Arise Media 
BY RITA MUTHONI
Kirinyaga Stars FC emerged as the undisputed champions of the Tujiamini Cheza Dimba Football Tournament held in the Central Kenya region, winning a three-year sponsorship deal by Sport Pesa worth Sh250,000 annually.
The tournament took place at the ACK Good Samaritan School in Mutithi Ward, Kirinyaga County, aiming at nurturing football talent at the grassroots.
The tournament brought together six Football Kenya Federation (FKF) affiliated teams playing in the regional League ending the Tujiamini activities in the Central region.
The clubs participating in the tournament were Kirinyaga Stars, Karia FC, Galiticos FC, Midway FC, Lions FC, and Nyumba Kumi FC.
The Kirinyaga-based club won 1-0 against Galaticos in the finals to walk away with the grand prize.
“The cash award will help to fill our logistical gaps in achieving our league fixtures,” said the Kirinyaga Stars Team Manager, Julius Mutiso.
The team will also receive home and away kits and professional mentorship for the players.
“As one of the leading teams in the FKF county league, we are encouraged and ever more focused to expose the young and budding talents to such tournaments,” Mutiso added.
In the group stages, Kirinyaga Stars FC beat Karia FC and Galaticos FC to top Pool B before proceeding to the semi-finals, where they thrashed Pool A finalist Midway FC 5-0.
The club set up a tantalizing conclusive game against Galaticos FC, who redeemed themselves in their two consecutive matches after suffering a loss during the group stages.
In the semi-final against Murang’a County’s Midway FC, Kirinyaga Stars showed resilience and stamina to dominate the entirety of the game.
Buoyed by an excited and charged home crowd, the Stars rallied to score five goals, including one penalty in the second half.
SportPesa Communication and Advertising Manager Willis Ojwang said over 100 teams from different counties had booked for participation in the matches, but only six clubs made it.
“Even if there is only one winner at the end of the regional activities, no one is walking away empty-handed. Players from participating teams have received supportive resources such as playing kits and are free to re-apply for a chance to feature in the other ongoing Tujiamini activities until December 2024,” he said.
The Cheza Dimba Central region football tournament featured four teams from the larger Kiambu County with the rest coming from Murang’a and Kirinyaga County.
The tournament now moves to the Eastern region, covering 11 counties where another community club will have the chance to gain a three-year sponsorship to help clubs realize their goals while addressing resource gaps.
The winner will represent the region in the nationwide tournament at the end of the year.
The event in Kirinyaga saw the announcement of four winners in the Silver categories: Leon Oduor, with his entry on rugby coaching and music producer Franklin Ireri, and Patrick Mugu, a Kenyan Cyclist who ranked 9th overall in the National 2023 Cycling Series.
The fourth winner was Kennedy Stephen, a weightlifter ranked Kenya’s 7th strongest man. Each walked away with a Sh100,000 cash prize.
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