Safaricom Chapa Dimba regional final matches will be played at ASK Nakuru Showground with eight teams lining up for competition.
These include Laiser Hill Academy from Kajiado, Mwenge FC and Trinity Mission Girls from Nakuru, Ol Melil Girl’s Secondary from Narok, Wiyeta Girls and Ndura Sports both from Trans Nzoia, Itigo Girls from Nandi and PASC Langa FC from Uasin Gishu County.
Safaricom PLC Chief Executive Officer, Peter Ndegwa said Safaricom Chapa Dimba 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.
He said a total of 250 coaches will also be trained during the programme which is in its fourth edition since its inception.
Ndegwa said the football tournament targets young people in secondary schools aged between 16 and 20 years old.
Safaricom flagged off the Rift Valley regional finals games of the Chapa Dimba football tournament with a series of community engagement activities geared towards empowering the locals and transforming their lives.
Ndegwa said these activities will culminate in the regional finals scheduled for November 11 and 12 in Nakuru City.
According to the CEO, there will be a players and coaches clinic featuring training on Safaricom's newly introduced GPS Wearable Vests, which are AI-powered.
He said the community engagement initiatives include free Digital and Financial Literacy training, which is 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 to impart knowledge that fosters a culture of saving and enhances preparedness for credit and investment opportunities,” he said.
He observed that Rift Valley was one of the business hubs significantly contributing to the country's economic growth, with a substantial portion of the revenues originating from small and medium enterprises.
He said other engagement activities in the run-up to Chapa Dimba regional finals include free Digital and Financial Literacy training for Boda boda operators, vendors, and small business operators geared towards providing tips that can inculcate a saving culture and enhance credit and investment readiness
Ndegwa added that the telco, through the Safaricom Foundation organized a dissemination forum involving stakeholders in the Rift Region.
“The forum will focus on unpacking the 2023-2026 strategy, with a specific emphasis on education, health and economic empowerment,” he said.
