Migrating to Kakuma Refugee Camp from South Sudan in 2007, the future seemed bleak for a young David ''Qazorla'' Majak.
He recalls how living in Kakuma came with its hardships. The shortage of clean water and food exacerbated by the extremely hot temperatures made life very much unbearable.
However, he found solace in playing football where he would form small teams in the camp and kick around a ball just for fun.
“I never thought it would amount to anything. When we left Sudan to move to Kakuma, I joined a team called D3. That was the first team I remember playing in,” Majak stated.
His family later moved to Turkana where he enrolled into Cherwoyet Boys High School and immediately joined the school’s football team, the Kapenguria Heroes.
“I started out as a goalkeeper but later became a striker. I am more comfortable in that position,” he added.
Little did he know that his love for football would open doors for him, when his team clinched the national title in the Chapa Dimba na Safaricom tournament.
Majak led them to victory at the regional level after emerging top scorer. Additionally, he was named the regional and national MVP.
“The competition has allowed me to showcase my talent to the scouts who were watching. That further led to me joining the Kakamega Homeboys which is a great achievement since they are in the Kenya Premier League,” he divulged.
His career in football took an upward trajectory when he was scouted by Football Kenya Federation (FKF) to join Kakamega Homeboyz. His team even went to London to meet the tournament’s brand ambassador Victor Wanyama.
At only 19 years old, David ''Qazorla'' Majak is a footballer with a number of accolades under his wing. The recent feather in his cap being his signing to another Kenyan Premier league team, Tusker FC where his prospects can only get better.
Majak’s story is one of the many, where the Chapa Dimba na Safaricom tournament has had an impact on young people’s lives.
This weekend, the tourney heads to Thika Stadium for the Central region finals set to kick off at 8:00am on Saturday where talented youth will get to show their football skills
Eight teams will battle it out for the region’s supremacy and a chance to represent the region in the national finals set for June 2019 in Meru.
Defending champions Euronuts from Kiambu will take on Irigiro boys from Maragua while Laikipia’s Lufa Graduates will face Tetu Boys from Nyeri in the boy’s semis. Barcelona from Laikipia will play Dynamos from Kirinyaga as JYSA from Thika take on defending champions Limuru Starlets from Kiambu in the girl’s category.
Winners in both the boys and girls category will receive a cash price of Ksh 200,000 each and an opportunity to represent the Central Region in the national finals. The runners-up will also receive Ksh 100,000 each among other individualized prizes.
Already, Mombasa’s Shimanzi youth and Changamwe ladies, Kajiado’s Al Ahly and Kitale Queens from Rift Valley, Bishop Njenga Girls and Lugari Blue Saints from Western, Manyatta Boys and Ndhiwa Queens from Nyanza as well as Super Solico and St Mary’s Ndovea from Eastern have booked their tickets for the national finals where Ksh 1,000,000 is at stake.
This year an all-star team will be selected to attend a training camp in Spain during which they will play against local youth sides.
Come cheer your favourite teams this weekend as you enjoy the best of Kenyan football.
You can also keep up to date on the games by dialing *455#.
