Nairobi City Stars technical bench has named all 24 fit and available players for the 34th and final FKF Premier League game this season against Gor Mahia in Kasarani Main Stadium starting at 3 pm.
There will be four additions to the 20-man squad that faced FC Talanta in the penultimate game of the season on Tuesday 20 June 2023 in Kasarani Annex.
Keeper Jacob Osano, defender Herit Mungai, as well as midfielders Vincent Owino and Abuyeka Kubasu, are all in for the high stake game.
Squad to face Gor Mahia
Goal Keepers: 1. Elvis Ochoro, 16. Jacob Osano, 23. Stephen Njunge
Midfielders: 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo, 6. Ronney Kola, 11. Andrew Kisilu, 15. Newton Ochieng, 17. Abuyeka Kubasu, 18. Clifford Ouma, 19. Vincent Owino, 20. Kelvin Etemesi, 21. James Mazembe, 30. Anthony Kimani, 31. Mohammed Bajaber
Strikers: 9. Dennis Oalo, 22. Samuel Kapen, 29. Levis Okello
Out: 4. Salim Abdallah, 7. Pius Omachi, 10. Peter Opiyo, 32. Ezekiel Odera
Nairobi City Stars will host Gor Mahia in Kasarani Main Stadium on Sunday 25 June 2023 starting at 3 pm during a very high stake 34th and final game in the 2022-23 FKF Premier League schedule.
— Official Nairobi City Stars Fc (@NrbCityStars) June 21, 2023
High stake in the sense that the upcoming game is a title decider. Gor Mahia comes to the game as the table leader in the 18-team league with 67 points, one ahead of defending champions Tusker.
They have to match the results of their foe who will be playing away to Vihiga Bullets in Mumias on the same day.
— Official Nairobi City Stars Fc (@NrbCityStars) June 22, 2023
In the Sunday game, it will be match number 28 in the Kenyan top-flight between City Stars and Gor Mahia since the 2005/6 premier league season. It will be the 14th game for City Stars as the home team against Gor Mahia.
From the previous 13 home games, City Stars has a single win over Gor Mahia. In June 2006, then known as World Hope, the team ‘beat’ Gor – who never turned up for a 36th round tie in Nyayo Stadium in the 2005-6 season. It was a walkover.
From the other 12 games, City Stars has managed six draws and lost the other six. In the 13 home games, Gor Mahia has outscored Simba wa Nairobi 22 goals to eleven.
City Stars has previously hosted Gor Mahia three times in season enders: at the end of the 2006/7, 2008, and 2010 seasons.
On 17th Nov 2007, in the final game of the 2006/7 season, City Stars, coached by Robert Matano, held Gor Mahia to a 2-2 draw at the Hope Centre. Justus Basweti and Dennis Wise Okoth scored for the home team as Gor grabbed a share of the spoils with a brace from Bramwell Karamoja.
On 22 Nov 2008, in the final game of the 2008 season, City Stars, coached by legend John ‘Bobby’ Ogolla, held Gor Mahia to a 1-1 draw at the Hope Centre. Francis Thairu scored for the hosts with Zablon Otieno scoring for the visitors.
In the final game of the 2010 season, played in City Stadium, City Stars, coached by Ken Odhiambo, held Gor Mahia to a 0-0 draw.
As is the case in the upcoming game, the 2010 tie had a bearing on who takes home the league title. But Ulinzi Stars beat Gor Mahia to it with a 3-0 win over Karuturi Sports at Afraha Stadium in Nakuru.
Simba wa Nairobi coach Nicholas Muyoti will once again be up against his counterpart on the Gor side Johnathan McKinstry who was behind the 1-0 win during the corresponding first-leg match at the same venue.
City Stars sits 15th on the log with 34 points while Gor Mahia is top of the charts with 67 points.
Who wins this one?
Summary
City Stars home games vs Gor: 13–Wins (1), Draws (6), Loses (6)
11-Jun-06; World Hope vs Gor Mahia, 2-0 (W-walkover) 17-Nov-07; World Hope vs Gor Mahia, 2-2 (D)* 22-Nov-08; World Hope vs Gor Mahia, 1-1 (D)*
16-Aug-09; City Stars vs Gor Mahia, 0-1 (L) 14-Nov-10; City Stars vs Gor Mahia, 0-0 (D)*
2-Nov-11; City Stars vs Gor Mahia, 0-1 (L)
21-Jul-12; City Stars vs Gor Mahia, 0-4 (L)
4-Aug-13; City Stars vs Gor Mahia, 0-0 (D)
4-Oct-14; City Stars vs Gor Mahia, 1-4 (L)
15-Apr-15; City Stars vs Gor Mahia, 0-3 (L)
12-Mar-16; City Stars vs Gor Mahia, 2-2 (D)
17-Jul-21; City Stars vs Gor Mahia, 1-1 (D) 29-May-22; City Stars vs Gor Mahia, 2-3 (L) 25-Jun-23; City Stars vs Gor Mahia, ??*
FC Talanta came from behind to force Nairobi City Stars to a 2-2 draw during a matchday 33 FKF Premier League tie played in Kasarani Annex on Tuesday 20 June 2023.
— Official Nairobi City Stars Fc (@NrbCityStars) June 20, 2023
Kelvin Etemesi scored yet another brace for City Stars, his fifth of the season, but it was not enough as Talanta rallied to grab a point with two goals in the final quarter of the game.
