05 Jun 2023
NCS, Team News Permalink
Dennis Oalo
Dennis Oalo celebrrates his debut goal for Nairobi City Stars against Nzoia Sugar on Sat 3 June 2023 in Kasarani Annex during FKF Premier League matchday 32. Nzoia won it 3-2

Dennis Oalo talks up debut goal

June 5, 2023

After missing out on goals in his first 12 games at Nairobi City Stars, attacking midfielder Dennis Oalo broke the duck during the recent clash in Kasarani Annex against Nzoia Sugar during matchday 32 on Saturday 3 June 2023.

Oalo, signed in the mid-transfer window in March from FC Talanta, was on the scoresheet in just the third minute after getting to the end of a James Mazembe cross from the left.

“It was an amazing feeling for me,” said Oalo after the match

“I am working towards scoring more goals before the season is over. It’s never too late, besides, it’s not over till it’s over.” he added

Oalo joined Simba wa Nairobi to improve on its potency upfront and, until his maiden goal, had done just that after registering three assists and a second assist.

In 13 games played so far, Oalo has earned 12 starts and has clocked 978 minutes.

Dennis Oalo

City Stars striker Dennis Oalo during an FKF Premier League matchday 21 tie against Mathare United in Kasarani on Wed 29 Mar 2023. City Stars won it 3-0

03 Jun 2023
NCS, Team News Permalink
James Mazembe
James Mazembe in action against Nzoia Sugar in Kasarani Annex on Sat 3 June 2023 during an FKF Premier League matchday 32 tie. Nzoia won it 3-2

MD32: Nairobi City Stars 2 Nzoia Sugar 3

June 3, 2023

Nzoia Sugar posted their first-ever away win over Nairobi City Stars, winning a matchday 32 FKF Premier League tie 3-2 in Kasarani Annex on Saturday 3 June 2023.

The two teams tied 1-1 at halftime before Nzoia raced to a 3-1 lead in the second half leaving City Stars to chase the game.

Simba wa Nairobi opened the scores as early as the third minute when Dennis Oalo finished off a perfect cross from James Mazembe for his debut goal.

Nzoia Sugar drew level in the 36th minute after Hassan Beja finished off a freekick that landed in the box. He was at it again for his brace in the 52nd minute to hand Nzoia the lead.

In the 58th minute, City Stars were a man down after Vincent Owino was shown as second yellow for a foul on a Nzoia player earning his marching orders.

In the 73rd minute, Yasin Sije forced the City Stars’ backline into errors allowing the ball to bounce just over the line, and it was duly awarded for Nzoia to lead 3-1.

At the death, Kelvin Etemesi won a penalty after receiving a long ball from Edwin Buliba. He stepped up to score – his tenth goal of the season – to reduce the score to 3-2.

After the result, City Stars remains 15th on the log with 33 points as Nzoia improved to the 63-point mark.

Next up for Simba wa Nairobi is an away game to FC Talanta on 21 June 2023 in Kasarani Annexx starting 3 pm.

Lineups

Nairobi City Stars: 23. Steve Njunge, 8. Calvin Masawa-captain, 12. Edwin Buliba, 5. Timothy Muganda, 14. Rowland Makati, 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo (30. Anthony Kimani-43), 19. Vincent Owino, 15. Newton Ochieng, 21. James Mazembe ((11. Andrew Kisilu-5 (31. Mohammed Bajaber-69)), 9. Dennis Oalo (29. Levis Okello-69), 20. Kelvin Etemesi

Unused subs: 1. Elvis Ochoro, 6. Ronney Kola, 17. Abuyeka Kubasu,

Out: 4. Salim Abdallah, 7. Pius Omachi, 10. Peter Opiyo, 18. Clifford Ouma, 22. Samuel Kapen, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 26. Dennis Wanjala, 28. Herit Mungai, 32. Ezekiel Odera

Coach: Nicholas Muyoti

Nzoia Sugar: 15. Humprey Katasi, 30. Moses Mwale, 29. Vincent Mahiga, 28. Randy Bakari, 5. Ian Karani, 13. Kevin Juma (8. Harun Thomas-82), 10. Hassan Beja (26. Steve Otieno-72), 6. Boniface Kweyu, 14. Yasin Sije (11. Barisa Mohammed-90+), 21. Joseph Mwangi, 18. James Kibande (24. Ian Simiyu-90+)

Unused subs: 23. Daniel Omuse, 3. Timothy Wanyanga, 27. Kevin Maliachi, 17. Emmanuel Esekon,

