By GPC Sports Desk
Embu will host the Safaricom Chapa Dimba Eastern Regionals this weekend, with 16 youth teams battling for regional honours and places at the national finals.
The three-day tournament, scheduled for Friday, October 2, to Sunday, October 4, will feature eight boys’ and eight girls’ teams representing the eight counties of the Eastern Region.
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Quarter-final matches will be played on Friday at Nembure Grounds, Kamiu Grounds, Embu Showgrounds and the University of Embu Grounds. The semi-finals will follow on Saturday before the regional finals are staged at Moi Stadium, Embu, on Sunday.
In the girls’ competition, defending champions Syomunyu Queens of Kitui will open their campaign against hosts Royal Queens Academy at the University of Embu Grounds from 9am.
Syomunyu Queens coach Amos Mulwa said his players were aware of the challenge of defending the title but were prepared for the competition.
“We are here to defend our title, and while we expect a tough challenge, we are ready for it,” Mulwa said.
He added that the team would concentrate on its style of play and approach the tournament one match at a time.
The other girls’ quarter-finals will pit Marsabit’s Dakabaricha against Bridge Starlets of Isiolo at Embu Showgrounds. Akuune Queens of Meru will meet MCF Starlets of Machakos at Nembure Grounds, while AIC Sultan Queens of Makueni face Mugona Girls of Tharaka-Nithi at Kamiu Grounds.
The boys’ quarter-finals are scheduled for 11am.
Makinduri Rockstars of Meru will face SMPI Academy of Kitui at Embu Showgrounds, while MAFA Academy of Isiolo will meet Kajiunduthi High School of Tharaka-Nithi at Kamiu Grounds.
At Nembure Grounds, hosts Black Cats Football Academy will take on Mbuthani Secondary School of Makueni. Golden Football Academy of Machakos will face Abdary FC of Marsabit at the University of Embu Grounds.
Black Cats coach Sammy Githinji said playing before a home crowd had given his players additional motivation as they target the regional title.
“It is exciting to reach this stage. Safaricom Chapa Dimba is highly competitive, and every team dreams of making it to the regional finals, if not the nationals,” Githinji said.
The teams will also take part in development sessions alongside the football matches. The afternoon clinics will cover financial literacy, data privacy, mental health and AI-powered vests, among other areas.
The winners of Friday’s quarter-finals will proceed to Saturday’s semi-finals, with the finalists earning a place in Sunday’s title deciders at Moi Stadium.
The regional champions in both the boys’ and girls’ categories will receive Sh250,000 and represent Eastern Region at the national finals scheduled for early next year. The runners-up will each receive Sh150,000.
Individual honours will also be awarded. The top scorer and best goalkeeper in each category will receive Sh30,000, while the Most Valuable Player will also receive Sh30,000 and a fully funded tertiary education scholarship through the Safaricom Citizens of the Future Programme.
The tournament comes after strong participation in the current Chapa Dimba season, with 382 teams registering across the eight Eastern counties.
The registrations included 272 boys’ teams and 110 girls’ teams. Meru recorded the highest number with 81 teams, followed by Machakos with 79, Marsabit with 51, Isiolo with 50, Kitui with 47, Makueni with 35, Tharaka-Nithi with 21 and Embu with 18.
The regional tournament will determine the teams that carry Eastern Region’s hopes into the national stage next year.
