The 2018–19 season was Nairobi City Stars's 16th season since the club's establishment in 2003 and the third consecutive campaign in the Kenyan National Super League following relegation from the Kenyan Premier League at the end of the 2016 season.
It was Nairobi City Stars' first season in the newly aligned Football Kenya Federation Kenya National Super League calendar following the federation's transition from a single-year season to the European-style football calendar in conformity with a CAF directive. The campaign commenced in December 2018 and concluded in June 2019.Nation, 9 Dec 2018 FKF, KPL deserve rare pat on back for calendar shift
The season began under long-serving club figure John Amboko who served as head coach during the entire 2018 Kenya National Super League season after taking over from Ugandan Abdul Semadu, continued offering his services into the new campaign. In January 2019, Amboko dropped down to become an assistant coach after the appointment of Ugandan tactician Jimmy Kintu as head coach.Citizen, 29 Jan 2019 Ugandan Kintu tasked to redeem dimming City Stars
Following the club's acquisition by the Jonathan Jackson Foundation in April 2019,Citizen, 1 May 2019 City Stars has new owner; purchase coming after long financial struggles Kintu departed the club and Amboko was elevated back to head coach. Unfortunately, a fracas in Naivasha during a match against Kenya Police on 17 April 2019 left Amboko suspended for the rest of the season leaving the club with no option but to turn to assistant coach Tiellen Oguta. The club boosted the bench with Ligi Ndogo Technical Director Vladimir, a Serbian, who arrived alongside former Kenya international James Omondi, to collectively oversee the final games of the season. JJF's entry also marked the return of Neville Pudo as team manager.
The team endured a poor start to the season posting just one win, eight draws and a record eleven losses in the first 20 games including handing Modern Coast its first season win on matchday seven. Nation, 11 Jan 2019 Modern Coast thrash City Stars for maiden NSL win Nairobi City Stars however finished 14th in the 19-team league with 39 points, comfortably avoiding relegation after a significant improvement in form during the closing stages of the campaign that included three straight wins over Kangemi All Stars, Migori Youth and Kibera Black stars.
The turnaround coincided with the club's acquisition by the Jonathan Jackson Foundation (JJF) in April 2019, which ushered in new investment and restructuring both on and off the field. JJF's takeover also marked the arrival of Patrick Korir as the chief executive officer taking over the roles of club secretary Herbert Kunga.SportPesa News, 1 May 2019 Seasoned Local Football Journalist Korir In New City Stars Management TeamSports Biz, 2 May 2019 Nairobi City Stars sold, names new CEO
Mid-season signings played a pivotal role in the club's resurgence. Six players were brought in the mid transfer widow including former Sony Sugar defender Noah Abich who finished as the club's leading scorer with eight league goals. His long range freekick against Kangemi All Stars at Camp Toyoyo, Jericho, in the third last game of the season guaranteed a 2–1 win, and survival in the league for another season. Returning Gambian striker Ebrimah Sanneh added seven goals after rejoining the club during the second half of the season. The two arrived alongside former player David Gateri, Paul Okatwa, Heritier Luvualu and keeper Vincent Khatili who acted as a plug in for Ronny Kagunzi who, alongside coach Amboko and defender Augustine Ochieng, were suspended for the season. At the end of this season, defender Arthur Museve called it a day after close to 12 seasons with a cameo appearance in the season final against Kibera Black Stars at Hope Centre. City Stars, 31 Dec 2019 News and intrigues that made Nairobi City Stars in 2019
Technical Bench {|class="wikitable" |- !style=background:#001489;color:#FFFFFF|Position !style=background:#001489;color:#FFFFFF|Staff |- |Head coach|| John Amboko |- |Assistant head coach|| Tiellen Oguta |- |Goalkeeper coach|| Zachary Onyango |- |Team manager|| Neville Pudo |- |Team Physio|| Dennis Mugisa |- |Kit Manager|| Joseph Andere
