Rare Yanga loss rekindle Azam, Simba hopes
Yanga's Mudathir Yahya (right) vies for the ball with Azam FC midfielder Feisal Salum 'Fei Toto' during their Mainland Tanzania Premier League at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam on March 17, 2024. Azam won 2-1. PHOTO | COURTESY
What you need to know:
- The victory has propelled Azam FC to collect 47 points, trailing five points behind the league leaders, Yanga, who have amassed 52 points. Simba are in the third position with 45 points.
Dar es Salaam. The title race of the Mainland Tanzania Premier League has gained momentum following Azam FC's 2-1 victory Sunday on March 17, 2024 over Young Africans (Yanga) at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
The victory has propelled Azam FC to collect 47 points, trailing five points behind the league leaders, Yanga, who have amassed 52 points. Simba are in the third position with 45 points.
Arithmetically, the three teams, known as the Big Guns, are the only contenders in the title race compared to the remaining 13 teams.
Yanga may extend the point gap with Azam to eight if they win their next match against Singida Fountain Gate FC on April 14 at the CCM Kirumba Stadium in Mwanza.
The Jangwani Street giants, who are the defending champions, have played one match less than Azam FC. Yanga have played 20 matches while Azam FC 21, with the latter praying that the former record poor results in their next three matches while they (Azam) secure victories.
Simba, with 45 points, have played two matches fewer than Azam FC and one match less than Yanga. If the Msimbazi Street team win their next match over Ihefu FC, they will reduce the point gap to four against Yanga while overtaking Azam FC with 48 points, one point ahead of the "ice-cream makers".
However, the matches that will determine the league trend will be between Yanga and Simba on April 18, and Azam FC against Simba on May 17.
The encounters are crucial for the three teams to win the silverware as the league standings indicate that they are vying to finish in the top five. Coastal Union sit fourth with 30 points from 21 matches, Tanzania Prisons fifth with 28 points from 21 matches, and KMC are sixth with 28 points from 21 matches.
Apart from the three teams contending for the title, four teams are struggling to avoid relegation from the league. Mtibwa Sugar are at the bottom of the league table with 16 points from 20 matches, JKT Tanzania are 15th with 20 points from 20 matches, Geita Gold sit 14th with 21 points, and Tabora United are 13th with 21 points from 21 matches.
The above four teams will have to fight hard to avoid relegation to the Championship (formerly the first division league).
