Nairobi City Stars
Nairobi City Stars is an association football club based in Nairobi, Kenya. They currently compete in the first tier Betking premier league.
Full name | Nairobi City Stars | |
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Nickname(s) | Simba wa Nairobi | |
Founded | 2001 | |
Ground | Hope Centre, Kawangware, Kenya | |
Capacity | 5,000 | |
Owner | Jonathan Jackson Foundation | |
Chairman | Jonathan Jackson | |
Head coach | Sanjin Alagić | |
League | National Super League | |
2019 | 1st | |
Website | Club website | |
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The club was founded in 2001 as Kawangware United then renamed to World Hope Football Club in 2003 following the relegation of the original club. After one season in the Nationwide League, World Hope was promoted back to the Kenyan Premier League. The club was owned by World Hope International, a charitable organization.
In October 2008, the club was bought by Ambassadors in Sport (AIS Kenya), who renamed the club to Nairobi City Stars FC after the 2008 season.[1] The name is after Cleveland City Stars. Musa Otieno, Kenyan international footballer who has also played for Cleveland City Stars was one of the leading figures behind the new club. Nairobi City Stars retained the home ground Hope Centre, located in Kawangware suburb of Nairobi.[2]
After the take over Nairobi City Stars was initially coached by German manager Oliver Page, a former Bundesliga player.[3] He resigned from the post-half-season in June 2009 despite good results, citing personal issues[4]
After a short while under the new owners, the team reverted to Peter Jabuya who would struggle with the team till March 2019 when the club was fully acquired by Jonathan Jackson Foundation, a community focused setup named after its founder Jonathan Jackson who is a real estate mogul in Kenya and in Europe.[5][6][7][8][9][10]
Upon the change of hands the new owners roped in online journalist Patrick Korir as the CEO to streamline the clubs operations.[11] And in July 2019 the club went searching for a foreign Coach and hired Sarajevo-born Sanjin Alagic, a UEFA Pro licensed coach from Bosnia and Herzegovina.
For the new season starting September 2019, Sanjin onboarded some former players Anthony 'Muki' Kimani, Jimmy Bageya, among other 10 new faces.[12]
Current squad
- As of 14 January 2020.[13]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Club officials
Board of directors
Chairman | Jonathan Jackson |
Chief Executive | Patrick Korir |
Financial Director | Francis Kamau |
Management
Position | Name |
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Head coach | Sanjin Alagić |
Assistant coach | John Amboko |
Assistant coach | Tiellen Oguta |
Goalkeeping coach | Zachary Onyango |
Trainer | Arthur Museve |
Team manager | Neville Pudo |
Sports science | Grace Wang'ondu |
Physio | Dennis Mugisha |
Past coaches
- Zedekiah 'Zico' Otieno (2003, 2004)
- Lord kenna (Jan 2009- Dec 2010)
- John “Bobby” Ogolla (Jan 2008 - Nov 2008)
- Oliver Page (Nov 2008 - May 2009)
- Kennedy Odhiambo (May 2009-Aug 2011)
- Gideon Ochieng (Aug 2011-Sep 2012)
- Bai Malleh Wadda (Sep 2012-June 2013)
- Charles 'Omondi' Korea (June 2013-Sep 2013)
- Jan Koops (Sep 2013-Jan 2014)
- Robinson Ndubuisi Ofwoku (Jan 2014-Apr 2014)
- Tim Bryett (Apr 2014-Jul 2014)
- Robinson Ndubuisi Ofwoku (Jul 2014- Dec 2014)
- Paul Nkata (Jan 2015 - June 2015)
- Gabriel 'Kingi' Njoroge (Jul 2015-Sep 2015)
- Dennis 'Wise' Okoth (Sep 2015-Dec 2015)
- John “Bobby” Ogolla (Jan 2016-June 2016)
- Richard Pinto Tamale (Jul 2016-Dec 2016)
- Robert Matano (Jan 2017-May 2017)
- Abdul-Samadu Musafiri (Jul 2017 - Dec 2017)
- John Amboko (Jan-Dec 2018)
- Jimmy Kintu (Jan 2019 - Apr 2019)
- John Amboko (Apr 2019 - Jun 2019)
Notable past players
- Victor Wanyama
- John Mark Makwatta
- Dan Sserunkuma
- James Situma
- Pascal Ochieng
- Kennedy Odhiambo
- Thomas Wanyama
- George Odhiambo
- Harrison Muranda
- Collins Tiego
- Levy Muaka
- Bruno Sserunkuma
- Fred Nkata
- Francis Thairu
- George Midenyo
- Moses Otieno
- Maurice Odhiambo
- George Odari
- Ian Otieno
- Victor Ochieng
References
- Daily Nation, October 16, 2008: New owners take over World Hope FC
- The Standard, October 17, 2008: Take over at Hope
- Daily Nation, November 20, 2008: City Stars unveil new German coach
- Kenyafootball, May 25, 2009: Nairobi City Stars Appoints new Head Coach
- The Standard, June 14, 2019: Jackson: Why we bought Nairobi City Stars squad
- Goal, May 1, 2019: Nairobi City Stars confirm takeover by Jonathan Jackson Foundation
- Citizen, May 1, 2019: City Stars has new owner; purchase coming after long financial struggles
- Futaa, June 13, 2019: Former KPL heavyweight owners make a vow ahead of new season
- Michezo Afrika, May 1, 2019: Hope as Nairobi City Stars gets new owner
- Daily Active Kenya, May 1, 2019: Just like Wazito, City Stars gets a new owner who will blow their problems away
- SportPesa News, May 1, 2019: Seasoned Local Football Journalist Korir In New City Stars Management Team
- Soka, August 27, 2019: Muki, Bageya back as City Stars reshape for NSL onslaught
- "Nairobi City Stars – Pro Team Roster". Nairobi City Stars. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
External links
- Nairobi City Stars GSA
- Nairobi City Stars instagram - Official IG Page