The highly anticipated second edition of the Sakaja Cup is set to begin this weekend at Dandora Stadium on October 19, 2024, starting at 12 p.m.
This year’s event will feature a match between last year’s champions, Githurai All Stars, and Dandora Youths, promising an exciting start to the tournament.
Nairobi Governor Sakaja Johnson has emphasized the importance of the tournament, stating,
“This is an opportunity to keep our youths engaged. We have selected teams that will participate, and the teams collected and submitted forms as required for the second edition.”
A total of 780 teams will be participating in this year’s tournament, with the winning team set to take home a grand prize of KSh 3 million. Football clubs affiliated with the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Nairobi branches were encouraged to join the tournament, with registration forms made available at City Stadium.
Beyond just participation, Governor Sakaja highlighted that standout players will be selected to join Nairobi United. A team that is now under Sakaja Foundation
“The winners will be rewarded with KSh 3 million, and the best players will have an opportunity to advance to higher levels of competition.”
The tournament includes both men’s and women’s teams, aiming to promote gender equality in sports. During the first edition, women’s teams like Club Jojo, Kibagare, and Mchezo Halisi were awarded KSh 1 million, KSh 500,000, and KSh 250,000, respectively.
“This time, we have even more women’s teams participating, and we encourage them to be part of this edition,” Governor Sakaja noted.
Running until December, the Sakaja Cup aims to nurture talent, instill hope, and steer young people away from crime and drug abuse across Nairobi’s 17 sub-counties.
The governor reiterated his commitment to providing meaningful opportunities for the youth, saying,
“We want to give young people an alternative to crime and offer them opportunities to earn a living.”
In addition, the construction of Woodley and Kihumbuini stadiums is underway, furthering efforts to provide better facilities for athletes across Nairobi.
