Nairobi City Stars

Tag: Samson Otieno

  • Mukisa joins Simba wa Nairobi

    Mukisa joins Simba wa Nairobi

    Ugandan defender Yusuf Mukisa Lubowa is the latest player to join Nairobi City Stars. He arrives from Uganda top tier side Proline on a two-year deal.

    Mukisa returned to Simba wa Nairobi to actualize his signing in the current window after a move at the first time of asking in January 2020 failed to materialize.

    “Mukisa is a utility back who is comfortable as a left, centre or right back. He is however coming in to fill the right back position vacated by Kevin Okumu,”

    “We are certain his arrival will solidify our back line. I welcome him to Simba wa Nairobi.” said City Stars team coordinator Samson Otieno

    Mukisa, is a former Uganda U20 captain who also featured for SC Villa and Proline Academy. He won the Ugandan league title with Vipers in the 2015/16 season.

    Back in the years he captained Proline Academy which toured England – courtesy of Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand – and returned with 2-0 and 3-2 wins over Manchester Academy and West Ham Academy, respectively.

    He featured for Proline at the Cecafa Club Championship and CAF Confederations cup in 2019. He had the following sentiments after being confirmed a Nairobi City Stars player.

    “I’m excited to join both the City Stars and Jonathan Jackson Foundation family,”

    “We have been in contact for the past six months and I came over in January and trained with the team in Nairobi. I was impressed by the playing unit, coach,  structures and feel good atmosphere around the team,”

    “Now we have managed to get the deal and I wish to thank the CEO Patrick Korir and Coordinator Samson Otieno for the efforts to get me over there,”

    “City Stars has a great history and is known for grooming Ugandan talents such as Danny Sserunkuma, Bruno Sserunkuma and Jimmy Bageya, among others, and I am happy to be part of this group. With the performances from last season, I’m certain the team will have a good season in both the Kenyan Premier League and domestic cup.” said the 27 year-old

    Mukisa becomes the third player to join the main team after striker Erick Ombija from Gor Mahia and defensive mid Sven Yidah from Kariobangi Sharks.

    The trio join four developmental players Rowland Makati from Vapor Sports, Timothy Ouma from Laiser Hill Academy, Ronney Kola Oyaro from Kenya School of Government (KSG) and keeper Elvis Ochieng Ochoro from Hakati Sportiff all signed in recent weeks.

    Yusuf Mukisa Lubowa and Proline team mates with Sir Alex Ferguson in Manchester in 2008
    Photo – courtesy
  • Ombija joins City Stars

    Ombija joins City Stars

    Striker Erick Ombija, 25, has joined Nairobi City Stars from champions Gor Mahia on a two-year deal.

    Ombija becomes the latest arrival at Nairobi City Stars, and the fifth in the current transfer window after youngsters  Rowland Makati from Vapor Sports, Timothy Ouma from Laiser Hill Academy, Ronney Kola Oyaro from Kenya School of Government (KSG) and keeper Elvis Ochieng Ochoro from Hakati Sportiff.

    Ombija has an envious scoring record having scored 11 times in the National Super League (NSL) in the 2018 season and 17 goals in the ended 2019/20 season while on loan from Gor Mahia.

    “He’s a proven goal scorer and is a good addition and firepower to our striking department,”

    “He has been a long term target and we are happy to welcome him to Simba wa Nairobi.He gives us extra options upfront and is a great boost to the team.” said team coordinator Samson Otieno

    Prior to departing to his homeland in Taita Taveta after putting pen to paper, Ombija shared his reasons in joining Simba wa Nairobi;

    “My aim was to play the 2020/21 season through hard and support from the entire Coast Stima family,”

    “My decision to join City Stars comes at the right time and I am glad to join the Lions Pride and be part of a team which will challenge the for the title,”

    “I am happy to join the likes of Muki (Anthony Kimani), Pinchez (Peter Opiyo), (Oliver) Maloba and many more talented players at City Stars.” said Ombija.

    Ombija will don his favorite jersey no. 24 and will be contesting for the No. 9 position with Gambian marksman Ebrima Sanneh, Ezekiel Odera, Kaimosi High alumnus Davis Agesa and teenager Vincent Jamaica Otieno.

    Eric Ombija with club coordinator Samson Otieno during his unveiling on Fri 4 Sep 2020
    Eric Ombija with club CEO Patrick Korir during his unveiling on Fri 4 Sep 2020
    Eric Ombija with club CEO Patrick Korir during his unveiling on Fri 4 Sep 2020
    Eric Ombija during his unveiling on Fri 4 Sep 2020
  • Makati joins in from Vapor

    Makati joins in from Vapor

    Midfielder Rowland Babu Makati, 19, has joined Nairobi City Stars on a long term deal.

