Safaricom Chapa Dimba Hosts Players’ Clinic In Nakuru Ahead Of The Rift Valley Region Final Matches
The clinics are geared towards empowering players and coaches with social skills, life skills, and financial management skills beyond the pitch.
NAKURU, Kenya- Safaricom hosted players’ and coaches’ clinics at Nakuru ASK Showground for the eight teams that are set to take part in this weekend’s Safaricom Chapa Dimba Rift Valley region final matches.
The clinic provided an opportunity to empower players and coaches with skills beyond the pitch, offering training on various aspects of life skills, social values, and financial management skills, amongst others. The clinic also delved into the significance of infusing technology in sports, training players on the use of Safaricom’s GPS Sports Vests which are AI-powered and meant to enhance players’ performance and improve player scouting process by collecting data and creating player profiles during matches, using globally recognized and accepted metrics.
The clinic is also a forum where players and coaches are taken through the tournament’s regulations as they are ushered into the regional final games.
This weekend, eight teams (four boys teams & four girls teams) will battle it out for the regional title, KES. 250,000 cash prize money and a chance to represent the Rift Valley region in the national finals.
The teams include Laiser Hill Academy from Kajiado, Mwenge FC from Nakuru, Ndura Sports from Trans Nzoia, and PASC Langa from Uasin Gishu in the boys’ category. The girls’ category will feature Trinity Mission Girls from Nakuru, Ol Melil Girls’ Secondary from Narok, Itigo Girls from Nandi, and Wiyeta Girls from Trans Nzoia County.
Opening the stage on Saturday will be the home team, Trinity Mission Girls against Nandi’s Itigo Girls. The second match will see Ndura FC (Trans Nzoia) take on PASC Langa (Uasin Gishu) in a boys’ semi-final.
In another action-packed match, the lethal striker Daisy Moraa will lead her side Ol-Melil FC (Narok) when they face off against the regional defending champions Wiyeta Girls (Trans Nzoia).
The climax of Saturday’s showdown will witness John Mwaura’s regional reigning champions Laiser Hill Academy (Kajiado), lock horns with the newly crowned Nakuru County Champions, Mwenge FC.
Laiser Hill booked their spot in the regional finals after edging out Ololulunga FC from Narok on 4-3 penalty shootouts in a tough match played at Silbwet in Bomet. Meanwhile, the host Mwenge FC had easily qualified after beating their opponents Lorubae FC from Samburu on a 4-0 score.
“Reaching the regional finals for the first time is a big achievement for us as a team. We know Laiser Hill is a tough team, but we are determined to beat them, claim the regional title, and proceed to the nationals. This is our home ground; hence, I urge our fans to come out in large numbers and support us,” said Michael Panchol, Assistant captain of Mwenge FC.
Teams that will emerge victorious in Saturday’s semi-finals will proceed to the finals on Sunday, 12th November, where each winning team (boys and girls) will take home KES. 250,000 and book a slot to represent the Rift region at the national finals set for early next year.
They will join Ebwali Boys and Brenda Girls from the Western region and Obunga FC and Plateau Queens alias Nyakach Girls from Nyanza, who have already booked their tickets to the national finals.
The runners-up teams will take home KES. 150,000 each. Outstanding players (both boys and girls) – The Best Goalkeeper, top scorer, and the Most Valuable Player (Golden Ball) will also receive KES. 30,000 each.
Safaricom Chapa Dimba aims to nurture young football talents by giving them a platform to showcase their talents and an opportunity to earn a decent livelihood.
