Kamau, KCB, City Stars
John Kamau in action against KCB during a matchday 31 tie in Kasarani on Sat 21 May 2022. KCB won 3-2

KCB 3 Nairobi City Stars 2

Goals by Ezekiel Odera and substitute Rodgers Okuse Okumu for Nairobi City Stars turned out to be consolations as KCB rode on a Derrick Otanga hattrick to win a matchday 31 FKF Premier League tie in Kasarani 3-2 on Saturday 21 May 2022.

It’s the second straight season that KCB has completed a double over City Stars in what was the ninth win in 12 home games.

The two teams were level at 1-1 going to the break but KCB were to add two more in the next half for a 3-1 lead before Simba wa Nairobi managed to grab one back to end it at 3-2.

Otanga opened the scoring with a minute to half time from a penalty awarded after a City Stars player handled in the box. Keeper Jacob Osano timed it right but punched it gloriously back to Otanga who, with a second bite on the cherry, scored off the rebound.

Less than three minutes later it was level at 1-1 after Odera fired past keeper Gabriel Andika from the spot – for his ninth goal of the season – after Timothy Babu Ouma was felled in the box.

Three minutes into the second half, KCB went up 2-1 after keeper Osano fumbled a cross for the ball to generously fall in the path of Otanga who fired into an empty net.

Otanga was at it again in the 61st minute when he chested home a cut back from the byline off a quick counterattack to complete his hattrick.

City Stars grabbed their second in the 85th minute when substitute Okuse, in for Odera in the 70th minute, lobbed Andika from the left after receiving a sure pass from Sven Yidah.

City Stars could have counted a second goal ten minutes before Okuse’s goal had a rebound from Andika, off a Babu freekick, not been smacked against the woodwork by skipper Anthony Muki Kimani.

After the Saturday results, City Stars held on to the fourth spot, with 50 points, as KCB moved to the eighth spot with 43 points.

Next up for Simba wa Nairobi is a home game against Gor Mahia in Narok on Saturday 28 May 2022 starting 3 pm.

Lineups

KCB: 22. Gabriel Andika, 26. Hillary Wandera, 5. Nahashon Nanyendo, 13. Robinson Kamura, 23. Baraka Badi, 4. Michael Mutinda – captain, 19. Brian Ochieng, 28. Michael Oduor (29. Kilume Mohammed-65), 30. John Mwangi (18. Enock Agwanda-71), 20. Henry Onyango [(9. Reagan Otieno -71 (18. Dennis Odhiambo-85)], 11. Derrick Otanga

Unused subs: 1. David Okello (GK) 7. Simon Munala, 27. Harun Thomas, 27. Harun Thomas,  3. Sydney Lokale, 6. Allan Akendo.

Coach: Zedekiah Otieno

Nairobi City Stars: 16. Jacob Osano, 19. Kevin Okumu, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 28. Herit Mungai, 18. Sven Yidah, 5. Michael Madoya (15. John Kamau-46), 30. Anthony Kimani- Captain (2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo-85), 20. Timothy Noor Ouma, 17. Nicholas Kipkirui (31. Mohammed Bajaber-46), 32. Ezekiel Odera (7. Rodgers Okumu-70)

Unused subs: 1. Elvis Ochoro, 4. Salim Abdallah, 8. Calvin Masawa, 12. Edwin Buliba, 26. Dennis Wanjala

Out: 3. Charles Otieno, 6. Ronney Kola, 9. Vincent Otieno Okoth, 10. Peter Opiyo, 11. Davis Agesa, 14. Rowland Makati, 21. Oliver Maloba, 23. Stephen Njunge, 24. Erick Ombija, 27. Lennox Ogutu, 29. Augustine Kuta

Coach: Nicholas Muyoti

Cautions (Yellow cards)

KCB: None
Nairobi City Stars: None

Goals

KCB: 11. Derrick Otanga (44,48,61)
Nairobi City Stars: 32. Ezekiel Odera (45+), 7. Rodgers Okumu (85)

Muki, City Stars
Captains affair; Anthony 'Muki' Kimani of City Stars vs his counterpart Dennis Odhiambo of KCB in a season-ender on Aug 22 Aug 2021 in Narok. KCB won the game 3-0

Head-to-head: KCB (H) vs Nairobi City Stars (A): 2021/22 FKF Premier League season

For the first time in a year-and-a-half, KCB FC will host Nairobi City Stars, this time in a 31st round tie in the 2021/22 FKF Premier League, in Kasarani on Saturday 21 May 2022 starting 3 pm.

