Mathare North United maintained a clean sheet to clinch the title at the Nairobi Region Tujiamini Cheza Dimba Tournament, played Saturday at Dandora Stadium, Nairobi.
They dispatched The Planes FC in a heated final, thrashing the opponents 3-0 to walk home with a 3-year sponsorship worth Sh250, 000 annually. The champions first encountered Zimmerman All Stars, against whom they established an early 2-0 lead, courtesy of Ramadhan Otieno and George Ochieng.
They then went ahead to make a statement when they met the runner-up in the final group stage match, claiming another 2-0 win before a close 2-1 semi-final encounter against Indomitable FC, which ushered them into the final clash of the day.
Michael Itiyeng was instrumental in spearheading Mathare North United’s win, scoring five out of nine goals in a show of impressive footballing talent.
Speaking after the tournament, Itiyeng expressed joy at the win, lauding his colleagues for the great teamwork that secured them the coveted title. “Our positive mentality was the biggest factor in the win based on our initial preparation for the tournament. We were also able to maximise on our opponent’s shortcomings, which gave us a competitive advantage in each stage of the game.
SportPesa’s support at the grassroots level has been motivating, giving us an opportunity to showcase our talents. We will use this sponsorship to work hard in order to secure a place in the National Super League,” said Itiyeng.
Coach David Onyango echoed Itiyang’s sentiments, praising the team for its resilience.” The boys displayed great team spirit, hence the good results. This win and support by the Tujiamini initiative will go a long way in easing some of our resource challenges in addition to providing the much-needed exposure to the players,” he said.
SportPesa Communication and Advertising Executive Mercy Kabui underscored the company’s commitment to community investment through sports and talent. “At SportPesa, we take pride in giving back to the community, for meaningful changeand impact in the lives of young people. Our aim is to help create opportunities for excellence and growth in talent at the grassroots level, eventually boosting the talent pipeline for elite football in the country,” said Kabui.
Michael Itiyeng (C), after winning the Nairobi Region Tujiamini Cheza Dimba Tournament on Saturday, August 31, 2024.
Susanne Hallergard, Founder of DBA Africa, reinforced the importance of the Tujiamini initiative’s long-term talent nurturing and development goals. “It’s been really exciting to uncover diverse talents across different sports in recent
months. We’ve seen different skills and natural gifts on display, and with more investment and support driven at the community level, we are certain they will reach the stars,” she said.
Despite missing out on the title, The Planes FC Captain, Daniel Lusweti, maintained the team’s steadfast commitment in pursuit of glory days. “We were targeting a win, but as we have seen, the unexpected can happen. All the same
we appreciate the outcomes; we have picked up our learnings, and we will go back to the drawing board to come back with renewed vigour in our future matches,” said Lusweti.
Coach Matthias Ocholi lauded his players for the effort displayed against Mathare North United, acknowledging the players’ promising potential. “This is a young team, and the players are improving. We shall work on our mistakes, and the tables will definitely turn in our favour next time,” he said.
The Tujiamini initiative by SportPesa now heads to the Nyanza region as it nears the culmination in three months’ time.
By Ian Chepkuto
