Nairobi City Stars

Tag: Samson Otieno

  • City Stars join hands with JJF, Light for the World to distribute food hampers

    City Stars join hands with JJF, Light for the World to distribute food hampers

    In the ended week, Nairobi City Stars players turned to ambassadors for the Jonathan Jackson Foundation (JJF) and continued to distribute more than 830 food hampers donated by Light for the World to families with disabilities across Nairobi.

    The tag team, in conjunction with Kubamba Krew who provided free transportation, helped to dish out food stuff enough to feed a family of five for 14 days.

    Light for the World, an international disability and development organization, partnered with JJF who in turn called on City Stars to distribute the hampers – each with food stuff estimated at Kshs 2,000 – to most vulnerable families in Kawangware, Githurai, Mathare North, Kayole, Umoja, the larger Dagoreti as well as Sinai and Mukuru.

    Others targeted were those in Undugu, Silanga, Soweto, Lindi B, Mashoni and Kisumu ndogo all under Langata sub County.

    City Stars left back Wesley ‘Wiseman’ Onguso has been one of the most active players serving the community.

    “I will always come through to serve the community when called upon and that’s why I have actively participated this week. It is a joy to see the smiles on families once we deliver the hampers and this makes the entire course worthwhile.” he said

    Calvin Masawa, one of the captains at the forefront of the process added his voice to the activity, as he echoed Onguso’s sentiments;

    “As City Stars players we are always at hand to help out. We did this earlier by targeting the vulnerable in Kibera, Deep Sea in Highridge and Kawangware but this time round it’s been more intense as the reach was wider for a target group as that involved those with disabilities.”

    City Stars team coordinator Samson Otieno who was also part of the activities thanked Light for the World on behalf of the club.

    “Coming through for more than 830 families with food hampers that can feed a family of 5 for about two weeks is no mean feat. I thank and appreciate Light for the World for pulling through resources to facilitate the same. On behalf of the families, may they be abundantly blessed.”

    “I also wish to thank City Stars players for providing the necessary manpower in packaging and distribution as well as the Kubamba Krew who provided the necessary transport for the foodstuff for free.”

  • City Stars dig into archives for stats

    City Stars dig into archives for stats

    Promoted Nairobi City Stars is at the collection point for all its past statistics.

    According to team coordinator Samson Otieno and CEO Patrick Korir, stats gives a rare view that’s important as the team forges forward.

    “Reasons for collecting stats are varied but in our case at City Stars we want to capture trends by looking at past seasons,”

    “This will help in identifying important events as we look ahead to upcoming seasons.” said Samson

    For the CEO, numbers will help identify,among others, the legends of the clubs.

    “I have always been curious about numbers and hence the City Stars retrospective numbers search. For example who is the team’s all-time top scorer, assist provider? Which are the bogey teams? Who played the most games across the top leagues and second tier?

    “Assembling the stats will give us an analytic start point as a view backwards guides us going forward. It will also help identify the true legends of the club.” said Korir

    In relating to the mission at hand, Samson revisited the 2018/19 season where the team was fighting relegation.

    “In that season the team had only one win and just 11 points after 20 rounds of play with just one clean sheet and deep in relegation danger. It guided us in mid season transfer signings to a point the team survived the chop,”

    “Once we have the stats we will share them with our followers to help understand the team better.” added Samson

    City Stars recent elevation back to the top tier ended four seasons in second tier cold.

  • JJF Jamii Cup return shelved

    JJF Jamii Cup return shelved

    Had it been business as usual, the Betika Super League (BSL) would have wrapped its season with round 38 games on Saturday 16 May 2020.

    The grand finale would have confirmed the final two promoted teams, and playoff team placed third, as well as the two teams to join already relegated Northern Wanderers out of the league.

    But it’s been business unusual, as the league stalled two months before after round 28 on Saturday 14 March 2020 due to the Corona Virus pandemic that put a stop to all sporting activities.

    Consequently, and with an unrealistic future ahead, the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) brought the league to an end and applied the rule book that confirmed Nairobi City Stars and Bidco United as promoted with Vihiga United destined for the playoffs. St. Joseph’s and Administration Police were sent downwards to division one.

