Safaricom Chapa Dimba heads to Bomet and Nakuru counties this weekend for inter-county finals. A total of sixteen teams from South and Central Rift will battle it out for a chance to participate in the Rift Valley Regional finals scheduled for November 11-12 in Nakuru.
In another match, the regional defending champions, Laiser Hill Academy (Formally Al-Ahly FC) from Kajiado, will be aiming for nothing but victory when they face off against the home team, Kamungei FC.
“It hasn’t been easy to reach this stage of the playoffs. We have faced many teams, some of which were truly formidable. I am grateful to my players for their unwavering focus. This is a crucial stage where a single mistake can eliminate us. As the reigning champions, we are keen to defend our regional title and eventually clinch the national championship in February 2024,” John Mwaura, Head coach, Laiser Hill Academy.
In the Girls’ category, an exciting showdown is on the horizon as the recently
crowned Kajiado County Champions, Tembea FC, prepare to go head-to-head with the Blue Hills team from Kericho. Meswondo from Bomet FC will take on Ol Melil Secondary School from Narok County. The victors in each match will square it out for the ultimate title in both the Boys’ and Girls’ categories, thereby earning the right to compete in the regional finals.
Mwenge FC from Nakuru will welcome Mighty Lakers from Nyandarua in the Boys’ category, while Bamba Youth from Baringo will square off against Lorubae. In the Girls’ category, the hosts, Trinity Mission Girls, are resolute in their quest for victory as they meet Kisima Girls from Samburu. In the second girls’ match, Mogotio Girls from Baringo will go head- to-head with Ridges Queens from Nyandarua.
All matches are scheduled to kick off at 9 a.m. The top teams in each group, both in the Boys’ and Girls’ categories, will advance to join the qualifiers from North and North-West Rift; Wiyeta Girls from Kitale, Itigo Girls from Nandi, Ndura Sports and PASC Langa FC in the regional finals games.
So far, the Rift region has registered the highest number of teams, with a total of 738 teams participating in the grassroots games, all competing at the ward level.
The tournament has produced many talented players such as Benson Omala of Gor Mahia, currently a top scorer in the Kenya Premier League; David Majak of Tusker FC; Jentrix Shikangwa of Beijing Beikong; Jane Njeri, Cynthia Livondo, and Judith Osimbo among others.
This year, Safaricom has committed over Ksh. 400 million to support the tournament from Mashinani all the way to the national level. The total prize money for the tournament has doubled to Ksh. 20 million to reward the winning boys’ and Girls’ teams from the grassroots, county, regional and national finals. Additionally, 150 Scholarships to TVET colleges will also go to top talent, Best Boy and Girl players, from every county and the winning Girls and Boys Team at the National Final courtesy of the Safaricom and M-PESA Foundations.
The best football players, two boys and two girls, will be scouted during each of the regional finals, to form an All-Star team. They will get an opportunity to visit Spain for a 10-day training boot camp, with two players (a boy and a girl) getting international placement in a youth team in Spain.
There is also additional prize money at the national finals level, which will see the most disciplined team take home Ksh. 100,000, while the Best Girl player, Girls Top Scorer and Girls Best Keeper will take home Ksh. 50,000 each.