Machakos County Governor Wavinya Ndeti Thursday, 18th September, officially launched the much-anticipated Governor’s Cup 3rd Edition at the Kisooni Catholic Church grounds in Mumbuni North Ward. The colorful event drew thousands of enthusiastic residents, sports lovers, and journalists eager to witness the grand opening of what has become one of the county’s premier grassroots sports tournaments.
Gracing the event alongside Governor Wavinya were her Deputy Francis Mwangangi and several officials from the Machakos County Government. The tournament, themed “Nurturing Talent, Greening Our Future, and Empowering Generations,” aims to identify, develop, and empower emerging talent across Machakos County.
This year’s edition, which includes both men’s and women’s teams, kicks off just nine months after the successful conclusion of the second edition held across various sub-counties.
Opening Day Matches
The launch featured a lively curtain-raiser match between Mumbuni North Legends and Maisha FC, with Maisha FC securing a narrow 2–1 win. Other matches on the opening day included:
- Kasinga Starlets vs Mumbuni Queens
- Mumbuni United vs Katisaa FC
Governor Wavinya: “We Are Transforming Lives Through Sports”
Speaking at the launch, Governor Wavinya highlighted the Governor’s Cup as a critical pillar in her administration’s efforts to promote youth empowerment through sports.
“This tournament, which we started in 2022, is designed to expose young people to opportunities for talent discovery and career progression in sports,” said Governor Wavinya. “The program has already transformed lives.”
She cited notable success stories, including:
- Mary Nthambi, a Machakos native now playing for Police Bullets, two-time Women’s Premier League champions.
- Felix Mwendwa of Kaluluini FC, who earned an opportunity to travel to Spain for professional scouting.
The Governor also reaffirmed her government’s commitment to strengthening local sports infrastructure.
“We are finalizing plans to sustainably support county leagues and lower-division clubs across Machakos. I also extend my gratitude to the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) for their unwavering support since the inception of this tournament.”
Reflections from Last Year’s Tournament
In the 2024 edition:
- Katwanyaa FC from Matungulu Sub-county clinched the men’s title after a 2–0 win over Kyevaluki FC (Kangundo Sub-county), bagging KES 1 million. Runners-up received KES 500,000, while third-placed Makongeni FC took home KES 100,000.
- In the women’s category, Athi River Queens edged out Kathiani Queens from Mwala Sub-county 1–0 to lift the trophy.
Tournament Timeline and Prize
The 2025 edition officially kicked off today and will run until December 13th, 2025. The overall winning team will walk away with a grand prize of KES 1 million.
