Three records broken in City Stars victory over AFC Leopards including 17-year wait for away win

FKFPL Three records broken in City Stars victory over AFC Leopards including 17-year wait for away win

Mark Kinyanjui 16:26 - 03.06.2023

The records Nairobi City Stars set both individually and collectively by beating AFC Leopards last Monday.

On Monday 29 May, Nairobi City Stars came from behind to beat AFC Leopards 2-1 at Nyayo Stadium giving them a 10-point buffer and confirming their status as a Premier League club for next season.

Ingwe, who had nothing to play for having been knocked out of the FKF Cup semi-final the week before, were outclassed particularly in the second half after Nicholas Muyoti’s changes bore fruit for the side.

That match, however, was a game of records set. Pulse Sports explains the three milestones that were achieved in that match.

Kelvin Etemesi’s record braces

Kelvin Etemesi scored a brace to sink AFC Leopards which marked his fourth for the season making him the first player to achieve that feat for City Stars in the Kenyan topflight league since the 2005/2006 Premier League season.

Etemesi also made history, as he surpassed Samuel Ouma who scored three braces that season. He top-scored for the club – then known as World Hope – with 13 goals.

During that match where Simba wa Nairobi came from behind to beat Ingwe 2-1, Etemesi got on the end of an Edwin Buliba delivery in the 64th minute to cancel Victor Omune’s 18th-minute opener. He grabbed the winner in the 89th minute after pouncing on a James Mazembe assist.

Etemesi scored his first brace – and top-flight goal – in a 3-0 win over Mathare United on Wednesday 29 March at the Kasarani Annex.

He followed it up with his second brace of the season on Sunday 9 April in a 3-2 loss to Posta Rangers at the Police Sacco Stadium.

At that point, Etemesi drew level with former City Stars forwards; Ugandan hitmen Jimmy Bageya and Dan Sserunkuma both scored two braces in the 2009 and 2011 seasons respectively.

Gambian forward Ebrima Sanneh got another in the 2015 season. His third brace in a 5-2 win over Vihiga Bullets in Kasarani Annex which drew him level with Samuel Ouma.

Etemesi missed out on a consecutive brace in the next game against Kariobangi Sharks at the same venue. He scored once in a 2-1 win.

Those goals, added to his latest brace that separate him from the past club hitmen and brought his tally this season to nine.

City Stars end 17-year winless run over Leopards

Not only did Etemesi break the club's record of braces scored across 15 years in the Kenyan top league, but it also ended a 16-year wait of City Stars never beating AFC Leopards in an away game.

The club – then known as World Hope – last beat Leopards (1-0) on 22 January 2006 at the Nyayo Stadium during a 14th-round clash. Steve Biko scored the lone goal in the 12th minute.

For the next 17 years, City Stars would never beat AFC Leopards, only managing six away draws and four away defeats against Ingwe.

Leopards finish outside the top two places 10 seasons running

For the 10th season running, AFC Leopards will finish outside the top two places, as the loss mathematically meant that they cannot finish higher than fifth on 57 points (assuming they win their remaining three matches and KCB lose all their remaining games).

The last time Ingwe finished in the top two positions was in 2013 under Dutch head coach Jan Koops.

In the voided 2021/2022 season, they finished fourth, very impressive considering the transfer ban they were hit with that prevented them from making signings, meaning they had to rely on academy graduates.

A season to forget for AFC Leopards fans has been compounded by injuries to key players constantly like Kayci Odhiambo and Lewis Bandi, which means Aussems has had to rely on defenders like Washington Munene and Robert Mudenyu, who are limited on the ball, to build up play from the back.

Without the ideal players for his system, the side has struggled to perform consistently well, leading to poor results like the loss to City Stars.