The Chapa Dimba na Safaricom youth tournament has for months now been a grand opportunity for young people around the country to showcase their football talent, get to grow in their skill and win prize money and other amazing goodies for their teams.
Over 3,000 games have been played so far with over 60,000 fans attending the games and supporting the teams since September! 🤤 #ChapaDimbaNaSafaricom #Twaweza ⚽ pic.twitter.com/quMVBGL4ar
— Kenyan Collective 🇰 (@KenCollective) March 13, 2018
This weekend, the inaugural edition of the Chapa Dimba Na Safaricom youth tournament reaches home stretch this week as Kakamega County plays host to the national finals.
The opening ceremony of the tournament will be held on Thursday morning at the Bukhungu Stadium and Kakamega High will also be used to stage some of the quarter final matches where 15 teams will arrive ahead of the 4 day contest.
We started the tournament with over 1,600 teams back in September and we are looking forward to seeing the best 15 sides in action this week in Kakamega”, said Sylvia Mulinge, Director Consumer Business, Safaricom.
In the boys’ quarterfinals, Mukumu Boys from Western will face Shimba Hills from Coast as Al Hayat from North Eastern take on Nairobi champions Gor Mahia Youth.
In the other quarter final games, Ombek Red Devils from Nyanza will play Euronuts from Central and Mwingi Junior from Eastern will face Rift valley’s Kapenguria Heroes.
Thirteen players from the tournament have been called up to the national under 20 team while another 6 have been snatched up by various Kenya Premier League clubs.
“Chapa Dimba Na Safaricom has given an opportunity for us to discover young talented players especially from the grassroots. The likes of James Omsinde and John Njuguna have earned call ups to the national under 20 team while gifted players such as David Majak, Fredrick Krop and Oscar Kengwa have been signed up by Kenya Premier League teams”, said Nick Mwendwa, FKF President.
In the girls’ category, Waa Girls from Coast will play Tar Tar from Rift as Beijing Raiders from Nairobi face Arch Bishop Njenga from Western.
Plateau Queens from Nyanza and Ngakaa Talent Academy from Eastern will also battle for a place in the last four. Limuru Starlets from Central got a bye to the semis as there was no girls’ team from North Eastern.
Teams that qualify for the semifinals are set to pocket KES 250,000 each, while the finalists will take home KES 500,000. The overall winners in each category will receive KESÂ 1 Million, as well as a trip to London for a one week training camp.
While in London they will also get a chance to interact with the tournament’s Brand Ambassador Victor Wanyama, who turns out for English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur.
