Simba aim to stretch lead as they face Pamba Jiji FC today

Dar es Salaam. After a two-week break for the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers, the Tanzania Mainland Premier League restarts today with Pamba Jiji FC hosting league leaders Simba SC at the CCM Kirumba Stadium in Mwanza.

The match kicks off at 4pm, with both teams' coaches expressing confidence ahead of the encounter.

Simba, currently topping the league standings with 25 points from 10 matches, aim to extend their lead against defending champions Young Africans (Yanga), who sit second with 24 points from the same number of matches.

A win for Simba will solidify their position as league leaders and give them an edge in the title race.

For their part, Pamba Jiji FC, under experienced coach Fred Felix Minziro, will be fighting to climb up the league standings.

The team is placed 15th with just eight points from 11 matches, having secured only one win and five draws so far. With home advantage and strong support from fans, Pamba will be hoping to pull off an upset.

Simba head coach Fadlu Davids has stressed the importance of taking every match seriously, regardless of their opponents’ positions in the standings.

"We do not underestimate Pamba Jiji FC. Some of my players returned late from their national teams’ duties and have undergone recovery sessions, but overall, they are in good form. Our target is to win and maintain our momentum," said Fadlu.

For his part, Minziro expressed confidence in his players' ability to compete against the league leaders.

“We are going to play a very strong team, but we’ve worked hard in training. After our last victory, the pressure has eased, and we’re heading into this match with determination. I trust my players to perform well,” said Minziro.

The trainer also stressed the importance of maintaining discipline and focus throughout the game.

“We’ll attack from the start while ensuring our defence remains solid. Simba have fast players, so we must keep calm and take precautions,” he added.