The third edition of the lucrative Naivasha Champions League football competition, that is featuring over 130 men’s and 50 women’s teams, is underway, having been officially launched by sponsor Ngige Njoroge last week.
Naivasha Police, who triumphed in the Confederation Cup (also organized under the Champions League banner) faced Champions League holders Plantech in the season-opening “Super Cup” last week which Plantech won 3-0, walking away with Sh50,000 with Police pocketing Sh30,000.
The winners, who were composed throughout the match, gave little respect to the law enforcers, running rings, to the delight of the huge crowd that turned out for the match.
Plantech, who recently qualified to the Round of 32 in the MozzartBet Cup competition, losing 5-1 to Kisii’s Shabana on Sunday (March 9) were superior in all the departments, giving Police little room to breathe.
The MozzarBet experience gave the flowermen the impetus to derail the ambition of the Naivasha-based law enforcers.
Playing progressive one touch football, they easily toyed with the back pedaling Police opponents to clinch the trophy after 90 minutes of pulsating football.
Njoroge was optimistic that this season’s third edition will be “bigger and better” welcoming scouts to grace some of the matches and identify talents.
“With most of the teams that were sponsored by flower companies going under, it is an opportunity for community clubs to fill the void,” he said.
“Budding soccer player have a chance to showcase their skills by either joining established clubs or secure job opportunities within the rich flower industry or even join military sides.”
The lawyer highlighted that the main aim of the money competition was to put Naivasha teams firmly back on the national map and emulate the achievements attained by the defunct former Kenyan league champions Oserian FC.
Oserian won the Kenya Premier League twice in the early 2000s with teams dreading to meet the star-laden Naivasha side that had, among others, the Ambani brothers Fred and Bonface on their roster.
In fact, their Naivasha home ground was a fortress with teams, including the league giants AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia, struggling to get a point.
“The journey has started, we will finally get there,” Njoroge added.
The competition proper is being played in all the wards across the vast Naivasha Sub-County.
Macharia Mwangi is a seasoned journalist with more than 20 years’ experience. Previously, he worked with Nation Media Group for 19 years.
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