Two changes have been effected from the 20-man squad that faced off with Vihiga United in the last round of games as Nairobi City Stars prepares to take on Wazito at Utalii Grounds on Sunday 3 January 2020 starting 3pm.
Defensive mid Charles Chale Otieno and winger John Bombay Kamau have been added to the list in place of wingers Jimmy Bageya and Rodgers Okumu who are unavailable for the tie.
While Chale will be looking for his premier League bow, Bombay, a former Tusker player, will be eying his premier league debut in Nairobi City Stars colors.
Save for the two changes, the rest of the lot remains as is.
Squad to face Wazito FC
23. Steve Njunge (GK), 28. Herit Mungai Atariza, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 4. Salim Abdalla, 27. Azizi Okaka, 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo, 10. Peter Opiyo, 8. Calvin Masawa, 32. Ezekiel Odera, 30. Anthony Kimani, 21. Oliver Maloba, 9. Vincent Otieno Okoth, 1. Elvis Ochoro (GK), 12. Edwin Buliba, 18. Sven Yidah, 20. Timothy Ouma,22. Wycliffe Otieno, 24. Erick Ombija, 3. Charles Otieno, 15. John Kamau,
Not considered: 6. Ronney Kola, 14. Rowland Makati (both on loan at Nairobi Stima), 29. Ebrima Sanneh (rehab), 11. Davis Agesa, 7. Rodgers Okumu, (both sick), 16. Jacob Osano, 5. Wesley Onguso, 17. Yusuf Mukisa Lubowa, 19. Jimmy Bageya,
Visiting Vihiga United collected a point off hosts Nairobi City Stars on Wednesday 23 December 2020 in a fifth round Premier League game played at Utalii Grounds starting 1pm. It ended 1-1.
Vihiga punished a wasteful City Stars with a 43rd minute opener when, against the run of play, big unit David Simiyu got ahead of Herit Mungai to power in a header at the near post after connecting well a long left sided cross from Lesley Owino.
The game was level soon after restart, in the 48th minute, after Oliver Maloba zoomed into the box to square a pass for Sven Yidah to head in from close range. It was his first ever goal for City Stars.
The results keeps Simba wa Nairobi fifth on the log with eight points and Vihiga United at tenth with four points as both sides close shop for the year.
As early as the second minute City Stars registered the first danger of the game with a freekick that right back Azizi Okaka sent wide.
Vihiga had a response two minutes to the half hour mark when Mark Mkala powered a header just wide off a cross from right back Johnson Muyesu. Mkalla was to send another header wide seven minutes later off a freekick.
Two minutes later Oliver Maloba drove the ball to the Vihiga box but youngster Timothy Babu Ouma failed to get a firm shot on it.
Then came the goal from Simiyu just a minute after Herit Mungai, City Stars left back, had seen his long range shot picked up by keeper Morgan Alube who initiated the counter that led to the goal at the other end.
City Stars started the game with pressure leading to Sven’s early goal. Just four minutes later it could have been 2-1 for City Stars had Babu not seen his close ranger echo off the base of the upright.
The post came to Vihiga’s rescue once again to deny Sven a brace off a cross from sub Jimmy Bageya who had come on for Babu.
Vihiga too had their chances to collect the spoils as sub Junior Adeyefa – on for scorer David Simiyu at the hour mark – saw his long range pile driver in the 73rd minute just whisk wide off a counter attack.
Perhaps the best they had was in the 80th minute when another sub Alex Imbusia smacked goalward a 30-yarder only for City Stars keeper Steve Njunge to parry it out for a fruitless corner.
Nairobi City Stars: 23. Steve Njunge (GK), 28. Herit Mungai Atariza (8. Calvin Masawa-66′ – captain from 72′), 25. Kenedy Onyango, 4. Salim Abdalla, 27. Azizi Okaka, 10. Peter Opiyo, 18. Sven Yidah , 20. Timothy Ouma (19. Jimmy Bageya-60), 30. Anthony Kimani-Captain((2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo-72), 21. Oliver Maloba (7. Rodgers Okumu-60), 32. Ezekiel Odera (24. Erick Ombija-72)
Unused subs: 1. Elvis Ochoro (GK), 12. Edwin Buliba, 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 9. Vincent Otieno Okoth
Not considered: 29. Ebrima Sanneh, 3. Charles Otieno, 11. Davis Agesa, 16. Jacob Osano, 5. Wesley Onguso, 15. John Kamau, 17. Yusuf Mukisa Lubowa
Coach: Sanjin Alagic
Vihiga United: 30. Morgan Alube, 28. Johnston Muyesu, 4. Michael Odongo, 14. Sammy Sindani, 25. Norman Werunga (C), 15. Mark Okalla, 5. Wycliffe Nthatha, 24. Lesley Owino, 10. Hillary Otieno [(16. Alex Imbusia-60 (36. Henry Juma-90+), 23. David Simiyu ((21. Junior Adeyefa-60), 40. Dennis Wafula 20. Meshack Makokha-78)
Unused subs: Michael Matiso (GK), 25. Kevin Omondi, 17. Lawrence Luvanda, 8. Patrick Ongaya, 19. Michael Isabwa,
Coach: Sammy Okoth
Goals: David Simiyu (Vihiga United-43), Sven Yidah (Nairobi City Stars-48)
Yellow cards: 24. Lesley Owino-52, 21. Junior Adeyefa-69, 4. Michael Odongo-86 (Vihiga United)//10. Peter Opiyo-45′ (Nairobi City Stars)
Match Officials: Edward Wabungu (Match Comm), Meshack Omwami (Centre Ref), Dorine Kendi (AR 1), Emmanuel Barasa (AR 2), Simon Ogaga (Reserve Ref)
Nairobi City Stars shared spoils (1-1) with Vihiga United in a fifth round Premier League game on Wed 22 Dec 2020 at Utalii grounds. Pictured – goal scorer Sven Yidah (18)and Azizi Okaka (21)
The two sides earned promotion at the close of last season – City Stars as champions while Vihiga United came through as playoff winners having ended the regular season placed third.
