Safaricom has announced that the first of 8 Chapa Dimba Na Safaricom regional finals will take place this weekend at Bukhungu Stadium, Kakamega County. The regional final in question is Western.
The winners of the regional finals will represent Western at the national finals which will be in June 2019 in Meru County.
Regional defending champions in the girls’ category Bishop Njenga from Lugari will take on Brenda Girls from Bungoma while Kigandole from Busia will face Ibinzo Girls from Kakamega. In the Boys semifinals Vihiga’s Ebbu Stars will play The Saints from Butere-Mumias while Lugari Blue Saints will play Bukembe Friends from Bungoma.
“We are happy to have reached this far in the second season of the tournament. The boys and girls have got amazing talent and Chapa Dimba Na Safaricom provides the right platform to propel them to national glory. So far, over fifteen young players have joined the Kenya Premier League and the National Super League from the inaugural season. We will have scouts from LaLiga in all the regional finals and we will be on the lookout for the best players to form the All-star team that will fly to Spain to train with local La Liga sides”, said Nick Mwendwa, Football Kenya Federation President.
The winning teams from Sunday’s final will Ksh. 200,000 in cash and will proceed to the national finals. The winning boys’ and girls’ teams will each Ksh. 1 million in prize money.
After Kakamega, the competition moves to Moi Stadium in Kisumu for the Nyanza final on 9th and 10th February 2019. The competition will then move to Rift Valley, Eastern, Coast, Central, North Eastern and Nairobi regions. The competition aims at scouting for youth talent, developing grassroots football, and ultimately propel gifted players to the national team.
Chapa Dimba na Safaricom is in its second edition and they have partnered with La Liga and this will see certified La Liga coaches travel to Kenya to scout for talented players both boys and girls who will make up an all-star team. Just like the first season the tournament will target talented male and female youth aged between 16 and 20 with an aim of developing grassroots football, scouting for talent and propelling gifted players to the national limelight.