Tag: Anthony Kimani

  • Captains speak on WFH

    Captains speak on WFH

    From Monday 15 March 2020, all football activities were brought to a halt due to the global corona virus outbreak.

    With no clear line out sight to when matters will reset to the norm, Nairobi City Stars granted head coach Sanjin Alagic open leave at the close of that week.

    The following week, in the wake of all sporting facilities having been closed based on directives from the Ministry of Health, he unveiled a month-long work-from-home (WFH) program for all 25 Nairobi City Stars players.

    A week later, three captains in the team; Noah Abich (overall), Calvin Masawa (assistant) and Anthony Muki Kimani (field captain – pictured) have all spoken on the current situation and the dynamics of operating from home.

    “We are all trying to adapt to it. This morning I was at my local gym for a workout with (Jockins) Atudo. I am following the program as it says and I want to believe the rest of the lot are doing the same.” said Abich before adding;

    “But working from home is tough. It’s not what we are used to,” added the veteran dead ball specialist who captained the team to relegation survival last season

    Masawa who joined City Stars back in year 2011 from Migori, and is the club’s longest serving servant, said;

    “On my part I follow the schedule to the letter. It requires a lot of discipline to stick to the program. Those are the challenges that comes with working alone from home.”

    Muki, the club’s leading assist provider, added;

    “Working from home is a bit tricky because of this pandemic the World is going through. But again it’s fun at the same time because we get to tag along with our families who get to experience what we do on a daily.”

    With the head coach out in Bosnia on leave, team trainer Grace Wang’ondu has been put in charge to check on the players.

  • Quintet commit to City Stars

    Quintet commit to City Stars

    Five players have extended their contracts to stay on at Nairobi City Stars for the upcoming seasons.

    Save for centre back Wycliffe Otieno (pictured) who renewed his contract for one more year, four others namely Anthony Muki Kimani, Calvin Masawa, Charles Otieno Oduro and Davis Agesa have committed to the club for a further two seasons.

    Masawa is City Stars longest serving player having joined from Migori back in 2011.

    Muki left the club for Sofapaka back in 2009 then returned after ten years for the current season.

    Oduro and Agesa have been standout players and, together with Masawa, ensured the squad survived relegation last season.

    Big unit Wycliffe joined in from Kariobangi Sharks at the start of the current season and, alongside Salim Shitu Abdalla, have formed one of the best brick walls in the league. Thus far City Stars defense has conceded the least goals (18) in the NSL.

    “The five extended their contracts after receiving the nod from the technical bench. It gives the team stability going forward.” said club CEO Patrick Korir

    “Discussions are still ongoing with other players and the list of extensions should grow further in the weeks to come.” added Korir

    With the five on-boarded for longer, head coach Sanjin Algic will have at least 11 players from the current squad of 25 for next season.

    January signings Peter Pinchez Opiyo and Azizi Okaka will be with the squad till the close of the 2020/2021 season while returning Ezekiel Odera and keeper Jacob Osano arrived on two year deals to the end of the 2021/2022 season.

    Youngsters Elvis Ojiambo and Vincent Otieno, a striker, signed long term deals mid least year, are part of the squad till 2022.

  • Debut for Osano against AP Bomet

    Debut for Osano against AP Bomet

    January signing Jacob Osano will stand between the sticks for the first time ever when Nairobi City Stars takes on AP Bomet at the Kericho Green Stadium on Sunday 8 March 2020 from 3pm.

    Signed from Nairobi Stima, Osano takes up the place of regular keeper Levis Opiyo who sits out the game due to accumulation of five yellow cards.

    As Osano steps up, reserve keeper Ronny Kagunzi made a return to the squad to start off the bench.

    Also in for the AP Bomet is regular field skipper Anthony Kimani who was suspended for the last game against Kenya Police.

    His return is a boost for head coach Sanjin Alagic who will be missing regular striker Davis Agesa who saw red from two yellow cards against Police.

    One other change for the game is Edwin Buliba’s elevation from the bench to the right back spot to play in place of Kevin Oumu who was not passed fit for the Kericho trip.

    Tedian Atuto, a January signing from Fortune Sacco, made the 18-man squad for the first time and will start off the bench as well as Charles Otieno who sat out injured in the last game.

