16 Mar 2022
NCS, Team News Permalink
OSano, Njunge
Nairobi City Stars goalkeepers Jacob Osano (Golden Poppy) and Steve Njunge (red) warming up ahead of a round 22 premier league game against Nzoia United in Narok on Friday 25 June 2021

No change against Bandari

March 16, 2022

Head coach Nicholas Muyoti has made no change to the squad that faced Vihiga Bullets last Sunday at Bukhungu, Kakamega, as Nairobi City Stars hit the road to face Bandari at Mbaraki on Thur 17 March 2022 starting 3 pm.

City Stars won that assignment 2-1 ending a two-game losing streak at the hands of Bidco United and Posta Rangers.

With an unchanged squad, regular starters Kenedy Vidic Onyango and Ezekiel Odera who were serving caution suspensions, as well as Dennis Decha Wanjala, will have to wait till the next set of games in April.

City Stars will be playing Bandari at their home tuff for the first time since July 2021.

From the squad that played then, changes to the squad are six.

Bolton Omwenga, Kenedy Onyango, and Wycliffe Otieno, three of the starting defenders back July, will all miss the upcoming game.

While Omwenga has since left the club, Otieno did not make the trip alongside Onyango.

Flyer Rodgers Okuse Okumu who started the game, as well as Elvis Noor Ojiambo and Odera who came on as subs, are also out.

Their places have been taken up by stoppers Lennox Ogutu and Salim Shitu Abdalla, midfielders Timothy Noor Ouma, Augustine Kuta, Michael Madoya, and striker Vincent Otieno Okoth.

City Stars squad to face Bandari

Goalkeepers: 16. Jacob Osano, 23. Stephen Njunge

Defenders: 4. Salim Abdallah, 8. Calvin Masawa, 12. Edwin Buliba, 19. Kevin Okumu, 27. Lennox Ogutu, 28. Herit Mungai,

Midfielders: 3. Charles Otieno, 5. Michael Madoya, 10. Peter Opiyo, 18. Sven Yidah, 20. Timothy Ouma, 21. Oliver Maloba, 29. Augustine Kuta, 30. Anthony Kimani-captain,

Strikers: 9. Vincent Otieno Okoth, 11. Davis Agesa, 17. Nicholas Kipkirui, 24. Erick Ombija,

Out: 1. Elvis Ochoro, 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo, 6. Ronney Kola, 7. Rodgers Okumu, 14. Rowland Makati, 15. John Kamau, 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 26. Dennis Wanjala, 31. Mohammed Bajaber, 32. Ezekiel Odera

15 Mar 2022
NCS, Team News Permalink
Nairobi City Stars
City Stars left back Herit Mungai challenges a Homeboyz player during an eleventh round Premier League tie at Bukhungu Stadium on Sat 6 Feb 2021. Homeboyz won 2-0

Mungai bullish after Bullets’ show

March 15, 2022

Left-back Herit Mungai Atariza is angling for more complete games as the 2021/22 FKF Premier League nears the home stretch.

Herit was buoyed by his first full game of the season at the weekend as Nairobi City Stars went past home team Vihiga Bullets 2-1 in Bukhungu, Kakamega, to return to winning ending a two-game losing streak.

Against Bullets, Herit earned his first start and went on to complete his first game this season.

“I am humbled and looking forward to many more matches,” said the soft-spoken defender

Beyond the recent game, Herit commented on what he anticipates this season;

“The season is going on very well. We will keep pushing and hopefully, this is our season,” he added

Head coach Nicholas Muyoti gave a comment on Herit’s first full show stating;

“He did very well. He was outstanding in some situations and showed good composure on the ball. I was impressed with his performance. With playtime he will gain more experience,” said Muyoti

Other than the Bullets game, Herit had only made a cameo appearance in the year-opening game against AFC Leopards at Nyayo Stadium after coming on for injured fullback Dennis Decha Wanjala

15 Mar 2022
NCS, Team News Permalink
Laiser Hill, City Stars
City Stars CEO Patrick Korir and team coordinator Samson Otieno handing footballs to Tony Kingori, the Laiser Hill Academy Dean of Students on Tue 8 March 2022 as token of appreciation after signing Timothy Ouma in 2020

Token of appreciation for Laiser Hill Academy

March 15, 2022

Nairobi City Stars paid a courtesy call to Laiser Hill Academy to give back following the signing of one of their alumni Timothy Noor Ouma aka Babu back in 2020.

Babu has since fitted in well to the Simba wa Nairobi family having improved on his debut season in 2020/21 FKF Premier League to become an integral part of the team.

“Our connection with Laiser Hill is Timothy Babu Ouma, whom we signed right after the cleared from the establishment in 2020,” said City Stars team coordinator Samson Otieno during the visit

“Our visit was to hand them a token of appreciation as a way of thanking them for providing us with a great performer. We hope it will encourage the lads still at the shool to follow in Babu’s path,”

“We will continue engaging with Laiser Hill with a view of tapping into their rich talent base in future.” added Samson

Tony Kingori, the Dean of Students and Director of Programmes, gave a vote of thanks after the visit:

“We are very grateful for the kind gesture from the management of City Stars FC. Timothy Ouma has been great revelation of talent from our school to this great club. We won many awards with him and wish him all the best in his future career.” he added

Thus far, Babu has had an improved season and, from 22 games into the 2021/22 season, has scored four times and provided seven assists and as many pre-assists.

