31 May 2023
NCS, Team News Permalink
Rowland Makati
Nairobi City Stars right-back Rowland Makati in action against MCF in Kasarani Annex during the Elite Cup tournament in Sep 2022 Photo Credit - Hassan Mandevu

Rowland Makati: Injury derailed my season

May 31, 2023

Rowland Makati, an attacking midfielder but lately turned right-back, had everything going for him till a collision late in FKF Premier League matchday 14 on 4 February 2023 against Gor Mahia in Kasarani brought his good run to a halt.

Till then, Makati had been part of the matchday squad for all 14 games, from which he had earned nine starts, completing seven of them.

The injury picked late in the Kasarani game kept him out of action for over a month and a half, and he only returned to the match day squad two months later, on 5 April, for matchday 22 against KCB.

He is now angling for game time in the remaining three games this season.

“I had a good start to the season earning vital and regular playtime till that game against Gor Mahia derailed my progression and my first real Kenyan Premier League season,”

“I only made my debut in the top league last season after featuring in the final two games. Those games built me up for this one and it was going on very well till that game in Kasarani,”

“I hope to gain some more playtime before we close this season, then seek more ad regular playtime next season.” added Makati

Till his injury, Makati had clocked 712 minutes in the nine games played, and registered one assist.

Rowland Makati against George Odhiambo of Gor Mahia in a matchday 14 FKF Premier League tie on 4 Feb 2023 in Kasarani

Makati

Rowland Makati during a friendly game against Bidco United at the Thika Stadium on 8 Nov 2020. It ended 1-1

29 May 2023
NCS, Team News Permalink
City Stars
Kelvin Etemesi celebrates his winning goal against AFC Leopards on Mon 29 May 2023 during an FKF matchday 31 tie in Nyao Stadium. City Stars came from behind to win the game 2-1

MD31: AFC Leopards 1 Nairobi City Stars 2

May 29, 2023

Kelvin Etemesi’s brace – his fourth of the season – earned Nairobi City Stars a 2-1 comeback win over AFC Leopards during a matchday 31 FKF Premier League tie in Nyayo Stadium on Monday 29 May 2023.

Etemesi’s goals in the 64th and 89th minutes erased Victor Omune’s 18th-minute opener to end Simba wa Nairobi’s 16-year wait of searching for an away win over AFC Leopards.

The only other away win for City Stars, the first-ever, was back on 22 January 2006 in Nyayo Stadium. City Stars, then known as World Hope, scored the lone goal through Steve Biko.

Between then and now, the best City Stars had done was post six draws and four losses.

In the 12th and latest game between the two played on Monday, Omune capitalized on a defensive lapse to send the home team 1-0 up three minutes after the first quarter.

Etemesi then brought Simba wa Nairobi level after firing a cross from the right from right-back Edwin Buliba to the roof of the net.

He added a second on the day – his ninth goal on his debut top-flight season – when he slammed home a delivery from substitute James Mazembe for City Stars to carry the day for the team to move to the 33-point mark.

City Stars, however, stays 15th in the standings as Leopards, on 48 points, is still up in seventh spot.

Next up for Simba wa Nairobi is a matchday 32 tie against Nzoia Sugar on Saturday 3 June 2023 starting at 3.15 pm.

Lineups

Nairobi City Stars: 23. Steve Njunge, 26. Dennis Wanjala (8. Calvin Masawa-61-captain 2), 12. Edwin Buliba, 25. Kenedy Onyango-captain 1, 5. Timothy Muganda, 18. Clifford Ouma (15. Newton Ochieng-61), 19. Vincent Owino, 11. Andrew Kisilu (21. James Mazembe-61), 22. Samuel Kapen, (31. Mohammed Bajaber-80),  29. Levis Okello, (9. Dennis Oalo-61), 20. Kelvin Etemesi

Unused subs: 1. Elvis Ochoro, 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo, 14. Rowland Makati, 30. Anthony Kimani

Out:  4. Salim Abdallah, 10. Ronney Kola, 7. Pius Omachi, 10. Peter Opiyo, 16. Jacob Osano, 17. Abuyeka Kubasu, 28. Herit Mungai, 32. Ezekiel Odera

Coach: Nicholas Muyoti

AFC Leopards: 32. Levis Opiyo, 11. Peter Ng’ang’a, 13. Eric Mbithe, 3. Washington Munene, 15. Robert Mudenyu, 6. Musa Oundo, 10. Cliff Nyakeya, 8. Bryan Wanyama (21. Maxwell Otieno-72), 33. Victor Omune, 19. Eugene Mukangula-captain, 7. Jafari Owiti (40. Saad Musa-82)

Unused subs: 16. Maxwell Muchasia, 24. Bonface Mukhekhe, 20. Dan Sunguti, 22. Collins Shivachi, 23. Moses Lukhumwa, 28. Zachariah Ochieng,

Coach: Patrick Aussems

Goal
AFC Leopards: 33. Victor Omune (18)
Nairobi City Stars: 20. Kelvin Etemesi (64,89)

Cautions
AFC Leopards: 7. Jaffari Owiti (31)
Nairobi City Stars: 25. Kenedy Onyango (71), 22. Samuel Kapen (75)

29 May 2023
NCS, Team News Permalink
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

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

May 29, 2023

On Monday 29 May 2023, Nairobi City Stars will be away to AFC Leopards in a matchday 31 FKF Premier League tie in Nyayo Stadium starting 3 pm.

