Giants glued in nail biting race
TANZANIA: THE battle for the 2024/2025 Tanzania Mainland Premier League crown is reaching boiling point as both Young Africans and Simba delivered thunderous 5-0 victories in their respective fixtures, setting the stage for a possible titledeciding Dar Derby next week.
Simba were in ruthless form at the Ali Hassan Mwinyi Stadium in Tabora, tearing apart relegated KenGold in a five-star display.
But league leaders Yanga SC responded in kind, thumping Tanzania Prisons by the same scoreline at Sokoine Stadium in Mbeya, underlining their intent to hold firm at the summit. With those emphatic results, the title chase remains delicately poised.
Yanga lead the table with 76 points from 28 games, boasting 25 wins, one draw and two losses. Hot on their heels, Simba have amassed 75 points from an identical number of games, having won 24, drawn 3 and lost just once.
All eyes now turn to the highly-anticipated Dar Derby on July 25 — a clash that could very well determine who lifts the trophy this season.
Before the Dar Derby, Simba will take on Kagera Sugar, while Yanga will face off Dodoma Jiji on the evening of June 22 in Dar es Salaaam.
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Elsewhere, yesterday, the survival scrap proved just as fierce. Coastal Union, previously perched in 10th position with 31 points, edged Fountain Gate 1-0 in a crucial relegation battle.
That result lifted them to 34 points, making the playoff puzzle even more complicated. Fountain Gate, who started the day 14th with 29 points, are now in even deeper trouble.
Namungo FC also found themselves in the relegation mix, hosting already-relegated Kagera Sugar. A goalless draw in this cagey affair pushed Namungo up to 32 points, but they remain on the edge of the drop zone. Over in Mwanza, Pamba Jiji’s quest for survival gained momentum as they edged JKT Tanzania 1-0 at CCM Kirumba Stadium.
The win lifts them from 30 to 33 points, offering a sliver of breathing space in the increasingly tense bottom half of the table.
JKT remain on 35 points but must look over their shoulder in the coming matches. Dodoma Jiji failed to make home advantage count at Jamhuri Stadium, falling 2-1 to Singida Black Stars — becoming the third club of the day to suffer home defeats. The capital side’s chances of pulling away from danger now hang in the balance.
At the Tanganyika Stadium, Mashujaa FC stood tall and refused to be humbled on home turf, narrowly defeating KMC 1-0.
That victory takes Mashujaa to 36 points, lifting them from eighth to sixth in the standings. KMC, on 33 points, remain in 9th.
Azam FC also made a bold statement in the topfour race by dismantling Tabora United 5-0 at home. Though the opposition offered little resistance, Azam’s performance echoed the dominance displayed by both Simba and Yanga — a reminder that third place is theirs to lose.
With just a few matches remaining, both ends of the table are on a knife-edge. Whether it’s the race for glory or the fight to avoid the drop, the drama in Tanzania’s top flight is far from over.
