Blog | Page 36 | Nairobi City Stars

21 Oct 2023

Patrick NCS, Team News Permalink

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

Three changes against Shabana

Patrick October 21, 2023

Flyer Robinson Asenwa is one of three inclusions made ahead of a seventh-round 2023-24 FKF Premier League clash away to Shabana in Homa Bay Stadium on Sunday 22 Oct 2023 starting at 3 p.m.

????️ A trip to Homabay is up next. #NCS || #FKF pic.twitter.com/dWIvVZfOqO

— Official Nairobi City Stars Fc (@NrbCityStars) October 18, 2023

Asenwa, who made his top-flight debut against Gor Mahia in mid-September 2023, during match day three, returns after missing the last three games. He takes up the place of Gilbert Abala.

Also returning are defender Rowland Makati and goalkeeper Elvis Ochoro after skipping the last two and one game, respectively.

Makati takes up the place of fullback Dennis Wanjala who is out due to personal reasons, as Ochoro grabs the place of Julius Ombacho. The rest of the squad remains as was.

Squad to face Shabana

Goalkeepers: 1. Edwin Mukolwe, 13. Elvis Ochoro

Defenders: 8. Calvin Masawa, 12. Edwin Buliba, 15. Wycliffe Omondi, 30. Rowland Makati, 32. Sosthenes Idah

Midfielders: 2. Elvis Noor, 5. Newton Ochieng, 11. Andrew Kisilu, 18. Clifford Ouma, 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: 4. Timothy Muganda, 6. Ronney Kola, 7. Pius Omachi, 21. Yuto Kusaba, 23. Julius Ombacho, 25. Dennis Wanjala, 27. Gilbert Abala

Coach: Nicholas Muyoti

21 Oct 2023

Patrick NCS, Team News Permalink

Nairobi City Stars players prior to the opening 2023-24 FKF Premier League game against Muhoroni Youth in Kasarani Annex on Sun 27 Aug 2023. It ended 0-0

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

Patrick October 21, 2023

Shabana will host Nairobi City Stars during a seventh-round 2023-24 FKF Premier League tie in Homa Bay Stadium on Sunday 22 October 2023 starting at 3 p.m.

????️ A trip to Homabay is up next. #NCS || #FKF pic.twitter.com/dWIvVZfOqO

— Official Nairobi City Stars Fc (@NrbCityStars) October 18, 2023

It will be a historic game at that as Nairobi City Stars has never set foot at the Homa Bay Stadium.

Shabana and City Stars have not met in the top flight since the year 2006 during a 26th-round tie during the 2005/6 Premier League season.

Shabana first played City Stars -then known as World Hope – in the top flight on 4 Feb 2006, and last hosted the same side back on 23 April 2006 in Gusii Stadium. Then, under coach Robert Matano, City Stars won the game 3-1. Evans Moody opened the scores for Shabana in the 20th minute but City stars rallied from behind with a brace by Samuel Ouma and a Geoffrey Okoth goal.

On the time scale, the upcoming game comes 6,391 days from the last meeting between the two sides. Though it’s been over 17 years since the last premier league meeting, the two sides met four times between Dec 2018 and January 2020 while in the second tier, National Super League. City Stars won three of the four and lost once.

Heading to the Sunday game, Shabana is placed 13th on the log with six points, two points off Simba wa Nairobi who are tenth with eight points.

Only 1 day to Matchweek 7.

Unaona Kukiwa na mabadiliko kwa Jedwali?#FKFPremierLeague pic.twitter.com/7JLHH2f729

— FKF Premier League (@Officialfkfpl) October 20, 2023

However, Shabana heads to the game on the high of a 1-0 win over Tusker – their first win of the season – in the last round of games. City Stars lost by a similar margin against Kenya Police.

City Stars coach Nicholas Muyoti will be coming up against Sammy Okoth who got Shabana up to the big league at the end of last season after 17 seasons out.

Who wins this one?

Summary

KPL away games vs Shabana: 1 Nairobi City Stars Wins (0), Draw (1), Losses (1)

23-Apr-06: Shabana vs World Hope, Gusii Stadium 1-3 (W)
22-Oct-23: Shabana vs Nairobi City Stars, ??