He has since broken into the National team and has so far clocked two games against Rwanda and Uganda during 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Laiser Hill Academy

Tony Kingori and select Laiser Hill Academy students receiving balls donated by Nairobi City Stars following the signing of one of their own Timothy Noor Ouma aka Babu back in 2020

Laiser Hill Academy

Laiser Hill students accompanied by team coordinator Samson Otieno receiving footballs handed over by Nairobi City Stars as token of appreciation after one of their won Timothy Noor Ouma joined the club in 2020

13 Mar 2022
NCS, Team News Permalink
City Stars
City Stars celebrate a goal against Vihiga Bullets at the Bukhungu Stadium on Sun 13 March 2022. City Stars won the game 2-1

Vihiga Bullets 1 Nairobi City Stars 2

March 13, 2022

A header from stopper Salim Shitu Abdalla in the 78th minute off a corner from Peter Pinchez Opiyo, ensured City Stars completed a double over Vihiga Bullets with a 2-1 win from a matchday 22 FKF Premier League game played in Bukuhungu Stadium on Sunday 13 March 2022.

Shitu’s goal, his second of the season following his opener against, incidentally, the same Bullets in November last year, added on to Nicholas Kipkirui’s seventh-minute strike.

Kipkirui connected onto a Davis Agesa sure pass to slam home the opening goal.

City Stars were to head to the break with no clean sheet after Bullets leveled via Robert Arrot’s penalty awarded after Shitu brought down Vincent Ogola in the box.

City Stars’ win brought to an end a two-game losing streak moving up a place from fourth to third with 38 points from 22 games.

For Bullets it was the second straight loss leaving them in the 17th spot with 12 points.

Next up for Simba wa Nairobi is an away trip to Bandari on Thur 17 March 2022.

Lineups

Vihiga Bullets: 25. Elix Otieno, 23. Nickson Kalwale, 24. Vitalis Okumu, 15. Mophat Kovelo, 22. Lucas Waitere-Captain, 18. Jessey Kajuba, 6. Martin Okumu, 4. Sabulon Cheloti, 11. Robert Arrot, 10. Nicholas Masaba, 13. Vincent Ogola

Subs: 1. Bernard Otieno, 17. Brian Ochieng, 20. Lonny Amadava, 8. Patrick Onganya, 12. Mark Ekhuya, 16. Philip Wanjala, 9. Rashid Kyambadde, 14. Kevin Sagida

Coach: Juma Abdalla

Nairobi City Stars: 16. Jacob Osano, 28. Herit Mungai, 4. Salim Abdalla, 27. Lennox Ogutu, 19. Kevin Okumu, 18. Sven Yidah, 10. Peter Opiyo, 20. Timothy Ouma (30. Anthony Kimani-73), 11. Davis Agesa (2. Oliver Maloba-56), 17. Nicholas Kipkirui (29. Augustine Kuta-73), 24. Erick Ombija

Unused subs: 23. Steve Njunge, 8. Calvin Masawa, 3. Charles Otieno, 5. Michael Madoya, 9. Vincent Otieno Okoth, 12. Edwin Buliba

Out: 1. Elvis Ochoro, 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo, 6. Ronney Kola, 7. Rodgers Okumu, 14. Rowland Makati, 15. John Kamau, 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 26. Dennis Wanjala, 31. Mohammed Bajaber, 32. Ezekiel Odera

Coach: Nicholas Muyoti

Cautions

Nairobi City Stars: 18. Sven Yidah (38), 20. Timothy Ouma (51)

Goals: 17. Nicholas Kipkirui (City Stars-7), 11. Robert Arrot (Vihiga Bullets-24-Pen)4. Salim Abdalla (City Stars-78),

13 Mar 2022
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

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

March 13, 2022

For the first time in the Premiership, Vihiga Bullets will host Nairobi City Stars during an FKF Premier League matchday 22 tie in Bukhungu Stadium on Sunday 13 March 2022 starting 3 pm.

The two teams met once in the top flight back in November 2021 in Ruaraka during the first leg of the current season. City Stars came out tops with a 4-0 win.

While it will be the first meet out in Kakamega County in the Premier League, City Stars has visited Vihiga Bullets once before.

Back in September 2019, while in the second tier – the National Super League (NSL) – City Stars took on Bullets twice in two days.

On a Sunday, the first game was rained out in the 75th minute with City Stars leading 1-0 after Ebrima Sanneh’s strike.

Due to force majeure, the game was restarted afresh the next day at the same venue and Sanneh went on to score a second-half brace for Simba wa Nairobi to claim a 2-1 win. Bullets led at halftime through a precise Oscar Karuli freekick.

Vihiga Bullets – City Stars clash rained off

Subs Jamaica, Maloba turn it around against Vihiga Bullets

Both Bullets and City Stars are reeling from losses from their immediate past games. While Bullets fell 1-0 to leaders Kakamega Homeboyz at the same venue last weekend, City Stars went down 2-1 to Posta Rangers in Thika.

Bullets are a formidable lot at home having posted two wins (vs Wazito, FC Talanta) and three draws (Bandari, Tusker, KCB) in their last five games in Bukhungu.

City Stars on their part have a good streak in away games. Their recent loss to Bidco in Thika was the first fall in ten away games. Their last visit to Bukhungu in January ended in a 4-4 draw against Homeboyz.

Madoya one of four changes for Vihiga Bullets

Heading to the Sunday afternoon game, host Bullets sits 17th in the 18-team log with 12 points while City Stars sits fourth with 35 points.

Personel-wise, City Stars coach Nicholas Muyoti will be coming up against a ‘new’ coach Juma Abdalla who was onboarded after the first leg clash that was handled by Evans Mafuta.

Who wins this one?

Summary

KPL games vs Vihiga Bullets – 1; Wins (1), Draws (0), Loses (0)
13-Mar-22; Vihiga Bullets vs City Stars, ??

Vihiga Bullets vs City Stars back on Mon 9 Sept 2019 at Bukhungu Stadium. City Stars came from behind to win the game 2-1

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