Kenya’s biggest grassroots youth football tournament returns this weekend as the fifth season of Safaricom Chapa Dimba kicks off with matches across Western Kenya, following record team registrations from across the country.
The opening round begins on Saturday, June 27, with 521 teams taking part across Kakamega, Busia, Vihiga and Bungoma counties. The teams include 340 boys’ teams and 181 girls’ teams, marking a notable increase from the previous season.
Nationwide, the tournament has attracted 3,178 teams, comprising 2,367 boys’ teams and 811 girls’ teams, surpassing the organisers’ target of 3,000 teams.
Speaking ahead of the opening matches, Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa said the high number of registrations reflects the tournament’s growing role in nurturing young football talent across the country.
“Every season, we are seeing more teams, more talent and more success stories emerge from communities across Kenya,” Ndegwa said, adding that teams that missed out this year would have another opportunity to compete in future editions.
Among the returning sides are last season’s Western regional champions, Ebwali Boys from Vihiga County and Brenda Girls from Bungoma County, who will be looking to defend their titles.
“We are excited to have Safaricom Chapa Dimba back. Last season, I led Ebwali FC to become regional champions, and I was proud to see players like Austine Odongo, Derrick Oketch and Edwin Onyango progress to the All-Star team that travelled to Spain. This year, I return with a new team, confident they will perform well and attract interest from national league clubs,” said Francis Muhambe, Head Coach of Vihiga Cranes.
Teams that advance from the ward-level matches will progress through the sub-county, county, regional and national stages of the competition.
The national champions in both the boys’ and girls’ categories will each receive KES 1 million. Additional prizes will also be awarded at the county and regional levels, alongside individual awards for the Most Valuable Player, Top Scorer and Best Goalkeeper.
Beyond the competition, the tournament will also support education. Safaricom said 150 outstanding players identified from the county to national stages will receive fully funded tertiary education scholarships through the Safaricom Citizens of the Future programme.
The scholarships will cover tuition fees, accommodation and a monthly upkeep stipend, allowing beneficiaries to pursue courses of their choice at public tertiary institutions across the country.
Outstanding players will also form an All-Stars team that will represent Kenya at the Gothia Cup in Sweden, the world’s largest youth football tournament. The team will compete against top international talent while gaining exposure to scouts, academies and professional clubs.
Since its launch in 2017, Safaricom Chapa Dimba has grown into one of Kenya’s largest grassroots football programmes, producing players who have gone on to feature in local leagues, national teams and international clubs. The tournament has also created pathways to education and professional football for young players across the country.
