Nairobi City Stars

Tag: Noah Abich

  • 19 named for historic Narok clash with Nzoia

    19 named for historic Narok clash with Nzoia

    Nairobi City Stars head coach Sanjin Alagic has named a 19-man squad for the opening 2020/21 FKF Premier League game against Nzoia Sugar to be played at Narok Stadium on Sunday 29 November 2020 from 1pm.

    On many fronts the game is historic as Nairobi City Stars has never faced off with Nzoia Sugar at any level since the club’s inception back in 2003.

    Neither has Nairobi City Stars played a game at the Narok Stadium and never has coach Sanjin, who led Simba wa Nairobi to promotion from the National Super League (NSL), ever handled a game in the top flight.

    The upcoming game will be Nairobi City Stars’ first Premier League game since 19 November 2016. In between then and the upcoming game, Simba wa Nairobi had been featuring in the second tier following relegation at the end of the 2016 season.

    Of the travelling lot, only three players; Oliver Maloba, overall captain Calvin Masawa and Ezekiel Odera are the survivors from the team that played the last game in 2016. Odera scored the team’s 304th and last Premier League goal in that finale.

    Field skipper Anthony Muki Kimani, who rejoined the club last year to lead the side to promotion, also makes the team. He last played a Premiership game for City Stars back in 2009.

    Beyond those four, the other 15 players heading to Narok will be aiming at clocking their debut games for City Stars in the Premier League.

    They include eight offseason signings; keeper Steve Njunge from Wazito, stopper Kenedy Onyango from Kakamega Homeboyz, striker Erick Ombija from Gor Mahia, left back Herit Mungai Atariza and winger Rodgers Okumu from Coast Stima, defensive mid Sven Yidah from Kariobangi Sharks, keeper Elvis Ochoro from Hakati Sportiff and creative mid Timothy Babu Ouma from Laiser Hill Academy, the reigning Rift Valley Chapa Dimba MVP.

    Teenage forward Vincent Otieno Okoth, defenders Wycliffe Otieno and Salim Abdalla as well as midfielder Elvis Noor Ojiambo, all of whom joined City Stars in July 2019, are in the list to Narok.

    Completing the squad are former Kenya international Peter Pinchez Opiyo, a January 2020 signing, utility back Edwin Buliba and powerful forward Davis Agesa Amuyunzu, the teams’ top scorer in the NSL.

    Off the pitch, immediate former captain Noah Abich as well as former skipper and stand-in coach John Amboko will accompany the team to Narok.

    This is alongside coach Sanjin, assistant Nihad Nalbantic, team physio Brian Odongo.

    Nihad, a former keeper in his hey days in Serbia, will fill up for keeper trainer Zachary Onyango who is unavailable.

    Travelling squad

    Goal keepers: 23. Steve Njunge, 1. Elvis Ochoro

    Defenders: 28. Herit Mungai Atariza, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 4. Salim Abdalla, 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 12. Edwin Buliba, 8. Calvin Masawa,

    Midfielders: 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo, 10. Peter Opiyo, 30. Anthony Kimani, 21. Oliver Maloba, 18. Sven Yidah, 20. Timothy Ouma, 7. Rodgers Okumu

    Strikers: 24. Erick Ombija, 11. Davis Agesa, 9. Vincent Otieno, 32. Ezekiel Odera

    Not traveling: Ebrima Sanneh, Yusuf Mukisa Lubowa, Charles Otieno (injuries), Jimmy Bageya, Jacob Osano (sickness), Wesley Onguso, John Kamau, Azizi Okaka

    Technical bench: Sanjin Alagic (Head Coach), Nihad Nalbantic, Noah Abich, John Amboko (assistant coaches), Brian Odongo (Physio), Neville Pudo (Team Manager), Winnie Nyasiri (Media)

    Management: Samson Otieno (Team coordinator)

  • Nairobi City Stars squad for the 2020/2021 Premier League season

    Nairobi City Stars squad for the 2020/2021 Premier League season

    Nairobi City Stars will navigate the first leg of the 2020-21 FKF premier league season with a total of 29 players: three (3) goal keepers, nine (9) defenders, 12 midfielders, and five (5) strikers. 

    A total of eleven new players onboarded in the offseason and this includes goalkeepers Elvis Ochoro (Hakati Sportiff) and Stephen Njunge (Wazito FC).

    Defenders Mukisa Lubowa Yusuf (Proline FC) from Uganda, left back Herit Mungai (Posta Rangers) and centre-back Kenedy Onyango (Kakamega Homeboyz) all joined Simba wa Nairobii.

