“We are happy to go to the next round. It wasn’t a demanding match on paper and I decided to give a chance to players who haven’t played much this year in the Championship (Premier League),”
“Unfortunately I must say some didn’t use the opportunity to prove themselves and I had to throw in players I would have wanted to rest for the Championship match against Zoo,”
“That brought a necessary positive impact on the team and it took us to next round of the Cup.” added Sanjin
With an entry to the second round, City Stars will be looking out for the draw of round 32 set for Thur 18 February 2021.
Games in the next stage will be played on the weekend of 17-18 April 2021.
Right back Kevin Chumsy Okumu, 22, returned to City Stars in the ended week on loan from Wazito FC for the remainder of the season.
Soon after clocking a full 90 minutes during a round 64 Betway Cup tie against Mutomo Tigers on Saturday in Kitui, Chumsy revealed the drive that brought him back to familiar ground.
“I’m glad to have started over the weekend in the Betway Cup which we won 4-1 and I got an assist in the match,” started Chumsy
“I’m excited. It’s another new chapter in my life,” he added on his return to City Stars before adding;
“Nothing is guaranteed but I’ve come here to work hard and help the team by bringing my experience. That’s the main aim. I just want to enjoy my football and get back playing again and get my feet back on the pitch.”
“I’ve obviously had a previous relationship with the manager (Sanjin Alagic) and the players as I was at City Stars for four years. I’ve played under Sanjin before, so he knows my qualities and what I can bring to the team,”
“It’s important that a player and manager have a good relationship. He’s got really good morals, he gets his team working hard and I’ve had a chat with him already and there are no guarantees- it’s down to me to put the work in and put the shift in, to get into the team and play well week-in, week out.” summed the youngster
Kevin ‘Chumsy’ Okumu in action during a round 64 Betway Cup clash against Mutomo Tigers at Kitui Stadium on Sat 13 Feb 2021. He had an assist as City Stars won the duel 4-1vKevin ‘Çhumsy’ Okumu of Nairobi City Stars against a Mutomo Tigers player during a round 64 Betway Cup tie at Kitui Stadium on Sat 13 Feb 2021. City Stars came from behind to win 4-1Nairobi City Stars players celebrate on of the goals during a 4-1 dispatch of Mutomo Tigers at Kitui Stadium in a round 64 Betway Cup tie on Sat 13 Feb 2021Kevin ‘Chumsy’ Okumu in action during a round 64 Betway Cup clash against Mutomo Tigers at Kitui Stadium on Sat 13 Feb 2021. He had an assist as City Stars won the duel 4-1
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 competitionGambian 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
Nairobi City Stars eased past Betway Cup round of 64 after registering a 4-1 come-from-behind win over Mutomo Tigers at Kitui Stadium on Saturday 13 February 2021.
Evans Mutuse sent the hosts 1-0 up six minutes after restart and the response for Simba wa Nairobi was immediate as Timothy Noor Ouma aka Babu grabbed an equalizer soon after.
Ebrima Sanneh then claimed a brace on either side of Davis Agesa’s goal to complete the comeback in the battle of the cats.
Watched by a sizeable crowd, the game received a wild cheer when Obagor Lubagakee had a sniff of goal eight minutes in.
Though the attempt forced City Stars keeper Jacob Osano to slip, it went just wide activating hope and belief for the Tigers.
Five minutes later a foul committed by stopper Wesley Onguso saw left back Johna Elijah send a freekick just wide as the hosts kept prodding the unsettled visitors.
A few minutes later Simba wa Nairobi winger Azizi Okaka sent a dangerous cross into the box that Vincent Jamaica Otieno failed to connect to.
Three minutes later action was on the other end but a goal attempt by an energized Johna Elijah dinked just past the crossbar to land behind the goal.
Between the water break and half time, skipper of the day Ezekiel Odera fluffed Bolton Omwenga’s cross while in the box. Moments later Omwenga curled a freekick just wide to leave the game tied at 0-0 heading to the breather.
Six minutes into the restart, an Issa Ibra cross from the right into the box, originally from a corner on the left, found an unmarked Mutuse who headed home at the near post past the City Stars defense that had assumed the ball had gone out. The cheer that followed from the crowd was deafening.
While the goal spurred the hosts many fold, it swung City Stars into high gear and three minutes later it was level at 1-1.
An Omwenga corner from the left received a low header-flick from Odera into the box for Babu to tap home for his first competitive goal in City Stars colors.
A triple substitution by City Stars head coach Sanjin Alagic a minute after the leveler led to a complete turnaround in proceedings.
Strikers Ebrima Sanneh and Davis Agesa as well as winger Rodgers Okuse Okumu took up the places of Odera, John Kamau and Okaka, in that order.
