Nairobi City Stars

Tag: Noah Abich

  • Gateri elevated against AP

    Gateri elevated against AP

    Winger David Gateri starts ahead of Jimmy Bageya as Nairobi City Stars lineup against Administration Police (AP) in a National Super League (NSL) match day 18 at Camp Toyoyo on Sunday 7 December 2019 starting 2pm EAT.

    That’s the only major change from the last game against St. Joseph’s played last weekend at the same venue.

    For the 13th straight game, Wycliffe ‘Wiki’ Otieno and Salim ‘Shitu’ Abdalla will pair up as the centre backs to shield keeper Levis ‘Lovae’ Opiyo. The two have been trusted by head coach Sanjin Alagic since end of September 2019.

    In the upcoming game Calvin Masawa is in at left back for the recuperating Wesley Onguso as Kevin Chumsy’ Okumu maintains his place at right back.

    Skipper Anthony Kimani, Oliver Maloba and the on-form Davis Agesa all maintain their starting places.

    Lineup: 23. Levis Opiyo, 8. Calvin Masawa, 4. Salim Abdalla, 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 28. Kevin Okumu, 3. Charles Otieno, 2. Elvis Ojiambo, 30. Anthony Kimani (Captain), 21. Oliver Maloba, 25. David Gateri, 11. Davis Agesa,

    Subs. 1. Ronny Kagunzi, 19. Jimmy Bageya, 16. Vincent Otieno, 26. Ebrima Sanneh, 17. Noah Abich, 13. Eric Ochieng, 12. Edwin Buliba

  • Fact File: Nairobi City Stars vs St. Joseph’s

    Fact File: Nairobi City Stars vs St. Joseph’s

    It’s an open secret that Nairobi City Stars has never won a National Super League (NSL) game when hosting St. Joseph’s from Nakuru.

    That’s the grim awareness as Simba wa Nairobi plots for St. Joseph’s on Sunday 1 December 2019 at Camp Toyoyo starting 3pm EAT in an NSL round 17 tie in the 2019/20 season.

    In their last meeting at the same venue on 22 May 2019, St. Joseph’s took all spoils at a time City Stars needed all points to boost their relegation fears.

    In that game, City Stars were down 2-0 inside five minutes but quick recovery saw the hosts rally to tie the game 2-2 after a Robert ‘Sero’ Ndungu flick off Noah Abich’s free kick. The dead ball specialist Abich then stepped up to slot home a penalty three minutes later to level matters.

    But on 23 minutes a power header by seasoned Daniel Kamau ended the contests as a ten-man St. Joseph’s registered another famous win over hosts City Stars. They played the last 28 minutes a man short after defender William Odunga was sent off for a second bookable offense in the 62nd minute.

    Prior to that game, St. Joseph’s had flattened an out of sorts City Stars 4-0 in August 2018 at Camp Toyoyo.

    That resounding win added on to a 3-3 stalemate from their first ever trip to face City Stars in May 2017. Overall, St. Joseph’s has beaten City Stars in their last three NSL games to take home all nine points.

    Ahead of the fourth home tie against St. Joseph’s on Sunday, City Stars skipper Anthony Muki Kimani reckons the fortunes will change;

    “We want to keep our composure in that game and play our game and certainly the results will come our way,”

    “I am aware we have never beaten them at home but this time things will be different.” he said confidently

    Heading to the game, City Stars tops the 20-team log with 40 points after going unbeaten in the first 16 games into the season. On their part St. Joseph’s is 18th with 11 points.

    In their immediate past NSL games, both sides registered identical 3-1 wins; City Stars away to Modern Coast Rangers at Serani in Mombasa, and St. Joseph’s against FC Talanta at Afraha Stadium, Nakuru.

    City Stars vs St. Joseph’s head to head records

    Sun, 01/12/19, Nairobi City Stars vs St. Joseph

    Wed, 22/05/19, Nairobi City Stars 2 – 3 St. Joseph

    Sun, 17/02/19, St. Joseph 2 – 1 Nairobi City Stars

    Sun, 19/08/18, Nairobi City Stars 0 – 4 St. Joseph

    Fri, 30/03/18, St. Joseph 1 – 1 Nairobi City Stars

    Sun, 30/07/17, St. Joseph 1 – 1 Nairobi City Stars

    Sat, 06/05/17, Nairobi City Stars 3 – 3 St. Joseph

  • Mweni in, Onguso out of coastal trip

    Roving winger Stephen Jeffa Mweni made the cut for a trip to his home town Mombasa where Nairobi City Stars will be guests to Modern Coast Rangers on Saturday 23 November 2019 at the Serani Sports Club during a National Super League (NSL) round 16 tie.

    Mweni, confirmed for the trip after the last training session at Hope Center on Thursday morning, featured as a late sub in the season opening game at Hope Centre but has stayed out of the 18-man squad for the rest of the games till his latest call.

    As Mweni made the squad, left back Wesley Onguso missed out due to an off the field illness. His absence gifts skipper Calvin Masawa a starting berth in the game.

    Other than Mweni, other changes made to the squad that featured against Muranga SEAL includes Noah Abich who comes on for Peter Mwangi Wainaina.

    The team departs for Mombasa in the wee of Friday for the game and is expetecd back in Nairobi by Monday.