    Midfielders; Rowland Makati (Vapor Sports), Timothy Ouma (Laiser Hill Academy), Ronney Kola (KSG Ogopa FC), Sven Yida (Kariobangi Sharks) also  joined the club in the offseason as well as flyer Rodgers Okumu (Coast Stima) and striker Erick Ombija (Gor Mahia).

    Two players; – Makati and Kola – will however head out on loan at second tier side Nairobi Stima to seek work experience over the season.

    Last season’s captain Noah Abich, who has since retired from playing, drops to the bench to become an apprentice to coach Sanjin joining former City Stars players John Amboko and Arthur Museve.

    Full 2020/21 Squad & jersey numbers

    Goal keepers: 1. Elvis Ochoro, 16. Jacob Osano, 23. Stephen Njunge

    Defenders: 4. Salim Abdalla, 5. Wesley Onguso, 8. Calvin Masawa, 17. Yusuf Mukisa Lubowa, 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 12. Edwin Buliba, 15. John Kamau, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 28. Herit Mungai Atariza

    Midfielders: 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo, 3. Charles Otieno, 6. Ronny Kola, 7. Rodgers Okumu, 10. Peter Opiyo, 14. Rowland Makati, 18. Sven Yidah, 19. Jimmy Bageya, 20. Timothy Ouma, 21. Oliver Maloba, 27. Azizi Okaka, 30. Anthony Kimani,

    Strikers: 9. Vincent Otieno, 11. Davis Agesa, 24. Erick Ombija, 29. Ebrima Sanneh, 32. Ezekiel Odera,

    Technical Bench:

    Head coach – Sanjin Alagic, Assistant head coach – Nihad Nalbantic, First assistant coach – John Amboko, Second assistant coach – Noah Abich, Goalkeeper coach – Zachary Onyango, Team manager – Neville Pudo,  Trainer – Arthur Museve, Team Physio – Brian Odongo, Kit Manager – Joseph Andere

  • Bench role for Abich

    Bench role for Abich

    It’s the end of an era as dead ball specialist Noah Abich (Noah Otieno Odhiambo) has called it a day as a footballer.

    Abich Baba, as he is fondly referred to, has moved off from the pitch to take up a coaching role at Nairobi City Stars, his last duty station for the past two seasons.

    His step-out from the pitch to the bench brings an end to an illustrious football career spanning close to 20 years.

    His last league game for City Stars was a round 11 National Super League (NSL) game against Mt. Kenya United at Camp Toyoyo on Saturday 27 Oct 2019, a game that ended 1-1.

    Abich arrived at Simba Wa Nairobi in April 2019 during the second leg of the transitional NSL 2018/19 season. He led from the front as the captain and scored eight times to top score for the club leading them to relegation survival.

    In the 2019/20 season his mentorship and guidance saw the club promoted back to the Premier League to regain their premiership status lost at the end of the 2016 season.

    “I wish to make it official that I have retired from football as a player. You can now refer to me as a coach as that is my new direction,”

    “It’s been a long journey that has had highs and lows. I am now at a point where I want to give back by nurturing the next crop of players. I thank City Stars for allowing me to wind down my playing days and for ultimately giving me the opportunity at their technical bench to start my coaching journey at a high level.”

    The transiting Abich has received adoration from City Stars team coordinator Samson Otieno who said;

    “He’s been a dedicated servant who gave his all on the pitch. We counted on him to survive relegation when the team needed an experienced hand in the 2018/19 season and he came through for us in a big way with important deliveries and goals. It is now our turn to hold his hand as he ventures into the other side of his career which is coaching.”

    City Stars CEO Patrick Korir added his voice to Abich’s change-over;

    “We thank him for his dedication and diligence to the team and will support him as he scales upward to coaching. He is part of a long term plan and we will endeavor to build his capacity as we go along.” he said

    The former Thur Gem and Makokho Mixed Secondary School alumnus started his competitive football at Premiership side Nzoia Sugar before moving to Chemelil Sugar. He completed his sugar belt circuit with a move to Sony Sugar in 2006 for two seasons.

    He arrived at Tusker thereafter and rested back-to-back Premiership titles in 2011 and 2012. Next was a short stint at Nakuru AllStars which led him to the ranks of AFC Leopards. Later on he sampled Kakamega Homeboyz, Mathare United, Sofapaka, Bandari and Nakumatt before making a bee-line for City Stars in 2019.

    The former Kenya U20 and National team player bagged several individual awards in his playing career including being the best scoring Premiership defender at Sony Sugar in 2008 and at Mathare United in 2015. Not forgetting with City Stars at the end of the 2018/19 NSL season.

