Buses, cash prizes as South C Rangers are crowned Abbas Khalif Super Cup Champions

South C Rangers were crowned champions of the inaugural Abbas Khalif Super Cup on Saturday after edging State City 1–0 in a tightly contested final at the Ulinzi Sports Complex.

The victory earned South C Rangers the tournament’s top prize—a 33-seater Isuzu mini-bus—marking a historic achievement for the club in the maiden edition of the competition.

The decisive moment came in the 58th minute when diminutive forward Ali Maleche capitalized on a defensive lapse by State City. He calmly brought down a cross on his chest before firing a precise shot into the far corner to send thousands of Lang’ata residents into celebration.

“It means everything to us,” Maleche said after the match. “This tournament has given us a platform to show our talent, and for me personally, it is a step toward bigger opportunities.”

Despite sustained pressure late in the game, State City failed to find an equaliser, with missed chances proving costly. South C Rangers also squandered opportunities to extend their lead, leaving the contest finely balanced until the final whistle.

First runners-up State City were awarded a 14-seater matatu. The same prize was earned by Kuwinda, who secured third place after thrashing Akiba 3–0 in the playoff.

The Abbas Khalif Super Cup, which kicked off on November 10, 2025, featured 40 teams drawn from five wards. Each participating team received Sh50,000 in facilitation fees and a full set of playing jerseys to ensure professionalism throughout the tournament.

South C Rangers goalkeeper Kevin Masongo was named Goalkeeper of the Tournament after keeping five clean sheets. Maleche was crowned the Most Valuable Player, while Kuwinda’s John Wambua won the Golden Boot with seven goals.

There were mixed reactions among players and officials regarding the prize vehicles. While some favored retaining them for team logistics, particularly for league fixtures, others suggested selling the buses and sharing the proceeds among team members.

Tournament patron Abbas Khalif, who is eyeing the Lang’ata parliamentary seat in 2027, said the competition was designed to empower young people through sports.

“We are here to uplift their lives,” Khalif said. “We will walk with them.”

As the curtain falls on its first edition, the Abbas Khalif Super Cup leaves behind a strong legacy of competitive football, youth empowerment and tangible rewards—setting a high bar for future tournaments.