Mainland Premier League teams have stepped up their preparations for the forthcoming domestic season, which kicks off next weekend. Football fans across the country are bracing for an intriguing title race that is expected to be the most open in memory, with Azam FC having confirmed in recent seasons that they have now joined Simba and Young Africans as a cluster of teams capable of going all the way to win the title.
Azam players arrive at the Julius Nyerere International Airport on Tuesday from Johannesburg, South Africa, where they had pitched a week-long training camp ahead of the Vodacom Premier League which kicks off next weekend.
Tanga-based Coastal Union are also looking to be serious contenders and have invested heavily in recruitment as they bid to mount a sober challenge for the title, they last won almost 25 years ago.
And ahead of the league’s opening fixtures, excitement is beginning to build up especially for the Community Shield encounter to pit defending Champions Yanga against Azam FC, who finished second last season.
The match to serve as a curtain-raiser to the top flight league will be staged at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Saturday and as usual, matches pitting Yanga and Azam have always produced sparkling fire power.
Azam lost back to back league matches against Yanga last season but this came after the ‘ice cream makers’ dominated the fixture for the previous two seasons. Ahead of the encounter, both teams have been involved in pre-season international friendly matches.
Azam arrived yesterday from Johannesburg, South Africa, where they had set up a week-long camp, in which they played four build up matches, losing three – against Kaizer Chiefs (3- 0), Orlando Pirates (2-1) and a 1-0 defeat to Moroka Swallows — and posted a 1-0 victory over Mamelodi Sundowns.
Yanga, on the other hand, chose to remain within the country’s borders and have played a couple of international friendly matches as well. They have also tested their squad against local sides.
The Jangwani Street side comprehensively thumped SC Villa of Uganda 4-1, beat visiting 3Pillars of Nigeria 1-0 and fought to a 2-2 draw against URA of Uganda. Yanga also beat Mtibwa Sugar 3-1 and were held to a barren draw by newly promoted Rhino Rangers of Tabora.
It remained to be seen, who will lift the Shield won by Simba last season. Last season Azam FC allowed Simba to come from behind to snatch a 3-2 win in the Community Shield match.
Striker John Bocco and Ivorian striker Kipre Tcheche put Azam ahead in the first 30 minutes but Ghanaian striker Daniel Akuffor pulled one goal back for Simba a minute before the break, while Emmanuel Okwi and Mwinyi Kazimoto’s second half goals steered a sensational come back and eventually victory for the Msimbazi Street side. The Community Shield apart, other top flight teams have also been in rigorous preparations for the past few months.
The likes of Simba, Coastal Union of Tanga, Mtibwa Sugar of Morogoro and Kagera Sugar of Bukoba have been active in the past months. In-fact, Kagera Sugar are currently in Kampala, Uganda for a series of friendly matches.
Meanwhile, Simba are expected to play strength-testing friendly matches against 3Pillars of Nigeria at the National Stadium today.
Source Tanzania Daily News
