City Stars
Edwin Buliba vs Nicholas Kipkirui as Nairobi City Stars hosted KCB in Kasarani Annex on Sun 29 Oct 2023

MD8: Nairobi City Stars 1 KCB 4

Kelvin Etemesi’s first-half goal turned out to be a consolation as Nairobi City Stars went down 4-1 to KCB in an eighth-round 2023/24 FKF Premier League tie played in Kasarani Annex on Sunday 29 October 2023.

Nicholas Kipkirui and Haniff Wesonga headers in the 11 and 19th minutes gave the visitors the lead before Etemesi halved the deficit a minute after the half-hour mark with his third goal of the season.

Francis Kahiro and substitute Danson Namasaka – later red-carded – scored in the 57th and 72nd minutes to wrap the game.

With the result, City Stars dropped to 12th in the standings with nine points as KCB improved to third place with a six-point buffer.

Next up for Simba wa Nairobi is an away trip to Muranga SEAL on Wednesday 1 November 2023 at St. Sebastian Park starting at 3 p.m.

Lineups

Nairobi City Stars: 1. Edwin Mukolwe, 12. Edwin Buliba, 15. Wycliffe Omondi (30. Rowland Makati-60), 32. Sosthenes Idah, 1 , 25. Brian Mzee, 19. Vincent Owino (27. Gilbert Abala-89), 10. Dennis Oalo-captain, 22. Samuel Kapen (3. Robinson Asenwa-60), 11. Andrew Kisilu (9. Mohammed Bajaber-45), 20. Kelvin Etemesi

Unused subs: 4. Timothy Muganda, 8. Calvin Masawa, 13. Elvis Ochoro, 17. Brian Mose, 18. Clifford Ouma

Out: 2. Elvis Noor, 5. Newton Ochieng, 6. Ronney Kola, 7. Pius Omachi, 21. Yuto Kusaba, 23. Julius Ombacho, 31. Abuyeka Kubasu.

Coach: Nicholas Muyoti

KCB: 22. Gabriel Andika, 27. Kevin Okumu (Nahashon Wekesa-80), 26. Erickson Mulu, 13. Haniff Wesonga, 5. Nashon Nanyendo, 12. Apollo Otieno, 28. Stephen Etyang (2. Rama Mwenda-80), 19. Brian Ochieng, 9. Francis Kahiro (James Mazembe-66), 15. Derrick Otieno (Danson Namasaka-66), 11. Nicholas Kipkirui (Derrick Otanga-90)

Unused subs: Brian Opiyo, Bixentte Otieno, Herit Mungai, Bernard Odhiambo,

Coach: Bernard Mwalala

Yellow cards
Nairobi City Stars: 32. Sosthenes Idah (87)
KCB: 9. Francis Kahiro (55), Danson Namasaka (72,75-Red), 11. Nicholas Kipkirui (87)

Goals
Nairobi City Stars: 20. Kelvin Etemesi (31)
KCB: 11. Nicholas Kipkirui (11), 13. Haniff Wesonga (19), 9. Francis Kahiro (57), Danson Namasaka (72)

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

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

KCB FC will be visitors to Nairobi City Stars during an eighth round 2023-24 FKF Premier League tie on Sunday 29 Oct 2023 in Kasarani Annex starting at 1 pm.

Simba wa Nairobi will be hosting KCB for the 14th time in the Kenyan top flight and for the first time since last season’s encounter held at the same facility on Wednesday 18 January 2023.

City Stars has won five of the previous 13 games as host, with KCB winning an equal number. Three of those wins are from their last three visits to Simba wa Nairobi in the last three seasons.

Ahead of the game, both sides carry important draws earned after fightbacks. While KCB carries a 1-1 draw against Ulinzi, City Stars will parade a 2-2 draw against Shabana from the last set of matches. Both teams had to rally with late goals for a share of the spoils.

KCB is currently fourth on the log with 12 points, three ahead of Simba wa Nairobi who is in position 12.

City Stars head coach Nicholas Muyoti will be coming up against his former understudy Bernard Mwalala who is currently the chief at KCB.

Who wins this one?

