Safaricom has officially launched the fifth season of its flagship youth football tournament, Safaricom Chapa Dimba, introducing enhanced talent development pathways, international exposure opportunities, and education support aimed at transforming the future of young footballers across Kenya.
The new season, unveiled in Kisumu, marks a major evolution of the tournament with the introduction of structured global football exposure through participation in the prestigious Gothia Cup in Sweden.
Under the new model, 32 outstanding players selected from the competition’s All-Star team will represent Kenya at the Gothia Cup, widely regarded as the world’s largest youth football tournament. The initiative replaces the international bootcamp programmes that featured in previous editions and is expected to offer players more competitive international experience and visibility.
Speaking during the launch, Peter Ndegwa said the company is focused on creating holistic opportunities for young people by combining sports, education, and technology.
“We are intentionally building pathways that combine sports, education, and technology to empower the next generation. Our goal is not just to develop footballers, but to nurture well-rounded young people who can positively transform their communities and the country,” said Ndegwa.
Read: Victor Wanyama Inspires Chapa Dimba All-Stars Ahead of Season 5 Kickoff
The education pathway will see 150 standout players benefit from tertiary education scholarships through Safaricom’s Citizens of the Future programme, further expanding the tournament’s impact beyond football.
In a move aimed at identifying talent earlier, organisers have lowered the player age bracket from 16–20 years to 15–18 years. According to Safaricom, the adjustment is designed to strengthen early talent development and improve opportunities for players to transition into professional football structures locally and internationally.
Technology will also play a bigger role in the tournament this season. Following the successful introduction of AI-powered GPS vests in the previous edition, Safaricom will now deploy advanced scouting tools including VeO Cameras and MyScout AI devices from the county level.
The technologies will assist scouts and coaches in tracking player movement, sprint intensity, positioning, and overall performance while helping players create digital football profiles accessible to clubs and scouts around the world.
“This season, we are taking technology deeper into grassroots football because we believe no talent should go unnoticed. Through data and digital player profiling, we are creating more structured pathways for young players to access opportunities locally and globally,” added Ndegwa.
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The tournament will be held across eight regions in Kenya and will feature five stages: ward level, county level, inter-county level, regional finals, and national finals.
Registration is currently open for both boys’ and girls’ teams through the official Chapa Dimba website.
National winners in both categories will each receive KSh1 million, while additional prizes will be awarded at county and regional stages. Individual awards will also recognise the Most Valuable Player, Top Scorer, and Best Goalkeeper.
Since its launch in 2017, Safaricom Chapa Dimba has produced several notable footballers including Benson Omalla, Bryton Otieno, Jentrix Shikangwa, and Mercy Akoth, among others. Some former participants have also gone on to represent Kenya in international competitions such as the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
The tournament forms part of Safaricom’s broader youth empowerment agenda implemented through initiatives including the Safaricom Foundation, M-PESA Foundation, and Citizens of the Future programme.
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