Yanga back to intensify title race after CAF tie


DEFENDING champions Young Africans return to Mainland Premier League action today, as they face Kagera Sugar at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

Yanga will move within three points adrift league leaders Simba, if they win the match, as they will post 43 points from 20 matches. George Lwandamina’s side is currently settled in the second position on the log with 40 points, six points behind archrivals Simba, but they have played a game less.

Yanga will come into the match fresh from a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Botswana’s Township Rollers in CAF Champions League first round, first leg tie at the National Stadium last Tuesday. They will be eager to appease their fans and put the bad memory behind them by resuming their title defence campaign strongly.

Victory for Yanga against Kagera Sugar will further pile pressure on Simba, who lost two crucial points in the last game against Stand United, after being held to a 3-3 draw and failed to open an eight-point gap at the league’s summit.

In their previous game, Yanga emerged with a 2-1 victory away over Ndanda at the Nangwanda Sijaona Stadium in Mtwara. On papers, Yanga are favourite to win the match, basing on their recent record, in which out of the 18 matches they have played, they won 15, while Kagera Sugar managed to win only three.

In the first round match, Yanga beat Kagera Sugar 2-1 at the Kaitaba Stadium in Bukoba, last October. Yanga goals were netted by Ibrahim Ajib and Aubrey Chirwa. Since taking charge of Kagera Sugar, Head Coach Mecky Mexime has failed to win against Yanga, losing three matches on the trot.

However, Yanga will underrate their opponents Kagera Sugar at their own peril. The Bukoba lads, who are currently struggling to rescue themselves from relegation zone, are as well capable of pulling a major setback. Kagera Sugar are settled in the 14th position tied with Njombe Mji on 18 points from 20 games each, but Kagera Sugar have superior goal difference.

Majimaji FC are at the bottom after collecting 15 points from 20 games as well. Today’s match is expected to be thrilling as the two sides will enter the pitch facing different situations. After the game, Yanga will break from the league so as to have time to prepare for their return leg match against Township Rollers to be held in Botswana.

Thereafter, they will resume the league action by facing Mtibwa Sugar. Meanwhile, the Tanzania Premier League Board has rescheduled a fixture between Simba and Njombe Mji to a later date. The board’s Chief Executive Officer, Boniface Wambura said the match was earlier scheduled to kick off tomorrow at Sabasaba ground in Njombe.

He said the new fixture will be announced later. Wambura said the move aimed at giving Simba enough time to prepare for the CAF Confederation Cup return match against Al Masry in Port Said next week.

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