Nairobi City Stars

Tag: FKF Premier League

  • Rogers Wasega aims at being the main character

    Rogers Wasega aims at being the main character

    After six months of apprenticeship at Nairobi City Stars, budding left back Rogers Wasega Obusu believes he’s shaken off his high school-ness, and is ready to delve into the premier league.

    The teenager has been learning the ropes since joining from Laiser Hill Academy in February of 2024, and, by his estimation, says he is ready for the upcoming season.

    “At the beginning, training was somehow very exhausting because I was only used to light training ,”

    “I experienced a whole new challenge due to the intensity compared to what I got in high school,”

    Rogers joined City Stars during the mid transfer window and soon made it to matchday squads against Shabana, Bandari, and Gor Mahia.

    “Sitting on the bench in those games gave me a hint of what the top flight is all about. Even without getting to the pitch you feel that it’s a whole new level and experience,”

    He also made it to five other match day squads against Bidco United, Kenya Police, Tusker, Nzoia Sugar, and Kakamega Homeboyz.

    After those eight appearances, his planned debut in the penultimate game of the season against Sofapaka in Dandora was not to be following a cut finger from a broken glass.

    “During the final days of the season I had adapted to the system but unfortunately I couldn’t get a chance to make that debut,”

    “I am now more than ready for the upcoming season. I believe I am going to be the main character in the team. Expect lot’s of assist from me.” summed Rogers

    In missing the opportunity to make his debut last season, Rogers became the only player besides keeper Julius Ombacho not to feature for Simba wa Nairobi.

    28 players featured across the season including nine top flight debutants: defender, Wycliffe Omondi, midfielders Brian Mzee, Abuyeka Kubasu, and Shem Odinga, forwards Robinson Asenwa, Gilbert Abala, Brian Mose Nyambane, and Yuto Kusaba, as well as keeper Byron Owino.

    Though with prior premiership experience, keeper Edwin Mukolwe, and centerback Sosthenes Idah too earned their debuts with Simba wa Nairobi last season.

    Rogers Wasega on the bench during a game against Police at the Police Sacco Stadium on 12 May 2024
    Rogers Wasega during a friendly game at the Gems Cambridge school against Ulinzi Youth on 30 May 2024
  • Edwin Mukolwe reviews past season

    Edwin Mukolwe reviews past season

    Goalkeeper Edwin Mukolwe reckons, in retrospect, that he, as well as Nairobi City Stars, had a descent outing in the ended 2023-24 FKF Premier League season.

    Simba wa Nairobi was for large spells in the top five towards the end of the first leg all through to the final set of games then dropped to end up a respectable sixth with half a century of points from 34 outings.

    “I had a fairly good season with the team, a group of very hard working mates who did their best,”

    “We were able to achieve some good wins, played some good football too, and also had some rough days for learning. That said, I look forward to an even better 2024/2025 season.” he added

    Mukolwe made 26 appearances – all full games – on his debut season with City Stars to earn 2,340 regular time minutes. He registered ten clean sheets.

    He was named team MVP for his heroics on five different occasions after games against Bandari in the first leg on matchday 14, and four times in the second leg against Shabana in match day 20, Kariobangi sharks where he saved a penalty in matchday 23, against FC Talanta where he saved two penalties in matchday 27, and against Sofapaka in match day 33.

    Mukolwe made it to the Team of the Week on three different occasions; in matchday 14 against Bandari, matchdays 26 and 27 against Muranga SEAL, and Kariobangi Sharks, respectively.

    Mukolwe was named the Fans player of the week after his heroics on matchday 27.

  • Robinson Asenwa talks up debut premier league season

    Robinson Asenwa talks up debut premier league season

    Coming straight out of third tier side Vapor Sports to the Kenya premier league, forward Robinson Asenwa never imagined he could find his footing almost immediately in the just ended 2024-25 FKF season with Nairobi City Stars.

    But he did, featuring in 29 of the 34 league games on his way to clocking 1,788 regular game minutes on his debut in the Kenyan topflight.

    “Thanks to God and the team for giving me the opportunity and trusting in me. Last season was a learning curve for me as a new player in the league,”

    “I also thank the team coaches for giving me the chance to feature for the team and I attribute the performance that I had to them as well as my teammates as a whole,”

    Asenwa scored four goals and had six assists, and three progressive passes. He made his debut on matchday three against Gor Mahia at Kasarani, and went on to score his maiden goal against Muranga SEALS on match day nine. He also scored against AFC Leopards, Bandari and FC Talanta.

    “Going by last season, I am more ambitious heading to next season because of the lessons I learnt. I have goals to achieve, mostly personal targets, but all geared towards elevating the team to it’s set objectives for the new season.”

    “I scored each of my four goals from four different positions upfront; playing out on either flank, as a point man, and as an attacking midfielder. I believe I can top up on that figure come because of my dynamism.” added Asenwa

    He was twice named as an MVP after games against Tusker in the first leg, and against Bidco United in the second leg.

