Things to watch out for as curtain falls on 2022/23 NBC Premier League
What you need to know:
- The exciting battle remains for the golden boot award whereby Fiston Mayele of Yanga with 16 goals is closely contested by Saido Ntibazonkiza of Simba, who has so fa scored 15 goals
Dar es Salaam. The curtain is set to fall on the 2022/2023 NBC Premier League season this afternoon with eight matches on the menu at different venues around the country.
Yanga were crowned the Mainland championship for the second time in a row and 29th in their history. Yanga boast 75 points, which cannot be surpassed by any other team in the league.
Only prestige will, therefore, be at stake when the Jangwani Street giants face Tanzania Prisons at the Sokoine Stadium in Mbeya today. Its importance stems from the fact that the Tanzania Premier League Board (TPLB) will hand over the league title shortly after the clash. Tanzania Prisons, who have amassed 37 points so far, are among three teams that eye the top five finish in the league. Also on the list are Namungo FC who have 39 points and Geita Gold FC with 37 points. Simba sit second in the league table with 70 points, 14 ahead of third-placed Azam FC. Simba will face Coastal Union at the Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam. It will be the decisive duel for Coastal Union who are struggling to avoid featuring in the relegation playoffs. The Tanga based team have so far collected 33 points.
Apart from Coastal Union, also in the danger of featuring in the playoffs are Dodoma Jiji FC, who are placed 10th after collecting 34 points. Dodoma Jiji FC meet Ruvu Shooting in their final league match.
Another team is Mtibwa Sugar with 32 points and will meet Geita Gold FC at the Manungu Complex in Turiani, Morogoro. As per the fixture, Azam FC will meet Polisi Tanzania at the Azam Complex while Ihefu FC will play Kagera Sugar at Highland ground in Mbarali, Mbeya. Mbeya City will have a tough assignment against Kinondoni Municipal Council (KMC) at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Rukwa. Also in the fixture are Namungo FC against Singida Big Stars at the Majaliwa Stadium in Lindi and already relegated Ruvu Shooting against Dodoma Jiji FC at the Jamhuri Stadium in Morogoro.
Apart from the top three battle between Azam FC and Singida Big Stars, the relegation playoff fight between Mbeya City and KMC and the top five finisher involving three teams, the exciting battle remains for the golden boot award whereby Fiston Mayele of Yanga with 16 goals is closely contested by Saido Ntibazonkiza of Simba, who has so fa scored 15 goals.
