Nairobi City Stars

Tag: Patrick Korir

  • Coach Sanjin returns for new challenge

    Coach Sanjin returns for new challenge

    After a forced 7-months break due to the corona virus pandemic, Nairobi City Stars coach Sanjin Alagic has returned to lead the club through an elaborate pre-season ahead of the upcoming Kenyan Premier League (KPL) season.

    The Bosnian left the country in mid-March for his homeland Sarajevo due to the novel virus that disrupted the rest of the National Super League (NSL), as well as all other leagues.

    In spite of that disrupt, he had done enough as City Stars were patched at the helm of the 19-team NSL log with 64 points from 28 rounds of play with a ten-point buffer that eventually got the team promoted earning a place back in the top flight after a four-season respite.

    “It’s great to be back as it has been a long time out without football,” started the UEFA Pro coach

    His return coincided with the announcement of kick off dates for the new season, as well as release of draft KPL fixtures.

    From the league schedule, City Stars will play five Western based teams in its first five fixtures starting with a home game in Nairobi against Nzoia United.

    “We are happy to be back in the Premier after four years and we can’t wait to get the season started with our first game against Nzoia United. We want to prepare for that first game like it’s a final then take it game by game after that,”

    “Our target in our first season back is to make City Stars a stable Premier League outfit, one that will develop young players to a national level with the aim of transferring some players to clubs abroad. We will stay focused and humble,”

    “Last season the club restructured and became very stable and organized and we are happy to continue with what we started then into the new seasons. We want fans to be aware of this and we are asking them for their support as we journey back into the Premier League.” Added Sanjin

     

  • 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

  • Chumsy says bye

    Chumsy says bye

    After four good years at Nairobi City Stars, versatile right back cum winger Kevin Çhumsy Okumu (pictured no. 28) has waved good bye.

    Okumu arrived at City Stars in mid-2016 from Young Rovers at a low moment as just months later the team got relegated from the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) to the second tier.

    He left almost exactly four years later with an exact opposite – having contributed to the club’s promotion back to the KPL after four seasons in the cold. He scored twice and had four assists in the 70.3% minutes earned during the promotion rally.

    Okumu became a free agent in July 2020 at the expiry of his contract. In spite of having an offer from the club for an extension, the on-demand Chumsy opted to scan the horizon for a fresh challenge.

    He left with a clear parting shot;

    “They were 4 good wonderful years. In June 2016 when I received offer from Nairobi city Stars, I was convinced that this was where I had to play,”

    “Today I am certain that it was the best of decisions. There were so many happy times, some sad and it was always very intense,”

    “I learnt a lot about myself. I developed a great deal, becoming a better player and a better person. With each training session, with each game, with every minute spent in dressing room, I was always learning,”

    “The time has now come to move on. I am certainly going to miss my teammates. I will miss all the staff at the club who’ve always treated me like a son and I will miss the fans,”

    “I leave with my head held high, safe in the knowledge that I won things here and always did my best in a Nairobi City Stars shirt!”

    “My heartfelt thanks go out to all of you and God bless you!”

    Commenting on his departure, club CEO Patrick Korir said;

    “He served us diligently and we at Nairobi City Stars wish him the very best in his future endeavors. Simba wa Nairobi‘s blessings are with him.”

    In joining City Stars, Kevin followed the path of his sibling Collins Okumu who featured for the club in the 2014 season.

  • City Stars deliver over 130,000 meals in latest #JengaJirani drive

    City Stars deliver over 130,000 meals in latest #JengaJirani drive

    Nairobi City Stars players, acting as ambassadors of the Jonathan Jackson Foundation (JJF), spearheaded the dishing out of over 870 food hampers that equates to over 130,500 meals over the past week.

    Team players as well as officials, led by Chair Jonathan Jackson and CEO Patrick Korir, were joined by JJF team, partners Kubamba Krew and Spread Truth Africa on selected days.

    The latest activity, that concluded on Monday 10 August 2020, involved visits to Mukuru kwa Reuben in Industrial area and Mukuru kwa Njenga and parts of Pipeline as well as Tassia, and Mwiki where about 64 food hampers were issued out.

    The latest distribution, under the initiative #JengaJirani, kicked off last week Monday with donations of 200 food hampers in two points in Kamukunji Sub County – Kitui Village, Pumwani Ward and Biafra Community in California Ward.

    The rest of the days in the week saw households in Saika, Dandora, Masai Mater, Shimo La Tewa, Mariguini, Fuata Nyayo, Commercial, Kisii Village and Kathethera benefit from the visits.

    “Jenga Jirani is an act of kindness where the little that we have is shared out to the vulnerable in the society,” said CEO Korir

    “The impact it brings to families is what most important to us and that objective on any given day supersedes the number of people we have reached.” he added

    Madiaba, Kabiro and Satelite Community as part of the larger Kawangware community, Waruku in Kileleshwa ward were part of the stop points.

    The weeks’ activities also included visits to two children’s homes; Filomena (Kayole) and Paradise Community Centre in Bombolulu, Kibra, as well as a revisit to Rehoboth Blessed Assurance Home in Mwiki.

    At Filomena, City Stars players led by the likes of Wesley Onguso, Jacob Osano, Elvis Ojiambo, Charles Oduro and Vincent Otieno, in conjunction with Kubamba Krew and leading Gospel artists such as Lady B and Evelyne Wanjiru, helped to cook, then fed with the children.

    Part of those targeted in the latest #JengaJirani drive included households with cerebral palsy persons, those with cancer, disabilities, the severely sick, among others.

    Pictorials

  • City Stars to benefit from new KPL naming rights

    City Stars to benefit from new KPL naming rights

    Newly promoted Nairobi City Stars is set to receive Kshs 8 million for the upcoming 2020/21 season following the sale of naming rights for the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) to leading gaming firm BetKing by Football Kenya Federation (FKF).

    According to an announcement made on Thursday 16 July 2020 by FKF,  the overseers of the game in the country, BetKing has been drawn in as KPL’s title sponsors for a span of five years.

    The partnership entails Kshs 220 million in the first year with the figures expected to escalate by 5% for the second year before further incrementing to 10% in consequent years.

    Under the deal, all 18 top tier sides will take home Kshs 8 million in the first year.

    “Our players and club officials have had it rough over the past few years because of an underfunded league,” said FKF President Nick Mwendwa

    “I am happy today to announce BetKing Kenya as our title sponsor in the biggest deal in our history,” he added.

    Internally the news was well received at Simba wa Nairobi and in a comment club CEO Patrick Korir said;

    “This is indeed good news and it goes to show FKF have the interest of football in the country. For a few years clubs in the KPL have struggled with finances, lack off, and the partnership with BetKing, following a good shift of intent by FKF, is a descent one that we at City Stars truly appreciate.”

    City Stars roared back to the KPL after four seasons in the cold after topping the recently concluded second tier NSL.

    Official unveiling of the sponsor will be done in September 2020.

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