Safaricom launch Chapa Dimba contest.

Safaricom launch Chapa Dimba contest.

Telecommunications giant Safaricom and Football Kenya Federation (FKF) on Thursday unveiled a football competition dubbed Chapa Dimba na Safaricom, aimed at identifying young football talent across country.

During the launch at the Nairobi’s Railways Club, organizers said the competition set for September 2017 to March 2018, will target boys and girls aged 16-20 years playing with registered clubs.

Safaricom is set to spend KSh.100m to sponsor the tournament, half the total amount they channel towards sports activities, with the winner of the competition set to pocket KSh. 1 million each in both the girls and boys categories.

According to Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore, the process to nurture future footballers has to start from the grassroots and that is why they are investing heavily on the tournament.

“We are going to support kids from the ages of 16 -20 and hopefully we will deliver a lot of Victors (Victor Wanyama) and that’s why we chose him as our brand ambassador”, said Collymore.

Harambee Stars captain and Tottenham ace Victor Wanyama who attended the event, will be the competition’s brand ambassador. Wanyama lauded the initiative observing it will assist in tapping young talent across different parts of the country.

“During my time I didn’t get the opportunity that Safaricom has now brought forth. It is really great to see this because I believe with the system if we can run it for a long time, we can create a lot of stars  for the future,” offered Wanyama.

The winners of the tournament in both girls and boys categories are set to visit a youth academy in London, in April 2018 for one week training exposure.

Wanyama is confident the European tour will be a milestone in their football development.

“I think that is a good experience going outside the country. Every kid who plays football dreams of going to England to watch games or play so it should be a golden opportunity for them.

“Im looking forward to meet them over there,” added Wanyama.

Besides visiting the academy, the teams will attend one English Premier League match in London.

The competition will begin from the grassroots across eight regions (the former provinces), before champions from the regions meeting in one venue for knockout matches through to the finals.

“We will spend the whole of July sorting out any issue and we will have a committee of dispute at every level. We will also institute an appeals committee to handle any arising complaints”, charged FKF president Nick Mwendwa.

Report by Gilbert Kiprotich.

Tags:

kenya Safaricom FKF Competition Chapa Dimba Mugubi Talent Tournament Victor

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