Top prize at stake as curtains come down on Chapa Dimba

A total of 15 teams from the eight regions formerly known as provinces will take part in the Safaricom Chapa Dimba national finals slated for March 22 at Bukhungu Stadium and Kakamega High School.

The Chapa Dimba tournament director Chris Amimo said that he is delighted with the integral role the event has played in identifying young talents across the 47 counties.

“When we began Chapa Dimba last year we had no idea what it would turn out like but many months down the line there is a big milestone,” he said. “We have been to each county and we have played 3,000 games and 25,000 registered players in our database have taken part in this event and every team that participated in this tournament will receive a ball and other playing equipment,” Amimo said at a press conference in Nairobi.

Each region, apart from North Eastern, will be represented by two teams; male and female.

North Eastern, according to tournament organisers, will not produce a female team due to cultural issues which don’t allow girls to play football.

The Nairobi region representatives however will be known  this Saturday when her regional semifinalists lock horns to get the final two winners (both male and female)  at the Stima Club, along Thika Road.It is the winners of the looming weekend showdown who will earn the ticket to carry Nairobi’s flag to the finals.

FKF president Nick Mwendwa who also graced the ceremony gave the Chapa Dimba organizers a thumbs-up for executing the project, adding that some of the talents tapped from the competition could, in future, be national team players.

Mwendwa also said that the federation is looking forward to extending its partnerships with Safaricom for another five years, as they lay the foundation for proper talent identification with the long-term goal of producing top football talents.

The winners from the national finals will receive Sh 1 million and an opportunity to go for a training camp in London in April.