20 Sep 2024
NCS, Team News Permalink
City Stars at the Hope center on Wed 18 Sept 2024
City Stars at the Hope center on Wed 18 Sept 2024

Head-to-head: Mara Sugar (H) vs Nairobi City Stars (A) vs: 2024-25 FKF-PL season

September 20, 2024

Well, it will be a game of the unknowns when newly promoted Mara Sugar face off with Nairobi City Stars at the Awendo Green Stadium in Migori County on Saturday 21 September 2024 starting at 3 p.m. 

Just as was the case against Nzoia Sugar at the start of the 2020-21 season, Mara Sugar and City Stars have never met in any competition.

With no prior match connection, the upcoming match packs up unpredictability.

As it is, the little linkage between the two is one Timothy Muganda, a centre back, signed by Simba wa Nairobi from Mara Sugar at the start of the 2022-23 season.

Into the match, Mara Sugar are buoyed by their season debut where they blanked seasoned Kakamega Homeboyz 3-0 at the same venue.

The team is returning for a home game after a 1-0 loss in Mombasa against Bandari in matchday two.

City Stars on their part head to the game with a 1-1 draw against Bidco United.

Though the Mara Sugar – City Stars tie at Awendo will be all new, City Stars has been at the same venue on eleven occasions between the year 2005 and 2016 for premier league games against another sugar side, Sony.

City Stars first landed in Awendo Stadium for a premier league game on 5 Mar 2005 and were last there on 25th May 2016. In all occasions it was to play the now defunct Sony Sugar FC.

Statistically, in those premier leagues at Awendo, City Stars registered two wins, four draws, and five losses.

The two wins were identical 1-0 results delivered by German coach Oliver Page on 1 Mar 2009 and Ugandan Paul Nkata on 6 Jun 2014.

Current coach Nicholas Muyoti will be hoping to follow in their foot steps as he seeks City Stars first season win.

Muyoti will be up against his counterpart George Midenyo, a former City Stars player and coach, who will also be chasing a win of his own.

Table-wise, Mara sits sixth on the log with three points, and two ahead of eleventh placed City Stars, from two outings.

Who wins this one?

20 Sep 2024
NCS, Team News Permalink
James Ssemambo training with Nairobi City Stars at the GEMS Cambridge School, Rongai
James Ssemambo training with Nairobi City Stars at the GEMS Cambridge School, Rongai

James Ssemambo eager to adapt

September 20, 2024

In just his first game in the Kenyan top flight, Ugandan forward James Jomie Ssemambo has already identified some disparities with two previous leagues he’s featured in recent years.

The former Uganda premier league player with Kyetume FC, and the Burundi league winner with Bumamuru FC in 2023, joined Simba wa Nairobi in the offseason.

He made his top flight debut after coming on as a second half substitute against Bidco United on Saturday 14 September 2024 in Dandora.

“In my first game I can already see a lot of difference from the Burundi and the Ugandan leagues. The physicality, and the speed of the game is top notch,”

“I will now work towards adapting to the new situation soonest as I chase more games, moreso, starts.” said Ssemambo

Ssemambo is one of few newcomers to Simba wa Nairobi this season besides centreback Brian Opinde, left back Stephen Bulugu, and flyer Andre Kalama.

James Ssemambo training with Nairobi City Stars at the GEMS Cambridge School, Rongai

18 Sep 2024
NCS, Team News Permalink
Gilbert Abala celebrating his maiden premier league goal against Sofapaka in Dandora on 15 Jun 2024. His equalizing goal settled the game at 1-1
Gilbert Abala celebrating his maiden premier league goal against Sofapaka in Dandora on 15 Jun 2024. His equalizing goal settled the game at 1-1

Gilbert Abala eyes improved season

September 18, 2024

After his debut season, flyer Gilbert Abala is now eyeing an improved season with Nairobi City Stars.

The lad from Busia featured in twelve games last season earning two starts but believes he can up the ante and have an even better one.

“Last season was my first in the Kenyan topflight. The few games I featured in gave me the perfect orientation. My work is now cut out and I know what I need to do in my second season,”

“I am putting in the right shift in training each day to improve my game,”

“Once I get it right in training my efforts will reflect in the league. I want to score the goals as well as contribute to them when not scoring.” he added

From his 12 games last season, Abala clocked 348 regular game minutes. He scored his maiden goal, and equalizer, in the penultimate game of the season against Sofapaka in Dandora on 15 June 2024. The game ended 1-1.

