Safaricom Chapa Dimba has attracted strong interest ahead of its fifth season, with 3,178 teams registering for this year’s tournament.
The figure surpasses the target of 3,000 teams, underscoring the growing impact of Kenya’s leading youth football development platform.
Of the registered teams, 2,367 are boys’ teams while 811 are girls’ teams drawn from across the country.
This reflects the tournament’s expanding reach and growing appeal among young footballers.
In addition, the strong turnout highlights the increasing demand for platforms that enable young players to showcase their talent while pursuing pathways into professional football, education, and personal development.
Speaking ahead of the tournament, Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa welcomed the impressive turnout for the fifth season.
He noted that the high number of registrations demonstrates the tournament’s continued impact on youth football development across the country.
“Every season, we are seeing more teams, more talent, and more success stories emerge from communities across Kenya. While not every team was able to secure a place in this year’s competition, we encourage those who missed out to continue preparing and look forward to the next season.
“Chapa Dimba is a long-term platform, and there will always be another opportunity to showcase talent and pursue football dreams,” said Ndegwa.
Read More:Â Beyond the Game: Safaricom Chapa Dimba Season 5 Blends Football with New Pathways for Youth
Season Five Kicks Off in Western Kenya
The fifth edition of the tournament officially kicks off on Saturday, June 27, with grassroots matches across the Western region.
The opening round has attracted 521 teams, including 340 boys’ teams and 181 girls’ teams from Kakamega, Busia, Vihiga and Bungoma counties.
This marks a significant increase in participation compared to the previous season.
Meanwhile, last season’s Western Regional champions, Ebwali Boys from Vihiga County and Brenda Girls from Bungoma County, are among the teams returning this year as they seek to defend their titles.
“We are excited to have Safaricom Chapa Dimba back. Last season, I led Ebwali FC to become regional champions, and I was proud to see players like Austine Odongo, Derrick Oketch and Edwin Onyango progress to the All-Star team that travelled to Spain.
“This year, I return with a new team, confident they will perform well and attract interest from National Super League and FKF Premier League clubs,” said Francis Muhambe, head coach of Vihiga Cranes.
Pathways Beyond the Pitch
Following the ward-level matches, successful teams will progress through sub-county, county, regional, and national competitions.
National champions in both the boys’ and girls’ categories will each receive KES 1 million, with additional prizes awarded at county and regional levels alongside individual awards for the Most Valuable Player, Top Scorer, and Best Goalkeeper.
Beyond the competition, 150 outstanding players will be identified from the county to the national level and awarded fully funded tertiary education scholarships under the Safaricom Citizens of the Future programme.
The scholarships will cover tuition fees, accommodation, and a monthly upkeep stipend, enabling beneficiaries to pursue courses of their choice at public tertiary institutions across the country.
Outstanding players will also form an All-Stars team that will represent Kenya at the Gothia Cup in Sweden, the world’s largest youth football tournament, providing exposure to international competition, scouts, academies, and professional clubs.
Building Kenya’s Football Future
Since its launch in 2017, Safaricom Chapa Dimba has grown into one of Kenya’s most successful grassroots sports development platforms, producing players who now feature in local leagues, national teams, and international clubs.
Other than developing football talent, Chapa Dimba has also created sustainable pathways to professional football, education and other life-changing opportunities for young people.
