Nairobi City Stars

Tag: Justus Basweti

  • Odera talks up rare scoring record

    Odera talks up rare scoring record

    A first-half Ezekiel Odera penalty for Nairobi City Stars against FC Talanta in the grand finale of the 2021-22 FKF Premier League season improved his tally of goals in the season to ten.

    The haul sent Odera, 34, to the City Stars record books as he became the first player to win the club’s golden boot for the third time surpassing three other players who had top-scored in over two seasons.

    Justus Basweti top-scored in the 2004/5 and 2006/7 seasons, Arthur Museve in the 2008 and 2009 seasons, Ugandan Dan Sserunkuma in 2011 and 2012, and Gambian hitman Ebrima Sanneh in the 2015 and 2019-20 seasons.

    Odera top-scored in the 2016 premier league and 2017 National Super League seasons with four and eleven goals, respectively.

    “Playing for Nairobi city Stars as always has been a joy to me as a player. The working conditions at the club have been favorable to me. The staff, playing unit, and coaching staff have been superb,” said Odera

    “I am happy and blessed and always proud to wear a City Stars jersey while representing the club.

    “As a striker, my job is to score goals and that has never been a problem for me because I enjoy my football at the club. That explains the reasons behind being the top goal scorer in three different seasons and that makes me proud,”

    “I am always thankful to my employers and I am hopeful that we will continue the good relationship with the club and help them achieve their objectives as a club.”

    In hitting double digits in the 2021/22 season, Odera surpassed the eight goals that made Sanneh and Peter Opiyo Simba wa Nairobi top scorers in the 2019/20 National Super League and 2020/21 FKF Premier League seasons.

    Notwithstanding, Odera’s overall goals were reduced to nine after one of his goals in the 3-0 win over Mathare United was negated following the expulsion of the club from the league.

    Odera currently sits third behind Basweti and Francis Thairu in the all-time City Stars’ scoring record with 33 goals.

    City Stars, Ulinzi
    Ezekiel Odera in action between Nairobi City Stars and Ulinzi Stars in a matchday 25 FKF Premier League tie on Sat 10 Apr 2022 in Ruaraka. It ended 0-0
    Odera, City Stars
    City Stars striker Ezekiel Odera against Wazito in a 29th round FKF Premier League match on Mon 9 May 2022. His penalty in the second half earned a 1-0 win
    City Stars, Odera
    Nairobi City Stars striker Ezekiel Odera is 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
  • Odera moves up in all-time scorers list

    Odera moves up in all-time scorers list

    Striker Ezekiel Odera Omulo scored the winning goal as Nairobi City Stars hit hosts Wazito FC 1-0 on Monday 9 May 2022 in a 29th round FKF Premier League match at Kasarani Annex.

    Odera’s goal, his eighth of the season, came via the penalty spot after Timothy Ouma was fouled in the box by a Wazito defender.

    The goal, the first penalty scored by City Stars this season, improved Odera’s goals in City Stars colors, in all competitions, to 32 to tie Gambian hitman Ebrima Sanneh.

    The two now sit third on the all-time scorers’ list behind legends Justus Basweti and Francis Thairu.

    In early April, Odera scored once as City Stars beat Bandari 2-1 in Ruaraka to level up with another club legend Arthur Museve on 31 all-time goals.

    “The most important part about the Monday’s goal is that it gave us a much-needed win in the league. The team had gone two games without a scoring a goal and I am glad to have ended that run,” said Odera

    With eight goals, Odera now matches the top scorers in the last two seasons; Peter Opiyo (2020/21) and Ebrima Sanneh (2019/20).

    Odera leads the scorer’s pack at Simba wa Nairobi, and has three goals on Timothy Ouma and Anthony Kimani who have both scored five goals each.

  • Sanneh closing in on City Stars scoring record

    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. 

    Nairobi City Stars
    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
    Nairobi City Stars
    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
  • Head to Head: Homeboyz (H) vs Nairobi City Stars (A)

    Head to Head: Homeboyz (H) vs Nairobi City Stars (A)

    Nairobi City Stars will take on Kakamega Homeboyz for only the fifth time in a Premiership tie on Saturday 6 February 2021 at Bukhungu Stadium starting 3pm.

    The two have met four times before; twice in 2013 and 2016 seasons and Homeboyz carries a two win record, a draw and a single loss. In the four games Homeboyz has outscored City Stars four to two goals.

    In their first match up in May 2013, a Justus Basweti strike in the first half at Hope centre delivered a 1-0 win.

    The last encounter is one City Stars will always love to forget. On 30 October 2016 they went down 3-1 at Kasarani in a round 28 match that proved very costly as the team earned relegation from the top flight after 12 straight seasons.

    Nairobi City Stars are away to Homeboyz for just the third time and in search of their first ever win as the first visit in 2013 in Bukhungu ended in a barren draw and the second one in 2016 ended in a 1-0 loss at Mumias Complex. Andrew Murunga scored the lone goal.

    A connecting factor in the game is stopper Kenedy Vidic Onyango Ouma (pictured) who crossed over from Homeboyz to join City Stars in the current season. He’ll be leading Simba wa Nairobi to a familiar surrounding.

    City Stars head to the game under the auspices of Bosnian Sanjin Alagic who will become the fifth coach – and third foreigner – to face Homeboyz.

    Gambian Bai Malleh Wadda, Charles Omondi Korea, John Bobby Ogola and Ugandan Richard Tamale Pinto guided the team in the last four games, in that order.

    City Stars and Homeboyz have not had the best of results in the last five matches as each has registered three loses.

    From ten games, City Stars is twelfth on the log with two points on Homeboyz who are down at 15th place.

    While Homeboyz lost 1-0 away to Wazito in the last game, City stars was taken down 2-1 by Kariobangi Sharks.

    The upcoming Bukhungu affair will be a battle of the wounded. Who will win this one?

    Summary

    KPL Games: 4

    25-May-13, City Stars vs Homeboyz, Hope Centre, 1-0
    20-Jul-13, Homeboyz vs City Stars, Bukhungu Stadium, 0-0
    9-Apr-16, Homeboyz vs City Stars, Mumias Complex, 1-0
    30-Oct-16, City Stars vs Homeboyz, Kasarani, 1-3

    City Stars stopper Kenedy Onyango keeps vigil against two KCB opponents as the two faced off at Kasarani on Fri 4 Dec 2020 in a 2nd round premier league game. KCB won 1-0
    Nairobi City Stars
    Kenedy Vidic Onyango in round 10 Premier League game against Kariobangi Sharks on Sat 30 Jan 2021. Sharks won 2-1