Nairobi City Stars

Tag: John Amboko

  • Amboko heads to class

    Amboko heads to class

    Nairobi City Stars legend and coach John Amboko has returned to class, this time to pursue a Confederation of African Football (CAF) ‘B’ license Diploma.

    The course, to be overseen by Football Federation of Kenya (FKF) instructors, as sanctioned by CAF, will be held at the Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE).

    Amboko, at Nairobi City Stars since 2002 – save for 2013 when did a season at AFC Leopards – had this to say on the course;

    “I would like to express my sincerest thanks to Nairobi city Stars for sponsoring my CAF B Course,”

    “Without your generous contribution, I don’t know how I would have managed it. This means the world to me,”

    “This has really eased my financial concerns regarding obtaining the CAF B License. By attending this course I am among the lucky few who were chosen from a list of more than 500 coaches who had wished to attend it,”

    “With the knowledge acquired after the 4 months, I believe I will be well equipped to help my team to even perform much better as compared to last season,”

    “Once again I really appreciate our chairman Jonathan for touching the hearts of many Nairobians.” added Amboko

    Nairobi City Stars team coordinator Samson Otieno added his voice to the latest development;

    “Adding capacity to our staff is part of our objective and we are happy to step up Amboko’s coaching credentials by facilitating his entry for a CAF ‘B’ course,”

    “In 2019 Amboko, as well as Tiellen (Oguta), was sponsored by the club to pursue CAF ‘C’ Diploma which they completed successfully,” added Otieno

    The course will span four months; from 6 September to 15 December 2021 and will be conducted in ten (10) modules.

  • City Stars back in training

    City Stars back in training

    Simba wa Nairobi resumed training on Wednesday 1 September 2021 ahead of the 2021/22 FKF Premier League season set to start, as earlier communicated by the Federation, on 25/26 September 2021.

    The return to training ends nine days of rest granted to the players after the close of last season soon after the season-ender against KCB on Sunday 22 August 2021.

    “We are now back in training after a much-needed rest. The player numbers are good as almost all players are back in town and raring to go,” said coach Amboko

    “We will pick it up gradually then up the tempo of the training as the days go by and as we prepare for the season kick-off in under four weeks time.” he added

    After light training to the end of the week, the team will take a weekend break before resuming next week for more sessions.

  • Head-to-head: Nairobi City Stars (H) vs KCB (A)

    Head-to-head: Nairobi City Stars (H) vs KCB (A)

    For the 22nd time since the year 2005, Nairobi City Stars and KCB will faceoff in the Kenyan top-flight league, this time in a season-ender in Narok on Sunday 22 August 2021 starting 3 pm.

    The upcoming round 34 tie is a historic one as City Stars and KCB have never met in the premier league beyond five Nairobi venues Nyayo Stadium, Kasarani, Ruaraka, Hope Centre, and City Stadium.

    What has traditionally been a Nairobi affair by two Simbas fighting for territory has now been taken to the Savanah out in Narok County.

    From the previous 21 games, City Stars has seven wins to KCB’s ten, the other three games ending in draws.

    But narrowed down to home games, City Stars has won five of ten games it’s hosted KCB. The registered three draws have been in City Stars home games. KCB has managed two away wins over Simba wa Nairobi.

    In the ten home games, City Stars has outscored KCB 12 goals to nine.

    Into the Sunday game, one major change is on coaching where City Stars will be led by John Amboko.

    During the first leg, Amboko was assistant to Sanjin Alagic who has since left the club following the expiry of his contract.

    On the other side will be Zedekiah Zico Otieno who masterminded KCB’s 1-0 win in the first leg.

    KCB sits second on the log with 59-points, three off-leaders Tusker, while City Stars is sixth with 45 points.

    Mathematically, KCB has a chance to go for the title while City Stars wants a high finish of closing it in the top five.

    Either must therefore win and of course be supported by other results from the final season results.

    Who wins this one?

    Summary

    KPL Home games vs KCB – 10; Wins (5), Draws (3), Loses (2)

    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, ??

  • Head-to-head: Nairobi City Stars (H) vs Posta Rangers (A)

    Head-to-head: Nairobi City Stars (H) vs Posta Rangers (A)

    On Saturday 14 August 2021, Posta Rangers will, for only the fifth time in the premier league, visit Nairobi City Stars in a matchday 32 tie to be held at Ruaraka starting 1 pm.