Coach: Salim Babu

Cautions
Nairobi City Stars: 19. Vincent Owino (35,58)-red, 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo (40),
Nzoia Sugar: 13. Kevin Juma (30), 14. Yasin Sije (58), 6. Boniface Kweyu (61)

Goals
Nairobi City Stars: 9. Dennis Oalo (4), Kelvin Etemesi (89-pen)
Nzoia Sugar: 14. Yasin Sije (36,58), 10. Hassan Beja (73)

02 Jun 2023
NCS, Team News Permalink
City Stars, Muki
Nairobi City Stars skipper Anthony 'Muki' Kimani skipping away from Nzoia Sugar leftback Vincent Mahiga during an 8th round FKF Premier League match on Wed 8 Dec 2021 in Ruaraka. It ended 0-0

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

June 2, 2023

For just the third time in the Kenyan Premier League, Nairobi City Stars will host Nzoia Sugar, this time in a 32nd-round tie on Saturday 3 June 2023 in Kasarani Annex starting at 3.15 pm.

The two have never faced off in Kasarani Annex which becomes the third venue in as many matches.

During the first-ever meeting between the two in any competition, on 29 November 2020, in the opening game of the 2020/21 season, Simba wa Nairobi hosted Nzoia Sugar in Narok and won 2-0.

In the next game, an eighth-round clash in the 2021/22 season played on 8 December 2021, City Stars hosted Nzoia in Ruaraka, a game that ended 0-0.

City Stars heads to the game on the high of a 2-1 win over AFC Leopards in the last game played in Nyayo Stadium on Monday while title-chasing Nzoia Sugar is smarting from a 1-0 home loss to bogey team Kariobangi Sharks.

Even then, tablewise, City Stars sits 15th on the 18-team log with 33 points, 27 points behind the third-placed Nzoia Sugar.

Coaching-wise, Simba wa Nairobi’s Nicholas Muyoti will be coming up against his counterpart Salim Babu who masterminded a 1-0 win in Sudi Stadium during the first leg.

Who will win this one?

Summary

KPL home games vs Nzoia Sugar-2: Nairobi City Stars wins (1), Draws (1), Loses (0)

Home games hosted by City Stars

29 Nov 2020: Nairobi City Stars vs Nzoia Sugar, 2-0 (W)
08 Dec 2021: Nairobi City Stars vs Nzoia Sugar, 0-0 (D)
03 Jun 2023: Nairobi City Stars vs Nzoia Sugar, ??

02 Jun 2023
NCS, Team News Permalink
Abuyeka Kubasu
Midfielder Abuyeka Kubasu during a past City Stars training session

Abuyeka Kubasu named for Nzoia tie, set for debut

June 2, 2023

Midfielder Abuyeka Kubasu is the freshest Nairobi City Stars player to be named for a league game, this time for a 32nd-round FKF Premier League tie against Nzoia Sugar in Kasarani Annex on Saturday 3 June 2023 starting at 3.15 pm.

Abuyeka, signed from Vapor Sports in the mid-March transfer window, is the 33rd – and last – Simba wa Nairobi player to be named for a league game this season.

In being named to the matchday squad, Abuyeka, a Dagoretti High School alumnus, moves ever so close to making his Kenyan topflight debut.

Other than Abuyeka, the other changes in the 19-man squad includes Ronney Kola and keeper Jacob Osano who both missed out on the last tie against AFC Leopards in Nyayo Stadium on Monday.

City Stars heads to the Nzoia game with the leanest of squads following the absence of four players who featured in the Monday game.

Centre-back Kenedy Vidic Onyango and flyer Samuel Kapen have been left out due to yellow card suspension (five each), while left-back Dennis Decha Wanjala and defensive midfielder Clifford Ouma are out due a collision that left them in stitches.

Squad to face Nzoia Sugar

Goal Keepers: 1. Elvis Ochoro, 16. Jacob Osano, 23. Stephen Njunge

Defenders:  5. Timothy Muganda,  8. Calvin Masawa, 12. Edwin Buliba, 14. Rowland Makati,

Midfielders: 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo, 6. Ronney Kola,  11. Andrew Kisilu, 15. Newton Ochieng, 17. Abuyeka Kubasu, 21. James Mazembe,  19. Vincent Owino, 20. Kelvin Etemesi, 30. Anthony Kimani, 31. Mohammed Bajaber

