Head coach Sanjin Alagic has unveiled his 20-man list for to face Sofapaka on Monday 24 May 2021 in the 18th round Kenyan Premier League tie at Ruaraka starting 3pm.
Peter Pinchez Opiyo who missed the game due to a knock has been passed fit to face Batoto Ba Mungu.
He takes up a spot in the squad vacated by Erick Ombija who was red carded in the Gor game.
Opiyo returns after missing two games. He had missed an earlier game against Tusker due to accumulated yellow cards.
A second change sees the return of stopper Wycliffe Otieno who was rested in the last game. He takes the place of Nairobi City Stars longest serving player Calvin Masawa.
Masawa, at Simba wa Nairobi since 2011, has been a regular in match day squads.
The third change sees the entry of left footed Herit Mungai Atariza after missing the last six games.
Herit, who last featured against Kakamega Homeboyz in February, replaces another left footer Wesley Onguso.
One last change is in the goal tending sector where Kenya U20 consideration Elvis Ochoro Ochieng takes up the place of Jacob Osano.
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.
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
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 2021Sven Yidah up against Bandari’s Collins Agade on Fri 11 Dec during FKF Premier League round 3 game at Kasarani. City Stars won 2-0Kevin ‘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
Nairobi City Stars eased past Betway Cup round of 64 after registering a 4-1 come-from-behind win over Mutomo Tigers at Kitui Stadium on Saturday 13 February 2021.
Evans Mutuse sent the hosts 1-0 up six minutes after restart and the response for Simba wa Nairobi was immediate as Timothy Noor Ouma aka Babu grabbed an equalizer soon after.
Ebrima Sanneh then claimed a brace on either side of Davis Agesa’s goal to complete the comeback in the battle of the cats.
Watched by a sizeable crowd, the game received a wild cheer when Obagor Lubagakee had a sniff of goal eight minutes in.
Though the attempt forced City Stars keeper Jacob Osano to slip, it went just wide activating hope and belief for the Tigers.
Five minutes later a foul committed by stopper Wesley Onguso saw left back Johna Elijah send a freekick just wide as the hosts kept prodding the unsettled visitors.
A few minutes later Simba wa Nairobi winger Azizi Okaka sent a dangerous cross into the box that Vincent Jamaica Otieno failed to connect to.
Three minutes later action was on the other end but a goal attempt by an energized Johna Elijah dinked just past the crossbar to land behind the goal.
Between the water break and half time, skipper of the day Ezekiel Odera fluffed Bolton Omwenga’s cross while in the box. Moments later Omwenga curled a freekick just wide to leave the game tied at 0-0 heading to the breather.
Six minutes into the restart, an Issa Ibra cross from the right into the box, originally from a corner on the left, found an unmarked Mutuse who headed home at the near post past the City Stars defense that had assumed the ball had gone out. The cheer that followed from the crowd was deafening.
While the goal spurred the hosts many fold, it swung City Stars into high gear and three minutes later it was level at 1-1.
An Omwenga corner from the left received a low header-flick from Odera into the box for Babu to tap home for his first competitive goal in City Stars colors.
A triple substitution by City Stars head coach Sanjin Alagic a minute after the leveler led to a complete turnaround in proceedings.
Strikers Ebrima Sanneh and Davis Agesa as well as winger Rodgers Okuse Okumu took up the places of Odera, John Kamau and Okaka, in that order.
Minutes later, Erick Ombija who had come on for Jamaica at the start of the second half, rifled a cross from Babu just above bar as City Stars piled on the pressure.
In the 70th minute, ten minutes after Ombija’s near-miss, it was a different tale as Sanneh leapt highest to power home a header off a long Onguso throw in to send City Stars 2-1 up.
With six minutes left, surefooted Okuse evaded three markers from mid pitch into the box to force a corner. Omwenga delivered it well for Agesa to head home at the near post to stretch City Stars lead to 3-1.
Two minutes to time returning right back Kevin Chumsy Okumu dropped a long ball in the box for Sanneh who, after a few twists and turns on defenders, fired home the final goal of the game to confirm City Stars place in the round of 32.
City Stars played a man less from the 65th minute after defensive mid Charles Chale Otieno was slapped with a straight red after being adjudged to have had a nasty challenge on Mutomo Tiger’s substitute Mustafa Chenge.
