All roads lead to Bomu Stadium this weekend for the Chapa Dimba na Safaricom Coast regional finals

It goes without saying that final of a football tournament is the most exciting part. Nothing beats the feeling of seeing the best teams going up against each other. It’s quite an experience!

The same case applies to Chapa Dimba, a tournament that was started by Safaricom with the aim of transforming the lives of boys and girls, aged between 16 and 20, by giving them a chance to earn from something that they are passionate about – football.

Kitale Queens celebrate after winning the girls’ regional finals (Rift Valley)

1600 teams all over the country registered for the competition. This number has been whittled down at every stage as we draw closer to the national finals which will be played on 8th and 9th June at Kinoru Stadium.

The tournament is currently in the regional finals stage. At this stage, 8 teams, 4 girls’ teams and 4 boys’ teams, take on each other for a chance represent the region in the national finals and walk away with a large sum of money.

The regional finals began in Western where Blue Saints and Bishop Njenga Girls, both from Lugari, were crowned winners. It then moved to Nyanza where Manyatta Boys and Ndhiwa Queens emerged the best of the best in the region.

It then went to Eastern where Supersolico from Mwingi and St Mary’s Ndovea from Makueni secured a chance to represent the region in the finals. Rift Valley was next where Al-Ahly and Kitale Queens secured a chance to represent the region in the finals.

After Western, Nyanza, Eastern and Rift Valley, all roads lead to Bomu Stadium in Changamwe on April 6th and 7th for the Coast regional finals.

The boys’ semis will see Mombasa’s Shimanzi Youth play Kaloleni United while Kilifi’s Matsangaoni boys will take on Maweni United from Malindi. The girls’ semis will have Changamwe Ladies from Mombasa face Kwale Starlets as Matsangaoni Ladies from Kilifi play Malindi’s Solwogidi.

The winner for both the girls’ and boys’ teams will pocket KSh. 200,000, while the runners up will take home KSh. 100,000. The best player, top scorer and best keeper will each pocket KSh. 30,000.

After the Coast, Chapa Dimba will head to Nairobi, Central, North Eastern before culminating in Meru where the where the national winner for both the girls’ and boys’ teams will each get KSh 1 million, while the runners up will pocket KSh. 500,000.

Two boy best players and two girl best players from each region will also be selected to form an all-star team that will be sponsored on a 10-day trip to Spain where they will play La Liga academies and access world-class training facilities.

Turn out in large numbers and support your favourite teams at Bomu Stadium this weekend. You can also follow the conversation on social media #ChapaDimbaNaSafaricom.

Watch the video below and see how Chapa Dimba has transformed Brian Lumumba’s life.

About this writer:

David Kingsley

Comme ci, comme ça [email protected]