22 Feb 2023
NCS, Team News Permalink
Shittu, City Stars
Centreback Salim 'Shittu' Abdala during a past training

Salim ‘Shittu’ Abdallah returns

February 22, 2023

Centre-back Salim ‘Shittu’ Abdallah is back at Nairobi City Stars ahead of the 2022-23 FKF Premier League second leg that kicks off in March 2023.

Shittu returns to Simba wa Nairobi as a free agent, eight months after leaving the club to pursue other interests.

“Salim Abdallah is back at Nairobi City Stars to add solidity to our backline ahead of the second leg,” said team coordinator Samson Otieno

“His return was necessitated by key injuries to two centrebacks Timothy Muganda and Edwin Buliba who have struggled with injuries sustained during the lengthy pre-season that ended in November 2022,”

“With the two defenders out we were forced to plug in defensive midfiedler Ronney Kola to hold forte for a better part of the first leg,”added Otieno

Head coach Nicholas Muyoti commented on the return of the six-foot-two stopper, stating;

“Shittu’s maturity, experience and leadership will help to stabilize our defense. We are happy to have him back.”

On his part, the returning stopper said;

“City Stars has always been my home. I am glad to be back for a second time and ready to give my all come the second leg. It’s like I never left.”

Shittu joined Simba wa Nairobi in July 2019 and played a big role in getting the team promoted to the Kenya Premier League at the end of the 2019-20 National Super League (NSL) season.

He topped up on his initial one-year contract and exited the club in June 2022 after featuring in 45 of 68 premier league games, scoring thrice, across two seasons.

City Stars, Shitu

City Stars stopper Salim Abdalla on the ball ghosting his Homeboyz counterpart Sylvester Owino during an FKF Premier League match 16 in Ruaraka on Mon 24 Jan 2021. It ended 1-1

Nairobi City Stars

Salim Shitu Abdalla takes on AFC Leopards Isaac Kipyegon in a round 15 Premier League played at KAsarani on Sat 6 Mar 2021. Leopards won the game 1-0

Nairobi City Stars

Salim Shitu Abdalla in a past game for Nairobi City Stars in January 2020 at Camp Toyoyo

18 Feb 2023
NCS, Team News Permalink
City Stars
Oliver Maloba in action as City Stars took on Kakamega Homeboyz in Bukhungu on Sat 18 Feb 2023. The tie ended 0-0

MD16: Kakamega Homeboyz 0 Nairobi City Stars 0

February 18, 2023

For a second straight season, home team Kakamega Homeboyz and Nairobi City Stars shared the spoils, this time following a 0-0 draw, during an FKF Premier League match day 16 tie held at Bukhungu Stadium on Saturday 18 February 2023.

A similar encounter at the same venue in January 2022 ended in an eight-goal thriller, each side taking a point from a 4-4 draw.

The game saw City Stars midfielder register a milestone after clocking his century of games in the Kenyan Premier League.

With the draw, Homeboyz remains eighth on the log with 22 points as City Stars holds on to spot 15 with 12 points.

Next up for Simba wa Nairobi is the final game of the first leg set for Kasarani Annex on Saturday 25 February 2022 starting 1 pm.

Lineups

Kakamega Homeboyz: 96. Ibrahim Wanzala, 16. Collins Odhiambo, 2. Eric Ambunya, 44. Brian Eshihanda, 17. Portipher Odhiambo, 21. Estone Esiye, 22. Christopher Masinza (19. Michael Isabwa-50), 24. Ali Bhai (6. Brian Wekesa-90+), 25. Stephen Opoku (31. Michael Karamor-46), 9. Levis Baraza (30. Elli Asieche-80), 10. Moses Mudavadi

Unused subs: 18. Stephen Otieno, 20. George Odiwuor, 5. Meshack Omukhulu,

Coach: Patrick Odhiambo

Nairobi City Stars: 16. Jacob Osano, 12. Edwin Buliba, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 26. Dennis Wanjala, 28. Herit Mungai, 18. Clifford Ouma, 2. Elvis Noor, 21. Oliver Maloba, 15. Newton Ochieng (10. Andrew Kisilu-74), 20. Kelvin Etemesi (17. Daniel Odhiambo-76), 32. Ezekiel Odera

Unused Subs: 1. Elvis Ochoro, 4. Elly Kessy Osotsi, 5. Timothy Muganda, 6. Ronney Kola, 7. Pius Omachi, 9. Vincent Otieno, 23. Stephen Njunge, 6

Out: 8. Calvin Masawa, 10. Peter Opiyo, 14. Rowland Makati, 22. Samuel Kapen, 30. Anthony Kimani, 31. Mohammed Bajaber

Coach: Nicholas Muyoti

Cautions:
Kakamega Homeboyz: 21. Estone Esiye (90+)
Nairobi City Stars: 20. Kelvin Etemesi (17), 16. Jacob Osano (45+), 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo (48)

Goals
Kakamega Homeboyz: –
Nairobi City Stars: –

17 Feb 2023
NCS, Team News Permalink
City Stars, Homeboyz
Elvis Noor Ojiambo vs Kakamega Homeboyz skipper Ali Bhai during an FKF PL match on 6 Feb 2021 at Bukhungu Stadium, Kakamega. Homeboyz won the game 2-0

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

February 17, 2023

Nairobi City Stars will be up against Kakamega Homeboyz for a matchday 16 FKF Premier League tie in Bukhungu Stadium on Saturday 18 February 2023 starting 3 pm.

