Battle for survival as top flight ends

Dar es Salaam. With the title already won, much of the focus on the Mainland Premier League has switched to the other end of the table

The race for survival has been narrowed to three financially troubled teams -- Majimaji of Ruvuma, Njome Mji and Mtwara’s Ndanda FC.

Two outfits will come under the guillotine when curtain on the 2017/18 Premier League season comes down this afternoon.

Njombe Mji, who are at the bottom of the 16-team league with 22 points from 29 games, have already started preparing for life after the Premier League.

They are certain to be joined by one more club into unfashionable second-tier football by the end of day today.

However, Njombe coach Ali Bushiri is still optimistic.

“It’s going to be a fascinating relegation battle,” Njombe Mji coach, Ali Bushiri said yesterday.

Njombe face Shinyanga’s Mwadui FC at the Sabasaba Stadium in Njombe.

Bushiri’s men need not only a win to avoid relegation, but also pray that Majimaji, who have an equal chance of falling victims to the dreaded chop, lose to newly-crowned Mainland champions Simba.

Majimaji sit second from the bottom with 24 points will be relegated if they lose to the Msimbazi Reds and Njombe beat Mwadui.

“In football, anything can happen. We know that we need nothing short of three points tomorrow (today) to avoid relegation,” said Bushiri.

“We’ll be all out for a win, we are well prepared for the match,” he added.

Majimaji, once of the best teams in the country, have been far from impressive this season.

Ndanda, who host Stand United at the Nangwanda Sijaona Stadium in Mtwara, are also hanging precariously at the relegation cut-off point with 24 points.

And a loss in tomorrow’s match will certainly spell doom for them. As the three teams are fighting to avoid relegation, the b battle for the second spot goes on as well.

Young Africans and Azam FC clash at the National Stadium in an encounter that will decide who finish runners-up.

Azam, now placed second with 55 points, 13 adrift of Simba and three ahead of third placed Yanga, need just a draw today to claim the second spot.

Yanga, on the other hand, must beat the ice cream makers if they are to snatch the spot and wind up their campaign on a high.