19 Jun 2023
NCS, Team News Permalink
City Stars, FC Talanta
Nairobi City Stars players celebrate a goal against FC Talanta in the 34th and final game of the 2021/22 Premier League at Kasarani Annex on Sun 12 Jun 2022

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

June 19, 2023

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.

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)

Away games to FC Talanta

8 Jan 2022: FC Talanta vs Nairobi City Stars, 1-2 (W)
20 Jun 2023: FC Talanta vs Nairobi City Stars, ??

19 Jun 2023
NCS, Team News Permalink
Kenedy Onyango
Kenedy Vidic Onyango during an FKF Premier League match day 21 game against Mathare United in Kasarani Annex on Wed 29 Mar 2023. It ended 3-0 in favor of Nairobi City Stars

Quartet return for Talanta clash

June 19, 2023

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.

Squad to face FC Talanta

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

Defenders:  5. Timothy Muganda,  8. Calvin Masawa, 12. Edwin Buliba, 14. Rowland Makati, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 26. Dennis Wanjala

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

Coach: Nicholas Muyoti

15 Jun 2023
NCS, Team News Permalink
Kapen, City Stars
Nairobi City Stars forward Samuel Kapen during a league game against KCB on Wed 22 Jan 2023 in Kasarani Annex.

Samuel Kapen: Next season will be better

June 15, 2023

With 32 of 34 games in the 2022-23 FKF Premier League season down and out, flyer Samuel Kapen is already looking forward to the next one that, according to the league managers, will kick off on Sat 26 August 2023.

Kapen, in his first full premiership season, has taken stock of his own performance and looking back, believes it could have been better.

Even then, the former Kibera Black Stars forward is now looking forward to a much improved 2023-24 season.

“It’s been a good season. We started off poorly but steadily worked our way up and peaked in the second leg,” he said

“Individually, it has been a good season for me even though I never attained my personal targets. I hope next season will be better than this season.” added the former Diguna, Liberty Sport, Posta Rangers, and Kibera Black Stars player.

Kapen has led Simba wa Nairobi’s lines this season and has gone on to score seven goals, provide two assists, and a further eight second assists. He has featured in 27 of 32 games clocking 2,199 minutes.

City Stars, Kapen

Samuel Kapen scored as City Stars was held 1-1 by Sofapaka on Sat 11 March 2023 in Ruaraka in an FKF Math day 19 tie

City Stars

Samuel Kapen, Ezekiel Odera, Anthony Kimani and Andrew Kisilu celebrate a goal during an FKF premier league matchday 19 tie against Sofapaka in Kasarani in Feb 2023. It ended 1-1

Samuel Kapen, Elite Pre-season Cup

City Stars flyer Samuel Kapen in action against Police stopper Harun Shakava during the final of the Elite Pre-season Cup played at Nyayo Stadium on Sat 1 Oct 2022. Police won 2-0
Photo Credit – Hassan Mandevu

Kapen, City Stars

Samuel Kapen up against AFC Leopards player Lewis Bandi during a league match on 4 Jan 2023 in Kasarani. Leopards won the game 1-0

12 Jun 2023
NCS, Team News Permalink
City Stars, Steve Njunge
City Stars keeper Stephen Njunge in action against AFC Leopards in Kasarani on 4 Jan 2023. Leopards won the gaem 1-0

Steve Njunge: Hard work got me to game 50

June 12, 2023

Lead Nairobi City Stars keeper Steve Njunge grabbed his 50th Kenyan top-flight game on Saturday 3 June 2023 during a match day 32 FKF Premier League tie against Nzoia Sugar in Kasarani Annex.

Up until that game, Njunge had tended to goal 49 times for Simba wa Nairobi across the last three Premier League seasons.

In hitting the rare milestone, Njunge said;

“I give thanks for reaching the magical 50. It has not been easy and I attribute it all to hard work,”

“I also wish to thank my coaches for believing and giving me the chance to feature for the club across the last three seasons,”

“The milestone aside, I want to stay focused and post new highs with the club.” added Njunge

The Nzoia game was the 13th for Njunge this season who has so far clocked 1,095 minutes.

The current number of games is an improvement from the four he earned from an injury-hit last season.

In the 2020-21 premier league season, Njunge clocked all minutes available after featuring in all 33 games. He registered eleven clean sheets to be named the joint runners-up keeper of that season.

Steve Njunge

Steve Njunge in action for Nairobi City Stars during a past FKF Premier league game tie in Kasarani Annex in April 2023

Njunge, City Stars

Keeper Steve Njunge up against Kakamega Homeboyz in FKF Premier league match day 27 in Kasarani Annex on Wed 26 Apr 2023. I ended 0-0

Elite Pre-season Cup

Keeper Steve Njunge is congratulated after saving three penalties against Kariobangi Sharks at Kasarani Annex on Thur 29 Sep 2022 to send City Stars to the final of the Elite Pre-Season Cup

08 Jun 2023
NCS, Team News Permalink
Calvin Masawa
Nairobi City Stars skipper Calvin Masawa in action on Sat 3 June 2023 against Nzoia Sugar during a matchday 32 tie in Kasarani Annex

Calvin Masawa appreciates second leg turnaround

June 8, 2023

Overall Nairobi City Stars skipper Calvin Masawa is encouraged by a switch in fortunes since the second leg of the 2022-23 FKF Premier League started in March.

Masawa, City Stars longest serving player, in the club ranks since the year 2011, has pointed out a combination of factors that has seen the club post more acceptable results compared to the first leg.

“We had a very bad first leg due to the massive changes in the playing unit. But being a transition season that was expected,”

“I am happy the group learned and gelled so fast that’s why we are having a near-perfect second leg. That, combined with hard work and determination, is why we registered a seven-game unbeaten streak before our last game,”

“We want that good run to continue as we want to finish the league stronger.”

At the close of the 17 games in the first leg, City Stars had only managed 12 points out of a possible 54 from three wins and as many draws. The team is now on 33 points with two games left to season end.

On his part, Masawa has featured in 11 of 32 games played thus far, clocking 863 minutes.

Calvin Masawa

Nairobi City Stars skipper Calvin Masawa in action on Sat 3 June 2023 against Nzoia Sugar during a matchday 32 tie in Kasarani Annex

City Stars

Nairobi City Stars skipper Calvin Masawa with the ball against KCB’s John Mwangi during a 22nd round FKF Premier League tie in Kasarani Annex on Wed 5 Apr 2023. KCB won it 1-0

Masawa, City Stars

An elated captain Calvin Masawa over the moon as City Celebrated one of two goals scored by Peter Opiyo in a 2-0 win over Mathare United in Ruaraka on Sat 11 Dec 2021

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