Yanga, Azam players ready for clash as league rolls on

The combination photo shows Yanga head coach Nasreddine Nabi (left) and Azam FC head coach Kally Ongalla. The two teams will clash in the second leg match of the Mainland Tanzania Premier League, scheduled to kickoff tomorrow, December 25, at 8.15pm. PHOTO | FILE

What you need to know:

  • The two teams will be meeting for the 30th time in the NBC Premier League, as per the record. Yanga have managed to win 11 matches while Azam FC nine wins and nine draws

Dar es Salaam. Young Africans (Yanga) and Azam FC coaches will have the right choice of players tomorrow after it was reported that there are no injuries in their first squads.

The two teams will be meeting for the 30th time in the Mainland Tanzania NBC Premier League as per the record. Yanga have managed to win 11 matches while Azam FC nine wins and nine matches ended in a draw.

According to the report received by The Citizen yesterday, the two teams’ players are in good shape and high morale ahead of the encounter scheduled to kickoff at 8.15pm.

Azam FC players under head coach Kally Ongalla are doing fine in training sessions, targeting to register a good result in the match. The ice-cream makers are now placed third and are likely determined to leapfrog Simba in the second place.

As per the league standings, Azam FC have collected 37 points from 17 matches while Simba, who will be in action on Monday against KMC at the CCM Kirumba Stadium in Mwanza, have collected 38 points from the same number of matches played. For the Jangwani Street side, victory will make them widen the point gap against Azam FC as well as Simba.

Yanga are now at the top with 44 points, six points ahead of Simba and seven points ahead of Yanga.

The scenario makes the match crucial for the two teams that target to win the Mainland title, which is now in the hands of Yanga.

Meanwhile, the Mainland Premier League continues today with two matches in the schedule.

According to the fixture, Ihefu FC will host Mtibwa Sugar at the Highland Estate ground in Mbarali at 2pm and later at 4pm Ruvu Shooting will take on Namungo FC at the Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

The matches are important to all the four teams and victory will improve their chances in the league standings.

Ihefu FC are struggling to avoid demotion from the league as they sit 14th with 14 points while Mtibwa Sugar are placed fifth with 24 points from 17 matches. The league table also shows that Ruvu Shooting are in the danger zone and will have to fight for survival.

The team is placed 15th with 12 points from 17 matches and victory against Namungo FC will make them leapfrog Coastal Union in the 13th position with 15 points.