the game.

Vincent Owino scored off a free kick in the 22nd minute for a 1-0 halftime lead. Samuel Kapen scored the second ten minutes after the restart after beating the last man and the keeper to score into an empty net.

Seven minutes later, newcomer Robinson Asenwa, who started his first-ever premier league game, scored a beauty – his second straight goal in three days – to make it 3-0 for the hosts.

Leopards scored a penalty in the 84th minute through Brian Yakhama and followed it up with a second off a freekick five minutes later through Vicent Otieno. But it was a little too late as Simba wa Nairobi held on to register a seventh home win over Leopards in 13 games.

Not only did City Stars win the game, but also provided the MVP in midfielder Brain Mzee who had won the same accolade on match day two against Bidco United.

With the win, Simba wa Nairobi moved two places up to eleventh on the log with 12 points, as Leopards dropped to 15th on eight points.

Next up for City Stars is an away game to Tusker during matchday eleven on Saturday 11 Nov 2023 in Ruaraka starting at 3 p.m.

Lineups:

Nairobi City Stars: 13. Elvis Ochoro, 30. Rowland Makati, 4. Timothy Muganda-Captain, 15. Wycliffe Omondi, 26. Dennis Wanjala, 18. Clifford Ouma (16. Elvis Noor-81), 25. Brian Mzee, 11. Andrew Kisilu (9. Mohammed Bajaber-67), 22. Samuel Kapen (6. Ronney Kola-81), 19. Vincent Owino (10. Dennis Oalo-77, 3. Robinson Asenwa (17. Brian Mose-81)

Unused subs: 1. Edwin Mukolwe, 8. Calvin Masawa, 12. Edwin Buliba, 27. Gilbert Abala

Out: 5. Newton Ochieng, 7. Pius Omachi, 20. Kelvin Etemesi, 21. Yuto Kusaba, 23. Julius Ombacho, 31. Abuyeka Kubasu, 32. Sosthenes Idah

Coach: Nicholas Muyoti

AFC Leopards: 22. Humphrey Katasi, 11. Luke Namanda, 29. Vincent Mahiga, 12. Kaycie Odhiambo, 4. Randy Bakari, 6, Mousa Oundo (18. Bonface Munyendo-81), 7. Jafari Owiti ( 2. Emmanuel Lwangu-46), 36. Kevin Kimani (50. Victor Otieno-46), 9. Brian Yakhama, 33. Victor Omune (21. Maxwell Otieno-78), 23. Cliffton Miheso (32. Ronald Shichenje-46)

Unused subs: 14. Yassin Sije, 17. Shawn Oloo, 32. Levis Opiyo, 34. Azizi Okaka

Cautions
Nairobi City Stars: –
AFC Leopards: 12. Kaycie Odhiambo (35)

Goals:
Nairobi City Stars: 19. Vincent Owino (22), 22. Samuel Kapen (55), 3. Robinson Asenwa (61)
AFC Leopards: 9. Brian Yakhama (83-pen), 50. Victor Otieno (59)

03 Nov 2023
NCS, Team News Permalink
Kapen, City Stars
Samuel Kapen up against AFC Leopards player Lewis Bandi during a league match on 4 Jan 2023 in Kasarani. Leopards won the game 1-0

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

November 3, 2023

Nairobi City Stars is set to host AFC Leopards in Kasarani on Saturday 4 November 2023 during a match day ten tie in the 2023-23 FKF Premier League starting at 4 pm.

For the first time in three seasons, Simba wa Nairobi will host ingwe in the month of November. In the past two seasons, Leopards were guests to City Stars in the first game of the year, in early January.

It will be topflight game 13 since the year 2006 that Nairobi City Stars will be hosting AFC Leopards.

From the previous twelve home games, there is always an outright winner: And both have won six games. No draws have ever been registered when ingwe are guests to Simba wa Nairobi.

Leopards registered the last win after seeing off City Stars 1-0 in Kasarani on 4 January 2023.

From the past 12 games, City Stars has outscored AFC Leopards 12 goals to ten. Draws have been non-existent. City Stars has scored their rivals 12 goals to ten.

In the game, City Stars coach Nicholas Muyoti will come up against new AFC Leopards coach Tomas Trucha for the first time ever.

Form-wise, City Stars is reeling from a 2-1 loss away to Muranga SEAL in midweek while Leopards parades a 0-0 draw against Kariobangi Sharks.

Table-wise, Simba wa Nairobi is 13th with nine points, a place and point better than their Saturday foes.

Who wins this one?

KPL home games vs AFC Leopards; 12 – Wins (6), Draws (0), Loses (6)

28-May-06; World Hope vs Leopards, 1-0 (W)
7-Feb-09; City Stars vs Leopards, 2-0 (W)
28-Aug-10; City Stars vs Leopards, 0-1 (L)
17-Apr-11; City Stars vs Leopards, 1-2 (L)
5-May-12; City Stars vs Leopards, 3-0 (W)
5-May-13; City Stars vs Leopards, 2-1 (W)
23-Jul-14; City Stars vs Leopards, 0-2 (L)
21-Mar-15; City Stars vs Leopards, 0-1 (L)
3-Apr-16; City Stars vs Leopards, 1-0 (W)
2-Aug-21; City Stars vs Leopards, 2-1 (W)
5-Jan-22; City Stars vs Leopards, 1-0 (L)
4-Jan-23; City Stars vs Leopards, 0-1 (L)
4-Nov-23; City Stars vs Leopards, ??

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