    Makati comes in from division one side Vapor Sports, a team he linked up with last season from Gatina-based Escalators FC.

    Makati, who led Dagoretti Mixed to the coveted Nairobi Region Chapa Dimba title at Jamhuri High School in February 2020, was unveiled at the Club offices on fourth Ngong Avenue on Tuesday.

    Speaking soon after putting pen to paper, an excited Makati said;

    “It’s been a dream to join Nairobi City Stars. I am excited, very excited to finally have a chance to join the club especially at a time they have been promoted to the Kenyan Premier League.”

    Ushering Makati at Simba wa Nairobi was team coordinator Samson Otieno.

    “Since being spotted at Chapa Dimba our scouts have been on his trail for months and had it not been for corona virus we could have engaged him much earlier. He is a player full of potential, with the right skill set and mentality,” said Samson

    “He comes on board as part of our youth program and is one of five players below 20 years of age that we will be registering for the upcoming season to add the right balance to a team full of experience,”

    “We thank Escalators for nurturing him and Vapor Sports for stepping up his football to Division One and for further allowing him to pursue his dream of joining Simba wa Nairobi.”

    Babu joins a long list of players that have joined City Stars over the years from Vapor Sports.

    Makati’s preferred position is 10 and he will be donning jersey no. 14

     

  • Keeper Levis Opiyo moves on

    Keeper Levis Opiyo moves on

    Keeper Levis Opiyo Omondi will not tend goal for Nairobi City Stars in the upcoming 2020/2021 season.

    This is after the former Thika United, Western Stima, Mathare United, Posta Rangers, Fortuna Babelsberg and Vihiga United keeper opted to run out his contract and pursue other interests away from Simba wa Nairobi.

    His exit was confirmed by team coordinator Samson Otieno who said; “We would have liked to keep him for our Premier League return but he had other plans and we did not want to stand in his way. We thank him for his services and for leading the team back to the topflight at the fourth time of asking,”

    “With his exit the club will now shop around for a worthy replacement.” added Otieno

    In his parting shot, Levis, who joined the club in mid-2019, said;

    “It is with deep sorrow to leave Nairobi City Stars because we were like family. I had close friends. But sometimes in football there comes a time you have to move when a good offer comes,”

    “I am happy to have enjoyed my time while at City Stars as it’s a good club with good management, one of the best coach I have ever come across (Sanjin Alagic), unbelievable players who were hungry to win which made it easy to perform each time,”

    “I am also happy to have contributed to the team’s promotion and I believe with the combination above the team will do an amazing job in the Premiership.”

    According to Nairobi City Stars 2019/2020 season statistics, Levis featured in 25 of 27 games played and only missed two due to a concussion (Mt. Kenya) and suspension (AP Bomet).

    He was named the club’s Player of the month in September 2019, picked out as match MVP twice, and will be remembered for two penalty saves in away games against promotion contenders Nairobi Stima and Vihiga United that ultimately delivered all three points.

    With Opiyo’s exit, City Stars goal keeping department is left with January signing Jacob Osano who was on-boarded from Nairobi Stima and long serving Ronny Kagunzi.

  • ‘Chale’ at 86%, Buliba steady

    ‘Chale’ at 86%, Buliba steady

    Nairobi City Stars box to box master Charles Otieno Oduro aka Chale is now as good as fit after completing four months of attentive rehabilitation.  

    A knee injury – a complex tear to the lateral meniscus – had seen Chale miss games in February and March.

    As Chale gets clearance, defender Edwin Buliba who suffered a patella tendonitis and IT band syndrome back in February, is also getting closer to recovery.

    The two have been undergoing weekly rehabilitation at the Muchatha Health Care, a renowned Physiotherapy & Sports injury clinic, since mid-March.

    Brian Otieno Odongo has been keenly attending to the two, among others, and he gave his comments on their progress.

    “Chale has highly improved and at the last stage of recovery. We grade his injury at 86% recovered.” said Brian Oduor who attended to him

    Edwin Buliba
    Edwin Buliba (left) in a past game against Nairobi Stima on Sat 14 Mar 2020

    On Buliba he said; “He is still on rehab with an appreciated progress.” added Brian

    Speaking to City Stars news desk, team coordinator Samson Otieno noted the progression of the players with glee.

    “We are happy to see a number of players now leave the Doctor’s perch. And now we are down to the last two. By the time we kick off preseason we will have a fully fit squad.” said

    In March, winger Jimmy Bageya, strikers Vincent ‘Jamaica’ Otieno and Ezekiel Odera, defender Wycliffe Otieno, keeper Levis Opiyo were all being treated for varied injuries. They are all fully healed.

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