Mbeya City seek swift redemption as JKT eye top spot

DAR ES SALAAM: Premier League continues today, with Mbeya City hosting JKT Tanzania at the KMC Complex in Dar es Salaam — a fixture loaded with significance for both sides.

For the ‘Green City Boys’, the encounter offers a chance for redemption after their painful 2–1 defeat in the Mbeya Derby against Tanzania Prisons at the same venue.

Despite that setback, Mbeya City remain perched at the top of the league standings with seven points, just one ahead of Simba SC, who sit second with six points from two matches. With such a slender lead, any slip could cost them their early advantage.

The KMC Complex has become Mbeya City’s temporary home ground, and they will be eager to transform it into a fortress, especially after last week’s heartbreak.

Meanwhile, JKT Tanzania arrived in Dar es Salaam brimming with confidence and ambition. The army side has collected six points from four outings, winning twice and losing twice, a record that places them fourth on the table.

A win this afternoon would catapult them to 10 points and, at least temporarily, to the top of the standings — a statement of intent from a side looking to establish itself among the league’s elite.

Thursday’s Premier League fixtures produced mixed fortunes across the country. In Tabora, TRA United were held to a goalless draw by Mashujaa FC at the Ali Hassan Mwinyi Stadium, while in Dodoma, Dodoma Jiji also battled to a 0–0 stalemate against Mtibwa Sugar at the Jamhuri Stadium.

The results left TRA United languishing in 14th place with just three points from three matches, still chasing their first win of the campaign. Mashujaa FC, with five points from five games, sit sixth, their inconsistent form reflecting a struggle to find rhythm early in the season.

Dodoma Jiji, also on five points from five fixtures, occupy seventh place, just below Mtibwa Sugar, who have collected the same tally but from one game fewer. Both sides remain in the congested midtable zone — a space where early-season form can make or break ambitions.

According to the league schedule, TRA United face a daunting task next as they host Simba SC on Wednesday at the Ali Hassan Mwinyi Stadium, while Mashujaa FC return to action tomorrow, taking on Namungo FC at the Lake Tanganyika Stadium in Kigoma — a clash expected to test their defensive resilience and attacking efficiency.

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As the Mainland Premier League gathers momentum, today’s showdown between Mbeya City and JKT Tanzania could reshape the early title race. For Mbeya City, it’s about staying at the summit and regaining confidence; for JKT Tanzania, it’s a golden opportunity to rise to the top and announce their credentials as genuine contenders