Nbi City Stars at Ngong Vapor
Nbi City Stars at Ngong Vapor

Friendly Fire: City Stars 3 Leeds 0, City Stars 0 MCF 3

City Stars posted two contrasting results in friendly games played at the Ngong Vapor grounds on Friday 16 September 2022.

In the first match, City Stars went past Kawangware-based Leeds 3-0 through first-half goals by forwards Kelvin Etemesi who scored a brace off assists by Mohammed Bajaber and Elvis Ojiambo, and Samuel Kapen who powered home a Dennis Wanjala freekick.

In the following game, second-tier side MCF scored once in the first half and added two more in the second half to carry the day with a 3-0 margin.

Lineups

vs Leeds: 23. Stephen Njunge, 26. Dennis Wanjala, 5. Timothy Muganda, 4. Elly Kessy Osotsi, 8. Calvin Masawa (Captain), 18. Clifford Ouma, 2. Elvis Ojiambo, 15. Newton Ochieng (6. Ronney Kola), 31. Mohammed Bajaber, 20. Kelvin Etemesi (9. Vincent Otieno), 22. Samuel Kapen

Vs MCF: 1. Elvis Ochoro, 28. Herit Mungai, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 5. Timothy Muganda (4. Elly Kessy Osotsi-46), 14. Rowland Makati, 10. Peter Opiyo, 2. Elvis Ojiambo, 21. Oliver Maloba, 17. Daniel Odhiambo, 11. Andrew Kisilu, 32. Ezekiel Odera

Out: 7. Pius Omachi, 12. Edwin Buliba (both injured), 30. Anthony Kimani (leave)

Friendly Fire: City Stars 0 Kariobangi Sharks 2, City Stars 1 Muranga SEAL 0

Friday 9 September 2022 was a day of mixed results as Nairobi City Stars went down 2-0 to Kariobangi Sharks before recovering to hit Second-tier side Muranga SEAL 1-0.

In the first friendly, City Stars conceded goals on either half to go down to Sharks. The first was a first-half freekick by skipper Keith Imbali while the second came off the near-post diving header by Paul Odhiambo off a drive from the right wing.

In the second game, an Anthony Muki Kimani goal in the first half proved to be the difference as City Stars registered the 1-0 win over Muranga SEAL.

The two games followed on the first pre-season friendly at the same venue last Friday where Simba wa Nairobi emerged with a 7-1 aggregate win over Ngong Hillside FC.

Lineups

Vs Kariobangi Sharks: 23. Steve Njunge, 28. Herit Mungai, 4. Elly Kessy Osotsi, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 14. Rowland Makati, 18. Clifford Ouma (6. Ronney Kola), 10. Peter Opiyo, 21. Oliver Maloba (Mohammed Bajaber), 11. Andrew Kisilu (22. Kelvin Etemesi), 17. Daniel Odhiambo, 32. Ezekiel Odera

Vs Muranga SEAL: 1. Elvis Ochoro, 8. Calvin Masawa – Captain, 12. Edwin Buliba, 5. Timothy Muganda, 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo, 26. Dennis Wanjala, 30. Anthony Kimani, 15. Newton Ochieng, 20. Kelvin Etemesi, 31. Mohammed Bajaber (6. Ronney Kola), 22. Samuel Kapen (9. Vincent Otieno)

Out: 7. Pius Omachi (injured), 16. Jacob Osano (leave),

City Stars
Misc

Friendly Fire: Nairobi City Stars 7 Ngong Hillside FC 1

Nairobi City Stars went past Ngong Hillside FC 7-1 on aggregate at the Ngong Vapor grounds in their first pre-season friendly on Friday 2 September 2022.

Coach Nicholas Muyoti split up the squad in two and the first lot went on to win their tie 4-0.

Andrew Kisilu was the toast as he registered a hattrick of goals in the 12th, 17th, and 31st minutes.

