Eight teams are expected to battle it out in the Safaricom’s Chapa Dimba Western regional finals scheduled for Saturday 26th to Sunday 27th, at the historical Bukhungu Stadium in Kakamega.
The teams comprise of Chakol Queens and John Osogo from Busia County, Brenda Girls and Compel Sportiff from Bungoma County, Ebwali Boys and Madira Soccer Assassins from Vihiga county. The host Kakamega will be banking their hopes on The Menace and reigning champions Lugari Progressive in the girls’ category.
Chakol Queens from Busia County and Brenda Girls from Bungoma County will play the opening match before Madira Soccer Assassins, who made their debut in the Safaricom Chapa Dimba this year, take on the regional reigning champions Lugari Progressive in the girls’ category.
Later in the afternoon, The Menace, who are the new Kakamega county Champions, will be hoping to claim the region’s top title against Ebwali Boys from Vihiga as the Busia Champions John Osogo alias JSS battle it out against Bungoma’s Compel Sportif in the Boys’ category
The four boys and four girls’ teams are expected to take part in the tournament, with the winning teams (boys and girls) taking home 250,000 shillings each and securing a slot to represent the region at the National finals set for early next year in Nairobi.
The runners-up teams will take home 150,000 each, while the Best Goalkeeper and Top Scorer (boys and girls) will each receive Sh10,000. The Most Valuable Player (Golden Ball) will also receive 10,000 and an additional Technical and Vocational Educational and Training (TVET) scholarship from Safaricom Foundation.
Valary Nekesa of Madira Soccer Assassins and Brenda Girls’ Esther Mukhwana will all be competing for the golden boots at the regional finals as they all have 13 goals.
Mr. Peter Ndegwa, CEO of Safaricom, in a statement said the Western region is an epicentre of football in the country and urged supporters and lovers of football to turn up in large numbers to watch the tournament.
“Based on what we have witnessed since the commencement of this year’s Chapa Dimba, there is no doubt that the Western region is truly an epicentre of football in our country,” he said.
He said over 400 teams participated in the tournament and showed remarkable talent right from the ward level.
“Having successfully concluded the county finals, we are now poised for the regional finals. We are hopeful of a large turnout of fans as they support their favourite teams in the upcoming matches scheduled for this weekend. At Safaricom, we genuinely believe in the transformative power of sports,” said Mr. Ndegwa.
Safaricom Chapa Dimba aims to provide a structured platform for scouts and coaches to tap into new talent and build feeder systems for the Kenyan football leagues across the country while also training a total of 250 coaches.
By GBS Reporter, Dennis Mugweru Munyi