That opened the floor for Babu – later named MVP after the match – to double matters just two minutes later in what was his third goal in as many matches.
— Official Nairobi City Stars Fc (@NrbCityStars) October 21, 2021
Rodgers Okuse Okumu added the final one a minute to time. Eric Ombija provided assists for the last two goals.
Beyond the dream team inclusions, Simba wa Nairobi head coach Nicholas Muyoti was picked as the coach of the week as City Stars was named Team of the Week.
Following a 3-1 romp over Wazito on Thursday 21 October 2021 during a round 3 clash at Thika Stadium in the 2021/22 FKF Premier League tie, Nairobi City Stars landed three nominations; coach, player, and the team of the week.
And it was a double joy as head coach Nicholas Muyoti was named coach of the week as the team was picked out as the team of the week.
Teenage forward Timothy Noor Ouma aka Babu, whose star keeps rising by the day, did not make it out of the four-player nomination list. The award went to Kariobangi Sharks’ Felix Oluoch
He scored on Thursday adding on to goals in the first two games against Sofapaka and Kenya Police to bring his tally in the season to three goals from as many matches.
Speaking on the accolades, Muyoti said;
“Great. Team work. We thank God for this and pray for more as we continue putting our efforts together.”
?️| VOTE for your Coach of the week for Matchday 3
1. Bobby Ogolla of @kenyapolicefc
Nairobi City Stars ended a streak of six straight league losses to Wazito with a convincing 3-1 win at the Thika Stadium on Thursday 21 October 2021 during a third-round 2021/22 FKF Premier League tie.
Kenedy Vidic Onyango’s maiden goal for Simba wa Nairobi set the tone for Timothy Babu Ouma’s third goal in three straight games, and one more from speedster Rodgers Okuse Okumu, all in the last 13 minutes of the game.
Vidic got to the end of Anthony Muki Kimani’s freekick for the opener in the 76th minute before Babu – later named the match MVP – chested down a pass from substitute Erick Ombija to fire at the far post three minutes later.
Okuse dashed to confirm the ball over the line with a header after getting to the end of an Ombija chip over keeper Bixente.
Wazito scored their consolation through substitute Michael Wise Owino whose header, off a flick from Vincent Oburu, sandwiched City Stars second and third goals.
City Stars had lost all previous six league games to Wazito – four in the National Super League (NSL) in the 2017 and 2019 seasons, as well as home and away games in the ended 2020/21 Premier League season.
For the game, and from the lot that saw off Kenya Police 2-0 in the last encounter, City Stars introduced debutant Lenox Ogutu to partner Vidic at the back in place of the unavailable Salim Shitu Abdallah.
With the recent win, City Stars shoots up from ninth to sixth on the log with six points as Wazito remains stagnated at 15th spot with a single point.
Nairobi City Stars: 16. Jacob Osano, 19. Kevin Okumu, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 27. Lennox Ogutu, 26. Dennis Wanjala, 18. Sven Yidah, 30. Anthony Kimani (3. Charles Otieno-67), 11. Davis Agesa (9. Vincent Otieno Okoth-82), 17. Nicholas Kipkirui (7. Rodgers Okumu-32), 20. Timothy Noor Ouma, 32. Ezekiel Odera (24. Erick Ombija-67)
Unused subs: 23. Stephen Njunge, 12. Edwin Buliba, 8. Calvin Masawa, 5. Mike Madoya, 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo
Not considered: 6. Ronney Kola, 22. Wycliffe Otieno (both injured) 1. Elvis Ochoro, 4. Salim Abdalla, 10. Peter Opiyo, 14. Rowland Makati, 15. John Kamau, 21. Oliver Maloba, 28. Herit Mungai, 29. Ebrima Sanneh
Two first-half goals by Timothy Ouma and Ezekiel Odera were enough for Nairobi City Stars to disarm Kenya Police 2-0 at Kasarani Annex on Saturday 16 October 2021.
Two first-half goals by Timothy Ouma and Ezekiel Odera were enough for Nairobi City Stars to disarm Kenya Police 2-0 at Kasarani Annex on Saturday 16 October 2021.
— Official Nairobi City Stars Fc (@NrbCityStars) October 16, 2021
Davis Agesa and Nicholas Kipkirui provided the assists that led to goals in the 18th and 36th minutes.
With the win, City Stars ended a four-game winless streak in the premier league from last season to hand new coach Nicholas Muyoti his maiden Premier League win at Simba wa Nairobi.
Osano debut
In City Stars goal was keeper Jacob Osano who, on his premier league debut, managed a clean sheet.
Osano had been the understudy to Steve Njunge who clocked all 33 games last season, and the season opener against Sofapaka.
First-half
Police made the first statement of the game when, within the first minute, had the ball bounce off the upright after Cliffton Miheso curled a freekick from outside the box.
City Stars had a response 11 minutes later when marauding Davis Beast Agesa got into the box only to fire wide after receiving a through pass from Ezekiel Odera.
Three minutes later he had the ball straight at Police keeper Brian Reuben as Simba wa Nairobi kept prodding the home team.
Just a minute later the pressure counted as Agesa – later named MVP – turned provider with a splitting pass to Timothy Babu Ouma who fired home after skipping past a number of Police players.
