City Stars head coach John ‘Bobby’ Ogolla. PHOTO/Raymonf Makhaya.
NAKURU, Kenya May 16- For another season, Nairobi City Stars look set for another of their now infamous relegation fights.
The Kawangware based side is sitting second from bottom on the log with 10 points from 12 matches.
Head coach John ‘Bobby’ Ogolla has however said the dismal performance of the team having lost five of their last six matches is not only down to footballing reasons, but off the pitch issues.
The club has been grappling with financial difficulty having been without a sponsor for the longest time and Ogolla insinuates the management has not done enough to salvage the situation.
“It is not the responsibility of the coach or the team alone. I think overall, even the administration of the team should help improve the performance. If it is not there, what do you expect? We cannot do miracles,” Ogolla told Capital Sport.
“The players are less motivated, and you can see it on the pitch. But I tell them when you come to play, don’t think about your problems. Play to enjoy,” he added.
Capital Sport has learnt that some of the players are owed up to four months unpaid salaries and there is huge disquiet within the team.
Ogolla, however, maintains the side will rise from their slump and targets to win the two remaining matches of the first leg.
City Stars suffered their biggest loss of the season after going down 3-0 to Ulinzi Stars in Nakuru on Sunday evening.
While the Kawangware based side dipped further in the table, the military side moved to fourth on the log with 23 points, five shy of leaders Tusker FC.
City Stars head coach John ‘Bobby’ Ogola (right) with assistant coach Dennis ‘Wise’ Okoth (left).PHOTO/Timothy Olobulu.
Coach Robert Matano was however not impressed despite the huge win especially with his side’s performance in the opening half.
“In the second half we played better and won because we put in more purpose and pressure. But how we played in the first half was totally bad and I would not be happy to see it again. We have to ensure we perform the same way we did in the second half because the league is tough,” Matano offered.
Ulinzi, winners of the league title in 2010 are level on points with defending champions Gor Mahia who have managed to rise from a slow start to win four matches on the trot.
Francis Kahata scored in the 95th minute to aid K’Ogalo to a 1-0 win over Western Stima at the Moi Stadium in Kisumu.
Western Stima head coach Henry Omino watched as for the second time in a week, his side dropped points with a last minute goal.
Last weekend, they were headed to a 2-1 win over Mathare United but conceded with the final kick of the game to draw 2-2.
“It is disappointing because it is something that has recurred again. We cannot concentrate for the entire 90 minutes and it is something we have to work on in the remaining matches,” Omino said.
Elsewhere, Mathare piled more pressure on Bandari, condemning them to a 1-0 loss at home and pressure is now mounting on head coach Twahir Muhiddin.
The dockers dropped to 12th with the result, just four points shy of the drop zone.
It is a contrasting picture for their weekend opponents Mathare who ensured the gap between them and top side Tusker remains to a single point, 13 games into the season.
Tusker won 1-0 at trouble ridden Sofapaka to move to 28 points.
Weekend results
Saturday: Tusker FC 1 Sofapaka 0 (Machakos), Posta Rangers 0 Chemelil Sugar 1 (Nyayo), Sony Sugar 1 Thika United 0 (Awendo), Muhoroni Youth 1 AFC Leopards 0 (Moi Stadium)
Sunday: Bandari FC 0 Mathare United 1 (Mbaraki), Ushuru FC 1 Kakamega Homeboyz 0 (Nyayo Stadium), Western Stima 0 Gor Mahia 1 (Moi Stadium), Ulinzi Stars 3 City Stars 0 (Afraha Stadium)
