In comes, Oliver Maloba and out goes Peter Pinchez Opiyo. That’s the only change from the squad that hit Gor Mahia 2-0 in the last FKF Premier League assignment as Nairobi City Stars strain their sights on AFC Leopards in Nyayo Stadium on Wednesday 5 January 2021.
Opiyo wore the armband in the last game against his former employer while Maloba was given a rest. Save for that change, the other 19-players retained their places in the squad.
Compared to the last team that took on Leopards last August in Ruaraka, and won 2-1, changes are five.
Bolton Omwenga, who has since left the club, and Wycliffe Otieno are not part of the defense as Elvis Noor Ojiambo misses out in midfield alongside strikers Vincent Otieno Okoth and Erick Ombija.
Their places have been filled up by left-back Dennis Decha Wanjala and former Leopard Salim Shitu Abdalla, Maloba, flyer Rodgers Okuse Okumu, and Michael Madoya.
Midfielders: 30. Anthony Kimani-captain, 20. Timothy Ouma, 18. Sven Yidah, 3. Charles Otieno, 7. Rodgers Okumu, 21. Oliver Maloba, 5. Michael Madoya, 15. John Kamau,
Strikers: 11. Davis Agesa, 32. Ezekiel Odera, 17. Nicholas Kipkirui,
Out: 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 6. Ronney Kola (all injured), 24. Erick Ombija, 1. Elvis Ochoro, 29. Ebrima Sanneh, 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo, 27. Lennox Ogutu, 14. Rowland Makati, 9. Vincent Otieno Okoth, 10. Peter Opiyo
Nairobi City Stars head coach Nicholas Muyoti and his technical bench have made five changes to the squad that faced KCB in the last premier league game ahead of the match against Gor Mahia on Thursday 30 December 2021 at Nyayo Stadium from 3 pm.
Due to a flu outbreak, defenders Kevin Chumsy Okumu, Salim Shitu Abdala and Kenedy Vidic Onyango, midfielders Peter Pinchez Opiyo and forward Nicholas Kipchabet Kipkirui all sat out the game against the Bankers but are fully fit and a boost to Simba wa Nairobi against the multiple league champions.
The entry of the five means stopper Lennox Ogutu gives way at the back alongside midfielders Oliver Maloba, Elvis Noor Ojiambo and Rowland Babu Makati, and striker Vincent Jamaica Otieno Okoth.
Stopper Wycliffe Otieno who made the bench in the July game, as well as Elvis Noor Ojiambo and forward Erick Jibaba Ombija, will also miss out.
Defenders Balton Omwenga and Wesley Onguso, as well as winger Azizi Okaka who have since exited Simba wa Nairobi.
Additions to the July squad include the left-footed trio of Dennis Decha Wanjala, Herit Mungai, and John Bombay Kamau who took up Kipkirui’s slot against KCB on the morning of the game.
Sven Yidah, who was out on CECAFA duty in July with the Kenya U23 squad, is in, and so is fast-rising stopper Edwin Buliba and midfielder Michael Madoya.
Midfielders: 30. Anthony Kimani-captain, 20. Timothy Ouma, 18. Sven Yidah, 3. Charles Otieno, 7. Rodgers Okumu, 10. Peter Opiyo, 5. Michael Madoya, 15. John Kamau,
Strikers: 11. Davis Agesa, 32. Ezekiel Odera, 17. Nicholas Kipkirui,
Out: 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 6. Ronney Kola (all injured), 24. Erick Ombija, 1. Elvis Ochoro, 29. Ebrima Sanneh, 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo, 27. Lennox Ogutu, 21. Oliver Maloba, 14. Rowland Makati, 9. Vincent Otieno Okoth
Peter Pinchez Opiyo broke his duck this season with his first-ever brace in Nairobi City Stars colors that aided Simba wa Nairobi to a 2-0 win over Mathare United during an FKF Premier League matchday nine tie in Ruaraka on Saturday 11 December 2021.
FT | BACK TO WINNING WAYS
Two first half goals from Peter Opiyo earns us the win in Ruaraka
Pinchez, City Stars top scorer last season with eight goals, smacked home a perfect freekick won by Ezekiel Odera in the 20th minute for the opener then doubled matters in the 36th minute with a low drive off a Nicholas Kipkirui feed.
