Title rivals back in league action

THE Vodacom Premier League (VPL), defending champions Young Africans and Azam FC return to the league action tomorrow after about two weeks of the league action faced with the prospect of their heaviest fixture load in this month.


The defending champions Yanga could play as many as seven games in April, and by the end of the month will know whether they have qualified for the lucrative group stages or have dropped down to the CAF Confederations Cup.
And after qualifying into Azam Sports Federation Cup (ASFC) on Thursday, they will be preparing for their semi-final opponents, so this is going to be a busy month for the reigning champions and Azam as well, who also face the similar situation.
Being alive in three tournaments means this will double up as not being only a congested fixture month, but also define plenty with 15 points to play for in the league, two Champions League games and the possibility of two FA Cup games if they progress past the semi final stage.
Yanga and Azam have not played so many fixtures of the league in the second round because of their active engagement in the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup respectively.
In the VPL, five games will take place tomorrow, Yanga will be at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam hosting Kagera Sugar in search of three vital points, which will see them closing gap with the current league leader’s Simba SC.
On 57 points, Simba are on the driver’s seat, seven points ahead of Yanga and Azam, who sit second and third place respectively, its closer competitors in this season’s title race. While Yanga will be at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Azam will travel to Mwanza to face Toto Africans at the CCM Kirumba Stadium with the same focus as they are tied on 50 points after playing 21 games with three games in hands.
Other games lined up for tomorrow are Stand United playing against Mgambo JKT at Kambarage Stadium, Ndanda FC will be at the Nangwanda Sijaona Stadium facing Tanzania Prisons, who were both eliminated from the FA Cup quarter finals. JKT Ruvu and African Sports who are both in the battle of escaping the relegation zone will face each other at the TFF Karume Complex.
However the VPL supporters will also have league action today, as there are going to be two matches between Mtibwa Sugar versus Mwadui FC in Shinyanya and Mbeya City will host Coastal Union at the Sokoine Memorial Stadium in Mbeya. Coastal Union are currently at the bottom of the league table