For only the second time in the premier league, Nairobi City Stars will host Nzoia Sugar in an eighth round FKF Premier League tie on Wednesday 8 December 2021 in Ruaraka starting 1 pm.
It will a first time meeting at Ruaraka as during the season opening game last season – in their maiden top flight clash – Simba wa Nairobi hosted Nzoia Sugar in Narok.
In that game, City Stars ran out 2-0 winners thanks to goals by field skipper Anthony Muki Kimani and Oliver Maloba in a two minute blitz.
The only other premier league tie between the two was last seasons’ reverse tie that was also held at Narok due to covid 19 restrictions that prevented Nzoia Sugar from hosting the game at the Sudi Stadium in Bungoma.
Both teams head to the game dented as City Stars fell 2-1 in their last assignment to Kariobangi Sharks in Ruaraka as Nzoia went down 1-0 to visiting Kakamega Homeboyz in Sudi.
Stretching back to last season’s opener, there is a change in coaches on either end.
While Nicholas Muyoti is in for Bosnian Sanjin Alagic at City Stars, Ibrahim Shikanda is the man in charge of Peter Mwaura.
Tablewise, City Stars is up fifth with 13 points compared to Nzoia who are further down at 17th spot with two points.
Who will win this one?
Summary
KPL Games-2: Nairobi City Stars wins (2)
Home games hosted by City Stars
29 Nov 2020: Nairobi City Stars vs Nzoia Sugar, 2-0 (W)
08 Dec 2021: Nairobi City Stars vs Nzoia Sugar, ??
Following a 4-0 thumping of Vihiga Bullets at Ruaraka on Saturday 6 November 2021, Nairobi City Stars had a clean break to be awarded three special mentions.
Skipper Anthony Muki Kimani, with an assist and goal in the game, was picked as the player of the week as tactician Nicholas Muyoti was named the coach of the week.
It was indeed a good week for Muki as he was named the MVP in the game and later went on to make the Week 6 dream team alongside stopper Salim Shitu Abdalla who scored the first goal in the game – his first of the season.
Overall, Simba wa Nairobi was voted in as the team of the week after the massive win that saw City Stars match two similar winning score lines – the best ever -, that was set on 11 Feb 2006 (vs Kisumu Telecom at Nyayo Stadium) and 22 Oct 2011 (vs Congo United at Hope Centre).
The massive win saw City Stars shoot to the 13-point mark to sit third in the 18-team log after round six matches. In the process the team topped the Form table.
Field skipper Anthony Muki Kimani as well stopper Salim Shitu Abdallah both made the Team of the Week (TOTW) at the close of round six of FKF Premier League games that concluded on Sunday 7 November 2021.
Muki, later named MVP in the match just as was the case in the previous game against Posta Rangers, floated a freekick that found Shitu – who was making the squad for the first time after missing three matchdays -, at the far post for the opening goal.
Simba wa Nairobi took down newbies Vihiga Bullets 4-0 on Saturday 6 November 2021 in Ruraka during a matchday 6 FKF Premier League clash to move into the second spot in the 18-team table.
A Salim Shitu Abdalla opener in the 10th minute was followed up by second-half goals by Ezekiel Omukofu Odera, field skipper Anthony Muki Kimani – later named game MVP – and Vincent Otieno Okoth aka Jamaica – his maiden Premiership goal -, in the 62nd, 68th, and 74th minutes, in that order.
Shitu, in City Stars lineup after skipping three games, got to the end of a Muki freekick to tap in at the far post for his first of the season.
For the second, switch play by teenage sensation Timothy Babu Ouma from the right to the box found Davis Agesa who set the ball on the path of Odera who then lobbed keeper Richard Aimo to double matters.
The third came when substitute John Kamau worked his way to the box with a one-two with another substitute Ebrima Sanneh – who earned his first game of the season -, then got it to Muki who then toed the ball to the far post. It echoed off the basement before rolling in.
The fourth was a marvel as Peter Opiyo, in for Oliver Maloba, squared a fine long pass to Jamaica who chested down the ball before lobbing an advancing Aimo. The ball cooly rolled home for Jamaica to earn his first top-flight goal, and City Stars fourth on the evening.
In spite of the heavy win, Vihiga Bullets were a hard nut to crack especially inside the first 60 minutes.
After a cross from right-back Kevin Chumsy Okumu was cleared in the fifth minute, Bullets, under coach Evans Mafuta, had a response the next minute but a freekick their way went wide.
In the 29th minute, Bullets had a set-piece atop the box. Nicholas Masamba had a go at it. It was dangerous but it weaved just wide.
Seven minutes into the second half, Michael Isabwa forced a corner. His delivery was good but Jessey Kajuba’s connection – a header – ended up with keeper Jacob Osano.
Two minutes earlier Osano had been forced to save another Kajuba effort; a long dangerous shot.
Earlier in the 40th minute of the first half, City Stars could have topped up on Shitu’s goal had Oliver Maloba, earning a first start this season, been precise with a loose ball presented to him by Aimo. He shot wide from outside the box with an empty net at his mercy.
Four minutes after that near-miss, Muki made a goal attempt with a rasping shot off the box. It sailed just above the bar.
After registering the fourth goal, City Stars went for a historic fifth but a Pinchez shot for the far post deep in added time just whisked wide.
With the latest win, the fourth in six games this season, City Stars shoots to the second spot with 13-points, one-off record champion Gor Mahia.
Simba wa Nairobi will take a 13-day break necessitated due to two 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers by Kenya against Uganda and Rwanda.
Thereafter, the team will be away for a round seven clash to Bandari at Mbaraki on Sunday 21 November 2021.
