Nairobi City Stars

Tag: National Super League

  • City Stars to host Bidco at Toyoyo

    City Stars to host Bidco at Toyoyo

    An upcoming duel between Nairobi City Stars and Bidco United will be played at Camp Toyoyo, Jericho on Sunday 2 February 2020 starting 3pm.

    The match 23 tie in the National Super League (NSL) was originally planned for Hope Centre, Kawangware but the surface is still not available for use following closure of the facility for renovation from December 2019.

    As communicated by the overseers of NSL Football Kenya Federation (FKF), game details are as follows;

    Match No. 230 Nairobi City Stars FC vs Bidco United FC

    Sunday, 2nd February 2020, 3:00 PM, Camp Toyoyo

  • ‘Lovae’ on penalty save in Mumias

    ‘Lovae’ on penalty save in Mumias

    It’s the 53rd minute in Mumias Complex and a City Stars player handles the ball in the box to concede a penalty. The referee on the day does not hesitate and only does what he should rightfully do; point to the spot!

    It’s a mixed reaction to the occurrence as at that point, City Stars had a slim 1-0 lead over hosts Vihiga United in a match day 22 National Super League (NSL) clash.

    Being a penalty, it was almost a foregone conclusion that Vihiga United would score and pull level.

    But as their skipper Smith Ouko stepped up to take the spot kick, the man in City Stars goal Levis Lovae Opiyo was at ease as he knew his tricks all too well for he had been at Vihiga United for a short stint towards the end of the transitional 2018/19 NSL season.

    “I was at the club and I knew how their captain always took penalties. I just went to the same direction that he always placed his spot kicks and that’s how I made the save,” said Lovae

    Opiyo’s penalty save guaranteed City Stars a 1-0 win as it protected Davis Agesa’s 34th minute bullet shot that ricocheted off the woodwork and into goal past a hapless Joel Bataro in goal. It came off an assist by live wire Oliver Maloba.

    On the whole Lovae reckons it wasn’t a walk in the park out in Mumias;

    “The game was very tough, we got some early chances and utilized them but after that the game turned out to be very tough. Vihiga United were shooting closer to the goal that gave me more work to do and after lots of pressure they got that penalty.”

    What happened in Mumias wasn’t a first but a repeat for keeper Opiyo. In mid-November 2019 Opiyo saved one of two penalties awarded to Nairobi Stima at Karuturi grounds to lead Simba wa Nairobi to an important 2-1 win. The other bounced off the upright.

    Opiyo’s contribution in Mumias ultimately handed him the Man of the Match accolade.

    City Stars coach Sanjin Alagic had this to say; “He was focused in Mumias, was good in aerial balls and he saved a penalty. He deserved to be the MVP.”

    It was the second time he was being named MVP following up on his first in mid-September 2019 as City Stars ended Bidco United’s Cinderella run into the season in Thika with a 1-0 win.

  • Agesa, Opiyo deliver win in Mumias

    Agesa, Opiyo deliver win in Mumias

    A first half goal and penalty save by keeper Levis Lovae Opiyo in the second half handed Nairobi City Stars a hard fought 1-0 win over hosts Vihiga United in a National Super League (NSL) match 22 played at Mumias Complex on Sunday 26 January 2020.

    Agesa, back in the lineup after missing games against Shabana and Vihiga Bullets, announced his return with the winning goal when he rammed home a cross from Oliver Maloba in the 34th minute past a stranded keeper Joel Bataro. It was Agesa’s sixth goal of the season.

    Keeper Opiyo, standing between the sticks for the 21st time this season, pulled a massive save in the 54th minute when he parried a penalty by Smith Ouko for a fruitless corner. The spot kick was awarded after Elvis Ojiambo had handled in the box.

    In early October Opiyo saved a penalty at Karuturi to ensure the team protected a 2-1 lead to scoop maximum spoils over hosts Nairobi Stima.

    The win sent Simba wa Nairobi to the 52 point mark after 21 games to open a 16 point gap over their immediate victims who started the day sitting third.

    Away from the three points earned, the latest win stretched City Stars unbeaten streak in away games to 17 games from as far back as April 2019. It was the tenth in 11 away games.

