Kisumu will host the Safaricom Chapa Dimba Nyanza Regional Finals this weekend, with 12 teams from the region’s six counties competing for the regional crown at the Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium.
The competition kicks off on Friday with Inter-County Playoffs at Kisumu Polytechnic, Kisumu Boys High School and Railways Ground.
Action continues over the weekend at Mamboleo Stadium, where the regional champions will be crowned.
The 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.
Winning boys’ and girls’ teams will each pocket Sh250,000, alongside individual prizes and a ticket to the National Finals.
Runners-up in both categories will receive Sh150,000 each.
Individual awards include Sh30,000 each for the Best Goalkeeper and Top Scorer in both categories.
The Most Valuable Player, decided through a Golden Ball award, will receive Sh30,000 and a fully funded tertiary education scholarship under the Safaricom Citizens of the Future Programme.
“This weekend is going to be one like no other as we kick off our Regional Finals in Kisumu,” said Safaricom chief executive Peter Ndegwa.
“Chapa Dimba holds a special place in my heart as it continues to transform the lives of young people across the country,” he said.
Ndegwa said the telco had lined up additional customer engagements across the region, including Safire Connect, Decode Café and Pata More activations, alongside the football action.
In Friday’s Boys’ Pool A, Siaya’s Indomitable Soldiers, Migori’s Awendo Football Academy and Kisii’s Sameta High School will play at Kisumu Polytechnic Grounds.
Pool B pits Nyaguku FC of Nyamira and Kendu Muslim of Homa Bay against defending national champions Obunga FC of Kisumu.
“As the defending regional and national champions, we are determined to retain our crown,” said Obunga FC head coach Evans Oketch.
“We are playing at home and cannot afford to let our fans down. The pressure is there, but we will manage it,” he said.
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, playing at Kisumu Boys High School.
Pool B sees 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 advance to Saturday’s semi-finals, with winners progressing to Sunday’s final.
Off the pitch, Safaricom will run 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.
Nyanza recorded the second-highest number of team registrations this season after Rift Valley, with 559 teams signing up, comprising 401 boys’ and 158 girls’ teams.
Migori led registrations with 136 teams, followed by Homa Bay at 105, Kisumu at 103, Siaya at 76, Kisii at 73 and Nyamira at 66.
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