Nairobi City Stars

Tag: National Super League

  • Free weekends for Simba wa Nairobi

    Free weekends for Simba wa Nairobi

    Nairobi City Stars will be out of action for two straight weekends and will only be back to competitive league action on Saturday 29 February 2020 with a home game against Kenya Police.

    Due to domestic Cup games, the weekend of Sat 15, Sun 16 February is a free one for teams in both the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) as well as National Super League (NSL) except for those that registered to participate.

    The next weekend; Sat 22, Sun 23 February will be a free one for Simba wa Nairobi as their next opponents Northern Wanderers have since been expunged from the league.

    Nonetheless the team is training as usual and is lining up worthy friendly games to keep busy in the absence of active league games.

  • Coach assures on return to normal programming

    Coach assures on return to normal programming

    On Saturday 8 February, Nairobi City Stars went down 3-1 to visiting Coast Stima at Camp Toyoyo in a round 24 Betika Super League (BSL) clash.

    It was the second season loss that brought an end to the clubs’ impressive four-win slide into the second half of the season.

    Never had City Stars gone down by that margin – at least not since March 2019 when they went down to Kibera Black Stars by the same margin at the same venue.

    In the aftermath of that shocker, Simba wa Nairobi head coach Sanjin Alagic noted the areas of concern, has his lessons well documented and is now assuring a re-tune to the norm.

    “We are little disappointed because of the result. We had a great start with four wins including against Vihiga United and Bidco United who are our direct promotion opponents,”

    “But in this match we were poor in defense, we allowed Coast Stima to make problems for us through their counter attack especially from our left side and they scored two goals and a penalty,”

    “They enjoyed their opportunities; from four chances they scored three goals and from our side we showed some weakness; we created many chances but didn’t score from them,”

    “But that’s football, if you are dominating in ball possession that doesn’t mean that you will win every match,” added the Bosnian

    Putting the set back behind him, Sanjin is keeping his eye on the prize and wants to achieve what he set out to at the beginning of the season.

    “We will stay focused in our next games and remain determined to win every next match to achieve our goals and finish this season like Champions,”

    After the Stima debacle, City Stars will stay out two weekends then resume league action on the 29th of February.

    “The team is working very well, the atmosphere in the training is great so we don’t have reasons to be worried. Starting from next match against Kenya Police our fans will again see the real NCS.” summed up Sanjin

    City Stars currently tops the 19-team BSL log with 55 points from 23 games and has a seven-point buffer on promotion material Bidco United.

  • Coast Stima earn revenge over City Stars

    Coast Stima earn revenge over City Stars

    Visiting Coast Stima hit hosts Nairobi City Stars 3-1 at Camp Toyoyo in an early round 24 Betika Super League kick off on Saturday 8 February 2020.

    Two early goals inside the first 18 minutes handed the hosts a healthy cushion they protected to the breather.

    A penalty by Kassim Mohammed Adzai eight minutes into the second half improved the scores to 3-0.

    City Stars got their consolation in the dying minutes of the game when defender Salim Abdalla headed home off a free kick by skipper Anthony Muki Kimani that was headed his way by Coast Stima defender Kevin Washe.

    Right winger Okumu, arguably the man of the match, was a thorn to the City Stars back line as he scored once and set up another two.

    In the 12th minute, he cut in from the right channel and at the edge of the box, whacked in a left footer to the far post for the opening goal.

    Six minutes later he was at it again as he raced down his flank, and after a one-two with a team mate, he sliced in a cross that Ombija clipped in with a riser for his 12th goal of the season.

    Eight minutes into the second half it is Okumu that drove into the box after leaving behind his markers only to be clipped by City Stars keeper Levis Opiyo for a penalty that Kassim sent home.

    The win for Coast Stima, who went down 2-1 to visiting City Stars at Mbaraki in the third week of September 2019 during the first leg, was an apt revenge.

    Following the win, Coast Stima shoots to the 39-point mark and within three points of Nairobi Stima moving from fifth to fourth place and above Vihiga United on goal difference. Nairobi Stima are away to Fortune Sacco on Saturday evening.

    City Stars still stays top with 55 points with a ten-point cover over Bidco United who have a game in hand against Muranga Seal on Sunday in Thika.

