Awendo Football Academy and Plateau Queens of Migori and Kisumu Counties have been crowned the boys’ and girls’ champions, respectively, after winning the Safaricom Chapa Dimba Season Five Nyanza Regional Finals, held at the Jomo Kenyatta Stadium in Kisumu on Sunday.
Awendo Football Academy secured its maiden Nyanza regional title after thrashing Siaya’s Indomitable Soldiers 4-0 in the boys’ final on Sunday, while Plateau Queens retained the girls’ title for a third consecutive time after defeating Homa Bay-based Hedso Queens 4-0.
Awendo Football Academy and Plateau Queens each received Sh250,000 for winning their respective regional titles and secured qualification to represent Nyanza at the national finals. The runners-up, Indomitable Soldiers and Hedso Queens, each received Sh150,000.
Awendo dominated the boys’ final, with Kevin Mukaramoja scoring a hat-trick to lead his side to victory. Mukaramoja opened the scoring in the 23rd minute through a free kick before doubling Awendo’s advantage in the 28th minute.
Rayce Ochieng extended the lead in the 77th minute, while Mukaramoja completed his hat-trick in the 89th minute to seal the 4-0 victory.
The victory marked Awendo’s first Nyanza regional title after the Migori side had previously reached the regional final but failed to lift the trophy.
In the girls’ final, Plateau Queens continued their dominance of the competition with a 4-0 victory over Hedso Queens. Beryl Awuor, Emily Adhiambo, Joan Agola, and Velma Auma scored for Plateau Queens as the Kisumu side successfully defended its regional crown.
Plateau Queens had booked their place in the final after an emphatic 8-0 victory over Masosa Starlets in the semi-final, with Emily Adhiambo scoring a hat-trick, Beryl Awuor contributing two goals, while Melda Akinyi, Joan Agola, and Elizabeth Alpine also found the net.
Hedso Queens reached the final after defeating Otendo Comprehensive Starlets 4-0, with Khadija Furaha scoring twice and Michele Achieng and Saumu Chizi adding a goal each.
The regional competition brought together 12 county champions from the six Nyanza counties, with each county represented by a boys’ and girls’ team.
Kisumu was represented by Obunga FC and Plateau Queens, Migori by Awendo Football Academy and Oyugi Ogango Girls, Siaya by Indomitable Soldiers and Nyamira Starlets-Bondo, Homa Bay by Kendu Muslim and Hedso Queens, Kisii by Sameta High School and Otendo Comprehensive Starlets, and Nyamira by Nyaguku FC and Masosa Starlets.
The regional competition followed county-level championships, with the 12 teams progressing to the Nyanza showdown in Kisumu.
Nyanza recorded 559 team registrations for the current Chapa Dimba season, making it the second-highest participating region after Rift Valley. Of the registered teams, 401 were boys’ teams and 158 were girls’ teams.
The regional tournament began with inter-county play-offs before the top teams progressed to the semi-finals and eventually the finals.
Defending regional and national champions Obunga FC of Kisumu failed to retain the Nyanza title after losing 1-0 to Indomitable Soldiers in the semi-finals. Nelson Warambo scored the decisive goal in the 28th minute, sending the Siaya side into the final.
Awendo Football Academy also booked its place in the final after defeating Kendu Muslim 1-0, with Mukaramoja scoring the winner following a cross from Shaban Quimba.
In the girls’ semi-finals, Plateau Queens defeated Masosa Starlets 8-0, while Hedso Queens overcame Otendo Comprehensive Starlets 4-0 to set up the final.
Individual performers were also rewarded, with Kevin Mukaramoja and Emily Adhiambo taking the boys’ and girls’ top scorer awards, respectively.
Chris Georgian of Awendo Football Academy and Valarie Achieng of Plateau Queens were named the best goalkeepers, while Alex Ouma of Indomitable Soldiers and Imelda Akinyi of Plateau Queens were named the Most Valuable Players (MVPs), respectively.
Each individual award winner received Sh.30,000, while the two MVPs additionally received fully funded tertiary education scholarships under Safaricom’s Citizens of the Future Programme.
With the Nyanza regional finals concluded, Awendo Football Academy and Plateau Queens will now represent the region at the Chapa Dimba National Finals scheduled for early 2027. They join other regional qualifiers, including St. Joseph Starlets and LYSA from the Central Region, and Vihiga Cranes and Lugari Progressive from the Western Region.
The exact venue and date for the national finals have not yet been announced.
The competition now moves to the Eastern Region, with the regional finals set to be held in Embu.
Safaricom Chapa Dimba is a grassroots football tournament that provides young footballers with an opportunity to showcase their talent, compete at a high level, and pursue pathways into professional football.
The competition also incorporates activities aimed at supporting players beyond football, including training on areas such as mental health, data privacy, personal branding, and financial literacy. Global Positioning System (GPS) technology is also being used to support the identification and scouting of emerging talent.
Chapa Dimba is a platform that offers genuine opportunities to the Kenyan youth to realize their dreams on a global stage. Launched as the “Chapa Dimba na Safaricom” youth football tournament at the Nairobi Railway Grounds and designed to scout and nurture grassroots football talent among young players in Kenya.
It has progressed through multiple editions, expanding education scholarships and international exposure opportunities. The tournament targets young players aged 14 to 17 years, providing a platform through which talented players can gain exposure to scouts and potentially progress to professional football.
By Mabel Keya-Shikuku and Rose Anyul and Chrispine Onyango Oduor
