23 Jan 2023
NCS, Team News Permalink

Muganda eager to play again

January 23, 2023

Stopper Timothy Muganda is anxious following a lengthy spell on the sidelines due to injury.

The former Soy United and Mara Sugar center-back was active during the pre-season and featured in 13 of 18 games, including all five in the inaugural Elite Pre-season Cup where City Stars made it all the way to the final, but has not featured for Simba wa Nairobi since the league kicked off in late November 2022.

Muganda is now at the tail-end of rehab and will soon be allowed back to full training, according to team physio Brian Odongo.

“I have been out for a while but I am now fit and ready to get back to the field,”

“I can’t wait to sample the premier league, but more so, to help the team achieve positive results,” said Muganda

Due to his injury setback, Muganda is the only player from City Stars’ 26-man list that is yet to make it to a matchday squad.

23 Jan 2023
NCS, Team News Permalink
Opiyo, City Stars
Peter 'Pinchez' Opiyo graduated with a D License Coaching Diploma after a two-week course wrapped in Thika on Fri 24 Jan 2023

Opiyo back with a coaching certificate

January 23, 2023

After sitting out two weeks of training and league games, Nairobi City Stars stalwart Peter Pinchez Opiyo is back with a ‘D’ License Coaching Diploma certificate.

Opiyo took a break to kickstart his coaching journey in Thika, and was one of the graduands after attending classes for ten full working days from 9-21 January 2023.

“I decided to start training as a coach because it’s essential to our football. And it starts with paperwork,”

“It has always been my ambition to become a coach. In my playing career, I have gone through many coaches many of whom did very well and I always admired their work,”

“When this opportunity came by I decided to go for it to expound on my view of football. The game is now very dynamic and wide, and a lot has changed. It’s important to grasp the new methodologies so as to guide the future generations with the most up-to-date skills,”

“I have come to the realization that we did a lot of wrong things back when we were starting out and invited career-threatening injuries because most of those that coached us then did not have the right knowledge on how to handle the youth. It is only by the grace of God that we survived it all and that’s why we are still in the game,”

In his parting shot, Opiyo, now in his fourth season with City Stars, said;

“My playing career is coming to an end soon. It is therefore important to army myself with something that will still keep me in the game, albeit in a different capacity.”

With the ‘D’ license out of the way, Opiyo can now follow look out for the ‘C’ license Coaching Diploma that will be floated in due course by the Football Kenya Federation (FKF).

The ‘D’ license classes kept Opiyo out of league games against Sofapaka, KCB, and Mathare United but he is now back to full training and available for the upcoming fixtures.

22 Jan 2023
NCS, Team News Permalink
City Stars
Muki in action against Mathare United on Sat 26 Feb 2022 at the Thika Stadium. City Stars won 3-0

MD11: Mathare United 0 Nairobi City Stars 1

January 22, 2023

An Anthony Muki Kimani freekick is all that Nairobi City Stars needed to see off hosts Mathare United 1-0 during an eleventh-round FKF Premier League match played in Ruaraka on Sunday 22 January 2023.

Striker Ezekiel Odera earned the set piece after getting to the end of a long lob from keeper Jacob Osano.

Muki then finished it off with a ground shot that bounced over the line for the goal that separated the two sides.

With the win, City Stars improves to eight points and up the standings by a position to 15th as Mathare remains rooted in the 18-team log with a single point.

Next up for Simba wa Nairobi is a home game against Wazito on Wednesday 25 January 2023 at the same venue starting 3 pm.

Lineups

Mathare United: 16. Brian Olang, 2. Fidel Otieno, 3. Joseph Odhiambo, 18. Brian Okeyo, 23. Lennox Ogutu, 24. Alphonse Ndonye, 7. Curtis Wekesa (20. Franco Wasike-83), 29. Augustine Kuta (15. Derrick Icholi-75), 9. Donald Ange, 10. Khalid Jumaan, 8. Chris Opondo (11. Daniel Otieno-13)

Unused subs: 30. Bernard Jairo, 21. Saidi Musa, 14. Douglas Koech, 28. Samson Otieno, 12. Steve Kimani,

Coach: Boniface Omondi

Nairobi City Stars: 16. Jacob Osano, 14. Rowland Makati, 6. Ronney Kola, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 28. Herit Mungai, 18. Clifford Ouma, 30. Anthony Kimani-captain 1 (2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo-85-captain 2), 21. Oliver Maloba (11. Andrew Kisilu-80), 22. Samuel Kapen, 20. Kelvin Etemesi (9. Vincent Otieno Okoth-80), 32. Ezekiel Odera, (15. Newton Ochieng-72)