“It’s great to have scored my first goals, but mostly for the win. We really needed it after two games without positive results,” said Pinchez who went on to clock his first full game of the season
Back in August this year, City Stars was taken down 2-0 by the same Mathare, at the same venue, but on Saturday it was a reversal of fortunes.
They fired the first salvo, winning two corners inside the first four minutes, but later on, let Simba wa Nairobi into the game.
“Mathare really started brightly,” attested Pinchez before adding; “They pinned us but somehow we struck first, and that gave us a great boost to chase the second. All in all, we are grateful for the win.”
Pinchez could have easily ended up with another goal in the game had one of his other freekicks not echoed off the upright at the half-hour mark. Sven Yidah pounced on the rebound to score but it was ruled out for offside.
29′ | FREEKICK OFF THE POST
Another freekick from a similar position, Pinchez takes it again and hits the right post, Salim converts from the rebound but he is flagged offside
Peter Pinchez Opiyo fired a first-half brace that led to Nairobi City Stars 2-0 dispatch of Mathare United in Kasarani on Saturday 11 December 2021 during a ninth-round FKF Premier League tie.
Opiyo opened the scores with a sublime freekick in the 20th minute off the edge of the box that had been won by Ezekiel Odera.
He earned his first-ever brace in City Stars colors after receiving a Nicholas Kipkirui pass in the 35th minute. With a swift turn, he hit the ball low to the far post past a Mathare keeper Bryne Omondi.
Though on the losing end, Mathare started on a bright note forcing two fruitless corners off City Stars in the opening four minutes.
By the time the clock has hit ten minutes, Odera had tried had an unsuccessful shot at goal as stopper Edwin Buliba had a freekick straight at Bryne.
The next three minutes saw Danson Kago of Mathare fire straight at keeper Jacob Osano from the right as City Stars responded with Odera’s shot that bore a wasted corner.
Odera was to force a freekick in the 19th minute outside the box with a straight sight of the goal that Pinchez buried past Bryne for the opener.
Odera could have doubled matters three minutes later but his dinking header off a cross from the left by Davis Agesa flew wide.
By the half-hour mark, City Stars had failed to make use of a corner earned by Timothy Ouma, and had a freekick by Opiyo hit the crossbar. Pounce on the second ball by stopper Salim Abdalla yielded a goal but the referee called for offside.
A minute later City Stars had a direct attack on Mathare after Ouma drifted from the left inwards only to fire straight at Bryne. The move was off a counter after a Mathare corner was cleared.
With ten minutes to go, Opiyo had doubled matters after good communication – then a pass – from Kipkirui from the left. He grabbed his brace with a far-post effort.
The goal came on either side of Daniel Otieno’s tame shot on City Stars goal and a freekick that he had won and taken by Ken Ochieng ended up with Osano.
Action in the first half came to a wrap with Ouma firing straight to Bryne as Alphonse Ndonye of Mathare doing the same on the other end as his hard shot ended up with Osano.
The second half was a tale of missed chances for, especially, City Stars.
Within the first ten minutes left-back Dennis Wanjala had a freekick end up with Bryne as Ouma and Kipkirui both failed to hit the target while within sight of the goal.
Kago had the best two chances for Mathare, the first at the hour mark and in the 71st minutes but he fired the first, a freekick, straight to Osano then shot wide while in good space. He was to do the same right at the death of the game.
The first changes in the game came in the 68th minute when Daniel Otieno of Mathare had to be pulled out injured. His place was taken by Eugene Wethuli.
For minutes later City Stars introduced flyer Rodgers Okumu for Agesa as Oliver Maloba rested Odera.
Seven minutes later Charles Otieno and Anthony Kimani came on for Sven Yidah and Kipkirui, respectively.
With three minutes of the game to play, Osano was forced to a double save, first from Kago then the fresh Wethuli, in what eventually earned him his fifth clean sheet of the season in eight games.
After that huge moment, Muki – starter of the previous eight games – fired two good balls wide while in the box as Kago replicated the same with the final action of the game.
With the win over Mathare, Simba wa Nairobi scales up the log from the fifth spot to second with 17 points from nine games as Mathare stayed 14th with seven points.
Next up for Simba wa Nairobi is a home game against KCB in Ruraka on Friday 17th December starting 1 pm.
