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Will Yanga retain Mainland Premier League title today?

Young Africans (Yanga) players celebrate after winning over Marumo Gallants of South Africa in the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup quarterfinals. The team today meet Dodoma Jiji FC at the Azam Complex in Dar es Salaam, where the encounter has been scheduled to kickoff at 4pm. PHOTO | LOVENESS BERNARD

By  The Citizen Reporter

Media/news company

Mwananchi Communications Limited

What you need to know:

  • Apart from the encounter, another match to kickoff at 4pm as per the league fixture is between Geita Gold FC and Mbeya City at the Nyankumbu ground in Geita

Dar es Salaam. The defending champions, Young Africans (Yanga), look set to retain the NBC Premier League title if they win today over Dodoma Jiji FC at the Azam Complex in Dar es Salaam. The encounter has been scheduled to kickoff at 4pm.

Apart from the encounter, another match to kickoff at 4pm as per the league fixture is between Geita Gold FC and Mbeya City FC at the Nyankumbu ground in Geita.

Yanga now need only three points in order to be crowned the NBC Premier League title for the second time in a row. The Jangwani Street side are at the top of the league table with 71 points from 27 matches and victory will make them collect 74 points that will not be reached by any other team in the league.

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Dodoma Jiji FC, who have collected 31 points from 27 matches, are struggling to avoid relegation to the Championship League.

Yanga head coach Nabi Nesreddine said they are targeting victory over Dodoma Jiji in order to retain the title.  “We need to be well-focused on the match, which is not going to be easy, as each team are out and out for victory on the soccer pitch. Despite facing a strong opposition, we want to maintain our winning streak and hence being crowned the title,” said Nabi.

Yanga are expected to field their newly-signed second choice goalkeeper Metacha Mnata, replacing Malian goalkeeper Djigui Diarra, who is gearing up for the second leg of the CAF Confederation Cup against Marumo Gallants of South Africa on May 17. 

Nabi said they are taking the encounter seriously because Dodoma Jiji FC are among the strong teams in the league.  Also, Dodoma Jiji FC head coach Melis Medo said they are taking the game seriously and their target is to improve their chance in the league standings. Medo expressed that his players are in top form and ready to face the challenge of the defending champions.

“It is a crucial match for us to win in order to avoid relegation. My players are in high morale and ready to deliver their best. Victory is our main target,” said Medo.

Meanwhile, Mbeya City FC will likely target victory over Geita Gold FC in order to improve their position in the league table and avoid relegation. The Mbeya based team are placed 13th with 31 points from 27 matches.

Geita Gold FC are fifth with 36 points and also need victory in order to inprove their position in the league table. The team are battling against Namungo FC with 36 points and Kagera Sugar with 35 points respectively.

In the headlines