Summary

KPL Home games vs KCB – 13; Wins (5), Draws (3), Loses (5)

21-May-06; World Hope vs KCB, 2-2 (D)
9-Jun-07; World Hope vs KCB, 2-0 (W)
4-May-08; World Hope vs KCB, 0-0 (D)
9-May-09; City Stars vs KCB, 2-1 (W)
29-May-10; City Stars vs KCB, 1-1 (D)
10-Sep-11; City Stars vs KCB, 3-1 (W)
17-Oct-12; City Stars vs KCB, 1-0 (W)
13-Sep-13; City Stars vs KCB, 0-2 (L)
1-Aug-14; City Stars vs KCB, 0-2 (L)
18-Oct-15; City Stars vs KCB, 1-0 (W)
22-Aug-21: City Stars vs KCB, 0-3 (L)
17-Dec-21: City Stars vs KCB, 0-1 (L)
18-Jan-23: City Stars vs KCB, 0-1 (L)
29-OCt-23: City Stars vs KCB, ??

City Stars, Muganda
Timothy Muganda in action against Bidco United in Sep 2023

Three changes against KCB

Three changes have been made to the Nairobi City Stars squad ahead of matchday eight 2023-24 FKF Premier League clash against KCB in Kasarani Annex on Sunday 29 Oct 2023 starting at 1 pm.

Defenders Timothy Muganda and Dennis Wanjala, as well as flyer Gilbert Abala have all been included and take up the places of Abuyeka Kubasu, injured Newton Ochieng, and Elvis Noor who is ill.

Muganda is back after missing the last four league games, while Wanjala and Abala are back after missing the trip to Homabay last weekend against Shabana.

Squad to face KCB

Goalkeepers: 1. Edwin Mukolwe, 13. Elvis Ochoro

Defenders: 4. Timothy Muganda, 8. Calvin Masawa, 12. Edwin Buliba, 15. Wycliffe Omondi, 25. Dennis Wanjala, 30. Rowland Makati, 32. Sosthenes Idah

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

Forwards: . 3. Robinson Asenwa, 9. Mohammed Bajaber,  10. Dennis Oalo, 17. Brian Mose, 20. Kelvin Etemesi, 22. Samuel Kapen, 27. Gilbert Abala

Out:  2. Elvis Noor, 5. Newton Ochieng, 6. Ronney Kola, 7. Pius Omachi,  21. Yuto Kusaba, 23. Julius Ombacho,  31. Abuyeka Kubasu.

Coach: Nicholas Muyoti

Robinson Asenwa
Robinson Asenwa (no. 3) in training

Robinson Asenwa: City Stars my gateway

Forward Robinson Asenwa is overly optimistic that Nairobi City Stars is his conduit to greater things.

The flyer joined Simba wa Nairobi from Vapor Sports in the off-season and is at the point of establishing himself in the team.

He does believe that the exposure coming through will propel his sails further.

“I am glad to have joined Nairobi City Stars at the top level. So far it’s been a good journey. I have so far played two games against Gor Mahia and Shabana, said Robin

“My debut against Gor gave me very good exposure. I enjoyed it to the fullest and even fans told me I came in with good impact,”

“I hope City Stars will continue to give me that kind of exposure. Talent within the club is abundant which makes me appreciate the move to join this team which is from my hood even more,”

“I hope for the best, and I know from here I can make the right moves, from City Stars to the world,” he added

In the two games played, Asenwa has so far registered a collective 32 premiership minutes after coming on as a second-half substitute on both occasions.

Robinson Asenwa

Robinson Asenwa aainst Shabana on Sun 22 Oct 2023

Oalo
Dennis Oalo in Homa Bay Stadium vs Shabana on Sun 23 Oct 2023

Oalo in MD7 team of the week

Nairobi City Stars forward Dennis Oalo was listed in the first eleven at the close of matchday seven against Shabana in Homabay Stadium on Sunday 22 October 2023.

Oalo was introduced in the 41st minute of the game for injured Newton Ochieng at a time Simba wa Nairobi was trailing 2-1 to Shabana. He emerged as the MVP for City Stars.

He became the turning point after a quick switch in formation to 3-5-2 which later yielded the equalizing goal in the final ten minutes of the game.

In making it to the team of the week, Oalo becomes the third City Stars player this season to join that club after Rowland Makati and Kelvin Etemesi after matchdays four and five, respectively