Fred Amaku scored a stunning goal as URA FC opened their Mapinduzi Cup campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over defending champions Mlandege FC at the Amaani Stadium on New Year’s Eve.
Amaku latched onto a long diagonal pass from Moses Aliro down the right flank, rounded the onrushing goalkeeper, but saw his first effort blocked by a recovering defender. The ball rebounded back to Amaku, whose looping follow-up from a tight angle and well outside the box sailed into the net.
Whether the second effort was a deliberate shot or an attempted pass across goal mattered little, as it proved decisive and handed URA all three points.
Amaku nearly doubled URA’s advantage later on after being picked out by Aliro once again, but with the goal at his mercy, he fired a weak shot straight at the goalkeeper.
Mlandege responded with a number of chances after conceding, including a header that crashed off the woodwork, but they were unable to find a way past goalkeeper Derrick Ochan.
The win marked a positive start for new URA head coach Hussein Mbalangu in his first competitive assignment with the club.
Mlandege came into the tournament as defending champions, having beaten Simba SC 1-0 in last year’s final.
URA now turn their attention to the remaining Group A fixtures against Singida and Azam, confident of progressing to the knockout stages.
The Mapinduzi Cup champions will take home TSh150 million, while the runners-up will pocket TSh100 million.
URA last won the tournament in 2016 and are one of only two Ugandan clubs to have lifted the trophy, alongside KCCA FC, who won it in 2014.
The annual competition, held in commemoration of the Zanzibar Revolution of January 12, 1964, is being staged at the New Amaan Complex in Unguja.
Groups
Group A: Azam, Mlandege, URA, Singida
Group B: Simba SC, Fufuni, Muembe
Group C: KVZ, TRA United, Young Africans
