KISUMU, County—Safaricom has launched Season Five of its youth football tournament, Safaricom Chapa Dimba, introducing a new international competition pathway, education scholarships, and advanced AI-driven scouting tools aimed at accelerating grassroots talent development.
Launched in Kisumu, the 2026 edition will send an All-Star team of 32 players to Sweden for the Gothia Cup, replacing previous international bootcamps with structured global competition exposure.
The telecom firm also announced 150 tertiary scholarships under its Citizens of the Future programme, targeting standout players to balance sporting careers with education.
Safaricom Group CEO Peter Ndegwa said the initiative is designed to create holistic pathways for young talent.
“We are intentionally building pathways that combine sports, education, and technology,” he said. “Our goal is not just to develop footballers, but well-rounded young people who can transform their communities.”
The tournament has also revised its age bracket to 15–18 years, down from 16–20, in a move aimed at early talent identification and faster progression into professional football systems.
In addition, Safaricom will deploy enhanced scouting technology, including Veo cameras and MyScout AI devices, to track player performance metrics such as speed, positioning, intensity, and movement. The data will be used to build digital player profiles accessible to scouts and clubs globally.
“This season, we are taking technology deeper into grassroots football because we believe no talent should go unnoticed,” Ndegwa added.
The competition will be staged across eight regions through five levels—ward, county, inter-county, regional, and national finals.
Registration is open for boys’ and girls’ teams via the official Safaricom Chapa Dimba platform.
National winners will receive KSh 1 million each, with additional awards for top scorers, best goalkeepers, and most valuable players at county and regional levels.
Since its 2017 launch, Chapa Dimba has produced several professional footballers including Benson Omalla, Jentrix Shikangwa, Austine Odongo, Derrick Oketch, and Mercy Akoth, some of whom have gone on to feature in international competitions, including FIFA youth tournaments.
Safaricom said the programme forms part of its wider youth empowerment agenda under the Safaricom Foundation, M-PESA Foundation, and Citizens of the Future initiative.
