— Official Nairobi City Stars Fc (@NrbCityStars) October 1, 2022
The tournament attracted four other Premier League teams; Kariobangi Sharks who were the host team, Bidco United, Sofapaka, Ulinzi Stars, as well as second-tier side MCF, and lower-tier side Rainbow FC.
“It was a very good tournament that came with new challenges. It gave me the opportunity to know how the team plays, and the system most preferred by the coach,”
“It also gave me the chance to understand the rest of my teammates as they played in a competitive environment,”
“I have learned so much that I didn’t know, and because of the tournament I can say I am now ready for the league,” concluded Kapen who joined City Stars for the season from Kibera Black Stars.
Kapen featured in three of the five games played by Simba wa Nairobi in the tournament: twice against Police – the group stage and in the final, and in the semi against tournament Kariobangi Sharks where he provided two assists.
Mohammed Hamudi Bajaber’s second-half strike canceled out a Francis Kahata header in the first half as Nairobi City Stars rallied to tie Kenya Police 1-1 in their opening Pro-Elite eight-club tournament at Kasarani Annex on Tuesday 20 September 2022.
The game opened proceedings in Group ‘B’ made up of Ulinzi Stars and second-tier side MCF.
Kahata was left unmarked in the box, and from the far post, headed in a David Ambulu delivery at the far post in the 39th minute for Police to take the lead heading to the break.
Simba wa Nairobi scored in a similar fashion in the 69th minute when Bajaber was left unmarked to receive a spill from keeper Job Ochieng for the leveler.
Samuel Kapeni had done well to keep the ball on the line and managed to release it to Newton Ochieng who floated a ball into the box that disturbed Ochieng.
Next up is a game against MCF on Saturday 24 Sept 2022 at Kasarani Annex starting 2 pm.
Lineups
Nairobi City Stars: 23. Steve Njunge, 8. Calvin Masawa (Captain), 4. Elly Kessy Osotsi, 5. Timothy Muganda, 26. Dennis Wanjala, 18. Clifford Ouma (2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo-80), 10. Peter Opiyo, 15. Newton Ochieng (21. Oliver Maloba-62), 20. Kelvin Etemesi (Andrew Kisilu-62), 31. Mohammed Bajaber (Daniel Otieno-62), 22. Samuel Kapeni (32. Ezekiel Odera-62)
Unused subs: 1. Elvis Ochoro, 16. Jacob Osano, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 6. Ronney Kola, 14. Rowland Makati, 28. Herit Mungai, 9. Vincent Otieno,
Out: 30. Anthony Kimani (leave), 7. Pius Omachi, 12. Edwin Buliba (both injured)
Kenya Police: 35. Job Ochieng, 22. Baraka Badi, 5. Musa Mohammed, 18. Harun Shakava, 26. David Ambulu, 8. Patila Omoto, 6. Marvin Nabwire (Lesley Otieno – 85), 6. Duke Abuya, 25. Francis Kahata (John Ndirangu-66), 9. David Okoth, 15. David Simiyu (Elvis Rupia-66)
Subs: Bonphas Munyasa, Yusuf Mainge, Soita Silicho, James Kibande, Charles Ouma, Kevin Ouma, , David Oluoch, Erick Kipkirui
Coach: Sammy Pamzo Omollo
Yellow cards
Kenya Police: 26. David Ambulu, 6. Marvin Omondi (55), 8. Patilla Omoto (80). 5. Musa Mohammed (90+) Nairobi City Stars: 10. Peter Opiyo, 18. Clifford Ouma (66)
Goals
Kenya Police: 25. Francis Kahata (39) Nairobi City Stars: 31. Mohammed Bajaber (61)
The 2021/22 FKF Premier League season is over for Nairobi City Stars attacking midfielder Oliver Maloba.
The flyer, at this best in the last few games, suffered rib fractures in the game against Kenya Police in Ruaraka on Labour Day after a collision with keeper Reuben Juma.
The collision occurred in the 75th minute as Maloba went for a goal. He lay on the ground for a few minutes before being taken to the ambulance for the remainder of the game to be stabilized.
“Following tests, Maloba suffered multiple fractures on two of his ribs and requires up to six weeks of total rest to heal. He is on medication and close observation,” said team physio Brain Otieno Odongo
Head coach Nicholas Muyoti has spoken about the abrupt absence of one of his main architects Maloba.
