Safaricom Chapa Dimba battle for regional supremacy kicks off this Friday with the Inter-County Play-offs in Kisumu, as 12 teams from six counties compete for a place in the semi-finals and a shot at the Nyanza regional crown.
The Nyanza Regional Finals bring together teams from Kisumu, Migori, Siaya, Homa Bay, Kisii and Nyamira, with the boys’ and girls’ champions set to earn a ticket to represent the region at the National Finals.
The action begins on Friday, 11 September, at Kisumu Polytechnic, Kisumu Boys High School and Railways Ground, before shifting to Mamboleo Stadium over the weekend for the semi-finals and finals, where the Nyanza champions will be crowned.
Speaking ahead of the tournament, Safaricom CEO, Dr Peter Ndegwa, welcomed football fans to turn up in large numbers and experience the Chapa Dimba action live at Mamboleo Stadium.
“This weekend is going to be one like no other as we kick off our Regional Finals in Kisumu. Chapa Dimba holds a special place in my heart as it continues to transform the lives of young people across the country.
He noted the tournament’s role in transforming the lives of young people across the country and confirmed that fans will enjoy free entry throughout the weekend.
“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,” said Peter Ndegwa.
Six Counties, 12 Teams Set for Regional Showdown
The 12 teams have been drawn from the six counties, with each county represented by a boys’ and girls’ team.
Kisumu will be represented by Obunga FC and Plateau Queens, while Migori will field Awendo Football Academy and Oyugi Ogango Girls.
Siaya’s representatives are Indomitable Soldiers and Nyamira Starlets-Bondo, while Homa Bay will be represented by Kendu Muslim and Hedso Queens.
Kisii’s teams are Sameta High School and Otendo Comprehensive Starlets, with Nyamira completing the line-up through Nyaguku FC and Masosa Starlets.
Read More: Safaricom Chapa Dimba Top 12 Nyanza Teams Advance to Regional Finals
Play-offs Set Stage for Weekend Finals
On Friday, the boys’ Inter-County Play-offs will see Siaya’s Indomitable Soldiers, Migori’s Awendo Football Academy and Kisii’s Sameta High School battle it out in Pool A at Kisumu Polytechnic Grounds.
Pool B will feature Nyaguku FC of Nyamira, Kendu Muslim of Homa Bay and defending regional and national champions Obunga FC of Kisumu.
Speaking ahead of the tournament, Obunga FC Head Coach Evans Oketch expressed confidence in his team’s preparations and determination to retain their regional and national titles.
“As the defending regional and national champions, we are determined to retain our crown. 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.
“With this format, any mistake could see you eliminated, so we will do everything possible to win. We are playing at home and cannot afford to let our fans down. The pressure is there, but we will manage it,” said Evans.
In the girls’ category, Pool A comprises Nyamira Starlets-Bondo of Siaya, two-time national champions Plateau Queens of Kisumu and Otendo Comprehensive Starlets of Kisii. They will play at Kisumu Boys High School.
Pool B will see Oyugi Ogango Girls of Migori take on Masosa Starlets of Nyamira and Hedso Queens of Homa Bay at Railways Ground.
The top two teams from each pool will advance to the semi-finals on Saturday, with the winners proceeding to Sunday’s finals to battle for the regional crown.
KES 250,000 and National Finals Ticket on Offer
The regional champions in both categories will each pocket KES 250,000 and earn a ticket to represent Nyanza at the National Finals, while the runners-up will each receive KES 150,000.
Individual honours will also be up for grabs, with the Best Goalkeeper and Top Scorer in both categories each receiving KES 30,000.
The Most Valuable Player (Golden Ball) will also receive KES 30,000, together with a fully funded tertiary education scholarship under the Safaricom Citizens of the Future Programme.
Beyond Football: Talent and Skills Development
In addition to the football action, Safaricom will host coaches’ and players’ clinics on Saturday covering GPS vest technology, financial literacy, mental health and data privacy.
The wearable GPS technology will also support the identification and scouting of emerging talent, further strengthening Chapa Dimba’s role in nurturing young footballers beyond the pitch.
Ndegwa also highlighted the customer-focused activities lined up across the region during the tournament.
“Beyond football, we have exciting customer engagements lined up across the region, including Safire Connect, Decode Café and Pata More, as we continue creating memorable experiences and giving our customers more,” he added.
Nyanza Records 559 Team Registrations
The strong interest in the competition is reflected in the region’s registration figures, with Nyanza recording the second-highest number of team registrations this season after Rift Valley.
A total of 559 teams registered from across the six Nyanza counties, comprising 401 boys’ and 158 girls’ teams.
Migori recorded the highest number of registrations with 136 teams, followed by Homa Bay with 105, Kisumu with 103, Siaya with 76, Kisii with 73 and Nyamira with 66.
