Nairobi City Stars
Football club
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nairobi City Stars is a professional football club based in Nairobi, Kenya that currently competes in the first tier Kenyan Premier League.
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| Full name | Nairobi City Stars | ||
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| Nickname | Simba wa Nairobi | ||
| Founded | 2003 | ||
| Ground | Hope Centre, Kawangware, Kenya | ||
| Capacity | 5,000 | ||
| Owner | Jonathan Jackson Foundation | ||
| Chairman |  Jonathan Jackson | ||
| Head coach | Salim Babu | ||
| League | Kenyan Premier League | ||
| 2023–24 | 6th | ||
| Website | nairobicitystarsfc | ||
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History
The club was founded in 2003 as World Hope Football Club after a majority of players followed head coach Zedekiah 'Zico' Otieno from relegated Kawangware United. The club was formed and owned by World Hope International, a charitable organization.
After one season in the Nationwide League, World Hope was promoted to the Kenyan Premier League.
In October 2008, the club was bought by Ambassadors in Sport (AIS Kenya),[1] who renamed the club to Nairobi City Stars FC after the 2008 season.[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 hired online journalist Patrick Korir as the CEO to streamline the club's operations.[11] And in July 2019 the club went searching for a foreign coach and hired Sarajevo-born Sanjin Alagić, a UEFA Pro licensed coach from Bosnia and Herzegovina.
He led the team to the 2019/20 Kenyan National Super League title and automatic promotion back to the Kenyan Premier League[12][13][14] after four seasons out.
Alagić exited at the expiry of his contract at the end of June 2021. From September of the same year Nicholas Muyoti was appointed the new coach on a three-year deal.[15][16][17][18][19]
Honors
- Kenya Nationwide League
- Champions (1): 2003–04
- FKF President's Cup
- Champions (1): 2005
- Kenyan National Super League
- Champions (1): 2019–20
Performance in CAF competitions
- CAF Confederation Cup: 1 appearance
- 2006 – Preliminary Round
Current squad
- As of 30 Jan 2025.[20]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Club officials
Management
| Chairman | Jonathan Jackson |
| Chief Executive | Patrick Korir |
| Team Coordinator | Samson Otieno |
Technical Bench
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Salim Babu |
| Assistant coach | Peter Opiyo[21] |
| Assistant coach & Game Analyst | Patrick Gitagia |
| Goalkeeper coach | Abel Omuhaya |
| Team Manager | Ronnie Kagunzi |
| Security Officer & Trainer | Arthur Museve |
| Physio | Brian Otieno Odongo |
| Kit Manager | Dominic Mutiso |
Past coaches
Zedekiah 'Zico' Otieno (Sep 2003-Nov 2004)- Robert Matano (Nov 2004 - Nov 2007)
- John “Bobby” Ogolla (Jan-Nov 2008)
Oliver Pagé (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 (June-Sep 2013)
Jan Koops (Sep 2013-Jan 2014)
Robinson Ndubuisi (Jan-Apr 2014)
Tim Bryett (Apr-Jul 2014)- Robinson Ndubuisi (Jul-Dec 2014)
Paul Nkata (Jan-June 2015)- Gabriel Njoroge (Jul-Sep 2015)
- Dennis Okoth (Sep-Dec 2015)
- John “Bobby” Ogolla (Jan-June 2016)
- Richard Pinto Tamale (Jul-Dec 2016)
- Robert Matano (Jan-May 2017)
- Abdul-Samadu Musafiri (Jul-Dec 2017)
- John Amboko (Jan-Dec 2018)
- Jimmy Kintu (Jan-Apr 2019)
- John Amboko (Apr-Jun 2019)
Sanjin Alagić (July 2019 - June 2021)- John Amboko (Jul-Aug 2019)
- Nicholas Muyoti (Sept 2021-Jan 2025)
- Salim Babu (Jan 2025 - to date)
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
- Wesley Onguso
- George Abege
- Francis Thairu
- George Midenyo
- George Odary
- Victor Ochieng
- Erick Ochieng
- Paul Okatwa
- Lawrence Kasadha
- Justus Basweti
- Kevin Ochieng
- Noah Abich
- Edward Karanja
Top scorers per season
Top scorers per season. * Award shared during that season
| Year | Player | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| *2004-5 | Collins Tiego |
5 |
| Justus Basweti |
5 | |
| 2005-6 | Samuel Ouma |
13 |
| 2006-7 | Justus Basweti |
6 |
| 2008 | Arthur Museve |
7 |
| 2009 | Arthur Museve |
10 |
| 2010 | Francis Thairu |
5 |
| 2011 |  Dan Sserunkuma |
7 |
| 2012 | Dan Sserunkuma |
5 |
| 2013 | Jimmy Bageya |
4 |
| *2014 | Dennis Okoth |
3 |
| George Abege |
3 | |
| Lawrence Kasadha |
3 | |
| 2015 |  Ebrimah Sanneh |
11 |
| 2016 | Ezekiel Odera |
4 |
| 2017 | Ezekiel Odera |
11 |
| 2018 | Sande Katumba |
10 |
| 2018–19 | Noah Abich |
8 |
| 2019–20 | Ebrimah Sanneh |
8 |
| 2020–21 | Peter Opiyo |
8 |
| 2021–22 | Ezekiel Odera |
10 |
| 2022–23 | Kelvin Etemesi |
12 |
| 2023–24 | Vincent Owino |
8 |
| 2024–25 | Vincent Owino |
5 |
All time top scorers
A list of all-time Nairobi City Stars goal scorers. For players who scored 12 or more goals.
