Vincent Owino, City Stars
Vincent Owino in action against Nzoia Sugar on Sat 3 June 2023 during a 32nd round FKF Premier League tie

Venue and date switch for Nzoia clash

Nairobi City Stars will now host Nzoia Sugar on Sunday 24 September 2023 in Ruaraka, and not the Saturday before in Kasarani Annex as had been earlier scheduled.

The changes were necessitated as being informed by Sports Kenya of the unavailability of the facility following the closure of Kasarani for renovations.

The Ruaraka clash during the upcoming matchday four tie in the 2023-24 FKF Premier League will be the first outside the Kasarani precinct.

The opening two games against Muhoroni Youth and Bidco United were played at Kasarani Annex, and the third against champions Gor Mahia was at Kasarani Main.

Sosthenes Idah
Sosthenes Idah dring warmup against Gor Mahia on Sun 17 Sept 2023. He earned his City stars debut in the second half

Three more debutants speak

Former Vapor Sports pair of flyer Robinson Asenwa and midfielder Abuyeka Kubasu made their Kenyan Premier League bows on Sunday 17 September 2023 after clocking minutes in the game against champions Gor Mahia in Kasarani during match day three.

Asenwa and Abuyeka made their entry to the Kenyan topflight as 75th-minute substitutes and joined centre-back Sosthenes Idah who made his Nairobi City Stars debut as a second-half substitute.

Abuyeka, signed during last season’s mid-transfer window, said:

“It’s been months of adaptation and integration into the team. Patience, continued improvement and hard work are what made me get to the point where I earned my first top-flight game. I want to build on it from here and become a regular in the team,”

Asenwa, signed in the offseason, said;

“It’s a mixed feeling; while I am happy to have made it to the premier league, the loss clouded my first game at this level,”

Idah, formerly at Kakamega Homeboyz and Bandari, as well as Coastal Union and Polisi Tanzania, said:

“This is just the beginning. Now that playtime has come my way I want to maintain it and bring my experience to help the team get the right results,”

Asenwa and Abuyeka improved the list of new premier league entrants at Simba wa Nairobi this season to six. Four others made their debut during the opening game against Muhoroni Youth in Kasarani Annex on 27 August 2023.

Center-back Wycliffe Awiko Omondi nailed a full game on in that game, striker Brian Mose Nyambane, flyer Gilbert Abala, and defensive midfielder Brian Omondi Mzee all came on as second-half substitutes in that game.

Nairobi City Stars right back Rowland Makati up against Rogers Mugisha  of Gor Mahia during a 3rd round 2023-24 FKF Premier League game in Kasarani on Sun 17 Sept 2023
Nairobi City Stars right back Rowland Makati up against Rogers Mugisha of Gor Mahia during a 3rd round 2023-24 FKF Premier League game in Kasarani on Sun 17 Sept 2023

MD3: Gor Mahia 4 Nairobi City Stars 1

Nairobi City Stars went down 4-1 to Champions Gor Mahia in Kasarani on Sunday 17 September 2023 during a 2023-24 FKF Premier League matchday 3 league tie.

The home team led 3-0 at halftime with goals from Benson Omala’s brace, and Ronney Onyango.

In the second half, skipper Dennis Oalo slammed one home for City stars off a freekick by Dennis Wanjala but the game was to end 4-1 after Austin Odhiambo added one more for Gro Mahia.

In the game, City Stars handed premier league debuts to central midfielder Abuyeka Kubasu and flyer Robinson Asenwa, as well as a City Stars debut for stopper Sosthenes Idah.

Keeper Elvis Ochoro and center-back Wycliffe Omondi also got their first games against Gor Mahia.

Next up for City Stars is a home game against Nzoia Sugar on Saturday 23 September 2023, in Kasarani Annex starting at 3 p.m.

Lineups

Gor Mahia: 35. Kevin Omondi, 88. Ronney Onyango, 2. Geoffrey Ochieng, 4. Joshua Onyango, 14. Kenedy Onyango, 3. Kevin Simiyu (40. Christopher Ochieng-86), 5. Rogers Mugisha, 8. Alpha Onyango, 22. Benson Omala (20. Ernest Wendo-86), 10. Austin Odhiambo (11. John Macharia-75), 27. Patrick Sibomana

Unused subs: 29. Caleb Otieno, 50. Paul Ochuoga, 15. Sylvester Owino,  24. Lawrence Ochieng, 21. Sydney Wahongo, 7. Bonface Omondi,

Coach: John Mckinstry

Nairobi City Stars: 13. Elvis Ochoro, 26. Dennis Wanjala, 15. Wycliffe Omondi, 4. Timothy Muganda (32. **Sosthenes Idah-46), 30. Rowland Makati, 25. Brian Mzee, 19. Vincent Owino (31. *Abuyeka Kubasu-75), 22. Samuel Kapen (5. Newton Ochieng-46), 10. Dennis Oalo-Captain, 9. Mohammed Bajaber (11. Andrew Kisilu-46), 20. Kelvin Etemesi (3. *Robinson Asenwa – 75)