It will be toplight game number nine between the two since the year 2013, but the fifth for City Stars as guests to Abana Abeingo.

An eight-goal thriller that ended all square at 4-4 was the outome when City Stars last took on the same side at the same venue in January 2022.

On two different occasions, Simba wa Nairobi trailed that game by two-goal margins before rallying from 4-2 down in the final quarter to pick a point.

Simba wa Nairobi is now back and in search of their first win over the home team in Bukhungu.

Coach Nicholas Muyoti will once again lead City Stars against his former employer who are currently handled by his former assistant coach Patrick Odhiambo.

Form-wise, both teams head to the game on the back of straight losses.

Homeboyz have had identical 1-0 losses to Posta Rangers and Bandari as City Stars lost by the same margin to Gor Mahia before going down 2-1 to Kenya Police.

Table-wise, Homeboyz is eighth with 21 points and a clear ten-point buffer over City Stars who are placed 15th.

Who wins this one?

Summary

City Stars away games vs Homeboyz; Wins (0), Draws (2), Loses (2). Total – 4

20-Jul-13; Homeboyz vs City Stars, 0-0 (D)

9-Apr-16; Homeboyz vs City Stars, 1-0 (L)

6-Feb-21; Homeboyz vs City Stars, 2-0 (L)

20-Jan-20; Homeboyz vs City Stars, 4-4 (D)

18-Feb-23; Homeboyz vs City Stars, ? ?

17 Feb 2023
NCS, Team News Permalink

Muganda in for Homeboyz trip

February 17, 2023

Centreback Timothy Muganda has, for the first time this season, made the squad as Nairobi City Stars plots for a round 16 FKF Premier league clash away to Kakamega Homeboyz in Bukhungu Stadium on Saturday 18 February 2023 starting at 3 pm. 

Muganda is the only player out of 26 yet to feature for Simba wa Nairobi this season due to injury that he has since recovered from.

Other than Muganda, the other change is the return of keeper Stephen Njunge.

The two will take up the places of midfielder Peter Opiyo and flyer Samuel Kapen who are both rested for the tie.

Squad to face Kakamega Homeboyz 

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

Defenders: 4. Elly Kessy Osotsi, 5. Timothy Muganda, 12. Edwin Buliba, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 26. Dennis Wanjala, 28. Herit Mungai

Midfielders: 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo, 6. Ronney Kola, 11. Andrew Kisilu, 15. Newton Ochieng, 17. Daniel Odhiambo,  18. Clifford Ouma, 20. Kelvin Etemesi, 21. Oliver Maloba

Strikers: 7. Pius Omachi,  9. Vincent Otieno Okoth,  32. Ezekiel Odera

Out: 8. Calvin Masawa, 10. Peter Opiyo, 14. Rowland Makati, 22. Samuel Kapen, 30. Anthony Kimani, 31. Mohammed Bajaber

Coach: Nicholas Muyoti

12 Feb 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

Makati: I always stand corrected

February 12, 2023

Nairobi City Stars new-found right back Rowland Babu Makati has taken stock of the 2022-23 FKF Premier League season as it nears the half way mark.

The natural attacking midfielder, now in his third season with Simba wa Nairobi, is now a fully-fledged fullback 2, a position he assumed since pre-season.

Makati notes personal improvement by the day, and by the games, in the position he shares with City Stars longest serving player Calvin Masawa.

“On a personal note, I feel that I have greatly improved. I keep learning after each game and firmly believe I am no longer making the mistakes I used to make earlier,”

“I can attribute that to regular playtime and my ability to take in positive advise from my team-mates and coaches. I always stand corrected,”

Team-wise, Makati is alive to the fact that the team has not had the best of runs.

“It’s not been the best start to the season as we have lost quite a number of games and conceded in most of them,”

“I am optimistic though that it’s just a bad phase and it’s a matter of time before things shape up. Sometimes you have to learn the hard way.” added the former Escalators and Vapor Sports player

Makati was named in Simba wa Nairobi’s squad for the first 14 league games but had to miss out on game 15 against Kenya Police due to an injury sufered in the previous game against Gor Mahia that may also keep him out of the remaining two first leg games against Kakamega Homeboyz and Ulinzi Stars.

Of the 14, he earned nine starts and completed seven on his way to clocking 712 minutes. He was named MVP in the away game to Bandari.

Rowland Makati

Nairobi City Stars right-back Rowland Makati in action against Kariobangi Sharks in Kasarani Annex during the Elite Cup tournament in Sep 2022
Photo Credit – Hassan Mandevu

Makati

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

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