NAMUNGO FC will look to kick off their 2025/26 Mainland Premier League campaign on the right note when they host Pamba Jiji FC at Majaliwa Stadium this evening, with kick-off scheduled for 7pm.

The Lindi-based side ended last season in style with a resounding 5-1 win over relegated KenGold on June 22, a result that secured them a 9th-place finish on the log. 

Namungo’s campaign produced nine wins, eight draws and 13 defeats for a total haul of 35 points.

Home form, however, was a major concern for coach Juma Mgunda’s side. They managed just 19 points from 15 home matches, winning only five, drawing four and suffering six defeats – ranking them as the league’s third-worst home team. 

Mgunda (pictured) will be eager to turn Majaliwa Stadium into a fortress this term.

Fans will be keen to see Namungo’s new signings in action. Centre-backs Hussein Kazi and Abdallah Mfuko, and full-back Shaffih Maulid are all expected to make their league debuts, while Congolese forward Heritier Makambo – signed from Tabora United – is tipped to lead the line and spearhead their attack.

Pamba Jiji, meanwhile, head into their second consecutive season back in the top flight after their promotion in 2023/24. They finished 11th last term with 34 points from eight wins, 10 draws and 12 defeats, but managed just 12 points away from home – a record they will be desperate to improve to avoid early relegation trouble.

The Mwanza-based club have since appointed former Dodoma Jiji coach Francis Baraza to steady the ship, and he will be targeting at least a point from this opening-day encounter.

Head-to-head history slightly favours Namungo, who won the corresponding fixture 1-0 last October courtesy of an Ibrahim Ali strike, before the sides played out a 1-1 draw in the return match in Mwanza this past April.

With both teams eager to start the campaign strongly, a tightly contested clash is expected under the floodlights in Lindi.