Vihiga Cranes and Lugari Progressive (Archbishop Njenga Girls) were crowned champions of the fifth edition of the Safaricom Chapa Dimba Western Region finals held at Masinde Muliro Stadium in Kanduyi, Bungoma County on August 15-16.
Vihiga Cranes blanked Musokoto Secondary School 1-0 in the boys’ final, with Tonny Omondi scoring the decisive goal in the 61st minute. Omondi headed home Luke Ramsey’s well-delivered corner to secure the title for Vihiga.
Coach Francis Muhambe hailed his players for overcoming a tough Musokoto challenge and added that the team had already turned its attention to the national finals. Muhambe also won the regional title last season with Ebwali Boys.
In the girls’ final, Lugari Progressive trounced Chakol Girls 5-4 on penalties after 0-0 in regulation time. Coach Fred Serenge praised his players for maintaining focus and said the victory compensated for missing the East Africa Secondary School games in Morogoro, Tanzania.
Both champions earned KES 250,000, smartphones and airtime, while runners-up Musokoto Secondary and Chakol Girls received KES 150,000 each plus smartphones and airtime. The two champions will represent Western Region at the Chapa Dimba national finals later next year.
The Golden Ball Most Valuable Player awards went to Elvis Ogiro from Musokoto in the boys’ category and Hanifa Mashasha of Chakol in the girls’ category. Each received KES 30,000 and a fully funded tertiary education scholarship under Safaricom’s Citizens of the Future Programme.
Top Scorer awards were shared in both categories. In the girls’ section, Mashasha shared the honour with Lugari Progressive’s Lydia Laura, Zipporah Wanyonyi, Delphine Mutirira and Viola Chepkorir. The boys’ award was shared by Vihiga Cranes’ Mellon Omondi and Tonny Omondi, and Musokoto’s Rom Okitwi, Frankline Pual and Calvin Masai.
Best Goalkeeper awards went to Nabo Ochieng from Musokoto and Lugari Progressive’s Shamsy Pachanga. The top scorers and goalkeepers also received KES 30,000 each.
The tournament now moves to the Central Region, with the next regional finals scheduled for August 29-30 at Wang’uru Stadium in Kirinyaga County.
