Nairobi City Stars

Tag: Mwenesi Musalia

  • Promotion excites Coach Sanjin

    Promotion excites Coach Sanjin

    On the final day of April 2020, the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) announced the promotion of Nairobi City Stars to the top tier Kenyan Premier League (KPL).

    In their official communication later, FKF confirmed the promotion following their cancellation of all league’s countrywide due to the ongoing Corona virus pandemic that ended football activities in mid-March and has complicated return of games in the near future.

    By the time of stagnation of the Betika National Super League (NSL), City Stars topped the 19-team log with 64 points with a ten-point buffer over Bidco United who are also promoted to the top league for the first time ever.

    The news was icing to head coach Sanjin Alagic cake that he started baking from the beginning of the season in September 2019.

    Speaking from his base in Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina where he recoiled from the start of the Covid-19 partial lock down, the deliriously happy coach said;

    “I’m very delighted and proud of being Champions of NSL and securing promotion to the KPL, the place where NCS belongs,”

    “First of all I wish to congratulate my players for the amazing job they did throughout the season, they are most deserving for this success!”

    “This achievement was result of hard and dedicated work and it will not be possible without great support of our owner Jonathan (Jackson), CEO Patrick (Korir), coordinator Samson (Otieno), Foundation CEO Mwenesi (Musalia), and my coaching staff, our fans and all people in the Club who believed in us.” he added

    Sanjin arrived at City Stars in the first week of July 2019 for the season. He kicked off with organizing careful recruitment and a seven-week preseason.

    Of the 26 games he took charge off before the league prematurely ended, Sanjin led City Stars to 20 wins, four draws and two losses. That included an incredible 13-game unbeaten away run.

  • High stakes as City Stars face-off with Kibera Black Stars in derby

    High stakes as City Stars face-off with Kibera Black Stars in derby

    Jonathan Jackson Foundation (JJF) has introduced a Community Cup to be contested between Nairobi City Stars and Kibera Black Stars on Saturday 14 December 2019 starting 3pm at Camp Toyoyo, Jericho.

    This is during the National Super League (NSL) match day 19 clash.

    JJF acquired Nairobi City Stars back in April 2019 and are the club’s bank-rollers and the Cup being presented, dubbed JJF Jamii Cup, will be contested by the same teams in the first leg as well as second leg of the 2019/2020 National Super League (NSL). Its basic objective is to attract fans back to the stadium.

    Ahead of the mouthwatering Kawangware – Kibera derby on Saturday, Musalia Mwenesi, the JJF CEO shared his sentiments;

    “JJF Jamii Cup aimed at raising competitiveness of both sides as a Nairobi City Stars and Kibera Black Stars is a derby in its own right,”

    “In this initiative we as JJF are floating a Cup for the winner to be accompanied with a Kshs 20,000 cash prize. The losing team will walk home with Kshs 10,000. The MVP on either side will receive a pair of football boots,”

    “We plan to grow the initiative further in years to come and turn it to a major fan attraction event even at the point the two sides may end up playing in separate leagues.” Added Mwenesi

    City Stars CEO Patrick Korir echoed Mwenesi’s sentiments adding;

    “Over the years each Black Stars and City Stars meet the game is on a knife edge; it’s always a close call. This time we are providing fans from either divide a real platform to come cheer their teams to victory as there is a ready take-home right after,”

    “Ideally the game should have been played at Hope Centre in Kawangware, a ground both sides use for their home games, but with the facility closed for renovations till next year, the venue has had to shift to Camp Toyoyo.”

    FKF Nairobi West Branch Secretary General Caleb Ayodi Malweyi is excited at the concept and has given it full backing;

    “This is an interesting initiative especially the idea of getting fans back to the game. This and many more will excite the fans. And if fans see reason to come to the cheer their teams the better.” He said

    Should the game be tied at full time penalties will be called in to determine the winner.

    Heading to the game, 30 points separates the two teams as Nairobi City Stars tops the 19-team NSL with 43 points and Kibera Black Stars is 16th with 13 points.

