Barcelona Rising Starlets and Laikipia Youth Soccer Academy (LYSA) have retained their respective county titles after emerging victorious in the fifth edition of the Safaricom Chapa Dimba Laikipia County Finals held at Nyahururu Stadium over the weekend.
Barcelona Rising Starlets defeated Nanyuki Starlets 1-0 to win the girls’ title for the fifth consecutive time, while LYSA edged Ilpolei Giants 6-5 on penalties after a goalless draw in regular time to retain the boys’ crown.
Barcelona Rising Starlets head coach Emman Wafula Gullit said the latest triumph was particularly significant as the team featured a new squad following changes to the tournament’s age limit.
“This is the fifth time we have lifted the county title. Although it wasn’t easy, we managed to pull through despite missing several chances. This is a new squad, and for most of the players, it is their first time competing in a serious tournament,” said Wafula.
He added that the team was prepared for a tougher challenge at the regional finals.
“After Chapa Dimba lowered the age limit, I had to quickly assemble a new team to carry on the legacy and success we have built in this tournament. We expect a tough competition in the regional finals, but we are ready for the challenge,” he said.
The county champions will now represent Laikipia at the Central Regional Finals, scheduled for Saturday, August 29 and Sunday, August 30 at Wang’uru Stadium in Mwea, Kirinyaga County.
Other girls’ teams that have qualified for the regional finals are Thriving Queens from Kiambu, Kerugoya Sportiff from Kirinyaga, St. Joseph Starlets from Murang’a and Karatina Home Queens from Nyeri.
In the boys’ category, LYSA will be joined by MASFO from Kiambu, Kiaga Secondary School from Kirinyaga, CDM Emmanuel FC from Murang’a and Giakairu from Nyeri.
All county winners received KSh75,000 and secured qualification to the regional finals.
Individual players who excelled during the county finals, including the Best Goalkeepers, Most Valuable Players and Top Scorers, were awarded KSh10,000 each.
The MVPs also received fully funded tertiary education scholarships under Safaricom’s Citizens of the Future programme.
The regional finals will bring together the top teams from the Central region as they battle for places in the next stage of the Safaricom Chapa Dimba competition.