Tharaka Nithi’s pride, Chuka University Scorpions, and their female counterparts, Chuka University Starlets, have clinched victories, earning them coveted spots in the Chapa Dimba regional finals scheduled for Sunday, December 10th, at Kinoru Stadium.
The Scorpions, exhibiting resilience, triumphed over Machakos Boys in a nail-biting encounter, securing a 5-4 victory in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw in regular time. Robinson Muriira put the Scorpions in the lead in the 33rd minute, countered by Augustino Maya’s equalizer in the 38th minute.
In the girls showdown, Chuka Starlets, last edition’s finalists, sealed a 1-0 win against Saku Queens from Marsabit, with Beth Kathomi converting a penalty in the 54th minute. Their opponents in the finals will be Syomunyu Secondary School from Kitui, who dominated Mavoko Starlets 3-0 in the opening match.
Esther Robi, the head coach of Chuka Starlets, expressed confidence in their upcoming final against Syomunyu Girls, aiming for victory to represent the Eastern region in the national finals.
The finals promise intense competition, as the winners (both boys and girls) will not only bag KES. 250,000 but also secure a position in the national finals. The runners-up will each receive KES. 150,000 while individual achievements in categories such as Best Goalkeeper, Top Scorer, and Most Valuable Player (for both boys and girls) will be rewarded with KES. 30,000 each.
Adding to the excitement, all players, winners, and runners-up alike, will be rewarded with Neon Smartphones, the first locally assembled 4G smartphone in Kenya.
The Safaricom Chapa Dimba Eastern region showcased remarkable talent, featuring teams from eight counties: Isiolo, Marsabit, Machakos, Makueni, Kitui, Embu, Tharaka Nithi, and Meru.
