It was all thrills and goals-fest as the lakeside city lived up to its billing as it hosted the fourth edition of the Safaricom Chapa Dimba Nyanza Regional Final Games at the Moi Stadium on Saturday.
In the sweltering sun and buoyed by the ecstatic home fans, Kisumu’s Obunga FC and Plateau Queens registered (4-0) and (2-1), respectively, to book the men’s and women’s finals.
Talisman Duncan Omalla opened the scoreline in the third minute of the duel in a fine interplay when he unleashed a ferocious strike that whistled as it settled into Nyaguku FC’s net.
The Nyamira County-based hopes began to dent as Omalla doubled his goal tally in the 10th minute as he tapped him a fine header from a corner, leaving Nyaguku goalie grounded.
In the second half, Amos Ochieng’s charges continued with their scintillating display with the intent of further peeling off their opponents with eyes trained on the final berth.
Dependable player George Ogutu bagged a brace with an outside-the-box sleek shot and a lob over an oncoming goalie in the late minutes of the game. Kisumu’s Yellow youngsters will now face Awendo Academy FC in the finals, who had silenced St. Peter’s Wagai Mixed FC 3-1 in a match played earlier.
The Migori-based boys rallied from a goal down, with Edward Odinga restoring parity before the first half. Their Siaya counterparts, coached by Nicholas Owino, had taken the lead with a goal from Joseph Omondi. Awendo’s prolific striker, Syphas Otieno, scored a brace in the second half for the emphatic victory.
“It was not an easy win, but our mental strength and discipline in the game after we first conceded greatly guided us,’’ Syphas happily said.
The mouth-watering football queens’ semi-finals battle saw Kisumu’s Plateau earn the kingdom’s bragging rights as they hammered their Kisii opponents 2-1 to romp into the finals.
Nyakach Queens took the lead in the first half through Saumu Masungo, before Kisii equalized in the second half from Christian Osebe’s sumptuous free-kick after the goalie had been adjudged to have handled the ball outside the box. The indefatigable Plateau earned and converted a penalty in the dying minutes to win the tie.
They are now set to meet Siaya County’s Victoria Sports Academy, which won the day’s opening fixture against Ageng’a Girls FC with a solitary goal scored by Celestine Atieno.
Since its inception in 2017, Chapa Dimba na Safaricom has been a national football tournament for male and female youth between the ages of 16-20yrs. The two-day football bonanza will see the overall winners take home Sh 250,000 and the runners-up awarded Sh 150,000.
The Most Valuable Player will bag Sh30,000 plus a Technical and Vocational Training (TVET) Scholarship, with the Golden Boots and Gloves also awarded similar amounts.
By Rolex Omondi
