Newton Ochieng’s return to the Nairobi City Stars squad for a game against Shabana on Sunday 4 February 2024 in Machakos suffered a massive setback after he was slapped with a straight red card.
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After things got heated, Newton Ochieng is shown a straight Red Card
— Official Nairobi City Stars Fc (@NrbCityStars) February 4, 2024
Tony, as he is popularly known, was handed his marching orders within seven minutes – alongside Shabana’s Prince Ayeko – after coming on as a substitute after being found in the thick of a scuffle.
“There was a bit of a push and pull and I went in to help contain the situation. Unfortunately, I was pointed out as the chief culprit. To my shock, the next thing I saw was a red card being flushed at me,”
“I will take the time out to focus on my training then return to contest the games that I will be eligible to play in,” he added
Tony has so far featured in ten of the 20 games played so far this season clocking 309 regular game minutes.
After exactly a year, flyer Pius Omachi was back on the pitch for a Kenyan Premier League match after coming on as a substitute on Sunday 4 February 2024 in a matchday 20 tie against Shabana in Machakos.
Omachi was introduced in the final 13 minutes of play in place of Samuel Kapen for only his second top-flight game.
He only just returned and his first game in the current season has come after being an unused substitute in games against Posta Rangers, and AFC Leopards.
Forward Yuto Kusaba made his Kenyan Premier League on Sunday 4 February 2024 with a cameo show against Shabana at the Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos during a matchday 20 tie.
Yuto, a Japanese National, came on in the 77th minute for Dennis Oalo to have a feel of the Kenyan top flight.
— Official Nairobi City Stars Fc (@NrbCityStars) January 19, 2024
Yuto becomes the seventh City Stars player to be introduced to the Kenyan top flight this season, and the 20th by coach Nicholas Muyoti in the past three seasons.
Yuto Kusaba on his FKF Premier League debut against Shabana in Machakos on Sunday 4 Feb 2024 during a matchday 20 tie. It ended 0-0Yuto Kusaba on his FKF Premier League debut against Shabana in Machakos on Sunday 4 Feb 2024 during a matchday 20 tie. It ended 0-0
Home team Nairobi City Stars earned a seventh clean sheet of the season after eking out a 0-0 draw against visiting Shabana FC during a matchday 20 FKF Premier League match held in Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos on Sunday 4 February 2024.
It was a game of few chances but City Stars will, largely, have to thank keeper Edwin Mukolwe for his heroics for protecting the lines on several occasions.
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Mukolwe makes a superb save to maintain his Cleansheet
— Official Nairobi City Stars Fc (@NrbCityStars) February 4, 2024
The second half of the tie saw two red cards flashed; one to City Stars substitute Newton Ochieng who had barely been on the pitch for five minutes, and Shabana defender Prince Ayeko for an off-the-ball affray.
With a point earned City Stars moves to the 34-point mark but drops from the pre-weekend second spot to fourth following other matchday 20 results.
Shabana: 31. Mustapha Oduor, 17. Brian Magare, 32. Price Ayeko, 26. George Onyango-captain, 5. Bernard Otieno, 15. Mark Okola (28. Eugene Mukangula-78), 20. Vincent Nyabuto (24. Alvin Ochieng-71), 16. Justine Omwando, 18. Enock Agwanda, 7. Japhet Lihanda (27. Wycliffe Nthatha-78), 10. Brian Michira (9. Mathew Tegisi-57)
Unused subs: Frederick Odhiambo, Lameck, Christopher Raila, 14. Maneno Lamela, 35. Rogers Aloro
Coach: Sammy Pamzo Omolo
Cautions Nairobi City Stars: 25. Brian Mzee (54), 5. Newton Ochieng (65-Red card), 7. Pius Omachi (90+) Shabana: 32. Price Ayeko (65-Red card)
Goals Nairobi City Stars: – Shabana: –
Striker Dennis Oalo up against Shabana keeper Mustapha Oduor as City Stars hosted Shabana on Sun 4 Feb 2024 during FKF Premier League matchday 20. It ended 0-0
Nairobi City Stars will host Shabana FC in the Kenyan topflight for the first time in exactly 18 years, 6,575 calendar days apart, during a matchday 20, 2023/24 FKF Premier League tie in Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos, on 4 February 2024 starting at 3 p.m.
NEXT UP ▶▶
MATCH DAY | #20
???? | Sunday 4th February
City Stars Fc ???? Shabana Fc
???? | Fkf-PL
⏰ | 1500hrs
???? | Machakos Stadium,#simbawanairobipic.twitter.com/tPJ64SGXKN
— Official Nairobi City Stars Fc (@NrbCityStars) January 29, 2024
Simba wa Nairobi – then known as World Hope – last hosted Shabana on 4 February 2006 at the City Stadium during a matchday 16 tie in the 2005/6 Premier League season.
That match ended 1-1. Then, Shabana opened the scores through Joseph Motori in the 36th minute but the hosts rallied for a share of the spoils through Samuel Akolo in the 88 minute.
That result was however nullified after World Hope was accused of fielding an illegible player handing Shabana a 2-0 awarded win.
Though it’s ages since Simba wa Nairobi hosted Shabana in the topflight, the Sunday hosts had taken in their upcoming foes between December 2018 and January 2020 while in the second tier, the National Super League.
City Stars won both games played on 20 Mar 2019 in Camp Toyoyo, and 1 September 2019 in Hope Centre, 3-1 and 2-0, respectively.
Into the upcoming game, City Stars sits second on the log with 33 points while Shabana is in relegation spot 17 with as many points from 19 games played.
Both come to the game in the wake of losses, City Stars parading a 2-0 fall to AFC Leopards, while Shabana tags along with a 1-0 loss to Ulinzi Stars in the last round.
On the touchline, Simba wa Nairobi boss Nicholas Muyoti will come up against Sammy Pamzo Omollo who has since taken over the Shabana onus as coach.
