By Emmanuel Mukavi
Vihiga Cranes from Vihiga County have been crowned boys’ champions of the fifth edition of the Safaricom Chapa Dimba Western Region tournament, while Lugari Progressive, also known as Archbishop Njenga Girls from Kakamega County, clinched the girls’ title.
The high-stakes finals were held at Masinde Muliro Stadium in Kanduyi, Bungoma County, and attracted hundreds of fans, school teams, and community leaders from across the Western Region.
Vihiga Cranes secured the regional crown after edging out Busia’s Musokoto Secondary School 1-0 in a tightly contested boys’ final.
The decisive moment came in the 61st minute when Tonny Omondi connected with a well-placed header from Luke Ramsey’s corner kick to break the deadlock.
Speaking after the match, Vihiga Cranes Head Coach Francis Muhambe said the win was a result of discipline and teamwork.
“First, I want to thank God for this victory and also Safaricom for putting together such an amazing tournament. Last season, I won the regional title with Ebwali Boys, and winning today with Vihiga Cranes is something I do not take for granted. Our focus now shifts to the national finals, where we hope to go all the way,” Muhambe said.
He lauded Musokoto Secondary for putting up a spirited fight.
In the girls’ final, Lugari Progressive clinched the title after narrowly overcoming Busia’s Chakol Girls 5-4 in a penalty shootout following a goalless draw in regulation time.
The match showcased high levels of skill and sportsmanship from both sides, with goalkeepers playing a crucial role in keeping the scores level before penalties.
Speaking during the prize presentation ceremony, Gunilla Atieno Ouko, Greater Western Regional Business Lead at Safaricom PLC, commended the youth for their outstanding display of talent and discipline. She manages regional operations, stakeholder engagements, and community outreach programs across western counties.
“Safaricom remains deeply committed to transforming lives and nurturing grassroots talent through platforms like Chapa Dimba. We are not only celebrating football excellence today, but also providing life-changing opportunities through individual awards, digital devices, and fully funded tertiary education scholarships under our Citizens of the Future initiative,” Ouko said.
She added that the most talented students will be selected to join international teams to improve their football skills and gain global exposure.
“We want to see our boys and girls playing abroad. Through Chapa Dimba, we are opening doors for them to join international academies and clubs where they can sharpen their skills and represent Kenya globally,” Ouko stated.
She congratulated Vihiga Cranes and Lugari Progressive and wished them well as they represent Western Kenya at the national finals.
Both winning teams walked away with a cash prize of KSh 250,000 each, alongside smartphones and airtime, while booking their slots to represent the Western Region at the National Finals.
Runners-up Musokoto Secondary School and Chakol Girls received *KSh 150,000* each, in addition to smartphones and airtime.
In individual awards:
Most Valuable Player:
Elvis Ogiro of Musokoto Secondary and Hanisa Mashasha of Chakol Girls were named MVPs, earning KSh 30,000 each and fully funded tertiary education scholarships under the Safaricom Citizens of the Future Programme.
Best Goalkeeper:
Nabo Ochieng of Musokoto and Shamsy Pachanga of Lugari Progressive won the goalkeeper awards, taking home KSh 30,000 each.
Top Scorers:
The boys’ top scorer award of KSh 30,000 was shared among Tonny Omondi and Mellon Omondi of Vihiga Cranes, alongside Rom Okitwi, Frankline Pual, and Calvin Masai of Musokoto Secondary.
The tournament will now move to the Central Region at Wang’uru Stadium in Kirinyaga County for the next round of regional action.
