Barcelona Rising Starlets celebrate after the county title in the Safaricom Chapa Dimba Season 5 finals/HANDOUT Barcelona Rising Starlets will be chasing their fourth regional crown this weekend when they face hosts Sportiff Queens of Kirinyaga in the first girls’ semi-final of the fifth edition of the Safaricom Chapa Dimba Central Regional Finals at Wang’uru Stadium.
The action gets underway on Friday with playoff clashes.
In the boys’ category, 2023 regional champions Laikipia Youth Soccer Academy (LYSA) take on Kiaga Secondary School, while Karatina Home Quins face Thriving Queens from Kiambu county.
Champions Barcelona Rising Starlets will launch their title defence against hosts Sportiff Queens of Kirinyaga in the first girls’ semi-final.
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The Rising Starlets will look to striker Pauline Nekesa to spearhead their attack after she emerged as the top scorer at the county finals.
“Safaricom Chapa Dimba means a lot to us. So many players from my team, including Calta Nasambu, Naomi Wanjala and Jane Njeri, among others, have been scouted through this tournament. We have been part of the tournament since its inception and have won the regional title three times," said Emman Gullet, head coach of Barcelona Rising Starlets.
"We hope to defend the title, although we know it will not be easy, especially as we face the hosts in our first match. We missed many chances in the county finals, but that is something we are working on — capitalising on every opportunity we get."
St Joseph Starlets FC from Murang’a will face the winner of Friday’s playoff between Karatina Home Quins and Thriving Queens.
In the boys’ category, CDM Emmanuel FC from Murang’a will face the winner of the LYSA versus Kiaga Secondary School playoff.
Nyeri’s Giakairu will then take on Kiambu’s MASFO in the other semi. The winners of Saturday’s semi-finals will face Sunday's finals.
The regional champions in both categories will pocket Sh250,000 and secure a ticket to represent Central region at the national finals. The runners-up will each receive Sh150,000.
The best goalkeeper and top scorer in the boys’ and girls’ categories will each receive Sh30,000, alongside the Most Valuable Players — who will also get a fully funded tertiary education scholarship under the Safaricom Citizens of the Future Programme.
The Season Five All-Star Team will represent Kenya at the prestigious Gothia Cup in Sweden, the world’s largest youth football tournament.
The Central region contest attracted 197 teams from five counties. Kiambu led with 89 teams, followed by Murang’a (32), Laikipia (30), Kirinyaga (26) and Nyeri (21).
Safaricom Chapa Dimba has also lowered the eligible age bracket this season from 16-20 to 14-18, widening the pathway for younger talent to step onto the big stage.
Off the pitch, Safaricom will host coaches’ and players’ clinics on Friday covering GPS vest technology, financial literacy, mental health and data privacy. The wearable GPS technology will also be used to identify and scout emerging talent.
