The Safaricom Chapa Dimba Eastern Regional finals, featuring eight teams (four boys’ teams and four girls’ teams) vying for the regional title, will take place this weekend at Kinoru Stadium in Meru County.
The opening game on Saturday will set the scenario, pitting Kitui County’s Syomunyu Secondary against Machakos’ Mavoko Starlets. In the second hard match, the boys’ team from Isiolo County, Garbatula United, will play the Predators from Embu.
“We are ready for the weekend action, where we’ll be playing against Machakos Boys in our first match. Our plan is to play a tactical game, knowing that our opponents are also very strong. We are determined to win and get a chance to represent our county and the region at large in the national finals. I am equally impressed with the Chapa Dimba initiative, and I believe two or three of my players will be scouted to be among those who will be going to Spain next year,” said Sean Opwora, Head Coach of Chuka University Scorpions.
In the second ladies’ semifinal, Saku Queens from Marsabit will be going for the championship against Chuka University Starlets in another exciting encounter.
Football fans can expect an exciting encounter at the end of Saturday’s action when the Machakos Boys take on the Chuka University Scorpions, the recently crowned Tharaka Nithi County champions.
The matchup comes after popular community games that led to postseason contests at the sub-county, county, and inter-county levels held in the Eastern Region’s eight counties, drawing 444 teams.
The weekend’s football matches will be preceded by player and coach clinics at the same location. These clinics will cover a variety of football tournament topics, such as how to use GPS Sports Vests, which Safaricom introduced to help with player scouting. The vests collect data and help players develop their profiles during games using metrics that are widely accepted and recognized.
The winners of each semi-final group will compete in the finals on Sunday. The boys’ and girls’ winning teams will get Sh. 250,000 as well as a spot to represent the area in the national championships, which are scheduled for early next year. Each of the teams who place second will receive Sh. 150,000.
Sh. 30,000 will be awarded to the Best Goalkeeper, Top Scorer, and Most Valuable (boys and girls). Winners and runners-up will get Neon Smartphones, Kenya’s first locally made 4G smartphone, in addition to their respective prize money.
In addition to educating 250 coaches, Safaricom Chapa Dimba seeks to give scouts and coaches a structured platform to find fresh potential and create feeder networks for Kenyan football leagues all throughout the nation. The competition is aimed at football players in the 16–20 age range.
