TZW
Top riders Simba, their closest challengers Young Africans, Azam, Tanzania Prisons and Singida United, all are above the 34-point barrier, according to the league standings until this week.
Most of the league teams have been fighting fiercely to avoid relegation and the best fighters noted are Ruvu Shooting, Stand United and Kagera Sugar, who are now middle of nowhere in the race. Njombe Mji with 19 points can reach 34 points if they win all five remaining matches.
With Simba dominating the title-race show with 58 points, Njombe Mji at the opposite side, are crawling at the bottom of the league table with 19 points, but that doesn’t assure them relegation as ten teams above them can be hit by relegation axe most of them with five matches to go.
Songea’s Majimaji, who have carved 20 points are second from bottom while third from bottom are Ndanda FC, who have scrapped 23 points. Also threatened by relegation if they don’t get good results in their last five matches are Mbao FC with 24 points; Kagera Sugar with 26 points and Mbeya City, who are placed 11th on log also with 26 points and Mwadui also with 26 points. Relegation axe is also likely to fall on Stand United with 28 points, Lipuli with 31 points or Ruvu Shooting despite having 34 points if these teams commit blunders in their remaining matches.
What makes this year’s relegation battle a ‘last card’ affair is closeness in point gain. Most of the teams are separated by goal differences or a point margin. At bottom for example, one point separates Njombe Mji and Majimaji and the same single point also separates Ndanda and Mbao FC. Kagera Sugar, who are slowly crawling up to avoid relegation after big efforts under Head Coach, Mecky Maxime are still deeply involved in the battle for survival with Maxime confident to use the remaining five matches to fulfill his survival dream.
Speaking following a 2-1 win over Mtibwa Sugar FC, Maxime said his lads are in high spirits to collect maximum points in the remaining matches. “We will make it since soccer is a tricky game,” he said. Maxime said the matches will be tough, but urged Kagera fans to continue supporting the team. “We are still confident of winning the remaining matches. Kagera fans must be patient.” Kagera Sugar will play two remaining matches at their home ground-Kaitaba against Mbeya City and Njombe Mji. The away matches will be against Stand United, Simba and Lipuli.
Last season Kagera Sugar finished on third position. Also struggling to shrug off relegation threat is Majimaji FC and their Head Coach, Peter Mhina said they will fight tooth and nail to ensure they play again in top flight next season.
Speaking after his team’s 2-2 away draws with Mbao, Mhina said the draw has enhanced his fight against relegation. Majimaji forced a 2-2 draw with Mbao in their match held over the weekend at CCM Kirumba Stadium. Mhina said among the strategies include training extra hard for the remaining matches. Majimaji have remained with five matches and their next game will be against hosts Singida United at Namfua Stadium.
After the match they will travel to Dar es Salaam to play Yanga at the National Stadium. They will play their third game against Mtibwa Sugar in Songea before facing Simba. Their last and decisive match will be against Ruvu Shooting. According to him, Majimaji’s big problem is laxity at the defence and lack of concentration which he said most often allows opponents to score early goals