On this day – 19th November – back in 2016, Nairobi City Stars under Ugandan coach Richard Tamale Pinto hosted Sony Sugar at Ruaraka in their 320th and last Premier League game.
Visiting Sony Sugar won it 2-1 to hand City Stars their 17th loss in the 30-game season.
Sony scored a 67th minute opener via Joseph Omweri that Ezekiel Odera (pictured) cancelled out ten minutes to time.
But Boniface Muchiri confirmed there would be no share of spoils at the Ruaraka tuff when he planted home a goal at the death to hand Sony all three points.
Less than three weeks earlier, during the third last game of the season, City Stars lost it’s 12 year Premiership status after going down 3-1 to Kakamega Homeboyz at Kasarani.
While the Ruaraka game was dead rubber for City Stars, it was an important one for Sony as they went on to finish ninth ahead of Muhoroni Youth and Bandari.
Odera’s goal was the 304th and last topflight goal by City Stars.
He recalls that day as well as club legends Arthur Museve and skipper on that day John Amboko, now both retired and part of the current City Stars technical bench.
“As a player scoring a goal is always special but also scoring a meaningless goal doesn’t add any flavour. We were already relegated to the second tier and we were just playing for pride.” said Odera who rejoined City Stars in January 2020.
“It was a formality game. We had already been sent packing from the league and there was nothing much in it other than just completing our fixture for the season.” said Museve, the current trainer at City Stars
“After already being relegated the morale in the team was already low. I had already started entertaining the idea of hanging my boots and concentrate with my job,”
“I couldn’t take it playing in the lower league. So losing the last game against Sony was not the best way to do it. But I took everything positively. It took the persuasion of my former coach Robert Matano to bring me back to playing again.” added Amboko, currently an assistant coach at City Stars
The trio are however looking ahead to the exact opposite of what’s happened then as they prepare for their first Premier league game after a four year hiatus following the team’s promotion this year.
According to revised fixtures, City Stars were to host Nzoia United on Sunday 21 Nov 2020 at Nyayo Stadium. That has since been pushed back by a week.
“We are happy to be back and look forward to our first top flight game after four long years.” Said Odera
“Museve and I certainly played our last Premier league game against Sony four years back but I am keenly looking forward to a return to that same platform from a different capacity as a coach.” Said Amboko
“We are glad to be back and will want to avoid how it ended in 2016 with a good start.” Commented Museve
City Stars will play seven games by the turn of year, the first five games being against Western based sides Nzoia United, Zoo FC of Kericho, Vihiga United, Kakamega Homeboyz and Western Western Stima, in that order.
Lineups – 29 Nov 2016
Nairobi City Stars: 13. Victor Odhiambo, 5. Franklyn Osama (3. Mustapha Suma -77), 7. Robert Ndungú (4. Luis Masika-46), 8. Calvin Masawa, 18. Arthur Museve, 27. John Amboko, 15. Peter Wainaina, 19. Pa Mulie Jassey (10. Peter Musiime-77), 22. Festo Omukoto
Unused subs: 30.Ronny Kagunzi, 21. Oliver Maloba, 28. Idd Shikanda, 40. Benson Iregi
Coach: Richard Tamale Kiwanuka (Uganda)
Sony Sugar: 22. Kenedy Obwanda, 3. Samuel Olare, 13. Justine Omary, 17. Joseph Omweri, 24. Collins Kisuya (2. Marwa Chamberi-42), 10. Boniface Muchiri, 16, Nicholas Akoko (12. David Simiyu-55), 20. Victor Ademba, 23. Kevin Oluoch (35. Kevin Omondi-46), 9. Amos Asembeka, 19. Daniel Ochieng
Unused Subs: 26. Alfred Onyango, 27. Maxwell Wanjala, 21. Frederick Onyango, 7. Jeremiah Wanjala
Coach: Collins Omondi (Kenya)
Goals: Sony Sugar – Joseph Omweri (67), Boniface Muchiri (90), Nairobi City Stars – Ezekiel Odera (80)
Yellow: City Stars – Arthur Museve (20)
Match Officials: Peter Waweru (Centre ref), John Olando (AR1), Adam Juma (AR2), Agnetta Itubo (4th Official)