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

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

City Stars, Maloba
Oliver Maloba up against Marvin Nabwire of Kenya Police during FKF Premier League match day 15 in KAsarani Annex on Wed 8 Feb 2023. Police won 2-1

MD15: Nairobi City Stars 1 Kenya Police 2

Ezekiel Odera’s goal at the stroke of halftime was not enough for Nairobi City Stars as Kenya Police rallied with a two-goal blitz inside a minute in the second half to carry all points in an FKF Premier League matchday 15 in Kasarani Annex on Wednesday 8 February 2023.

Clifford Ouma served Odera well with a lob for the striker to round keeper Job Ochieng who had made a runout outside the box, and then stopper Harun Shakava before placing in the ball in an empty net.

Police leveled at the hour mark and seconds later, both goals through substitute Alvin Mang’eni, to register their first win over Simba wa Nairobi in the league.

City Stars remains 15th on the log with 11 points as Police are up to the top three with 27 points.

Next up for Simba wa Nairobi is an away trip to Kakamega Homeboyz in Bukhungu, Kakamega on Saturday 18 February 2023 for a 3 pm clash.

Lineups

Nairobi City Stars: 16. Jacob Osano, 28. Herit Mungai, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 6. Ronney Kola, 12. Edwin Buliba, 18. Clifford Ouma, 10. Peter Opiyo-captain 2 (11. Andrew Kisilu-87), 21. Oliver Maloba (15. Newton Ochieng-46), 20. Kelvin Etemesi (17. Daniel Odhiambo-87), 22. Samuel Kapen (2. Elvis Noor-captain 3), 32. Ezekiel Odera-captain 1 (9. Vincent Otieno-68)

Unused Subs: 1. Elvis Ochoro, 4. Elly Kessy Osotsi, 7. Pius Omachi, 26. Dennis Wanjala

Coach: Nicholas Muyoti

Kenya Police: 35. Job Ochieng, 4. Eric Juma, 26. David Ambulu, 5. Musa Mohammed-Captain, 18. Harun Shakava, 8. Patila Omoto (12. Charles Ouma-80), 6. Marvin Nabwire (24. Lesley Otieno-80), 23. Cliffton Miheso (17. Alvin Mang’eni-46), 39. Elvis Rupia, 40. Duke Abuya, 25. Francis Kahata

Unused subs: 31. Reuben Otieno, 20. Mainge Yusuf, 3. Soita Silicho, 2. Kelvin Ouma, 21. Clinton Okinyo, 10. John Njoroge, 11. Erick Kipkirui, 15. David Simiyu

Coach: Francis Baraza

Cautions (Yellow)
Nairobi City Stars: None
Kenya Police: 5. Musa Mohammed (64), 8. Patila Omoto (74)

Goals
Nairobi City Stars: 32. Ezekiel Odera (45+)
Kenya Police: 17. Alvin Mang’eni (60,61)

City Stars, Etemesi

Kelvin Etemesi up against Marvin Nabwire of Kenya Police during FKF Premier League match day 15 in KAsarani Annex on Wed 8 Feb 2023. Police won 2-1

Kola, City Stars

Ronney Kola up against Marvin Nabwire of Kenya Police during FKF Premier League match day 15 in KAsarani Annex on Wed 8 Feb 2023. Police won 2-1

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

For only the second time in Kenya’s topflight league, Nairobi City Stars will host Kenya Police, this time in a 15th-round FKF Premier League set for Kasarani Annex on Wednesday 8 February 2023 starting 1 pm.

The two first faced off at the same venue back on 1 May 2022, and Simba wa Nairobi went on to win the duel 2-0 over the promoted side.

City Stars heads to the game on the back of a 1-0 loss to Gor Mahia at the weekend while Kenya Police walks to the tie fresh from a 1-0 win over Bidco United last Sunday in Nyayo.

The game will bring Simba wa Nairobi coach Nicholas Muyoti face to face with his opposite number Francis Baraza.

Police are currently fifth on the log with 24 points, with a 13-point buffer over tenth-paced City Stars.

The two sides met in the preseason twice during the inaugural Elite Cup. It ended 1-1 in the group stages but Police went on to see off City Stars 2-0 in the final.

Who wins this one?

Summary

City Stars home games vs Kenya Police: 1. City Stars wins (1), Draws (0), Loses (0)

1-May-22, City Stars vs Kenya Police, 2-0
8-Feb-23, City Stars vs Kenya Police, ??

Winger Daniel Odhiambo during an Elite Cup game in September 2022 in Kasarani Annex

Photo credit - Hassan Mandevu
Winger Daniel Odhiambo during an Elite Cup game in September 2022 in Kasarani Annex Photo credit - Hassan Mandevu

Two changes against Kenya Police

Stopper Elly Kessy Osotsi and winger Daniel Odhiambo are back for the 15th round FKF Premier League tie against Kenya Police in Kasarani Annex on Wednesday 8 February 2023 starting 1 pm.

Osotsi and Odhiambo return after missing the 20-man squad that faced Gor Mahia on Saturday 4 February in Kasarani.

The duo take up places vacated by Rowland Makati and Mohammed Omar Bajaber who both picked injuries in the Gor Mahia game.

Save for the two changes, the rest of the 18-players retained their positions in the team.

Squad to face Gor Mahia

Goal Keepers: 1. Elvis Ochoro, 16. Jacob Osano,

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

Midfielders: 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo, 6. Ronney Kola,  10. Peter Opiyo, 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,  22. Samuel Kapen,  32. Ezekiel Odera

Out:5. Timothy Muganda, 8. Calvin Masawa,  14. Rowland Makati, 23. Stephen Njunge, 30. Anthony Kimani, 31. Mohammed Bajaber

Coach: Nicholas Muyoti

Pius Omachi
City Stars striker Pius Omachi during a S & C session at Ligi Ndogo Photo credit - Ian Wesanza

Top flight debut for Omachi

Forward Pius Omachi became the ninth Nairobi City Stars player to earn a Kenyan Premier league debut this season after coming on for Andrew Kisilu against Gor Mahia on Saturday 4 February in Kasarani during a match day 14 tie.

Omachi was part of a triple sub in the 72nd minute and was accompanied to the pitch by Vincent Otieno and Elvis Noor who rested Ezekiel Odera and Peter Opiyo, respectively.

Omachi’s entry came after he had been on the bench in the last three league games against Mathare United, Wazito, and Bandari.

He became the eighth of nine new season recruits to step up to the top flight, and the 25th of 26 players registered for the season to feature in the league.

“The debut was not an easy one for me. I learned quite a lot in the few minutes that I earned,”

“I’ll be honest, I had stage freight. But know that I got a taste of the environment, I will be better in upcoming games,”

“I am now looking forward to clocking many more premier league minutes as we go along to help me fully adapt to the competitive platform.” said Omachi

Omachi, forced out of the entire preseason, and the first ten games due to injury, follows in the footsteps of newcomers Newton Ochieng, Kelvin Etemesi, and forward Daniel Odhiambo who all made their maiden topflight appearances in the season-opener against Bidco United.

Midfielder Ronney Kola, unused the whole of last season due to injury, also made his top-flight debut, as well as striker Samuel Kapen, made his Simba wa Nairobi bow the same day.

Defensive midfielder Clifford Ouma followed in the second game against Tusker and was joined by Kisilu in game four against Posta Rangers. Stopper Elly Kessy Osotsi then got his chance in game seven against AFC Leopards.

With Omachi up in the ranks of premier league players, stopper Timothy Muganda, injured in pre-season, is the only one yet to be fielded by City Stars this season.