A first-half Ezekiel Odera penalty for Nairobi City Stars against FC Talanta in the grand finale of the 2021-22 FKF Premier League season improved his tally of goals in the season to ten.
The haul sent Odera, 34, to the City Stars record books as he became the first player to win the club’s golden boot for the third time surpassing three other players who had top-scored in over two seasons.
Justus Basweti top-scored in the 2004/5 and 2006/7 seasons, Arthur Museve in the 2008 and 2009 seasons, Ugandan Dan Sserunkuma in 2011 and 2012, and Gambian hitman Ebrima Sanneh in the 2015 and 2019-20 seasons.
Odera top-scored in the 2016 premier league and 2017 National Super League seasons with four and eleven goals, respectively.
“Playing for Nairobi city Stars as always has been a joy to me as a player. The working conditions at the club have been favorable to me. The staff, playing unit, and coaching staff have been superb,” said Odera
“I am happy and blessed and always proud to wear a City Stars jersey while representing the club.
“As a striker, my job is to score goals and that has never been a problem for me because I enjoy my football at the club. That explains the reasons behind being the top goal scorer in three different seasons and that makes me proud,”
“I am always thankful to my employers and I am hopeful that we will continue the good relationship with the club and help them achieve their objectives as a club.”
In hitting double digits in the 2021/22 season, Odera surpassed the eight goals that made Sanneh and Peter Opiyo Simba wa Nairobi top scorers in the 2019/20 National Super League and 2020/21 FKF Premier League seasons.
Notwithstanding, Odera’s overall goals were reduced to nine after one of his goals in the 3-0 win over Mathare United was negated following the expulsion of the club from the league.
Odera currently sits third behind Basweti and Francis Thairu in the all-time City Stars’ scoring record with 33 goals.
Ezekiel Odera in action between Nairobi City Stars and Ulinzi Stars in a matchday 25 FKF Premier League tie on Sat 10 Apr 2022 in Ruaraka. It ended 0-0City Stars striker Ezekiel Odera against Wazito in a 29th round FKF Premier League match on Mon 9 May 2022. His penalty in the second half earned a 1-0 winNairobi City Stars striker Ezekiel Odera is sandwiched by KCB players during the 34th and final FKF Premier League game at Narok Stadium Sun 22 Aug 2021. KCB won it 3-0
Ezekiel Odera’s lone goal that delivered a 1-0 win over Kariobangi Sharks on Saturday 6 February 2022 has brought him ever so close to the 30-goal mark at Nairobi City Stars.
The goal, his fifth this season, but 13th in the premier league over three seasons, saw him catch up with former club stalwart Jimmy Bageya on 29 goals.
Legends Justus Basweti and Francis Thairu are the only two players to have scored over 34 goals each at City Stars.
“All those records are an attraction to me and are the reason that spurs my performance,”
“I want to score goals that help the club achieve its’s targets but ultimately I wish to be the record goalscorer by the close of the season,” added Odera
In 2016, his first season at City Stars, Odera top-scored with four premier league goals and added one more in the domestic cup.
He went on to top-score for the club with eleven goals the next season in the National Super League (NSL).
After that season he took up other challenges only to return to City Stars at the onset of 2020 where he scored three league goals in the NSL contributing to the clubs’ promotion at the close of the coronavirus-halted 2019/20 season.
In the 2020/21 Premier League season, Odera scored four league goals and one in the domestic cup and has since added another five league goals in the current 2021/22 Premier league campaign that is halfway through.
Striker Ezekiel Odera celebrates his 53rd minute goal that handed Nairobi City Stars a 1-0 win over Tusker on Fri 30 July 2021 in RuarakaEzekiel Odera mobbed by Oliver Maloba after his goal against Vihiga Bullets on Sat 6 Nov 2021 in Ruaraka. City Stars won the duel 4-0Nairobi City Stars striker Ezekiel Odera sandwiched by KCB players during the 34th and final FKF Premier League game at Narok Stadium Sun 22 Aug 2021. KCB won it 3-0Goal scorer pats assist provider Oliver Maloba after City Stars went ahead against Kariobangi Sharks at Kasarani Annex on Sat 6 Feb 2022. City stars won the game 1-0
That happened to be the second, and last time, that City Stars hosted Homeboyz.
