After a grueling battle in a bid to to qualify for the Chapa Dimba na Safaricom finals, an All-Star team has been selected from the best players during the eight regional finals. The team consists of 32 of the best players – 17 boys and 15 girls. The team was unveiled at the Ligi Ndogo grounds on Sunday before travelling to Catalonia Spain for a training camp.
During the ten day training camp, the team will get to meet La Liga coaches, play against the local youth sides, watch a live match between Barcelona and Gatafe on 12th May at Camp Nou. They will also get an opportunity to tour the cosmopolitan capital of Spain, Barcelona which is known for its art and architecture.
Upon their return from Spain, the players will rejoin their clubs and share learnings and experiences with their teammates as they prepare for the Chapa Dimba Na Safaricom national finals set for Meru in June where the winning boys’ and girls’ teams will each walk away with KES 1 million shillings in prize money.
Jane Njeri, member of the All-Star team and a striker for Barcelona Ladies from Laikipia had this to say about the trip, “I am so thrilled to be part of this life time experience. I always dreamed of seeing Lionel Messi live in action and never imagined it will one day come to pass. The skills I am set to acquire from the training camps will definitely boost my football prowess. The exposure and the thrill of being in a plane for all those hours are a dream come true.”
Steve Chege, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Safaricom, had this to say, “We believe in creating exceptional experiences for young people. We trust that travelling to another country, meeting people from around the world and learning through new challenges is a crucial part of developing Kenyan football. The experiences that these players will get are unique, different and unforgettable. We wish them the very best as they scale up their football careers.”
The teams that will play in the national finals include; South B United and Acakoro Ladies from Nairobi, Berlin FC from Garissa, Euronuts and Barcelona from Central region, Mombasa’s Shimanzi youth and Changamwe ladies, Kajiado’s Al Ahly and Kitale Queens from Rift Valley, Bishop Njenga Girls and Lugari Blue Saints from Western, Manyatta Boys and Ndhiwa Queens from Nyanza as well as Super Solico and St Mary’s Ndovea from Eastern region.