Nairobi City Stars

Tag: Sanjin Alagic

  • Head to head: Sofapaka (H) vs Nairobi City Stars (A)

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

    For the first time ever, Sofapaka will host Nairobi City Stars at Wundanyi Stadium on Saturday 23 January 2021 starting 3pm in what will be the 17th Premiership matchup between the two since year 2009, but the first since the 2016 season.

    The previous games

    As City Stars seek Sofapaka from their newest hideout, there are 16 previous games to look at.

    On 26th April 2009, the latest entrant to the Premier League  Sofapaka forced City Stars to a 1-1 draw at City Stadium in their first ever meet in the premier league.

    A late Ezekiel Akwana penalty two minutes to time cancelled out an earlier one by Arthur Museve at the half hour mark for a share of the spoils.

    Then, City Stars was coached by German Oliver Page as Robert Matano was the man behind the Batoto ba Mungu.

    Though the first one started on a shared note, the 16th and last game is one City Stars will never forget as they were bamboozled 5-0 at Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos on 7th August 2016 in what stands out as their worst Premier league defeat in 328 games played in the top flight since their first season in 2004.

    Samuel Okwi and Jaffer Gichuki scored in the first half before Noah Abich, now an assistant coach with City Stars, scored a penalty at the hour mark. Moses Odhiambo and Isaac Mutanga added more after Abich’s dead ball to complete the historic rout.

    Overall, of the 16 games played, City Stars has won four duels, drawn as many and lost eight games to Sofapaka.

    In games hosted by Sofapaka, City Stars has picked two wins, drawn once and lost the other five.

    Last winning coach

    For the upcoming game, Bosnian Sanjin Alagic will lead Simba wa Nairobi in Wundanyi where he’ll become the eleventh tactician to handle the team against Sofapaka.

    While Oliver Page was the first in charge in 2009, Ken Odhiambo handled the next five from 2009 to 2011 where he delivered three wins and a draw.

    Gideon Ochieng oversaw the two games in 2012 as Gambian Bai Malleh Wadda and Charles Korea Omondi took charge of the games in 2013.

    Nigerian coach Robinson Ndubuisi led City Stars in the two games in 2014. He registered the fourth and last win (2-1) over Sofapaka on 29 March during the first leg.

    Ugandan Paul Nkata, Gabriel Kingi Njoroge, John Bobby Ogola and Ugandan Richard Tamale Pinto each handled a leg of games played in 2015 and 2016, in that order.

    Venues

    Wundayi Stadium was only introduced to the Premier League this season and while it readies to host the 17th encounter between the two, the previous games were hosted at City Stadium (5), Nyayo Stadium (7), Kenyatta Stadium – Machakos (3) and Hope Centre (1)

    Current form

    Seventh placed City Stars heads to the game on the back of a 1-1 draw against Ulinzi Stars while Sofapaka are returning home reeling from a 2-1 defeat to hosts Nzoia Sugar in a game that saw them end up with a red card to their captain Lawrence Juma.

    Sofapaka sits 13th on the 18-team log with seven points.

    Top scorers

    The top scorers on either side will not be be a part of the Saturday party at Wundanyi.

    With four goals, Jimmy Bageya is City Stars top scorer against Sofapaka. He has since left the club.

    With five goals, legend John Baraza is top of the leaderboard for Sofapaka against the  Kawangware boys. He has since retired from the game.

    With two goals, Anthony Muki Kimani is Sofapaka’s second best scorer against City Stars. Incidentally he is the current City Stars skipper but will miss the upcoming game due to a shoulder injury.