KCB last hosted Simba wa Nairobi at the same venue in December 2020, during round two of the previous season, and went on to win the tie 1-0.

Thus far, KCB and City Stars have met in the topflight 23 times since the year 2005.

Narrowed down, KCB has hosted City Stars 11 times and has gone on to win eight. The other three games have ended in a draw, and two losses to City Stars.

It has to be noted that KCB handed City Stars its second-worst league defeats after posting identical 4-0 wins in the 2012 and 2013 seasons at Nyayo and City Stadia, respectively.

Added to the records, City Stars is now on a three-game losing streak against their official bogey team KCB having lost both home (1-0) and away (0-3)  games last season, as well as the first leg tie (1-0) this season in Ruaraka, and will have to dig deep to change that narrative on Saturday.

City Stars goes to the game on the back of a 0-0 draw against Champions Tusker as KCB is reeling from 2-1 away loss to log leaders Kakamega Homeboyz.

For yet another game, Nicholas Muyoti on the City Stars side will come up against his counterpart Zedekiah Zico Otieno on KCB’s end.

Tablewise, Simba wa Nairobi is fourth in the 18-team standing with half a century of points, and a ten-point buffer over ninth-placed KCB.

Who wins this one?

Summary of KCB FC vs Nairobi City Stars in the Premier League

Overall 23 games: KCB wins (12), Nairobi City Stars wins (7), Draws (4)

KCB as City Stars hosts: Wins (8), Draws (1), Losses (2)

28-Aug-05, KCB vs World Hope, 1-3 (W)
15-Sep-07, KCB vs World Hope, 2-1 (L)
30-Aug-08, KCB vs World Hope, 2-0 (L)
19-Sep-09, KCB vs City Stars,  3-1 (L)
16-Oct-10, KCB vs City Stars,  3-0 (L)
12-Mar-11, KCB vs City Stars,  2-0 (L)
2-Mar-12, KCB vs City Stars,  4-0 (L)
24-Feb-13, KCB vs City Stars,  4-0 (L)
2-Mar-14, KCB vs City Stars, 1-1 (D)
18-Apr-15, KCB vs City Stars,  1-3 (W)
4-Dec-20, KCB vs City Stars,  1-0 (L)
17-May-22, KCB vs City Stars,  ??

City Stars, Odera
Nairobi City Stars striker Ezekiel Odera sandwiched by KCB players during the 34th and final FKF Premier League game at Narok Stadium Sun 22 Aug 2021. KCB won it 3-0

Odera, Kamau in for KCB clash

The entry of striker Ezekiel Odera and winger John Kamau are the two changes made as Nairobi City Stars look ahead to their next FKF Premier League game against KCB in Kasarani on Saturday 21 May 2022 starting 3 pm.

Odera, City Stars’ current top scorer with eight goals, missed the previous Tusker game due to accumulated yellow card suspension and is back to face his former employer KCB, while Kamau makes a comeback after sitting out the last two games against Wazito and Tusker.

The two take up the places of Augustine Kuta and Charles Otieno who are rested for the tie, while the other 18 players retain their slots.

Compared to the squad that faced KCB in the first leg in mid-December 2021, and lost 1-0 in Ruaraka, changes made are seven.

Keeper Stephen Njunge, stopper Lennox Ogutu, midfielders Oliver Maloba, Charles Otieno, Rowland Makati, forwards Davis Agesa, and Vincent Otieno Okoth, are all out.

