Nairobi City Stars

Tag: Sanjin Alagic

  • Head to Head: Nairobi City Stars (H) vs Mathare United (A)

    Head to Head: Nairobi City Stars (H) vs Mathare United (A)

    On Tuesday 2 March 2021, Nairobi City Stars will host Mathare United at Kasarani (outer) starting 3pm in a round 14 Premier League game.

    It will be Premier league game number 25 between the two as, from 2004 to 2016, City Stars and Mathare United have met 24 times.

    City Stars were relegated at the close of the 2016 and have never met Mathare while in the lower tier since.

    From the previous 24 encounters, Mathare United has won 11 games, City Stars six and the other seven have ended in draws.

    In 12 previous games hosted by City Stars, it’s equal stats as it’s been four wins and as many draws and losses.

    When the two last faced off on 14 August 2016, Mathare carried the day with a 1-0 win at Nyayo Stadium. Robinson Kamura’s goal proved the difference.

    That win brought City Stars two straight wins over Mathare at the same venue to an end.

    New venue

    Though the encounters have been numerous, City Stars has never hosted Mathare United outside Thika Stadium and City Stadium (1 game each), Hope centre (eight games) and Nyayo Stadium (twice).

    The game will be played at the outer Kasarani (warm up) surface for the first time ever.

    Recent form

    Into the Tuesday affair, Mathare United carries a loss and draw against Bidco United and Wazito as City Stars trots with two wins over Zoo FC and Western Stima.

    Simba wa Nairobi currently sits 12th in the 18-team standings with 16 points, seven ahead of Mathare United currently placed 16th.

    Coaches

    While Salim Ali will lead Mathare on Tuesday, City Stars will have Bosnian Sanjin Alagic on the touchline.

    Sanjin will become coach no. 12 to lead City Stars against a Mathare outfit after Robert Matano (5 games), John Bobby Ogola (3), Oliver Page (1), Ken Odhiambo (5), Gideon Ochieng (2), Charles Omondi (2), Tim Bryet (1), Robinson Ndubuisi (1), Gabriel Njoroge (1), Richard Tamale Pinto (1).

    Who takes this one?

    Summary

    KPL Games: 24 games

    Games hosted by City Stars

    23-Apr-05; World Hope vs Mathare United, Thika Stadium, 1-2 (L)
    7-Jan-06: World Hope vs Mathare United, City Stadium, 1-1 (D)
    15-Oct-06: World Hope vs Mathare United, Hope Centre, 1-2 (L)
    2-Aug-08: World Hope vs Mathare United, Hope Centre, 1-0 (W)
    30-Jul-09: City Stars vs Mathare United, Hope Centre, 0-2 (L)
    21-Feb-10: City Stars vs Mathare United, Hope Center, 2-2 (D)
    11-Jun-11: City Stars vs Mathare United, Hope Centre, 2-0 (W)
    15-Sep-12: City Stars vs Mathare United, Hope Centre, 1-1 (D)
    29-Jun-13: City Stars vs Mathare United, Hope Centre, 1-0 (W)
    8-Nov-14: City Stars vs Mathare United, Hope Centre, 0-0 (D)
    7-Aug-15: City Stars vs Mathare United, Nyayo Stadium, 2-0 (W)
    14-Aug-16: City Stars vs Mathare United, Nyayo Stadium, 0-1 (L)
    2-Mar-2021: City Stars vs Mathare United, Kasarani Annex, ?

  • Six changes against Zoo

    Six changes against Zoo

    Head coach Sanjin Alagic has made four changes and two additions to the squad that faced Kakamega Homeboyz last time round for the upcoming Premier League game against Zoo FC at Kasarani on Saturday 20 February 2021 starting 1pm.

    Returning right back Kevin Chumsy Okumu, Ebrima Sanneh and Wesley Onguso are all in for the round 12 match in place of Aziz Okaka, Vincent Otieno Jamaica Okoth and regular left back Herit Mungai Atariza who receives a much needed rest.

