Defending champions Young Africans (Yanga)

Defending champions Young Africans (Yanga) have a tough mountain to climb today when they host Azam FC in the Mainland Premier League at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam. 

The mouth-watering tie will be one of three matches to be held in different venues this weekend.

The Kostadin Papic’s side currently occupy third place in the league with 37 points and a win today will put them equal with Simba who have 40 points and leaders will be decided on goal difference.

Yanga, who have won 11, drew four and lost only two after playing 17 matches, can stamp out any lingering Azam title ambitions with a victory today that could set the Premier League trophy firmly on course to remain at Jangwani.

However, second-placed Azam, who leap-frogged Yanga on the league’s standings table following their 3-0 win over Coastal Union on Wednesday, have proved to be a hard nut to crack this season.

Azam have 38 points after 19 matches and a win today will put them on the top of the table and give the ice cream makers the chance to gain ground in the race for Confederation of African Football (CAF) berths for the first time.

Any draw today will be good results for Simba as will enable the Msimbazi Street side to remain on the top of the 14 teams’ league with eight matches to go.

A defeat will leave Azam in the third position and facing a tough task ahead to topple Yanga and Simba from the two top positions.

Tomorrow, Simba will entertain relegation-threatened Toto Africans in another Premier League match to be staged at the National Stadium that a win could be crucial for both sides.

The pace-makers Simba will be all out to cement their top position 24 hours after watching their arch-rivals Yanga locking horns with Azam.

On the other side, the Mwanza side, lying second from bottom of the league with 15 points after 18 matches, will be in a must-win situation to avoid being relegated to the First Division next season.

According to the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF), entry fees for the two matches will be 3,000/- for the blue and green stands, 5,000/- for the orange stand, 10,000/- for VIP C and B stands while a ticket for VIP A stand will cost 15,000/-.

Another match to be held tomorrow will witness another relegation-haunted side Police Dodoma hosting Kagera Sugar at the Jamhuri Stadium in Dodoma.

The cops from the capital are at the bottom of the league with 14 points after 19 matches while the eighth-placed sugar cutters from Kagera have 24 points after 21 matches.

The league will continue on Wednesday with two matches.

Simba will be away to Police Dodoma at the Jamhuri Stadium while Yanga will host the tenth-placed African Lyon at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.