St. Mary’s Kibabii Boys have officially withdrawn from the ongoing Safaricom Chapa Dimba Season 5 qualifiers in Bungoma County after failing to honour their scheduled fixtures at Bungoma High School on Saturday.

The withdrawal comes just as the fifth edition of the country’s premier grassroots football tournament got underway across the Western Region, where under-18 boys’ and girls’ teams from Bungoma, Kakamega, Busia and Vihiga are battling for places in the regional stage.

In an official statement, the school’s Head Coach, Ali Wang’ona, confirmed that the decision was necessitated by the unavailability of the team’s registered players, who had already left school for the half-term break.

Unfortunately, we could not participate in this edition because our registered Grade 10 players had already left for the half-term break. Our immediate focus is now on preparing the senior team for the upcoming KSSSA Regional Championships,” said Wang’ona.

The withdrawal means St. Mary’s Kibabii Boys will not feature in this year’s county qualifiers despite being among the expected contenders in Bungoma County.

Wang’ona, however, reiterated the school’s appreciation for the role Safaricom Chapa Dimba continues to play in nurturing young football talent across the country.

He thanked the tournament sponsors and organisers for their continued investment in grassroots football, describing the competition as an important platform that gives aspiring players an opportunity to showcase their abilities before coaches and scouts.

The coach also reaffirmed the school’s commitment to returning for future editions of the tournament.

With their Chapa Dimba campaign now ending before it began, St. Mary’s Kibabii Boys will shift their full attention to preparations for the upcoming KSSSA Regional Championships, where they will be aiming to build on their strong performances in school football and secure a place at the national finals.