01 Nov 2024
NCS, Team News Permalink
Brian Opinde in Machakos Stadium after City Stars vs Gor Mahia game on Mon 28 Oct 2924. City Stars won 2-1
Brian Opinde in Machakos Stadium after City Stars vs Gor Mahia game on Mon 28 Oct 2924. City Stars won 2-1

Brian Opinde earns top flight status

November 1, 2024

Centre back Brian Opinde Onyango became the latest player in the Nairobi City Stars rank to be scale up to Kenyan Premier league status after making his debut on Monday 28 October, 2024 in Machakos.

Opinde, signed in the offseason after turning out in Safaricom Chapa Dimba for PASC Langa, and for Langas Superstars, a fourth tier side turning out in Division 2, and based in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, made a cameo appearance – for his premier league debut – in a 2-1 win over champions Gor Mahia.

In the lead up to that game, Opinde had made the matchday squad in the previous five games against Sofapaka, Mara Sugar, AFC Leopards, Sofapaka, and Kakamega Homeboyz.

He talked up his new status, and it’s meaning;

“It was a very good experience. I wasn’t quite expecting my debut to come on that day. But when it did, it made me happy, as we went on to defend a lead for the first win of the season,”

“The debut impacts massively on my career, and now that it has come and gone, I look forward to many more league games,” added Opinde

In earning his maiden league game against Gor Mahia, Opinde follows in the footsteps of Pius Omachi who earned his debut against the same side in February 2023 in Kasarani, Robinson Asenwa and Abuyeka Kubasu at the same venue in September 2023, and Shem Odinga in Machakos in February 2024.

Overall, Opinde became the 24th City Stars premier league debutant under coach Nicholas Muyoti, coming right after Rogers Wasega, since the 2021-22 FKF Premier League season.

31 Oct 2024
NCS, Team News Permalink
Owino, City Stars
Vincent Owino celebrates his maiden goal for City Stars during a 2-1 win over Wazito in Muhoroni on Thur 16 Mar 2023

Vincent Owino buoyed by maiden Kenyan show

October 31, 2024

Nairobi City Stars midfielder Vincent Owino Otieno is elated after earning a call to the Kenyan National team featuring in the 2025 African Nations Championship.

Despite being a co-host of the event to be held from February 2025, and guaranteed a place in the showpiece, Kenya entered the Central Eastern Zone qualifiers starting in the first round against South Sudan.

During the first leg game played in Juba on 27 Oct 2024, Owino started off the bench, and was a late substitute – grabbing his first minutes in Kenyan colors – as Kenya went down 2-0.

“Simply, I was excited at the first ever call up. I thank God for this opportunity. I had been working hard and waiting for it for so long,” said the versatile midfielder who is comfortable with all midfield roles.

“My debut (in Juba) went very well. I managed to earn a few minutes and I loved the experience. I look forward to more games and minutes, and to be able to push the team forward. I’ll do my best when that chance presents itself,” he added

Owino was retained in the squad for the reverse game against the South Sudanese side set for Sun 3 November, 2024, at the Mandela National Stadium, Kampala.

30 Oct 2024
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Clifford Ouma
Clifford Ouma against Muranga SEALS in Muranga on 1 Nov 2024 during FKF Premier League matchday 9

Clifford Ouma cherishes CHAN consideration

October 30, 2024

Defensive midfielder Clifford Ouma has been spurred by a recent callup to the Kenya Africa Championship (CHAN) squad that travelled to South Sudan for a preliminary first leg clash in Juba on Sunday 27 October, 2024.

Clifford was one of two Nairobi City Stars players who made the final cut alongside central cum attacking mid Vincent Owino.

Though he wasn’t considered in the game, thereby missing out on a Kenyan debut, Ouma collected loads of positives from that callup.

“It was a good experience even though things changed (for me not to play). I thank God for that golden opportunity as it added some positivity to my profile,”

“I can for sure say it was amazing being part of the Kenya national team. I will now have to work harder to get some playing time,” added the former Migori Youth skipper

After the Juba trip, Ouma returned to Simba wa Nairobi club duties and is now refocused on turning things around for the club.

“I have been working so hard to get back to the starting 11. The coach has been seeing my effort and it’s therefore time for me to deliver for the team,”

“We had a false start but we are going to turn things around since we have a good team with quality players. City Stars now has the best team compared to the last two seasons so we can’t afford to donate points anyhow, and anymore.” he added

Cliff has so far featured in 49 games for Simba wa Nairobi since his arrival in 2022, and will be seeking a historic half century appearance in the away game against Shabana in Gusii on Sunday 3 November, 2024.

29 Oct 2024
NCS, Team News Permalink
Rogers Wasega in past warm up ahead of a Tusker game at Police Sacco Stadium on 15-May-24
Rogers Wasega in past warm up ahead of a Tusker game at Police Sacco Stadium on 15-May-24

Rogers Wasega shares gains from CECAFA U20 Championship

October 29, 2024

Budding left back cum winger Rogers Wasega has come forward to praise the CECAFA U20 Championship that recently concluded in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.

In the tourney, Kenya U20 scooped silver, and qualified for the U20 Africa Cup of Nations to be held sometimes next year becoming the first ever Kenyan age-grade side to achieve the fete.

At the event, Wasega earned his junior cap during Kenya’s opener against Tanzania on 6 October, 2024.

He went on to feature in another five games against Rwanda, Djibouti, Sudan in the group stages, in the semis against Burundi, and in the final against Tanzania where Kenya emerged first runners up.

Prior to travel, while at camp in Kenya he said: “I learned to keep working harder”

And after Kenya’s historic achievement he said:

“It was a nice experience being my first international tournament,”

“I gained some experience from playing all matches and I bet the next call callup I’ll step in with more confidence,” he added

Wasega has now trained his sights on the upcoming league games, and the junior U20 African diadem.

“It’s now time to refocus to the league where I aim to earn as many matches as possible to build my game,”

“That will enable me present the experience from the tournament and put me in good stead as I aim for a place in the squad when the U20 Africa Cup of Nations arrives next year.” he concluded

Prior to heading out to Tanzania for the CECAFA Championship, Wasega had only earned one Kenyan Premier league game, Simba wa Nairobi’s season opener against Bidco United in Dandora.

29 Oct 2024
NCS, Team News Permalink
City Stars vs Gor Mahia in Machakos on Mon 28 Oct 20224
City Stars vs Gor Mahia in Machakos on Mon 28 Oct 20224

Asenwa, Oalo in team of the week, City Stars, coach best of all

October 29, 2024

Following a turn around 2-1 win over Champions Gor Mahia, Nairobi City Stars was voted in as the team of the week after matchday eight games in the 2024-25 FKF Premier League. 

City Stars hosted Gor Mahia on Monday in Machakos and trailed the game 1-0 at hal time but versed matters in the second half with goals from Robinson Asenwa and Dennis Oalo for a win to end a six game winless streak this season, and 13 stretching back to last season.

Other than being named team of the week, chief destroyers Oalo – named the MVP after the game – and Asenwa made it to the team of the week.

Not to be left behind was coach Nicholas Muyoti who was named the coach of the week.

City Starsnext plays Shabana at Gusii Stadium, Kisii, on Sunday 3 November, 2024 starting at 2 p.m.

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