Five teams face the drop as NBC Mainland League halted
What you need to know:
- Ruvu Shooting FC, who have already been relegated to the Championship League after collecting 20 points from 28 matches they have played.
Dar es Salaam. With the NBC Premier League having stopped for one week, the focus is now on the relegation battle among bottom-placed teams.
Already Yanga have clinched the title for the 29th time after collecting 74 points that cannot be reached by any other team in the league.
Ruvu Shooting FC, who have already been relegated to the Championship League after collecting 20 points from 28 matches, can collect up to 26 points if they win their two remaining matches.
The 16-club league will enter the 28th round on May 24 while five teams are battling to avoid direct relegation to the Championship League as well as to feature in relegation playoffs.
As per the league table Polisi Tanzania, Mtibwa Sugar, Kinondoni Municipal Council (KMC), Mbeya City FC and Dodoma Jiji FC are in the danger zone of featuring in the playoffs against the Championship teams.
The law enforcers are placed in the 15th position with 25 points and to avoid relegation they have to win their two remaining matches.
The fixture shows that Polisi Tanzania will face Simba, who have already been declared the runners-up of the NBC league.
Their match has been scheduled to take place on May 24 at the Azam Complex in Dar es Salaam. Polisi Tanzania will also meet Azam FC at the same venue on May 28.
The ice-cream makers, who will likely need victory in order to get the assurance of finishing third as per the league standings, have so far collected 53 points from 28 matches and are closely battling with Singida Big Stars, who are placed fourth with 51 points from the same number of points.
However, Yanga, Simba, Azam and Singida Big Stars have secured the chance of representing Tanzania in the continental club championships next year due to the fact that none of the 12 remaining teams can beat the top four teams on points.
For their part, Mtibwa Sugar are also in the danger of being demoted to the Championship League if they fail to win their two remaining matches.
The Morogoro based team are now 14th with 29 points while KMC are 13th with 29 points, Mbeya City (12th, 30 points) and Dodoma Jiji FC are placed in the 11th position with 31 points.
The fixture shows that Mtibwa Sugar will have to win over Kagera Sugar and Geita Gold FC at their home ground on May 24 and 28 if they are to remain in the top flight league while KMC will play against Tanzania Prisons and Mbeya City in their two remaining matches.
Mbeya City FC will clash with Yanga and KMC in their two remaining matches and Dodoma Jiji FC will play away against Namungo FC and the already relegated Ruvu Shooting FC.