- As of 22 February 2026
| # | Player | Goals |
| 1 | Ezekiel Odera | 37 |
| 2 | Justus Basweti | 35 |
| 3 | Francis Thairu | 34 |
| 4 | Ebrimah Sanneh | 32 |
| 5 | Arthur Museve | 31 |
| 6 | Jimmy Bageya | 29 |
| 7 | Davis Agesa | 20 |
| 8 | Kelvin Etemesi | 19 |
| 9 | Anthony Kimani | 17 |
| 10 | Vincent Owino | 16 |
| 11 | Sande Katumba | 15 |
| 12 | Samuel Ouma | 14 |
| 13 | Peter Opiyo | 13 |
| 14 | Dan Sserunkuma | 12 |
| 14 | Robert Ndung'u | 12 |
Records
| Type | Nat | Name | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Most Premier League appearances (City Stars) | |
John Amboko | 221 |
| Most Premier League appearances (overall) | |
Anthony Kimani | 284[22] |
| Most Premier League goals | |
Justus Basweti | 27 |
| Most Super League goals | |
Davis Agesa | 17[23] |
| Overall top scorer | |
Ezekiel Odera | 37 |
| Most capped player | |
James Situma | 43 |
| Most league goals in a Premier League season | |
Samuel Ouma | 13 |
| Most goals in a Super League season | |
Ezekiel Odera | 11 |
| Longest unbeaten Super League run | |
2018/19-2019/20 NSL | 22 [24] |
| Record premier league win run | |
2023–24 FKF PL | 7[25] |
| Record victory | |
vs Vihiga Bullets[26][27] vs Kisumu Telkom vs Congo United[28] |
4-0 |
| Record defeat | |
vs Sofapaka F.C.[29] vs Kakamega Homeboyz[30] |
5-0 |
Premier League records
| Season | Pos | Record | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | CS | Pts! | ||
| 2004–05 | 8 | 22 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 22 | 23 | -1 | 7 | 28 |
| 2005–06 | 7 | 38 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 43 | 41 | 2 | 16 | 55 |
| 2006–07 | 8 | 30 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 31 | 28 | 3 | 11 | 42 |
| 2008 | 7 | 30 | 11 | 7 | 12 | 25 | 31 | -6 | 10 | 40 |
| 2009 | 6 | 30 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 30 | 29 | 1 | 10 | 43 |
| 2010 | 11 | 30 | 7 | 13 | 10 | 25 | 34 | -9 | 8 | 34 |
| 2011 | 14 | 30 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 28 | 35 | -7 | 9 | 31 |
| 2012 | 13 | 30 | 6 | 11 | 13 | 16 | 32 | -6 | 14 | 29 |
| 2013 | 9 | 30 | 7 | 11 | 12 | 24 | 36 | -12 | 9 | 32 |
| 2014 | 15 | 30 | 4 | 12 | 14 | 18 | 35 | -17 | 8 | 24 |
| 2015 | 14[31] | 30 | 6 | 10 | 14 | 25 | 37 | -12 | 7 | 28 |
| 2016 | 16[32] | 30 | 3 | 10 | 17 | 17 | 39 | -22 | 7 | 19 |
| 2020-21 | 7 | 32 | 12 | 9 | 11 | 34 | 30 | 4 | 11 | 45 |
| 2021-22 | 5 | 33 | 14 | 10 | 10 | 45 | 34 | 11 | 14 | 52 |
| 2022–23 | 15 | 34 | 8 | 10 | 16 | 37 | 49 | -12 | 8 | 34 |
| 2023–24 | 6 | 34 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 42 | 39 | 3 | 12 | 50 |
| 2024–25 | 18 | 34 | 8 | 11 | 15 | 26 | 41 | -15 | 7 | 35 |
| Total | 527 | 150 | 171 | 207 | 488 | 591 | -103 | 168 | 621 | |
CS - Clean Sheet
Second tier League records
| Season | Pos | Record | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | CS | Pts | ||
| 2003-04 | CHAMPIONS | |||||||||
| 2017 | 7 | 36 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 45 | 42 | 3 | 11 | 48 |
| 2018 | 7 | 36 | 14 | 10 | 12 | 41 | 39 | 2 | 10 | 52 |
| 2018-19 | 14 | 38 | 8 | 15 | 15 | 47 | 60 | -13 | 3 | 39 |
| 2019-20 | CHAMPIONS | 26 | 20 | 4 | 2 | 40 | 18 | 22 | 14 | 64 |
| Total | 136 | 54 | 41 | 41 | 173 | 159 | 14 | 37 | 203 | |