Nairobi City Stars

Tag: Sanjin Alagic

  • City Stars named NSL team of Sept in FKF Report

    City Stars named NSL team of Sept in FKF Report

    Five out of six wins in the month of September 2019 coupled with a number of key performances including for clean sheets earned Nairobi City Stars the team of the month award according to a report released by Football Kenya Federation (FKF) on Wednesday 23 October 2019.

    The five wins and one draw saw City Stars assume pole at the end of the first month of the league with an unbeaten streak with 16 points, one ahead of Bidco United.

    Simba Wa Nairobi won two of its three home games – the season opener against Shabana (2-0) and Northern Wanderers (6-0) plus all three away games; 1-0 over Bidco United in Thika, 2-1 over Coast Stima in Mombasa and 3-2 over Kenya Police in Naivasha. Adding on to the wins was a barren draw against Vihiga United in week three.

    With 13 goals scored, City Stars was second best to Nairobi Stima who notched in 15. Their 8-0 win over Northern Wanderers overshadowed City Stars 6-0 win over the same outfit hence the tilt.

    On the defense side City Stars was second best after conceding twice, one more than Bidco United.

    Ultimately, the team performance in September led to a number of personal awards.

    Tactician Sanjin Alagic from Bosnia and Herzegovina, in just his first season in Kenya, was named the Coach of the month.

    With four assists each, Anthony Muki Kimani was listed as the best goal provider alongside Nairobi Stima’s Moses Ouma. Teenager Vincent Otieno had three assists.

    With four clean sheets keeper Levis Opiyo was second best to Bidco’s Daniel Odiwuor who kept his goal clean in five games. He tied with Ushuru’s Boniface Baraza.

    Gambian striker Ebrima Sanneh top scored with five goals alongside Dennis Wafula of Vihiga United.

    The downside of the stats for September were yellow cards where City Stars was rock bottom on the fair play table with a record haul of 13 and one red card.

    “Save for fair play, the stats are quite impressive. We hope the team can register the same or even better in weeks to come to maintain their top performance,” said club CEO Patrick Korir

    He went on to thank FKF for the new initiative of coming up with monthly reports as it spices up performances by teams.

    “This is a first and we hope the Federation can maintain this kind of reporting throughout the season. We will support them as it is a very good initiative.” he said

    Summary of FKF NSL September 2019 report

    Outstanding performance-Team: Nairobi City Stars

    Outstanding performance – Coach: Sanjin Alagic

    Goal Assists: Anthony Kimani (4)

    Top scorer: Ebrima Sanneh (5 – joint)

    Best Attack: Nairobi City Stars (2nd)

    Best defense: Nairobi City Stars (2nd)

    Clean Sheets – Players: Levis Opiyo (2nd)

  • Amboko, Oguta earn CAF C Diploma

    Amboko, Oguta earn CAF C Diploma

    After a month of classes, two Nairobi City Stars coaches John Amboko and Tiellen Oguta graduated with CAF (Confederation of African Football) C Diploma licences.

    The two coaches put in the ultimate sacrifice in juggling a busy month of league National Super League (NSL) games with the classes to attain the important certification conducted by Football Kenya Federation (FKF) and the overseer of the African game CAF.

    Commenting on the recent achievement, Oguta, a former Kenyan international and Gor Mahia left back said;

    “It gives me joy to have attained this rare certification. The course matter was extensive and an eye opener and the content of the training will certainly improve my handling of games and aspects of the game going forward,”

    “I thank the City Stars management for facilitating the same as this goes a long way in improving my credentials as a coach.” said Oguta

    Amboko, a long serving player and skipper at City Stars who turned to coaching, albeit in caretaker capacities since 2017, also added his tone of voice to the recently acquired papers.

    “This is a dream come true and I am more than excited at the achievement. I truly appreciate the resources and support put in by City Stars to make this a possibility,” said Amboko

    “Working under Sanjin (UEFA Pro Coach at City Stars) made it easier to absorb the classes as everything he has been implementing on the field were part of the course work. With this training my understanding and view of the game is a lot better now.” Added Amboko

    In fronting the two coaches for the certification, City Stars sponsors Jonathan Jackson Foundation CEO Mwenesi Musalia had this to say;

    “It is in line with the foundation’s Economic Empowerment pillars and the development of the community, I believe this is worthwhile.”

    At City Stars Amboko and Oguta, as assistant and first assistant coaches, are current understudies to Sanjin from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

  • Point at Hope against Vihiga United

    Point at Hope against Vihiga United

    Nairobi City Stars were held to a barren draw by visiting Vihiga United in a National Super League (NSL) match day three clash played at the Hope Centre, Kawangware on Friday 13 September, 2019 starting 3pm.

