13 Jan 2023
NCS, Team News Permalink
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

January 13, 2023

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, ??

13 Jan 2023
NCS, Team News Permalink
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

January 13, 2023

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

09 Jan 2023
NCS, Team News Permalink
Elly Osotsi
Elly Osotsi against AFC Leopards on Wed Jan 2023 on his Kenyan topflight debut

Elly Kessy Osotsi talks up Premier League debut

January 9, 2023

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

08 Jan 2023
NCS, Team News Permalink
Muki, City Stars
City Stars skipper Anthony Muki Kimani in action against Vihiga Bullets stopper Mophat Liuva Kovelo in Ruaraka on Sat 6 Nov 2021 during a round 6 FKF Premier League game. City Stars won 4-0

MD8: Vihiga Bullets 4 Nairobi City Stars 2

January 8, 2023

A brace by Samuel Kapen – his first ever in the top flight – was not enough as City Stars went down 4-2 to Vihiga Bullets in Bukhungu Stadium, Kakamega, during a match day eight 2022-23 FKF Premier League tie on Sunday 8 January 2023.

Bullets led the tie 2-0 at halftime with a brace from Vincent Ogola. He added one more in the second half to complete his hat trick before his team crowned it with a fourth goal from Enock Masinza to lead 4-0.

Kapen then powered home a header off an Anthony Kimani freekick before finishing off a cross from Ezekiel Odera from the left at close range to end the tie at 4-2.

The Sunday loss was City Stars’ first against Bullets since their first meeting in 2019.

After the game, City Stars dropped to the 16th spot with two points after being pushed down by a position by Bullets.

Next up for Simba wa Nairobi is an away game to Sofapaka on Saturday 14 January 2023 in Kasarani Annex starting 3.15 pm.

Lineups

Vihiga Bullets: 25. Elix Otieno, 16. Lonny Amadaya, 14. Lucas Waitere-captain, 10. Nicholas Masambi, 7. Frederick Ochieng, 17. Brian Okoth, 3. Thomas Omole, 4. Enock Masinza, 2. Nickson Kalwale, 5. Rajab Kagota, 13. Vincent Ogola

Subs: 1. Edgar Epiyayu, 6. Dennis Nandwa, 11. Haron Kibiwott, 12. Billy Otieno, 8. Patrick Okulo, 15. Jared Moses, 9. Silas Ogana

Coach: George Owoko

Nairobi City Stars: 23. Stephen Njunge, 8. Calvin Masawa, 6. Ronney Kola, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 26. Dennis Wanjala (28. Herit Mungai-46), 18. Clifford Ouma (17. Daniel Odhiambo-70), 10. Peter Opiyo (2. Elvis Noor-70), 11. Andrew Kisilu (21. Oliver Maloba-46), 30. Anthony Kimani, 22. Samuel Kapen, 9. Vincent Otieno (32. Ezekiel Odera-46)

Unused subs: 16. Jacob Osano, 14. Rowland Makati, 12. Edwin Buliba, 20. Kelvin Etemesi

Out: 1. Elvis Ochoro, 4. Elly Kessy Osotsi, 5. Timothy Muganda, 7. Pius Omachi, 15. Newton Ochieng, 31. Mohammed Bajaber

Coach: Nicholas Muyoti

Cautions (yellow cards)

Vihiga Bullets:
Nairobi City Stars: 2. Elvis Noor, 6. Ronney Kola

Goals:
Vihiga Bullets: 13. Vincent Ogola (x3), 4. Enock Masinza
Nairobi City Stars: 22. Samuel Kapen (x2)

07 Jan 2023
NCS, Team News Permalink
City Stars, Odera, Maloba
Ezekiel Odera mobbed by Oliver Maloba after his goal against Vihiga Bullets on Sat 6 Nov 2021 in Ruaraka. City Stars won the duel 4-0

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

January 7, 2023

Home team Vihiga Bullets will, for only the second time in the top flight, host Nairobi City Stars on Sunday 8 January 2023 during a matchday eight premier league clash in Bukhungu Stadium, Kakamega starting 3 pm.

In the only other game played last season, City Stars won 2-1 at the same venue with goals on either side from Nicholas Kipkirui and Salim Shitu Abdalla.

It will be a clash of two winless sides as City Stars are in search of their first three points after missing out on the last seven games as late-starter Bullets hope to overturn a two-game losing streak.

Once again, Simba wa Nairobi is under the wings of coach Nicholas Muyoti who will be coming up against new Bullets coach George Owoko.

Who wins this one?

KPL away games vs Vihiga Bullets; 1 – Wins (1), Draws (0), Loses (0)

06-Nov-21; Vihiga Bullets vs City Stars, 1-2 (W)
08-Jan-23; Vihiga Bullets vs City Stars, ??

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