    It will be Simba wa Nairobi’s penultimate match of the season, one in which they will be seeking a first-ever win over a rugged Rangers who have held them to four previous home draws in the last encounters in 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2016.

    While the first and last of those games were held at City Stadium and Nyayo Stadium, the 2011 and 2012 games were hosted at Hope Centre. But for the first time ever, the two will face off at Ruaraka.

    The first two games ended in 1-1 draws and the last two in barren draws meaning that both sides walk into the Saturday on equal footing.

    In overall premier league games – eight in total – Rangers has two wins to City Stars one win, with the other five games ending in draws.

    During the first leg tie this season, City Stars came from behind with a goal from Peter Opiyo to cancel out Jackson Dwang’s first half strike for a 1-1 draw.

    Changes from the game then and now is in touchline personnel; Rangers was handled by Sammy Omolo and his understudy Pascal Ochieng while City Stars had Coach Sanjin Alagic.

    That has since changed and Stanley Okumbi is the man in charge of Rangers while John Amboko is the one handling Simba wa Nairobi.

    From the last set of games, City Stars is reeling from a 2-0 loss to Mathare United as Posta Rangers comes to the game with a point from a barren draw with Western Stima.

    Table wise, City Stars is up fourth on the log with 44 points, as Rangers is 13-points adrift in 12th spot.

    Who comes out tops in this one?

    Summary

    KPL Home games vs Rangers – 4; Wins (0), Draws (4), Loses (0)

    28-Mar-10; City Stars vs Posta Rangers, 1-1 (D)

    30-Jul-11; City Stars vs Posta Rangers, 1-1 (D)

    19-Feb-12; City Stars vs Posta Rangers, 0-0 (D)

    22-May-16; City Stars vs Posta Rangers, 0-0 (D)

    Nairobi City Stars
    Kenedy ”Vidic’ Onyango takes on a Posta Rangers player during a 7th round Premier League game on Fri 8 Jan 2021 at Kasarani. The game ended 1-1
    Nairobi City Stars
    Salim ‘Shitu’ Abdalla keeps tabs on Posta Rangers winger Eliud Lokuwam during a 7th round Premier League game on Fri 8th Jan 2021 at Kasarani. The game ended 1-1
    Nairobi City Stars
    City Stars striker Erick Ombija goes for the ball in a 7th round Premier League tie against Posta Rangers at Kasarani on Fri 8 Jan 2021. The game ended 1-1
  • Amboko focuses on the penultimate Ranger’s clash

    Amboko focuses on the penultimate Ranger’s clash

    Nairobi City Stars head coach John Amboko has trained his sights on the last but one fixture of the season against Posta Rangers set for Ruaraka on Saturday 14 August 2021 starting 1 pm.

    The Rangers’ fight shows up on his menu a week after he had a 2-0 fall to Mathare United at the same venue last Saturday, a result that ended his two-game winning streak over big wigs Tusker (1-0) and AFC Leopards (2-1) at the same venue.

    Against Mathare, Amboko was very thin on squad numbers due to injuries and suspensions and had to call on the rest of the lot for the game. Amboko was without seven regular starting players.

    Field captain Anthony Muki Kimani, right-back Kevin Chumsy Okumu and stopper Salim Shitu Abdallah were out suspended while Peter Pinchez Opiyo, winger Rodgers Okuse Okumu, forward bully Davis Beast Agesa and flamboyant Oliver Maloba were all out injured.

    In their absence, Amboko had to hand left-footer John Kamau only his first start of the season and utility back Edwin Buliba his second season start.

    Buliba started at right-back but mid-way through the first half had to move and partner Kenedy Vidic Onyango at center back following the untimely exit of Wycliffe Otieno due to an ankle dislocation.

    That led to the introduction of overall team captain Calvin Masawa as right back to clock only his third game of the season.

    “We as a team were disappointed with the result we got against Mathare United. We did not play well enough to harvest the three points,” said Amboko

    “Lack of player numbers, as well as unfamiliar combinations, had a bearing in the outcome of that game,”

    “For the next match against Rangers we are working hard to continue improving.” He added

    For the Rangers’ game, Amboko will be boosted by the return of five key players: Muki, Chumsy, Shitu, Maloba and Agesa.

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