    Chumsy re-signed for City Stars, albeit on loan from Wazito, and will be seeking his debut Premier league game for Simba wa Nairobi against Zoo.

    Teenage keeper Elvis Ochoro who made the bench for the first six games makes a return to the squad to replace Jacob Osano who has been reserve keeper in the last five games.

    Adding on to the list is field skipper Anthony Muki Kimani who has been out for the last one month due to a shoulder injury.

    Sven Yidah, who got injured during a game against his former side Kariobangi Sharks, and forced to miss the Homeboyz trip, is also in for the Zoo game.

    As explained by team physio, all players who were on the injury list returned to full fitness days to the Zoo game and were eligible to play.

    Utility back Edwin Buliba and overall Calvin Masawa were however rested for the game alongside left footed John Kamau.

    20-man squad to face Zoo FC

    19. Kevin Okumu, 18. Sven Yidah, 30. Anthony Kimani, 29. Ebrima Sanneh, 5. Wesley Onguso, 1. Elvis Ochoro (GK), 23. Steve Njunge (GK), 25. Kenedy Onyango, 4. Salim Abdalla, 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo, 10. Peter Opiyo, 32. Ezekiel Odera, 21. Oliver Maloba, 20. Timothy Ouma, 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 24. Erick Ombija, 11. Davis Agesa, 7. Rodgers Okumu, 3. Charles Otieno, 26. Balton Omwenga

    Not considered: 6. Ronney Kola, 14. Rowland Makati (both on loan at Nairobi Stima), 12. Edwin Buliba, 8. Calvin Masawa, 15. John Kamau, 16. Jacob Osano, 27. Azizi Okaka, 9. Vincent Otieno Okoth, 28. Herit Mungai Atariza

    Nairobi City Stars
    Ebrima Sanneh celebrates one of his two goals for Nairobi City Stars during a 4-1 win over Mutomo Tigers in a round 64 Betway Cup tie at Kitui Stadium on saturday 13 February 2021
    Sven Yidah up against Bandari’s Collins Agade on Fri 11 Dec during FKF Premier League round 3 game at Kasarani. City Stars won 2-0
    Nairobi City Stars
    Kevin ‘Chumsy’ Okumu in action during a round 64 Betway Cup clash against Mutomo Tigers at Kitui Stadium on Sat 13 Feb 2021. He had an assist as City Stars won the duel 4-1
  • Head to head: Nairobi City Stars (H) vs Zoo FC (A)

    Head to head: Nairobi City Stars (H) vs Zoo FC (A)

    Battle of the unknowns. Is what can be used to describe the upcoming game between Nairobi City Stars and Zoo FC of Kericho at Kasarani on Saturday 20 February 2021 starting 1.30pm.

    Just as was the case before the season opener against Nzoia United, Nairobi City Stars has never met Zoo FC in any competition thus making the upcoming clash historic.

    Zoo joins a band of few club that City Stars have faced off for the first time in the Premier League which includes Bidco United, Vihiga United and Wazito FC, whom Simba wa Nairobi met in match days four to six, in that order, as well as Kariobangi Sharks in match day ten.

    With no games to look at, the commons with the two is a rough patch in the league in recent weeks.

    While City Stars parades a three game losing streak into the game, Zoo FC is counting five falls on the trot. Both will obviously be keen to rectify the downward spiral.

    Bosnian Sanjin Alagic is keen to turn around City Stars bad run against the Herman Iswekha-coached Zoo who are in search of their first win of the season in attempt eighth.

    “This is a very important match for us considering we have gone a long time without winning in the league,”

    “We hope to build on the recent win in the cup game (4-1 against Mutomo Tigers) and get our first three points so that we can change the team’s position on the table.” said Sanjin

    City Stars are currently 13th on the log with ten points while Zoo FC prop the 18-team log with two points from seven outings. They have four games in hand.

