Nairobi City Stars

Tag: John Kamau

  • Nairobi City Stars in numbers; Sep 2019 – Mar 2020

    Nairobi City Stars in numbers; Sep 2019 – Mar 2020

    The Betika Super League (BSL) is at an indefinite standstill starting Monday 16 March 2020 due to an outbreak of Corona Virus. 

    Following the pandemic, not only did the BSL stop, but all leagues country wide and most across the globe.

    Two weeks into the forced break, we take a trip back to look at the numbers that defined Simba wa Nairobi’s season from 1st Sept 2019 to mid-March 2020 after 28 BSL rounds of play (27 actual played games);

    0: Away losses from 13 outings

    1
    – Assist provided by keeper Levis Lovae Opiyo, striker Jimmy Bageya, defenders Calvin Masawa and Salim Shitu Abdalla
    – MVP mentions for Charles Chale Oduro, Wesley Wiseman Onguso, Wycliffe Otieno, David Gateri and Bageya

    2
    – Goals scored by right back Kevin Chumsy Okumu
    – Times Peter Pinchez Opiyo, his sibling Lovae and center back Shitu have been named MVPs
    – Losses suffered in the season (1-0 and 3-1 at home to Kibera Black Stars and Coast Stima, respectively)
    -Number of penalties saved by keeper Lovae

    3
    – Goals scored by striker Ezekiel Odera (in 6 games), Shitu and Anthony Muki Kimani
    – Times Muki has been named MVP
    – Assists by teenager striker Vincent Jamaica Otieno and Gateri

    4
    – Assists by fullbacks Chumsy  and Wiseman
    – Goals scored by winger Gateri
    – MVP mentions for striker Davis Agesa

    5
    – Goals scored by midfielder Oliver Maloba
    – Assists by striker Agesa

    6
    – Goals scored by strikers Agesa and Bageya
    – Times Maloba has been named MVP (highest);
    – Maximum points (H+A) gathered from Shabana, Vihiga Bullets, Bidco United, Kenya Police, AP Bomet and Nairobi Stima

    7: Penalties conceded; 2 vs Nairobi Stima (A), 1 each against Mt. Kenya (A), Vihiga United (A), Coast Stima (H), Admin Police (A), Kenya Police (H)

    9
    – Goals by Gambian striker Ebrima Sanneh; 6 headers, 1 placed goal, 1 tap-in and 1 penalty
    – Number of 2-1 wins this season

    10: Assists provided by Muki (highest); 5 free kicks, 2 corner kicks, 3 passes

    11: Home games hosted at Camp Toyoyo, Jericho. Another 4 at Hope Centre, Kawangware

    12
    -Clean sheets (8 in 19 first leg games and four in eight second leg games)
    -Debuts to Lovae, Shitu, Wiseman, Wycliffe, Nahashon Thiongo, Cornelius Mwangi, Elvis Ojiambo, Eric Cantona Ochieng, Jamaica (Sept 2019), Pinchez, Azizi Okaka, Jacob Osano (Jan, Feb 2020).

    13: Unbeaten away games; 12 wins, 1 draw

    14: One-goal margin wins [2-1 (9 games), 1-0 (5 games)]

    18: Goals conceded (best defense in BSL)

    21
    – Number of wins this season
    – Games captained by Muki

    25: Squad for the second leg

    32: Highest digit shirt no. Belongs to Ezekiel Odera

    33: Players used this season

    41: Age of UEFA Pro coach Sanjin Alagic from Bosnia

    46: Total goals scored – by 13 players. Distribution; 13 tap-ins (28.3%), 10 placed goals (21.7%), 9 headers (19.6%), 8 shots (17.4%), 4 penalties (8.7%), 1 free kick (2.2%) and 1 own goal (2.2%)

    57: Bookings; 53 yellow cards, 4 red cards – distributed to 17 players

    64: Points attained this season

    74: Minutes clocked by left footed John Kamau across three games in his second stint at City Stars

    89.1 (%): Goals scored in open play (41 out of 46)

    90.3 (%): Minutes (2,195) played by keeper Levis – second most used player

    100 (%): Minutes clocked (2,430) by center back Shitu. The only player to play full minutes

    Note: Of 27 games played this season by City Stars one does not count – a 6-0 win over Northern Wanderers on Sat 28 Sept 2019. The team has since been disbanded. However stats from that game are still included herein

  • Sanneh spurred by Stima winner

    Sanneh spurred by Stima winner

    Four games into the 2019/2020 Betika Super League (BSL) season Gambian hitman Ebrima Sanneh had struck four times. And by round eight he had seven goals and was the league’s top scorer.

    At that rate it looked obvious that the league’s golden boot was his for the taking.

