The Chapa Dimba na Safaricom youth tournament will climax this week as Meru County plays host to the national finals.
Sixteen teams — eight male and seven female — drawn from across the eight regions of Kenya received mentorship and training on life skills from renowned Kenyan football stars Ronald Okoth and Doreen Nabwire, former coach and Harambee Starlets player.
The games will kick-off on Thursday with the quarter-finals set be played at Kinoru Stadium and Meru showground.
“We started the tournament with over 1,600 teams back in September last year, got the best 32 regional players who trained in Spain for a period of 10 days and now we are looking forward to seeing the best 15 sides in action battling it out for the top spot,” said Sylvia Mulinge, chief customer officer, Safaricom.
In the boys’ quarter-finals, Lugari Blue Saints from Western will face Super Solico from Eastern as Euronuts from Central take on Nyanza champions Manyatta United.
In the other quarter-finals games, Berlin FC from North Eastern will play Al Ahly from Rift Valley as Shimanzi Youth from Coast take on Nairobi’s South B United.
In the girls’ category, Acakoro Ladies from Nairobi will play Ndhiwa Queens from Nyanza as St Marys’ Ndovea from Eastern face Barcelona Ladies from Central.
Arch Bishop Njenga from Western and Kitale Queens from Rift Valley will also battle for a place in the last four. Changamwe Ladies from Coast got a wave to the semis as there was no girls’ team from North Eastern.
The 32 players who trained in Spain for 10 days have already rejoined their teams and are expected to be key in assisting their respective teams clinch the top spot.
The finals will be graced by legendary Spanish footballer and former Liverpool and Barcelona winger Luis Javier Garcia who is also La Liga ambassador.
Teams that qualify for the semifinals are set to pocket Sh250,000 each, while the finalists will take home Sh500,000.
The overall winners in each category will receive Sh1 million among other individual prizes.
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