Katwanyaa Falcons FC and Jua Kali Starlets emerged as the standout teams in the 3rd Edition of the Governor Wavinya Cup 2025, capping a thrilling county-wide tournament with emphatic performances at the grand finale held at Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos. Katwanyaa Falcons successfully defended their men’s title after edging out Scottlanders FC 3–1 in a dramatic penalty shootout following a goalless draw in regulation time.
The hard-fought victory saw Katwanyaa Falcons retain the Governor Wavinya Cup crown for the second consecutive year, underlining their growing dominance in the competition. The men’s champions walked away with a cash prize of Ksh 1 million, while runners-up Scottlanders FC pocketed Ksh 500,000 as thousands of football fans thronged the stadium to witness the spectacle.
In the women’s category, Jua Kali Starlets delivered an impressive campaign to claim top honours, further highlighting the depth of talent being nurtured through the tournament. Their triumph reinforced the growing prominence of women’s football in Machakos County, which has remained a key pillar of the Governor Wavinya Cup since its inception.
Speaking during the finals, Governor Wavinya Ndeti reaffirmed her administration’s commitment to making Machakos a true sporting destination. She said the Football Technical Centre coming up at the New Machakos City, through a joint initiative between the county government and the Football Kenya Federation (FKF), will significantly boost sports development and sports tourism, noting that the Memorandum of Understanding with FKF is progressing well.
Governor Wavinya said the tournament is a clear reflection of her government’s commitment to youth empowerment through sports, recalling that many initially doubted the feasibility of rolling out such a massive competition across all 40 wards. She expressed pride that the county was now celebrating the successful completion of the 3rd Edition.
She further noted that the competition has gone beyond sports to promote environmental conservation through the “Tuimarishe Mazingira, Tucheze Ball” campaign. Under the initiative, more than 30,000 trees have been planted across Machakos County this year, helping instill environmental responsibility among the youth.
Highlighting the impact of the tournament, the governor cited success stories of players who have progressed to national and international platforms. These include Felix Mwendwa, who earned an opportunity to showcase his talent in Spain, girls who have joined the Harambee Starlets Under-17 team, and a player who signed for Police Bullets and is currently undergoing police training in Kiganjo.
She revealed that the first and second editions of the tournament each attracted 640 teams with 12,800 players, while the 3rd Edition grew to 650 teams and 14,300 participants. Governor Wavinya announced that the Governor Wavinya Cup is now a permanent fixture in the county calendar, reaffirming her administration’s commitment to sustained sports development through continued partnership with FKF and strategic investment in sporting infrastructure.
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