Nairobi City Stars

Tag: Ezekiel Odera

  • 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.

  • Opiyo, Agesa back against Nairobi Stima

    Opiyo, Agesa back against Nairobi Stima

    Striker Davis Agesa and keeper Levis Opiyo are back in Nairobi City Stars lineup for the upcoming round 28 Betika Super League (BSL) clash with Nairobi Stima clash at Camp Toyoyo on Saturday 14 March 2020.

    Agesa plugs in to a vacuum left by another striker Ezekiel Odera who misses out for the same reasons that saw him out in the last game; two yellow cards from the previous game.

    Opiyo too returns from suspension to send debutant against AP Bomet Jacob Osano back to bench which in effect sees Ronny Kagunzi fall off the match day 18 squad.

    Other than Osano, there will be two other changes on the bench. Gambian striker Ebrima Sanneh and defensive mid Eric Ochieng make an entry in place of Jimmy Bageya and Charles Otieno Oduro.

    Bageya suffered a ligament tear in the AP Bomet game while Charles is yet to fully recover from a similar tear from previous games.

    Bageya and Otieno join recovering striker Vincent Otieno on the sidelines. Oliver Maloba who recently returned to the club is not yet fully fit.

    Nairobi City Stars lineup vs Nairobi Stima

    Starting XI: 23. Levis Opiyo, 8. Calvin Masawa, 4. Salim Abdalla, 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 30. Anthony Kimani – Captain, 12. Edwin Buliba, 2. Elvis Ojiambo, 10. Peter Opiyo, 25. David Gateri, 27. Azizi Okaka, 11. Davis Agesa

    Subs: 1. Ronny Kagunzi, 17. Noah Abich. 6. Tedian Esilaba, 5. Wesley Onguso, 15. John Kamau, 26. Ebrima Sanneh, 2. Eric Ochieng

    Out: 19. Jimmy Bageya, 3. Charles Otieno, 9. Vincent Otieno, (all injured) 32. Ezekiel Odera (suspended), 28. Kevin Okumu, 17. Oliver Maloba, 1. Ronny Kagunzi

  • Odera wins it in Kericho

    Odera wins it in Kericho

    Striker Ezekiel Odera was the toast for Nairobi City Stars as his goal inside the first 15 minutes delivered a 2-1 win over AP Bomet in a round 27 Betika Super League game played at the Kericho Green on Sunday 8 March 2020.

    Odera forced AP Bomet defender Japheth Ekuba into scoring an own goal in just the first minute then added a classic goal in the 15th minute to hand Simba wa Nairobi a 2-0 cushion heading to the break. Both goals were assisted by winger David Gateri.

    AP Bomet pulled a consolation goal in the second half to half the scores but Odera’s goal stood out and proved the difference in the game.

    Despite Odera’s heroics, he was to be ejected from the game late on after being given matching orders after earning a second bookable offence.

    Score-wise, it could have been worse for the home team had a Salim Abdalla tap in from a free kick not have been ruled offside, and a Jimmy Bageya thunderous shot not ricocheted off the horizontal.

    The win in Kericho ensured City Stars completed a double over AP Bomet having won the first leg tie at Toyoyo in October last year by the same scoreline.

    Three added points lifted City Stars to the 61-point mark from 25 games as they maintained a seven-point gap atop the league

    Lineups

    Nairobi City Stars

    16. Jacob Osano, 8. Calvin Masawa, 4. Salim Abdalla, 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 30. Anthony Kimani – Captain (5. Wesley Onguso), 12. Edwin Buliba, 2. Elvis Ojiambo, 10. Peter Opiyo, 25. David Gateri (19. Jimmy Bageya), 27. Azizi Okaka (15. John Kamau), 32. Ezekiel Odera,

    Unused subs: 1. Ronny Kagunzi, 17. Noah Abich. 88. Tedian Esilaba, 3. Charles Otieno,

    Yellow cards; 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 30. Anthony Kimani, 10. Peter Opiyo, Ezekiel Odera (x2)

    MVP: 10. Peter Pinchez Opiyo

    AP Bomet

    31. Fredrick Otieno, 3. Dominic Kipkirui, 27. Paul Ndara, 25. Gideon Kibet, 30. Japheth Ekuba, 2 Eli John, 12. Vincent Lubembe,  10. Dickson Mwangi, 14. James Kaleha, 7. Philip Wasai, 20. Chris Wilunda

    Subs: 19. Kevin Odongo, 18. Conrad Isigi, 2. Daniel Odhiambo, 5. Eric Chivatsi, 23. Brian Ngala, 21. Peter Juma, 11. Lawrence Kibet

    Coach: Sebastian Owino

  • City Stars completes double over Police

    City Stars completes double over Police

    A second half penalty from Ezekiel Odera ensured Nairobi City Stars beat Kenya Police 2-1 at Camp Toyoyo on Saturday 29 February 2020 in a Betika Super League (BSL) match day 26 tie.

    Odera’s goal from the spot after a Police player had handled in the box completed a City Stars comeback to complete a season double over Police.

    The visitors went up first when a counter attack saw City Stars keeper Levis Opiyo hack down a Police player on the edge of the box. Skipper David Oluoch stepped up to plant home the resultant six-yarder in the seventh minute.

    With minutes to the end of the first half, Peter Pinchez Opiyo was brought down by Police centre back George Gaunya after bursting into the box following his receipt of a long ball from City Stars backyard. He dusted himself up to score his maiden goal for City Stars sending the teams’ level at 1-1 heading to the break.

    The win margin could have been bigger had the outstanding Davis Agesa not been denied by Police custodian Juma no less than on three occasions – twice following perfect crosses from right winger Azizi Okaka.

    The Toyoyo win was the first ever while hosting Police adding on to a 3-2 first leg win in October last year.

    With all spoils on offer from the penalty laden tie, City Stars moved to the 58-point mark from 24 matches to improve their gap over tenth placed Police to 25 points.

    Simba wa Nairobi are now seven points clear of second placed Bidco United. While City Stars won on Saturday, Bidco went down 3-0 at home in Thika to visiting St. Joseph’s from Nakuru.

    Lineups

    Nairobi City Stars

    23. Levis Opiyo, 8. Calvin Masawa (Captain), 4. Salim Abdalla, 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 28. Kevin Okumu, 2. Elvis Ojiambo, 10. Peter Opiyo, 25. David Gateri (15. John Kamau), 27. Azizi Okaka (12. Edwin Buliba), 32. Ezekiel Odera (19. Jimmy Bageya), 11. Davis Agesa

    Coach: Sanjin Alagic

    Unused subs: 16. Jacob Osano, 17. Noah Abich. 3. Eric Ochieng, 5. Wesley Onguso

    Yellow cards; Davis Agesa x2 (red card), Elvis Ojiambo

    Kenya Police

    37. Reuben Juma, 25. Michael Anyonga, 24. George Gaunya, 29. Philip Ochieng, 26. Steve Baraza, 22. Samson Ndungu, 6. Martin Mutua, 77. Soita Silicho, 7. David Oluoch, 20. Alvin Mang’eni, 35. Hillary Ojwang

    Subs: Vincent Odhiambo, 2. Ambrose Kula, 21. Clinton Kinanga, 12. Peter Njoroge, 65. Said Jillo, 14. Peter Mwaura, 17. Abbas Khadeyo

    Coach: Charles Omondi

  • 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

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