By GPC Sports Correspondent
The battle for the Safaricom Chapa Dimba Nyanza regional title begins this weekend, with 12 teams from six counties set to compete at the Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium in Kisumu.
The regional finals kick off on Friday, September 11, with the Inter-County Playoffs at Kisumu Polytechnic, Kisumu Boys High School and Railways Ground before moving to Mamboleo Stadium for the weekend matches.
Also Read
The participating teams are Obunga FC and Plateau Queens from Kisumu; Awendo Football Academy and Oyugi Ogango Girls from Migori; Indomitable Soldiers and Nyamira Starlets-Bondo from Siaya; Kendu Muslim and Hedso Queens from Homa Bay; Sameta High School and Otendo Comprehensive Starlets from Kisii; and Nyaguku FC and Masosa Starlets from Nyamira.
In the boys’ competition, Pool A brings together Indomitable Soldiers of Siaya, Awendo Football Academy of Migori and Sameta High School of Kisii at Kisumu Polytechnic Grounds.
Pool B features Nyaguku FC of Nyamira, Kendu Muslim of Homa Bay and defending national champions Obunga FC of Kisumu.
Obunga coach Evans Oketch said his side was determined to retain both the regional and national titles.
“We know we are facing the best of the best from this region, so we will take it one game at a time. We are well prepared, especially for the playoffs,” Oketch said.
“We are playing at home and cannot afford to let our fans down. The pressure is there, but we will manage it,” he added.
In the girls’ category, Pool A comprises Nyamira Starlets-Bondo, two-time national champions Plateau Queens and Otendo Comprehensive Starlets. They will play at Kisumu Boys High School.
Pool B features Oyugi Ogango Girls of Migori, Masosa Starlets of Nyamira and Hedso Queens of Homa Bay at Railways Ground.
The top two teams in each pool will qualify for Saturday’s semi-finals, with the winners advancing to Sunday’s finals.
Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa said the regional finals would provide an opportunity for football fans to watch the competition at no cost.
“Chapa Dimba holds a special place in my heart as it continues to transform the lives of young people across the country,” Ndegwa said.
“I welcome football fans to come out in large numbers, experience Chapa Dimba live at Mamboleo Stadium and enjoy the action. Best of all, entry is free,” he added.
Beyond the matches, Safaricom will hold coaches’ and players’ clinics on Saturday covering GPS vest technology, financial literacy, mental health and data privacy. The GPS technology will also be used to help identify and scout emerging talent.
The regional champions in both the boys’ and girls’ categories will receive KSh250,000 and qualify for the national finals, while runners-up will take home KSh150,000 each.
The Best Goalkeeper and Top Scorer in each category will receive KSh30,000, while the Most Valuable Player will receive KSh30,000 and a fully funded tertiary education scholarship under the Safaricom Citizens of the Future Programme.
Nyanza recorded 559 team registrations for this season, the second-highest tally after Rift Valley. The region had 401 boys’ teams and 158 girls’ teams.
Migori registered the highest number of teams at 136, followed by Homa Bay with 105, Kisumu (103), Siaya (76), Kisii (73) and Nyamira (66).