    City Stars went to the game hoping to stretch their two-game winning start into the season following wins over Shabana (2-0) at the same venue and against Vihiga Bullets (2-1) in Kakamega, as Vihiga paraded a win-draw streak.

    But it was not to be as Vihiga United, relegated from the Premier League at the end of last season, forced the hosts to share spoils in mustering the draw.

    The visitors had the hosts on the ropes in the first half and could have taken the lead had Alex Waiswa’s shot in the 36th minute not ricocheted off the base of the upright.

    Substitute and crowd favorite Oliver Maloba changed the tempo of the game at the start of the second half soon after being introduced for Elvis Ojiambo and could have easily sent the hosts ahead within minutes had he not miscued a perfect cross from the left by Jimmy Bageya. His time shot whiskered above the horizontal.

    Mid way through the first half a mis-kick from the City Stars back line almost gifted Vihiga with the winning chance but Waiswa’s blockbuster echoed off the cross bar.

    It settled at 0-0 leaving City Stars to maintain third place with seven points as Vihiga moved to eighth place with five points.

    “Against such a strong opponent we will take in a point,” said City Stars head coach Sanjin Alagic after the game

    Next up for City Stars is an away trip to Bidco United on Wednesday 18 September, 2019.

    Lineups

    Nairobi City Stars: 23. Levis Opiyo, 8. Calvin Masawa (Captain), 4. Salim Abdala, 24. Cornelius Mwangi, 17. Noah Abich (28. Kevin Okumu), 3. Charles Otieno, 2. Elvis Ojiambo (21. Oliver Maloba), 30. Anthony Kimani, 11. Davis Agesa, 26. Ebrima Sanneh (16. Vincent Otieno), 26. Jimmy Bageya

    Subs: 1. Ronny Kagunzi, 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 25. David Gateri, 15. Peter Wainaina

    Yellow; Charles Otieno

    Coach: Sanjin Alagic

    Vihiga United: 30. Morgan Amboka, 6. Abisalom Onyango, 4. Michael Odongo, 15. Mark Akola, 13. Mophat Liuva, 33. Victor Omondi, 8. Patrick Okulo, 17. Lawrence Luvanda, 40. Dennis Wafula, 36. Alex Waiswa, 21. Junior Adeyefa

    Subs: 50. Michael Matasio, 20. Smith Ouko, 35. Kevin Omondi, 16. Alex Imbusia, 10. Hillary Otieno, 24. Lesley Owino, 19. Michael Isabwa

    Coach: Sammy Okoth

  • Subs Jamaica, Maloba turn it around against Vihiga Bullets

    Subs Jamaica, Maloba turn it around against Vihiga Bullets

    Visiting Nairobi City Stars left it late to outwit hosts Vihiga Bullets 2-1 in a second round National Super League (NSL) tie played on Monday 9 September, 2019 at the Bukhungu Stadium, Kakamega starting 10am. Two second half goals by Gambian striker Ebrima Sanneh delivered the win.

    It was a second bite of the cherry for City Stars as the game was initially scheduled for the Sunday before but aborted in the 75th minute following a heavy downpour that flooded the surface. At the point of the call-off City Stars led 1-0 courtesy of Sanneh’s lone goal.

    In the Monday repeat City Stars trailed the game 1-0 at half time after Bullets took the lead in the 32nd minute via a perfect free kick from Oscar Karuli that went over the wall and way past the reach of keeper Elvis Lovae Opiyo.

    The game looked locked but a change in tact by Coach Sanjin Alagic saw the introduction of former Hakati Sportiff striker Vincent Otieno for Davis Agesa and Oliver Maloba for Elvis Ojiambo turn out to be the perfect twist in the game.

    At the hour-mark Anthony Muki Kimani floated a perfect corner that header specialist Sanneh buried home to level matters.

    With less than ten minutes Maloba and Jamaica’s effect came to play.  The two were too much for the Bullets backline, and as they got Sanneh another opportunity – and he tapped in the winning goal.

    Maloba cut in from the right wing past Bullets defenders before offering a layup for Jamaica who then returned the favor with quickness for Maloba to get the ball to Sanneh’s feet for the winner.

    “Today’s game was a great victory for us, we have lions and not players. I am very proud to be their coach. We played exceptionally throughout the game.” said an elated Sanjin after the game

    The latest win comes on the back of the season opening 2-0 win over Shabana at Hope Centre, Kawangware last weekend.

