Midfielder Augustine Kuta has returned to Nairobi City Stars lineup ahead of an FKF Premier League game against Ulinzi Stars in Ruaraka on Sunday 10 April 2022 starting 3 pm.
Kuta is the only change from the 20-man lot that beat Bandari 2-1 at the same venue on Saturday 2 April 2022.
Kuta missed that win but is now back in place of field skipper Anthony Muki Kimani who was ruled out of the game due to job commitments.
City Stars and Ulinzi have not faced off this season and are meeting for the first time. The reverse game will be next weekend.
Midfielders: 3. Charles Otieno, 5. Michael Madoya, 15. John Kamau, 18. Sven Yidah, 20. Timothy Ouma, 21. Oliver Maloba, 29. Augustine Kuta,
Strikers: 9. Vincent Otieno Okoth, 11. Davis Agesa, 17. Nicholas Kipkirui, 24. Erick Ombija, 32. Ezekiel Odera
Out: 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo, 6. Ronney Kola, 7. Rodgers Okumu, 12. Edwin Buliba, 14. Rowland Makati, 10. Peter Opiyo, 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 23. Stephen Njunge, 26. Dennis Wanjala, 30. Anthony Kimani, 31. Mohammed Bajaber
Augustine Kuta takes on Mathare United right back Kenedy Ochieng during an FKF Premier League match 19 played on Sat 26 Feb 2022 at the Thika Stadium. He provided an assist for the third goal on his Simba wa Nairobi debut. City Stars won it 3-0
Goalkeeper Elvis Ochoro, striker Ezekiel Odera, stopper Kenedy Onyango and midfielder John Kamau are the three new additions as Nairobi City Stars plots for a Bandari reverse game in Ruaraka on Saturday 2 April 2022 starting 3 pm.
The quartet takes up the places of keeper Stephen Njunge, forward Augustine Kuta, stopper Edwin Buliba and injured midfielder Peter Opiyo who were all part of the trip to Mombasa a fortnight ago.
City Stars went down 1-0 in that game after conceding at the stroke of halftime.
Substitute Rodgers Okuse Okumu’s goal in the 88th minute earned Nairobi City Stars a 1-1 draw against visiting Kakamega Homeboyz in an FKF Premier League match 16 played in Ruaraka on Monday 24 January 2022.
⌛ | For the second time in 4 days we draw with Kakamega Homeboyz
— Official Nairobi City Stars Fc (@NrbCityStars) January 24, 2022
It was the second time in five days that City Stars came from behind to tie Abana Beingo following up on the incredible 4-4 draw on Thursday in Bukhungu, Kakamega.
Homeboyz took the lead through substitute Gaetan Masha who, on his debut, powered home a header after the ball was headed his way by George Odiwuor in the 76th minute.
Masha had only been on the pitch for 11 minutes after coming on for Stephen Opoku in the 65th minute.
Okuse, an unused substitute in the Thursday game, came on in the 69th minute for a tiring Davis Agesa. He got to the end of a perfect ball from the skipper on the day Peter Pinchez Opiyo to smack home a low left-footer off the left of goal for the leveler past keeper David Juma.
With shared spoils, Homeboyz maintains the top spot with 33 points to maintain a five-point buffer over City Stars who are part of a three-team chasing pack besides Kariobangi Sharks and KCB, all with 28 points.
City Stars earned the first corner of the game in the third minute that left-back Dennis Decha Wanjala floated well only for stopper Salim Shitu Abdalla to head wide.
Four minutes later Homeboyz had one of their own on the other end that followed up on a freekick. Both were wasted.
In the 13th minute, a dashing Oliver Maloba got to the box and fired on target only for keeper David Juma to pick it out at the near post.
The best chance in the half came in the 19th minute when Agesa found space to the left of the goal and aimed for the far top corner. Juma did well to tip the ball for a fruitless corner.
Two minutes later Homeboyz responded with a corner that stopper Brian Eshihanda headed straight to City Stars keeper Jacob Osano.
In the whole, City Stars outdid Homeboyz eight to three corners in the first half but all, taken by Decha, failed to yield the desired results.
