Unga wa Dola, a household brand, is the flagship product of the Kitui Flour Mills.
Governor Nassir on Wednesday expressed his enthusiasm for the tournament, highlighting its potential to foster unity and sportsmanship among the youth in coastal counties. He emphasized the importance of the tournament in providing a platform for young people to showcase their talents.
“Football is one way of promoting the standard of the sport for our youth and this tournament will not only promote peace in Mombasa but the entire Coast region,” said Nassir.
“As Mombasa County, we are duty bound to promote peace and unity among youths, and that is why we have decided to pay participation fees to all clubs featuring in Football Kenya Federation (FKF) and Mombasa County Football Association (MCFA),” he added.
Fifty-six football teams from six coastal counties will battle out for the top prize of Sh1 million. The three-month tournament, coordinated by the MCFA, will feature twelve teams each from Mombasa and Kwale counties, while Lamu, Tana River, Taita Taveta, and Kilifi will produce eight teams each.
The tournament will progress from sub-county to county level where the winning teams from each county will compete for the regional stage.
Each participating team will be eligible to register 25 members including 20 players with five officials. Dola Group organized the tournament as a way of giving back to the community and nurturing local talents.
“This initiative aims to foster community, empowerment and support local talent in Kenya, aligning with Dola Group’s commitment to community engagement and youth development through sports. This platform will provide critical exposure for the players to opportunities both locally and internationally,” said Saddam Suleiman, the Head of Marketing of the group.
Suleiman noted if the tournament is successful, they will expand it to other regions in the country. The champion of the tournament will secure a prize of Sh1,000,000, with the first and second runners-up receiving Sh500,000 and Sh250, 000 respectively. The fourth-placed team will be awarded Sh100,000.
At the county level, winners will share a total of Sh600,000, while runners-up will be rewarded with Sh480,000. The opening match will kick off with Mvita taking on Likoni at the Mombasa Sports Club on Saturday, June 22, 2024, at 4 pm.