There was excitement among players and fans as 40 teams on Sunday qualified for a sub-county clash in the ongoing competition for KSh1.5 million Governor Anne Waiguru Football Cup.

The teams emerged victorious during the ward level finals and semifinals held at various stadiums and playing fields across all the wards.

The matches had brought together 160 male football teams while the 20 female teams will join the tournament at the subcounty level.

Each of the 20 wards produced two top teams which will be competing with each other in the coming weeks before playing qualifiers to proceed to the county level.

Among the teams that qualified for the sub-county matches include Young Eagles FC and Al-Muslim FC in Ndia, Njegas FC and Kiamuruga FC in Kirinyaga Central, Kianyaga FC and Kavote FC in Gichugu as well as Kagio FC, Barcelona FC and Ndindiruku FC in Mwea.

The tournament that has entered its third week has drawn immense participation, engaging hundreds of young players and keeping communities entertained every weekend.

Hundreds of fans have been turning up to cheer their favorite teams as the competition heats up, with clubs battling to secure crucial points en route to the grand prize.

The tournament, being played under the theme ‘Fomu ni futa badala ya kamnyweso’, doubles as forum for creating awareness on drug and substance abuse among the youth and has received accolades from players, leaders, and spectators alike.

Kelvin Ndung’u, captain of Rurii Irrigation FC, which edged Brooks FC 1-0, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to participate.

“We are extremely grateful that our training has paid off, allowing us to advance to the next level. The games have become tougher, forcing us to train harder.”

He also emphasized on the importance of youth engagement, saying, “As a team of Under-23 players, we appreciate Governor Waiguru’s support for this initiative that is one of the ways of keeping youths from drugs.”

Despite suffering defeat, Brooks FC captain Kelvin Mbogo remained positive about the experience. “The games have been competitive, and we have learned a lot. Even though we lost, we will regroup and come back stronger,” he said.

He further reflected on the tournament’s impact, adding, “Such tournaments keep many of my peers away from alcohol and negative influences. We truly appreciate the governor for making this possible and we look forward to future seasons.”

Local leaders have echoed similar sentiments, recognizing the tournament’s significant impact. Wamumu MCA Peter Njeru emphasized the tournament’s role in promoting discipline among the youth.

“We are very grateful for this league. The youth are engaged every Sunday after church, which has helped curb the alcohol and drug menace,” he noted.

He urged continued investment in sports urging the governor and MCA to consider increasing the budget to fund such activities noting they have tangible benefits to the residents.

The intensity of the matches has been evident, with teams battling fiercely for supremacy. Thumaita FC captain Peterson Wachira, whose team defeated Super Junior FC 2-1, described the competition as tough.

“We won our first game, but in the second, we trailed in the first half. However, we managed to turn things around and emerged victorious,” he explained.

Wachira also highlighted the social benefits of the tournament, adding, “These games have significantly reduced alcohol consumption in our community. Young people now spend their time training or supporting their favorite teams instead of engaging in destructive behaviors.”

County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Sports, Denis Musyimi, outlined the tournament’s structure and upcoming stages.

“Today, we are at Kibirigwi Primary in Kiini Ward, where Kathaka FC and Thumaita FC have won their matches and proceeded to the next level,” he said.

He detailed the tournament’s progress, explaining, “From next weekend, the competition will shift to the sub-county level, where each team will play 45 matches. The best teams will advance further.”

He also announced an increase in prize money this season, stating, “Governor Anne Waiguru has increased the prize money, with the winners taking home Ksh. 1.5 million, second place receiving Ksh. 1 million, third place Ksh. 750,000, and fourth place Ksh. 500,000.”

During the last season of the tournament, the winning team took home Ksh. 1Million.