Safaricom Chapa Dimba: Obunga FC and Awendo Academy to battle in Nyanza final
Reading Time: 2min | Sat. 30.09.23. | 22:09
Plateau Queens will face off with VSA in the ladies final
Kisumu's Obunga FC powered their way into the Chapa Dimba Nyanza Region finals with a dominant 4-0 victory over Nyaguku FC from Nyamira at Moi Stadium, Kisumu.
Duncan Omalla wasted no time, striking twice in the 2nd and 6th minutes, setting the pace for Obunga FC. George Ogutu added two more goals in the 47th and 50th minutes to secure a resounding win for the home team.
Obunga FC's Head Coach, Amos Ochieng, expressed his satisfaction with the team's performance, highlighting their resilience. He praised the fans for their unwavering support and credited them with boosting the players' morale.
In the other semi-final, Awendo Academy mounted a comeback to defeat St. Peter’s Wagai 3-1. Geoffrey Junga opened the scoring for St. Peter’s Wagai in the 10th minute, but Steve Ochieng responded with a spectacular long-range strike six minutes later, leveling the score at 1-1 by halftime. In the second half, Awendo Academy took control, with Syphas Owuor and Austine Onyango adding two more goals.
The stage is now set for a thrilling final showdown on Sunday afternoon between Obunga FC and Awendo Academy, as they vie for the Nyanza region's ticket to the national championship.
Girls
In another exciting match, the reigning regional champions, Plateau Queens (also known as Nyakach Girls), will face off against VSA Girls from Siaya after defeating Kisii Queens 2-1.
Swaumu Nanjala showcased her skill by chipping the Kisii Queens' goalkeeper for the opening goal just before halftime. Kisii Queens responded strongly in the second half, with Christine Osebe scoring directly from a free-kick to level the score at 1-1. However, the game took a dramatic turn when a handball in the Kisii Queens' box resulted in a penalty, expertly converted by the red-hot Nanjala.
Victoria Sports Academy secured their spot in the final with a 1-0 victory over Ageng’a, courtesy of Seline Achieng's decisive goal.
The champions in both the boys' and girls' categories at the regional finals will receive Ksh 250,000 and the opportunity to represent Nyanza at the national finals scheduled for early next year in Nairobi. The runners-up teams will each be awarded Ksh 150,000. Additionally, the Most Valuable Player (MVP), Best Goalkeeper, and Top Scorer (boys and girls) will each receive Ksh 30,000.
Safaricom Chapa Dimba Nyanza region featured an impressive 530 teams, including 412 boys' teams and 118 girls' teams, participating in the tournament from the ward level. This initiative aims to provide a structured platform for scouts and coaches to discover new talent and establish feeder systems for Kenyan football leagues while also training a total of 250 coaches. The tournament targets footballers aged between 16 and 20 years old.