    Summary

    KPL Games: 16 (Sofapaka-8 Wins, City Stars-4 wins, Draws-4)

    List of Sofapaka’s home games vs City Stars

    * First score for Sofapaka, second for City Stars

    27-Sep-09, Sofapaka vs City Stars, Nyayo Stadium, 1-2 (W)
    8-Jun-10, Sofapaka vs City Stars, City Stadium, 3-0 (L)
    8-Aug-11, Sofapaka vs City Stars, Nyayo Stadium, 0-0 (D)
    7-Apr-12, Sofapaka vs City Stars, Nyayo Stadium, 2-0 (L)
    30-Aug-13, Sofapaka vs City Stars, Nyayo Stadium 3-0 (L)
    29-Mar-14, Sofapaka vs City Stars, Kenyatta Stadium 1-2 (W)
    3-Aug-15, Sofapaka vs City Stars, Kenyatta Stadium 2-0 (L)
    7-Aug-16, Sofapaka vs City Stars, Kenyatta Stadium 5-0 (L)

    Sofapaka top scorers vs City Stars

    John Baraza – 5 goals

    Anthony Kimani -2

    City Stars top scorers vs Sofapaka

    Jimmy Bageya – 4 goals

  • Boost as Sanneh returns

    Boost as Sanneh returns

    Lead Nairobi City Stars striker Ebrima Sanneh is finally ready to kick off the Premier League season after fully recovering from injury.

    The hitman from The Gambia received knocks at the close of October 2020 during the first real preseason friendly at Utalii Grounds against his former side Kariobangi Sharks.

    According to City Stars team Physio Brian Otieno Odongo, Sanneh is now fully fit and can start contesting for a place in the squad.

    “Sanneh sat out a number of weeks to heal before undergoing calculated rehabilitation which he successfully completed. Close to 80 days later he is ready to return to competitiveness,” said Brian

    Sanneh’s return is a big boost to head coach Sanjin Alagic as it widens his pool of choices.

    “I’m very pleased with the Sanneh return to team, he will give us additional power in front, as he has good killer instinct in front of goal. Last year he scored some crucial goals for us so we definitely missed him in this opening part of season,”

    “He will need some time to come back fully to meet the demands of playing in KPL but we will be patient because I’m sure he will be a big boost to the team when he returns to his right shape.”

    On his part Sanneh said; “I am now ready for league action. I can’t wait. I will try do my best and help the team get some three points.”

    In his only Premier League season at Nairobi City Stars in 2015 as he made his debut in the Kenyan top flight, Sanneh top scored with 11 goals.

    His stellar 2015 season ended with a nomination as the Player of the Year as well as New Player of the Year where he emerged runner-up.

    His final strike that season against Sony Sugar confirmed a crucial 1-1 draw that saved the team from relegation.

  • Coach Sanjin speaks on disturbing allegations

    Coach Sanjin speaks on disturbing allegations

    On Wednesday 23 December 2020, Nairobi City Stars hosted Vihiga United at the Utalii Grounds in a round six Premier League game that ended 1-1.

    With the game in the second half there were allegations that our coach Sanjin Alagic had made some racial slur against Vihiga United players at half time and for the rest of the evening the same flowed freely on social media.

    Sanjin left the country the same evening on a prior scheduled flight for a planned holiday. He only returned to Kenya on 7th January 2021 to resume duty in time to take charge of a game against Posta Rangers at Kasarani the following day.

    While Sanjin was away, and after releasing an official statement on the same, we as a club opened up our own investigations on the very sensitive matter.

    Prior to that we asked for any evidence from those that were on ground on the said  allegations. None was ever provided. Our investigations did not reveal anything racial had been said, or indeed that anything was said which could have been misconstrued as racial.

    The (Football Kenya) Federation has since shared with Nairobi City Stars what was captured on match reports by the match officials on the day. The reports confirm no racial slur was overheard.

    We have come to understand that those that came up the unfortunate allegations never formally reported it to authorities.

    In trying to find peace so as to concentrate on his area of expertise – the reason he left Bosnia in July 2019 to handle Nairobi City Stars – this is what Sanjin has to say on the matter;

    Over the past two weeks I have kept silent, but I have been raging inside. I am hugely grateful for my players and my club, for supporting me and for not being afraid to tell the truth in public.

    On Wednesday 23rd December 2020, my team played against Vihiga United in the Kenyan Premier League. We played at Utalii and the game was attended by around 30 – 40 people.

