Nairobi City Stars
Elvis Ochieng Ochoro during his unveiling at City Stars on Thur 3 Sep 2020

Ochoro the only change against Bidco United

The addition of keeper Elvis Ochoro, ahead of the upcoming round 20 FKF Premier League game against Bidco United in Thika Stadium on Saturday 5 March 2022, starting 3 pm, is the only change to the City Stars squad from last weekend. 

The budding keeper, formerly with Hakati Sportif, replaces Jacob Osano who takes a rest from the upcoming game.

Save for Ochoro’s inclusion, the other 19 players who delivered a 3-0 win over Mathare United at the same venue last Saturday, maintained their places.

From the squad that took on Bidco in the first leg at the same venue back in October 2021, winning 2-0, changes are seven.

Other than keeper Osano who tended goal then, others missing the upcoming game are defender Edwin Buliba, midfielders Rodgers Okumu, Sven Yidah, and Mike Madoya, as well as strikers Erick Ombija and Vincent Otieno Okoth.

Joining Ochoro for the Saturday game are defenders Salim Abdallah and Herit Mungai, midfielders Peter Opiyo, John Kamau, Oliver Maloba, and Augustine Kuta.

Nairobi City Stars squad vs Bidco United

Goalkeepers: 23. Steve Njunge, 1. Elvis Ochoro

Defenders: 4. Salim Abdalla, 8. Calvin Masawa, 19. Kevin Okumu, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 26. Dennis Wanjala, 27. Lennox Ogutu, 28. Herit Mungai,

Midfielders: 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo, 3. Charles Otieno, 10. Peter Opiyo, 15. John Kamau, 20. Timothy Ouma, 21. Oliver Maloba, 29. Augustine Kuta, 30. Anthony Kimani,

Strikers: 11. Davis Agesa, 17. Nicholas Kipkirui, 32. Ezekiel Odera

Not considered:  5. Mike Madoya, 6. Ronney Kola, 7. Rodgers Okumu, 9. Vincent Otieno Okoth, 12. Edwin Buliba, 14. Rowland Makati,  16. Jacob Osano, 18. Sven Yidah, 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 24. Erick Ombija, 31. Mohammed Bajaber,

John Amboko, City Stars
John Amboko on the touchline. He took over coaching reigns at Nairobi City Stars from mid-July 2021 after the expiry of Sanjin Alagics contract at the end of June 2021

Amboko on why City Stars is on the rise

Club legend John Amboko has spelled out the reasons why Nairobi City Stars is a shining star this season.

His sentiments come a time when Simba wa Nairobi is second on the 18-team log with 35 points, five off the top, after 19 rounds of play.

The club stalwart says office support, team chemistry, and the leadership of head coach Nicholas Muyoti, all combined, are the determinants for the good show.

“Currently, I can say that this season is one of the best so far based on the performance of the team,” said Amboko

“The team is well motivated and this is brought about by the support being received from the sponsors and management,”

“The chemistry among the players is evident as they have played together for long,”

“Under the leadership of our head coach (Nicholas Muyoti), the entire technical bench is working very hard and approaching each game with the seriousness it deserves.” added the former stopper and team captain

Save for the year 2013 when he turned out for AFC Leopards, Amboko has been in the ranks of Nairobi City Stars from when it was known as World Hope back in 2003 to 2017 as a player.

He turned to coach thereafter and has been part of the clubs’ journey out of the topflight, and back up in 2020.

Nairobi City Stars promoted

Amboko recently upgraded his coaching badge from CAF ‘C’ to CAF ‘B’ License.

Amboko graduates with CAF ‘B’ Diploma License

Amboko, City Stars

Nairobi City Stars coach John Amboko during the opening of CAF B course at KISE on Mon 6 Sept 2021

John Amboko, City Stars

John Amboko is sandwiched by former coach Sanjin Alagic whom he took over from in mid-July 2021. To the right is assistant coach Noah Abich

City Stars, Sanjin, Amboko

Arthur Museve, Sanjin Alagic, John Amboko preparing for team training in March 2020 at Camp Toyoyo

Jamaica
Nairobi City Stars striker Vincent Otieno Okoth aka Jamaica in a past training in Oct 2021

Friendly Fire: Liberty Sports 1 Nairobi City Stars 6

Nairobi City Stars came from behind to see off Liberty Sports 6-1 in a friendly match played at the Gems Cambridge School grounds on Wednesday 2 March 2022.

