Al Azizia and Gachanka Queens triumph as BingwaFest closes in Meru

The Mountain Edition of the 2024/25 BingwaFest closed  at a packed Kinoru Stadium in Meru as home-team Al Azizia and Gachanka Queens emerged victors in the men’s and women’s football  collecting  KSh 1 million each.

This was the fifth stop for the multi-disciplinary event which kicked off with the Western Region edition held in Mumias in August last year before moving to Kisumu in September for the Nyanza Edition, followed by the Eastern Region chapter in October at Machakos, and the Rift Valley edition at Eldoret in December to wrap action in 2024.

Winners in the football and rugby disciplines for both men and women pocketed KSh 1 million each, first runners up KSh 500, 000 each, and second runners up KSh 250,000 each. The winning teams in the 3×3 basketball went home with KSh 500,000, first runners up KSh 250,000, and second runners up Shs 100,000.

Al Azizia, hailing from Meru’s Majengo Slums, was off to a perfect start in the first half as goals by Benjamin Murimi and Zachary Tisa saw them lead 2-0 at the break. Al Azizia added one more in the second half through Dennis Waweru while Mitunguu United late goal from the penalty spot was not enough to inspire a comeback.

Gachanka Queens had to dig deep in the second half, seeing off Black Panther Queens by a solitary goal scored in the second half.

Kinale Forest trounced over Murang’a Troades 53-0 in the women’s rugby as home side Meru RFC beat MKU Titans 17-0 to clinch the men’s rugby title with other home teams Meru University Ladies and Meru Wardogs settling for the third spots after wins against Karatina Ladies and Murang’a University respectively.

In basketball, Hawks edged Rimculture 21-16 in the women’s final as Twende beat Kwetu 22-15 to be crowned the men’s champions.