    Most of the attendees were standing behind the technical area and therefore they would have been within earshot of me, the players and the match officials. The ground is not a big stadium and we did not have a huge

    attendance on the day, so there was not much noise from the crowd that could have covered the sound of anyone talking. It is reasonable to expect that most people attending could pretty much hear the communication between the players on the pitch, the players and the coaches, and the referees themselves.

    With our team 1-0 down at half time, I was angry with the referee for several decisions that I felt, and I maintain, went against my team.

    At half time, I went up towards the referee and made my feelings known.

    Football is an emotional sport as we all know, and the referee as well as everyone else in the ground will have known that I was not happy. Our owner and chairperson, Jonathan Jackson, came up to me and asked me to calm down, which he was correct to do. I consequently did.

    We went in for the half time break as normal; just like the other team. There was no indication of anything out of the ordinary for a football match; one team being pleased at being in the lead, and the other being disappointed at being behind.

    We came out in the second half and equalized immediately. We could have won the game, and at the end I remained disappointed that this was not the case.

    At no time did I speak to any of the opposition players during the game, and aside from greeting the opposition coach at the start of the game, at no time did I speak to him. It is not my style to be communicating with the opposition, as there is rarely any need. No doubt this can be supported by video footage of me on the touchline in Kenya back to the start of last season, as well as footage of me on the touchline in different countries across Europe and the Middle East.

    When I heard about the allegations, my initial reaction was absolute shock. I did not have communications with the opposition, and I certainly didn’t say what I am alleged to have said. The fact that anyone has even suggested that these words could come from my mouth is hurtful, disrespectful, and a complete lie.

    There is no chance, whatsoever, that anything even close to what is alleged against me happened. I am pleased to receive the full support of my club and all of the individuals at the club, because they all know exactly who I am as a person and as a professional. However, despite this support, I cannot shake how disgusted I am that someone would come up with sickening lies and attach it to my name. Making such comments affects my career, my club, and my family. My club, and my employers have already come out and publicly stated that they will not tolerate this. Neither will I.

    Racism is the lowest of the low. Having seen racism destroy my country and lead to war when I was younger, I detest it and stand against it. It should be taken with utmost seriousness. When people flagrantly make baseless claims of racism it affects the person in question and everyone around them. In addition to that, it disrespects all of the people within the system that are trying to eradicate racism from our game and from our world. Crying ‘wolf’ now means that the next person who does suffer from racism will not be taken as seriously.

    Unfortunately, it appears that those individuals concerned didn’t think their actions through.

    Thanks to all of the support I have received, in the interim period, Goal.com not only retracted the article and the allegation, but made a public apology.

    This is available for all to see https://www.goal.com/en-ke/news/apology-and-retraction-of-allegations-made-against-sanjin/ke9f50kw6de215ax4gdxdelh9

    In addition, several other publications have also made public apologies. No one should accept when such lies are connected to their name without any justification, and I will not accept this either.

    My legal team, and the legal team of the club, have been working over Christmas and have sorted out most of this mess, globally.

    I want to thank everyone who knows me both in Kenya and abroad for the unconditional support that you have shown to me since this situation arose. Your support is more than appreciated.

    Although the allegations have now been retracted, I am still not calm. I want to be calm.

    If indeed I was guilty of the allegations I would not have returned after my scheduled festive recess. I am sure that my club Nairobi City Stars would not have allowed me back into the country had their investigations proved otherwise. I do believe the federation too could have sanctioned both myself and the club had the reports from the match officials supported the incident, but we have clearly seen that this was not the case.

    I urge those that carried the allegations freely to also carry my side of the story too.

    This is the first and last public comment I will make on this.

  • Head to head: Posta Rangers (H) vs Nairobi City Stars (A)

    Head to head: Posta Rangers (H) vs Nairobi City Stars (A)

    Nairobi City Stars will face off with host Posta Rangers in a round seven Premier League clash at Kasarani Stadium on Friday 8 January 2021 starting 3pm.

    From the record books, the Friday duel will be the ninth matchup for the two in the top flight since 2010, and the first since they last faced off on 10 July 2016.

