Nairobi City Stars

Tag: Dan Sserunkuma

  • Kelvin Etemesi sets new Nairobi City Stars record

    Kelvin Etemesi sets new Nairobi City Stars record

    Heroics by Nairobi City Stars’ star boy Kelvin Etemesi on Monday 29 May 2023 against AFC Leopards, where he scored a brace to earn a come-from-behind 2-1 win during a matchday 31 premier league tie, has moved to the top of a rare club record.

    The Monday brace for Etemesi was his fourth this season making him the first player to achieve that feat at City Stars in the Kenyan topflight league since the 2005/6 premier league season.

    Etemesi has now gone past Samuel Ouma who scored three braces that season. He top-scored for the club – then known as World Hope – with 13 goals.

    In the Monday game, Etemesi finished off an Edwin Buliba delivery in the 64th minute to cancel Victor Omune’s 18th-minute opener. He grabbed the winner in the 89th minute after pouncing on a James Mazembe assist.

    Not only did he break the record of braces scored across 15 years in the Kenyan top league, but it also ended a 16-year wait of City Stars never beating AFC Leopards in an away game.

    Further, his goals guaranteed Nairobi City Stars’ premier league status as the team moved to the 33-point mark from 31 games, opening a ten-point buffer with three rounds of play left.

    The club – then known as World Hope – last beat Leopards (1-0) on 22 January 2006 in Nyayo Stadium during a 14th-round clash in the 2005/6 season. Steve Biko scored the lone goal in the 12th minute.

    Between then and Monday, City Stars had only managed six away draws and four away defeats against AFC Leopards.

    Etemesi scored his first brace – and top-flight goal – in a 3-0 win over Mathare United on 29 Mar in Kasrani Annex. He skipped a game and followed it up with his second brace on 9 Apr in a 3-2 loss to Posta Rangers in Police Sacco Stadium.

    At that point, Etemesi drew level with past City Stars forwards; Ugandan hitmen Jimmy Bageya and Dan Sserunkuma who scored two braces in the 2009 and 2011 seasons, respectively, and Gambian Ebrima Sanneh in the 2015 season.

    He skipped another game and scored his third brace in a 5-2 win over Vihiga Bullets in Kasarani Annex which drew him level with Samuel Ouma.

    Etemesi missed out on a consecutive brace in the next game against Kariobangi Sharks at the same venue. He scored once in a 2-1 win.

    Those goals, added to his latest brace that separate him from the past club hitmen, brought his tally this season to nine.

    “Etemesi had a slow start to the season. But you can understand that he came from the third tier (Kangemi AllStars) and it took him a while to fully adapt and integrate into the team,” said City Stars team coordinator Samson Otieno

    “But when he got the hang of the premier league, we are seeing a totally different player in the second leg. He has the hunger, has no fear, and has become a go-getter and our go-to forward,”

    “It’s little wonder that the goals in him are now coming out and so far he has scored nine times in the second leg. I believe he will close the season with double digits,” added Samson

    So far, Etemesi has featured in 22 of 31 games this season registering 1,494 minutes. His nine goals have been scored in the last 11 games.

    Past braces (seasons, player, number)

    2004/5-Edward Karanja-1, Collins Tiego – 1
    2005/6-John Njoroge-1, Samuel Ouma-3
    2006/7-none
    2008-none
    2009-Collins Tiego-1, Jimmy Bageya-2
    2010-none
    2011- Francis Thairu-1, Dan Sserunkuma-2
    2012-Dan Sserunkuma-1
    2013-Bruno Sserunkuma-1
    2014-none
    2015-Ebrima Sanneh-2
    2016-none
    2017-2020 (not in the premier league)
    2020/21-Anthony Kimani-1
    2021/22-Peter Opiyo-1
    2022/23-Kelvin Etemesi-4

    Kelvin Etemesi
    Kelvin Etemesi up against Mathare United on Wed 29 Mar 2023 in Kasarani Annex. He scored a brace – his maiden premier league goal – as City Stars won the game 2-0
    Etemesi
    Forward Kelvin Etemesi celebrates one of two goals against Vihiga Bullets in Kasarani Annex on 16 April 2023 during a Premier League game. City Stars won the game 5-2
  • Odera talks up rare scoring record

    Odera talks up rare scoring record

    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.

    City Stars, Ulinzi
    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 0-0
    Odera, City Stars
    City 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 win
    City Stars, Odera
    Nairobi 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
  • Head to head: Nairobi City Stars (H) vs Tusker (A)

    Head to head: Nairobi City Stars (H) vs Tusker (A)

    Nairobi City Stars will host league leaders Tusker FC in a round 16 Premier League tie at Utalii grounds on Saturday 20 March 2021 starting 1pm.

