TFF Information Officer, Boniface Wambura

This year’s First Division Soccer League (FDL) will attract 24 teams, the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) has announced.

TFF Information Officer Boniface Wambura said yesterday that the body’s executive committee which met on July 29 in Dar es Salaam had passed the measure as one of the changes.

Another change is that the league will be played on a home and away format instead of assembling the teams in stations as it used to be.

Wambura said under the new format, competing teams will be divided into two groups, each comprising 12 teams. The division of the teams will be zonal.

Teams which will emerge top in each group will automatically qualify for the Mainland Premier League.

Runners-up in each group will face off at home and away to get the third team which will join the two in the premier league.

Wambura said teams which will top three groups in the Taifa Cup will be promoted to play FDL.

Teams to compete in FDL are Ashanti United (Dar es Salaam), Burkina Moro (Morogoro), Green Warriors (Dar es Salaam), Kanembwa JKT (Kigoma), Kurugenzi Mafinga (Iringa), Majimaji (Ruvuma), Mbeya City (Mbeya), Mkamba Rangers (Morogoro), Mlale JKT (Ruvuma) and Morani (Manyara).

Others are Moro United (Dar es Salaam), Mwadui (Shinyanga), Ndanda (Mtwara), Pamba (Mwanza), Polisi (Arusha), Polisi (Dodoma), Polisi (Iringa), Polisi (Mara), Polisi (Tabora), Rhino Rangers (Tabora), Small Kids (Rukwa), Tessema (Dar es Salaam), Transit Camp (Dar es Salaam) and Villa Squad (Dar es Salaam)

Two last teams in each group will be relegated to the regional tournament.

The Premier League will kick off on September 1 while FDL starts on September 15.