On Friday 11 December 2020, Nairobi City Stars will host Bandari at Kasarani (outer) in a third round 2020/21 FKF Premier League tie.
Bandari comes to the game with a win (1-0 over Sofapaka) and draw (0-0 vs Tusker) and have a clean sheet to protect against Simba wa Nairobi who head to the game with a win (2-0 vs Nzoia Sugar) and loss (1-0 vs KCB) from the opening two games of the season.
From the archives, the two sides have previously met 14 times in the top flight between 2008 and year 2016.
Ten different coaches; John Bobby Ogola (3 games), Oliver Page (1), Ken Odhiambo (2), Gideon Ochieng (1), Bai Malleh Wadda (1), Jan Koops (1), Robinson Ndubuisi (2), Paul Nkata (1), Gabriel Njoroge (1) and Richard Tamale Pinto (1), have overseen City Stars against Bandari in the 14 games.
Of the 14 affairs’, Nairobi City Stars has won five (5), Bandari three (3) with the other six (6) ending in draws.
Of the 14, City Stars has hosted seven games and went on to win three (3), draw as many (3) and lost once (1).
The Friday meet will be the 15th overall encounter, and eighth that City Stars will be hosting the Dockers.
For the first time ever, the two will face off at Kasarani as the other seven games were played at Hope Centre (3 times), Nyayo Stadium (3) and City Stadium (1).
There are lots of entanglements between the two teams as, during their last visit to Nairobi, Bandari drew City Stars 2-2 at Nyayo Stadium on 18 February 2016.
Anthony Muki Kimani scored a brace for Bandari to salvage a point. Incidentally, Muki is the current Nairobi City Stars captain.
Those two goals, that included a point-earning 57th minute penalty, made Muki Bandari’s top scorer against City Stars with four goals, all scored in three consecutive games.
Muki was the scorer of the only goal for Bandari when City Stars lost their home game on 1 April 2015 at City Stadium.
Jimmy Bageya – a current member of City Stars – and Arthur Museve (retired as a player and now City Stars trainer), are the top scorers for Simba wa Nairobi against Bandari with three goals apiece.
In the upcoming Friday game, City Stars will be handled by an eleventh coach against Bandari – Bosnian Sanjin Alagic, while the visitors have a former City Stars Coach – Ken Odhiambo as their head coach. Back in 2009, Ken masterminded City Stars 2-1 over Bandari in Mombasa.
Beyond, two siblings on either side will be factor in the game; Herit Mungai Atariza will be City Stars left back and at the end of the left channel where he operates will be his elder sibling Nicholas Meja Atariza, Bandari’s fullback 2.
Who will prevail in this one when top flight returnees City Stars squares it out with title contenders Bandari?
Summary
Overall meetings – 14: Nairobi City Stars wins (5), Bandari wins (3), Draws (6)
City Stars as hosts – 7 times: Wins (3), Draws (3), Losses (1)
Bandari top scorer vs City Stars: Anthony Muki Kimani (4 goals)
City Stars top scorer vs Bandari: Jimmy Bageya, Arthur Museve (3 goals each)