Gor Mahia, KCCA for Mapinduzi

Dar es Salaam. Two foreign teams are expected to compete in the 2016 Mapinduzi Cup kicking off on January 2 in Zanzibar, it has been revealed.

The outfits are Kenyan champions Gor Mahia and Uganda’s Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA), according to the Zanzibar Football Association (ZFA) secretary general, Kassim Haji Salum.

Speaking with The Citizen yesterday, Salum said Gor Mahia and KCCA were among eight teams expected to battle it out for top honours in the annual tournament.

He named the other sides as Young Africans, Simba SC, Azam FC and Mtibwa Sugar all from Tanzania Mainland as well as hosts Mafunzo and JKU.

The ZFA official said preparations and logistics for the championship were on course.

“We have extended invitations to top teams in Kenya and Uganda because we want to make next year’s Mapinduzi Cup more competitive and exciting,” he said.

He said he was optimistic all the invited sides would confirm their particuipation in the tournament.

“Gor Mahia have promised to confirm their participation on Tuesday,” said Salum.

For Young Africans, Azam FC, JKU and Mafunzo the anxiously awaited tournament will be part of their preparations for their Africa Club competitions.

Minland champions Yanga will represent the country in the Africa Champions League.

They are scheduled to launch their campaign in the continent’s premier club tournament against Cercle de Joachim of Mauritius.

Mafunzo, the Zanzibar champions, will start their Champions League campaign aginst DR Congo’s As Vita in the preliminary round, while JKU will face Gaborone United of Botswana in the Confederation cup. The matches will take place between February 12 and 14, and the return leg games will be held between February 26 and 28.