CHAPA DIMBA NA SAFARICOM COMES TO MERU

Chapa Dimba Na Safaricom is a national football tournament for male and female youth aged between 16-20 years. The aims of the tournament are to transform the lives of young people by giving them a platform to showcase their talent and an opportunity to earn from their passion.

This years national finals is set to be hosted at Kinoru Stadium on  June 20th – 23rd with Eight boys’ teams and seven girls’ teams from eight regions totaling to fifteen teams taking part in a final that has seen over 1,600 teams take part in the tournament that begun in October 2018 with group stages.

Season 2 of the tournament will witness new winners being crowned after reigning champions Kapenguria Heroes and Plateau Queens were eliminated in the early stages of the tournament. The winning teams will also walk away with KES 1 million in cash as well as phones and airtime. Click here for details on the prizes.

 

“We have had remarkable achievements with this tournament since the launch and ‘hongera’ to every single person who made this a reality. We have traversed the country, crisscrossing the eight regions of Kenya, promoting grassroots football and discovering raw untapped talent. We are just days away from getting our KES 1 million winning teams and we appreciate the competitive nature of the tournament,” said, James Maitai, Safaricom’s Head of Mt Kenya & Nairobi Regions.

The programme was started with an aim of promoting grass-root football and propelling gifted players into the national team.

“As a company, this is truly in line with our goal of transforming the lives of Kenyan Youth. We believe in the spirit of coming together with various stakeholders to better our country. We wish all the participating teams all the best as they embark on their quest for the ultimate prize,” said Mr. Maitai.

In attendance will be former Liverpool and Barcelona winger Luis Javier Garcia who will grace the Event.

The Legendary Spanish footballer will feature in this season’s finale as a LaLiga ambassador and will take part in some mentorship clinics. He will also attend the semifinal and final games of the tournament.

Garcia played for top European clubs including Barcelona and Atletico Madrid. He played 150 games in LaLiga scoring 22 goals. He represented his country 20 times and was a member of Spain’s 2006 World Cup squad.

The Spanish Star also played for Liverpool in the English Premier League winning the Champions League in that time.

“We are very excited to leverage on our partnership with La Liga and have the legendary Luis Garcia grace this year’s national finals in Meru. We urge our youth teams who will be in Meru to use this opportunity to gain as much knowledge and skills as possible from him during the mentorships sessions.  There is a lot of untapped talent in Kenya and that is why Safaricom is giving young talented soccer players a platform to showcase their skills,” said Sylvia Mulinge, Chief Customer Officer – Safaricom.

This year, an All-star team was selected from the 8 regional finals and attended a training camp in Spain during which they played against local youth sides and over fifteen young players joined the Kenya Premier League and the National Super League.

Girls Draw

Quarter Final 1: Acakoro Ladies (Nairobi) vs. NCOED (Nyanza)

Quarter Final 2: Changamwe Ladies (Coast) gets a Bye to Semis since there was no team from North Eastern.

Quarter Final 3: St. Mary’s.Ndovea (Eastern) vs. Barcelona Ladies (Central)

Quarter Final 4: Archbishop Njenga (Western) vs. Kitale Queens (Rift)

 

Semi Finals

Semi Final 1 – Quarter Final 1 Winner Vs Changamwe Ladies

Semi Final 2 – Quarter Final 3 Winner Vs Quarter Final 4 Winner

Finals

Semifinal 1 winner Vs Semifinal 2 winner

 

Boys Draw

Quarter Final 1: Lugari Blue Saints (Western) vs. Super Solico (Eastern)

Quarter Final 2: Euronuts (Central) vs. Manyatta United (Nyanza)

Quarter Final 3: Berlin FC (North Eastern) vs. Al Ahly (Rift)

Quarter Final 4: Shimanzi Youth (Coast) vs. South B United (Nairobi)

 

Semi Finals

Semi Final 1 – Quarter Final 1 Winner Vs Quarter Final 2 Winner

Semi Final 2 – Quarter Final 3 Winner Vs Quarter Final 4 Winner

Finals

Semifinal 1 winner Vs Semifinal 2 winner.

We are glad to be the host county and we welcome you to visit our different sites while you enjoy your stay in Meru County.