Unused subs: 1. Elvis Ochoro, 4. Elly Kessy Osotsi, 7. Pius Omachi, 17. Daniel Odhiambo, 26. Dennis Wanjala

Out: 1. Elvis Ochoro, 5. Timothy Muganda, 8. Calvin Masawa, 10. Peter Opiyo, 12. Edwin Buliba, 31. Mohammed Bajaber

Coach: Nicholas Muyoti

Cautions (yellow)
Mathare United:
Nairobi City Stars: 18. Clifford Ouma (45), 16. Jacob Osano (65)

Goals
Mathare United: –
Nairobi City Stars: 30. Anthony Kimani (24)

22 Jan 2023
NCS, Team News Permalink
Pinchez
Mid kingpin Peter 'Pinchez' Opiyo celebrates one of his two goals against Mathare United on Sat 11 Dec 2021 in Ruaraka. City Stars won 2-0

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

January 22, 2023

For just the fourth time in 19 years, Mathare United will host Nairobi City Stars in Ruaraka in an FKF Premier League match day eleven tie on Sunday 22 January 2023 starting at 3 pm.

It will be game number 15 that Mathare United will be hosting Simba wa Nairobi. During the last such encounter, played at the same venue in mid-December 2021, City Stars took home all spoils courtesy of a brace from Peter Pinchez Opiyo.

Into the game, both sides carry losses from their mid-week encounters. While City Stars went down 1-0 to KCB in Kasarani Annex, Mathare fell 2-1 to AFC Leopards in Nyayo.

In the last such encounter, Mathare was under the wings of coach Ezekiel Akwana but this time round they will be led to the game by Boniface Omondi who’ll be coming up against Nicholas Muyoti.

Table-wise, City Stars sits 16th in the 18-team log with five points while Mathare is basement with a single point.

Who wins the Sunday clash in Ruaraka?

Summary

City Stars Away games to Mathare United-14; Wins (3), Draws (3), Losses (8)

11-Dec-04; Mathare United vs World Hope, 2-2 (D)
19-Mar-06; Mathare United vs World Hope, 4-1 (L)
5-Aug-07; Mathare United vs World Hope, 0-1 (W)
25-May-08; Mathare United vs World Hope, 2-1 (L)
18-Feb-09; Mathare United vs City Stars, 3-0 (L)
24-Jul-10; Mathare United vs City Stars, 2-0 (L)
9-Jul-11; Mathare United vs City Stars, 0-0 (D)
24-Mar-12; Mathare United vs City Stars, 1-0 (L)
7-Jul-13; Mathare United vs City Stars, 2-2 (D)
11-May-14; Mathare United vs City Stars, 1-0 (L)
5-Apr-15; Mathare United vs City Stars, 2-0 (L)
30-Mar-16; Mathare United vs World Hope, 0-2 (W)
07-Aug-21; Mathare United vs City Stars, 2-0 (L)
11-Dec-21; Mathare United vs City Stars, 0-2 (W)
22-Jan-23; Mathare United vs City Stars, ??

21 Jan 2023
NCS, Team News Permalink
Pius Omachi
City Stars striker Pius Omachi during a S & C session at Ligi Ndogo Photo credit - Ian Wesanza

Omachi makes squad to face Mathare United

January 21, 2023

Forward Pius Omachi is one of two changes made in the 20-man squad as Nairobi City Stars plots for Mathare United in FKF Premier League match day eleven set for Ruaraka on Sunday 22 January 2023 starting 3 pm.

Omachi, ruled out of pre-season due to injury, and from the first ten league games due to rehab, makes the squad for the first time this season, and is in line to become the eighth Simba wa Nairobi player to make his Kenyan Premier League debut this term, should he collect any minutes against Mathare United.

He is in for Calvin Masawa who takes a rest from the upcoming fixture. Other than Omachi, the other change from the last squad that took on KCB in midweek is that of keeper Stephen Njunge who returns to replace Elvis Ochoro.

Squad to face Mathare United

Goal Keepers: 16. Jacob Osano, 23. Stephen Njunge

Defenders: 4. Elly Kessy Osotsi, 14. Rowland Makati, 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,  30. Anthony Kimani,

Strikers: 7. Pius Omachi,  9. Vincent Otieno Okoth,  22. Samuel Kapen,  32. Ezekiel Odera

Out: 1. Elvis Ochoro, 5. Timothy Muganda, 8. Calvin Masawa, 10. Peter Opiyo, 12. Edwin Buliba,   31. Mohammed Bajaber

Coach: Nicholas Muyoti

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