The second round of Governor Anne Waiguru's highly anticipated football tournament in Kirinyaga County is now in full swing, with 80 teams fervently competing for the coveted Sh1 million cash prize.

The tournament, aptly named the "Governor Anne Waiguru - Minji Minji Football Cup," has taken the region by storm, drawing the attention of thousands of aspiring football stars and enthusiasts alike.

Over the weekend, matches featuring eight teams from each of the county's 20 wards were fiercely contested, marking the initial stage of this exciting football spectacle.


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With five more games left before the ward-level victors are declared, anticipation is building across Kirinyaga County.

The victorious teams from the ward level clashes will advance to the Sub-County level, where they will engage in fierce competition alongside 20 other determined squads, all vying for a spot in the coveted County level finals.

Football aficionados and fans can look forward to the culmination of this thrilling tournament around December 10th.

Governor Waiguru, a driving force behind this initiative, elucidated the central theme of the tournament as "Nurturing Talent for Livelihood."

Approximately 5,000 young athletes representing around 200 football clubs are participating in the tournament, showcasing their prowess and determination at every level, from the grassroots to the county stage.

In the recent Kanyekiine Ward matches, Mukinduri FC triumphed over Gitwe FC with a convincing score of 3-0.

Meanwhile, Ngaru FC narrowly defeated Kianjege FC with a score of 2-1, Gatuto FC secured a 1-0 victory over Kirimunge FC, and Mutito FC managed a 1-1 draw with Njegas FC.

In Karumandi Ward, Homebase FC secured a 1-0 win against Greenstars FC at Karumandi primary school grounds, earning themselves a place in the third round.

Mucagara FC asserted dominance with a 2-0 win over K.United FC, while Furaha FC emerged victorious with a 2-1 victory over Young Boys FC.

Kavote FC showcased their skills by defeating Shakers FC with a score of 1-0, securing their passage to the third round in the upcoming weekend matches.

Team captains across various squads expressed their gratitude to Governor Waiguru for her sponsorship and organizational efforts, emphasizing the life-changing impact of the tournament on the youth.

Gitwe FC's team captain, Nicholas Karimi, noted, "This tournament is a blessing to players across the county, we now have a goal to work towards and this helps us nurture our talents. The main prize of Sh1 million serves as a motivation for all players."

Patrick Muthii, captain of Mukinduri FC, echoed these sentiments, saying, "This tournament has given us a platform as youth to showcase our talents and potentially get discovered by both national and international talent scouts and agents and become even bigger stars."


Misheck Nyaga, captain of Homebase FC, exuded confidence in his team's prospects.

"This tournament has renewed our spirits as players, and if you look around, these games have brought out a lot of youth who may have otherwise been engaging in unsavoury activities such as drug use," Nyaga said.

"The huge prize money has also ensured that players have something to focus all their energy on, thus keeping us on our toes.

Dennis Musimi, the County Executive Committee Member for Sports (CECM), underscored the broader objectives of the tournament.

"Apart from the clubs winning money, we also want to expose talents of our youths so that they can be picked to join bigger clubs and become professional players," Musimi stated.

The tournament promises substantial rewards for the top-performing teams, with the winning team set to receive a grand prize of Sh1 million.

The runner-up will earn a commendable Sh750,000, the third-place team will take home Ksh 500,000, and the fourth-placed team will secure Sh350,000.

The fifth-ranked team will not leave empty-handed, as they will receive Sh200,000. Additionally, top-performing teams at the ward level will also be awarded cash prizes.

This two-month-long tournament stands as the largest football competition ever hosted in Kirinyaga County, representing a concerted effort to empower the youth and harness their talents as a means of generating income.

As the matches progress and excitement builds, Kirinyaga County is united in its support for Governor Anne Waiguru's vision of nurturing the next generation of football stars and offering them a pathway to a brighter future.