Nairobi City Stars

Tag: FKF Premier League

  • Nairobi City Stars 2 FC Talanta 2

    Nairobi City Stars 2 FC Talanta 2

    Set-piece goals by Ezekiel Odera and Peter Opiyo on either half, that sandwiched FC Talanta’s two quickfire goals into the second half, settled the 34th and final game in the 2021/22 FKF Premier League game played in Kasarani Annex on Sunday 12 June 2022 at 2-2.

    Odera opened the scoring in the 14th minute via the spot, his tenth goal of the season, after the center ref penalized a Talanta player by awarding the spot kick, and a yellow card.

    City Stars led 1-0 at the break by were down 2-1 within minutes of the restart.  Two minutes in, winger Michael Jairo placed a high ball to the far post, out of reach of keeper Elvis Ochoro who registered his Premier League debut in the game.

    Three minutes later, Francis Kahiro sent the hosts 2-1 up when he buried a penalty awarded after striker Brian Yakhama was felled in the box. Unlucky Ochoro had a touch on the low shot, only to push it in.

    That lead lasted just a few minutes, as Opiyo, placed a freekick to the top corner from outside the box, his third goal of the season, what turned out to be the 45th and final strike of the season for Simba wa Nairobi. 

    Opiyo last featured for City Stars in mid-March away to Bandari in Mombasa and had missed the last ten game due to injury. He made his way to the pitch minutes towards the end of the first half for Elvis Noor Ojiambo and was accompanied by John Kamau who took the place of Augustine Kuta.

    With the draw, City Stars ended the season in fifth place with 49-points as Talanta closed their debut season in eleventh place with 44 points.

    In the game, Rowland Makati who made his top-flight debut on Monday against AFC Leopards, earned his first start alongside Mohammed Bajaber who earned his second straight start, as Kenedy Onyango returned to the starting lineup in place of Edwin Buliba.

    Makati and Bajaber lasted 70 minutes before being replaced by Davis Agesa and flyer Rodgers Okumu, respectively. Charles Otieno came on as the last sub for Odera in the 79th minute.

    City Stars won the first leg game at the same venue 2-1.

    Lineups

    Nairobi City Stars: 1. Elvis Ochoro, 8. Calvin Masawa-Captain, Kennedy Onyango, Salim Abdallah, 28. Herit Mungai, 18. Sven Yidah, 2. Elvis Noor (10. Peter Opiyo-44), 14. Rowland Makati (11. Davis Agesa-70), 29. Augustine Kuta (15. John Kamau-44), 31. Mohammed Omar Bajaber (7. Rodgers Okumu-70), 32. Ezekiel Odera (3. Charles Otieno-79)

    Unused subs: 16. Jacob Osano, 19. Kevin Okumu, 12. Edwin Buliba, 26. Dennis Wanjala,

    Coach: Ken Kenyatta

    FC Talanta: James Omusinde, 24. Alvin Ochieng, Thomas Wainaina, 5. Nicodemus Malika, Luis Masika, Castro Ogendo, Georson Likono (Rodgers Angal), Dennis Oalo, Francis Kahiro, Brian Yakhama (Kevintom Machika), 21. Michael Jairo

    Unused subs: Isaiah Wakasala, Peter Njammah, Erick Shikonoh, Maurice Dukully, Michael Omondi,

    Yellow cards
    Nairobi City Stars: 1. Elvis Ochoro (36), 15. John Kamau (90+)
    FC Talanta:

    Goals
    Nairobi City Stars: 32. Ezekiel Odera (14-Pen), 10. Peter Opiyo (52)
    FC Talanta: 21. Michael Jairo (47), Francis Kahiro (49-Pen)

  • Opiyo, Agesa in for 2021/22 league finale

    Opiyo, Agesa in for 2021/22 league finale

    Mid kingpin Peter Pinchez Opiyo, and Davis Agesa are the two changes made as City Stars plots for FC Talanta in Kasarani Annex in the 34th and final game in the 2021/22 FKF Premier League on Sunday 12 Jun 2022 starting at 1 pm.

    Opiyo and Agesa take up the place of Anthony Muki Kimani and Timothy Noor Ouma who have been handed rests from the season-ender.

    While Agesa returns after missing the AFC Leopards game on Monday, Opiyo makes his way back to the squad after close to three months, from mid-March when he clocked a full game against Bandari in Mombasa.

    From the squad that took on the same side in January 2022, changes are seven.

    Keeper Stephen Njunge, defender Lennox Ogutu, midfielders Oliver Maloba, Michael Madoya, Anthony Kimani, and Timothy Ouma are out, as well as striker Erick Ombija.