Minutes later, Erick Ombija who had come on for Jamaica at the start of the second half, rifled a cross from Babu just above bar as City Stars piled on the pressure.
In the 70th minute, ten minutes after Ombija’s near-miss, it was a different tale as Sanneh leapt highest to power home a header off a long Onguso throw in to send City Stars 2-1 up.
With six minutes left, surefooted Okuse evaded three markers from mid pitch into the box to force a corner. Omwenga delivered it well for Agesa to head home at the near post to stretch City Stars lead to 3-1.
Two minutes to time returning right back Kevin Chumsy Okumu dropped a long ball in the box for Sanneh who, after a few twists and turns on defenders, fired home the final goal of the game to confirm City Stars place in the round of 32.
City Stars played a man less from the 65th minute after defensive mid Charles Chale Otieno was slapped with a straight red after being adjudged to have had a nasty challenge on Mutomo Tiger’s substitute Mustafa Chenge.
Lineups
Mutomo Tigers: 23. Maurice Ochieng (GK), 2. Susan Mwanzia, 3. Johna Elijah (9. Jano Mwendwa-81), 13. Mutua Nzila (14. Mustafa Chenge-59), 7. Michael Otieno (Captain), 15. Issa Ibra, 6. Avon Kyalo (16. Daniel Musembi-59), 8. Wilber Kinene, 11. Evans Mutuse, 10. Obagor Lubagakee
Unused subs: Laiber Saad, Elijah Mwangangi, 4. Stanley Mwende, Hamisi Salim, Issa Musa, Willy Ngonyo
Nairobi City Stars: 16. Jacob Osano (GK), 26. Bolton Omwenga, 5. Wesley Onguso, 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 19. Kevin Okumu, 3. Charles Otieno, 27. Azizi Okaka (7. Rodgers Okumu-55), 20. Timothy Noor Ouma (2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo-70), 15. John Kamau (11. Davis Agesa-55), 9. Vincent Otieno Okoth (24. Erick Ombija-46), 32. Ezekiel Odera – Captain (29. Ebrima Sanneh-55),
Not considered: 23. Steve Njunge (GK), 10. Peter Opiyo, 21. Oliver Maloba, 4. Salim Abdalla (all rested), 6. Ronney Kola, 14. Rowland Makati (both on loan at Nairobi Stima), 12. Edwin Buliba (thigh injury), 18. Sven Yidah (thigh injury), 30. Anthony Kimani
Coach: Sanjin Alagic
Cards: 20. Timothy Ouma-42 (yellow), Charles Otieno-65 (Red), Rodgers Okumu-84(yellow) – Nairobi City Stars//13. Mutua Nzila-76 (yellow) – Mutomo Tigers
Goals: Evans Mutuse (51) – Mutomo Tigers//Timothy Ouma (54), Ebrima Sanneh (70,88), Davis Agesa (84)-Nairobi City Stars
Match officials: Peter Baraza (Match Comm), Samuel Mwaura (Centre Ref), Michael Marwa (AR 1), James Waa (AR 2), Samuel Kyalo (Reserve Ref)
Wesley Onguso and Wycliffe Otieno chase the ball during a round 64 Betway Cup tie against Mutomo Rangers at Kitui Stadium on Sat 13 Feb 2021. City Stars won 4-1Kevin ‘Çhumsy’ Okumu of Nairobi City Stars against a Mutomo Tigers player during a round 64 Betway Cup tie at Kitui Stadium on Sat 13 Feb 2021. City Stars came from behind to win 4-1Ebrima Sanneh celebrates one of his two goals during a 4-1 win over Mutomo Tigers in a round 64 Betway Cup tie at Kitui Stadium on saturday 13 February 2021
Right back Kevin Chumsy Okumu is back at Nairobi City Stars, albeit on loan from Wazito FC, for the rest of the season.
Chumsy served City Stars for four years but left mid last year at the expiry of his contract.
Return of the versatile Chumsy to Simba wa Nairobi is a big boost to the backline especially the right channel that lacked a natural fit.
“The beauty of his return is that he rejoins a setup that understands him well as he will find the same band of coaches and players he left behind,”
“He is most welcome home and now it is upon him to reclaim his old position in the team.” said team coordinator Samson Otieno
Chumsy, a key member of City Stars promotion lot last season, made his premier league debut while at Wazito during the clubs’ opening game against Kariobangi Sharks but found playtime hard to come by thereafter hence his return to a team he joined back in mid 2016 from Young Rovers.
While he was away, the right back position was interchangeably claimed by Wycliffe Wiked Otieno and Azizi Okaka.
After training for a few days, Chumsy is in line for a game in the domestic cup – Betway Cup – when the team travels to face Mutomo Tigers in Kitui on Saturday 13 February 2021.
