The Safaricom Chapa Dimba football tourney kicked off over the weekend with a total of 440 teams taking part in the fourth edition. Matches were played on Saturday and Sunday at different venues in Kakamega, Vihiga, Busia and Bungoma County . The preliminaries stage matches will usher in Sub county finals to get an overall representative of the constituency to the county competitions.Kakamega County Green Commandos started the hunt for county slot on a high note flooring Shikoye United one goal to nil before bagging freebies aganist Bukura All Stars who failed to show up for the match. Brigade FC also had a perfect weekend winning all their three matches to book a slot in Lurambi semi finals . In pool C , Maraba Elites battled Sevilla FC and Kwarula Youngsters to stay afloat in the standings and boost chances of grabbing the coveted county ticket. Elsewhere, in Butere Sub county, organizers had a rough time after majority of the participants pulled out of the completion due to the on going School ball games. However, Shianda Rangers and Emashere Youngsters braved stiff opposition in their pools to book a slot in finals with the winner representing the Tindi Mwale governed constituency at the county . At Khwisero, a total of eight teams showed interest in the competition, resulting in two pools of four teams each. After two days of dancing on the green grass, Green Buffaloes and Stingers FC emerged victories in their groupings and will go head to head with county slot up for grabs. In Likuyani, Greenfield FC and Mawe Tatu FC had a field day picking maximum points to take control of the groupings heading into final round. However, Dreamers FC never showed up despite registering for the multi million youth tournament. Forest Machines, Muhomo FC and Munyuki FC, outshined their opponents in Lugari and head into the final matches buoyant of a semi final place. The group stages of #SafaricomChapaDimba kicked off this weekend in the Western region with thrilling games that unfolded across Bungoma, Vihiga, Busia, and Kakamega counties. #ChezaKamaWewe pic.twitter.com/J3tpuJe4r6— Safaricom PLC (@SafaricomPLC) July 10, 2023 Munyuki FC had the biggest win of the weekend humbling Marrum FC four goals to nil in a match played at Lumakanda TTC. Forest Machines also registered a heavy win demolishing Talent Academy Marakusi 3-0. At Shamoni Grounds, Chevoso United defeated Manguliro Secondary School 4-1 to emerge victories in pool C of Malava sub county and join Lugusi Boys FC and Lwanda United in the race to Safaricom Chapa Dimba county bonanza. Mumias East had the lowest turn out with eight academies showing up – The Menace and Mahola Green FC topped the respective groups to advance to the next stage. The Rock Saints and Ichinga Muslims carried the day in Mumias West Sub county to set a date for a final bonanza. Ikolomani, Shinyalu, Navakholo and Matungu sub counties preliminaries are set to kick off on Saturday 15th,2023 together with the ladies category group stage phase. Speaking after completion of Kakamega county round one matches, Chapa Dimba na Safaricom Kakamega coordinator Naaman Amboko termed the event a success though faulted the high number of schools dropping out of the tourney.” It was was great witnessing raw talents on display, everything went on to plan though most of schools withdrew citing participation in school games, hopefully,next weekend we have all team’s turning up. ” He said. Vihiga County Ebwali Boys battered Simba FC and Ebulonga Stars in matches played at Ebusiratsi Primary School Grounds to book a ticket in Emuhaya sub county finals aganist Bafana Bafana who won on 6-5 on post match penalties over Emanyinga.Luanda Strikers, Original FC and Ekwanda Secondary School will battle for the county ticket after emerging top of Luanda constituency matches. On Sunday, Virembo, Shariringa, Bumuyange Forces, Zion and Sharks grabbed semi finals slots in Hamisi after an impressive run in group stages.Other teams that have advanced to the next level of the tournament are Kigama Boys who floored Green Ford three goals to nil and Chavakali High who had a perfect run in their pool battering Eroja Dragons and Busali Union. Speaking after the matches, Vihiga county coordinator James Omondi hailed the competition for unearthing talents from the ward level. ” Eagerly awaited this tourney and it is important cog in unearthing talent from the ward level. As a former international I believe if documented well we will have a pool of players from U16 to U19 and it will help us as a country to easily get age group teams,” said Omondi.Safaricom Chapa Dimba preliminary stages continue over the weekend with County finals set for August.
