Trans Nzoia was on fire this weekend as Kitale’s Media Teams lit up the Kip Keino Arena in Eldoret, taking both finalist slots at the highly charged Safaricom 5-aside Rift Valley Regional Tournament held on Sunday.

In a fierce all-Kitale face-off that had fans cheering every pass, Kitale Media Team A edged out Team B with a tense 2-1 victory to claim the bragging rights and the regional crown.

Mike Sikoyo and Zewede were the heroes of the hour, netting for Team A, while Marvin Khayemba pulled one back for Team B in what turned out to be a high-intensity media derby.

The champions, Kitale Media Team A, walked away with Sh50,000, while the runners-up pocketed Sh30,000.

Both teams also received cool rewards like power banks and shopping vouchers, making the trip to Eldoret even sweeter.

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However, it was not an easy road to the final:

• Team A edged out Daily Sports (Eldoret) in a tight 1-0 semifinal.

• Team B had to fight tooth and nail against Hubz Media, pulling off a 2-1 win on penalties after a tense 0-0 draw.

“This was more than just a tournament, it was a reunion, a networking platform, and a celebration of our industry,” said Daily Sports Captain Emmanuel Sabuni.

He added: “Some of us hadn’t met in years, and Safaricom, through today’s tournament, gave us that opportunity. We got to connect, compete and celebrate our craft.”

The 5-aside tournament also served as a curtain-raiser for the M-PESA Sokoni Caravan Tour, which rolls out from Turbo starting Monday.

As part of M-PESA@18 celebrations, the caravan will deliver a week full of surprises among them cash prizes, shopping vouchers, electronics and the crowd puller “M-PESA or the Box”.

Beyond the pitch and prizes, Safaricom is also gearing up for a wider national impact with several upcoming initiatives, including:

• Safire Connect for business-minded customers

• Safaricom Hook, targeting Kenya’s creative and tech-savvy youth

• Ndoto Zetu Phase 7, a community empowerment campaign

• M-PESA Agents Awards, recognising outstanding agents countrywide

With sport as the hook and community as the goal, Safaricom’s media tournament proved once again that when Kenyans play, they connect, grow, and win.