By Peter Ochieng
Curtains of the Safaricom Chapa Dimba season four came down in Kisumu on Sunday, with Obunga FC being crowned the boys’ champions.
Kisumu county’s Obunga FC beat Uasin Gishu’s PASC Langa Sports 4-2 via post match penalties, after 1-1 all draw in the pulsating final staged at the Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium, in Mamboleo, on Sunday afternoon.
Obunga scored first before Langa equalised, but nothing could separate the sides before spot kicks were taken.
It was a good day in office for Kisumu sides. Before Obunga won the boys’ contest, Nyakach Ladies alias Plateau Queens had brushed aside Central’s Barcelona Ladies 4-0 in the Ladies’ final at the same venue.
Plateau Queens won the season one Safaricom Chapa Dimba girls’ final, which means they are the most successful team in the tournament so far.
Obunga FC stormed into the final, after crushing Mombasa county’s Bandari Youth 2-0 in one of the semi final clashes, with Collins Otieno and Armstrong Omondi getting on the score sheet.
In another semi final, PASC Langa Sports beat Vihiga county’s Ebwali Boys FC 4-0.
Plateau Queens roared to the finals after beating Brenda Girls from Bungoma county 5-1 in the semifinals.
Barcelona Ladies from Central, on the other hand made it to the finals after edging out Trans Nzoia-based and Rift Valley giants, Wiyeta Girls 2-1.
The winning teams in the national finals (Obunga and Plateau Queens) pocketed Sh1 million in cash, with the runners-up (Langa and Barcelona Ladies) taking home Sh500,000 respectively.
The four semifinalists (Ebwali Boys, Bandari Youth, Brenda Girls and Wiyeta Girls) have already been awarded with250,000 each.
In addition to the prize money, each player, both winners, runners-up, will also get Neon Smartphones, the first locally assembled 4G smartphone in Kenya.
The outstanding players, including the Best Goalkeeper, Top Scorer, and Most Valuable Player (boys and girls), will each receive Sh50,000.
Safaricom Chapa Dimba made a comeback in 2023, having been played last in 2019.
The tournament took a corona virus instigated break after the 2019 finals.
