Little-known Kirinyaga Stars completed their fairytale ride as they emerged the winners of the inaugural Cheza Dimba tournament staged on Saturday 13 April 2024 at the ACK Diocese in Kirinyanga County courtesy of the Tujiamini initiative powered by leading online gaming firm SportPesa.
With the first stop in the eight-legged Tujiamini tour being in the Central region, Kirinyaga Stars ensured that the Cheza Dimba Award stayed right within the locale that hosted the event as they beat Galactico FC1-0 in a closely contested finale.
Having finished top of Pool B with 2 wins from two, Kirinyaga laid their marker of intent with a 5-0 thumping victory over Midway FC in the semis before setting up a repeat clash against Galactico who they had narrowly beaten 1-0 in the pool stage.
Arrem Kimani’s first-half strike got the job done once again for the Football Kenya Federation Division Two side as the team finished the whole tournament without conceding a single goal.
Tujiamini Cheza Dimba Award
As a result, Kirinyaga Stars claimed Tujiamini’s Cheza Dimba Award which will see them receive a three-year sponsorship deal from SportPesa worth Ksh. 250,000 annually.
Additionally, the team received a brand new set of home and away jerseys as well as other playing equipment to support their football journey.
The aim of the Cheza Dimba award is to offer support to clubs who are struggling to get out of regional leagues due to financial restrictions. With the sponsorship package, SportPesa hope the local regional sides will be able to keep budding young talents and move up the ranks.
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Speaking after the conclusion of the tourney, Kirinyaga Stars captain Joseph Irungu expressed his delight after emerging victorious as he explained how the sports initiative would change their lives for the better.
“We are really happy because we have had a lot of money problems but with this sponsorship, we are confident it will ease our problems. For the rest of the matches in the league, I am confident we will play well and move on to the next division.
When we heard about the Tujiamini initiative by SportPesa, we focused on winning it and now we have kits, balls, and the sponsorship which we believe will help us in our journey.
Overall, we are grateful because we are seeing that SportPesa is still focused on building grassroot players and that they still value us,” he said.
Kirinyaga Stars FC
An emotional Kirinyaga Stars chair lady Wangugi Muchoki termed the Tujiamini initiative by SportPesa a miracle that will ease the burden of managing the team.
“I am happy that going forward at least somebody has come to hold my hand. God has heard our prayer and we are excited that SportPesa is now here with us and we are going to do better than we have done before.
For Tujiamini Na SportPesa, we are very happy and may the Lord bless you for believing in our potential. May you continue doing good as you have done in this county.
As you go out throughout the country and all over the world because I know you are worldwide, may you always find favour and never lack as you support those who are in need,” she said.
Tujiamini is an initiative that seeks to provide a platform, including up to 30M shillings in funding, for individual, team sports and various talent, in a year-long campaign that will go around the country in a move aimed at evoking a sense of pride in Kenya’s sports and talent ecosystem.
Applicants are urged to submit their applications through www.tujiamini.co.ke
Cheza Dimba Central Results
Pool A
Nyumba Kumi FC
Lions FC
Midway FC
Pool B
Kirinyaga Stars
Karia FC
Galacticos FC
Game 1 – Nyumba Kumi FC 0-0 Lions FC
Game 2 – Kirinyaga Stars 1-0 Karia FC(George Maduk)
Game 3 – Nyumba Kumi FC 0-1 Midway FC(Stanley Gicharu)
Game 4 – Kirinyaga Stars 1-0 Galacticos FC(Jeremy Karanja)
Game 5 – Lions FC 2-0 Midway FC (JosephSejo, Ibrahim Adego)
Game 6 – Karia FC 0-1 Galacticos FC (VictorQuevo)
Semi Final 1
Game 7 – Lions FC 0-1 Galacticos FC(Penalty by Kelvin Kimani)
Semi Final 2
Game 8 – Kirinyaga Stars 5-0 Midway FC(Thomas Ona, Samuel Zaza, Elvin Barasa x2, Jeremy Josh)
Final
Game 9 – Kirinyaga Stars 1-0 Galacticos FC(Arrem Kimani)