By Duncan Ojijo

Githunguri Seniors FC clinched the Kiambu Champions Cup, popularly known as the Wamatangi Champions Cup, with a dramatic 3-2 penalty shootout victory over Butterfly FC after a tense 1-1 draw in the final at the newly unveiled Thigio Stadium.

The Kiambu Champions Cup football tournament, popularly known as the Wamatangi Champions Cup, was initiated under the leadership of H.E. Governor Dr. Kimani Wamatangi. It has established itself as one of Kiambu County’s most exciting grassroots football tournaments, designed as part of a broader vision to transform youth sports, nurture local talent, and create structured pathways for young footballers across the county.

Governor Kimani Wamatangi and Githunguri Seniors FC

Conceived with the aim of promoting local football talent and generating employment opportunities, the Department of Youth, Sports, and Communication in Kiambu County organized the inaugural Governor’s Champions Cup to identify and develop promising footballers while also promoting job creation through sports.

This edition attracted an impressive 716 teams from wards across the county, each competing fiercely for victory at their respective stages. The championship provided a valuable platform for young players to showcase their skills while also creating employment opportunities—particularly for referees.

A total of 180 referees were contracted for the tournament after undergoing a rigorous five-day training programme organized by the Department. This initiative aligned with the tournament’s key objective of empowering youth through sports-related employment.

The tournament reached its climax at the grand finale held at the newly opened Thigio Stadium in Ndeiya Ward. The stadium was officially launched by Governor Wamatangi during a colourful ceremony attended by Members of the County Assembly (MCAs), football officials, players, and enthusiastic fans from across Kiambu County.

The final match featured Butterfly FC and Githunguri Seniors FC in a thrilling contest that kept spectators captivated from start to finish. After a 1–1 draw in regular time, the match proceeded to a nerve-racking penalty shootout, where Githunguri Seniors triumphed 3–2 to secure the championship title. B-Fast FC claimed third place after defeating Copia FC 2–0 in the playoff match.

During the pre-match team talk, Governor Wamatangi encouraged the players and reaffirmed his commitment to supporting youth talent. Addressing the finalists, he said, “You are the future of football in Kiambu, so keep working hard and believe in yourselves. This tournament is just the beginning.”

Governor Kimani Wamatangi has a talk with the players during the Wamatangi Cup Finals at Thigio Stadium in Ndeiya Ward

Githunguri Seniors FC, the champions of the tournament, walked away with Ksh. 500,000, first runners-up Butterfly FC Ksh. 250,000, second runners-up B-Fast FC earned Ksh. 100,000, and third runners-up COPIA FC took home Ksh. 50,000.

The rewards were a motivation for teams to deliver their best performances, keep their bodies in top shape, particularly in anticipation of the next edition of the tournament.