During the first ever Nairobi encounter, back in May 2013, City Stars won it 1-0 at Hope Centre. Club legend Justus Basweti scored the lone goal.
The Saturday game, at a whole new venue – Ruaraka, City Stars will be host Homeboyz for only the third time.
Heading to the game, City Stars sits eighth in the 17-team standings with 26 points from 19 games, and only ahead of ninth placed Homeboyz with a +1 goal difference.
Bosnian Sanjin Alagic will be up against Muyoti once again, this time to turn the tables and replicate, if not better the 2013 results.
In City Stars squad for the Saturday game are three players who were on the pitch on the day of relegation in 2016; Ezekiel Odera, Oliver Maloba, and Calvin Masawa.
The skipper on relegation day – John Amboko, as well as his co-stopper Arthur Museve, are part of the current City Stars technical bench in the capacities of coach and trainer, respectively.
Summary
KPL home Games vs Homeboyz: Total (2); Wins (1), Draws (0), Loses (1)
25-May-13: City Stars vs Homeboyz, 1-0 (W)
30-Oct-16: City Stars vs Homeboyz, 1-3 (L)
19-Jun-21: City Stars vs Homeboyz, ?
It will be Premier League game number 19 since year 2008, and the first since 2016, when Western Stima hosts Nairobi City Stars at Moi Stadium, Kisumu on Wednesday 23 February 2021 starting 3pm.
The upcoming game, the thirteenth round in the 2020/21 is a crucial one as both sides hope to pile up the points and move off the lower reaches of the 18-team standings.
History books
The archives confirms the two sides have played 18 times in the Premier League between 2008 and 2016.
Western Stima has registered seven wins, Nairobi City Stars three wins with the other eight duels ending in even Stevens.
Though the two last met in the Premier League back on 21 September 2016 at Nyayo Stadium, in a game Western Stima won 2-1, the two sides met twice again in the 2018 season while in the second tier, the National Super League (NSL).
In that year the two shared spoils after a 1-1 deadlock at Camp Toyoyo in April but Western Stima went on to finish off City Stars with a 1-0 win later in September in the reverse tie at Moi Stadium. John Oruko scored the lone goal.
In eight previous premier league home games against City Stars, Western Stima has managed two wins and as many losses, and four draws.
Up ahead of the afternoon clash, Western Stima will be buoyed by the fact that they beat City Stars in their last five premier league games from the second leg of the 2014 season all through to 2016. Four games just before the five wins all ended in draws.
Coaches
Bosnian Sanjin Alagic will be on City Stars touchline to change the dismal tide against Western Stima who are under experienced Juma Abdalla.
Sanjin will be the 12th coach to handle a City Stars game against Western Stima since 2008 after John ‘Bobby’ Ogola (3 games – 2 in 2008 and 1 in 2016), Oliver Page (1 game), Ken Odhiambo (4), Gideon Ochieng (3), Bai Malleh Wadda (1), Charles Omondi (1), Tim Bryet (1), Robinson Ndubuisi (1), Paul Nkata (1), Gabriel Njoroge (1) and Richard Tamale Pinto (1).
Past win
Sanjin will be seeking to break a run of nine straight premier league games without a win over Western Stima.
City Stars last win over the bogey Western Stima was on 21 May 2012 at Bukhungu Stadium. Levy Muaka scored at the stroke of half time to hand City Stars a 1-0 win.
Current form
Into the highlight game on Wednesday afternoon, Western Stima, with seven points, are 17th on the log as Nairobi City Stars are 13th with six points on their hosts.
The hosts come to the game wounded having let go a 2-1 lead in their last game to lose 3-2 to Homeboyz in Kisumu while City Stars carries a 2-1 win over Zoo FC in Nairobi.
