Safaricom and the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) have launched the fourth edition of the Safaricom Chapa Dimba football tournament after a three-year break. The launch event was held at Camp Toyoyo in Jericho, Nairobi County. During the launch, Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa announced that the telco has pledged more than Ksh 400 million to support the tournament, which will take place from June 2023 to January 2024. The tournament will be held at both grassroots and national levels throughout the country.
The objective of Safaricom Chapa Dimba is to establish a structured platform for scouts and coaches to discover fresh talent and create feeder systems for Kenyan leagues nationwide. Additionally, the initiative aims to train a total of 250 coaches.
“We are proud to announce the return of Safaricom Chapa Dimba after a three-year break due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Previous seasons of the tournament have been a huge success, and we intend to enrol even more participants this season. Football is a beautiful game that brings people together. Its popularity cuts across ethnic lines and social status and is a powerful tool for social change, inclusion, and respect,” said Mr Ndegwa.
“We are equally happy to announce that 32 young players from the tournament will be scouted to the national team and get an opportunity to visit Spain for a 10-day training boot camp. In this new season, courtesy of Safaricom and M-PESA Foundations, we shall also offer TVET educational scholarships to 150 players that will go to the best boy and girl player in every county, as well as members of the winning girls’ and boys’ teams at the national finals. We look forward to forging deeper connections with our customers and showcasing our commitment to transforming lives.” said Mr Ndegwa.
The tournament will award the winning boys’ and girls’ teams in the county, regional, and national finals with a total prize money of Ksh 20 million, double the amount from the previous year. During each of the regional finals, the two best football players (one boy and one girl) will be identified and selected to form an All-Star team, with the opportunity to participate in a 10-day training boot camp in Spain. Two players (one boy and one girl) will also be granted international placement in a youth team in Spain.
Throughout the tournament, Safaricom will interact with communities across Kenya by conducting free medical camps, organizing financial and digital literacy clinics in partnership with key stakeholders, and offering various promotions for Safaricom products and services.
“I want to laud Safaricom for supporting various sports developments in our country. Previous editions of Safaricom Chapa Dimba have helped us recruit new, talented players for our clubs and the national teams. We are happy to see the return of the tournament. I believe and hope that this season will be even more exciting and impactful,” said Nick Mwendwa, President of the Football Kenya Federation (FKF).
Safaricom Chapa Dimba was first launched in 2017 to give young people between the ages of 16-20 years a platform to showcase their talent and get rewarded for their passion. The tournament has become a much sought-after event by local and international scouts seeking new, talented footballers.
The tournament has produced many talented players such as Benson Omalla of Gor Mahia, currently a top scorer in the Kenya Premier League; David Majak of Tusker FC; Jentrix Shikangwa of Simba Queens in Tanzania; Jane Njeri, Cynthia Livondo, and Judith Osimbo among others.
The tournament will be open to both boys’ and girls’ teams. It will kick off with a national registration exercise from 1st May 2023 in Nairobi, Eastern, Western, Nyanza, Rift, Coast, Central, and North Eastern regions.
Registration forms will be available on the Safaricom website: www.chapadimba.safaricom.co.ke. The group stages will be played at the grassroots level, with successful teams qualifying for the regional finals across the eight regions.
This year’s tournament will kick off on 3rd June 2023 in Western Kenya, with the national finals to be held on 14th January 2024.
