Nairobi City Stars will host Wazito at Thika Stadium on Thursday 21 and NOT at Ruaraka on Wednesday 20 October 2021 as planned. Kick-off remains at 3 pm.
The shift of the third round 2021/22 FKF Premier League tie was necessitated by the temporary unavailability of Ruaraka to host any league matches.
NEXT MATCH ⏭️ FKF-PL | Round 3
? | Thursday 21st October 2021
? Wazito FC
? | FKF-PL ⏰ | 1500 EAT ? | Thika Stadium#???????ℕ?????? BETTER MUST COME
Right fullback Kevin Chumsy Okumu is at Nairobi City Stars to stay after converting his half-season loan from Wazito FC to a permanent two-year deal.
Chumsy, 23, first joined Nairobi City Stars in July 2016 and exited the club after four seasons to join Wazito in August 2020 after the expiry of his contract.
“Along the way Chumsy realized the City Stars environment fitted him well and it is where he scaled and will continue to improve his game,”
“He made the right choice in staying on permanently to a family that understands him perfectly well and brings out the best in him,” said team coordinator Samson Otieno
Chumsy scored on his debut for City Stars against Zoo FC and went on to add his second season goal against Gor Mahia in a reverse tie.
He was named the most valuable player twice and ended the season with two assists.
Wazito ended Nairobi City Stars fine five-game winning streak with a 1-0 win at Ruaraka on Wednesday 30 June 2021 during a Premier league matchday 23 tie.
A lone strike by Musa Masika at the hour mark is what separated the two teams for Wazito to complete a double over Simba wa Narobi. They won the first leg 2-1 at Utalii in early January.
Wazito forced the first set-piece of the game in the seventh minute, a corner, but nothing much came out of it.
The next minute, a good flow by City Stars saw pocket rocket Rodgers Okuse Okumu break into the Wazito box only to be caught offside.
Okuse’s speed led to the bookings of Wazito’s Vincent Oburu and right back Ronney Onyango on either half.
In the eleventh minute, Musa Masika fired a freekick from the edge of the box straight to his former keeper Steve Njunge City Stars goal.
A minute after the hour mark, Wazito forced a second corner. As was the case with the first, it was wasted.
Inside five minutes after the half-hour mark City Stars had three half chances; a Sven Yidah’s belter – off a Nicholas Kipkirui knockdown – went just wide, a Bolton Omwenga freekick went straight to the keeper Frederick, then skipper Anthony Muki Kimani failed to pick out Davis Agesa in the box.
As the first half wore on, it is Wazito that looked most dangerous as Wyvonne Isuza, coming from deep, ran unchecked into the box, only for Njunge in City Star’s goal to force a fruitless corner.
The next minute Elli Asiche attempted a drive on goal. It flew wide.
— Betking Kenya Premier League (@Officialfkfpl) June 30, 2021
Six minutes into the second half, City Stars wasted a corner and freekick.
The action then moved to the other end when, in the 55th minute, Masika’s low drive ended straight at Njunge.
At the hour mark City Stars striker Davis Agesa could have open the scores only to miss placing a Muki freekick.
And three minutes later it was Wazito 1-0 up when Masika met a pass across the top of the box to place the ball on his left foot before firing past Njunge.
The goal brought in immediate changes as Wazito introduced Eric Otieno for Oburu, and City Stars coach Sanjin Alagic responded by bringing on Oliver Maloba for Okuse.
At the 70th minute, Kipkirui just failed to trigger the ball home from a Maloba cross and moments later a Muki attempt on goal, from just yards out, off a Kipkirui bicycle kick, earned a corner instead of a leveler.
With 13 minutes left, Wazito opted to defend their solo goal with a triple sub that saw the arrival of Fidel Origa, Dennis Sikhayi, and Kevin Kimani in places of Brian Musa, Rooney Onyango, and Eli Asieche, in that order.
For City Stars, Ezekiel Odera came on for Kipkirui, as Calvin Masawa took up the place of Edwin Buliba at right back.
Into the last ten minutes, City Stars had near misses that could have changed the game but an Agesa attempt and Muki freekick, all in the box, failed to cross the line.