Mohammed Bajaber provided the assist for the first goal before Kisilu went on to pounce on a loose ball and a rebound for the second and third goals. He returned the favor to Bajaber by providing an assist for the fourth goal in the 55th minute.

The second set registered a 3-1 win. Daniel Odhiambo opened the scores in the 16th minute after being teed up in the box by Ezekiel Odera who went on to score the second 11 minutes later via a penalty and added a third in the 42nd minute after getting to the end of an Anthony Kimani assist.

Ngong Hillside FC grabbed their consolation in the 26th minute when Erick Kinuthia capitalized on a defensive goof to fire past Elvis Ochoro.

‎Lineups

City Stars 1: Elvis Ochoro, 12. Edwin Buliba, 4. Elly Osotsi,  5. Timothy Muganda, 26. Dennis Wanjala, 14. Rowland Makati, 10. Peter Opiyo, 22. Samuel Kapeni, 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo, 31. Mohammed Bajaber, 11. Andrew Kisilu

Ngong Hillside FC 1: Michael Ngondo, David Ochieng, Griffins Miheso, Mohammed Dafala, Philip Onyango, John Okello, Dickson Karanja, Stephen Karanja, Steve Biko, Kevin Ochieng

City Stars 2: 1. Elvis Ochoro, 12. Edwin Buliba, 4. Elly Osotsi, 5. Timothy Muganda, 28. Herit Mungai, 15. Newton Ochieng, 30. Anthony Kimani, 21. Oliver Maloba, 17. Daniel Odhiambo, 9. Vincent Otieno, 32. Ezekiel Odera

Ngong Hillside FC 2: Michael Ngondo, Micah Malik, Erick Kinuthia, Kirr Gatkek, Wambua Kamau, David Ochieng, Mohammed Dafalo, Stephen Karanja, Steve Biko, Edwin Thuo, Daniel King’ori

Out for City Stars: 7. Pius Omachi, 8. Calvin Masawa, 18. Clifford Ouma, 25. Kenedy Onyango (all injured)

Samuel Kapen
Forward Samuel Kapen officially joins Nairobi City Stars. Aug 2022

Samuel Kapen onboards from Kibera Black Stars

Forward Samuel Kapen has joined Nairobi City Stars from second-tier side Kibera Black Stars ahead of the 2022/23 FKF Premier League season on a one-season deal.

Kapen will take up one of the front row positions left open after a number of players ran down their contracts at the end of last season.

“I am happy to be part of Nairobi City Stars which has been my dream team. I thank the management for giving me the opportunity to be part of Simba wa Nairobi and I now look forward to the new season.” said Kapen

In welcoming him onboard, Team Coordinator Samson Otieno said: “Our scouting team kept a close eye on Kapen while he was in the NSL and he comes highly recommended to the big stage. We welcome him on board.”

Kapen will don his favorite jersey no. 22 which was vacated by stopper Wycliffe Otieno.

Nairobi City Stars, Kola, Mungai
Ronney Kola and Herit Mungai sandwich as Dandora Youth player at the Public Service Club, Upperhill in a friendly on Tue 11 May 2021. Simba wa Nairobi won the game 4-1

Ronney Kola: This is my season

Defensive midfielder Ronney Kola believes his time has come, and a good season is in the offing.

The budding spoiler is the only Nairobi City Stars player that failed to clock a game in the 2021-22 FKF Premier League season due to injury.

The former Kenya School of Government (KSG) player has since recovered fully after undergoing rehabilitation and is now rearing to go.

“If there’s anything that I have missed is playing competitive matches. An injury kept me out the whole of last season but I am happy that with continued rehab I am now back on the field,”

“I want to make full use of pre-season to be at par with the rest of my teammates. I am looking forward to my premier league debut and fighting for a place in the squad in the upcoming season. I feel good about myself now and confident about everything. I believe that this is my season.” added Kola

Kola joined Simba wa Nairobi in August 2020 on a long-term deal. He spent his first season on loan at second-tier side Nairobi Stima.