    Then the goals dried out for the leap master and header specialist and it took him another month to get goal eight of the season when he sent home a winning penalty against FC Talanta on 8 November 2019.

    And that was it. No more goals for the rest of that year and through the months of January and February 2020. What was worse an ankle injury kicked in while in training and from the competitive squad he dropped down the strikers’ pecking order.

    “I am worried that I am no longer scoring yet am doing everything in training. I am working very hard but the goals are not coming. I don’t know what the problem is. But I am really working very hard,” he said to club CEO Patrick Korir towards the end of the first leg in December 2019.

    The CEO’s response was simple; “Stop trying. Stop working hard; just go and score like you did in the first few games of the season,” was his response that seemed to surprise him.

    “Ok CEO, I will do my best,” he said albeit not with certainty

    After a whole of four months Sanneh found his leap to connect to a floated Anthony Muki Kimani corner to hand Nairobi City Stars a historic 1-0 win over Nairobi Stima in a top billed clash at Camp Toyoyo on Saturday 14 March 2020.

    It was the first ever home win for City Stars over Nairobi Stima in a second-tier game in five games across five seasons.

    The workings of three substitutes turned City Stars fortunes in that game. And it was Sanneh with a last mile finish.

    Wesley Onguso, who on tactical changes replaced right back Edwin Buliba, lobbed the ball from deep on the left channel to winger John Kamau who took up the place of another flyer David Gateri.

    Kamau forced a corner off Nairobi Stima right back Paul Kisiga for Muki to swing it to Sanneh.

    That goal certainly spurs him on as the league gets to the final bend;

    “It means a lot to me because it has really boosted my morale.”

    Even before stepping on to the pitch for the outstanding Azizi Okaka, Sanneh already knew it all rested on him to unlock the game.

    Nairobi Stima had been tenacious all through and had the game locked out of the reach of City Stars.

    “Sanneeeeh!” Shouted head coach Sanjin Alagic; “You have ten minutes to come on and win us the game,”

    This is as Sanneh warmed up alone on the sidelines under the watchful eyes of trainer Grace Wang’ondu.

    As he made it to the fourth official ready to make his entry in the 75th minute, Sanjin was on him again. He said; “You will be a hero. Go win us the game,”

    As Sanneh hugged Azizi on his way in, Sanjin turned to Kamau and shouted; “Kamau, Sanneh just needs one good cross. Give it to him to finish the game,”

    No cross came from Kamau but he delivered the decisive corner and the rest is history.

    Seven minutes to time Stima’s defense lynchpin Joseph Shikokoti was ejected from the game after a second bookable offence on City Stars striker Davis Agesa. Absence of the six-foot-seven back-liner left Stima exposed. And Sanneh explored it.

    And coach Sanjin was over the moon following his winning goal.

    “Sanneh’s return from injury excites me especially the way he reacted positively when he got the chance to play the final 15 minutes. And he scored a nice header for the crucial three points.” He said

    This was the umpteenth time that Sanneh had won it for City Stars. Early in the season his brace saw Simba wa Nairobi come from behind to beat host Vihiga Bullets 2-1.

    Days later he tapped home for City Stars to end Bidco’s unbeaten check with a single goal.

    In October he powered home a very late header for City Stars to sink a resolute AP Bomet at Toyoyo. In the same month he provided assists that saw Noah Abich and Oliver Maloba score winners against Fortune Sacco and Migori Youth, respectively. Then there was the Talanta winner in November 2019.

    The team can only hope that Sanneh’s rejuvenation continues all through the final ten games of the season.

  • Sanneh header dims Stima

    Sanneh header dims Stima

    Gambian striker Ebrima Sanneh came off the bench to power an 88th minute header for Nairobi City Stars to dim Nairobi Stima 1-0 at Camp Toyoyo in a Betika Super League (BSL) match day 28 game played on Saturday 14 March 2020.

    Sanneh came on for Azizi Okaka in the second half and within ten minutes his traditional rise to receive an Anthony Muki Kimani corner kick proved the difference in the game.

    The goal not only handed City Stars all points, to complete a double over Nairobi Stima this season, but it also ended Sanneh’s four-month league drought.

    He last scored on 8th November 2019 – a winning penalty against FC Talanta at Toyoyo. His latest was the ninth of the season that handed City Stars a first ever home win over Nairobi Stima.

    Nairobi Stima pinned down City Stars in the first 15 minutes with raid after raid but the hosts survived it to settle into the game.

    Returning striker Davis Agesa could have sent City Stars up in the latter stages of the first half but he failed to get a good shot on a delivery while inside the box.

    Into the second half a Stima forward broke past City Stars centre backs to the six yard area only to force a corner when an outright goal was the likelihood.