David Agesa is your man of the match after creating two goals for City Stars in their 2-0 win over new entrants Police F.C#FKFPLpic.twitter.com/wUzu8e1yVc
His opener on the day was his second straight premier league goal following on his maiden top-flight goal against Sofapaka in the season opener three weeks back.
The goal came after City Stars keeper Jacob Osano, on his premiership debut, stopped Alvin Mangeni’s close-range effort. He then initiated the ball that led to the goal.
Seven minutes after Babu‘s goal, Mangeni fired a ball across the goal as Police looked to level matters early. It flew wide.
Five minutes later, John Mark Makwata, on his Police debut, hammered the side netting off a Miheso corner.
Seven minutes later City Stars doubled the lead when Odera had a rising shot into the net after receiving a placement from Nicholas Kipkirui inside the box. Kipkirui had picked up the ball from Agesa who brought in a cross from the right.
At the stroke of halftime, Makwata skied a ball as Police looked to grab a consolation before the breather.
Second half
At the start of the second half, either side made their first changes. Police benched their towering skipper Okiki Arogo to bring on Charles Ouma as Collins Lusaka came on for Mangeni.
Simba wa Nairobi on their part introduced flyer Rodgers Okuse Okumu for Odera who picked an injury in the first half.
A minute after the restart Kipkirui got to the end of a good pass and fired goalward only for the ball to end up with the keeper.
At the hour mark, thereabout, Okuse did all he needed to do, but while at the penalty area chose to loop past the keeper only for the ball to be cleared before it crossed the line. It was a near-miss that could have turned the scores to a rout.
Police also pulled out imposing offensive player Clinton Kinanga two minutes to the hour mark for known scorer David Oluoch and later on in the 74th minute handed John ‘Softie’ Ndirangu his debut as he replaced injured Leslie Otieno.
But as the changes came for the law enforcers, it is City Stars that looked more dangerous with two attempts from field skipper Anthony Muki Kimani. Twice he fired out a cut back from Ouma then skied a set-piece.
City Stars then ran down the clock with the addition of Erick Jibaba Ombija and Charles Chale Otieno for Agesa – later named man of the match -, and Ouma.
Ombija had a shot on goal late in the game only for it to end up straight at the keeper in what turned out to be the final act of the game.
With the first three points of the season, City Stars flew off the red zone, leaving Police behind, to the top half of the log.
Next up for City Stars is the third season game against Wazito at Thika Stadium on Thursday 21 October 2021 starting 3 pm.
Kenya Police: 31. Juma Reuben, 26. Steve Baraza, 2. Faustine Ojiambo, 6. Bernard Omondi, 14. Aroro Okiki-captain (12. Charles Ouma-46), 3. Silicho Soita, 24. Leslie Otieno (10. John Ndirangu-74), 17. Alvin Mangeni (13. Collins Lusaka-46), 23. Cliffton Miheso, 30. John Mark Makwata, 21. Clinton Kinanga (7. David Oluoch-58)
Nairobi City Stars: 16. Jacob Osano, 19. Kevin Okumu, 4. Salim Abdalla, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 26. Dennis Wanjala, 18. Sven Yidah, 30. Anthony Kimani-captain, 11. Davis Agesa (24. Erick Ombija-78), 17. Nicholas Kipkirui, 20. Timothy Ouma (3. Charles Otieno-84, 32. Ezekiel Odera (7. Rogers Okumu-46)
Unused subs: 23. Stephen Njunge, 8. Calvin Masawa, 5. Mike Madoya, 9. Vincent Otieno Okoth, 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo, 25. Lennox Ogutu
Coach: Nicholas Muyoti
Yellow cards:
Kenya Police: 30. John Mark Makwata (36), 12. Charles Ouma (55),
Nairobi City Stars: 7. Rodgers Okumu (62), 24. Eric Ombija (80), 18. Sven Yidah (88)
Finally, teenager Timothy Noor Ouma aka Babu got his Kenyan Premier League goal.
This was as Nairobi City Stars kicked off its 2021-22 FKF Premier League campaign on Sunday 26 September 2021 away to Sofapaka in Wundayi, Taita Taveta.
City Stars lost the game 3-1 but one of the positives from Simba wa Nairobi was Babu’s goal in the 86th minute that sliced the scoreline to 2-1 before the home team added a last one in added time to carry the day.
“Before the game, I had told the CEO (Patrick Korir) I was determined to kick off the season with a goal,”
“It’s a good feeling to have scored even though the team did not win the game,”
“That was just the opening goal and I believe there are many more goals in me to score this season.” added the Laiser Hill alumnus
Head coach Nicholas Muyoti added his voice to Babu’s historic goal;
“It was a very good goal from him. It showed a lot of confidence.”
In the Sunday game, Timothy was a second-half substitute for field captain Anthony Muki Kimani at the hour mark alongside Peter Opiyo and Erick Ombija who came on for his sibling Elvis Noor Ojiambo and Rodgers Okuse Okumu, respectively.
Last season Ouma featured in 24 of 33 games earning ten starts and went on to complete three games. He went on to clock 935 minutes in his first top-flight season.
He had three assists and was twice named the MVP in games against Tusker and Posta Rangers towards season-end.
