_{Tanzania Premier League side Singida Big Stars will face Mlandege Fc in the final of the Mapinduzi Cup in Zanzibar on Friday.}

_{To reach the final Singida Big Stars brushed aside Azam FC 4-1 in the first semi final played on Sunday, while the Zanzibar Premier League side Mlandege edged Namungo FC 5-4 on penalties after the two teams tied 1-1 on Monday.}

_{In the first semi final Singida Big Stars Francy Kazadi netted four goals to cancel out Abdul Sopu’s opening goal for Azam FC. “I am happy that I have netted the goals that send Singida Big Stars to the final. We shall prepare well to be able to perform well and lift the trophy,” said Kazadi.}

_{Mlandege FC who also stunned 2022 Cup winners Simba SC 1-0 in a group match have also not reached the final by mistake as they are unbeaten since the tournament kicked off.}

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

_{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.}

_{The 3rd Vice President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Souleiman Hassan Waberi on Wednesday graced a match between Young Africans SC and KMKM SC in the ongoing Mapinduzi Cup 2023 in Zanzibar.}

_{“The atmosphere in the Stadium was great and the teams played well,” said Waberi who was accompanied by the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) and Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) President, Wallace Karia. Waberi who is also the President of the Djibouti Football Federation will also attend a CECAFA Elective General Assembly on Friday.}

_{The Tanzania Premier League giants Young Africans SC needed a late Dickson Ambundo goal in added time to pick a 1-0 victory in a Group B match played at the Amaan Stadium. In the earlier Group D match Namungo FC and Chipukizi settled for a goalless draw.}

_{Action continues today with Jamhuri FC facing Azam FC in a Group A tie, while KVZ FC battle Simba SC in a Group C match. The reigning champions Simba SC lost their opening match 1-0 to Mlandege SC.}

_{The tournament has attracted 12 teams and the top teams in each of the four groups will qualify for the semi finals. The final will be played on January 13th. The Mapinduzi Cup is a competition to celebrate the anniversary of the revolution of Zanzibar.}

_{The Mapinduzi Cup 2023 will take place January 1-13th at the Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar.}

_{The Mapinduzi Cup organized by the government of Zanzibar together with the Zanzibar Football Federation (ZFF) is played to commemorate Zanzibar’s Revolution day which is marked annually.}

_{Khamis Abdullah Said, the chairman of the Mapinduzi Cup Committee says the tournament will attract 12 teams with Burundi’s Aigle Noir CS being the only guest side. “We expect to have a very competitive tournament,” added Khamis Abdullah Said.}

_{Simba Sports Club, the reigning champions who also qualified for the group stage of the 2021/2022 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League are expected to come all out to prove a point.}

_{Azam FC have won the Mapinduzi Cup a record five times, while Simba Sc have lifted it three times and Young Africans SC twice. The Zanzibar teams Jamhuri, KMKM SC and Malindi Sc each lifted the title once. Uganda’s sides KCCA FC and URA FC have also lifted the trophy once.}

_{Group A: Azam FC, Malindi SC, Jamhuri SC}

_{Group B: Young Africans, Singida BS, KMKM SC}

_{Group C: Simba SC, Mlandege SC, KVZ SC}

_{Group D: Namungo SC, Aigle Noir CS, Chipukizi FC}