City Stars, Shitu
City Stars stopper challenges his opposite number Brian Eshihanda of Homeboyz during an FKF Premier League match 16 in Ruaraka on Mon 24 Jan 2021. It ended 1-1

Head-to-head: Nairobi City Stars (H) vs Homeboyz (A): 2022/23 FKF Premier League season

Nairobi City Stars will, for only the fifth time since the year 2013, host Kakamega Homeboyz in the premier league, this time during a 27th-round tie in Kasarani Annex on Wednesday 26 April 2023 starting at 1 p.m.

It is the first time since 24th January 2022 that Simba wa Nairobi will be home to Abana Beingo.

In the last meeting, in Ruaraka, City Stars needed a late equalizer from Rodgers Okuse Okumu to cancel out substitute Gaetan Masha’s second-half goal for a share of the spoils as the game ended 1-1.

From the previous four home games against Homeboyz in Nairobi, City Stars has registered two wins, a loss, and the Ruaraka draw last year.

The most uncommon factor in the upcoming tie is that the two have never faced off at the Kasarani Annex.

Both teams come to the game on the back of two straight league wins. Homeboyz comes to the game with a 2-0 win over Vihiga Bullets while City Stars parades a 2-1 win over Kariobangi Sharks earned at the same venue on Saturday.

Once again, coach Nicholas Muoti will be leading Simba wa Nairobi against a Homeboz side that will be handled by Patrick Odhiambo.

Into the game, City Stars sits 15th in the 18-team log with 26 points, and are 12 points behind seventh-placed Homeboyz.

Who wins this one?

Summary

KPL home Games vs Homeboyz: Total (3); Wins (2), Draws (1), Loses (1)

25-May-13: City Stars vs Homeboyz, 1-0 (W)
30-Oct-16: City Stars vs Homeboyz, 1-3 (L)
19-Jun-21: City Stars vs Homeboyz, 1-0 (W)
24-Jan-22: City Stars vs Homeboyz, 1-1 (D)
26-Apr-23: City Stars vs Homeboyz, ??

Herit Mungai
Herit Mungai vs Gor Mahia in Kasarani main stadium on Sat 4 Feb 2023

Mungai, ‘Shitu’ return against Homeboyz

Keeper Elvis Ochoro, left back Herit Mungai, fielder Ronney Kola, and center back Salim Shitu Abdallah, are all back in the squad as Nairobi City Stars plots for Kakamega Homeboyz on Wednesday 26 April 2023 Kasarani Annex starting 1 p.m. during a match day 27 FKF Premier League match.

All four missed the last tie at the same venue against Kariobangi Sharks on Saturday. City Stars won it 2-1.

Ochoro, Kola, and Salim take up the places of Jacob Osano, suspended Clifford Ouma to yellow card accumulation, and Anthony Kimani who is unavailable.

Mungai, missing from match-day squads in the last two games against Vihiga Bullets and Sharks, returns to take up the place of Calvin Masawa.

Squad to face Kakamega Homeboyz

Goal Keepers: 1. Elvis Ochoro, 23. Stephen Njunge

Defenders: 4. Salim Abdallah, 5. Timothy Muganda,  12. Edwin Buliba, 14. Rowland Makati, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 26. Dennis Wanjala, 28. Herit Mungai,

Midfielders: 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo, 6. Ronney Kola,  11. Andrew Kisilu, 15. Newton Ochieng, 17. James Mazembe,  19. Vincent Owino, 20. Kelvin Etemesi, 31. Mohammed Bajaber

Strikers: 9. Dennis Oalo, 22. Samuel Kapen, 32. Ezekiel Odera

Out: 7. Pius Omachi, 10. Peter Opiyo, 8. Calvin Masawa, 16. Jacob Osano, 17. Abuyeka Kubasu, 18. Clifford Ouma,  29. Levis Okello, 30. Anthony Kimani

Coach: Nicholas Muyoti

Decha, City Stars
Many thoughts for left-back Dennis 'Decha' Wanjala during an 8th round FKF Premier League match on Wed 8 Dec 2021 in Ruaraka during a game against his former employers. It ended 0-0

It’s a century for Dennis Wanjala

Nairobi City Stars left-back Dennis Wanjala aka Decha reached a personal milestone after registering Kenyan Premier League game number 100 in the recent game against Kariobangi Sharks in Kasarani Annex on Saturday 22 April 2023.

In the Sharks game, Wanjala picked up his 15th game this season, to make it game number 37 in City Stars colors since September 2021.

