The fourth edition of the Safaricom Chapa Dimba Eastern Region football tournament was launched on Wednesday at Meru town with the finals scheduled on Saturday, 9th, and Sunday, 10th December 2023, at Kinoru Stadium in Meru County.
The Fourth Edition aiming at unearthing talents among youths will go hand in hand with a series of community engagement drives seeking to transform the lives of the locals in the region.
According to a press statement by Safaricom Business lead, Mt Kenya region James Mutisya, the initiatives will include free Digital and Financial Literacy training, a collaborative effort between Safaricom and Britam Insurance Company.
“This training is designed for Boda Boda riders, vendors, small business operators, shopkeepers, and others who are Safaricom customers in the region. The training’s primary objective is to impart knowledge that fosters a culture of saving and enhances preparedness for credit and investment opportunities,” Mutisya noted in his statement.
He additionally noted that they will offer football clinics for the players and coaches that will feature valuable lessons in skill development, social values, teamwork, and leadership. According to him, the clinic will enable coaches to gain insights into effective training methods, tactical approaches, and ways to motivate and communicate with players.
Mutisya further stated that Safaricom will train players and coaches on newly introduced GPS Sports Vests, which are AI-powered to improve players’ performance and open up scouting opportunities.
“The GPS vests are used to capture data about players, including total distance, speed, power plays, and power scores, among others. This allows players to understand their strengths and weaknesses, identify areas for improvement, and more,” he added.
This will be the second time Safaricom will be hosting Chapa Dimba tournament at Kinoru stadium after successfully hosting the national finals in 2018.
This year’s edition comes after a three-year interruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The prize for the overall winners has however doubled from Sh10 million to Sh20 Million.
150 Scholarships to TVET colleges will also go to top talent best boy and girl players from every county and the winning girls and boys team at the National finals.
According to Safaricom the best football players that is, two boys and two girls, will be scouted during each of the regional finals, to form an All-Star team that will get an opportunity to visit Spain for a 10-day training boot camp, with two players, a boy, and a girl, getting international placement in a youth team in Spain.
Additionally, the most disciplined team will take home Sh100,000, while the best girl player, girl top Scorer and girl best keeper will take home KES 50,000 each.