Though there are no top flights duels, the two sides have dueled four times in the second tier National Super League (NSL); twice in 2017 and as many times in the 2019/20 season.
The 2017 season saw Vihiga United top the NSL to earn promotion where they lasted a season before revisiting the same stage in 2018/19.
City Stars has hosted Vihiga United twice; in May 2017 and in September 2019 at Camp Toyoyo and Hope Centre. On both occasions it ended 0-0.
The other games; played at Mumias Complex in Nov 2017 and Jan 2019 ended in a 2-0 win for Vihiga and 1-0 win for City Stars, respectively.
Who wins the upcoming one that many have termed as an ‘NSL derby’? Keep tabs with our social media pages for live updates on the game.
Nairobi City Stars posted their first draw of the season after holding hosts Bidco United 0-0 in a fourth round FKF Premier League game played at Utalii grounds on Thursday 17 December 2020.
Inside the first seven minutes, City Stars had ventured into the Bidco box but to no avail, and striker Ezekiel Odera had a header skied after receipt of a long range pass from the left by Timothy Ouma.
In the eighth minute Emmanuel Mogaka had a connection to a corner that went just wide for another fruitless corner in what was Bidcó’s first real chance.
Just after the quarter hour mark it is Bidco that had City Stars on the back foot but the ball finally ended up with keeper Steve Njunge.
Within four minutes after the half hour mark Njunge was forced to concede a corner off a long range Mogaka freekick and minutes later a 30-yarder from Zachary Anthony Gathu just went wide.
14 minutes after the restart, Stephen Waruru was found open at the edge of the City Stars boxed but he skied what seemed the best chance to activate the scoresheet at Utalii.
The story of missed chances continued till the final minutes when City Stars skipper Anthony Muki Kimani headed out a glorious chance off substitute Oliver Maloba’s delivery.
A point from the game moved City Stars to the seven point-mark to maintain fourth spot as Bidco moved to three points to move one up to position twelve.
Next up for City Stars is a home game against promoted Vihiga United on Wednesday 23 December starting 3pm.
Lineups
Bidco United: 1. Edwin Omwambani (GK), 4. David Kalama, 12. Lambert Otieno, 18. Francis Oduor, 15. Luke Ochieng, 31. Victor Ochieng (2. Jacob Onyango-82-captain), 30. Atnthony Gathu, 10. Emmanuel Mogaka (19. David Orem-88), 20. Nelson Chieta (27. Noah Wafula-68), 22. Stephen Waruru -Captain (11. Batts Awita-82), 9.Pistone Mutamba
Unused subs: 35. Brian Opondo (GK), 40. Wilson Anekeya, 24. Anthony Simasi, 6. Mwinyi Kassim, 28. Eric Githua,
Coach: Anthony Akhulia
Nairobi City Stars: 23. Steve Njunge (GK), 28. Herit Mungai Atariza, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 4. Salim Abdalla, 27. Azizi Okaka, 10. Peter Opiyo, 18. Sven Yidah (2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo-88), 20. Timothy Ouma (7. Rodgers Okumu-65), 30. Anthony Kimani (Captain), 9. Vincent Otieno Okoth (21. Oliver Maloba – 55), 32. Ezekiel Odera (24. Erick Ombija-88),
Unused subs: 1. Elvis Ochoro (GK), 8. Calvin Masawa, 12. Edwin Buliba, 19. Jimmy Bageya, 22. Wycliffe Otieno
Not considered: 29. Ebrima Sanneh, 3. Charles Otieno, 11. Davis Agesa, 16. Jacob Osano, 5. Wesley Onguso, 15. John Kamau, 17. Yusuf Mukisa Lubowa
Coach: Sanjin Alagic
Yellow cards: 10. Peter Opiyo (Nairobi City Stars-29′), 31. Victor Ochieng (Bidco United-72′)
Match Officials: Sylvester Musonye (Match Comm), Collins Opiyo (Centre Ref), Emmanuel Barasa (AR 1), Peter Sabatia (AR 2), Calary Bernard (Reserve Ref),
