Tujiamini's Cheza Dimba Tournament Kicks Off in Meru to support Grassroots Football Talent

May 9, 2024
P D Shiundu

• The Eastern edition of the Tujiamini Cheza Dimba Tournament will take place at Kinoru Stadium, Meru on Sunday the 12th May.

• Six of the top grassroots clubs from across the region have earned their spot to compete in this elite showcase, for the 3-year sponsorship package..

• The second leg of the Cheza Dimba tournament is set to follow on from the successful even held in Kirinyaga last month.

Football fever heads to Meru County as the highly-anticipated Tujiamini Cheza Dimba regional tournament details and dates have been finalised.

The six qualified teams battling it out are Kiangima FC (Embu Regional League), Nturiri FC (Tharaka Nithi Sub County), Ikuu Spider FC (Meru County Games), Kakutha Green Eagles (Machakos Ward League), Kaguma FC (Meru Sub County) and Al Azizia FC (Meru Regional League).

The Cheza Dimba tournament aims to nurture football talent at the grassroots level by providing a platform for young players to showcase their skills, passion, and teamwork on a big stage. Each participating side will receive branded team kits to ensure they look and feel like true professionals. The prizes at stake are truly life changing for the successful team. The Cheza Dimba Meru champion will be awarded a KSh 750,000 comprehensive three-year team sponsorship package that includes KSh 250,000 in annual funding along with brand new home and away kits every year.

"Through Cheza Dimba, Tujiamini wants to discover and develop the next generation of Kenyan football stars while promoting community engagement and sportsmanship," stated Joseph Steventon of DBA Africa, who are working with SportPesa on this groundbreaking Initiative.

With operating costs covered by Tujiamini, the aim is that these teams can focus purely on training and competing and push their skills to the next level and reach that promotion to county, sub-county, and even nationwide leagues.

The tournament format will feature the six teams split into two groups playing round-robin matches, with the top finishers in each group advancing to the championship match in the late afternoon. The action kicks off at 9am with the opening game between Kiangima FC and Nturiri FC.

But the Cheza Dimba tournament is about much more than just the matches. It aligns with Tujiamini's broader mission of empowering grassroots talent, promoting community engagement, and providing opportunities for underprivileged players to get discovered. Through Tujiamini's partnership with the top-flight Murang'a Seals and Gor Mahia, the Cheza Dimba platform offers a direct pathway for standout players to potentially get scouted to the highest levels of Kenyan football and beyond.

As the tournament action unfolds, fans can expect a day full of entertainment and community celebration. There will be a viewing party for marquee European matches in the evening, athlete interviews, and lots of passionate support for the teams repping their respective counties.

For the grassroots clubs and players, it's an opportunity to etch their names in history as the pioneers of the Tujiamini Cheza Dimba tournament. But only one team will emerge as the Meru champions, earning the critical sponsorship and recognition they've worked so hard to achieve.