Preparations are in full swing for the Chapa Dimba Eastern Regional finals at Kinoru Stadium in Meru, Kenya. The event is set to take place this weekend, showcasing eight teams (four boys’ and four girls’ teams) competing for the regional title.
The winners in both categories will be awarded Ksh 250,000 each, while the runners-up will receive Ksh 150,000. Additionally, every player, whether winners or runners-up, will be presented with the Neon Ultra phone.
Kinoru Stadium in Meru County will host the tournament, starting with the Mavoko Starlets from Machakos facing Syomunyu Secondary from Kitui County in the girls’ category. The boys’ match will feature Garbatula United from Isiolo County against Predators from Embu.
Expressing readiness for the weekend action, Sean Opwora, Head Coach of Chuka University Scorpions, shared his team’s strategy for their match against Machakos Boys. Opwora emphasized the significance of winning to represent their county and the region in the national finals. He also expressed optimism about Chapa Dimba scouts possibly selecting some of his players for opportunities abroad.
Another exciting match will see Saku Queens from Marsabit competing against Chuka University Starlets in the second girls’ semifinals.
The highlight of Saturday’s schedule is the clash between Machakos Boys and Chuka University Scorpions, the champions of Tharaka Nithi County.
The tournament, which attracted 444 teams through grassroots, sub-county, county, and inter-county playoff games across the eight counties of the Eastern Region, aims to provide a structured platform for scouts and coaches to discover new talent.
As part of the initiative, players and coach clinics will be conducted, focusing on various aspects of the football tournament, including the use of GPS Sports Vests introduced by Safaricom to aid player scouting.
The finals on Sunday will determine the ultimate winners, with each victorious team (boys and girls) receiving Ksh 250,000 and earning a spot to represent the region in the national finals.
Runners-up will be awarded Ksh 150,000 each. Additionally, the Best Goalkeeper, Top Scorer, and Most Valuable (boys and girls) will each receive Ksh 30,000, and all players, both winners and runners-up, will receive Neon Smartphones.
Safaricom Chapa Dimba’s broader goal is to create a pathway for talent development, with the tournament targeting footballers aged between 16 and 20 years old.