    Lineups

    Vihiga United

    31. Joel Bataro, 6. Abisalim Odhiambo, 3. Dennis Ambeva, 13. Mophat Luva, 20. Smith Ouko, 33. Victor Ademba, 8. Patrick Okulo, 5. Wycliffe Nthata, 31. Junior Adeyefa, 7. Henry Juma, 40. Dennis Wafula

    Subs: 50. Michael Matasio, 15. Mark Okola, 19. Michael Isabwa, 18. Tyrone Sisia, 16. Alex Imbusia, 17. Lawrence Luvanda, 23. David Simiyu

    Coach: Sammy Okoth

    Nairobi City Stars

    23. Levis Opiyo, 4. Salim Abdalla, 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 8. Calvins Masawa, 12. Edwin Buliba, 30. Antony Kimani (Captain), 21. Oliver Maloba, 2. Elvis Ojiambo (3. Charles Otieno – 64′), 8. Jimmy Bageya (27. Azizi Okaka – 54′), 11. Davis Agesa (32. Ezekiel Odera – 75′),

    Unused subs: 28. Kevin Okumu, 16. Jacob Osano, 25. David Gateri, 29. Ebrima Sanneh,

    Yellow cards: None

    Goals & Assist: Davis Agesa – 34′ (Oliver Maloba)

    Coach: Sanjin Alagic

  • A start for Buliba finally

    A start for Buliba finally

    After nine appearances on the bench, defender Edwin Buliba has earned his first start, finally, for Nairobi City Stars under head coach Sanjin Alagic.

    The patient lad has been named to start ahead of Kevin Chumsy Okumu at right back as Simba wa Nairobi takes on host Vihiga United in a National Super League (NSL) round 22 tie at Mumias Complex on Sunday 26 January 2020.

    Other than Buliba, there are three other changes to the last squad that faced off with Vihiga Bullets last weekend.

    Peter Pinchez Opiyo who only received his clearance to feature for City Stars last Friday starts ahead of utility forward Azizi Okaka.

    Tactical changes sees the returning Elvis Ojiambo, who was suspended for the last game, start ahead of Charles Chale Otieno.

    Davis Agesa who missed the last two games due to a knee discomfort replaces Gambian striker Ebrima Sanneh in the final change.

    Save for the four changes, the rest of the squad remains as. Ezekiel Odera, David Gateri and keeper Jacob Osano are the options on the bench.

    Starting lineup against Vihiga United

    23. Levis Opiyo, 4. Salim Abdalla, 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 8. Calvins Masawa, 12. Edwin Buliba, 30. Antony Kimani (Captain), 17. Peter Opiyo,  21. Oliver Maloba, 2. Elvis Ojiambo, 8. Jimmy Bageya, 11. Davis Agesa

    Subs: 3. Charles Otieno,28. Kevin Okumu, 32. Ezekiel Odera, 16. Jacob Osano, 27. Azizi Okaka, 25. David Gateri, 29. Ebrima Sanneh,

  • Unbeaten away streak on parade at Mumias

    Unbeaten away streak on parade at Mumias

    Starting 2pm on Sunday 26 January 2020, City Stars will face off with hosts Vihiga United in a round 22 National Super League (NSL) match. 

    Stakes are at an ultimate high as NSL leaders City Stars wish to solidify top status in the 19-team log while Vihiga United, sitting third with 36 points, and 13 off the top, will want to cut down the huge deficit in front of their home fans.

    In their only visit to Vihiga United in November 2017, City Stars went down 2-0 and its that kind of history the hosts will be banking on for points.

    It is at the end of that season that Vihiga United earned promotion – alongside Wazito – to the Kenyan Premiership.

    But the City Stars of 2017 and now are worlds apart.

    During this season’s first leg tie, Vihiga United ran City Stars uncomfortably close to eke out a respectable 0-0 draw at Hope Centre.

    In spite of being visitors, Vihiga United smacked the woodwork twice in that game and left the scene certain that the hosts barely survived their might. They will be keen to bury the near misses then at Mumias.

    Ahead of the top-billed clash, City Stars has an enviable record that Vihiga United may want to take note of; they have registered nine away wins this season from ten games. The other one was drawn.

    Adding on to games from last season, City Stars is unbeaten in 16 straight away games that started with a 2-1 win over Green Commandoes on 27 April 2019 at Bukhungu Stadium, Kakamega.

    City Stars on their part cannot ignore Vihiga’s solid home record in Mumias.

    They have won eight out of ten games only and have only failed to pick all spoils against two sides FC Talanta and Nairobi Stima.

    In their season opener on 1st September 2019 Vihiga United,  in their first NSL game following relegation from the Premiership, was held to a barren draw by FC Talanta.

    Exactly three months later, on 1 December 2019,  they lost 2-1 to Nairobi Stima for their only home defeat so far.

    In which way will the Sunday duel at Mumias between the teams placed first and third end?

    Head to head records; Vihiga United vs Nairobi City Stars

    Sun 26/01/29, Vihiga United vs Nairobi City Stars

    Fri, 13/09/19, Nairobi City Stars 0 – 0 Vihiga United

    Wed, 08/11/17, Vihiga United 2 – 0 Nairobi City Stars

    Sun, 21/05/17, Nairobi City Stars 0 – 0 Vihiga United

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