17 Oct 2023

Patrick NCS, Team News Permalink

Gilbert Abala on his debut for Nairobi City Stars against Muhoroni Youth in the 2023-24 FKF Premier League opener on Sun 27 Aug 2023 in Kasarani Annex. It ended 0-0

Gilbert Abala talks up first premier league start

Patrick October 17, 2023

Flyer Gilbert Abala is all but excited after taking up a starting slot in the most recent game against Kenya Police at the Police Sacco Stadium.

The teenager earned his place in the starting squad for the first time in the top flight after three previous cameo appearances.

“This is my first time in the Kenyan premier league and I am still navigating through it as I work towards settling in fully,”

“I had my debut against Muhoroni, and went to miss some games. But I returned to the squad on match day four and went on to earn my first start against Police,”

“I see that as progression and a positive step for me and I hope that I can build up on it to become a regular starter, and a full game player as we go along,” he added

Abala joined Simba wa Nairobi in the offseason from Busia-based club Teens of Hope. He previously turned out for Busia Sugar FC in the lower leagues.

14 Oct 2023

Patrick NCS, Team News Permalink

Wycliffe Omondi: I’ll make it count

Patrick October 14, 2023

Centre-back Wycliffe Omondi aka Awiko is raring to go after breaking into the Nairobi City Stars squad from the start of the 2023-24 FKF Premier League season.

The ambipedal, roped in from second-tier side Migori Youth FC in the offseason, has so far clocked six full 90-minute games since the start of the new season.

“I was in the National Super League where I featured for Migori Youth for just one season before joining City Stars,”

“I am currently enjoying myself to the fullest. Comparing the league where I came from, and the premier league, I have to say that this is a tough one; just one mistake you are punished,”

“But even then, I wish to give my best and make it count for Simba wa Nairobi.” added the soft spoken defender.

Awiko made his debut, a full one at number 5, in the season opener against Muhoroni Youth on 27 August 2023 in Kasarani Annex, and came out as the man of the match after winning 75% aerial duels, with a pass rate from the deep of over 78% according to statistics provided by Tisini.

He had nine massive clearances as City Stars went on to register a clean sheet in the game that ended 0-0.

Wycliffe Omondi on his debut for Nairobi City Stars against Muhoroni Youth in the 2023-24 FKF Premier League opener on Sun 27 Aug 2023 in Kasarani Annex. It ended 0-0

Action between City Stars and Sofapaka during matchday 5 in the 2023-24 FKF Premier League in Kasarani Annex on Sat 30 Sept 2023. City Stars won the game 2-1

Wycliffe Omondi warming up before a league match

10 Oct 2023

Patrick NCS, Team News Permalink

Brian Mzee: The Kenyan Premier League is very tactical

Patrick October 10, 2023

Defensive midfielder Brian Mzee Omondi aka Mzeles is on an adaptation path after stepping up a rank higher to feature in the Kenyan Premier League for the first time this season.

Mzee – whose signature is his love of tucking in his top – joined Simba wa Nairobi in the offseason from Kenyan second-tier side Kibera Black Stars and went on to make his top-flight bow after a cameo show in the opening game against Muhoroni Youth in Kasarani Annex on 26 September 2023.

He earned a full debut in the second game of the season against Bidco United where he went on to be named the Most Valuable Player in the match.

Mzee now talks up his early experiences in Kenya’s apex league:

“I am still adapting to it. But so far so good,” he started before adding; “The real big difference from the lower leagues I have played in is that there’s an abundance of experience in the premier league,”

“It’s a league that calls for a different approach. It is a very tactical league and I have realized that you get punished for that one mistake that you make in the game. More than often that becomes the difference.”

After his cameo appearance in game one, Mzee has become a regular starter and has gone on to register four full games in the last six rounds of games.

He previously featured for Ruiri Sportif in the third tier two years back before moving to Black Stars, then to City Stars.

Nairobi City Stars defensive midfielder Brian Mzee taking on Bidco United forward Ezekiel Okare during a second round 2023-24 FKF Premier League match in Kasarani Annex on Sun 3 Sep 2023. It ended 1-1