Mlandege FC become the first team of Zanzibar to Qalify Mapinduzi Cup Final After 11 years

Mlandege’s goalkeeper, Mahmoud Ali Khamis, won applauds after saving a penalty by Namungo FC’s Partene Counon.

Namungo FC players who scored their penalties were Derdou Blandja, Hassan Kabunda, James Mwashindi and Shiza Kichuya.

Mlandege players who converted penalties were Mustapha Mussim Juma, Abduswamad Ali Mwadini, Laurean Omar Makame and Said Mussa Said.

The Mlandege-Singida Big Stars final encounter is expected to be historic because of various reasons. It is a final that pits Singida Big Stars who feature in the tournament for the first time and Mlandege who, despite being one of the oldest teams in the Isles, have qualified for the stage for the first time in their history. Mlandege FC head coach Mohamed Bares commended his players for the best performance and for making their new history in Zanzibar’s football. Bares said their match against Namungo was very tough, but his players fought hard to record victory in the encounter.

“I have an experience in Tanzania Mainland’s football and that’s why I had no pressure despite the match was very tough. I told my players to play their normal game while avoiding making mistakes that would have cost them. They followed my instructions and won the match,” said Bares.

Mlandege FC become the first team of Zanzibar to Qalify Mapinduzi Cup Final After 11 years 2024

Namungo FC head coach Dennis Kitambi said it was bad luck to lose the match, expressing that they now turn focus to the Mainland Tanzania NBC Premier League matches,

However, the record shows that the Mapinduzi Cup is dominated by the Mainland teams such as Azam FC who have won the title five times, Simba have won the cup three times while Yanga and Mtibwa Sugar have each won two times.

Zanzibar’s teams namely Jamhuri of Pemba, Polisi, KMKM, Mafunzo, Malindi and Miembeni have each won the title once.

Also, on the list are Uganda’s Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA) and Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), who have each won the title only once.

The Mapinduzi Cup 2023 has been with lots of surprises with giant teams Simba SC and Young Africans SC from the Tanzania Premier league all eliminated in the group stage of the competition.

The tournament attracted 12 teams including guest side Aigle Noir CS from Burundi. The Mapinduzi Cup is a competition used to mark the celebrations of the anniversary of the revolution of Zanzibar.

Mlandege FC become the first team of Zanzibar to Qalify Mapinduzi Cup Final After 11 years 2024

Khamis Abdulla Said, Chairman of the Mapinduzi Cup Committee said that they are excited that a team from Zanzibar has qualified for the final.

“It has been a very competitive tournament and the two teams in the final have been playing well since the tournament started on January 1st,” added Said.

Azam FC have won the Mapinduzi Cup a record five times (2012, 2013, 2017, 2018, 2019), while Simba SC lifted the title in 2011, 2015 and 2022.

Young Africans SC and Mtibwa Sugar have each won the title twice, while Zanzibar sides Jamhuri FC, Polisi SC, KMKM SC, Mafunzo FC, Malindi FC, Miembeni FC and Ugandan sides KCC FC and URA FC have lifted the title once.