Lineups
Mutomo Tigers: 23. Maurice Ochieng (GK), 2. Susan Mwanzia, 3. Johna Elijah (9. Jano Mwendwa-81), 13. Mutua Nzila (14. Mustafa Chenge-59), 7. Michael Otieno (Captain), 15. Issa Ibra, 6. Avon Kyalo (16. Daniel Musembi-59), 8. Wilber Kinene, 11. Evans Mutuse, 10. Obagor Lubagakee
Unused subs: Laiber Saad, Elijah Mwangangi, 4. Stanley Mwende, Hamisi Salim, Issa Musa, Willy Ngonyo
Nairobi City Stars: 16. Jacob Osano (GK), 26. Bolton Omwenga, 5. Wesley Onguso, 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 19. Kevin Okumu, 3. Charles Otieno, 27. Azizi Okaka (7. Rodgers Okumu-55), 20. Timothy Noor Ouma (2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo-70), 15. John Kamau (11. Davis Agesa-55), 9. Vincent Otieno Okoth (24. Erick Ombija-46), 32. Ezekiel Odera – Captain (29. Ebrima Sanneh-55),
Not considered: 23. Steve Njunge (GK), 10. Peter Opiyo, 21. Oliver Maloba, 4. Salim Abdalla (all rested), 6. Ronney Kola, 14. Rowland Makati (both on loan at Nairobi Stima), 12. Edwin Buliba (thigh injury), 18. Sven Yidah (thigh injury), 30. Anthony Kimani
Coach: Sanjin Alagic
Cards: 20. Timothy Ouma-42 (yellow), Charles Otieno-65 (Red), Rodgers Okumu-84(yellow) – Nairobi City Stars//13. Mutua Nzila-76 (yellow) – Mutomo Tigers
Goals: Evans Mutuse (51) – Mutomo Tigers//Timothy Ouma (54), Ebrima Sanneh (70,88), Davis Agesa (84)-Nairobi City Stars
Match officials: Peter Baraza (Match Comm), Samuel Mwaura (Centre Ref), Michael Marwa (AR 1), James Waa (AR 2), Samuel Kyalo (Reserve Ref)
Wesley Onguso and Wycliffe Otieno chase the ball during a round 64 Betway Cup tie against Mutomo Rangers at Kitui Stadium on Sat 13 Feb 2021. City Stars won 4-1Kevin ‘Çhumsy’ Okumu of Nairobi City Stars against a Mutomo Tigers player during a round 64 Betway Cup tie at Kitui Stadium on Sat 13 Feb 2021. City Stars came from behind to win 4-1Ebrima Sanneh celebrates one of his two goals during a 4-1 win over Mutomo Tigers in a round 64 Betway Cup tie at Kitui Stadium on saturday 13 February 2021
Left winger John Bombay Kamau and keeper Elvis Oblak Ochoro will be seeking vital playtime as Nairobi City Stars takes on Mutomo Tigers in a Betway Cup clash at Kitui Stadium on Saturday 13 February 2021.
Kamau and teenager Ochoro are part of the 20-man squad named by head coach Sanjin Alagic for the round 64 game.
As the trio make the squad, a few others have been given a much needed rest. They include keeper Steve Njunge and midfielder Peter Pinchez Opiyo who have played all 11 Premier League games so far.
Salim Shitu Abdalla who has played one less game compared to Njunge and Pinchez takes a rest as well as recent Harambee Stars callup Oliver Maloba.
Three other regulars in the first team; left back Herit Mungai, striker Davis Agesa and stopper Kenedy Vidic Onyango have been considered for the battle of the Cats in Kitui County.
20-man team to face Mutomo Tigers
16. Jacob Osano (GK), 1. Elvis Ochoro (GK), 5. Wesley Onguso, 9. Vincent Otieno Okoth, 32. Ezekiel Odera, 28. Herit Mungai Atariza, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 3. Charles Otieno, 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 27. Azizi Okaka, 24. Erick Ombija, 29. Ebrima Sanneh, 7. Rodgers Okumu, 20. Timothy Ouma, 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo, 26. Bolton Omwenga, 19. Kevin Okumu, 8. Calvin Masawa, 15. John Kamau, 11. Davis Agesa,
Not considered: 23. Steve Njunge (GK), 10. Peter Opiyo, 21. Oliver Maloba, 4. Salim Abdalla (all rested), 6. Ronney Kola, 14. Rowland Makati (both on loan at Nairobi Stima), 12. Edwin Buliba (thigh injury), 18. Sven Yidah (thigh injury), 30. Anthony Kimani
Elvis Ochieng Ochoro during his unveiling at City Stars on Thur 3 Sep 2020
Chief spoiler Sven Yidah has been ruled out of Nairobi City Stars games for the next two weeks due to a knee injury sustained in the last league game against Kariobangi Sharks.
According to team physio Brian Otieno Odongo, Sven suffered a knee injury in that game and has to sit out a number of games to fully recuperate.
“Sven had a knee knock against Sharks and we have given him two weeks rest to heal. All necessary tests have been down on him and its nothing major. He should be back by mid of the month,”
Due to his injury, Sven will miss a round eleven Premier league clash against Kakamega Homeboyz as well as the round 64 match domestic cup match against Mutomo Tigers of Kitui.
“He is doing very well and the pain on his shoulder is gradually diminishing. He has started training and it’s a matter of time that he will be back on the pitch,” said Odongo
Overall team captain Calvin Masawa and utility back Edwin Buliba are also still on the sidelines due to knee and quad injuries.
According to Odongo, the two are still out of the most immediate game assignments.
The trio of Muki, Masawa and Buliba have so far missed games against Sofapaka and Kariobangi Sharks.
As all four stay out, head coach Sanjin Alagic from Bosnia has confirmed his 18-man to face Kakamega Homeboyz at Bukhungu Stadium on Saturday 6 February 2021.
From the 20-man team that faced Sharks in the last league game, left back Wesley Onguso and striker Ebrima Sanneh will miss out alongside Sven. Newly signed Balton Omwenga is the only addition to the travelling party.
Squad to face Kakamega Homeboyz
16. Jacob Osano, 23. Steve Njunge (GK), 28. Herit Mungai Atariza, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 4. Salim Abdalla, 27. Azizi Okaka, 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, 9. Vincent Otieno Okoth, 17. Balton Omwenga
Not considered: 6. Ronney Kola, 14. Rowland Makati (both on loan at Nairobi Stima), 12. Edwin Buliba (thigh injury), 8. Calvin Masawa (thigh injury), 1. Elvis Ochoro (GK), 15. John Kamau, 30. Anthony Kimani (shoulder injury), 18. Sven Yidah, 29. Ebrima Sanneh, 5. Wesley Onguso
Edwin Buliba (left) in a past game against Nairobi Stima on Sat 14 Mar 2020Muki celebrates the opening goal as City Stars sees off Nzoia Sugar 2-0 at Narok Stadium in their opening 2020/21 FKF Premier League game on Sun 29 Nov 2020Balton Omwenga in Nairobi City Stars colors during a friendly against Kibra United on Wed 3 Feb 2021. He’s joined the club permanently from Tanzania’s Biashara United
