Football Kenya Federation Division Two League sides Opet FC and Malaba Giants will renew their rivalry when they meet in the Global Appeal Football tournament, Busia edition.
The event to be launched by Busia Women Representative Catherine Omanyo will run from May 21-23, 2023 and will feature over 40 teams.
A total of 41 teams have already registered for the three-day tournament. It will be a grudge match for league leaders Opet if they meet their arch-rivals Malaba Giants. The two met recently in the league encounter at Malaba Stadium with the Giants emerging 1-0 winners.
Teams featuring in the Western Regional League and who will participate in the men's football bonanza include runner-away leaders Obucuun Border FC, Busia Ajax, Asinge United FC and Muungano.
Teams in the County League that will battle for top honours include early pacesetters, Musokoto FC, Labour, Murende Highlanders, Simuli Youths, Bumala Allstars, Teens of Hope, Kamolo, FC Machakusi, Aboloi, Kekalet and Katakwa.
Other participants include Butula Young Elephants, Dragon FC, Bukhuma, Young Strikers, Butula Eagles, Kakurikit FC, Funyula FC, Butula United, Bunyala FC, Busiada FC, Burumba Diamond, Kapina FC, Katira FC, Igara FC and Young Tigers.
Nine teams will feature in the ladies' category. They include Butula Ladies, Bumutiru Ladies, Siguli Queens, Buhuyi Queens, Labour Girls, Moding Ladies, Kotur Ladies, Malaba United and Chakol Queens.
The founder and chairman of Global Appeal Sports, Yusuf Noah, said the event will be used to tap talents with scouts from Europe including the head of recruitment from Crystal Palace Football Academy, the Sports Director University of Baltimore who will focus on ladies’ talents and scouts from Africog and Serbia expected o camp in Busia during the three-day tournament.
The chairman said the objective of the tournament is to help tap talents that abound in the country to enable them to play in big-time soccer internationally.
The male winners will receive Sh30,000, the runners-up will get Sh15,000 with the second runners-up will pocket Sh10,000. The winners in the ladies’ category will get Sh25,000 with the second and third-placed teams receiving Sh15,000 and Sh10,000 respectively.
Participating clubs will cater for their own transport and other logistics. The mandate of the organisers is to provide awards and offer scouting opportunities.