Muyoti, Muki speak out after first season win

Head coach Nicholas Muyoti, and field skipper Anthony Muki Kimani have commented on the first season win over Sofapaka in Kasarani on Saturday 14 January 2023.

In the game, Sofapaka went up first with a penalty from Rody Manga in the 17th minute before Ezekiel Odera canceled out with a penalty for City Stars four minutes later.

Substitute Andrew Kisilu then delivered the killer punch in the 78th minute that turned out to be the winner or Simba wa Nairobi to end an eight-game winless streak this season, and 13-game winless run from last season, to grab the first full points of the season.

“It’s been a long wait, finally we get three points. It was a tough match against Sofapaka who are a very good side. They beat us twice last season,” said Muyoti

“Team effort carried the day; players, technical staff, management, and fans. Without believing and never giving up, we wouldn’t have done it. I say thank you.” added the coach

His sentiments were echoed by Muki who said;

“It was a great win considering that we had gone eight matches without one. It’s a great motivation to the whole team that anything is possible,”

“Great team effort and character brought us three important points. We need to keep on pushing,”

Up next for City Stars is a home game against KCB in Kasarani Annex on Wednesday 18th Jan starting 3.15 pm.

“We need to build on this performance, our confidence is back, it will be tough against Kcb but am sure we will get a positive result,” said Muyoti

Ahead of the game, City Stars sits 16th in the 18-team log with five points.

Kisilu, City Stars
Substitute Andrew Kisilu celebrates with team mates what became the winning goal in the 78th against Sofapaka on Sat 14 Jan 2023 in Kasarani. City Stars won 2-1

MD9: Sofapaka 1 Nairobi City Stars 2

Nairobi City Stars came from behind to pick a 2-1 win over Sofapaka – the first triumph of the season – in an early kick-off in Kasarani on Saturday 14 January 2023 during a 2022-23 FKF Premier League matchday nine clash.

Substitute Andrew Kisilu was the toast for Simba wa Nairobi when he struck in the 78th minute for his first-ever topflight goal to end a streak of 13-winless games from last season.

His goal earned City Stars only their third win in eleven attempts while away to Sofapaka since the year 2009.

Kisilu was at the right place at the right time to bury a Samuel Kapen effort that Sofapaka keeper spilled his way.

His goal added on to an Ezekiel Odera first-half penalty goal that was earned after Kapen’s drive was handled in the box.

Odera’s goal, the first this season, canceled out a penalty by Rody Manga minutes earlier.

With the win, City Stars now improves to five points and up a place to the 16th spot. Next up is a game against KCB at Kasarani Annex on Wed 18 January 2023 starting 3.15 pm.

Lineups

Sofapaka: 35: Kevin Omondi, 13. Brian Wepo, 20. Titus Achesa-captain, 6. David Nshirimana, 22. Ronack Otieno, 25. Samuel Olwande, 66. Sunday Ikekhai (3. Nixon Omondi-74), 10. Roy Okal (12. Maqbul Ochola-63), 11. Ambrose Sifuna (27. Geoffrey Ojunga-74), 17. Alex Imbusia (7. Baron Oketch-46), 9. Rody Manga (24. Ben Stanley Omondi-46)

Unused subs: 99. Simon Masaka, 40. David Otieno, 19. Jacob Onyango, 14. Lucky Musyoki, 77. Stephen Okola

Coach: David Ouma

Nairobi City Stars: 16. Jacob Osano, 8. Calvin Masawa, 6. Ronney Kola, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 28. Herit Mungai, 18. Clifford Ouma, 30. Anthony Kimani-captain, 31. Mohammed Bajaber (9. Vincent Otieno Okoth-69), 21. Oliver Maloba (2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo-83), 22. Samuel Kapen, 32. Ezekiel Odera (11. Andrew Kisilu-69)

Unused subs: 23. Stephen Njunge, 14. Rowland Makati, 4. Elly Kessy Osotsi, 26. Dennis Wanjala, 17. Daniel Odhiambo, 20. Kelvin Etemesi

Out: 1. Elvis Ochoro, 5. Timothy Muganda, 7. Pius Omachi,  10. Peter Opiyo, 12. Edwin Buliba, 15. Newton Ochieng

Coach: Nicholas Muyoti

Cautions (yellow cards)
Sofapaka: –
Nairobi City Stars: 25. Kenedy Onyango (16)

Goals
Sofapaka: 9. Rody Manga (21-Pen)
Nairobi City Stars: 32. Ezekiel Odera (26-Pen), 11. Andrew Kisilu (78)

Peter Opiyo on for a challenge against a Sofapaka player during a friendly game at Ngong Vapor on Fri 28 Oct 2022. It ended 1-1

Photo credit - Sofapaka FC
Peter Opiyo on for a challenge against a Sofapaka player during a friendly game at Ngong Vapor on Fri 28 Oct 2022. It ended 1-1 Photo credit - Sofapaka FC

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

Nairobi City Stars will be away to Sofapaka for the eleventh time in the Kenyan Premier League during a match day nine tie in Kasarani on Saturday 14 January 2022.