Unused subs: 1. Edwin Mukolwe, 8. Calvins Masawa, 16. Elvis Noor, 17. Brain Mose

*Kenyan Premier League debut
**Nairobi City Stars debut

Coach: Nicholas Muyoti

Goals
Gor Mahia:  22. Benson Omala (10, 30), 88. Ronney Onyango (45), 10. Austin Odhiambo (71)
Nairobi City Stars: 10. Dennis Oalo (66)

Cautions
Gor Mahia: 35. Kevin Omondi (88), 88. Ronney Onyango (90+)
Nairobi City Stars:

Clifford Ouma, City Stars
Nairobi City Stars defensive midfielder Clifford Ouma in action against Gor Mahia during match day 14 on Sat 4 Feb 2023 in Kasarani. Gor Mahia won 1-0

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

For the 15th time since the year 2005, champions Gor Mahia will host Nairobi City Stars, this time in Kasarani on Sunday 17 September 2023, during a 3rd round 2023-24 FKF Premier League tie starting at 3 p.m.

The last such game last season, hosted by Gor Mahia at the same venue in early February 2023, ended in a 1-0 defeat for Simba wa Nairobi.

The upcoming tie will be the 29th overall between the two sides in the Kenyan topflight, but the 15th away game to Gor Mahia for Nairobi City Stars.

From the previous 14 games, Gor has won eight and City Stars four and has outscored their counterparts 14 goals to eight. The other two games have ended in barren draws.

The upcoming tie will bring Gor’s coach Jonathan McKinstry face to face with his opposite Nicholas Muyoti for just the third time in the league. McKinstry was in charge of the two league games last season.

Table-wise, Gor sits fourth on the 18-team log with four points, with Simba wa Nairobi in 12th with two points.

Who wins this one?

Summary

City Stars premier games away to Gor Mahia: 14– Gor (8 wins), City Stars (4 wins), Draws (2)

4-Dec-05, Gor Mahia vs World Hope, 0-1 (W)
21-Apr-07, Gor Mahia vs World Hope, 0-0 (D)
12-Jul-08, Gor Mahia vs World Hope, 1-0 (L)
10-Apr-09, Gor Mahia vs City Stars, 1-2 (W)
19-Mar-10, Gor Mahia vs City Stars, 1-0 (L)
9-Apr-11, Gor Mahia vs City Stars, 0-1 (W)
28-Apr-12, Gor Mahia vs City Stars, 2-1 (L)
18-May-13, Gor Mahia vs City Stars, 0-0 (D)
20-Feb-14, Gor Mahia vs City Stars, 2-0 (L)
15-Aug-15, Gor Mahia vs City Stars, 3-1 (L)
24-Jul-16, Gor Mahia vs City Stars, 2-1 (L)
16-May-21, Gor vs City Stars, 1-0 (L)
30-Dec-21, Gor vs City Stars, 0-2 (W)
03-Feb-23, Gor vs City Stars, 1-0 (L)
17-Sep-23, Gor vs City Stars, ??

Asenwa
Flyer Robinson Asenwa during his unveiling as a Nairobi City Stars player in August 2023

Robinson Asenwa in line for debut against Gor Mahia

Flyer Robinson Asenwa, signed up for the season from third-tier side Vapor Sports, is the only new face in the Nairobi City Stars squad paraded to face champions Gor Mahia on Sunday 17 September 2023 in Kasarani.

Asenwa takes up the place of defensive midfielder Clifford Ouma who has been rested.

It is the first time that Asenwa is making the squad for a premiership game having missed out on the opening games against Muhoroni Youth and Bidco United.

While Asenwa breaks into the squad, the goalkeeping and defense departments remain unchanged. Edwin Mukolwe and Elvis Ochoro were listed for the Sunday game as Julius Ombacho bides his time.

Defenders Timothy Muganda, skipper Calvin Masawa, Wycliffe Omondi, Dennis Wanjala,  Rowland Makati, and Sosthenes Idah will all be seeking playtime at the back.

Squad to face Gor Mahia

Goalkeepers: 1. Edwin Mukolwe, 13. Elvis Ochoro

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

Midfielders: 2. Elvis Noor, 5. Newton Ochieng, 11. Andrew Kisilu, 19. Vincent Owino, 25. Brian Mzee, 31. Abuyeka Kubasu.

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

Out:  6. Ronney Kola, 7. Pius Omachi, 12. Edwin Buliba, 18. Clifford Ouma, 21. Yuto Kusaba, 23. Julius Ombacho, 27. Gilbert Abala

Coach: Nicholas Muyoti