    Other than Agesa, the rest of the places have been taken up by keeper Elvis Ochoro, stopper Kenedy Onyango, midfielders Sven Yidah, Elvis Noor Ojiambo, forwards Rowland Makati, Augustine Kuta, and Mohammed Bajaber.

    City Stars squad to face FC Talanta

    Goalkeepers: 1. Elvis Ochoro, 16. Jacob Osano

    Defenders: 4. Salim Abdallah, 8. Calvin Masawa, 12. Edwin Buliba, 19. Kevin Okumu, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 26. Dennis Wanjala, 28. Herit Mungai

    Midfielders: 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo, 3. Charles Otieno, 7. Rodgers Okumu, 10. Peter Opiyo, 14. Rowland Makati, 15. John Kamau, 18. Sven Yidah, 29. Augustine Kuta, 31. Mohammed Bajaber

    Strikers: 32. Ezekiel Odera, 11. Davis Agesa,

    Out: 5. Michael Madoya, 6. Ronney Kola, 9. Vincent Otieno Okoth, 17. Nicholas Kipkirui, 20. Timothy Noor Ouma, 21. Oliver Maloba, 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 23. Stephen Njunge, 24. Erick Ombija, 27. Lennox Ogutu, 30. Anthony Kimani

  • Timothy Ouma calls for a fine finish

    Timothy Ouma calls for a fine finish

    Attacking midfielder Timothy Ouma, aka Babu, is rallying his teammates to end the season in style, with a win, when Nairobi City Stars hosts FC Talanta at Kasarani Annex on Sunday 12 June 2022 starting 1 pm.

    The upcoming fixture will mark the 34th and final matchday in the 2021/22 FKF Premier League season that kicked off in late September 2021.

    Simba wa Nairobi carries two losses and a draw to that game, a streak Babu wants to see brought to a halt on Sunday.

    “It’s been three games now without a win and we need to break that cycle with a win on Sunday in our final game. It will be the perfect wrap to a tough season.”

    Babu scored in the last two games against Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards but his goals were not enough to deliver wins.

    “It’s always good to score unfortunately the goals in the last two games were not enough to deliver positive results. I hope to continue with that luck and finish the season as it started; with a goal,” added Babu

    Ouma has had good returns this season contributing to 25 of 43 goals (58%) scored with seven goals, nine assists, and as many second assists.

    His first three goals arrived in the first three games of the season against Sofapaka, Kenya Police, and Wazito.

    Other than the latest two goals in the immediate past two games, his other goals were against Kakamega Homeboyz and Bandari.

    He has featured in 32 of 33 games, registering 29 starts and 17 full games, on the way to clocking 2,480 minutes.

  • Bajaber aims for more Premier League starts

    Bajaber aims for more Premier League starts

    Nairobi City Stars forward Mohammed Omar Bajaber built up on his two second-half appearances in the FKF Premier League against Tusker and KCB to a start on Monday 6 June 2022 against AFC Leopards in Thika Stadium.

    Bajaber, on loan from Starfield Academy, earned his first-ever topflight start during the matchday 33 tie that ended 1-1.

    He contributed to the goal scored with a second assist as he went on to clock 63 minutes before making way for Rowland Makati who went on to earn his top-flight bow.

    “I am glad to have made my first start in the topflight and I am hoping I will have many more to come.”

    “I want to thank the coaches for having the trust in me to deliver. It is unfortunate though that we did not win in that particular game but I am happy to have contributed to the goal.” said Bajaber

    His first start came a week after he was left on the bench during matchday 32 against Gor Mahia in Kasarani.

    His debut came in mid-May against Tusker in Ruaraka when he substituted Nicholas Kipkirui five minutes to time. He was to substitute the same player at halftime in the next game against KCB in his second game.

    Mohammed Bajaber, City Stars
    Nairobi City Stars forward Mohammed Bajaber in action against KCB during a matchday 31 FKF Premier League game at Kasarani Annex on Sat 21 May 2022. KCB won 3-2
    Mohammed Bajaber, City Stars
    Mohammed Bajaber in action against Tusker FC’s John Njuguna in Ruaraka on Sun 15 May 2022 during a matchday 30 FKF Premier League game. It was his debut day in the top flight. The game ended 0-0
  • AFC Leopards 1 Nairobi City Stars 1

    AFC Leopards 1 Nairobi City Stars 1

    AFC Leopards came from behind to force Nairobi City Stars to a 1-1 draw in a 33rd round FKF Premier League game played in Thika Stadium on Monday 6 June 2022.

