By GPC Sports Desk
MAFA Academy from Isiolo and MCF Starlets from Machakos have been crowned the new Safaricom Chapa Dimba Eastern Region champions after dominant performances in the boys’ and girls’ finals at Moi Stadium in Embu.
MAFA Academy claimed their maiden regional title in emphatic fashion, thrashing Mikinduri Rock-Star FC 8-0 in a one-sided boys’ final.
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Zakar Mohamed opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the seventh minute after Linus Mwirigi was penalised for bringing down Hussein Edin inside the box.
Edin doubled MAFA’s advantage in the 18th minute before Abduba Daud added a third two minutes before half-time to give the Isiolo side a commanding 3-0 lead at the break.
MAFA continued their dominance after the restart, with Abdizak Ali making it 4-0 in the 56th minute before Mohamed scored his second of the match in the 68th minute.
Wako Dabaso then joined the scoring spree, finding the net in the 71st and 81st minutes to stretch MAFA’s lead to 7-0.
Mohamed completed his hat-trick in the 85th minute to cap a superb individual performance and seal an emphatic victory for the Isiolo side.
Mikinduri Rock-Star FC came close to scoring a consolation goal in the 55th minute, but their effort struck the crossbar as MAFA comfortably controlled the contest.
“This is a big milestone in our football journey as an academy. We have been preparing for this tournament for two years, and today we are very proud of what the boys have achieved. They played good football and made sure we maintained possession as per our game plan,” said MAFA Academy head coach Ibrahim Abdisalan.
“Personally, Chapa Dimba took me to Spain, and now, coming back as a coach and winning the regional title is something I am very happy about. The journey is not yet over. Our focus now immediately shifts to the National Finals.”
MCF Starlets deny hosts
In the girls’ final, MCF Starlets denied hosts Manyatta Royal Queens Academy home advantage, beating the Embu side 3-1 to lift the Eastern Region crown.
MCF Starlets took the lead in the 17th minute before doubling their advantage in the 62nd minute.
Royal Queens responded three minutes later, with Justa Mwende pulling one back in the 65th minute to give the hosts hope of a comeback.
However, MCF Starlets remained composed and continued to threaten on the counter-attack. They sealed the victory in the 90th minute when Jacinta Nzuna scored their third goal, extinguishing Royal Queens’ hopes of a late fightback.
“Nothing makes us happier than winning the Chapa Dimba Regional Trophy. It has been our dream, and we are proud to be the first team to take the regional trophy to Machakos,” said MCF Starlets head coach Abednego Matata.
“We came well prepared, although it was not an easy game because we were playing the hosts and they had tremendous support from their fans.”
Matata thanked Safaricom for providing young players with a platform to showcase their talent, saying the team was now focused on the national competition.
“At the Nationals, we know we will not only be representing Machakos but the entire Eastern Region. We are determined to ensure the Season Five national trophy comes to Eastern,” he added.
Both regional champions earned KSh250,000 and secured places in the National Finals, alongside individual prizes including smartphones and airtime.
The runners-up, Mikinduri Rock-Star FC and Manyatta Royal Queens Academy, received KSh150,000 each.
Redemptah Mutanu of MCF Starlets and Abdullahi Muhammed of MAFA Academy were named Best Goalkeepers, while Justa Mwende of Royal Queens and Zakar Mohammed of MAFA Academy won the Top Scorer awards.
The Most Valuable Player awards went to Cecilia Wanjiku of MCF Starlets and Hussein Edin of MAFA Academy. Each MVP received KSh30,000 and a fully funded tertiary education scholarship under Safaricom’s Citizens of the Future Programme.
MAFA Academy and MCF Starlets now join Awendo Football Academy and Plateau Queens from the Nyanza Region, St Joseph Starlets and LYSA from the Central Region, and Vihiga Cranes and Lugari Progressive from the Western Region in securing places in the National Finals.
The Eastern Region finals were preceded by an exhibition match between Safaricom staff and Embu-based journalists, with the Safaricom team winning 3-0.
With the Eastern Region competition concluded, Safaricom Chapa Dimba now heads to the Nairobi Region as the nationwide youth football tournament continues its search for the country’s next generation of football stars.
Safaricom Chapa Dimba targets young people aged 14 to 17, providing them with a platform to showcase their talent, compete at a high level and pursue opportunities both on and off the pitch.
