Nairobi City Stars

Tag: Jimmy Bageya

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.

Star boy ????????

Last minute goal from @etemesi10 #simbawanairobi pic.twitter.com/Jb7YqhkPEW

— Official Nairobi City Stars Fc (@NrbCityStars) May 29, 2023

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 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

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

June 1, 2023
Odera ties Bageya’s goal tally, eyes all-time record

Ezekiel Odera’s lone goal that delivered a 1-0 win over Kariobangi Sharks on Saturday 6 February 2022 has brought him ever so close to the 30-goal mark at Nairobi City Stars.

The goal, his fifth this season, but 13th in the premier league over three seasons, saw him catch up with former club stalwart Jimmy Bageya on 29 goals.

Club legend Arthur Museve, now a trainer with the club is on 31 goals, one ahead of immediate former Simba wa Nairobi striker Ebrima Sanneh.

Legends Justus Basweti and Francis Thairu are the only two players to have scored over 34 goals each at City Stars.

“All those records are an attraction to me and are the reason that spurs my performance,”

“I want to score goals that help the club achieve its’s targets but ultimately I wish to be the record goalscorer by the close of the season,” added Odera

In 2016, his first season at City Stars, Odera top-scored with four premier league goals and added one more in the domestic cup.

He went on to top-score for the club with eleven goals the next season in the National Super League (NSL).

After that season he took up other challenges only to return to City Stars at the onset of 2020 where he scored three league goals in the NSL contributing to the clubs’ promotion at the close of the coronavirus-halted 2019/20 season.

In the 2020/21 Premier League season, Odera scored four league goals and one in the domestic cup and has since added another five league goals in the current 2021/22 Premier league campaign that is halfway through.

Summary of Ezekiel Odera’s goals at City Stars

2016 – 4+1*
2017 – 11
2019/20 – 3
2020/21 – 4+1*
2021/22 – 5**

* Domestic Cup
** season ongoing

Striker Ezekiel Odera celebrates his 53rd minute goal that handed Nairobi City Stars a 1-0 win over Tusker on Fri 30 July 2021 in Ruaraka

Ezekiel Odera mobbed by Oliver Maloba after his goal against Vihiga Bullets on Sat 6 Nov 2021 in Ruaraka. City Stars won the duel 4-0

Nairobi City Stars striker Ezekiel Odera 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

Goal scorer pats assist provider Oliver Maloba after City Stars went ahead against Kariobangi Sharks at Kasarani Annex on Sat 6 Feb 2022. City stars won the game 1-0

February 8, 2022
Head-to-head: Nairobi City Stars (H) vs KCB (A): 2021/22 FKF Premier League season

On Friday 17 December 2021, Nairobi City Stars will host KCB in a tenth round 2021/22 FKF Premier League tie in Ruaraka starting 3 pm.

It will be topflight game number 23 between the two since the year 2005, but game number 12 that City Stars will be hosting KCB.

From the previous 22 games, City Stars has registered a total of seven wins to KCB’s eleven, the other four games ending in draws.

City Stars home games

But narrowed down to home games, City Stars has won five of the previous 11 games it’s hosted KCB. Three games between the two ended in draws.

KCB has managed three away wins over Simba wa Nairobi, the last one being a convincing 3-0 triumph in Narok during the 2020/21 season-ender in Narok on 22 August 2021.

That win confirmed a season double as KCB won the first leg tie 1-0.

In the eleven previous home games, City Stars and KCB each scored 12 goals, and conceded as many.

Jimmy Bageya

Considering City Stars failed to score a single goal in the two losses last season, Jimmy Bageya stands as City Stars’ last scorer against KCB.

That was in mid-October 2015 during the third last game of that season. Bageya’s 74th-minute header led to a 1-0 win for KCB.

The two teams never met again in the premier league after that game till December 2020.

Nicholas Muyoti

For a third straight league game, City Stars will be heading to a KCB game with a new coach.

During the first leg of last season, Bosnian Sanjin Alagic was in charge, and during the second leg, it was his deputy John Amboko who was on the touchline.

On Friday, Nicholas Muyoti will lead City Stars against KCB. Zedekiah Zico Otieno, the masterminded KCB’s who masterminded the home and away wins last season, is still at the helm.

Standings

Form-wise, City Stars and KCB carry identical results from the most immediate two league games: 0-0 draw and 2-0 wins.

Table-wise, KCB sits second on the log with 18 points as City Stars is further back at fourth with 17 points. Both have played nine games.

Who wins this one?

