21 games into the 2020/21 Kenyan Premier League season, Nairobi City Stars has risen from a low 14th spot to sixth with 29 points, and within groping distance of the fifth spot.
The upscaling from double-digit has been aided by a string of four contiguous wins over Sofapaka (3-0), Kariobangi Sharks, and Western Stima (both ended 2-1) in the most immediate games.
But just what attributed the rise up?
According to overall team skipper Masawa – the longest-serving player having joined the club back in 2011 – the team had to refresh, after a scrutiny of the problem areas. And the results are now for all to see.
“We went back to the drawing board as players and the technical bench and asked ourselves what worked best for us when we had those good runs,” said Masawa
City Stars registered identical 2-0 wins over Nzoia United and Bandari, on either side of a 1-0 loss to KCB in the opening games, then registered two draws against Bidco United and Vihiga United, then against Ulinzi Stars and Posta Rangers, on either side of a loss to Wazito.
A string of three straight losses by Sofapaka, Kariobangi Sharks and Kakamega Homeboyz then followed.
The bad patch, a collective eight games with no win ended with a 2-1 win over Zoo FC, and it was followed up by further wins over Western Stima and Mathare United.
Then came a dry spell, narrow losses to AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia in between a draw with Tusker. That then ended with the four latest wins
“We had lost a bit of focus which is normal in football but after the meetings, we decided that it was high time we started collecting maximum points,”
“Before we were dropping points from winnable matches. We agreed it had to come to an end and here we are collecting some good wins.” added Masawa
Next up for Masawa and company is an away game against Nzoia United at the Narok Stadium on Fri 25 June 2021 from 3 pm.
Overall Nairobi City Stars skipper Calvin Masawa in a past game at Camp Toyoyo in Feb 2020