A total of 70 football teams are preparing for an exciting competition as they get ready to take part in the Simbare Cup, which will be held at the Eastleigh PCEA grounds in Nairobi. The tournament has attracted a wide mix of teams, including 54 men’s teams, eight girls’ teams, and several mothers’ teams.
Official Logo for Hon Simon Mbugua tournament. Photo credit: Simon Mbugua Foundation/Facebook.
This shows how the event is becoming a major community activity that brings together people of different ages and backgrounds.
The tournament is sponsored by Simon Mbugua, who previously served as the MP for Kamukunji in Nairobi. The official launch took place on Monday at Estadio del Desierto in Eastleigh, where organizers shared details of the event and confirmed that every team will receive Sh50,000 and full playing kits.
Photo Courtesy/Facebook/Simon Mbugua Foundation.
During the launch, tournament organizer Robert Kareithi explained that the competition will bring together teams from the five wards of Kamukunji. These wards include Pumwani, Eastleigh South, Airbase, California, and Eastleigh North. He mentioned that the tournament will be played in a knockout format, meaning teams will be eliminated after losing a match.
According to Kareithi, all preparations have been completed and the matches are set to begin this Thursday, running until December 20. The much-anticipated finals will take place at the Ulinzi Complex in Nairobi, a major venue known for hosting big sporting events.
Simon Mbugua Foundation Chairman Mathew Malusi said that the goal of the competition is not only to promote sports but also to help talented footballers find ways to support themselves. He explained that winners in the top three positions will receive prizes such as cars and motorcycles instead of cash rewards. He said that these items will help the players start small businesses or earn income through transport services, giving them long-term financial support.
Malusi also encouraged all players to maintain discipline throughout the tournament so that the event runs smoothly and remains enjoyable for everyone.
This year’s Simbare Cup is expected to be the biggest football competition in Nairobi County because of the impressive prizes being offered. The men’s category winner will walk away with a 33-seater matatu, while the second-place team will receive a 14-seater Nissan vehicle.
Photo Courtesy/Facebook (Simon Mbugua Foundation)
The third-place team will be awarded a brand new Uber minivan. For the women’s teams, the top team will receive two motorbikes, the second-place team will get one motorbike, and the third-place team will earn cash rewards of Sh500,000, Sh250,000, and Sh100,000 respectively.
The draw for the first-round matches was also released during the kit launch. The opening fixtures include Toronto FC facing Team Baze, Amazon United taking on Kamukunji FC, Team X playing Burma FC, and Wenyeji United competing against Simba Matata. Other matches in the first round feature Young Gunners against Shaurimoyo United, Young Elephant against Fearl FC, BVB Borousia versus Burhan FC, and Kinyago United against Kamukunji Jua Kali FC.
Additional fixtures include Gikomba All Stars versus Eastleigh Youth Junior, Umul Quran Youth FC versus Yach 009 FC, Volcano FC versus Kiambiu Warriors, Digo United versus 14 Arrows, Eastleigh South versus Shaurimoyo Sportiff, Fighting Destiny versus Biafra Kamaliza FC, Mumbai Barracks versus Alahli FC, and Umul Qura FC versus FC Mubarak.
The entire community is now looking forward to the start of the Simbare Cup as teams prepare to showcase their talent and compete for life-changing prizes.
