Simba, Azam FC face must win games to delay Yanga title party

Dar es Salaam.The Tanzania Mainland Premier League continues on Sunday, May 12, 2024, with powerhouse teams Simba and Azam FC facing must-win encounters to postpone Young Africans (Yanga)'s title celebration.

Simba, who are third in the league standings, will be at the Kaitaba Stadium facing Kagera Sugar at 4pm while Azam FC will meet Kinondoni Municipal Council (KMC) at 7pm.

Also, the fixture shows Tabora United will at 2pm play against Mashujaa FC at the Ali Hassan Mwinyi Stadium in Tabora.

Arithmetically, Simba and Azam FC face tricky encounters and each team need victory in order to continue chasing silverware against Young Africans (Yanga).

Victory for Simba, who have collected 56 points from 25 matches, will make them garner 59 points and leapfrog Azam FC in the second position if the latter lose to KMC.

Azam FC with 57 points, for their part, will ‘pray’ that Simba lose to or draw against Kagera Sugar in order to continue holding the second position in the league.

So far Yanga with 68 points from 26 matches are 95 percent sure of retaining the league title. The Jangwani Street giants need only four points to be officially crowned the title winners for the third time in a row.

If Azam FC and Simba lose their Sunday (May 12, 2024) matches, Yanga will need only a draw against Mtibwa Sugar Monday on May 13, 2024 to retain the title.

On the other hand, Mtibwa Sugar and Tabora United are in danger of being relegated to the Championship if they will not pull up their socks to win their remaining matches.

Mtibwa Sugar are at the bottom of the league table with 20 points from 26 matches and if they win their remaining matches, they will collect up to 32 points.

Tabora United will collect up to 35 points if they win all of their remaining four matches. This means that Tabora United, who were promoted to the Premiership this season, will return to the Championship if they don’t fight hard to win their remaining matches.

Also, on the list of demotion are Geita Gold FC and Mashujaa FC who are placed 14th and 13th with 24 and 26 points respectively.

Geita Gold FC can collect up to 36 points if they are to win all of their remaining four matches and Mashujaa can garner up to 38 points if they are to win all their remaining four matches.

As per rules and regulations, 16th and 15th placed teams will directly be relegated while 14th and 13th placed teams will feature in playoffs against third and fourth placed teams in the Championship standings.