Boniface Wambete capitalized on an uncleared ball to bang home the opener for Liberty Sports within three minutes of kick-off.

Mike Madoya then leveled for Simba wa Nairobi in the 19th minute after pouncing on a delivery from right-back Kevin Chumsy Okumu.

Augustine Kuta, off another Chumsy delivery, scored in the 44th minute to hand City Stars a 2-1 advantage at the break.

Immediately after the restart, Rowland Makati extended the lead with a goal after a poor clearance from the Liberty backline.

That opened the floor for Vincent Otieno to grab his brace in the 51st and 60th minutes. Oliver Maloba was to add the final one in the 71st minute off an assist from Nicholas Kipkirui.

The match handed play time to players who missed out on the opportunity to feature in the last league game against Mathare United, or those that did not clock full minutes, ahead of the next game against Bidco United on Saturday 6 March 2022.

“Credit goes to Liberty Sports who handed us a very good and competitive friendly. They had a good game approach and have good players but were only outdone due to experience,” said head coach Nicholas Muyoti after the game

The friendly handed stopper  Wycliffe Wiked Otieno his first game since August 2021  marking and end to months of rehab due to a dislocated ankle. He came on as a sub.

Lineups

Liberty Sports: Edward Apuk, Adrian Tarik, Bravin Musoti, Alex Karani, Godwill Ngeiwo, Henry Obaca, Voti Mwazaraku, Clinton Machaka, Alpliric Omondi, Kenyang Marachi, Boniface Wambete

Subs: Boniface Odhiambo, Benson Wasike, Boniface Musayi, Emma Emmanuel, Steve Okinyi, Joel Gaciri, Enoch Ouma, Dennis Kinai, Justin Mutai

Nairobi City Stars: Jacob Osano (Elvis Ochoro), Kevin Okumu, Salim Abdallah, Edwin Buliba, Augustine Kuta (Oliver Maloba), Sven Yidah (Wycliffe Otieno), Charles Otieno, Michael Madoya (Rowland Makati), Rodgers Okumu (Nicholas Kipkirui), Davis Agesa (Vincent Otieno), Eric Ombija,

Coach: Nicholas Muyoti

Makati, Nairobi City Stars
Rowland Makati in a past friendly with Nairobi City Stars against Posta Rangers at the Jamhuri Park

Makati bides his time

Halfway through the 2021/22 FKF Premier League season, youngin Rowland Makati has made the squad once – against KCB – but is still yet to make his debut in the top flight.

Against KCB, Makati, an attacking midfielder, was an unused substitute.

Makati in line for Premier League debut against KCB

He promises to stay focused while taking the learning curve;

“The season is going on very well for the team. Everyone is at their best and the competition for positions is really stiff,”

“I am not about to lose focus because of the competition. I am focused and I know that my time (to play) will come. And when that day comes, I will not let go, it will be hard to bump me off the team,”

Makati, on a long-term contract with City Stars, spent the entire 2020/21 season on loan at the now-defunct National Super League side Nairobi Stima.

Osano
Jacob Osano at Thika Stadium in October 2021

First premier season exploits spur Osano

Tending goal in 17 of 19 games played so far on his FKF Premier league debut season excites goalkeeper  Jacob Osano who is now yearning for more.

Osano, in his third season with City Stars, missed out on game one this season but made his debut in game two against promoted Kenya Police with a clean sheet as Simba wa Nairobi registered a 2-0 win.

That set the tone for his season as he went on to start and complete the next 16 games posting a total of eight clean sheets.

Osano acknowledges his fete stems from teamwork and competition from the other members of his department

“It’s a nice feeling since it is my first season playing for City Stars in the top tier league,”

“Managing eight clean sheets in 17 matches to help the team sit at second spot at the moment is a great achievement that comes through hard work and team support. The competition level in the team makes everything possible,” he added

Last season, Osano made the squad 18 times as an understudy of Stephen Njunge who nailed all 33 games.

Thus far, Osano, a former Wazito, KCB and Nairobi Stima keeper, has clocked 1,530 minutes which amounts to 50% of achievable minutes in the season.

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

Lead keeper Jacob Osano has resumed training after sitting out for a week due to sickness

City Stars

City vs Bidco at Thika Stadium on Sun 24 Oct 2021. City Stars won the game 2-0 to go top of the log