    Lineups

    Nairobi City Stars: 23. Levis Opiyo, 8. Calvins Masawa, 4. Salim Abdalla, 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 8. Edwin Buliba, 10. Peter Opiyo, 30. Antony Kimani (Captain), 29. Ebrima Sanneh, 8. Jimmy Bageya (11. Davis Agesa), 32. Ezekiel Odera (21. Oliver Maloba), 27. Azizi Okaka (3. Charles Otieno-25)

    Subs: 28. Kevin Okumu, 16. Jacob Osano, 2. Elvis Ojiambo, 16. Vincent Otieno

    Coach: Sanjin Alagic

    Coast Stima: 29. Brandon Nathan, 5. Hawkins Ademba, 15. Kevin Washe, 21. Khamis Tole, 19. Hassan Iddi, 3. Kassim Mohammed Adzai, 7. Khamis Abudu, 12. Dennis Magige, 10. Dominic Waithaka, 24. Eric Ombija, 11. Rodgers Okumu

    Subs: Godfrey Okongo, 14. Clinton Ochieng, 4. Davis Shikala, 2. Herit Atariza, 6. Jacob Mshiri, 9. Lucky Eme, 16. Lucky Kaingu

    Coach: Paul Ogai

  • Odera, Okaka start against Stima, Sanneh is back

    Odera, Okaka start against Stima, Sanneh is back

    Head coach Sanjin Alagic has made three changes to the starting lineup as Nairobi City Stars linesup against Coast Stima at Camp Toyoyo on Saturday 8 February, 2020 starting 11 am.

    The three changes sees returning striker Ezekiel Odera and January signing Azizi Okaka start as Gambian hitman Ebrima Sanneh makes his way back after missing the last game against Bidco United.

    While it will be the first start for Odera under Sanjin, its a return to the starting eleven for Azizi since the first game of the year away to Shabana.

    The entry of the trio to the starting lineups means superstars Davis Agesa and Oliver Maloba, both of whom missed two days of training in the week due to varied illnesses, drop to the bench alongside defensive mid Elvis Noor Ojiambo.

    They join keeper Jacob Osano, Charles Otieno Oduro, Kevin Okumu and Vicent Otieno on the bench.

    David Gateri, a used sub against Bidco, falls off the squad due to illness that saw him miss training in the week.

    The backline of keeper Levis Opiyo, Wycliffe Otieno, Salim Abdalla as well as wingbacks Calvins Masawa and Edwin Buliba remains as is.

    Peter Opiyo and skipper Athony Kimani are expected to patrol the midfield as Ugandan Jimmy Bageya retains his place on the flanks.

    Lineup against Coast Stima

    23. Levis Opiyo, 8. Calvins Masawa, 4. Salim Abdalla, 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 8. Edwin Buliba, 10. Peter Opiyo, 30. Antony Kimani (Captain), 29. Ebrima Sanneh, 8. Jimmy Bageya, 32. Ezekiel Odera, 27. Azizi Okaka

    Subs: 28. Kevin Okumu, 3. Charles Otieno, 11. Davis Agesa, 21. Oliver Maloba, 16. Jacob Osano, 2. Elvis Ojiambo, 16. Vincent Otieno

    Out: 5. Wesley Onguso, 17. Noah Abich, 25. David Gateri, 1. Ronny Kagunzi, 12. Eric Ochieng, 15. John Kamau, 80. Tedian Esilaba

  • When the best defense takes on the best offense

    When the best defense takes on the best offense

    Fifth placed Coast Stima will test log leaders Nairobi City Stars on Saturday 8 February 2020 at Camp Toyoyo, Jericho from 11am in a Betika Super League (BSL) match day 24 game.

    Coast Stima comes to town with 36 points, 19 points adrift the leaders and are within eight points of playoff spot three currently being occupied by Nairobi Stima.

    The difference in points can only deceive as statistics clearly spells out that Coast Stima is the best offensive team in the league having plundered in 46 goals in 22 games, an average of two goals a game. None of the other 18-teams in the BSL has scored more than 40 goals.

    In the ranks of Coast Stima is Eric Ombija who has scored 11 times and skipper Joshua Oyoo who is on eight goals – 6 of which are through penalties. Ombija is the third best scorer in the BSL.

    Notwithstanding, Coast Stima will be away to a City Stars side that, statistically, is the best defensive team in the league having let in 13 goals in 22 games – 10 in open play and three via penalties.

    It will be the third time City Stars will be hosting Coast Stima in Nairobi in the last three seasons. Looking back to the last two games, the hosts have picked straight wins; 3-2 in May 2018 and 2-1 in April last year. Then, returning Gambian striker Ebrima Sanneh hit a brace at Camp Toyoyo to guarantee all spoils.

    During the first leg of the current season, in September last year, City Stars scored two early goals via Oliver Maloba and Vincent Jamaica Otieno, to win it 2-1 at Mbaraki.

    While City Stars will be seeking a double on Saturday morning, Coast Stima will be in to avenge the first leg loss.

    Just which way will it be at Camp Toyoyo when the best offense comes up against the best defense?

    Nairobi City Stars vs Coast Stima head to head records

    Sun, 16/02/20, Nairobi City Stars vs Coast Stima

    Mon, 23/09/19, Coast Stima 1 – 2 Nairobi City Stars

    Sun, 07/04/19, Nairobi City Stars 2 – 1 Coast Stima

    Sat, 05/01/19, Coast Stima 2 – 2 Nairobi City Stars

    Sun, 07/10/18, Coast Stima 2 – 1 Nairobi City Stars

    Sat, 26/05/18, Nairobi City Stars 3 – 2 Coast Stima

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