Check out more about the event on their website https://t.co/k1qvdXYh9J

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1st MERU COUNTY MOUNTAIN TOURISM EVENT

Months after the road to the top of Mt. Kenya was commissioned by Governor Kiraitu Murungi, Meru County hosted its first mountain event dubbed #Meru4x4Challenge. The event took place over the weekend with the route launching event presided over by the Meru Deputy Governor Hon. Titus Ntuchiu.

This was a two day event which kicked off at Theemwe which will be the newest entrance route to Mt. Kenya National Park through the County. The entrance route will be accessed through Gitimbine, Nkubu and Chogoria towards Lake Ellis 13,000 ft. up the mountain.

Hon. Ntuchiu said that the opening up of the road to Lake Ellis is a big boost to tourism in the County, in line with Governor Kiraitu’s agenda to make tourism sector a major contributor to achievement of the Vision of Making Meru Great.

“After witnessing the excitement exuded by participants of the Challenge and how much they have enjoyed the amazing, relaxing, magical view of this magnificent lake, I want to take this opportunity to welcome mountaineers and other lovers of adventure from our County, other counties in Kenya and internationally to Meru County and to Lake Ellis. I wish to inform them that our government is serious on investing in infrastructure to promote tourism and best enjoyment of life here in our County for all,” said the Deputy Governor.

Speaking at the event, the CEC member for Tourism, Trade and Industry Maingi Mugambi said that his Department is working to ensure that the Meru 4 by 4 Challenge Competition becomes an annual mountaineering event, expected to greatly boost the tourism sector as an income earner to the County economy. He also announced that the County Government is well on course to organize the first Mountain Marathon in Meru in August this year on Mt. Kenya, which is also expected to bring large numbers of tourists to the County.

Lands and Urban Planning CEC member and the acting CEC member Youth and Sports Jeremiah Lenya who also accompanied the Deputy Governor at the launch, said that the close working relationship between the two Departments has proven that sporting events can be used to promote tourism.

Other speakers at the event were KWS’s Mr. Isaac Mugo, the senior Warden for Mt. Kenya National Park and Mr. Kenneth Muthuri, from KFS who is the Meru County Ecosystem Conservator. Mr. Muthuri lauded Governor Kiraitu’s Government for the improved working relationship with the two agencies as opposed to the previous regime, saying that this has seen major development activities in the ecosystem which will greatly benefit Meru County people through coordinated and sustainable exploitation of available resources. He said that Governor Kiraitu has been very instrumental in lobbying for the Sh70 million funding which has been granted by the Ministry of Mining, for conservation activities in Meru County which will avail more opportunities to the residents.

Other participants at the launch were the Chief Officer for Tourism Titus Murungi, Sports Chief Officer Mercy Ndiira, North Imenti Sub County Admin Anderson Kathendu, and various partners who included Baraka Credit and the event organizers Champagne Park / teams of the Meru County 4 by 4 Challenge Competition.

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LEWA MARATHON 2019 is COMING UP

On June 29, Meru County plays host to the 20th edition of the Safaricom Marathon at Lewa Conservancy.

The marathon which kicked off in 2000 is one of its kind where athletes come face to face with all kind of wildlife besides having a breathtaking view of Mt Kenya.

To mark the 20th anniversary, the even organised by Lewa and Tusk trust supported by Safaricom, intends to raise Sh100 million, 20 times than what was raised in the inaugural race 19 years ago.

Proceeds from the marathon have helped over 10,000 children get education, 40,000 people access to healthcare besides supporting infrastructure, conservation and agroforestry efforts in Northern Kenya, Coast and Rift Valley.

There Safaricom Marathon comprises of three race categories including The Full Marathon, Half Marathon and Children’s 5km Race.

The course is set on dirt roads that take the runners on a route through the conservancy – across savannah plains, along river banks and through acacia woodland.

The marathon gives you an opportunity to sample the beautiful landscape of Meru, hospitality facilities and tourist destinations that have rich flora and fauna.

Lewa Conservancy is a world heritage site located along the Meru-Isiolo-Laikipia boundary and is home to a wide array of wildlife including the endangered black rhino.

Lewa is connected to the Mt Kenya forest by the only wildlife underpass in the region that cuts across the Meru-Nanyuki road at Subuiga.

Lewa can be accessed by air since it has private airstrips as well as through Meru, Isiolo and Nanyuki towns.

It is located along the Meru-Nanyuki-Isiolo road with its main entrance located about 4 kilometers from Subuiga junction.

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