  • Coach Sanjin happy with Betway Cup progress

    Coach Sanjin happy with Betway Cup progress

    Nairobi City Stars head coach Sanjin Alagic is happy to have led the team to the Betway Cup round of 32.

    This is after, while on his domestic Cup debut as coach, led Simba wa Nairobi to a 4-1 come-from-behind win over Mutomo Tigers at the Kitui Stadium on Saturday 13 February 2021.

    “We are happy to go to the next round. It wasn’t a demanding match on paper and I decided to give a chance to players who haven’t played much this year in the Championship (Premier League),”

    “Unfortunately I must say some didn’t use the opportunity to prove themselves and I had to throw in players I would have wanted to rest for the Championship match against Zoo,”

    “That brought a necessary positive impact on the team and it took us to next round of the Cup.” added Sanjin

    With an entry to the second round, City Stars will be looking out for the draw of round 32 set for Thur 18 February 2021.

    Games in the next stage will be played on the weekend of 17-18 April 2021.

  • Sanneh closing in on City Stars scoring record

    Sanneh closing in on City Stars scoring record

    Gambian Ebrima Sanneh is within sight of becoming Nairobi City Stars all-time top scorer after his latest brace on Saturday 13 February 2021 led Nairobi City Stars to a 4-1 win over Mutomo Tigers in a Betway Cup round 64 tie in Kitui.

    His two latest goals brings his tally of goals at City Stars in call competitions to 32 surpassing club legend Arthur Museve’s 31 goals scored between 2007 and 2019.

    In Kitui, Sanneh came off the bench to score the second goal of the game off a long range Wesley Onguso throw-in then added a his second in the closing minutes off a floated ball into the box by right back Kevin Chumsy Okumu.

    His goals added on to Timothy Noor Ouma’s leveler and one other from Davis Agesa that collectively completed the turnaround win after City Stars had gone behind to an Evans Mutuse header.

    Sanneh’s latest brace improves his goals tally in domestic cup competitions to six as he added on to the four he scored in a 6-0 whacking of Transfoc FC back on 20 June 2015 in Kasarani. He is now three clear of legend Justus Basweti in Cup games.

    With 32 goals, Sanneh has now moved away from Jimmy Bageya (30) to third in the all-time list and is just behind leader Justus Basweti (35) and Francis Thairu (34).

    “I am so happy to come back (from injury) to score my first goals this season. It’s a great achievement and I am really happy and grateful,” said Sanneh

    “I thank my team mates and coach because without them I couldn’t have done it. I hope to score more goals to help my team be in a good position in the league.” added Sanneh

    Adding his voice to Sanneh’s achievement, head Coach Sanjin Alagic had this to say;

    “I’m really happy Sanneh has returned back to team, we have definitely missed his goals this season,”

    “He is back from injury and as I said before he needed time to come back to the right shape. But he is working very hard and he has already started to score goals and that’s very important for us.”

    Sanneh is now expected to shift his goal scoring touch to the Premier League that resumes at the weekend when City Stars takes on Zoo FC from Kericho on Saturday 20 February 2021 at Kasarani.

    Note: Sanneh’s two (2) league goals – one against Kenya Police on 14 Apr 2019 (abandoned at 1-1, later awarded to Police as 2-0) and Northern Wanderers on 28 Sep 2019 (ended 6-0 but later Wanderers were expelled from the league with all their results expunged from the table) not included in his overall tally. 

    Nairobi City Stars
    Gambian striker Ebrima Sanneh celebrates the first of his two goals during a Betway Cup Round 64 game against Mutomo Tigers at Kitui Stadium on Sat 13 Feb 2021. Nairobi City Stars won 4-1 to progress in the competition
    Nairobi City Stars
    Gambian striker Ebrima Sanneh during a Betway Cup Round 64 game against Mutomo Tigers at Kitui Stadium on Sat 13 Feb 2021. He scored a brace to lead City Stars to a 4-1 win
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