After a three-year hiatus, Safaricom Chapa Dimba has made a comeback much to the delight of football fans across the country. The excitement that has greeted this football tournament is more so because it is the only successful grassroots football tournament in the country.
The Chapa Dimba football tournament is a product of a partnership between Safaricom and the Football Kenya Federation (FKF). It aims to give youth between the ages of 16-20 years a platform to showcase their talent and an opportunity to be rewarded from their passion.
Over the years, Safaricom Chapa Dimba has impacted over 100,000 young footballers with over 15,000 matches played. In Season One, 21 players were scouted to the Kenya National Under 20 team, and the winners (boys and girls) travelled to London for an exciting football experience with Victor Wanyama. In Season Two, 15 ladies were scouted to join Harambee Starlets, while 3 players received scholarships to the US and Sweden.
Some of the key players that the tournament has produced so far includes Benson Omalla of Gor Mahia, currently a top scorer in the Kenya Premier League, David Majak of Tusker FC, Jentrix Shikangwa of Simba Queens in Tanzania, Jane Njeri, Cynthia Livondo and Judith Osimbo of Harambee Starlets, just to mention a few.
Here is what the footballers expect to walk away with this Season.
Prize Money
Safaricom has graciously increased the prize money that the winners in the various stages will be able to walk with. This Season the total prize money amounts to Ksh. 20 Million. With Runners-up in the various regions getting Ksh. 150,000 while winners getting Ksh. 250,000. Runners- Up in the national finals will get Ksh. 500,000 while the eventual winners getting Ksh. 1,000,000.
Other than the winners at the finals, the top scorer, best keeper and most valuable player at the county, regional and national level will also get prize money.
Scholarships
This year, Safaricom through the M-PESA Foundation is offering TVET educational scholarships to 150 players. This scholarship will go to the best boy and girl player in every county, as well as members of the winning girls’ and boys’ teams at the national finals. In the event that the player is still in high school, the scholarship will be deferred till such a time when they will be able to utilize it.
Training
The best football players in the regional finals that is 2 boys, and 2 girls will be scouted to form an All-Star team. This team will get an opportunity to visit Spain for a 10-day training boot camp. Two players that is a boy and a girl will get an international placement in a youth team in Spain.
Exposure
The Kenyan football scene has a wide pool of talent. However, these young men and women who are mostly from humble backgrounds have not had a platform where they could showcase their talent. To these individuals, Chapa Dimba has become a lifeline to a better future. A good example of this is Benson Omalla who is currently the top scorer in the Kenya Premier League where he plys his trade with Gor Mahia one of the most successful teams in Kenyan football.
So, if you are a talented football player, hurry up and register your team here for a chance to take your football career to the next level.