    It will be premier league game no. 25 between the two since October 2004, and the first since October 2016, when the action is called on Saturday afternoon.

    From the previous overall matches, Tusker calls the shots having won 14 of the 24 past games. City Stars has won five and the other five have ended in draws.

    City Stars home games

    Broken down, in games hosted by City Stars, wins for Tusker are eight, two for City Stars and two are draws.

    City Stars (then World Hope) first hosted Tusker back in February 2005 at City Stadium and lost 1-0.

    The last game was back in February 2016 at Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos, that City Stars lost 2-1 from goals by Ekaliana Ndolo and Humphrey Mieno that cancelled out a Eugene Asike own goal.

    Only one scoreless game

    In the previous 24 games, Tusker FC has outscored Simba wa Nairobi 33 goals to 21.

    Interestingly, 23 out of the 24 games have had goals, and only once on 21 March 2008 at Hope Centre did a game end scoreless, in a 0-0 draw.

    Top scorer

    With a brace each in identical 3-2 wins in September 2009 and September 2013, Collins Tiego and Bruno Sserunkuma are the top scorers for City Stars against Tusker since 2008.

    They are joined by Dan Sserunkuma who scored consolation goals in identical 2-1 losses in 2011 and 2012.

    With a brace in a 2-1 win in 2015, Jesse Were is Tusker’s top marksman over City Stars since 2008.

    Were ties with Ekaliana Ndolo and Khalid Aucho who scored a goal apiece in two separate games.

    Never at Utalii

    Though the games have been many over the years, City Stars and Tusker have never faced off at Utalii Grounds. It’s an unfamiliar ground.

    City Stars had hosted the previous 12 games at City Stadium and Hope centre five times a piece, and once each at Nyayo Stadium and Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos.

    Coach

    In the upcoming game, City Stars head coach Sanjin Alagic from Bosnia is angling for his first ever game against Tusker.

    He will be coming up against former City Stars coach Robert Matano, a master of the local game, who was in charge of the Kawangware-founded team from late 2004 through to late 2007.

    Zedekiah Zico Otieno was in charge of the first ever game between the two back in 2004 before Matano took charge of the next five from 2005 to 2007.

    John Bobby Ogola handled two games in 2008, and once in 2016, German Oliver Page one in 2009 then Ken Odhiambo four from 2009 to 2011.

    Gideon Ochieng (1 game), Gambian Bai Malleh Wadda (2), Dutchman Jan Koops (1), Briton Tim Bryet (1), Nigerian Robinson Ndubuisi (1), Ugandan Paul Nkata (1), Gabriel Njoroge (1) and Ugandan Richard Tamale Pinto (1) were the other coaches to take charge of City Stars against Tusker

    Form

    Headed to the game, Tusker carries a win (1-0) over Ulinzi Stars as City Stars is reeling from the same margin loss to AFC Leopards in games played two weeks back.

    As Tusker recovered from a shock 2-1 loss to newbies Bidco United in the previous game to claw Ulinzi, City Stars loss marked the end of a three-game winning streak over Zoo, Western Stima and Mathare United.

    Summary

    KPL games: 24 – Tusker (14 wins), City Stars (5 wins), Draws (5)

    City Stars home games Vs Tusker

    26-Feb-05: World Hope vs Tusker, City Stadium, 0-1 (L)
    25-Mar-06: World Hope vs Tusker, City Stadium, 1-3 (L)
    29-Oct-06: World Hope vs Tusker, Hope Centre, 1-0 (W)
    21-Mar-08: World Hope vs Tusker, Hope Centre, 0-0 (D)
    12-Sep-09: City Stars vs Tusker, Hope Centre, 3-2 (W)
    19-Sep-10: City Stars vs Tusker, City Stadium, 2-2 (D)
    14-May-11: City Stars vs Tusker, Hope Centre, 0-1 (L)
    10-Nov-12: City Stars vs Tusker, Hope Centre, 0-3 (L)
    1-May-13: City Stars vs Tusker, City Stadium, 0-1 (L)
    21-May-14: City Stars vs Tusker, City Stadium, 0-1 (L)
    29-Mar-15: City Stars vs Tusker, Nyayo Stadium, 1-2 (L)
    27-Feb-16: City Stars vs Tusker, Kenyatta Stadium, 1-2 (L)
    20-Mar-21: City Stars vs Tusker, Utalii grounds, ??