Strikers: 9. Dennis Oalo, 29. Levis Okello

Out: 4. Salim Abdallah, 7. Pius Omachi, 10. Peter Opiyo, 18. Clifford Ouma, 22. Samuel Kapen, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 26. Dennis Wanjala, 28. Herit Mungai, 32. Ezekiel Odera

Coach: Nicholas Muyoti

01 Jun 2023
NCS, Team News Permalink
Kelvin Etemesi
Kelvin Etemesi up against Mathare United on Wed 29 Mar 2023 in Kasarani Annex. He scored a brace - his maiden premier league goals - as City stars won the game 2-0

Kelvin Etemesi sets new Nairobi City Stars record

June 1, 2023

Heroics by Nairobi City Stars’ star boy Kelvin Etemesi on Monday 29 May 2023 against AFC Leopards, where he scored a brace to earn a come-from-behind 2-1 win during a matchday 31 premier league tie, has moved to the top of a rare club record.

The Monday brace for Etemesi was his fourth this season making him the first player to achieve that feat at City Stars in the Kenyan topflight league since the 2005/6 premier league season.

Etemesi has now gone past Samuel Ouma who scored three braces that season. He top-scored for the club – then known as World Hope – with 13 goals.

In the Monday game, Etemesi finished off an Edwin Buliba delivery in the 64th minute to cancel Victor Omune’s 18th-minute opener. He grabbed the winner in the 89th minute after pouncing on a James Mazembe assist.

Not only did he break the record of braces scored across 15 years in the Kenyan top league, but it also ended a 16-year wait of City Stars never beating AFC Leopards in an away game.

Further, his goals guaranteed Nairobi City Stars’ premier league status as the team moved to the 33-point mark from 31 games, opening a ten-point buffer with three rounds of play left.

The club – then known as World Hope – last beat Leopards (1-0) on 22 January 2006 in Nyayo Stadium during a 14th-round clash in the 2005/6 season. Steve Biko scored the lone goal in the 12th minute.

Between then and Monday, City Stars had only managed six away draws and four away defeats against AFC Leopards.

Etemesi scored his first brace – and top-flight goal – in a 3-0 win over Mathare United on 29 Mar in Kasrani Annex. He skipped a game and followed it up with his second brace on 9 Apr in a 3-2 loss to Posta Rangers in Police Sacco Stadium.

At that point, Etemesi drew level with past City Stars forwards; Ugandan hitmen Jimmy Bageya and Dan Sserunkuma who scored two braces in the 2009 and 2011 seasons, respectively, and Gambian Ebrima Sanneh in the 2015 season.

He skipped another game and scored his third brace in a 5-2 win over Vihiga Bullets in Kasarani Annex which drew him level with Samuel Ouma.

Etemesi missed out on a consecutive brace in the next game against Kariobangi Sharks at the same venue. He scored once in a 2-1 win.

Those goals, added to his latest brace that separate him from the past club hitmen, brought his tally this season to nine.

“Etemesi had a slow start to the season. But you can understand that he came from the third tier (Kangemi AllStars) and it took him a while to fully adapt and integrate into the team,” said City Stars team coordinator Samson Otieno

“But when he got the hang of the premier league, we are seeing a totally different player in the second leg. He has the hunger, has no fear, and has become a go-getter and our go-to forward,”

“It’s little wonder that the goals in him are now coming out and so far he has scored nine times in the second leg. I believe he will close the season with double digits,” added Samson

So far, Etemesi has featured in 22 of 31 games this season registering 1,494 minutes. His nine goals have been scored in the last 11 games.

Past braces (seasons, player, number)

2004/5-Edward Karanja-1, Collins Tiego – 1
2005/6-John Njoroge-1, Samuel Ouma-3
2006/7-none
2008-none
2009-Collins Tiego-1, Jimmy Bageya-2
2010-none
2011- Francis Thairu-1, Dan Sserunkuma-2
2012-Dan Sserunkuma-1
2013-Bruno Sserunkuma-1
2014-none
2015-Ebrima Sanneh-2
2016-none
2017-2020 (not in the premier league)
2020/21-Anthony Kimani-1
2021/22-Peter Opiyo-1
2022/23-Kelvin Etemesi-4

Kelvin Etemesi

Kelvin Etemesi up against Mathare United on Wed 29 Mar 2023 in Kasarani Annex. He scored a brace – his maiden premier league goal – as City Stars won the game 2-0

Etemesi

Forward Kelvin Etemesi celebrates one of two goals against Vihiga Bullets in Kasarani Annex on 16 April 2023 during a Premier League game. City Stars won the game 5-2

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