Azam Out to Reclaim Pilot Seat

AZAM are poised to reclaim the pilot seat of the Vodacom Premier League (VPL), but they have to clear Tanzania Prisons hurdle at Sokoine Stadium in Mbeya.

Second-placed side will be also hunting for their second away win, a few days after demolishing the city's big gun, Mbeya City.

Azam who stamped a comfortable 3-0 victory over Mbeya City at their home ground are likely to maintain their winning formula at the venue against Prisons.

However, it won't be an easy win as they are facing hard-fighting opponents who rarely lose at home. The victory is also urgently needed for Tanzania Prisons as it can place them into the top four spot.

To the Dar es Salaam-based makers, who are placed second in league standing, the victory will propel them to the top with unassailable 48 points.

And for Prisons who are settled in the sixth position with 31 points, they can climb to the fourth position do they beat Azam at their Sokoine home ground.

The win will see them leapfrogging Mtibwa Sugar who have garnered 33 points. The situation is tense at the moment as both are locked in positions that urgently need victories.

If the ice-cream makers club managed to secure its second consecutive win at the Sokoine Stadium today this means they will overtake Yanga and take the pilot seat which they will be guaranteed to stay until March 5 when they face Yanga in a decisive match at the National Stadium.

Today's match between Azam and Prisons will be the only premier league match today as after that Azam will be locked in Federation Cup assignment to play in the top 16 matches. Meanwhile, FA Cup top 16 showdown kicks off today with Yanga who are enjoying their 2-0 victory over its archrivals Simba at National Stadium, face JKT Mlale at the same venue.

Yanga who are still enjoying their last Saturday victory, are anticipated to have an easy ride against the first division side from Ruvuma region.

JKT Mlale failed to get promotion into the topflight in the just ended First Division League (FDL).

Hans der Pluijm squad is going to take the match seriously as part of their preparations for the forthcoming CAF Champions League return leg match against Mauritius side Cercle de Joachim scheduled for Saturday at the National Stadium.

Yanga registered a narrow 1-0 victory in the first league match held in Mauritius two weeks ago.