APR FC threatens to snub Mapinduzi Cup tourney

The army-owned side was, on Tuesday, knocked out of the 2024 Mapinduzi Cup by Zanzibar's Mlandege FC in a penalty shootout of the tournament's last-four stage.

Mlandege FC, the tournament's defending champion, won 4-2 in a penalty shootout after the duel had ended 0-0 in the regular 90 minutes, with various goals netted by the Rwandese outfit called for offside.

Speaking with agony, Ndizeye said APR FC will not celebrate Zanzibar's revolution in upcoming tournaments by taking part in the competition.

Ndizeye noted: "We all saw what happened today (Tuesday). The referees had bad officiating against us, we scored clear goals and they ruled them out for offside. We came here to compete but our efforts were frustrated by referees."

"We had a good game better than Mlandege, penalties have joy and despair - we lost on penalties and it's something we can't blame on but decisions in the 90 minutes were unfair,” the tactician said.

The gaffer stressed: “If we want to have this game scaling great heights, then we have to be careful with officiating in these ties, as for that, we are no longer part of this."

Led by head coach Thierry Froger, APR FC dominated Mlandege FC during the regular time but failed from the spot when the former was taken to a penalty shootout.

APR FC’s veteran Sudanese midfielder, Sharaf Shiboub and Rwandan Ramadhan Niyibizi missed their penalties.

Shiboub, the Rwandan soccer big gun’s skipper, thought he had put the squad in front in the 18th minute when Ismail Nshimirimana crossed the ball for him to nod into the back of the net, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

The Rwandan giant kept composure as the outfit was in search of a goal, though the dodged Mlandege FC, which is out to defend the showdown’s title, held the former off in both periods.

Dieudonne Ndayishimiye and Sanda Soulei, who is on trial, were so far the performers that scored their penalties for APR FC as the Rwanda Premier League title holder bowed out of the Mapinduzi Cup, a tournament the side has yet to win.

Mlandege FC will square off against the victorious side from a semi-final clash between Tanzania Mainland franchises Simba SC and Singida Big Stars in the final.

The Zanzibar side clinched the 2023 Mapinduzi Cup tournament after cruising to a 2-1 victory over the then-Singida Big Stars FC.