Sofapaka will be hosting Simba wa Nairobi in Kasarani for the first time ever since their promotion to Kenya’s apex league back in 2009.

From the previous ten games, Sofapaka has won seven over visiting City Stars who have carried home full points in two games. There has been a draw just once.

During the last visit to Sofapaka, in September 2021, coach Nicholas Muyoti was making his debut for Simba wa Nairobi. 40 games later, he will be up against David Ouma who was an assistant coach to Ken Odhiambo then.

Into the game, City Stars carries two straight losses against AFC Leopards and Vihiga Bullets while Sofapaka’s comes with the reverse; back-to-back wins over FC Talanta and Mathare United.

Who wins this one?

KPL away games vs City Stars: 10- Wins (2), Draws (1), Losses (7)

27-Sep-09, Sofapaka vs City Stars, Nyayo Stadium, 1-2 (W)
8-Jun-10, Sofapaka vs City Stars, City Stadium, 3-0 (L)
8-Aug-11, Sofapaka vs City Stars, Nyayo Stadium, 0-0 (D)
7-Apr-12, Sofapaka vs City Stars, Nyayo Stadium, 2-0 (L)
30-Aug-13, Sofapaka vs City Stars, Nyayo Stadium, 3-0 (L)
29-Mar-14, Sofapaka vs City Stars, Kenyatta Stadium, 1-2 (W)
3-Aug-15, Sofapaka vs City Stars, Kenyatta Stadium, 2-0 (L)
7-Aug-16, Sofapaka vs City Stars, Kenyatta Stadium, 5-0 (L)
23-Jan-21, Sofapaka vs City Stars, Wundanyi, 1-0 (L)
26-Sep-21, Sofapaka vs City Stars, Wundanyi, 3-1 (L)
14-Jan-23, Sofapaka vs City Stars, Kasarani, ??

City Stars, Mohammed Bajaber
Mohammed Bajaber in action during the Elite Cup final against Kenya Police at Nyayo Stadium on Sat 1 Oct 2022 Photo credit - Hassan Mandevu

Bajaber in for Sofapaka tie

Forward Mohammed Bajaber is expected to earn his first game of the season after making the squad ahead of a FKF Premier League match day nine tie against Sofapaka in Kasarani on Saturday 14 January 2023 starting 1 pm.

Bajaber, City Stars’ top scorer in the off-season with five goals, sat out the first eight games of the season due to injury.

He is one of two changes from the squad that lost 4-2 to Vihiga Bullets last weekend and will take up the place of Peter Pinchez Opiyo who has been rested for the game.

Towering stopper Elly Kessy Osotsi is the final change as he comes on for Edwin Buliba.

Squad to face Sofapaka

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

Defenders: 4. Elly Kessy Osotsi, 8. Calvin Masawa, 14. Rowland Makati, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 26. Dennis Wanjala, 28. Herit Mungai

Midfielders: 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo, 6. Ronney Kola,  11. Andrew Kisilu,  17. Daniel Odhiambo,  18. Clifford Ouma, 20. Kelvin Etemesi, 21. Oliver Maloba,  30. Anthony Kimani, 31. Mohammed Bajaber

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

Out: 1. Elvis Ochoro, 5. Timothy Muganda, 7. Pius Omachi,  10. Peter Opiyo, 12. Edwin Buliba, 15. Newton Ochieng

Coach: Nicholas Muyoti

Photo credit – Hassan Mandevu

Elly Osotsi
Elly Osotsi against AFC Leopards on Wed Jan 2023 on his Kenyan topflight debut

Elly Kessy Osotsi talks up Premier League debut

Six-foot-four stopper Elly Kessy Osotsi had mixed feelings after registering career firsts on Wednesday 4 January 2023 as Nairobi City Stars hosted AFC Leopards in the 60,000-seater Kasarani Stadium during a premier league match day seven tie.

In the game, the towering Osotsi, signed from Kangemi All-Stars in the off-season, took up the place of seasoned Kenedy Vidic Onyango in City Stars’ backline to earn his maiden Kenyan Premier League game.

Not only did he earn a start on his debut, but it was also the first time that he was setting foot in the expansive stadium for a game.

He talked up the experience on the day, against a team in the stature of Leopards.

“The debut came with lots of pressure. But I chose to look at the milestones achieved while taking home important lessons,”

“Earning a first Premier league game, making the starting lineup, playing in Kasarani against a famed Leopards side, are all highlights achieved in one day,”

“From the game, I now have a reference point to pick up from as I seek to feature in more premier league games for Nairobi City Stars,” added the 20-year old Osotsi

Osotsi clocked 38 minutes on his debut before giving way to Ronney Kola who went on to earn his fourth top-flight game.

Elly Osotsi

Elly Osotsi (no. 4) during his debut on Wed Jan 2023. He was subbed by Ronney Kola in the 40th minute