Etemesi opened the scores in the 40th minute with a penalty earned after Andrew Kisilu had been clipped in the box by left-back George Onyango, and doubled matters in the 64th minute when he finished off a Dennis Wanjala cutback with a neat finish to make it 12 goals in the last 13 games on his debut season.
— Official Nairobi City Stars Fc (@NrbCityStars) June 20, 2023
Talanta got one back via the penalty spot through Alex Dunga Luganji and earned a share of the spoils in the 90th minute with a strike from December Kisaka.
With the draw, City Stars remains 15th, with 34 points, as FC Talanta moves a position up, from 14th to 13th, displacing Bidco United.
Up next for Simba wa Nairobi is the season-ender against Gor Mahia on Sunday 25 June 2023 in Kasarani Main Stadium starting at 3 p.m.
Lineups: 1. Kelvin Otieno, 13. Peter Mungai, 22. George Onyango, 16. Ian Omondi, 2. Samuel Olwande (5. Brian Okoth-46), 12. Castro Ogendo (18. Alex Luganji-46), 21. December Kisaka, 28. Lucas Waitere, 23. Brian Yakhama (19. Kevimton Machika-69), 7. Barrack Odhiambo (15. Danson Kago-69), 11. Michael Jairo (26. Clinton Machaka-46)
Unused subs: 25. James Omusinde, 14. Kelvin Mwaveli, 6. Erick Wanjala, 8. Leon Ombiji, 15. Danson Kago
Coach: Ken Kenyatta
Nairobi City Stars: 1. Elvis Ochoro, 12. Edwin Buliba, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 5. Timothy Muganda (15. Newton Ochieng-46), 26. Dennis Wanjala, 2. Elvis Noor (18. Clifford Ouma-72), 6. Ronney Kola, 9. Dennis Oalo (31. Mohammed Bajaber-72), 11. Andrew Kisilu (30. Anthony Kimani-78), 22. Samuel Kapen (21. James Mazembe-72), 20. Kelvin Etemesi
Unused subs: 8. Calvin Masawa, 14. Rowland Makati, 23. Steve Njunge, 29. Levis Okello,
Coach: Nicholas Muyoti
Cautions FC Talanta: 22. George Onyango (90+ -red card) Nairobi City Stars: 5. Timothy Muganda (33)
Goals FC Talanta: 18. Alex Luganji (70-pen), 21. December Kisaka (90) Nairobi City Stars: 20. Kelvin Etemesi (40-pen,64)
Andrew Kisilu in action against FC Talanta in a 33rd round FKF Premier League match in Kasarani Annex on Tue 20 June 2023. It ended 2-2
Kelvin Etemesi celebrates a goal, his 12th of the season, against FC Talanta in a 33rd round FKF Premier League match in Kasarani Annex on Tue 20 June 2023. It ended 2-2
For only the second time in Kenya’s top-flight league, FC Talanta will host Nairobi City Stars, this time during the 33rd and penultimate game in the 2022-23 FKF Premier League season, in Kasarani Annex on Tuesday 20 June 2023 starting at 3 pm.
— Official Nairobi City Stars Fc (@NrbCityStars) June 19, 2023
FC Talanta last hosted Simba wa Nairobi at the same venue back on Saturday 8 January 2022. They lost that game 2-1.
Into the upcoming game, FC Talanta is placed 13th with 35 points and carries a two-point cushion over City Stars currently placed 15th.
The home team comes to the game on the back of a come-from-behind 2-2 draw against Kariobangi Sharks, as City Stars parades a 3-2 loss to Nzoia Sugar sufferes from the last round. Those two games were played in Annex.
Once again, coach Ken Kenyatta will be up against Nicholas Muyoti who was behind the win when City Stars last visited FC Talanta.
Who wins this one?
Summary
KPL away games vs FC Talanta-1: Nairobi City Stars wins (1), Draws (0), Loses (0)
Defenders Kenedy Vidic Onyango and Dennis Decha Wanjala, defensive midfielder Clifford Ouma, and flyer Samuel Kapen, are all back for the second last game of the 2022-23 FKF Premier League season against FC Talanta set for Kasarani Annex on Tuesday 20 June 2023 starting at 3 pm.
The quartet all missed the last game played at the same venue during the last round against Nzoia Sugar for varied reasons.
While Kapen and Onyango were serving yellow card suspensions, Clifford and Wanjala were nursing cuts following a collision during a recent game against AFC Leopards in Nyayo Stadium.
The four take-up slots vacated by Abuyeka Kubasu, Vincent Owino who is suspended for the tie, and keeper Jacob Osano.
Midfielders: 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo, 6. Ronney Kola, 11. Andrew Kisilu, 15. Newton Ochieng, 21. James Mazembe, 18. Clifford Ouma, 20. Kelvin Etemesi, 30. Anthony Kimani, 31. Mohammed Bajaber
Strikers: 9. Dennis Oalo, 22. Samuel Kapen, 29. Levis Okello
Out: 4. Salim Abdallah, 7. Pius Omachi, 10. Peter Opiyo, 16. Jacob Osano, 17. Abuyeka Kubasu, 19. Vincent Owino, 28. Herit Mungai, 32. Ezekiel Odera