“Maloba had been a force, especially in our most recent games. It’s unfortunate his season has ended early due to injury. We will certainly miss him,”
“We have to move on though and his absence becomes a good challenge to the players available; they need to step up to take his place.” said Muyoti
On his part, a distraught Maloba said; “It is sad that the season is over. But what to do. Let me concentrate on healing.”
Maloba had featured in 23 of 28 games to clock 1,183 minutes and scored two game-winning goals in identical 1-0 wins over champions Tusker and Ulinzi Stars.
After sitting out of Kenyan Premier League action for 260 days, stopper Wycliffe Otieno returned to the pitch on 1 May 2022 during a matchday 28 FKF Premier League tie against Kenyan Police in Ruaraka.
Wycliffe aka Wiked, started in the game that ended 0-0 in what was his first premier league game since he suffered an ankle dislocation at the same venue against Mathare United on 14 Aug 2021.
Having fully recovered, Wiked had made the squad for the first time this season the weekend before, on 23 April 2022, against Sofapaka, but was an unused substitute.
On his return to the Nairobi City Stars lineup after 8 months and 17 days, Wiked clocked 70 minutes before trading his place with Lennox Ogutu to complete the game.
“I’m just grateful to the NCS family, technical bench, administration, teammates, and fans for the support they gave me on my journey to recovery
“I am hoping to clock more minutes, get more games under my belt, and positively contribute towards the team’s goals before the season comes to an end,” added Wycliffe
The return of Otieno, and his performance on the day, head coach Nicholas Muyoti talking;
“I didn’t expect that from him at all. After a very long layoff, he came in and did very well. It’s like he had never been off. Other than match fitness (lack thereof), he surprised us all with a very good performance.” said Muyoti
Now back to the pitch, Wiked has his work cut out with six more games left to the wrap of the season.
In his quest for more playtime, he has to contend for playtime against regulars Kenedy Vidic Onyango, Salim Shitu Abdallah, Edwin Malebo Buliba, and Lennox Capello Ogutu.
Wycliffe Otieno in action in a Premier League round 8 tie against Ulinzi Stars on Sat 16 Jan 2021. It ended 1-1Nairobi City Stars stopper Wycliffe ‘Wiked’ Otieno challenges Ulinzi Stars right back Brian Birgen to the ball during a Betking Premier League match day 25 on Sat 17 Jul 2021 at the ASK Showground. City Stars won 2-0
The end result was a 0-0 draw when Nairobi City Stars hosted Kenya Police in a reverse round 28 FKF Premier League tie played in Ruaraka on Sunday 1 May 2022.
The cagey affair could have gone either way but City Stars will have to thank keeper Jacob Osano to thank for pulling massives saves in the second half to register his eleventh clean sheet this season, and 12th for Simba wa Nairobi.
Police also survived the death when a Timothy Ouma freekick smacked the crossbar with the keeper well beaten.
Simba wa Nairobi had the earliest of chances to disturb Police when Augustine Kuta – who had been handed his first start ever at City Stars – floated a freekick in the second minute that Sven Yidah headed out at the far post.
A minute later Kuta was in the box Police and fired for goal only for his effort to get a clearance. The visitors responded immediately when Duke Abuya got the ball outside the box and fired straight at City Stars keeper Jacob Osano.
Two minutes later, Kuta was in the Police box again, only to fire high up. And again, Duke responded with a shot on the other end only for Osano to check the effort at the near post.
Four minutes later, Osano spilled a ball off a Duke shot, and the best striker Clinton Kinanga could do was hit the side netting from the rebound.
In the minutes that followed, Cliffton Miheso wasted a freekick and had a header go wide as City Stars wasted a freekick and a corner.
In the 34th minute, Sven received a yellow card, the first in the game, for an alleged foul on Abuya. Four minutes later Police stopper Silicho Soita was also carded for a check on City Stars striker Ezekiel Odera.
In between, City Stars stopper Wycliffe Wiked Otieno – playing his first game of the season, and the first premier league game since 14 August 2021 – saw his header off a Herit Mungai freekick fly just wide.
Police responded in the dying minutes of the first half with a long-range effort from Miheso that went straight to Osano. His freekick, later on, won fruitless back-to-back corners ending the action in the first half.
Inside four minutes of the second half, Police had two near-misses as Kinanga wasted a cross from left-back David Owino Ambulu as Miheso headed straight at Osano.
City Stars then tweaked their lineup bringing on Elvis Noor Ojiambo for Kuta who had been out marked after switching with John Kamau from the right to the left-wing towards the close of the first half.