    Abich who has lately been coaching youngsters at Zimmerman currently holds a ‘D’ license coaching Diploma and has a chance to learn from UEFA Pro coach Sanjin Alagic from Bosnia, the current head coach at City Stars.

    Abich follows Arthur Museve to the City Stars bench. Museve ended his lengthy City Stars playing career at the close of the 2018/19 NSL season to take up a trainers’ role at the club.

    Nairobi City Stars training at Camp Toyoyo in March 2020. Noah Abich (front) has called it a day from playing

    Nairobi City Stars training at Camp Toyoyo in March 2020. Noah Abich (No. 17) is now retired

  • Player retention excites Otieno

    Player retention excites Otieno

    Nairobi City Stars team coordinator Samson Otieno is excited by the fact that 18 players who led the team to Kenyan Premier League (KPL) promotion are still in the club’s books for next season.

    According to Otieno, the number could be more should a few more of the out of contract players chose to remain in the team once discussions with the management conclude.

    “The core unit that kept Simba wa Nairobi at the top of the NSL for a better part of the season to eventually promote the team is still intact heading to next season. This is important as it guarantees us continuity,” said Otieno

    “When we started out last season a number of players were on one-year engagements but mid-way through we extended those contracts as the view to the Premier League became crystal clear. Just two teenagers – striker Vincent ‘Jamaica’ Otieno and midfielder Elvis Ojiambo started out with long term deals,”

    “Part of the early players to extend their contracts were defender Wycliffe Otieno who added another year as well as midfielder Anthony Kimani, long serving defender Calvin Masawa, defensive mid Charles Otieno Oduro and striker Davis Agesa who committed to a further two years,”

    “Others that followed in staying at City Stars for two more years include offensive mid Oliver Maloba, striker Ebrima Sanneh, defenders Salim ‘Shitu’ Abdalla and Edwin Buliba. Keeper Ronny Kagunzi and left back Wesley Onguso were the latest with each adding a year to their contracts,”

    “January arrivals Peter Opiyo and Azizi Okaka have a season to go while keeper Jacob Osano, returning winger John Kamau and striker Ezekiel Odera have two more seasons,”

    “We have some players whose contracts have since expired but the coach has hinted he’d still want to keep some of them for longer should they agree to. Noah Abich, Eric Ochieng, Tedian Esilaba, Kevin Okumu, David Gateri and Jimmy Bageya are some of those players. That will give us a much more close knit unit,”

    “Despite having the core intact we are also in the market to fill up some positions such as in goal keeping after lead custodian Levis Opiyo officially left the club and just in case some of the out of contract players chose to head elsewhere,”

    “Had the corona virus pandemic not struck, City Stars would have concluded its engagement with players for next season as far back as April.” summed Otieno

  • City Stars players receive, appreciate Betika’s Covid-19 token

    City Stars players receive, appreciate Betika’s Covid-19 token

    All 25 Nairobi City players received Kshs. 5,000 each on Thursday 30 April 2020 from leading gaming firm Betika to cushion them against the economic effects of the global Covid-19 pandemic that has grossly affected football activities since mid-March.

    The package was part of a collective KShs. 5.3 million distributed directly to up to 30 players in the 17 Kenyan Premier League (KPL) and 19 National Super League (NSL) clubs.

    City Stars field captain Anthony Muki Kimani who represented the club at the event said; “We feel appreciated. Never before has football been suspended to this extent and this token, though not enough, will go a long way in cushioning us against the economic effects of the global pandemic.”

    And from the office, overall team City Stars team captain Noah Abich, on behalf of the other clubs members, said; “This is a good surprise and it comes in as a buffer to players who are finding it hard to survive due to the Corona virus pandemic that has stopped all football activities,”

    “We thank Betika for being very considerate and sensitive to players countrywide. I also thank FKF for fronting the interest of players that Betika took up.” he added

    While presenting the cheque to FKF President Nick Mwendwa to Muki, as well as Gor Mahia captain Kenneth Muguna, Betika commercial Head John Mbatia reiterated the leading online gaming firm’s commitment to supporting Kenyan football.

    “Football has been largely affected by this pandemic and it is for this reason that we opted to partner FKF in supporting our players,” he said.

    FKF President Nick Mwendwa, meanwhile, thanked Betika for coming through for the players and called on other partners to consider extending support to players from lower-tier leagues, who have also been affected by the pandemic.

    “I want to thank Betika for this kind gesture towards KPL and NSL clubs,” said Mr. Mwendwa.

    “As a Federation, we remain committed to exploring measures that cushion our players, right from the grassroots to the top tier leagues, during this time when football has been largely affected,” he added.

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