Even an extra two strikers in the dying minutes; Erick Ombija and Ebrima Sanneh for Sven and Agesa, could not change the course of the game.
But as City Stars chased the game, one move by Wazito could have ended the game at 2-0, but luckily a Masika drive ricochetted off the woodwork.
From the loss, City Stars, on 32 points, dropped to seventh following other Wednesday results, as Wazito moved up two places to eighth with 30 points.
— Betking Kenya Premier League (@Officialfkfpl) June 30, 2021
Next up for City Stars is a Mombasa game against Bandari at Mbaraki on Sunday 4 July 2021 starting 3 pm.
Lineups
Nairobi City Stars: 23. Steve Njunge (GK), 26. Bolton Omwenga, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 4. Salim Abdalla, 12. Edwin Buliba (8. Calvin Masawa-77), 18. Sven Yidah (24. Erick Ombija-83), 10. Peter Opiyo, 30. Anthony Kimani , 7. Rodgers Okumu (21. Oliver Maloba-67), 11. Davis Agesa (29. Ebrima Sanneh-83), 17. Nicholas Kipkirui (32. Ezekiel Odera-77)
Unused Subs: 16. Jacob Osano (GK), 28. Herit Mungai Atariza, 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo, 22. Wycliffe Otieno
Not considered: 6. Ronney Kola, 14. Rowland Makati (both on loan at Nairobi Stima), 1. Elvis Ochoro (GK), 3. Charles Otieno, 5. Wesley Onguso, 27. Azizi Okaka, 20. Timothy Noor Ouma, 15. John Kamau, 9. Vincent Otieno Okoth, 19. Kevin Okumu (could not play against parent club Wazito)
Coach: Sanjin Alagic
Wazito: 1, Frederick Odhiambo, 33. Joseph Odhiambo, 24. Maurice Ojuang, 44. Jonstone Omurwa, 88. Ronney Onyango (15. Dennis Shikayi-77), 50. Brian Musa (12. Fidel Origa-77), 11. Wyvonne Isuza, 16. Eli Asieche (36. Kevin Kimani-77), 7.Vincent Oburu (29. Eric Otieno-64), 25. Musa Masika, 9. Michael Owino (2. David Otieno-88)
Unused subs: 77. Bixente Otieno (GK), 39. John Odhiambo, Roland Ashimoto, 10. Boniface Omondi,
Coach: Francis Kimanzi
Yellow cards
City Stars: 18. Sven Yidah (58) Wazito: 7. Vincent Oburu (15), 88. Ronney Onyango (55)
Nairobi City Stars vs Wazito in a Premier League round 23 game on Wed 30 June 2021 at Ruaraka. Wazito won it 1-0Nairobi City Stars vs Wazito in a Premier League round 23 game on Wed 30 June 2021 at Ruaraka. Wazito won it 1-0
There will be one change from the squad that faced Kakamega Homeboyz and Nzoia United in the immediate past two premier league games as Nairobi City Stars prepares to take on Wazito on Wednesday 30 June 2021 at Ruaraka starting 1 pm.
Utility back Edwin Buliba, who missed the last three premier league games, comes on for overall captain Calvin Masawa for the round 23 tie.
Three teenagers; Elvis Ochoro – a keeper, striker Vincent Otieno aka Jamaica and attacking midfielder Timothy Ouma, as well as left footer John Kamau, winger Azizi Okaka and defensive mid Charles Otieno are all out of the return game.
Their places have been taken up by keeper Jacob Osano, Nicholas Kipkirui, Davis Agesa, Bolton Omwenga, Kevin Okumu who is on loan from Wazito, and striker Ebrima Sanneh.
Lead keeper Stephen Njunge, a former Wazito shot stopper, is in line to face his former side once again.
City Stars will have head coach Sanjin Alagic at the touchline for the Wednesday game.
During the first leg tie, Sanjin was yet to return from his home base in Bosnia after the December festivities, and the game was handled by his assistant John Amboko.
Into the game, City Stars sits fifth on the log with 32 points from 21 games with a five-point buffer over tenth place Wazito.