    Starting XI against AP Bomet: 16. Jacob Osano, 8. Calvin Masawa, 4. Salim Abdalla, 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 30. Anthony Kimani, 12. Edwin Buliba, 2. Elvis Ojiambo, 10. Peter Opiyo, 25. David Gateri, 27. Azizi Okaka, 32. Ezekiel Odera,

    Subs: 1. Ronny Kagunzi, 17. Noah Abich. 88. Tedian Esilaba, 3. Charles Otieno, 15. John Kamau, 19. Jimmy Bageya, 5. Wesley Onguso

  • City Stars seek elusive home win over Police

    City Stars seek elusive home win over Police

    Betika Super League (BSL) log leaders Nairobi City Stars will host Kenya Police for only the fourth time in four years on Saturday 29 February 2020 at Camp Toyoyo, Jericho starting 1pm.

    22 points separates the two teams as City Stars, the Simba wa Nairobi, heads to the game with a 55-point haul from 23 games compared to Kenya Police who are placed tenth in the 19-team standings with 33 points from 24 games.

    Records

    The disparity won’t be a concern for Police as they have a knack of scooping points from City Stars while away. They are yet to lose when visiting City Stars.

    In their first ever encounter in 2017, the season City Stars sampled the second-tier league after relegation, Police walloped City Stars 3-0. In the next two encounters hosted by City Stars in 2018 and 2019 Police forced identical 1-1 logjams.

    Form

    Police comes to the game with an envious record and are unbeaten in six games played in 2020 all in the second leg in games. The record reads three wins and as many draws. A win and two consecutive draws define their last three away games.

    City Stars on their part head to the game on the back of a 3-1 home defeat to Coast Stima at the same Toyoyo that brought an end to their four-game winning streak in 2020.

    Police is the team they eye for a quick recovery back to their old stride.

    First leg

    In early October City Stars travelled to Karuturi in Naivasha and nicked Police 3-2 for their first ever win from seven encounters.

    Police had the game early in Karuturi with an Arvine Adoyo goal inside quarter an hour off a backline blunder.

    Goals from skipper Anthony Muki Kimani – his first since returning to the club ten years later, trademark header from Gambian Ebrima Sanneh and Salim Abdalla’s maiden goal handed City Stars a lead they maintained all the way despite the hosts adding a second consolation through James Gachoka.

    Which way

    How will I pun put? As the records states for Police or direction of the first leg? Be at Toyoyo or follow the proceedings via our social media handles; twitter, FB and/or IG.

  • Odera, Okaka start against Stima, Sanneh is back

    Odera, Okaka start against Stima, Sanneh is back

    Head coach Sanjin Alagic has made three changes to the starting lineup as Nairobi City Stars linesup against Coast Stima at Camp Toyoyo on Saturday 8 February, 2020 starting 11 am.

    The three changes sees returning striker Ezekiel Odera and January signing Azizi Okaka start as Gambian hitman Ebrima Sanneh makes his way back after missing the last game against Bidco United.

    While it will be the first start for Odera under Sanjin, its a return to the starting eleven for Azizi since the first game of the year away to Shabana.

    The entry of the trio to the starting lineups means superstars Davis Agesa and Oliver Maloba, both of whom missed two days of training in the week due to varied illnesses, drop to the bench alongside defensive mid Elvis Noor Ojiambo.

    They join keeper Jacob Osano, Charles Otieno Oduro, Kevin Okumu and Vicent Otieno on the bench.

    David Gateri, a used sub against Bidco, falls off the squad due to illness that saw him miss training in the week.

    The backline of keeper Levis Opiyo, Wycliffe Otieno, Salim Abdalla as well as wingbacks Calvins Masawa and Edwin Buliba remains as is.

    Peter Opiyo and skipper Athony Kimani are expected to patrol the midfield as Ugandan Jimmy Bageya retains his place on the flanks.

    Lineup against Coast Stima

    23. Levis Opiyo, 8. Calvins Masawa, 4. Salim Abdalla, 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 8. Edwin Buliba, 10. Peter Opiyo, 30. Antony Kimani (Captain), 29. Ebrima Sanneh, 8. Jimmy Bageya, 32. Ezekiel Odera, 27. Azizi Okaka

    Subs: 28. Kevin Okumu, 3. Charles Otieno, 11. Davis Agesa, 21. Oliver Maloba, 16. Jacob Osano, 2. Elvis Ojiambo, 16. Vincent Otieno

    Out: 5. Wesley Onguso, 17. Noah Abich, 25. David Gateri, 1. Ronny Kagunzi, 12. Eric Ochieng, 15. John Kamau, 80. Tedian Esilaba