The national finals of the Chapa Dimba Na Safaricom Youth Tournament kicked off yesterday with quarterfinal games played at Kinoru Stadium and ASK Showgrounds in Meru County.
The girls’ quarterfinals saw Acakoro Ladies from Nairobi score 3:2 against Ndhiwa Queens from Nyanza with Barcelona Ladies from Central netting 2:1 against St Marys’ Ndovea from Eastern. Bishop Njenga Girls from Western did not turn up for the games due to prior commitments elsewhere giving Kitale Queens from Rift Valley a walk over to the semis. Changamwe Ladies from Coast also got a bye to the semis, as there was no girls’ team from North Eastern.
Acakoro Ladies will therefore face Changamwe Ladies as Barcelona Ladies face Kitale Queens in the Semis tomorrow.
“We’ve had a good victory today. The matches were tough but the girls were tactical and focused. Our opponents had more physique and well-built but we played a more tactical in our game. We never underestimated our opponent and that has always been our secret to success. We look forward for another victory tomorrow in the semis,” said Pauline Awuor, Coach Acakoro Ladies.
In the boys’ quarterfinals, Al Ahly from Rift won 3-1 against Berlin FC from North Eastern. Berlin FC therefore are out of the tournament.
Other boys Quarterfinals are underway with Lugari Blue Saints from Western leading with 2:0 against Super Solico of Eastern. Nairobi’s South B United 0:0 Shimanzi Youth (Coast). Manyatta United from Nyanza will square it out with Euronuts from Central later in the day.
Chapa Dimba na Safaricom was started by Safaricom with an aim of promoting grassroot football and propelling gifted players into the national team. This year, an All-star team was selected from the 8 regional finals and attended a training camp in Spain during which they played against local youth sides. From the inaugural season, over fifteen young players joined the Kenya Premier League and the National Super League.