The Sakaja Super Cup is set to kick off with a “Slum Derby” between Kwa Reuben-based FC Creative Hands and Mukuru Combined at Police Sacco Stadium on Sunday, October 1.
This match is expected to ignite sibling rivalry in Mukuru, a slum that has produced notable footballers who represented Kenya at the international level, including Patrick Oboya, Musa Mohammed, and Paul Were.
The tournament’s opening day will feature Lang’ata Barracks Kenya Army’s Maroon FC taking on Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Nairobi regional league side South C.
The Sakaja Super Cup, which runs through 17 sub-counties, will culminate in a grand finale on December 16, 2023. The tournament is supported and organized by the Sakaja Foundation in collaboration with the local football governing body, FKF.
The competition will see former top-flight league teams, such as Red Berets (playing as General Service Unit – GSU), Green Berets (registered as Prisons FC), Black Mamba, Hakati Sportif, and Kangemi All-Stars, vying for the top honors.
Additional teams in contention include Dagoretti Santos, founded by former Harambee Stars captain Dennis Oliech, and Country Bus FC, the childhood club of ex-Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama.
The men’s category winner will receive Ksh3 million, the second-placed team will pocket Ksh2 million, and the third-placed finishers will earn Ksh1 million. In the women’s category, the winners will take home Ksh1 million, with the runners-up receiving Ksh500,000 and the third-place finishers settling for Ksh250,000.
Cash prizes and trophies will be awarded for various categories, including Most Valuable/Best Player, Best Goalkeeper, Top Scorer, Most Promising Player, Most Disciplined Player, and Best Fans, judged on their discipline, enthusiasm, and creativity.
The organizers will provide playing kits for all participating teams, and FKF will supply technical officials to oversee the tournament. Foreign scouts have been invited to identify talent, and those recruited will receive support from the Sakaja Foundation for travel and trials.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, the patron of the tournament, will preside over the opening ceremony alongside celebrated Kenyan footballers and other dignitaries, including FKF officials. Sakaja called on Nairobians to support their respective ward teams and emphasized the importance of discipline, restraint, and peace during the tournament.
