Football Federation of Kenya (FKF) Tharaka Nithi Chairman Mbogo Nthiga has called on football clubs, teams and institutions across the county to register for the fourth edition of the Safaricom Chapa Dimba competition.
The FKF Chairman noted that low turn outs were witnessed in the early stages of the previous editions, urging schools and institutions to register their teams as the tournament makes a return after a three-year break due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
“We need as many teams as possible. This is an opportunity for our players to be scouted and picked to join top level football clubs”, he said.
Safaricom Chapa Dimba aims to provide a platform for scouts and coaches to tap into new talent and build feeder systems for the Kenyan leagues across the country, while also training a total of 250 coaches.
The telecommunications company has injected over KShs 400 million to support the tournament that will see 32 young players from the tournament scouted to the national team and get an opportunity to visit Spain for a 10-day training boot camp.
Safaricom is also set to offer TVET educational scholarships to 150 players that will go to the best boy and girl player in every county, as well as members of the winning girls’ and boys’ teams at the national finals.
KShs 20 million will go towards rewarding the winning boys’ and girls’ teams in the county, regional and national finals.
2 boys and 2 girls will be scouted during each of the regional finals, as part of the 32-player team that will get an opportunity to visit Spain for a 10-day training boot camp, with two players (boy and girl) getting international placement in a youth team in Spain.
Tharaka Nithi teams have up to 22nd July to register with forms available on the Safaricom website: www.chapadimba.safaricom.co.ke.
The tournament is open to both boys’ and girls’ teams between the ages of 16-20, with the competition set to kickstart at constituency level.
Winning teams at the counties will compete at the newly introduced inter-county level for a place at the regionals.
The national finals will be held on 14th January 2024.
