Two draws, 0-0 and 1-1, were the results when Posta Rangers hosted Nairobi City Stars in two 90-minute friendly games at Jamhuri Park on Friday 7 May 2021.
The first game ended 0-0 while the second game saw City Stars lead 1-0 at half time through a Davis Agesa strike.
Agesa drove down the middle after connecting to a sure Anthony Kimani pass to smack the ball home once inside the box.
Clinton Kisiavuki responded for Rangers a minute into the second half when he converted a penalty.
The spot kick was awarded after speedy Eliud Lokuwan was brought down in the box while cutting in from the left channel by Kevin Okumu.
Both teams were using the shape up games to gear up for upcoming league games starting the weekend on Saturday 15 May 2021.
The two Friday games were the first set of games City Stars was engaging in since their last league game against Tusker at Utalii on Saturday 20 March 2021.
The two games came at the end of the teams’ first week of training since the lid on the March suspension of Sports was lifted.
Thereafter, Sports was suspended in the country indefinitely due to the rise in corona virus numbers.
“It was important to play full games. They had missed games and you could see that.” said head coach Sanjin Alagic
“We intend to have one more friendly game next week ahead of our game against Champions Gor Mahia next Sunday.” added Sanjin
Adding his voice to the games was team coordinator Samson Otieno who said;
“The friendly games were intense with the right pressure that offered a real game situation,”
He further said; “The games brought out the rusty side of players considering they had not been actively playing since late March and we thank Posta Rangers for offering us two quality games.”
City Stars fielded 28 players in both games including Kenyan junior international Umar Rajab of Ligi Ndogo who has been training with the club from midweek as well as former keeper Ronny Kagunzi.
Due to official leave, striker Ebrima Sanneh and keeper Elvis Ochoro missed out the games, while newly signed striker Nicholas Kipkirui sat out as a precaution to cool off a slight knock.
Summary
Posta Rangers 1 (0), Nairobi City Stars 1 (0)
Posta Rangers 1: Kevin Omondi (GK), Evans Maliachi, Kevin Ouma, Suleiman Ngotho, Elvis Osok, Joshua Nyatini (Steiner Musasia), Jackson Dwang, Alex Luganji (Josephat Lopaga-60), Sammy Odera, Dennis Oalo (Francis Namute-80), Cavin Odongo
City Stars 1: Stephen Njunge, Calvin Masawa, Wycliffe Otieno, Kenedy Onyango, Bolton Omwenga, Charles Otieno (Ronney Kola-60), Elvis Noor Ojiambo, Ezekiel Odera (Umar Rajab-75), Herit Mungai (John Kamau-46), Azizi Okaka (Rowland Makati – 60), Vincent Otieno Okoth (Erick Ombija-46)
Posta Rangers 2 (1), Nairobi City Stars 2 (1)
Scorers; Clinton Kisiavuki (47-Penalty), Davis Agesa (42)
Posta Rangers 2: Jairus Adira (Bryne Omondi-33), Simon Mbugua, Dickson Mwenda, James Adera, Timothy Omondi (Michael Apudo), Peter Ngángá, Clinton Kisiavuki, Bernard Ondiek, Eliud Lokuwam (Gershon Likhono), Josephat Lopaga (Simon Kapen), Francis Nambute (Ezekiel Okare)
Nairobi City Stars 2: Jacob Osano (Ronny Kagunzi), Wesley Onguso, Salim Abdallah, Edwin Buliba, Kevin Okumu, Peter Opiyo [Erick Ombija-28 (Ronney Kola-63)], Sven Yidah, Timothy Ouma, Oliver Maloba, Anthony Kimani, Davis Agesa
Rangers coach: Stanley Okumbi, Assistant: Charles ‘Korea’ Omondi
City Stars Coach: Sanjin Alagic, Assistant: John Amboko
Oliver Maloba takes on a Posta Rangers player during a friendly at the Jamhuri Park on Fri 7 May 2021. It ended 1-1
Davis Agesa up against Posta Rangers’ Dickens Mwenda during a friendly at the Jamhuri Park on Fri 7 May 2021. Agesa opened the scoring in the first half. It ended 1-1.
Yasin Umar Rajab (no. 20) featuring for City Stars against Posta Rangers during a friendly at the Jamhuri Park on Fri 7 May 2021. It ended 0-0
Ezekiel Odera shields off Posta Rangers stopper Kevin Ouma during a friendly at the Jamhuri Park on Fri 7 May 2021. It ended 0-0