Africa-Press – Tanzania. THE Mainland Premier league’s title race rages on with three current contenders in the horse race being in action to determine their places, whether they move on or remain where they are.
Simba, after their successful CAF Champions League’s quarterfinal campaign, will be back to local football action tomorrow by taking on a recently wounded Mtibwa Sugar at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
Simba have bragged of returning to the Premier league in full swing considering the fact that they had their CAF Champions League’s quarterfinal mission possible.
“We are back to local action in our mission for a backto- back title,” said Simba in a club social page.
Simba, under Frenchman Didier Gomes boast of their striking force that resulted to the leading of Group A despite the presence of African reigning champions, Al-Ahly of Egypt and among other top rated clubs like Al-Merrikh of Sudan and AS Vita of Democratic Republic of Congo.
Though anything can happen in football, Simba stand chances of beating Mtibwa Sugar considering to the fact that the Morogoro-based side have had unconvincing records in their previous matches.
Between January to April, they lost four matches to stand at 15th out of 18 teams with 24 points from 23 matches.
Apart from their 0-2 recent defeat to Azam FC, they also lost by the same margin to Gwambina FC, drew 0-0 with Biashara United, beaten 1-0 by Young Africans, drew 1-1 with Ihefu and lost 2-0 to Ruvu shooting.
Other league title contenders, Young Africans will also be in action on Saturday in their move to cement their top position for the title race.
Yanga have been ravaged by five draws with one defeat from their ten latest outings to bag 51 points from 24 matches and this is what irritates their fans as their gap is very narrow with other challengers.
Simba are few inches closer to Yanga with 46 points with four matches to spare.
But after their unconvincing 1-1 draw results with KMC, it will be yet another chance for Yanga to make things work for their side as they will on Saturday welcome hard fighting Biashara United at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in unpredictable match in Dar es Salaam.
Biashara have had an impressive run in the league despite making their maiden appearance as they managed to maintain their position as among top five teams with 40 points from 24 matches they have played so far.
This will be yet another hard task for the club’s caretaker coach Juma Mwambusi after a tailing of Yanga draws that have seen them dropping points on the building of their top position despite leading the table.
A day before Yanga-Biashara United clash, Azam FC will on Friday play JKT Tanzania at Jamhuri Stadium in Dodoma. Their 2-0 win over Mtibwa Sugar took them to the second spot with 47 points.
The ice cream makers have statistically played one match ahead of Yanga and five others ahead of reigning champions, Simba Sports Club.
Historically, Azam have played Mtibwa Sugar 25 times in the Mainland Premier league, winning 11 matches out them with a total of 49 goals and drew nine times while the Morogoro-based sugar growers have managed to win five times out of all those meetings.
Azam, who are under Zambian George Lwandamina, alias ‘Chicken’ will need to prove that their previous wins against Ihefu (3-0) and 2-0 against Mtibwa did not come by surprise, but were from game plan.
The former Mainland champions have their morale boost after Zimbabwean Prince Dube doubled to give their ‘coming back’ to league win
