Iten United football team and Iten starlets were crowned the new Champions of the Mama County Cup in Elgeyo Marakwet.
This comes after Iten United secured a 2-0 victory in the finals over the Kapcherop Raiders FC of Marakwet West Sub- County.
They proceeded to the semi-finals after beating Tot FC 1-0 while Metkei FC lost to Iten United.
Second position was taken by the Kapcherop Raiders while the third and fourth position went to Metkei FC and Tot FC respectively.
The tournament attracted one men and one women team from each of the four Sub- counties across the County.
The teams were selected from the recently concluded County Sports Tournament.
On the other side Iten Starlets, a women’s football team secured a win against the Kaptabuk Starlets to be awarded the winners on the Women’s side.
The Iten Starlets went to a 1-1 draw at full time, which led to penalty shoot outs that resulted to a 9-7 score, leaving the Iten Starlets being victors while the Kaptabuk counterparts came second.
Other participants included the Kabore Women’s Football team and Kiptwen Women, who emerged third and fourth respectively.
All the teams that participated in the tournament were awarded cash prizes, balls and a cup.
The top teams were awarded Sh80,000 cash prize, trophy and a ball while the second position got Sh50, 000 cash prize, trophy and a ball.
Third position got Sh30,000 cash prize, a trophy and a ball in the fourth position they received Sh15,000 cash prize and a ball.
The Tournament is part of the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) that intends to empower the youth.
Addressing the press during the event the Women Representative, Elgeyo Marakwet County, Jane Chebaibai, said that the tournament is intended to nurture talents at the County level.
“NGAAF is looking forward to partnering with the County Government to come up with a football team to participate in the national and regional league,” she said.
She added that they are going to include other sporting activities such as volleyball in the next tournament, saying that it will be hosted yearly.
Chebaibai noted that the tournament will be organized from the grassroots level with the competitions beginning at the ward level.
The Fund is expected to boost and encourage sporting activities at the ward level which will include packages to pay players a monthly allowance to motivate talent development.
Speaking during the ceremony the County Secretary, Paul Chemutut, said that the County Government will improve the state of the football pitch at Iten to a stadium status.
By Walter Kibet and Alice Wanjiru
