The highly anticipated fifth season of Safaricom Chapa Dimba will be launched this Saturday in Kisumu at the Jomo Kenyatta Stadium, Mamboleo, with a lineup of mouth-watering matches expected to bring the lakeside city to a standstill from 8am to 5pm.

The action will kick off at 8am with the girls’ matches, where Butere Girls will face Nyakach Girls before Kakamega-based Green Commandos take on Kisumu Day.

Thereafter, a select media team will play the Chapa Dimba All Stars before defending champions Obunga FC face Manyatta in a Kisumu derby. The day will climax with the highly anticipated Mashemeji Derby featuring Gor Mahia Youth against AFC Leopards Youth.

Kenya’s biggest grassroots football tournament, Safaricom Chapa Dimba, has continued to cement its place as one of the country’s leading talent development platforms for young footballers.

The competition, run in partnership with the Football Kenya Federation and sponsored by Safaricom, has grown into one of the most influential youth football initiatives in the country, offering players a pathway into professional football while also promoting education and coaching development.

Launched in 2017 following the success of the Sakata Ball tournament, Chapa Dimba has helped nurture some of Kenya’s rising football stars through nationwide competitions targeting players aged between 17 and 20 years. The tournament returned in 2023 after a break occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic, with organizers increasing investment in grassroots football structures.

Beyond the matches, the tournament has embraced modern football technology, including GPS-powered performance tracking vests that help analyze players’ speed, stamina and movement during games. The data-driven approach has enhanced talent identification for scouts and coaches across the country.

The initiative has also created opportunities beyond football, with top players earning educational scholarships and international training camps in Spain, while more than 250 coaches have undergone training to strengthen youth football development in Kenya.

Former Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama has also played a mentorship role, encouraging discipline and consistency among emerging talents during masterclass sessions held in Nairobi.

Despite ongoing discussions within FKF leadership ahead of Season Five, the tournament remains a key pillar in nurturing the next generation of Kenyan football stars.