Nyanza region secured a double victory at the 2024 Safaricom Chapa Dimba finals, held at a packed Jomo Kenyatta Stadium in Kisumu on Sunday.
After thrilling encounters, the region’s boys’ and girls’ teams emerged as champions.
Obunga FC Clinch Boys’ Title in Penalty Shootout Drama
The boys’ final between Nyanza’s Obunga FC and Rift Valley’s PASC Langa was a nail-biter.
After a dominant first half for Obunga FC, with George Ogutu scoring an early goal (6th minute), PASC Langa equalized in the 77th minute following a mistake by goalkeeper William Odek.
The score remained tied 1-1 at the end of regulation time, forcing a penalty shootout.
Odek emerged as the hero, saving two crucial penalties for Obunga FC.
Meanwhile, his teammates persevered, converting all four attempts from the spot. This dramatic penalty shootout victory secured Obunga FC the Chapa Dimba trophy, sparking jubilation amongst their home fans.
“Firstly, I want to express my gratitude to God for our victory today and for emerging as the national champions. Competing in this tournament for the first time and clinching the national trophy was no small feat. It was a highly intense and challenging game, especially with a big number of fans. I extend heartfelt thanks to Safaricom for organizing such an incredible tournament. I am immensely grateful to my team and our supporters for believing in us,” said Evans Oketch, head coach of Obunga FC.
Nyanza Representatives Obunga FC are the 2024 #SafaricomChapaDimba boys champions after edging out Rift Valley’s PASC Langa 4-2 on post match penalties. pic.twitter.com/M7LvP7XaL0
— Alex Isaboke (@alexisaboke) April 14, 2024
Plateau Queens Dominate Girls’ Final
Nyanza’s dominance extended to the girls’ category, with Plateau Queens (also known as Nyakach Girls) thrashing Barcelona Ladies from Central 4-0.
Lethal forward Emily Moraa Morang’a opened the scoring for Nyakach Girls in the 38th minute, followed by a quickfire double from Swaum Masungo just after halftime (47th minute).
Maureen Atieno added a third with a spectacular backflip goal in the 56th minute. Masungo sealed the win with another goal two minutes before stoppage time.
“As a team, we are happy to emerge as champions in this fourth edition of the Safaricom Chapa Dimba tournament. We first lifted the trophy during the inaugural edition, and today’s win is a clear mark of how we value this tournament, which is geared towards showcasing and nurturing many young talents in this country. I want to thank Safaricom, our fans and my players for making it happen,” said Christine Odindo head Coach of Plateau Queens.
The presence of dignitaries, including Kisumu Governor Anyang Nyong’o, Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa, and Football Kenya Federation boss Nick Mwendwa, further amplified the celebratory atmosphere.
This double victory for Nyanza at the Safaricom Chapa Dimba finals is a testament to the region’s exceptional talent and dedication of young footballers.
The national champions (Obunga FC and Plateau Queens) pocketed KES 1 million in cash and TVET scholarships for each player. The runners-up, PASC Langa FC and Barcelona Ladies SC, each took home KES 500,000.
The four semifinalists (Ebwali Boys, Bandari Youth FC, Brenda Girls, and Wiyeta Girls) were also each awarded KES 250,000.
In addition to the prize money, each player, both winners and runners-up, also got 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), received KES. 50,000.
With the national finals done and dusted, the All-Star team comprising the Most Valuable Players (MVPs) is now preparing to head to Spain for a two-week football boot camp and training.