Top scorers
Into the game, both clubs still have scorers from past matches available.
With three goals, Arthur Museve is City Stars top scorer against Western Stima. He has since retired and is now the team’s trainer.
Anthony Muki Kimani who scored against Western Stima at Bukhungu in July 2009, in a 1-1 draw, will captain the the side.
Ebrima Sanneh who scored once in a 2-1 loss at Nyayo Stadium in August 2015 is still in City Stars ranks.
Baron Oketch who scored the winner in that game after adding on to Wesley Kemboi’s goal will be leading Western Stima against City Stars once again.
Kemboi who is no longer part of Western Stima is the leading scorer against City Stars. He has scored a goal more than Baron, Francis Ochola and Job Omuse
Who will carry the day?
Summary
KPL Games: 18 (2008-2016)
Western Stima Home games vs City Stars
15-Mar-08, Western Stima vs World Hope 1-2 (W)
4-Jul-09, Western Stima vs City Stars, 1-1 (D)
30-Oct-10, Western Stima vs City Stars, 0-0 (D)
17-Sep-11, Western Stima vs City Stars, 1-1 (D)
12-May-12, Western Stima vs City Stars, 0-1 (W)
11-May-13, Western Stima vs City Stars, 2-2 (D)
9-Aug-14, Western Stima vs City Stars, 1-0 (L)
25-Mar-15, Western Stima vs City Stars, 2-1 (L)
21-Feb-16, Western Stima vs City Stars 2-0 (L)
16-Sep-18, Western Stima vs City Stars 1-0 (L) *NSL
His two latest goals brings his tally of goals at City Stars in call competitions to 32 surpassing club legend Arthur Museve’s 31 goals scored between 2007 and 2019.
In Kitui, Sanneh came off the bench to score the second goal of the game off a long range Wesley Onguso throw-in then added a his second in the closing minutes off a floated ball into the box by right back Kevin Chumsy Okumu.
His goals added on to Timothy Noor Ouma’s leveler and one other from Davis Agesa that collectively completed the turnaround win after City Stars had gone behind to an Evans Mutuse header.
Sanneh’s latest brace improves his goals tally in domestic cup competitions to six as he added on to the four he scored in a 6-0 whacking of Transfoc FC back on 20 June 2015 in Kasarani. He is now three clear of legend Justus Basweti in Cup games.
With 32 goals, Sanneh has now moved away from Jimmy Bageya (30) to third in the all-time list and is just behind leader Justus Basweti (35) and Francis Thairu (34).
“I am so happy to come back (from injury) to score my first goals this season. It’s a great achievement and I am really happy and grateful,” said Sanneh
“I thank my team mates and coach because without them I couldn’t have done it. I hope to score more goals to help my team be in a good position in the league.” added Sanneh
Adding his voice to Sanneh’s achievement, head Coach Sanjin Alagic had this to say;
“I’m really happy Sanneh has returned back to team, we have definitely missed his goals this season,”
“He is back from injury and as I said before he needed time to come back to the right shape. But he is working very hard and he has already started to score goals and that’s very important for us.”
Sanneh is now expected to shift his goal scoring touch to the Premier League that resumes at the weekend when City Stars takes on Zoo FC from Kericho on Saturday 20 February 2021 at Kasarani.
Note:Sanneh’s two (2) league goals – one against Kenya Police on 14 Apr 2019 (abandoned at 1-1, later awarded to Police as 2-0) and Northern Wanderers on 28 Sep 2019 (ended 6-0 but later Wanderers were expelled from the league with all their results expunged from the table) not included in his overall tally.
Gambian striker Ebrima Sanneh celebrates the first of his two goals during a Betway Cup Round 64 game against Mutomo Tigers at Kitui Stadium on Sat 13 Feb 2021. Nairobi City Stars won 4-1 to progress in the competitionGambian striker Ebrima Sanneh during a Betway Cup Round 64 game against Mutomo Tigers at Kitui Stadium on Sat 13 Feb 2021. He scored a brace to lead City Stars to a 4-1 win