    8 previous KPL games

    Across the 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2016 premier league seasons, Posta Rangers has played against City Stars eight times; four at home and as many times away.

    Of the eight, City Stars has one win, Rangers two with the other five games ending in draws. Three of the draws have been 0-0, the other two as 1-1.

    In games hosted by Rangers, two two sides have each picked one win a piece with the other two ending in draws.

    In July 2010, Francis Thairu, Arthur Museve and Levy Muaka scored a goal each as visiting City Stars dispatched Rangers 3-1 at City Stadium. Isiah Omondi scored the consolation.

    In May 2011 Rangers as the home team avenged the 2010 defeat at Nyayo Stadium after registering a 2-1 win. Charles Okwemba and Edwin Mwaura scored for the mailboys as Arthur Museve’s penalty was City Stars response.

    The next two home games for Rangers in November 2012 and July 2016 at City Stadium and Afraha Stadium, respectively, ended in 0-0 draws.

    Beyond the eight games, and in the most recent meeting, Rangers tested City Stars back in November 2020 at the Jamhuri Showground in a preseason friendly. They won the game 1-0.

    Coaches and venues

    In the upcoming game, Simba wa Nairobi will be led to the pitch by Bosnian Sanjin Alagic who will become the seventh coach to lead the team against Rangers.

    The first four games in 2010 and 2011 were coached by Ken Odhiambo and the last four were handled by four separate coaches; Gideon Ochieng, Gambian Bai Malleh Wadda, John Bobby Ogola and Ugandan Richard Tamale Pinto, in that order.

    Pinto was the last man in charge when the team’s faced off in July 2016, with Zedekiah Zico Otieno in charge for Posta. Sammy Pamzo Omollo will be handling Rangers in the Friday meet where the two sides will be facing off at Kasarani for the first time ever.

    Three of the last eight games between the two were held at City Stadium, two apiece at Nyayo Stadium and Hope Centre and one at Afraha Stadium.

    Which way?

    Keep tuned to our social media channels for updates on the game.

    Summary

    KPL games: 8 (Posta Rangers wins (2), Nairobi City Stars wins (1), Draws (5)

    List of games

    28-Mar-10; City Stars vs Posta Rangers, City Stadium, 1-1 [ Francis Thairu (78)//Charles Pilipili (85)]
    10-Jul-10; Posta Rangers vs City Stars, City Stadium, 1-3 [Francis Thairu (35,), Arthur Museve (54), Levy Muaka (90+1), //Isaiah Omondi (24)]
    29-May-11, Posta Rangers vs City Stars, Nyayo Stadium, 2-1 [ Arthur Museve (23 – pen)//Charles Okwemba (10), Edwin Mwaura (56)]
    30-Jul-11; City Stars vs Posta Rangers, Hope Centre, 1-1 [Pascal Ochieng (63 – Own goal)//Edwin Mwaura (70)]
    19-Feb-12, City Stars vs Posta Rangers, Hope Centre, 0-0
    3-Nov-12, Posta Rangers vs City Stars, City Stadium, 0-0
    22-May-16; City Stars vs Posta Rangers, Nyayo Stadium, 0-1 [Georson Likonoh (21)]
    10-Jul-16; Posta Rangers vs City Stars, Afraha Stadium, 0-0

    Posta Rangers - Nairobi City Stars

  • Players speak on allegations levelled against Coach Sanjin

    Players speak on allegations levelled against Coach Sanjin

     

    On Wednesday 23 December 2020, allegations were made against head coach Sanjin Alagic that he had made certain racial comments towards Vihiga United players during a fifth-round match held at the Utalii Grounds from 1pm.

    The grave allegations were made on social media after which it was picked by an international portal which spurned the falsehood like wildfire thereby maligning the reputation of the coach, and Nairobi City Stars in sum.

    But three players; midfielder Peter Pinchez Opiyo, defender Calvin Masawa and striker Ezekiel Omulo Odera, on behalf of the rest, have come out to clear the coaches’ name in the wake of the sensitive allegations.

