The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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The champions of the inaugural Talanta Hela Under-19 tournament have been rewarded with cash prizes, bringing smiles to their faces.
The tournament, which commenced at the grassroots level across all 47 counties, culminated in the national finals held in Nairobi in December last year, with 16 teams—eight from each gender—qualifying for the ultimate showdown.
In the boys’ category, Homa Bay County triumphed over Kisumu with a 4-2 victory in an electrifying final at Nyayo Stadium. Similarly, in the girls’ category, Busia defeated Kisumu 2-1 to clinch the title at the same venue.
All teams ranking in the top five were entitled to cash prizes, which were disbursed at the County Commissioners’ offices in Kisumu. The winning teams in each category received a handsome sum of Ksh 5 million each.
The Kenya Academy of Sports initially planned for prompt disbursement of the cash awards. However, there was a slight delay due to some players failing to provide their bank account details on time.
Expressing her gratitude after receiving the prize money, Lornah Faith Wasike, captain of the Busia County girls’ team, expressed joy in finally reaping the rewards of their hard work. Wasike, at just 16 years old, was particularly thrilled to lead her team to victory in the inaugural tournament and earn Ksh 160,000.
“I am delighted to finally receive my money today. I extend my thanks to CS Ababu Namwamba for facilitating this. I plan to use the funds to pay my school fees and support my younger siblings who are facing challenges at home. We aim to defend our title and go even further this year,” Wasike shared with a local media.
Furthermore, the Kenya Academy of Sports disclosed plans to enhance the vibrancy of the second edition of the tournament, possibly by including additional disciplines.