    At the league level, Asenwa made it to the team of the week once during matchday 17 tie against FC Talanta in Ruaraka.

  • MD24: Nairobi City Stars 1 Bidco United 1

    MD24: Nairobi City Stars 1 Bidco United 1

    A goal in added time by Jacob Onyango is what Bidco United needed to force Nairobi City Stars to a 1-1 draw in Machakos during a 24th round, 2023-24 FKF Premier League tie on Saturday 9 March, 2024.

    Simba wa Nairobi had taken a 41st minute lead through Dennis Oalo – his fourth of the season – after being teed up by Robinson Asenwa.

    Asenwa who registered his sixth assist of the season, was later named man of the match.

    The weekend result matched the first leg score of 1-1 when the two sides faced off in matchday two in Kasarani Annex back in September 2023.

    With a point, City Stars improved to 39 points to temporarily move from sixth to fifth spot while Bidco moved up to 32 points and to the tenth spot.

    Next up for City Stars will be an away trip to Muhoroni Youth after a recess of three weeks, on Sunday 7 April 2024.

    Lineups

    Nairobi City Stars: 1. Edwin Mukolwe, 30. Rowland Makati, 8. Calvin Masawa-Captain, 15. Wycliffe Omondi, 26. Dennis Wanjala, 25. Shem Oluoch(18. Clifford Ouma-64), 31. Abuyeka Kubasu (2. Elvis Noor-76), 5. Newton Ochieng (19. Vincent Owino-64 ), 3. Robinson Asenwa, 10. Dennis Oalo (17. Brian Mose- 88), 9. Mohammed Bajaber (22. Samuel Kapen-76),

    Unused subs: 23. Byron OWino, 21. Yuto Kusaba, 24. Rogers Obusu, 27. Gilbert Abala

    Coach: Nicholas Muyoti

    Bidco United: 35. Daniel Odiwuor, 4. David Kalama, 8. Lameck Oloo, 15. Gabriel Wandera, 31. Peter Nzuki (33. Kelvin Mwaura-88), 21. Said Tsuma, 2. Jacob Onyango-captain, 10. Chris Opondo (19. Eric Michibu-57), 28. Douglas Mokaya (27. Ezekiel Okare-57), 22. Clinton Asiago (13. Emmanuel Mogaka-57), 38. Brian Mboya (11.John Kelwish-57)

    Unused subs: 1. Melvin Nderitu, 3. Thomas Wainaina, 6. Kassim Mwinyi, 14. Michael Omondi, 24. John Owira,

    Coach: Anthony Akhulia

    Cautions
    Nairobi City Stars: 8. Calvin Masawa (54), 15. Wycliffe Omondi (86), 19. Vincent Owino (90+)
    Bidco United: –

    Goals
    Nairobi City Stars: 10. Dennis Oalo (41)
    Bidco United: 2. Jacob Onyango (90+4)

     

  • Head-to-head: Nairobi City Stars (H) vs Bidco United (A): 2023-24 FKF-PL season

    Head-to-head: Nairobi City Stars (H) vs Bidco United (A): 2023-24 FKF-PL season

    Nairobi City Stars will host Thika-based Bidco United on Saturday 9 March 2024 in Machakos Stadium starting at 1 p.m. during a 24th round, 2023-24 FKF Premier League tie.Β 

    It will be the fourth home game for Simba wa Nairobi against Bidco United in the Kenyan topflight, and overall, the eighth meeting at that level.

    Yet, it will be the first meeting for the two out in Machakos. The last time City Stars hosted Bidco United was on 22 November 2022 in Nyayo Stadium during the season opener in the 2022-23 FKF Premier League season. Bidco United won it 2-0.

    From the previous three home games, Bidco United topples City Stars with two wins to one, scoring four goals against three.

    Earlier this season, the two faced off in matchday two in Kasarani Annex in early September 2023. It ended in a 1-1 draw.

    Once again, City Stars head coach Nicholas Muyoti will be coming up against Bidco’s Anthony Akhulia for the fifth time in the top league.Β For Akhulia, it will be his eighth premier league game against City Stars.

    Heading to the match, both sides will parade draws from their previous round of games. While City Stars shows up with a 0-0 draw against Kariobangi Sharks, Bidco United will show up with a 1-1 draw against Sofapaka.

    Tablewise, Simba wa Nairobi sits sixth on the log with 38 points, seven better than tenth-placed Bidco United.

    Who wins this one?

    Summary

    City Stars Home games vs Bidco United-3: City Stars win (1), Bidco win (2), Draws (0)

    25-Jul-21;Β Nairobi City Stars vs Bidco United, 1-2
    24-Oct-21;Β Nairobi City Stars vs Bidco United, 2-0
    20-Nov-22; Nairobi City Stars vs Bidco United, 0-2
    09-Mar-24; Nairobi City Stars vs Bidco United, ??

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