— Official Nairobi City Stars Fc (@NrbCityStars) January 24, 2022
In the second half, Homeboyz had an early charge for goal only to be checked by Shitu. Minutes later, Pinchez floated a corner only for stopper Kenedy Vidic Onyango to send wide.
16 minutes into the second half City Stars head coach brought in Erick Ombija for Ezekiel Odera and two minutes later Homeboyz countered it with Masha for Opoku.
In the 66th minute, City Stars had a chance for goal when Maloba burst into the box only to find his shooting boot for the ball to roll easily to Juma. Three minutes later it was the chance of Yema in the City Stars box. He fired wide.
Two minutes on, a perfect ball found teenage sensation Timothy Babu Ouma in the box but he took a few seconds more on the ball to allow Juma to pick it from his feet.
Another goal attempt by City Stars minutes later saw Okuse break to the box only to fire wide. Three minutes after that attempt Homeboyz was a goal ahead after a poor clearance off a corner ended up with Eshihanda who headed for Masha to open his goal account on his debut.
Within the next ten minutes after that goal, City Stars introduced Anthony Muki Kimani in place of Babu and were level when after stopper Vidic moved up the pitch to square a ball to Pinchez who then laid it for Okuse to do the rest for his second goal of the season.
Okuse’s goal brought belief to City Stars as evidenced in the four added minutes. Simba wa Nairobi forced two dangerous freekicks, a corner, and one fine ball that landed on an unmarked Maloba who chested the ball well at the edge of the box. He failed to get his footing leaving Juma with an easy pick from what should have been the decider.
It’s within the added minutes that substitute Masha left the pitch with an injury, his place taken up by Nigerian Michael Karamor.
A final corner by Homeboyz and a final drive up a field by City Stars soon brought proceedings to an end.
Lineups
Nairobi City Stars: 16. Jacob Osano, 19. Kevin Okumu, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 4. Salim Abdalla, 26. Dennis Wanjala, 18. Sven Yidah, 10. Peter Opiyo-captain, 20. Timothy Noor Ouma (30. Anthony Kimani-82), 21. Oliver Maloba, 11. Davis Agesa (7. Rodgers Okumu-69), 32. Ezekiel Odera (24. Erick Ombija-62)
Unused subs: 1. Elvis Ochoro (GK), 8. Calvin Masawa, 27. Lennox Ogutu, 3. Charles Otieno, 15. John Kamau, 12. Edwin Buliba
Out: 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 6. Ronney Kola, 23. Stephen Njunge (GK), 29. Ebrima Sanneh, 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo, 9. Vincent Otieno Okoth, 14. Rowland Makati, 17. Nicholas Kipkirui, 28. Herit Mungai, 5. Michael Madoya
— Official Nairobi City Stars Fc (@NrbCityStars) January 24, 2022
Kakamega Homeboyz: 32. David Juma, 2. Eric Ambunya, 44. Brian Eshihanda, 15. Sylvester Owino, 6. Benjamin Oketch, 20. George Odiwour, 25. Stephen Opoku [Gaetan Masha-65 (31. Michael Karamor-90+)], 8. Stephen Wakanya, 9. David Okoth, 22. Chris Masinza 27. Yema Mwana,
Nairobi City Stars: 4. Kevin Okumu (58), 18. Sven Yidah (74). 24. Erick Ombija (90+)
Kakamega Homeboyz: 2. Erick Ambunya (29)
Goals:
Nairobi City Stars: 7. Rodgers Okumu (88)
Kakamega Homeboyz: Gaetan Masha (76)
City Stars stopper challenges his opposite number Brian Eshihanda of Homeboyz during an FKF Premier League match 16 in Ruaraka on Mon 24 Jan 2021. It ended 1-1City Stars stopper Salim Abdalla on the ball ghosting his Homeboyz counterpart Sylvester Owino during an FKF Premier League match 16 in Ruaraka on Mon 24 Jan 2021. It ended 1-1
For the eighth time since 2013, Nairobi City Stars will take on Kakamega Homeboyz in the premier league, this time during a 16th round tie in Ruaraka on Monday 24 January 2022 starting 3 pm.
The game comes on the back of a 4-4 draw last Thursday in Bukhungu, Kakamega, where Simba wa Nairobi clawed back after being two goals down on three different occasions to earn the point from Homeboyz.