  • City Stars to gain in FKF-Betika multi-million partnership

    City Stars to gain in FKF-Betika multi-million partnership

    Nairobi City Stars, as well as all other teams in the second tier National Super League (NSL), are set to earn Kshs 750,000 each season for three seasons, as well as receive 20 quality footballs, after the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) entered a partnership with leading betting firm Betika on Tuesday 11 November 2019.

    According to the partnership deal, Betika will pump in Kshs 90 million to FKF to sponsor the NSL for three years starting with the ongoing 2019/2020 season that is almost half way through.

    The sponsorship deal was announced through the recently launched ‘Betika Na Community Initiative’, which aims to invest in the youth by nurturing talent through Sports, Arts and Culture events.

    Through the sponsorship, Betika will be the sole and official grassroots football partner for FKF with Ksh 45M going directly to financing grassroot football activities across the 47 counties.

    At the Tuesday presser, Mr John Mbatiah, the firm’s Commercial Head said; “This partnership confirms our commitment to investing in the community through sports, arts and culture with football being a key focus. Through this, we aim to improve the standards of the game as we nurture talent both at the grassroot and national level. We also believe we can influence positive change among the youth through creating an atmosphere of talents and skills development in sports. These are the same players who will hopefully steer Kenya to qualify for the 2022 World Cup”

    FKF President, Mr Nick Mwendwa, lauded Betika for coming on board at a crucial time by saying, “Today we mark yet another milestone by launching a partnership for our NSL clubs which we believe will go a long way towards not only easing the clubs’ financial obligations but also increasing the leagues’ monetary incentive.”

    Away from the launch and adding his voice on the latest development was Mwenesi Musalia the current CEO of Jonathan Jackson Foundation (JJF), the sponsor of Nairobi City Stars. He said;

    “This partnership is most welcome. Any little steps towards bringing sponsors to the NSL is well received by City Stars. The incoming finances will help in easing off a burden of costs as we plan our games. We thank both FKF and Betika in striking this deal that will go a long way in adding the value as well as competitiveness of the NSL.”

    Following the FKF-Betika marriage, the second tier will now be known as Betika National Super League.

    It comes at a time the league has completed 13 rounds and on the eve of the next set of matches to be played on Wednesday 13 November 2019.

  • Amboko, Oguta earn CAF C Diploma

    Amboko, Oguta earn CAF C Diploma

    After a month of classes, two Nairobi City Stars coaches John Amboko and Tiellen Oguta graduated with CAF (Confederation of African Football) C Diploma licences.

    The two coaches put in the ultimate sacrifice in juggling a busy month of league National Super League (NSL) games with the classes to attain the important certification conducted by Football Kenya Federation (FKF) and the overseer of the African game CAF.

    Commenting on the recent achievement, Oguta, a former Kenyan international and Gor Mahia left back said;

    “It gives me joy to have attained this rare certification. The course matter was extensive and an eye opener and the content of the training will certainly improve my handling of games and aspects of the game going forward,”

    “I thank the City Stars management for facilitating the same as this goes a long way in improving my credentials as a coach.” said Oguta

    Amboko, a long serving player and skipper at City Stars who turned to coaching, albeit in caretaker capacities since 2017, also added his tone of voice to the recently acquired papers.

    “This is a dream come true and I am more than excited at the achievement. I truly appreciate the resources and support put in by City Stars to make this a possibility,” said Amboko

    “Working under Sanjin (UEFA Pro Coach at City Stars) made it easier to absorb the classes as everything he has been implementing on the field were part of the course work. With this training my understanding and view of the game is a lot better now.” Added Amboko

    In fronting the two coaches for the certification, City Stars sponsors Jonathan Jackson Foundation CEO Mwenesi Musalia had this to say;

    “It is in line with the foundation’s Economic Empowerment pillars and the development of the community, I believe this is worthwhile.”

    At City Stars Amboko and Oguta, as assistant and first assistant coaches, are current understudies to Sanjin from Bosnia and Herzegovina.