Simba, Azam face tough fixtures.

VODACOM Premier League (VPL) continues on Wednesday with Azam FC eyeing for a return to the top spot as they face Mgambo JKT, while Simba SC is targeting to close the gap with the top two with a game against JKT Ruvu.

Azam lost the driver’s seat to their closest competitor Young African SC over the weekend, after being held to a 1-1 draw against African Sports. The ‘ice cream makers’ travel to Tanga region on Wednesday, with a mission to grab maximum points against the army side at the Mkwakwani Stadium.

A win for Azam will see them moving top on 39 points, three above Yanga, who are on the sideline until tomorrow when they face Songea’s Majimaji at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

Currently, the two sides are tied on 36 points but Yanga are on the lead due to goal difference advantage. Stewart Hall lads face an uphill task over Mgambo JKT, who in their previous game recorded a resounding 5-1 victory over their fellow army men JKT Ruvu. This suggests that Azam have to put a better performance otherwise, they will fail to achieve their target.

To ensure they regain the top position Hall’s squad need to win the game by big margin, while praying for the worse to happen to their closer competitor in their tomorrow’s game.

Giants Simba, who had a nice weekend extend its stay on the third place following a 1-0 win over Mtibwa Sugar, will face a tough call against the side coached by the Msimbazi Street side legend, Abdallah Kibaden.

On papers, Simba under their interim head coach Jackson Mayanja, who started his duties with his new club with a victory over Mtibwa Sugar last Saturday are favourites to win the match today at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

Mayanja, who took charge of the team few weeks ago following the dismissal of British tactician Dylan Kerr, started his duty with the club on a right foot by winning his first game in-charge over the weekend.

He will be looking at maintaining their winning formula but should be on his guard because his side will be playing against the wounded JKT Ruvu, who suffered a 5-1 thrashing at the hands of Mgambo JKT.

The Ugandan tactician will also be targeting for another victory to ensure they keep pressure on leaders Yanga and second placed Azam. However, it will not be an easy task for Simba because Kibaden’s side will also be targeting for a comeback after the humiliation in their previous game.

Kibaden, the former Simba player and coach was quoted as saying that he is looking forward for the clash, saying they have put the defeat against Mgambo behind them.

Other games lined up for the day are Ndanda FC against Mbeya City at the Nagwanda Sijaona Stadium in Mtwara, while Tanzania Prisons will host Coastal Union at the Sokoine Stadium in Mbeya and Toto Africans who lost at home against Prisons will be in Shinyanga playing against Stand United.

The league will continue tomorrow with Yanga facing Majimaji in Dar es Salaam, while African Sports who is currently at the bottom of the league will welcome Mtibwa Sugar at the Mkwakwani Stadium and Mwadui FC will host Kagera Sugar in Shinyanga.

So far Yanga’s Amis Tambwe is leading the goal scorer with ten goals followed by Simba’s Hamis Kiiza and Elias Maguri of Stand United with nine goals each.