Safaricom Chapa Dimba Season Five Kicks Off as More Than 3,100 Teams Register
By Kass Digital | NAIROBI,
The fifth season of the Safaricom Chapa Dimba football tournament has officially begun, with grassroots matches getting underway across Western Kenya after attracting more than 3,100 teams from across the country.
Nationwide, organisers say the tournament has attracted 3,178 registered teams, 2,367 boys’ teams and 811 girls’ teams surpassing the target of 3,000 teams and reflecting growing interest in grassroots football across the country.
The opening fixtures, played on Saturday, June 27, saw 521 teams from Kakamega, Busia, Vihiga and Bungoma counties take part in the first round. The teams include 340 boys’ sides and 181 girls’ teams, marking an increase in participation from the previous season.
Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa said the increasing number of registrations reflects the tournament’s growing impact on grassroots football development, adding that the competition continues to provide young players with opportunities to showcase their talent.
Defending Western regional champions Ebwali Boys from Vihiga County and Brenda Girls from Bungoma County are among the teams returning to the competition with hopes of retaining their titles.
The tournament will progress through ward, sub-county, county and regional stages before the national finals, where winners in both the boys’ and girls’ categories will each receive KSh1 million.
In addition to prize money, 150 outstanding players will earn fully funded tertiary education scholarships under the Safaricom Citizens of the Future programme, while the best performers will also be selected to represent Kenya at the Gothia Cup in Sweden.