    The turning point of the game came in the 75th minute when Agesa forced Stima skipper and center back Joseph Shikokoti to a second bookable offence that led to a red card.

    With their defense kingpin out it was only a matter of time for Stima. And when Sanneh rose to Muki’s late corner the party was certainly over.

    The workings of three substitutes turned City Stars fortunes around to deliver the win. Wesley Onguso, who on tactical changes replaced right back Edwin Buliba, delivered a floated ball from deep in the left channel for John Kamau who took up the place of winger David Gateri.

    Kamau forced a corner off Nairobi Stima right back Paul Kisiga for Muki  to float it to super sub Sanneh to end the Toyoyo affair.

    City Stars has now moved up to the 64-point mark to open a ten-point gap over second placed Bidco United who sat out league games this weekend due to domestic cup assignments. Stima on their part have dropped a position down to fifth and are on 48 points.

    Lineups

    Nairobi City Stars

    Starting XI: 23. Levis Opiyo, 8. Calvin Masawa, 4. Salim Abdalla, 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 30. Anthony Kimani – Captain, 12. Edwin Buliba (5. Wesley Onguso-50), 2. Elvis Ojiambo, 10. Peter Opiyo, 25. David Gateri, (15. John Kamau-60′), 27. Azizi Okaka (26. Ebrima Sanneh-75′), 11. Davis Agesa

    Unused subs: 23. Jacob Osano, 17. Noah Abich. 6. Tedian Esilaba Atuto, 2. Eric Ochieng

    Out: 19. Jimmy Bageya, 3. Charles Otieno, 9. Vincent Otieno, (all injured) 32. Ezekiel Odera (suspended), 28. Kevin Okumu, 17. Oliver Maloba, 1. Ronny Kagunzi

    Coach: Sanjin Alagic

    Yellow cards; Salim Abdalla (21) Peter Opiyo (26), Elvis Ojiambo (65).

    Nairobi Stima

    Starting XI: 30. Edwin Ombwami, 4. Paul Kisiga, 5. Shela Mandela, 25. Joseph Shikokoti – Captain, 11. Levian Ochieng, 10. Alex Luganji, 8. Musa Oundo, 7. Dennis Ochieng, 22. Douglas Mokaya, 6. Patrick Mugendi, 20. Ahmed Ibrahim

    Subs: 1. Muhamad Kasule, 26. Said Adam, 21. Christopher Bukachi, 18. Frederick Ojwang, 19. Michael Onyango, 13. Caleb Olilo, 14. Dennis Alusiola

    Coach: Leonard Odipo

  • Kamau returns, Atuto joins in

    Kamau returns, Atuto joins in

    Left footed John Kamau, a winger cum left back, and center back Tedian Atuto Esilaba, are the latest arrivals at Nairobi City Stars.

    The two completed their entry to Simba wa Nairobi on deadline day – Friday 31 January 2020 – on short term deals to the end of the season.

    Kamau, a former Vapor Sports player spent a year at City stars but left City Stars in mid 2018 to join Tusker FC in the Kenyan Premiership. His return ends six months of league inactivity.

    Tedian, a former Bidco United player arrives from fellow National Super League (NSL) side Fortune Sacco where he was the captain.

    “I am back home. This is where it all started for me and I am glad to return and continue from where I left.” said a beaming Kamau

    On his part Tedian (pictured below) had this to say;

    “To join a team that is chasing promotion is exciting and challenging at the same time. I am glad I can now be part of that journey.”

    Commenting on the two arrivals, head Coach Sanjin had this to say;

    “Kamau provides us with good options on the left channel which will be very important to our course while Teddy (Tedian) solidifies our defense. We welcome them on board.” he said

    The arrival of Kamau and Tedian adds on to four other January signings; midfielder Peter Opiyo, winger Azizi Okaka, keeper Jacob Osano and returning striker Ezekiel Odera.

    They take up the places of eight who exited the club in the just ended transfer window; keeper Vincent ‘DC’ Khatili who has since joined NSL side Kibera Black Stars, defender Cornelius Mutiga Mwangi who is now at Mwatate United, utility back Victor Okulu who joined Mt. Kenya United as well as Peter Wainaina, Heritier Luvualu, defender Agustine Ochieng, striker Stephen Mweni and winger Nahashon Thiong’o.

    Summary of transfers

    In: Jacob Osano (keeper), Peter Opiyo (midfielder), Azizi Okaka (winger), Ezekiel Odera (striker), Tedian Atuto (defender), John Kamu (Winger/Left back)

    Out: Vincent Khatili (keeper), Augustine Ochieng, Cornelius Mwangi, Victor Okulu (defenders), Heritier Luvualu, Nahashon Thiong’o (wingers), Peter Wainina (midfield), Stephen Mweni (striker)

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