By Peter Ochieng
Curtains of the Safaricom Chapa Dimba season four come down in Kisumu on Sunday, with new champions set to be crowned in the boys’ and girls’ categories.
Kisumu county’s Obunga FC will be depending on home support to propel them to the boy’s title, when they square it out with PASC Langa Sports from Uasin Gishu county in the final.
The final will be played at the Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium Mamboleo on Sunday afternoon, shortly after the girls’ final.
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.
The side’s coach, Evans Oketch applauded Bandari for being a worthy opponent.
“Bandari Youth proved to be a formidable opponent, offering us a worthy challenge in today’s semifinal match. They held us to a goalless draw in the first half, but we adjusted our strategy and formation in the second half, prioritizing aggressive attacks and solid defense. This tactical shift ultimately paid off, allowing us to secure a narrow victory,” he said.
In another semi final, PASC Langa Sports beat Vihiga county’s Ebwali Boys FC 4-0.
The boys’ final will be preceded by the girls’ final pitting the Nyanza region reigning champions and the season one national champions, Plateau Queens, well known as Nyakach Girls against Laikipia’s Barcelona Ladies Sports Club.
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 will pocket Sh1 million in cash, with the runners-up 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.