After protecting their unbeaten run in the first 18 games of the National Super League (NSL) games in the 2019/20 season, Nairobi City Stars finally went down, 1-0, to Kibera Black Stars in match day 19 at Camp Toyoyo, Jericho on Saturday 14 December 2019.
The loss brought City Stars 22-match unblemished run -considering the last four games of last season – to a screeching end. It was the first league loss for head coach Sanjin Alagic in the NSL.
Days after, Sanjin, the Bosnian who knew no defeat in the NSL, has given his comments about the Saturday game that saw Kibera Black Stars lift the inaugural Jonathan Jackson Foundation (JJF) Jamii Cup and Kshs 20,000 besides three valuable NSL points.
“It was a tough game that could have gone either way. We missed lots of chances early in the game that came back to haunt us as they scored once in the second half to win the game,”
“We will take lessons from the loss, reflect over the holidays, and come back better for the second leg next year.” Said Sanjin
Coached by Elvis ‘Valdo’ Ayany, Black Stars winning goal was scored by Janyeez Otieno in the 57th who, from close range, sent a low shot to the far post past City Stars defenders and keeper Levis Opiyo. He was a second half substitute for Shawn Michael.
In spite of the loss, City Stars maintained their place atop the 19-team league with 43 points, 27 clear of 15th placed Black Stars who are now rising from a false start in the season.