_{Zanzibar Premier League side, Mlandege FC are the winners of the Mapinduzi Cup 2023.}

_{Watched by the President of Zanzibar, Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi, the home side shocked Singida Big Stars FC 2-0 in the final played on Friday night at the Amaan Stadium.}

_{Saite Bashima gave Mlandege FC the lead after 7 minutes after a defensive mix-up for the Tanzania Premier League side.}

_{Coach Hans Van Pluijm’s Singida Big Stars tried to push forward, but found a very disciplined Mlandege FC defending department. After 19 minutes Bashima turned provider setting up Abdulnassir Mohamed who made no mistake slotting a low shot past the Singida Big Stars goalkeeper.}

_{Few minutes to half time the Singida Big Stars’ players run towards the referee complaining that he should have awarded a penalty after a Mlandege FC player appeared to have handled the ball.}

_{After recess Singida Big Stars came back determined to try and find the goals. Yusuf Kagoma came close after 48 minutes for Singida Big Stars. But after 51 minutes Singida Big Stars pulled a goal back with a well timed header by Francy Kazadi.}

_{Mlandege FC absorbed a lot of pressure, but managed to hold on to win the match and lift the title for the first time.}

_{To reach the final Mlandege FC ejected Namungo FC 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw, while Singida Big Stars saw-off Azam FC 4-1.}

_{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}