He’s already registered a game for Simba wa Nairobi’s this season after coming on as a substitute against Bidco United at the same venue on Saturday 14 Sep 2024.

Gilbert Abala vs KCB in Utalii on 23 Jun 2024

Gilbert Abala vs Sofapaka on 15 Jun 2024

16 Sep 2024
NCS, Team News Permalink
Rogers Wasega
Rogers Wasega on his debut against Bidco United in Dandora Stadium on Sat 14 Sep 2024

Rogers Wasega acquires topflight status

September 16, 2024

A full Kenyan premier league debut in Nairobi City Stars first 2024-25 league game has left Rogers Wasega Obusu excited. 

The teenager, signed by Simba wa Nairobi in February from Laiser Hill Academy, clocked a full 90 minutes on Saturday 14 September 2024 as City Stars hosted Bidco United in Dandora Stadium. The game ended 1-1.

Wasega talked up the game that switched his amateur status to a fully fledged premier league player;

“I am elated that finally I got to feature in the Kenyan premier league after a seven-months wait,”

“It was a nice game, the intensity was high, and I did not feel the pressure as much as it was my first game. I thank the coaches for trusting me and motivating me,”

During the second leg of the past season, Rogers made the squad on eight different occasions in games against Shabana, Bandari, Gor Mahia, Bidco United, Kenya Police, Tusker, Nzoia Sugar, and Kakamega Homeboyz.

After those eight appearances, his planned debut in the penultimate game of the season against Sofapaka in Dandora was not to be following a cut finger from a broken glass.

But after breaking it to the squad for his debut this season, and as he had stated earlier, he aims stick to his earlier ambition of being the main character in the team;

“After the debut I now look forward to featuring in a lot more games. With the coaches guidance I know I will continue getting better and better,”

Other than earning a full against Bidco, City Stars will have Rogers to thank for an added time line clearance that preserved the 1-1 draw;

“I just finished my run as the coaches usually insist. And yes, it led to a super save.” he added


In earning his topflight tag, Rogers became the 23rd City Stars premier league debutant under coach Nicholas Muyoti since the 2021-22 FKF Premier League season.

Rogers Wasega

Rogers Wasega at Dandora Stadium on Sat 14 Sep 2024 ahead of a clash with Bidco United

Rogers Wasega

Rogers Wasega (no. 21) ahead of his Kenyan Premier league debut against Bidco United in Dandora on Sat 14 Sep 2024

14 Sep 2024
NCS, Team News Permalink

MD2: Nairobi City Stars 1 Bidco United 1

September 14, 2024

For a third straight time, Bidco United clawed back from a first half deficit against Nairobi City Stars, to grab a point, this time in a 2024-25 matchday two premier league tie played at Dandora on Saturday 14 September 2024.

Yuto Kusaba rammed home a pass from Mohammed Bajaber in just the second minute for the opener for Simba wa Nairobi. Eugene Ikutwa bundled home an unattended freekick in the 84th minute to deny City Stars all spoils as the game ended 1-1.

Bidco had a chance to grab a late win but were denied a goal at the death by teenager Rogers Wasega who cleared off the line a chipped ball.

With a point from the opening game of the season, City Stars sits ninth in the log as Bidco moved to seventh spot with two points.

Next up for City Stars is an away trip against promoted Mara Sugar in Awendo, Migori, on Saturday 21 September 2024 starting at 3pm.

Lineups

Nairobi City Stars: 1. Edwin Mukolwe, 12. Edwin Buliba (8. Calvin Masawa- – Captain 2), 4. Timothy Muganda, 15. Wycliffe Omondi, 3. Sven Yidah, 25. Brian Mzee, 19. Vincent Owino (26. *James Ssemambo-66), 21. *Rogers Wasega, 30. Rowland Makati (27. Gilbert Abala-83), 9. Yuto Kusaba (10. Dennis Oalo-66), 11. Mohammed Bajaber (16. Elvis Noor-83)

Unused subs: 13. Elvis Ochoro, 22. Stephen Bulugu, 28. Andre Kalama

Out: 6. Brian Opinde, 7. Pius Omachi, 17. Brian Mose Nyambane, 18. Clifford Ouma, 20. Kelvin Etemesi, 31. Abuyeka Kubasu, 32. Byron Owino

*Kenyan premier league debut

Coach: Nicholas Muyoti

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