By Emmanuel Muga BBC Sport Online in Dar es Salaam

The Zanzibar Football Association (ZFA) executive committee has declared independence from the Football Association of Tanzania (FAT).

The ZFA has broken all ties with the FAT claiming it was being sidelined in matters that were supposed to be decided by both associations.

"ZFA was never involved in the selection and preparation of the national under-17 and under-20 teams and the national women's squad" said FAT executive secretary Mwinjuma Saadat.

"This is contrary to our understanding. We are tired, enough is enough," he added.

As a result, Tanzania's assistant coach Hafidh Badru, who is from Zanzibar, has been ordered to leave the job and three Zanzibar players selected for the Tafia Stars have been banned from playing.

Zanzibar teams will no longer compete in the Union Super League that brings together three top teams from each side.

The league produces representatives in the African Champions League, Cup Winners Cup and Caf Cup tournaments.

Fifa and Caf recognises the ZFA as an affiliate association of FAT and therefore FAT enjoys grants from Fifa every year which it does not share with ZFA.

Cash problems

Zanzibar's standard of football is not high owing to funding problems.

Their 16-team league has no sponsorship, because the government has refused sponsorship offers from manufacturers of alcohol on the grounds that it is against the values of Islam.

In previous years many of the better players in the Tafia Stars team were from Zanzibar, but nowadays Zanzibar players are mainly selected as a gesture of promoting the Union.

If Fifa recognises ZFA as an independent association, it means they will be getting annual grants that may be used in implementing soccer development projects.

Zanzibar's President Amani Karume also is supportive of football autonomy.

When inaugurating this year's Cecafa club tournament hosted in Zanzibar, he called upon Cecafa member countries to support their football independence endeavours.