    Leopards’ substitute Josephat Lopaga, on for injured Eugene Mukangula in the 25th minute, bundled home a loose ball in the 73rd minute to cancel out Timothy Noor Ouma’s 38th-minute opener for Simba wa Nairobi.

    Ouma hammered in a low shot past Maxwell Mulili in the box for his seventh goal of the season after connecting to a cut back from his sibling Elvis Noor Ojiambo for City Stars to take the lead.

    Ouma’s goal atoned for a glorious miss just two minutes earlier when he failed to tap in a perfect layup from skipper Anthony Muki Kimani who burst into the box unmarked.

    Within the first ten minutes of the game, City Stars threw away three freekicks as a long-range shot from Elvis ended up with keeper Mulili.

    The next ten minutes saw Leopards waste a corner, and a shot on the turn by skipper Eugene Mukangula.

    On 27 minutes Mukangula limped off with Lopaga taking his slot as the armband moved to Peter Thiong’o.

    Five minutes later, Ouma aka Babu broke into the box to receive a Muki pass but Mulili did well to cut the space and save the danger.

    Within the next two minutes, Sven Yidah attempted a shot in the box that flew wide as Babu missed a cutback from Muki.

    Matters changed in the 38th minute when Mohammed Omar Bajaber – in his first-ever Premier League start – returned a ball to Elvis who raced into the box to square the ball to his younger sibling Ouma for the lead.

    Five minutes later Leopards searched for the leveler but Lopaga’s shot on goal ended up with keeper Osano.

    Moments later, Maxwell Otieno had another attempt in the box only for his effort to go wide.

    The raids continued and just before the breather, City Stars stopper Edwin Buliba, playing his first game since mid-January 2022, made a goal-saving tackle.

    Immediately after the restart, City Stars wasted a corner as Ezekiel Odera’s flick flew wide. Another effort off a Calvin Masawa cross was headed out by Muki.

    12 minutes in, Leopards were in the Simba wa Nairobi box only to send the ball wide and the next minute, Elvis, dominant in midfield, fired took a left-foot shot for the top roof but Mulili did well with a fingertip save for a fruitless corner.

    Bajaber followed it up with another effort after dispossessing two defenders but his final ball ended up with Mulili.

    In the 63rd minute, Bajaber made way for Rowland Makati for his long-awaited Premier League debut. He had a decent shot on goal 14 minutes later but it went wide off goal.

    In the 73rd minute, City Stars’ backline failed to clear a ping-pong allowing Lopaga to bundle home the equalizer past Osano who failed to react on time.

    No further efforts from either side could top up on the goals leaving the spoils shared at 1-1.

    From the result, Simba wa Nairobi moved to 48 points to hang on to the fifth spot, two points, and a position ahead of Leopards.

    Next up for City Stars is the season-ender against FC Talanta on Sunday 12 June 2022 at a yet to be confirmed venue.

    Lineups

    AFC Leopards: 16. Maxwell Mulili, 11. Peter Thiong’o-Captain 2, 22. Collins Shivachi, 28. Zachary Njite, 15. Robert Mudenyu, 23. Lukhumwa, 19. Eugene Mukangula-captain (11,. Josephat Lopaga-27), 8. Brian Wanyama, 25. Lewis Bandi, 29. Maxwell Otieno, 18. Boniface Mukhekhe (18. Eric Mbithi-83)

    Unused subs: None

    Coach: Tom Juma

    Nairobi City Stars: 16. Jacob Osano, 28. Herit Mungai, 4. Salim Abdala, 12. Edwin Buliba, 8. Calvin Masawa, 18. Sven Yidah, 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo, 20. Timothy Noor Ouma, 31. Mohammed Bajaber (14. Rowland Makati-63), 30. Anthony Kimani-captain, 32. Ezekiel Odera (7. Rodgers Okumu -79)

    Unused subs: 1. Elvis Ochoro, 3. Charles Otieno, 15. John Kamau, 19. Kevin Okumu, 29. Augustine Kuta, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 26. Dennis Wanjala,

    Out: 5. Michael Madoya, 6. Ronney Kola, 9. Vincent Otieno Okoth, 10. Peter Opiyo, 11. Davis Agesa, 17. Nicholas Kipkirui, 21. Oliver Maloba, 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 23. Stephen Njunge, 24. Erick Ombija, 27. Lennox Ogutu

    Coach: Nicholas Muyoti

    Cautions
    AFC Leopards: 12. Maxwell Mulili (25), 18. Boniface Mukhekhe (81)
    Nairobi City Stars: 16. Edwin Buliba (90+)

    Goals
    AFC Leopards: 11. Josephat Lopaga (73)
    Nairobi City Stars: 20. Timothy Ouma (73)

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