    Tavelling squad

    23. Levis Opiyo, 17. Noah Abich, 4. Salim Abdalla, 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 28. Kevin Okumu, 3. Charles Otieno, 30. Anthony Kimani, 25. David Gateri, 17. Davis Agesa, 21. Oliver Maloba, 29. Ebrima Sanneh, 1. Ronny Kagunzi, 2. Elvis Ojiambo, 8. Calvin Masawa, 18. Jimmy Bageya, 16. Vincent Otieno, 19. Stephen Jeffa Mweni, 24. Cornelius Mwangi

  • Four changes for ‘unknown’ Muranga SEAL

    Four changes for ‘unknown’ Muranga SEAL

    Nairobi City Stars head coach Sanjin Alagic has made four key changes to the squad that posted a barren draw against Ushuru last Friday as he shapes up for National Super League (NSL) round 15 game against Muranga SEAL at Camp Toyoyo on Monday 18 November 2019 starting 4pm EAT.

    Midfield marshal Anthony Muki Kimani returns to the squad after two games out serving a red card he received in match day 12 against Migori Youth at Camp Toyoyo. He walks straight to the starting 11 sending teenager Elvis Noor Ojiambo down to the bench.

    The three other changes sees the bench tweaked to include midfielder Peter Mwangi Wainaina (pictured) and center back Cornelius Mwangi. They take up the places of Eric Ochieng and Edwin Buliba, respectively.

    Ojiambo’s drop-down to the bench sends last season’s top scorer and skipper Noah Abich out of the 18-man squad while Muki’s entry to the team means there’s no place for Congolese winger Heritier Luvualu who made a sub appearance against Ushuru last Friday.

    Save for Muki’s entry to the first eleven, the starting cast against Ushuru all maintained their places. Oliver Maloba and David Gateri, considered impact players in recent matches, will once again start the game as outfielder Jimmy Bageya, keeper Ronny Kagunzi and overall skipper Calvin Masawa all start on the bench.

    Muranga SEAL, promoted to the second tier NSL this season, is an ‘unknown’ entity to City Stars as the two have never met in their football paths before.

    Starting XI vs Muranga SEAL: 23. Levis Opiyo, 5. Wesley Onguso, 4. Salim Abdalla, 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 28. Kevin Okumu, 3. Charles Otieno, 30. Anthony Kimani, 25. David Gateri, 17. Davis Agesa, 21. Oliver Maloba, 29. Ebrima Sanneh,

    Subs: 1. Ronny Kagunzi, 2. Elvis Ojiambo, 8. Calvin Masawa, 18. Jimmy Bageya, 16. Vincent Otieno, 15. Peter Mwangi Wainaina, 24. Cornelius Mwangi

  • Friendly fire: Big test from Wazito

    Friendly fire: Big test from Wazito

    Kenyan Premier League (KPL) side Wazito saw off Nairobi City Stars 4-1 in a friendly game played in the afternoon of  Thursday 14 November 2019 at Camp Toyoyo.

    The Premiership side coached by Melis Medo carried a 2-0 lead to the breather and finished it off with another two in the second half as City Stars managed a consolation from Anthony Muki Kimani who converted from the spot, a penalty earned by speeding Stephen Mweni.

    While Wazito were using the tie to shape up for their upcoming Premier league game away to Kisumu AllStars next Wednesday, City Stars head coach Sanjin Alagic used it as an opportunity to field players who are keen to break into the main squad after missing out on starting berths against Ushuru on Wednesday.

    Strikers Vincent ‘Jamaica’ Otieno, Jimmy Bageya and winger Heritier Luvualu who made second half appearances against Ushuru, a round 14 NSL tie played at Hope Centre yesterday, were among the lot that lined up against Wazito.

    Ronny Kagunzi stood tall in goal as Edwin Buliba and Augustine Ochieng were paraded as centre backs while Noah Abich and Calvin Masawa were on either side as fullbacks. Eric Ochieng played deep six against his former employers as Kimani had the play maker’s role.

    Luvualu and Nahashon Thiongo were on either wings as Bageya played behind striker Jamaica. In the second half Cornelius Mwangi plugged in at centre back as Buliba moved to right fullback to rest Abich.

    Peter Wainaina came in for Nahashon as Mweni took Bageya’s place in the second half. Victor Okulu came on for Eric.

    According to coach Sanjin it was a run out game for players angling to break to the main team and it was never really about getting a result but to see the zeal from his players against a worthy opponent.

    “The target was to give chance and minutes for players who didn’t play against Ushuru in our recent NSL game against Ushuru,”

    “My wish was to play against strong Premier league team Waizito and it was good challenge because we played with our second team while they played with their first 11,”

    “A result was not in the first plan, I wanted to see how the players from bench will react in a strong and demanding match,”

    “Transfer window is in front of us so we need to bring right decision about which players can help us to achieve promotion to Premier league and also play in that higher level.” Concluded Sanjin

    There was a scare midway through the first half when Wazito’s Waithira concussed after a head knock on a high ball with Jamaica. He was dashed to hospital for further checks.

    City Stars will be up against Muranga Seal on Monday 18 November in an NSL round 15 fixture at the Camp Toyoyo starting 4pm

    Lineups  

    City Stars: 1. Ronny Kagunzi, 8. Calvin Masawa, 12. Edwin Buliba (24. Cornelius Mwangi), 6. Augustine Ochieng, 13. Eric Ochieng (Victor Okulu), 17. Noah Abich, 10. Nahashon Thiongo (15. Peter Wainaina), 30. Anthony Kimani, 7. Heritier Luvualu, 19. Jimmy Bageya (19. Stephen Mweni), 9. Vincent Otieno

    Subs: 27. Vincent Khatili

    Coach: Sanjin Alagic

    Wazito: Kevin Omondi, Bernard Ochieng, Lloyd Wahome, Karim Nziyigimana, Ali Abondo, Musa Masika, Paul Acqua, Joe Waithira, David Oswe, Derick Otanga, Pistone Mutamba

    Coach: Melis Medo

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