    Pinchez, who joined Simba wa Nairobi in January 2020 ending six years of playing in Qatar and Finland put forward a strong statement in the wake of the recent occurrence.

    This is over and above an official statement released by Nairobi City Stars.

    “I’ve been for many times a victim of racial abuse, so as a black person I know how it feels, and I wouldn’t want any one from any race to be subjected to such a sick situation. Therefore, I would be the first one to condemn such utterances, if there were any,”

    “Allegations made against our Coach Mr. Sanjin, are very serious and having been there, and heard every single word from him, I must say it’s very uncouth for any person to implicate anyone on such grounds, having in mind how serious this type allegation is treated in our society now,”

    “I was very saddened also by bloggers and football lovers, who resorted to writing things, they were not sure of, on different platforms on social media. They were not at the stadium, and when you ask them where they got such material, they say they were told. Very irresponsible!

    “There are channels to be followed when such things arise, leave them for the legal teams, don’t go jumping into conclusions because a white man is involved.” Concluded Opiyo

    Overall team captain Calvin Masawa, the longest serving City Stars player (since 2011), echoed Peter’s sentiments.

    Masawa started off the bench and made his way to the pitch six minutes after the hour mark in place of left back Herit Mungai.

    At half time he had a spat with Vihiga United players over the allegations and had to be pulled away by one of the match officials.

    This is what he had to say;

    “Hello guys, I hope this finds you well. Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy new year. I’m Calvins Masawa, captain Nairobi City Stars FC,”

    “Following the allegations made by Vihiga United players that our head Coach Mr Sanjin Alagic made some racial slur towards them during our match against them at Utalii grounds on Wednesday 23rd, I’m stating categorically that the said statement is baseless, ill-advised and did not happen since I happened to be just yards away from the scene at half time,”

    “I’m not here to defend the Coach, because he doesn’t need defending.  This is even more obvious now that Goal has retracted an article they published on the allegations and apologized,”

    “In addition to this, I still want to show that it is important that we speak. I am sober, confident and honest enough to say such did not happen and will never happen,”

    “We as Nairobi City Stars fc Players DO NOT ENCOURAGE racist remarks or discrimination of any nature because we believe in equality and fair play regardless of race, nationality or even ethnicity,”

    “Mr Sanjin is always a very social, humble and one easy guy who always socialize and interact with every player(s) and at times as far as the soccer fans, that’s according to the one and a half years we have worked with him.  He has never been anything but kind and professional with all of us,”

    “So to make such damaging and alleging claims against him is kind of lack of respect to him, his family and the entire Nairobi City Stars family,”

    “Lastly I’m urging everyone to stay calm, sober and stop judging or politicizing since racism is a very sensitive issue and should not be raised in such a carefree manner,”

    “I hope that the publications who were quick to sensationalize the story, and individuals that were quick to run with the same in their own social media pages, will also be as quick in spreading news of our statement of support, as well as the retraction and apology by Goal.” Concluded Masawa

    Odera, who returned City Stars in January for a second stint since 2017, said;

    “It has come to my attention that it is alleged  that our coach  racially insulted Vihiga United players. It is my responsibility as a senior player to voice my sentiments to this critical issue

    of racism/insults/harassment. The beautiful game is about love, inclusivity, passion, togetherness,”

    “It is very unfortunate because I was actively involved in that match and it is frivolous and damaging for Vihiga United management to bring such accusations against our coach and play with the media over such serious allegations,”

    Coach Sanjin Allagic is a very passionate, self driven and sober minded person. He has managed me and other players and its unfortunate for purposes of gaining media sympathy a person would want to damage his good reputation,”

    “Kindly let us be impartial and truthful  when handling this issue. Our beautiful has come a long way and let’s continue building on the gains achieved. Merry Xmas and a Happy/prosperous New year.” summed Odera

    Several other City Stars players have commented on the same in their individual social media pages.

    The Utalii game ended 1-1. Vihiga United led 1-0 at half time.

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