They have been replaced by keeper Elvis Ochoro, defenders Kevin Okumu, Salim Abdallah, Kenedy Onyango, and Wycliffe Otieno, and midfielder Mohammed Bajaber.

Striker Nicholas Kipkirui, who was named to face KCB in December, only to be replaced on the morning of the game by John Kamau due to illness, is the final change.

City Stars squad to face KCB FC

Goalkeepers: 1. Elvis Ochoro, 16. Jacob Osano

Defenders: 4. Salim Abdallah, 8. Calvin Masawa, 12. Edwin Buliba, 19. Kevin Okumu, 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 26. Dennis Wanjala, 28. Herit Mungai

Midfielders: 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo, 5. Michael Madoya, 7. Rodgers Okumu, 15. John Kamau, 18. Sven Yidah, 20. Timothy Noor Ouma, 30. Anthony Kimani, 31. Mohammed Bajaber

Strikers: 17. Nicholas Kipkirui, 32. Ezekiel Odera

Out: 3. Charles Otieno, 6. Ronney Kola, 9. Vincent Otieno Okoth, 10. Peter Opiyo, 11. Davis Agesa, 14. Rowland Makati, 21. Oliver Maloba, 23. Stephen Njunge, 24. Erick Ombija, 27. Lennox Ogutu, 29. Augustine Kuta

Kamau, Police
City Stars winger John Kamau goes for the ball against Kenya Police stopper Duncan Otieno during a 28th round FKF Premier League tie in Ruaraka on Sun 1 May 2022. It ended 0-0

Friendly Fire: Nairobi City Stars 4 Ng’ong FC 0

Nairobi City Stars overcame home team Ngong FC 4-0 in a friendly game played at the Ng’ong Vapor Grounds on Wednesday 18 May 2022.

A John Kamau goal in the eighth minute, off an Ezekiel Odera pass, separated the two sides at halftime.

Further goals by Timothy Ouma in the 58th minute, Vincent Otieno off a Kevin Okumu cross in the 84th minute, and Daniel Otieno’s goal from a rebound right at the death ended the game at 4-0.

The game handed the players that did not clock full minutes or missed out on the last game against Tusker, a run-out ahead of an upcoming game against KCB in Kasarani on Saturday 21 May 2022 starting 3 pm.

Lineups

Nairobi City Stars: 1. Elvis Ochoro, 26. Dennis Wanjala, 4. Salim Abdalla (27. Lennox Ogutu), 3. Charles Otieno (Kevin Okumu), 12. Edwin Buliba, 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo (Theopylle Otieno), 29. Augustine Kuta (14. Rowland Makati), 31. Mohammed Bajaber (Timothy Ouma), 15. John Kamau (Briton Mwindo), 32. Ezekiel Odera (Pius Omachi), 9. Vincent Otieno (Daniel Otieno)

Ngong FC: Antony Mungai, Moses Munei, Brian Kamau, Mathias Mathi, Hassan Abdi, Baddy Okello, Daffella Mahmoud, Eufyaies Migowe, Kevin Siwa, Victor Kila, Moses Ndegwa

Subs: Juma Evans, Michael Mutu, John Manella, Fahim Hamid, Bramwell Asigi, Kletia Munene

Bidco United, City Stars
Vincent Otieno in action against Bidco United during the first ever premier league game between the two played at the Utalii grounds on Thur 7 Dec 2020. It ended 0-0

‘Jamaica’ back in training

Forward Vincent Otieno Okoth aka Jamaica is back in training after weeks out due to an injury suffered during a friendly training game in Ngong Vapor.

According to team physio Brian Otieno Odongo, Jamaica is now in good shape and raring to go.

“He is now fully fit after recovering from tendinitis. He is back to full training, and up for selection in upcoming games,”

On his part, the former Hakati Sportiff forward said; “Yes I am back and I want to do everything to be back in the squad,”

Jamaica last featured for City Stars in mid-March against Bandari at Mbaraki. He has so far featured in seven games this season and has one goal to his name – his debut premiership goal against Vihiga Bullets.