City Stars last played Leopards away on Monday 6 June 2022 in Thika Stadium during the penultimate game of the 2021/22 FKF Premier League season. It ended 1-1. Timothy Noor Ouma scored in the first half for Simba wa Nairobi only or Leopards to respond in the second half through substitute Josephat Lopaga.

The tie was originally planned for Saturday 27 June at the same Nyayo Stadium but moved to Monday due unavailability of the facility.

It will be clash number 24 for the two in the Kenyan top flight since the year 2005. From the previous 23 games, Leopards has registered ten to seven wins over City Stars, while the other six games have ended in draws.

Narrowed to away games against Leopards, City Stars has drawn six and lost four times, and only registered one win back in January 2006.

Simba wa Nairobi carries four straight draws to the Monday game against an AFC Leopards side that has posted two straight wins over title-chasing Nzoia Sugar and arch-rivals Gor Mahia.

For yet another game, City Stars head coach Nicholas Muyoti, a Leopard’s old boy, will come up against his counterpart Patrick Aussems.

Table-wise, Simba wa Nairobi sits 15th on the log with 30 points, as Leopards are up seventh with 45 points.

Who wins this one?

Summary

KPL Games: 21 (Leopards wins -10, City Stars wins – 7, Draws – 6)

City Stars vs AFC Leopards (Away games)

22-Jan-06: AFC Leopards vs World Hope, Nyayo Stadium, 0-1 (W)
22-Aug-09: AFC Leopards vs City Stars, Nyayo Stadium, 0-0 (D)
18-Apr-10: AFC Leopards vs City Stars, City Stadium, 1-1 (D)
21-Aug-11: AFC Leopards vs City Stars, Nyayo Stadium, 2-1 (L)
13-Jul-12: AFC Leopards vs City Stars, Nyayo Stadium, 1-0 (L)
18-Aug-13: AFC Leopards vs City Stars, Nyayo Stadium, 1-1 (D)
12-Apr-14: AFC Leopards vs City Stars, Mumias Complex, 1-1 (D)
19-Jul-15: AFC Leopards vs City Stars, Nyayo Stadium, 2-1 (L)
21-Aug-16: AFC Leopards vs City Stars, Afraha Stadium, 0-0 (D)
06-Mar-21: AFC Leopards vs City Stars, Kasarani Annex, 1-0 (L)
06-Jun-22: AFC Leopards vs City Stars, Thika Stadium, 1-1 (D)
29-May-23: AFC Leopards vs City Stars, Nyayo Stadium, ??

29 May 2023
NCS, Team News Permalink
City Stars
Forward Kelvin Etemesi is being congratulated after scoring one of his two goals against Vihiga Bullets during a matchday 25 FKF Premier League tie in Kasarani Annex on Sun 16 Apr 2023. City Stars won the game 5-2

Three changes against AFC Leopards

May 29, 2023

Mid lynchpin Anthony Muki Kimani is back in Nairobi City Stars squad for the upcoming matchday 31 FKF Premier League clash against AFC Leopards on Monday 29 May 2023 in Nyayo Stadium starting at 3 pm.

Muki makes a return to the Simba wa Nairobi fold after sitting out the last four games against Kakamega Homeboyz, Tusker, Ulinzi Stars, and Bandari. He replaces budding Ronney Kola who takes a  rest.

Other than Muki, the other two changes are that of keeper Elvis Ochoro who returns in place of Jacob Osano, and forward Mohammed Bajaber who comes on for defender Herit Mungai.

While Ochoro is back after just missing the last game against Bandari, Bajaber, just like Muki, had been out for the last four games.

Squad to face Bandari

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, 11. Andrew Kisilu, 15. Newton Ochieng, 17. James Mazembe,  18. Clifford Ouma,  19. Vincent Owino, 20. Kelvin Etemesi, 30. Anthony Kimani, 31. Mohammed Bajaber

Strikers: 9. Dennis Oalo, 22. Samuel Kapen, 29. Levis Okello

Out: 4. Salim Abdallah, 6. Ronney Kola,  7. Pius Omachi, 10. Peter Opiyo, 16. Jacob Osano, 17. Abuyeka Kubasu, 28. Herit Mungai, 32. Ezekiel Odera

Coach: Nicholas Muyoti

27 May 2023
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: It’s time to convert our chances

May 27, 2023

Nairobi City Stars midfielder Vincent Owino believes that, with better conversions in front of goal, team results can be a lot more different.

Owino, best referred to as Oti, has been reflecting on recent games where Simba wa Nairobi has scooped four points from as many drawn games.

His sentiments came just days before City Stars play AFC Leopards in a matchday 31 FKF Premier League tie on Monday 29 May 2023 in Nyayo Stadium starting at 3 p.m.

“As a team, we are working on how we will utilize our chances to score more goals. Lately, we’ve been creating many chances but we fail to utilize them,”

“We have since worked on that and I am confident in our next game against AFC Leopards we will convert better and win the game,”

“According to our previous matches against Tusker, Ulinzi, and Bandari, we played well as a team. We also defended well and we also attacked well. We created the chances but we failed to execute them forcing us to take home one point.” he added

Owino joined Simba wa Nairobi in the mid-transfer window in March 2023 from Premier League side FC Talanta.

He has so far featured in eleven games clocking 885 minutes on his way to completing seven games. He has scored three goals, and provided two direct assists and four-second assists.

Vincent Otieno, City Stars

Vincent Otieno is up against Bandari in a matchday 30 FKF Premier League tie in Ruaraka on Sun 14 May 2023. It ended 1-1

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