Lineups
Nairobi City Stars: 16. Jacob Osano, 19. Kevin Okumu, 4. Salim Abdalla, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 26. Dennis Wanjala, 18. Sven Yidah, 30. Anthony Kimani-captain (5. Mike Madoya-76), 20. Timothy Ouma (Peter Opiyo-66), 21. Oliver Maloba (John Kamau-66), 11. Davis Agesa (9. Vincent Otieno Okoth-72), 32. Ezekiel Odera (29. Ebrima Sanneh-66)
Unused subs: 23. Stephen Njunge, 8. Calvin Masawa, 12. Edwin Buliba, 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo
A well-orchestrated goal by field skipper Anthony Muki Kimani in the 52nd minute canceled out Brian Marita’s freekick in the 36th minute to force a 1-1 draw for City Stars against Posta Rangers in a fifth-round FKF Premier League tie played at the Thika Stadium on Saturday 30 October 2021.
Muki – later name MVP – had given away a freekick just outside the box that Marita planted home for the opener to send Rangers with a 1-0 advantage at the break.
Interestingly, from the same spot he gave away the foul, Muki slammed home a sumptuous goal seven minutes after the restart after getting to the end of an Ezekiel Odera lay-up. Odera had been picked out in the box by teenager Timothy Ouma aka Babu.
— Official Nairobi City Stars Fc (@NrbCityStars) October 30, 2021
Simba wa Nairobi’s game plan was distorted very early on when forward Nicholas Kipkirui was forced out of the game as early as the 17th minute after receiving a cut above his right eye when going up for a knockdown.
He had been forced out of a game against Wazito at the same grounds in similar circumstances close to a week back. On both occasions, he was replaced by speedster Rodgers Okuse Okumu.
Four minutes into the game, Rangers’ had the first real chance to activate the scoresheet when Vincent Wasambo arrived in the box only to send a ball just wide with City Stars keeper Jacob Osano beaten.
— Official Nairobi City Stars Fc (@NrbCityStars) October 30, 2021
City Stars had a chance to go 1-0 up in the 20th minute when Okuse, with a darting run, found himself at a vantage spot in the box to receive a Timothy Ouma pinpoint pass. He shockingly skied the ball.
That was two minutes after Muki had blasted a freekick into the Posta wall after Victor Majid had fouled Ouma.
Five minutes after that freekick, Okuse rounded his marker only to take the ball out with his speed when the intent was to deliver a cutback.
On 28 minutes Ouma burst into the Rangers box only to be mugged off the ball as Rangers neutralized the danger.
The next minute Rangers were in the City Stars box only for Lennox, a former Mathare United stopper, to lunge at the ball to clear it out.
Two minutes later it was another freekick for City Stars outside the box won by Ouma. Dennis Wanjala effort earned an unsuccessful corner.
The breather arrived with a Davis Agesa header, off a Kevin Chumsy Oumu delivery, flying wide.
In the second half, the real danger, other than City Stars leveler from Muki, came off Rangers skipper Eliud Lokuwam who, found in space, burst into the box but just before he pulled the trigger. stopper Kenedy Vidic Onyango knicked the ball from his feet to save Rangers from going 2-1 up.
A minute after the hour mark, Rangers initiated a counter-attack, off a cleared corner by City Stars, that ended up at the side netting. Chrispinus Ochieng got to the final ball then beat keeper Osano only to be forced to a tight angle by Lennox to fire out.
At the 70th minute Rangers midfielder, Majid received a yellow card after a nasty tackle on Muki who thought he should have received a harsher punishment.
Majid was replaced almost immediately by Jackson Dwang. He was accompanied out by Chrispinus whose place was taken up by Sammy Odero.
✉ | 80′ It’s been all Nairobi City Stars in the second half
Posta Rangers back peddling as City Stars raid their defence
John Njau with two decent saves
The final quarter of the game saw Rangers add more attackers; Dennis Oalo, Francis Nambute, and later Timothy Otieno but City Stars defenders stood tall to the very end.
Posta Rangers: 29. John Njau, 28. Sammy Imbuye, 18. Michael Apudo, 17. Bernard Ondiek, 5. David Cheche Ochieng, 8. Victor Majid (10. Jackson Dwang-72), 39. Brian Marita (12. Francis Nambute-76), 4. Vincent Wasambo, 11. Eliud Lokuwam-Captain (14. Timothy Otieno-83), 31. Chrispinus Onyango (24. Sammy Odero-72), 40. Caleb Olilo (7. Dennis Oalo-76)
Nairobi City Stars: 16. Jacob Osano, 19. Kevin Okumu, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 27. Lennox Ogutu, 26. Dennis Wanjala, 18. Sven Yidah, 30. Anthony Kimani-captain, 20. Timothy Ouma (5. Mike Madoya-85), 11. Davis Agesa (21. Oliver Maloba-46), 17. Nicholas Kipkirui (7. Rodgers Okumu-17), 32. Ezekiel Odera (24. Erick Ombija-65)
Unused subs: 23. Stephen Njunge, 8. Calvin Masawa, 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo, 4. Salim Abdallah, 9. Vincent Otieno Okoth
Not considered: 6. Ronney Kola, 22. Wycliffe Otieno (both injured) 1. Elvis Ochoro, 10. Peter Opiyo, 12. Edwin Buliba, 14. Rowland Makati, 15. John Kamau, 28. Herit Mungai, 29. Ebrima Sanneh, 3. Charles Otieno
Coach: Nicholas Muyoti
Yellow cards
87-24. Erick Ombija (Nairobi City Stars)
69 -8. Victor Majid (Posta Rangers)
60-21. Oliver Maloba (Nairobi City Stars)