Summary

KPL Home games vs KCB – 11; Wins (5), Draws (3), Loses (3)

21-May-06; World Hope vs KCB, 2-2 (D)

9-Jun-07; World Hope vs KCB, 2-0 (W)

4-May-08; World Hope vs KCB, 0-0 (D)

9-May-09; City Stars vs KCB, 2-1 (W)

29-May-10; City Stars vs KCB, 1-1 (D)

10-Sep-11; City Stars vs KCB, 3-1 (W)

17-Oct-12; City Stars vs KCB, 1-0 (W)

13-Sep-13; City Stars vs KCB, 0-2 (L)

1-Aug-14; City Stars vs KCB, 0-2 (L)

18-Oct-15; City Stars vs KCB, 1-0 (W)

22-Aug-21: City Stars vs KCB, 0-3 (L)

17-Dec-21: City Stars vs KCB, ??

City Stars defender Bolton Omwenga taking on a KCB player during the season-ender on Aug 22 Aug 2021 in Narok. KCB won the game 3-0

City Stars striker Nicholas Kipkirui taking on a KCB player during the season-ender on Aug 22 Aug 2021 in Narok. KCB won the game 3-0

Captain’s affair; Anthony ‘Muki’ Kimani of City Stars vs his counterpart Dennis Odhiambo of KCB in a season-ender on Aug 22 Aug 2021 in Narok. KCB won the game 3-0

City stars midfielder Timothy Noor Ouma taking on a KCB player during the season-ender on Aug 22 Aug 2021 in Narok. KCB won the game 3-0

December 16, 2021
Sanneh closing in on City Stars scoring record

Gambian Ebrima Sanneh is within sight of becoming Nairobi City Stars all-time top scorer after his latest brace on Saturday 13 February 2021 led Nairobi City Stars to a 4-1 win over Mutomo Tigers in a Betway Cup round 64 tie in Kitui.

His two latest goals brings his tally of goals at City Stars in call competitions to 32 surpassing club legend Arthur Museve’s 31 goals scored between 2007 and 2019.

In Kitui, Sanneh came off the bench to score the second goal of the game off a long range Wesley Onguso throw-in then added a his second in the closing minutes off a floated ball into the box by right back Kevin Chumsy Okumu.

His goals added on to Timothy Noor Ouma’s leveler and one other from Davis Agesa that collectively completed the turnaround win after City Stars had gone behind to an Evans Mutuse header.

Sanneh’s latest brace improves his goals tally in domestic cup competitions to six as he added on to the four he scored in a 6-0 whacking of Transfoc FC back on 20 June 2015 in Kasarani. He is now three clear of legend Justus Basweti in Cup games.

With 32 goals, Sanneh has now moved away from Jimmy Bageya (30) to third in the all-time list and is just behind leader Justus Basweti (35) and Francis Thairu (34).

“I am so happy to come back (from injury) to score my first goals this season. It’s a great achievement and I am really happy and grateful,” said Sanneh

“I thank my team mates and coach because without them I couldn’t have done it. I hope to score more goals to help my team be in a good position in the league.” added Sanneh

Adding his voice to Sanneh’s achievement, head Coach Sanjin Alagic had this to say;

“I’m really happy Sanneh has returned back to team, we have definitely missed his goals this season,”

“He is back from injury and as I said before he needed time to come back to the right shape. But he is working very hard and he has already started to score goals and that’s very important for us.”

Sanneh is now expected to shift his goal scoring touch to the Premier League that resumes at the weekend when City Stars takes on Zoo FC from Kericho on Saturday 20 February 2021 at Kasarani.

Note: Sanneh’s two (2) league goals – one against Kenya Police on 14 Apr 2019 (abandoned at 1-1, later awarded to Police as 2-0) and Northern Wanderers on 28 Sep 2019 (ended 6-0 but later Wanderers were expelled from the league with all their results expunged from the table) not included in his overall tally.

Gambian striker Ebrima Sanneh celebrates the first of his two goals during a Betway Cup Round 64 game against Mutomo Tigers at Kitui Stadium on Sat 13 Feb 2021. Nairobi City Stars won 4-1 to progress in the competition

Gambian striker Ebrima Sanneh during a Betway Cup Round 64 game against Mutomo Tigers at Kitui Stadium on Sat 13 Feb 2021. He scored a brace to lead City Stars to a 4-1 win

February 15, 2021
Head to head: Sofapaka (H) vs Nairobi City Stars (A)

For the first time ever, Sofapaka will host Nairobi City Stars at Wundanyi Stadium on Saturday 23 January 2021 starting 3pm in what will be the 17th Premiership matchup between the two since year 2009, but the first since the 2016 season.

