Musokoto Boys and Chakol Girls Secondary Schools have been crowned champions of the fifth edition of the Safaricom Chapa Dimba Busia County football tournament.
Musokoto Secondary School defeated Malaba Homeboyz 2-0 to lift the boys’ title, while Chakol Girls edged Falcons queens 1-0 to capture the girls’ trophy.
The two teams will represent Busia County at the Safaricom Chapa Dimba Western Regional Finals, scheduled to take place later this month in Kakamega County.
More than 95 teams from across Busia County participated in this year’s tournament, with organizers expressing optimism that even more teams will take part in the next edition.
Safaricom Company Limited awarded the two county champions Sh75,000 each for winning their respective titles.
The runners-up, Malaba Homeboyz and Falcon queens, each received Sh30,000.
The telecommunications company also recognized outstanding individual performers by awarding prizes to the best goalkeepers, top scorers, and the tournament’s Most Valuable Players (MVPs).
Naboh Ochieng of Musokoto Secondary School was named the best goalkeeper in the boys’ category and received Sh10,000, while Vivian Abutur of Falcon Queens won the girls’ best goalkeeper award and also received Sh10,000.
Tom Okutui of Musokoto Secondary School emerged as the top scorer in the boys’ category and received Sh10,000. Mishel Amaase was named the top scorer in the girls’ category and also walked away with Sh10,000.
Elvis Ongiro of Musokoto Secondary School and Marilyne Nafula of Falcon Queens were named the tournament’s Most Valuable Players. Each received Sh10,000 and was also considered for Safaricom’s education scholarship programme.
Speaking during the award ceremony at Malaba Primary School on Sunday, Safaricom Busia Territory Manager, Lichin Obiero, said the championship, now in its fifth edition, aims to identify and nurture football talent at the grassroots.
“As Safaricom, we have come to the grassroots to help nurture the talents of young people in our communities,” he said.
Obiero noted that the Safaricom Chapa Dimba championship has created opportunities for many talented young footballers by exposing them to scouts who identify promising players for higher levels of competition.
“There are players who have started their journey through this tournament and progressed to bigger leagues after their talents were identified and nurtured,” he said.
He expressed optimism that several players from Busia County would be identified during this year’s competition and given opportunities to further develop their football careers.
Obiero said Safaricom would continue organizing the championship in the coming years to provide more young people with opportunities to develop their talents through competitive football.
Busia County Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Chairman, Eugene Okello Omudek, commended Safaricom for sustaining the initiative and pledged the federation’s continued support in organizing future championships.
He said the tournament has become an important platform for identifying and nurturing football talent among young players in the county.
By Moses Wekesa
