Mwea: St Joseph Starlets of Murang’a ended Barcelona Rising Starlets’ dominance of the Central Region with a convincing 5-1 victory in the girls’ final of the Safaricom Chapa Dimba tournament held at Wang’uru International Stadium in Mwea, Kirinyaga County, on Sunday. The win saw St. Joseph Starlets claim their first regional title, while Laikipia Youth Soccer Academy (LYSA) retained the boys’ crown after beating MASFO Academy 1-0.
According to Kenya News Agency, Patience Waithera was the difference in the girls’ final, scoring four goals as St. Joseph Starlets produced a dominant display against Barcelona, who had won the regional title three times. Iffy Moraa added another goal for St. Joseph from the penalty spot. In the boys’ final, LYSA secured their third regional title after Patrick Ngaira converted a penalty in the 19th minute, securing a 1-0 victory over MASFO Academy.
The two victorious teams each received Sh250,000 and will represent the Central Region at the national finals, with the eventual national champions set to receive Sh1 million. However, the tournament’s organizers are focused on a broader mission of transforming raw talent into sustainable opportunities for young footballers.
Safaricom Mount Kenya General Manager Patrick Mburu highlighted that the age limit had been reduced to under 17 in the fifth edition to allow players more time to develop before progressing to higher levels of competition. This change aims to give scouts and coaches adequate time to identify and nurture talent for under-23 competitions and eventually professional football.
The football program is also linked to education, with top performers at the national level set to benefit from scholarships under the Citizens of the Future program. Mburu stated that qualifying beneficiaries would be supported through university education, ensuring players have a solid educational foundation alongside their sporting pursuits.
The tournament has integrated technology in talent identification, with players using Catapult performance-tracking vests to collect data on their movement and performance during matches. This data is expected to aid coaches in assessing players and provide scouts with additional information to identify promising talent.
Safaricom Brand Director Zizwe Awuor Vundla emphasized that the emergence of St Joseph Starlets as regional champions underscores the importance of persistence in developing young talent. She stated that the regional winners would now focus on the national finals, and the best players will have an opportunity to join an All-Star team expected to participate in the Gothia Cup.
For St Joseph captain Fatuma Bensuda, the victory was a testament to the team’s consistency and hard work. She expressed gratitude for the opportunity to compete at the regional level and for the scholarships supporting the players’ education. Bensuda encouraged other young girls interested in football to remain disciplined and determined, stressing that talent must be matched with hard work.
St. Joseph coach Joffrey Muteme noted that qualifying for the national finals had been the team’s target from the start.