City Stars spurred to life and Elvis’s sibling Timothy dinked the ball just past the goal as Kamau was stopped at the edge of the box with a run on goal.
Within three minutes as the clock read 55 minutes, center ref Dr. Peter Waweru Kamaku was forced to hand out three yellow cards; one to City Stars stopper Kenedy Vidic Onyango for a foul on Kinanga, and to Kamau for a high boot. Police skipper Musa Mohammed also got his booking after a challenge on Kamau.
At the hour mark, flyer Rodgers Okuse Okumu came on for Kamau and ten minutes later a double change saw the arrival of Lennox Ogutu for an injured Wycliffe Otieno and Nicholas Kipkirui for Odera. The next minute, Police brought in winger Alvin Mangeni for Miheso.
In between the changes, Timothy Ouma took a freekick that earned a wasted corner that went straight to Police keeper Juma.
In the 75th minute, Kinanga could have handed Police the lead but an agile Osano saved his point-blank effort.
Two minutes later there was panic at Ruaraka after a dashing Oliver Maloba collided with Police keeper Juma and the medics made an emergency rush to attend to him.
After close to three minutes of stoppage, he was stabilized but was unable to continue with the game. And with City Stars substitution slots already exhausted, the team had to play a man less for the rest of the game.
With the numerical advantage, Police raided the City Stars box but fluffed virtually all their chances. On the other end, Timothy had a freekick go straight to keeper Juma before his sibling Elvis fired a ball, off a Kipkirui effort, that ended up with to the same keeper.
In the final minute of the game, Osano did the unthinkable when he fingertipped a David Simiyu close-range would-be deciding header for a corner that Police failed to utilize. Simiyu had only been on the pitch for less than a minute after coming on for Silicho.
But the final drama of the evening rested on teenager Timothy who smacked the crossbar with a precise freekick in the fifth minute of added time. It earned a corner that yielded naught as the game came to a close.
Okuse, on full flight mode on the left, earned the freekick leaving right back Lusaka with a yellow card.
From the Labour Day result, City Stars remains fourth with 46 points as Police maintained the 13th spot with 31 points.
Next up for City Stars is an away game to Wazito on Sunday 8 May 2022 in Kasarani starting 3 pm.
Lineups
Nairobi City Stars: 16. Jacob Osano, 8. Calvin Masawa-captain , 28. Herit Mungai, 22. Wycliffe Otieno (27. Lennox Ogutu-70), 25. Kennedy Onyango, 18. Sven Yidah, 20. Timothy Ouma , 15. John Kamau (7. Rodgers Okumu-60), 29. Augustine Kuta (2. Elvis Noor-50), 32. Ezekiel Odera (17. Nicholas Kipkirui-70)
Unused subs: 1. Elvis Ochoro, 5. Michael Madoya, 12. Edwin Buliba, 26. Dennis Wanjala, 14. Rowland Makati,
Out:Out: 3. Charles Otieno, 4. Salim Abdallah, 6. Ronney Kola, 9. Vincent Otieno Okoth, 10. Peter Opiyo, 11. Davis Agesa, 19. Kevin Okumu, 23. Stephen Njunge, 24. Erick Ombija, 30. Anthony Kimani, 31. Mohammed Bajaber
Coach: Nicholas Muyoti
Kenya Police: 31. Juma Reuben, 13. Collins Lusaka, 5. Musa Mohammed-captain, 20. Duncan Otieno, 3. Silicho Soita (15. David Simiyu-89), David Owino Ambulu, 12. Charles Ouma, 24. Leslie Otieno, 23. Cliffton Miheso (17. Alvin Mangeni-71), 40. Duke Abuya, 21. Clinton Kinanga
Unused subs: 35. Job Ochieng, 18. Harun Shakava, 11. Erick Kipkirui, 7. David Oluoch, 28. Alex Luganji
Coach: Sammy Pamzo Omollo
Cautions (Yellow cards)
Nairobi City Stars: 18. Sven Yidah (34), 25. Kenedy Onyango (55), 15. John Kamau (57)
Kenya Police: 3. Silicho Soita (38), 5. Musa Mohammed (58), 13. Collins Lusaka (90+)
City Stars winger John Kamau goes for the ball against Kenya Police stopper Duncan Otieno during a 28th round FKF Premier League tie in Ruaraka on Sun 1 May 2022. It ended 0-0City Stars stopper Lennox Ogutu goes for the ball against Kenya Police during a 28th round FKF Premier League tie in Ruaraka on Sun 1 May 2022. It ended 0-0
