SIMBA SC and Azam FC have confirmed their participation in the Tanzania Union Cup which has been slated to bring together outfits from Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar to celebrate the country’s union.

The competition is slated to take place from April 23-27, and Yanga's withdrawal has left Simba SC and Azam FC as representatives of Mainland Tanzania.

Zanzibar Football Federation president, Suleiman Mahmoud said they delayed informing the public because Simba SC did not confirm their participation earlier.

Yanga revealed it will not participate because of the squad’s tight schedule. In the ongoing season, the Jangwani Street squad is leading the NBC Premier League with 58 points.

The league leader is seven points ahead of second-placed Azam FC and 12 points ahead of age-old rival Simba SC now sitting third.

Simba SC was expected to pull out of the competition if the outfit had qualified for the semi-finals of the CAF Champions League and CRBD Federation Cup quarterfinals.

"The aim of this competition is to bring competition between Mainland Tanzania and Isles teams but also bring in commercial advantage because these games have many spectators but also tourists that come to Zanzibar will benefit the country," Mahmoud noted.

"Zanzibar has many soccer talents, having them seen by either Mainland Tanzania teams or football agents will help to upgrade the level of talents in the Isles and bolster competitive nature,”

“This competition will also bring a new environment for players to compete at a higher level, different from playing in the league because all games will have a knockout taste."

The ZFF will announce the schedule of the mini tournament after the Simba SC versus Yanga match that took place at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam last weekend.

Other teams that will take part in the tournament are Zanzibar Premier League champion KMKM FC, as well as KVZ FC.

The final of the game is slated to take place on April 27 one day after the ceremony of union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar that formed Tanzania.

The mini-tournament will take place at New Amaan Complex, with the semi-final and final format slated to be used to determine the showpiece’s winners.