The previous games

As City Stars seek Sofapaka from their newest hideout, there are 16 previous games to look at.

On 26th April 2009, the latest entrant to the Premier League Sofapaka forced City Stars to a 1-1 draw at City Stadium in their first ever meet in the premier league.

A late Ezekiel Akwana penalty two minutes to time cancelled out an earlier one by Arthur Museve at the half hour mark for a share of the spoils.

Then, City Stars was coached by German Oliver Page as Robert Matano was the man behind the Batoto ba Mungu.

Though the first one started on a shared note, the 16th and last game is one City Stars will never forget as they were bamboozled 5-0 at Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos on 7th August 2016 in what stands out as their worst Premier league defeat in 328 games played in the top flight since their first season in 2004.

Samuel Okwi and Jaffer Gichuki scored in the first half before Noah Abich, now an assistant coach with City Stars, scored a penalty at the hour mark. Moses Odhiambo and Isaac Mutanga added more after Abich’s dead ball to complete the historic rout.

Overall, of the 16 games played, City Stars has won four duels, drawn as many and lost eight games to Sofapaka.

In games hosted by Sofapaka, City Stars has picked two wins, drawn once and lost the other five.

Last winning coach

For the upcoming game, Bosnian Sanjin Alagic will lead Simba wa Nairobi in Wundanyi where he’ll become the eleventh tactician to handle the team against Sofapaka.

While Oliver Page was the first in charge in 2009, Ken Odhiambo handled the next five from 2009 to 2011 where he delivered three wins and a draw.

Gideon Ochieng oversaw the two games in 2012 as Gambian Bai Malleh Wadda and Charles Korea Omondi took charge of the games in 2013.

Nigerian coach Robinson Ndubuisi led City Stars in the two games in 2014. He registered the fourth and last win (2-1) over Sofapaka on 29 March during the first leg.

Ugandan Paul Nkata, Gabriel Kingi Njoroge, John Bobby Ogola and Ugandan Richard Tamale Pinto each handled a leg of games played in 2015 and 2016, in that order.

Venues

Wundayi Stadium was only introduced to the Premier League this season and while it readies to host the 17th encounter between the two, the previous games were hosted at City Stadium (5), Nyayo Stadium (7), Kenyatta Stadium – Machakos (3) and Hope Centre (1)

Current form

Seventh placed City Stars heads to the game on the back of a 1-1 draw against Ulinzi Stars while Sofapaka are returning home reeling from a 2-1 defeat to hosts Nzoia Sugar in a game that saw them end up with a red card to their captain Lawrence Juma.

Sofapaka sits 13th on the 18-team log with seven points.

Top scorers

The top scorers on either side will not be be a part of the Saturday party at Wundanyi.

With four goals, Jimmy Bageya is City Stars top scorer against Sofapaka. He has since left the club.

With five goals, legend John Baraza is top of the leaderboard for Sofapaka against the Kawangware boys. He has since retired from the game.

With two goals, Anthony Muki Kimani is Sofapaka’s second best scorer against City Stars. Incidentally he is the current City Stars skipper but will miss the upcoming game due to a shoulder injury.

Summary

KPL Games: 16 (Sofapaka-8 Wins, City Stars-4 wins, Draws-4)

List of Sofapaka’s home games vs City Stars

* First score for Sofapaka, second for City Stars

27-Sep-09, Sofapaka vs City Stars, Nyayo Stadium, 1-2 (W)
8-Jun-10, Sofapaka vs City Stars, City Stadium, 3-0 (L)
8-Aug-11, Sofapaka vs City Stars, Nyayo Stadium, 0-0 (D)
7-Apr-12, Sofapaka vs City Stars, Nyayo Stadium, 2-0 (L)
30-Aug-13, Sofapaka vs City Stars, Nyayo Stadium 3-0 (L)
29-Mar-14, Sofapaka vs City Stars, Kenyatta Stadium 1-2 (W)
3-Aug-15, Sofapaka vs City Stars, Kenyatta Stadium 2-0 (L)
7-Aug-16, Sofapaka vs City Stars, Kenyatta Stadium 5-0 (L)

Sofapaka top scorers vs City Stars

John Baraza – 5 goals

Anthony Kimani -2

City Stars top scorers vs Sofapaka

Jimmy Bageya – 4 goals

January 22, 2021

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