MAPINDUZI CUP: Coach Bastu Ssemuyaba Rallies URA FC Ahead of Do-or-Die Azam FC Clash

Zanzibar City – The stakes couldn’t be higher at the Amaan Stadium Monday afternoon. For the “Tax Collectors” of URA FC, the mission is singular and crystal clear: win or go home.

Ahead of their final Group A encounter against Tanzanian giants Azam FC, URA FC First Assistant Coach Bastu Ssemuyaba has issued a rallying cry, describing the match as a “must-win” that will define their 2026 Mapinduzi Cup journey.

No Room for Error
Following a mixed bag of results in the opening group games, URA FC finds themselves in a position where only three points will guarantee safe passage to the knockout stages.

Coach Ssemuyaba, speaking from the team’s camp in Zanzibar, emphasized that the tactical preparations are complete and the psychological focus is at its peak.
“We know the quality Azam brings to the table, but we have done our homework,” Ssemuyaba noted. “This is a must-win encounter for us. The boys are aware that in a tournament like the Mapinduzi Cup, you don’t get second chances at this stage. It is a final before the final for URA FC.”

Tactical Battle at Amaan Stadium
The encounter promises to be a tactical chess match. Azam FC, known for their ball retention and clinical finishing, will pose a massive threat to the Ugandan side. However, Ssemuyaba believes the Tax Collectors have the defensive discipline and the counter-attacking threat to upset the Tanzanian billionaires.

Key to URA’s hopes will be the clinical nature of their forward line and the leadership of the senior players in a hostile, yet iconic, Amaan Stadium atmosphere.

The Mapinduzi Spirit
URA FC has a storied history in this tournament, having won it in 2016. Ssemuyaba is keen to channel that historic spirit to propel the current crop of players into the semi-finals.

Match Day Details
Fixture: URA FC (Uganda) vs. Azam FC (Tanzania) 04:15PM

Fufuni SC (Zanzibar) vs. Simba SC (Tanzania) 08:15PM

Competition: Mapinduzi
Venue: Amaan Stadium, Zanzibar