A look at City Stars' new faces, departures and remnants ahead of new season

A total of nine new players have joined Nairobi City Stars ahead of the 2023-24 FKF Premier League season.

The nine include two goalkeepers: Julius Ombacho from Luanda Villa, and Edwin Mukolwe from Bidco United.

Also joining Simba wa Nairobi are center backs Wycliffe Omondi and defensive midfielder Brian Omondi from National Super League sides Migori Youth and Kibera Black Stars respectively.

Experienced center-back Sosthenes Idah has also joined Nairobi City Stars coming from Polisi Tanzania - which was his last workstation.

Two wingers: Robinson Asenwa from third-tier side Vapor Sports, and teenager Gilbert Abala from lower-tier side Busia Sugar FC, are also in for the season.

Strikers Brian Mose Nyambane and Japanese international Yuto Kusaba from Division Two sides Total Spurs (Narok), and FC Zenshin (Embu), respectively, complete the signings for the 2023-2024 season.

Save for Abala and Wycliffe Omondi who are on two-year deals, the new signings have been engaged for a season.

The new arrivals take up the slots vacated by keepers Jacob Osano and Stephen Njunge, defenders Salim Abdalla, Kennedy Onyango, and Herit Mungai, as well as midfielders Peter Opiyo, Anthony Kimani, and forward Ezekiel Odera.

Blow for Nairobi City Stars as Japanese star is set to miss first leg of 2023-2024 FKF PL season

Other club departures include; James Mazembe and Levis Okello who have since returned to their parent clubs KCB and Kakamega Homeboyz following the expiry of short-term loan spells.

Contract renewals.

Aside from the new signings, Nairobi City Stars confirmed that twelve of the players who featured last season renewed their contracts.

Defender Timothy Muganda extended his stay for two more seasons, while midfielders Andrew Kisilu, Clifford Ouma, Newton Ochieng, and Abuyeka Kubasu stretched their stay for a season each.

Kapen shuts down moves away, keen on resigning with City Stars

The same applied to long-serving fullback Calvin Masawa, who is now in for his 14th straight season at City Stars, and defender Edwin Buliba.

Forwards Mohammed Bajaber, Kelvin Etemesi, Pius Omachi, and Dennis Oalo, as well as winger Samuel Kapen, all committed their stay for the new season.

Running contracts.

Away from the new arrivals and renewals, keeper Elvis Ochoro, defenders Rowland Makati and Dennis Wanjala, and midfielders: Ronney Kola, Vincent Owino, and Elvis Noor Ojiambo, all with running contracts, stayed on.

“We have carefully recruited this season and onboard we have a pool of promising and very exciting players,” team head coach Nicholas Muyoti told the club’s media “They have had a good preseason and the new players are blending in very well with the rest of the lot and we are confident that we will have a vibrant season.”