Shinyalu Academy’s Jentrix Shikangwa is among former Chapa Dimba Na Safaricom players who played an instrumental role for the Harambee Starlets during the 2019 CECAFA Women’s Championships.
Also part of the contingent that traveled to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania were Judith Osimbo and Mercy Airo of Plateau Queens, the 2018 Chapa Dimba na Safaricom winning girls’ team.
During the tour, Harambee Starlets went unbeaten as they claimed the 2019 CECAFA Women’s Championship.
“Since 2007, I have been trying to get a break in my football career and it has been a long, hard road. Fortunately through Chapa Dimba na Safaricom I was lucky to be spotted and recruited into the National team after I completed high school in 2018," Judith Osimbo noted.
I am happy that Chapa Dimba Na Safaricom also involved girls’ teams because women’s football needs all the support it can get,” she added.
Shikangwa, who displayed terrific form and gave a thrilling performance scored 12 goals during the Championships and was awarded the tournament’s top scorer award.
Speaking after the regional showpiece, Chapa Dimba na Safaricom tournament director Chris Amimo reiterated the project's commitment to providing a platform to gifted players in their pursuit to showcase their talent.
"We are happy to see the tournament’s main objective bearing fruit by having players who participate in the tournament called up by the National team and excelling in their football careers afterwards,” he noted.
In a repeat of the 2016 CECAFA finals, Harambee Starlets edged out Tanzania 2-0, with Shikangwa – who came in as a substitute in the second half netting a goal in the 70th minute and another one in the 80th minute after a goalless first half to inspire Kenya to victory.
On their journey to the finals, Harambee Starlets beat Ethiopia 2-0, Djibouti 12-0 and Uganda 3-0 in group stages. They then went on to thrash Burundi 5-0 in the semi-finals to earn them a spot at the finals against Tanzania.