    Next up for City Stars is a home game at Hope Centre against relegated Vihiga United at the Hope Centre, Kawangware on Fri 13 September 2019

    Lineups:

    Vihiga Bullets:21. Elix Otieno, 23. Oscar Masiga, 15. Sylvester Owino, 6. Kelly Alubale, 26. David Kavaji, 22. Kevin Muhanji, 12. Christine Zigah, 10. John Khanda, 20. Edwin Wamalwa, 11. Timothy Lumasai, 9. Jackson Oketch

    Subs: 32. Ali Kesi, 7. John Maina, 14. Emmanuel Mwakwingi, 25. Okello Baraza, 13. Francis Ambani, 8. Kelvin Mwavali, 4. Joseph Otieno

    Coach: Edward Manoah

    Nairobi City Stars: 23. Levis Opiyo, 8. Calvins Masawa (Captain), 4. Salim Abdalla, 24. Cornelius Mwangi, 28. Kevin Okumu (17. Noah Abich), 3. Charles Otieno, 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo (21. Oliver Maloba ), 30. Anthony Muki Kimani, 19. Jimmy Bageya, 11. Davis Agesa (16. Vincent Otieno), 26. Ebrima Sanneh

    Unused Subs: 1. Ronny Kagunzi, 15. Peter Wainaina, 10. Nahashon Thiongo, 22. Wycliffe Otieno

    Yellow cards; Cornelius Mwangi, Anthony Kimani

    Coach: Sanjin Alagic

  • Winning start for City Stars

    Winning start for City Stars

    Nairobi City Stars had a dream start to the 2019/20 National Super League (NSL) season after dispatching visiting Shabana 2-0 at the Hope Centre, Kawangware on Sunday 1 September, 2019. 

    A goal on either half by Ebrimah Sanneh and Jimmy Bageya handed new coach Sanjin Alagic from Sarajevo, Bosnia the perfect start. 

    Sanneh started it all with a traditional header after getting to the end of a free kick from Anthony Muki Kimani for the opening goal in the eighth minute. Jimmy Bageya was felled from 25 yards out for the free kick.

    Ten minutes into the second half Bageya, playing on the left wing, got to the end of a free flowing move from Muki to double the lead. 

    Davis Agesa from the edge of the box squared a pass to Muki who then cut in for Bageya to finish the job with a one timed rising shot past the Shabana keeper.

    Sanjin’s lineup for the day saw eight of 12 new players feature in the game, six of them making their debut. Keeper Levis Lovae Opiyo, a former Thika United, Posta Rangers, Western Stima and Mathare United keeper started in goal. 

    Salim Shitu Abdalla and Cornelius Mwangi, in from AFC Leopards and Modern Coast Rangers, respectively, were the centre back pairing as Eric Cantona Ochieng, a former Red Berets, Bandari, Sofapaka, Gor Mahia and Wazito player took his place as defensive midfielder. 

    Former JMJ Academy player Nahashon Thiosh Thiong’o who was signed from Mt. Kenya United started on the right wing but paved way for another new signing Elvis Elvo Ojiambo from Kibera Blackstars at the onset of the second half due to an ankle injury. 

    Returning Anthony Muki Kimani earned a start, for his first game for City Stars in ten years, alongside Jimmy Bageya who last featured for the side in early 2018. 

    Muki left City Stars at the end of 2009 to join Sofapaka but made a grand return to the team after a two year layoff since leaving Bandari in 2017. 

    Stephen Mweni, signed from Modern Coast Rangers, also made his debut after coming on as a late second half substitute for Muki. 

    Long serving Calvins Masawa, with the club since 2011, skippered the team while playing as left fullback. Kevin Chumsy Okumu played on the opposite side as Davis Agesa started behind striker Ebrima Sanneh. 

    Starting lineup

    23. Levis Opiyo, 8. Calvins Masawa (Captain), 4. Salim Abdala, 24. Cornelius Mwangi, 28. Kevin Okumu, 13. Eric Ochieng, 30. Anthony Kimani (18. Stephen Mweni), 19. Jimmy Bageya, 10. Nahashon Thiong’o (2. Elvis Ojiambo), 11. Davis Agesa (7. Heritier Luvualu), 26. Ebrima Sanneh 

    Unused subs; 1. Ronny Kagunzi, 17. Noah Abich, 5. Wesley Onguso, 6. Austin Ochieng

    Yellow cards; Levis Opiyo, Ebrima Sanneh, Jimmy Bageya, Elvis Ojiambo

    Goals; Ebrima Sanneh – 8th minute (Anthony Kimani assists – free kick), Jimmy Bageya – 53rd (Assist Anthony Kimani)

    MVP: Ebrima Sanneh

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