Lineups
Nairobi City Stars: 16. Jacob Osano, 8. Calvin Masawa-captain, 12. Edwin Buliba, 4. Salim Abdalla, 26. Dennis Wanjala, 18. Sven Yidah (3. Charles Otieno-81), 10. Peter Opiyo, 11. Davis Agesa (7. Rodgers Okumu-72), 17. Nicholas Kipkirui (30. Anthony Kimani-81), 20. Timothy Noor Ouma, 32. Ezekiel Odera (21. Oliver Maloba-72)
Unused subs: 23. Stephen Njunge (GK), 28. Herit Mungai, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 27. Lennox Ogutu, 19. Kevin Okumu,
Out: 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 6. Ronney Kola, 15. John Kamau, 24. Erick Ombija, (all injured) 5. Michael Madoya, 14. Rowland Makati, 1. Elvis Ochoro, 29. Ebrima Sanneh, 9. Vincent Otieno Okoth, 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo
Coach: Nicholas Muyoti
Mathare United: 1. Bryne Omondi, 18. Kenedy Ochieng, 20. Martin Ongori, 23. Victor Odhiambo, 19. Tony Odhiambo, 14. Meshack Muyonga, 8. Alphonse Ndonye – Captain, 6. Martin Nderitu, 15. Danson Kago, 27. Daniel Otieno (28. Eugene Wethuli), 13. John Mwangi
Subs: 30. Job Ochieng (GK), Tom Kangeta (GK), 4. Harun Junior, Brian Chege, Khalid Jumaan, 26. Said Musa, Douglas Kibet
Coach: Ezekiel Akwana
Yellow cards
City Stars: 18. Sven Yidah (67), 11. Davis Agesa (68), 3. Charles Otieno (82) Mathare United: 18. Kenedy Ochieng (84),
Goals: Peter Opiyo – City Stars (20,36)
An elated captain Calvin Masawa over the moon as City Celebrated one of two goals scored by Peter Opiyo in a 2-0 win over Mathare United in Ruaraka on Sat 11 Dec 2021
From the squad that faced Posta Rangers in the last FKF Premier league assignment, head coach Nicholas Muyoti has made four changes ahead of a sixth-round league game against Vihiga Bullets in Ruaraka on Saturday 6 November 2021 starting 3 pm.
Due to injuries suffered from the Posta Rangers game, speedster Rodgers Okuse Okumu and Nicholas Kipirui are out of the Bullets game.
Supersub Erick Ombija was forced out of the game after picking an ankle strain in training on Thursday.
The three slots have been snapped up by John Kamau, Peter Opiyo, and Gambian hitman Ebrima Sanneh who makes the squad for the first time this season.
The final change is a tactical one. Lennox Ogutu takes a rest which allows utility Edwin Buliba back in the squad.
From the squad that took on Bullets while in the second tier back in January 2020 at Camp Toyoyo, and won 2-0, the changes are ten.
Keeper Levis Opiyo, Azizi Okaka, Jimmy Bageya who all started the game, as well as David Gateri, and Eric Ochieng who came on as subs, plus Wesley Onguso who was unused, have since left the club.
Seven players who featured in the Camp Toyoyo game; Calvin Masawa, Oliver Maloba, Kevin Okumu, field skipper Anthony Kimani, Ebrima Sanneh, Ezekiel Odera, and Salim Abdalla, are all in line for yet another Bullets game, albeit at a higher level.
Unused subs then; Jacob Osano, Buliba, and Vincent Otieno aka Jamaica, are all part of the squad.
Keeper Stephen Njunge, defenders Kenedy Onyango, Dennis Wanjala, midfielders Sven Yidah, Michael Madoya, and Timothy Ouma, all signed later, will be angling for a first test against Bullets.
They will be joined by Kamau, Peter Opiyo, Davis Agesa, and Elvis Noor Ojiambo who all missed the January game.
City Stars squad to face Vihiga Bullets
Goalkeepers: 16. Jacob Osano, 23. Stephen Njunge
Defenders: 4. Salim Abdallah, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 26. Dennis Wanjala, 19. Kevin Okumu, 12. Edwin Buliba, 8. Calvin Masawa,
Midfielders: 5. Michael Madoya, 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo, 10. Peter Opiyo, 30. Anthony Kimani-captain, 20. Timothy Ouma, 18. Sven Yidah, 15. John Kamau, 21. Oliver Maloba
Strikers: 11. Davis Agesa, 9. Vincent Otieno Okoth, 29. Ebrima Sanneh, 32. Ezekiel Odera