Managerial changes Outgoing head coach Manner of departure Incoming head coach Date of appointment ref John Amboko Demoted Jimmy Kintu 28 January 2019 Jimmy Kintu Replaced John Amboko 24 March 2019 John Amboko Suspended by FKF Tiellen Oguta 25 Apr 2019Nation, 25 Apr 2019 AllStars eye KPL; Shabana, Black Stars fined
Mid season transfers In DatePos.PlayerFromRef.6 Apr 2019 GK Vincent Khatili Vapor Sports (loan) ST Ebrimah Sanneh Kariobangi Sharks RB Noah Abich Mt. Kenya United FW David Gateri Paul Okatwa CM Heritier Luvualu
Out DatePos.PlayerToRef. 1 Mar 2019 MF Joel Djolo Shabana FC ST Alex Yoroga Free agents GK Fernandez Mutsotso FW Eric Simidi ST Roosevelt Blatty MF Michael Muchai
Competitions Overall record
Super League
Results summary
Results by round
Score overview
OppositionHome scoreAway scoreAggregate scoreDoubleAdmin Police1-12-23-3Bidco United0-01-11-1Coast Stima2-12-24-3Eldoret Youth 1-5 0-1 1-6Fortune Sacco4-42-26-6Green Commandoes2-12-14-2Kangemi All Stars 1-22-13-3Kenya Police1-1 0-2 1-3Kibera Black Stars2-1 1-3 3-4Kisumu All Stars1-11-12-2Modern Coast Rangers2-1 1-3 3-4Migori Youth2-00-12-1 Nairobi Stima 0-11-1 1-2Shabana3-1 0-13-2St. Joseph's 2-3 1-2 3-5Talanta 1-21-1 2-3Thika United1-11-12-2Ushuru 1-22-2 3-4Wazito 0-2 2-3 2-5
Matches
The league officially kicked off on the 1st of December 2018
Statistics
Goalscorers No. Pos. Player Premier League FKF Cup Total RB Noah Abich808 29 ST Ebrimah Sanneh707 ST Sande Katumba505 7 FW Benson Iregi303 11 FW Davis Agesa303 FW Robert Ndung'u303 MF Peter Wainaina303 MF Charles Otieno202 FW Heritier Luvualu202 ST Roosevelt Blaty202 18 DF Arthur Museve202 FW Alex Yoroga202 21 MF Oliver Maloba101 MF Idd Shikanda101 RB Kevin Okumu101 MF Joseph Kariuki101 CB Jaswell Ngugi101Own goals000 Totals47047
Clean sheets Rank No. Pos. Player Premier League FKF Cup Total 1 GK Ronny Kagunzi202 2 GK Vincent Khatili101 3 GK Evans Liseche000 Players who left the club 4 GK Fernandez Mutsotso000 Totals303
Discipline {|class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%; width:100%" |- !rowspan=2 style=background-color:#001489;color:#FFFFFF|No. !rowspan=2 style=background-color:#001489;color:#FFFFFF|Pos. !rowspan=2 style=background-color:#001489;color:#FFFFFF|Player !colspan=3 style=background:#001489;color:#FFFFFF|Premier League !colspan=3 style=background:#001489;color:#FFFFFF|FKF Cup !colspan=3 style=background:#001489;color:#FFFFFF|Total |- !style=background-color:#001489;color:#FFFFFF| !style=background-color:#001489;color:#FFFFFF| !style=background-color:#001489;color:#FFFFFF| !style=background-color:#001489;color:#FFFFFF| !style=background-color:#001489;color:#FFFFFF| !style=background-color:#001489;color:#FFFFFF| !style=background-color:#001489;color:#FFFFFF| !style=background-color:#001489;color:#FFFFFF| !style=background-color:#001489;color:#FFFFFF|
| GK |align=left| Ronny Kagunzi |1||0||1||0||0||0||1||0||1
| GK |align=left| Vincent Khatili |1||0||0||0||0||0||1||0||0
| DM |align=left| Charles Otieno |8||0||1||0||0||0||1||0||1
| CB |align=left| Jaswell Ngugi |6||0||0||0||0||0||6||0||0
| CB |align=left| Austine Ochieng |5||0||1||0||0||0||5||0||1 |- | 18 | CB |align=left| Arthur Museve |4||0||0||0||0||0||4||0||0 |- | 7 | FW |align=left| Rodgers Ochieng |1||0||0||0||0||0||1||0||0 |- | 8 | LB |align=left| Calvin Masawa |1||0||0||0||0||0||1||0||0
| FW |align=left| Davis Agesa |5||0||0||0||0||0||5||0||0
| LB |align=left| Derrick Wafula |1||0||0||0||0||0||1||0||0
| MF |align=left| Joel Djolo |2||0||0||0||0||0||2||0||0
| MF |align=left| Joseph Kariuki |2||0||0||0||0||0||2||0||0 |- | 28 | RB |align=left| Kevin Okumu |7||1||1||0||0||0||7||1||1
| FW |align=left| Kevin Ouma |3||0||0||0||0||0||3||0||0 |- | 17 | RB |align=left| Noah Abich |1||0||0||0||0||0||1||0||0 |- | 21 | AM |align=left| Oliver Maloba |1||0||0||0||0||0||1||0||0
| ST |align=left| Roosevelt Blaty |1||0||0||0||0||0||1||0||0 |- | 29 | DF |align=left| Ebrimah Sanneh |1||0||0||0||0||0||1||0||0
| DM |align=left| Victor Okullu |4||0||0||0||0||0||4||0||0
| MF |align=left| Peter Mwangi |2||0||1||0||0||0||2||0||1
| DM |align=left| Victor Okullu |4||0||0||0||0||0||4||0||0
| FW |align=left| Robert Ndung'u |3||0||0||0||0||0||3||0||0 |- ! colspan="3" | Totals||60||3||5||0||0||0||60||3|||5
References