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Nairobi City Stars are set to receive a major boost with the return of Robinson Asenwa ahead of their upcoming league match against Shabana in Homa Bay on Sunday.

Asenwa, who missed the last three league matches, will be replacing Gilbert Abala, who is not named in the squad.

Nairobi City Stars returnees

In addition, defender Rowland Makati and goalkeeper Elvis Ochoro are making their comebacks after missing the last two and one game, respectively.

Makati will take the place of fullback Dennis Wanjala, who is unavailable due to personal reasons, while Ochoro will replace Julius Ombacho.

The historic game at Homa Bay Stadium will mark Nairobi City Stars’ first-ever visit to the venue. Shabana and City Stars have not faced each other in the top flight since the 2005/2006 Premier League season.

Their last encounter in the Premier League took place on April 2006 at Gusii Stadium, with City Stars emerging victorious 3-1. However, this result was later reversed due to City Stars being accused of fielding an ineligible player.

Nairobi City Stars-Shabana fixtures

The upcoming match will be held 6,391 days after their last top-flight meeting. Despite the long gap, the two sides clashed four times between December 2018 and January 2020 while both were in the National Super League. City Stars emerged victorious in three out of the four encounters.

As they head into the Sunday match, Shabana sit 13th on the league table with six points, just two points behind the tenth-placed Simba wa Nairobi, who have eight points.

Shabana will be coming into the game with a morale-boosting 1-0 victory over Tusker in the previous round, marking their first win of the season. Meanwhile, City Stars suffered a similar 1-0 defeat against Kenya Police.

City Stars’ coach, Nicholas Muyoti, will face Sammy Okoth, who successfully guided Shabana back into the top flight at the end of last season after 17 seasons in the lower divisions.

Goalkeepers: 1. Edwin Mukolwe, 13. Elvis Ochoro

Defenders: 8. Calvin Masawa, 12. Edwin Buliba, 15. Wycliffe Omondi, 30. Rowland Makati, 32. Sosthenes Idah

Midfielders: 2. Elvis Noor, 5. Newton Ochieng, 11. Andrew Kisilu, 18. Clifford Ouma, 19. Vincent Owino, 25. Brian Mzee, 31. Abuyeka Kubasu.

Forwards: . 3. Robinson Asenwa, 9. Mohammed Bajaber,  10. Dennis Oalo, 17. Brian Mose, 20. Kelvin Etemesi, 22. Samuel Kapen,

Out:  4. Timothy Muganda, 6. Ronney Kola, 7. Pius Omachi,  21. Yuto Kusaba, 23. Julius Ombacho, 25. Dennis Wanjala,  27. Gilbert Abala

Coach: Nicholas Muyoti