“It pleases me to learn that I have attained game 100 in the kenyan top flight. I see growth since my days at Nzoia (Sugar) till now at Nairobi City Stars,”

“That motivates me even more and I now wish to go on and lift the Kenyan premier league title soon, and to one day feature for the Kenya national team,”

“In the meantime, it is my desire to push Nairobi City Stars to a much better position. We want to suprise everyone in the closing stages of the current season.” added Wanjala

Wanjala joined Simba wa Nairobi prior to the start of the 2021/22 FKF Premier League season having played 63 premier league games across four seasons while at Nzoia Sugar.

He made his debut for City Stars in the opening game of last season away to Sofapaka in Wundanyi, in September 2021, and went on to feature in another 21 games that season.

City Stars, Wanjala

City stars left back Dennis Wanjala in an 7th FKF Premier League match against AFC Leopards on Wed 4 Jan 2023

Etemesi, Kapen
Samuel Kapen celebrates a goal against Kariobangi Sharks with Kelvin Etemesi and James Mazembe on Sat 22 Apr 2023 in Kasarani Annex during a matchday 26 FKF Premier League tier. City Stars won the game 2-1

MD26: Kariobangi Sharks 1 Nairobi City Stars 2

Early second-half goals by Kelvin Etemesi and Samuel Kapen – their seventh goals of the season – were enough to lead Nairobi City Stars to a 2-1 win over Kariobangi Sharks in Kasarani Annex on Saturday 22 April 2023 during a matchday 26 FKF Premier League tie.

Etemesi activated the scoresheet in the 57th minute after getting to the end of a quick freekick by James Mazembe with a lob over keeper Peter Ouru.

Kapen doubled the scores in the 66th minute with a header off a Dennis Oalo cross from the right.

Sharks pulled one back in the 84th minute through substitute Patrick Ngunyi.

With the win, City Stars moved to the 26-point mark, but maintained position 15 after the full set of games on Saturday, as Sharks stayed eleventh with 33 points.

Next up for Simba wa Nairobi is a matchday 27 tie against Kakamega Homeboyz in the same Annex on Wed 26 April 2023 starting at 1 p.m.

Lineups

Nairobi City Stars: 23. Steve Njunge, 25. Kenedy Onyango-captain, 5. Timothy Muganda, 26. Dennis Wanjala, 18. Clifford Ouma, 19. Vincent Owino (30. Anthony Kimani-90+), 11. Andrew Kisilu (21. James Mazembe-51), 22. Samuel Kapen (15. Newton Ochieng-80), 9. Dennis Oalo (2. Elvis Noor-80), 20. Kelvin Etemesi (32. Ezekiel Odera-80),

Unused subs: 8. Calvin Masawa, 14. Rowland Makati, 16. Jacob Osano, 31. Mohammed Bajaber

Kariobangi Sharks: Kevin Ouru, 11. Geoffrey Onyango, 4. Collins Obanda, Timothy Ekhavi, Frederick Alushula, 5. Isac Wasambo, 15. Biron Otieno, 23. Keith Imbai, 21. Leon Otieno, 18. Tyson Otieno, 10. Fortune Omoto

Unused subs: 40. Sebastian Wekesa (GK), 6. Biko Omolo, 13. Kevin Musamali, 29. Zablon Kutera, 17. Sigmunn Maina, 12. Humphrey Aroko, 7. Shariff Musa, 28. Patrick Ngunyi, 19. Paul Odhiambo

Coach: William Muluya

Cautions (yellow cards)
Nairobi City Stars: 18. Clifford Ouma (90), 23. Steve Njunge (88)
Kariobangi Sharks: 11. Geoffrey Onyango (27)

Goals
Nairobi City Stars: 20. Kelvin Etemesi (57), Samuel Kapen (66)
Kariobangi Sharks: Patrick Ngunyi (84)

Vincent Owino
Nairobi City Stars central attacking midfielder Vincent Owino celebrates a goal against Vihiga Bullets on Sun 16 Apr 2023 during a matchday 26 tie in Kasarani Annex. City stars won the tie 5-2

Vincent Owino: We will survive relegation

Mid-season signing Vincent Owino is confident that Nairobi City Stars will make a leap out of the red zone and escape relegation by season’s end.

Owino joined in February from FC Talanta and found City Stars in the lower reaches of the 18-team log. But he is overly confident that the situation will change sooner than later.

“We will survive relegation and God willing we’ll manage a better position at the end of the season,”

“Personally, I will always work hard to serve the team to my best.” added Owino

So far, Owino has scored three goals, provided two assists, and registered three-second assists in six second-leg games he’s featured for Simba wa Nairobi.

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