6 teams have been chosen to play it out for the 3-year sponsorship package aka the Cheza Dimba Award. The Cheza Dimba award falls under the Tujiamini Initiative, an initiative by lead online gaming firm SportPesa Kenya.
Each month Cheza Dimba will host a regional football tournament across 8 regions of Kenya. The first of these Cheza Dimba Tournaments will be held in Kirinyaga to determine the winner from Central Province.
The Cheza Dimba Central Region Tournament is set to kick off on April 13th, 2023, at the ACK Good Samaritan School in Mutithi, Kirinyaga County.
The selected 6 teams, who came through a rigorous selection process, with over 150 team applications are promising to bring their best on game day an entertain the crowd of football fans set to arrive from all regions within Central Province.
In Pool A, Nyumba Kumi FC, Lions FC and Midway FC will battle it out in the pool stages, with only the top two teams progressing to the semi-finals.
Nyumba Kumi FC from Thindigua, Kiambu County will be hoping the club can ride their luck, The club has a brief but successful history, showcasing the talents in and around Thindigua. They will be joined by, The Lions FC, formerly known as Mwimuto Wailers SC. Lions FC have huge ambitions to gain promotion to Kenya Premier league by 2030. Securing the SportPesa sponsorship package will be key to keeping their dreams alive. Rounding out Pool B is Midway FC from Maragua, Murang'a County. Midway FC established in 2019, will be hoping their young talented side, comprised on Students can see them make it through to the knock-out stages.
Pool B feature 3 sides with Kirinyaga local side- The Kiranyaga Stars, Karia FC and Galaticos FC. The Kirinyaga Stars usually play out of Gathuthiini ground and will be gunning for the sponsorship package with the local community cheering them on from the stands. Whilst Karia FC will bring their confidence style of play which has seen them sitting in third in their divisional league, with high hopes of gaining promotion. The Galaticos FC will be representing Ruiru , Kiambu County and will be hoping to take the sponsorship package back to Kiambu, while they also search for that additional support to help them gain promotion.
The overall winner of the tournament will join the existing Cheza Dimba Awardees, which include the Rockstars from Kimilli, Kakamega and University side the Megastars playing out of Kahawa in Thika.
The SportPesa Tujiamini sponsorship package, includes home and away kit, plus KSh250,000 yearly. The aim of the Cheza Dimba award is to enable clubs who are struggling to get out of regional leagues due to financial restrictions. With the sponsorship package its hope local regional sides will be able to keep budding young talents and move up the FKF ranks.
All six competing sides will be rewarded with kit and balls, regardless of how they finish on the day.
In addition to the tournament, a watch party for the match Manchester United v Bournemouth FC will be screened, after tournament prize-giving.