The Monday game, a reverse one, marks the beginning of the second leg assignments for Simba wa Nairobi.
In the upcoming game, City Stars will be hosting Homeboyz in the premier league for only the fourth time, but the second straight time in Ruaraka.
From the previous three games in Nairobi, City Stars has registered two wins – in May 2013 and June 2021, both by identical 1-0 wins.
A 3-1 loss was registered between the wins during a game played in October 2016 at Kasarani. It confirmed City Stars’ relegation from the top-flight.
In the last home game, Nicholas Kipkirui scored the lone winning goal but he will miss the upcoming game as he is yet to recuperate from an injury picked during a recent AFC Leopards match.
That game was handled by Bosnian coach Sanjin Alagic but his place has since been taken up by Homeboyz losing coach then, Nicholas Muyoti. His place at Abana Beingo was filled up by his deputy Bernard Mwalala whom he faces once again within five days.
Homeboyz comes to the game as the log leader with 32 points from 15 games and has a five-point cushion over City Stars who have dropped two places down to fourth following results of games played on Sunday.
Who wins this one?
Summary
KPL home Games vs Homeboyz: Total (3); Wins (2), Draws (0), Loses (1)
For the 13th time in 17 years, Mathare United will host Nairobi City Stars in the premier league, this time in a matchday 31 tie on Saturday 7 August 2021 at Ruaraka starting at 1 pm.
It will only be the second time that Mathare United will host City Stars at Ruaraka. The first time was back in August 2007 when, while known as World Hope, City Stars won the game 1-0. Defender Donald Mosoti scored the winner.
NEXT MATCH | FKF-PL Round 31
? | Saturday 7th August 2021
? Mathare United FC
? | FKF-PL
⏰ | 1500 EAT
? | Ruaraka Grounds #???????ℕ??????
BETTER MUST COME
— Official Nairobi City Stars Fc (@NrbCityStars) August 5, 2021
Mathare United last hosted City Stars in March 2016 at Nyayo Stadium in a game they went on to lose 2-0 from goals scored by Ezekiel Odera and Oscar Mbugua. At the end of that season City Stars was sent packing from the top flight to the second tier.
Five years later Odera is still in the mix for another showdown with Mathare United.
Ahead of the Saturday fight, Mathare United calls the shots in their home games against the lads from Kawangware. From the previous 12 games away to Mathare, City Stars has managed two wins, drawn three, and lost seven.
In those games, Simba wa Nairobi has scored nine times against Mathare’s 19.
Both sides have personnel changes on the touchline for the reverse.
During the first leg played at Kasarani Annex in early March 2021, Bosnian Sanjin Alagic and Salim Ali were the coaches for City Stars and Mathare United. City Stars won that game 2-0.
— Betking Kenya Premier League (@Officialfkfpl) August 4, 2021
Who will blink first in Ruaraka?
Summary
KPL Away games to Mathare United; Wins (2), Draws (3), Loses (7)
11-Dec-04; Mathare United vs World, 2-2 (D)
19-Mar-06; Mathare United vs World Hope, 4-1 (L)
5-Aug-07; Mathare United vs World Hope, 0-1 (W)
25-May-08; Mathare United vs World Hope, 2-1 (L)
18-Feb-09; Mathare United vs City Stars, 3-0 (L)
24-Jul-10; Mathare United vs City Stars, 2-0 (L)
9-Jul-11; Mathare United vs City Stars, 0-0 (D)
24-Mar-12; Mathare United vs City Stars, 1-0 (L)
7-Jul-13; Mathare United vs City Stars, 2-2 (D)
11-May-14; Mathare United vs City Stars, 1-0 (L)
5-Apr-15; Mathare United vs City Stars, 2-0 (L)
30-Mar-16; Mathare United vs World Hope, 0-2 (W)
Bolton Omwenga of Nairobi City Stars in a game against Mathare United on Tue 2 March 2021 at Kasarani Annex. City Stars won 2-0Anthony Kimani of Nairobi City Stars in a game against Mathare United on Tue 2 March 2021 at Kasarani Annex. City Stars won 2-0
