ASFC: It’s Simba vs Eagle, Yanga vs Kurugenzi, Azam pick Malimao

YOUNG Africans will begin their Azam Sports Federation Cup (ASFC) title defence against Kurugenzi as the duo meet in the second round of the knockout competition.

Other Dar es Salaam football giants; Simba will face Eagle FC and Azam are pitted against Malimao.

According to the tournament’s draw conducted in Dar es Salaam yesterday, all 64 teams will be in action between December 9th and 11th in a race for the place in the best 32.

In his words, the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) Competition Director Baraka Kazuguto said the federation will ensure all the games are played in the conducive pitches.

He also encouraged the teams to undergo thorough preparations in order to stage good resistance and be able to advance farther in the contest.

“In this competition, we have a history of teams which are not popular doing better and we expect the same to happen this season,” he said.

The NBC Premier League is being represented by all 16 teams which will battle against teams from the championship and First League en route to the top stages.

Yanga are the current ASFC defending champions who will be trying to retain the title for the second time but they have to cross several boundaries before completing their mission.

They clinched it after defeating Coastal Union 4-1 on post-match penalties at Sheikh Amri Abeid Stadium in Arusha last season after the normal play ended in a dramatic 3-3 draw.

Meanwhile, TFF has reversed a one-window transfer ban imposed on Singida Big Stars and instead, the club has been fined 1m/- to be paid before the opening of the mini-transfer window on December 15th.

A statement issued on Wednesday indicated that the decision to lift the ban was made after assessing the club’s request to rescind the earlier decision.

However, it further stipulated that in case Singida Big Stars fail to pay the fine before the commencement of the mini-transfer window, them the initial verdict will remain imposed.