Uasin Gishu County Under 19 team have shifted their focus to the Safaricom Chapa Dimba finals after suffering defeats in the Talanta Hela U-19 national tournament match played on Monday 4 December. They ended their pool campaign at third position after a 0-2 loss to Kiambu.They were placed in Pool D which saw them lock horns with Kiambu, Nakuru, and Makueni. They started with a 1-1 draw against Nakuru, before sharing 2-2 spoils with Makueni. Nakuru topped the pool with seven points while Makueni came in second with six points. Uasin Gishu occupied third position with five points, with Kiambu closing the standings without a point.Makueni and Nakuru have booked their slot in the tournament’s quarterfinal.Speaking to Mozzart Sport, head coach Fredrick Owino pointed out that overconfidence lost them the quarterfinal slot. The tactician noted that they would go back to the drawing board and sharpen their claws to emerge winners of the upcoming Chapa Dimba na Safaricom tournament. “Having beaten Nakuru 4-1 in Nyeri they underrated them while our opponents came in for a fight,” Owino said.The coach who also guided them to win the Safaricom Chapa Dimba Rift Valley title explained that they missed the open chances, an area that their opponents capitalized on. “The boys got several chances but they didn’t convert them to goals. We learned much and as we prepare for Chapa Dimba nationals we’ll rectify for better performance,” he posited.The ball is now on their Uasin Gishu ladies’ court to represent the county at the highest level possible. The ladies started their campaign with a well-worked 4-0 victory over Kitui to start their hunt on a positive note. They qualified for the quarterfinals and will square off with West Pokot ladies.”We turn our focus on the girls’ quarterfinals against West Pokot.,” Owino told Mozzart Sport. All set for Chapa Dimba Eastern Regional finals at Kinoru in Meru##NAJAVA_MECA_7722042##In other ladies’ matches, Nandi shared spoils with Kwale while Machakos narrowly defeated Nakuru 1-0.Kisumu also picked a healthy victory on the opening day of their group stage matches, thrashing home girls Nairobi 8-0, while Nyeri thrashed Samburu 6-1.The stage for the national finals was set following a draw held by the Ministry of Sports on Thursday night at the Talanta Plaza headquarters in Nairobi, where 16 boys and 16 girls teams were divided into four groups of four, a fortnight after the inter-county playoffs staged at the Moi Complex Primary School in Nyeri.After group phase two top teams from each group will advance to the round of 16.Preliminary matches will be staged at Kirigiti, Jamhuri Grounds, Moi Stadium, Kasarani with the final slated for December 12 at the Nyayo National Stadium. The winners will pocket a Ksh 5 million as prize money. Men’s PoolsPool A: Garissa, Kericho, Vihiga, Homabay Pool B: Nyeri, Baringo, Kisumu, Nyamira.Pool C: Mombasa, Marsabit, West Pokot, Kirinyaga Pool D: Kiambu, Nakuru, Uasin Gishu, MakueniWomen’s PoolsPool A: Kakamega, Kwale, Busia, Nandi Pool B: Wajir, West Pokot, Homabay, Kisii.Pool C: Nyeri, Samburu, Kisumu, Nairobi Pool D: Kiambu, Machakos, Uasin Gishu, and Nakuru
