THE Mainland League’s defending champions, Young Africans seek to reclaim driver’s seat today, but they must clear Singida United hurdle at the re-opened Namfua Stadium in Singida.
The renovated stadium will give the holders a good test of its squad as well as giving Singida football fans the real picture of the today’s Premier League kick match.
The win for the Jangwani Street champs, will see them leapfrogging their traditional rivals Simba who enjoy the helm on superior goal average. But, Yanga face an uphill task today against the tough hosts as the team is among the tough contenders for this year’s title at the top five position.
Yanga are eager to earn the top seat, but they must have good approach against the host Singida United who despite being debutants have proved to be a tough nut to crack among the sixteen premier league sides.
So the defending champions, under the Zambian tactician, George ‘Chicken’ Lwandamina need to be very cautious in today’s game as they are going to face the opponents who are under their former coach, Dutchman Hans van der Pluijm who knows them very well.
The two sides met in friendly tie before the league kicked off and their match held at the National Stadium ended with Yanga claiming a slim 3-2 victory against the league debutants.
Although it will be a quiet weekend in Dar es Salaam this time around as both the city giants, Simba and Yanga will be away, the only venue in the city that will entertain people during the absence of the two giants is Chamazi Complex where Azam FC will host bottom placed Ruvu Shooting.
Azam game against Ruvu is scheduled to kick off at night around 7 pm and Azam should not expect a downhill task despite their visitors’ unsatisfactory performance. Shooting,who are targeting to shrug off their bottom of table tag, will be targeting victory so as to scare off relegation threat.
Azam are third in the league table tied on 16 points with the league leaders Simba and Yanga on goal difference, will go for nothing less than a victory as it will see them capture the top seat do Yanga and Mtibwa slip in their weekend games.
George Lwandamina’s side is currently settled in the second place of the league table behind their traditional rivals Simba, whom they tie on 16 points, but Simba are at the top of the standing due to superior goal difference.
The Saturday league fixture will also see Kagera Sugar hosting Tanzania Prisons at the Kaitaba Stadium in Bukoba, while Njombe Mji FC will welcome Mwanza-based Mbao FC at Saba Saba Stadium as Azam FC will host the bottom-placed Ruvu Shooting at the Azam Complex in Dar es Salaam.
The league continues tomorrow with only two games on the card. The first match will involve leaders Simba who left yesterday for the Southern highland mission against Mbeya City at the Sokoine Stadium in Mbeya region while Iringa’s Lipuli FC will play against Mwadui FC at their Samora Machel Stadium.
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