Safaricom PLC (NSE: SCOM) has launched Season 5 of its Chapa Dimba youth football tournament in Kisumu, rolling out new pathways that include international competition exposure, tertiary scholarships and expanded technology-enabled scouting for grassroots players.

The company said the fifth season, launched at Jomo Kenyatta Stadium in Mamboleo, Kisumu, will feature an All-Star team of 32 players selected from the tournament to represent Kenya at the Gothia Cup in Sweden. Safaricom described the Gothia Cup as the world’s largest youth football tournament and said the move replaces the international bootcamps used in previous editions.

The tournament will also provide tertiary scholarships to 150 outstanding players through the Safaricom Citizens of the Future programme, according to the press release.

Safaricom said it has adjusted the tournament’s eligibility age bracket to 15–18 years from 16–20 years in previous seasons, stating that the change is intended to support earlier talent identification and placement into professional football structures in Kenya and abroad.

“We are intentionally building pathways that combine sports, education, and technology to empower the next generation. Our goal is not just to develop footballers, but to nurture well-rounded young people who can positively transform their communities and the country,” said Peter Ndegwa, Group CEO, Safaricom PLC.

On player assessment, Safaricom said it will expand the use of technology for scouting and performance analysis. After introducing AI-powered GPS vests in the previous season, the company said it will now deploy VeO Cameras and MyScout AI devices beginning at county level. Safaricom said the tools will enable data-driven scouting by tracking metrics such as movement, positioning, intensity and sprint performance, and will support the creation of digital player profiles accessible to clubs and scouts.

“This season, we are taking technology deeper into grassroots football because we believe no talent should go unnoticed. Through data and digital player profiling, we are creating more structured pathways for young players to access opportunities locally and globally,” Ndegwa said.

Safaricom said Season 5 will be held across eight regions and organised in five stages: ward level, county level, inter-county level, regional level and national finals. Registration is open for both boys’ and girls’ teams via the Chapa Dimba website, the company said.

National winners in both boys’ and girls’ categories will each receive KES 1 million, Safaricom said, adding that county and regional prizes and individual awards—including Most Valuable Player, Top Scorer and Best Goalkeeper—will also be issued.

The tournament is run in partnership with the Football Kenya Federation (FKF), Safaricom said in its notes to editors. The company positions the programme as part of its wider youth empowerment agenda, implemented alongside initiatives including the Safaricom Foundation, M-PESA Foundation and Citizens of the Future programme.

For Kenya’s sports and business ecosystem, the latest changes signal a tighter link between corporate sponsorship, education outcomes and measurable talent pipelines. Expanded scouting tools at county level could also increase the visibility of players outside traditional urban centres, while the Gothia Cup pathway provides a defined international platform for elite youth talent.

Safaricom said Chapa Dimba, launched in 2017, has produced players who have progressed into local and international football, including Benson Omalla, Bryton Otieno, Austine Odongo, Derrick Oketch, Jentrix Shikangwa, Marion Serenge and Mercy Akoth, among others. The company also said some former participants have represented Kenya at international competitions, including the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

Next, the tournament will proceed through its ward-to-national structure, with the All-Star selection and scholarship beneficiaries expected to emerge from the season’s scouting and performance assessments, Safaricom said.