PASC Langa from Uasin Gishu County and Wiyeta Girls from Trans Nzoia County have been crowned the 2023 champions of the Safaricom Chapa Dimba Rift Valley region at the Nakuru Agricultural Society of Kenya (ASK) Showground on Sunday, November 12th, 2023.
PASC Langa edged out defending regional champions, Laiser Hill Academy from Kajiado County, 2-1of 2-1 in a fiercely contested final.
PASC Langa took the lead in the 58th minute, courtesy of a Samson Maina strike, before Benson Otieno doubled the score in the 67th minute from the spot. Joseph Oduor scored a consolation goal for Laiser Hill in the 89th minute.
“This is our second time participating in the Safaricom Chapa Dimba tournament. The first time, it was in 2017, where we were knocked out by Nakuru Allstar in the semi-finals. I am elated that today we have emerged the winners after edging out the regional defending champion for the first time and granting us an opportunity to represent the Rift Valley region at the national level. Our aim is to win the national title.” Said, Fredrick Owino, Head coach PASC Langa.
In the girls’ finals, Wiyeta Girls pipped Trinity Mission Girls from Nakuru County 1-0, to secure their second consecutive regional title.
The lone and decisive goal was scored by Margy Melitus, who connected a Lorine Ilavonga taken corner kick into the net with a header in the 69th minute.
Wiyeta celebrate after beating Nakuru’s Trinity Mission Girls 1-0 to retain the Safaricom Chapa Dimba tournament at Nakuru ASK Showground on Sunday, November 12th, 2023
PASC Langa and Wiyeta Girls had made it to the finals after edging their opponent Ndura FC from Trans Nzoia County 6-5 on penalties, and Ol Melil FC from Narok County 2-0, respectively in the semis on Saturday.
Elsewhere, Laiser Hill and Trinity Mission Girls had booked their slots to the regional finals after sinking Mwenge FC 4-1 and Itigo Girls 2-1, respectively in the semi-finals.
Both PASC Langa and Wiyeta Girls have each pocketed KES. 250,000, and will represent the Rift Valley region in the National finals slated for early next year. The runners-up, Laiser Hill and Trinity Mission, each took home KES. 150,000. The Most Valuable Player (MVP), Best Goalkeeper, and Top Scorer (boys and girls) each received KES. 30,000.
In addition to the grand prize, each player from the winning team took home a Neon Ultra phone, as the runners-up players each took home a Neon Smarter Phone.
They join Ebwali FC and Brenda Girls from Western and Obunga FC and Plateau Queens, also known as Nyakach Girls, who have already qualified for the next year’s national finals.
The tournament aims to provide a structured platform for scouts and coaches to tap into new talent and build feeder systems for the Kenyan football leagues across the country while also training a total of 250 coaches. The tournament targets footballers aged between 16 and 20 years old.
With the Rift Valley Region done and dusted, Safaricom Chapa Dimba next heads to the Eastern Region.
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