    On the final day that was not to be, City Stars would have been away to Kibera Black Stars just as was the case last season.

    Stakes were at the highest in that season-ender for Simba Wa Nairobi as Black Stars ended the team’s 18-match unbeaten run in December – and 22 overall considering games from the other season.

    Besides, Black Stars claimed a Kshs 20,000 bounty and the newly introduced Jonathan Jackson Foundation (JJF) Jamii Cup much to the chagrin of the City Stars establishment.

    Speaking on the Cup, City Stars team coordinator Samson Otieno has hinted at having the reverse JJF Jamii Cup game somewhere before next season.

    “It was a match up we had been waiting for. We wanted to end the season on a high by reclaiming the JJF Jamii Cup from Black Stars and avenge the first leg loss that ended our unbeaten check,”

    “But with the prevailing conditions this has to be shelved till an appropriate time. We will consider the return game in the preseason.” he added.

    During the last game between the two, MVP’s from either side; Charles Otieno (City Stars) and Bill Clinton Okumu (Black Stars) were each rewarded with a pair of boots from JJF.

  • Promotion excites Coach Sanjin

    Promotion excites Coach Sanjin

    On the final day of April 2020, the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) announced the promotion of Nairobi City Stars to the top tier Kenyan Premier League (KPL).

    In their official communication later, FKF confirmed the promotion following their cancellation of all league’s countrywide due to the ongoing Corona virus pandemic that ended football activities in mid-March and has complicated return of games in the near future.

    By the time of stagnation of the Betika National Super League (NSL), City Stars topped the 19-team log with 64 points with a ten-point buffer over Bidco United who are also promoted to the top league for the first time ever.

    The news was icing to head coach Sanjin Alagic cake that he started baking from the beginning of the season in September 2019.

    Speaking from his base in Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina where he recoiled from the start of the Covid-19 partial lock down, the deliriously happy coach said;

    “I’m very delighted and proud of being Champions of NSL and securing promotion to the KPL, the place where NCS belongs,”

    “First of all I wish to congratulate my players for the amazing job they did throughout the season, they are most deserving for this success!”

    “This achievement was result of hard and dedicated work and it will not be possible without great support of our owner Jonathan (Jackson), CEO Patrick (Korir), coordinator Samson (Otieno), Foundation CEO Mwenesi (Musalia), and my coaching staff, our fans and all people in the Club who believed in us.” he added

    Sanjin arrived at City Stars in the first week of July 2019 for the season. He kicked off with organizing careful recruitment and a seven-week preseason.

    Of the 26 games he took charge off before the league prematurely ended, Sanjin led City Stars to 20 wins, four draws and two losses. That included an incredible 13-game unbeaten away run.

  • Betika hands BSL clubs playing kit

    Betika hands BSL clubs playing kit

    Nairobi City Stars and the other 18 teams taking part in the second tier National Super League all received two sets of uniform and as many footballs from leading betting firm Betika at Camp Toyoyo, Jericho on Monday 24 February 2020.

    The function was graced by Betika Commercial Head John Mbatia and flanked by Football Kenya Federation (FKF) top brass led by President Nick Mwendwa, Vice President Doris Petra and CEO Barry Otieno.

    While receiving the goodies from Betika, City Stars coordinator Samson Otieno said;

    “We are happy recipients of the kit that we can not only use for game days but also for warm up and training,”

    “We appreciate what Betika is doing to the teams in the second tier league as this follows on an earlier package of Kshs 750,000 to all teams,”

    “We also acknowledge the fact that they have decided to top up on that initial token with a further Kshs 100,000. What they give to clubs may seem little to some but to us we understand that big things initially come in small packages.” he added

    While Mbatia reiterated Betika’s commitment in their support at the NSL level and lower with their Betika na Community initiatives, Mwendwa once again appreciated their interest in local game as he confirmed FKF’s support in their quest to change the face of football.

    The token of Kshs 100,000 per club added up to a collective total of Kshs 2 millions for all teams in the league which is not part of the Kshs 90 million deal over three years entered late last year.

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