Mapinduzi Cup rebranded after NMB seals five-year sponsorship

ZANZIBAR: MAPINDUZI Cup has been rebranded as the NMB Mapinduzi Cup after NMB Bank signed a five-year title sponsorship deal, a move officials say will strengthen football development in the Isles.

The signed agreement commences in this year’s edition and will run through 2030.

The year’s edition will feature 10 teams divided into three groups from Mainland and Zanzibar, with Uganda’s URA FC joining as an invited side.

Group A includes Mlandege, Azam FC, Singida Black Stars and URA FC.

Group B features Simba SC, Muembe Makumbi City and Fufuni FC, while Group C comprises Yanga, KVZ and TRA United.

The competitions commenced yesterday and conclude on January 13th, a day after celebrations marking the 62nd anniversary of the Zanzibar Revolution.

The Zanzibar Minister for Information, Culture, Arts and Sports Riziki Pembe Juma said the sponsorship would raise the profile of the tournament and improve its organisation.

“This agreement takes the Mapinduzi Cup to a higher level and reflects strong cooperation between the government and the private sector,” Pembe said.

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NMB’s Head of Sales and Branch Network, Donatus Richard, said the bank’s long-standing support for the tournament would continue to focus on promoting sport and national unity.

“NMB has been part of the Mapinduzi Cup for more than a decade and this sponsorship reinforces our commitment to football development in Zanzibar and Tanzania,” Richard said.

As part of the deal, NMB will sponsor Fair Play Player of the Match awards throughout the competition, with cash prizes increasing from the group stage to the final, which will be played in the presence of Zanzibar President Hussein Mwinyi.

Tournament organising committee chairperson Machano Makame Haji said the sponsorship would improve professionalism and give the competition a broader regional outlook, while committee secretary Rashid Said Suleiman said the deal provided financial stability and confidence to expand the tournament.

Matches will be played at the New Amaan Complex in Unguja and Gombani Stadium in Pemba. The tournament winners will receive 150m/-, with the runnersup earning 100m/-.