Title race heats up as Yanga, Simba face crucial fixtures

By Guardian Correspondent , The Guardian
Published at 10:13 AM Jun 21 2025
Title race heats up as Yanga, Simba face crucial fixtures
Photo: File
Title race heats up as Yanga, Simba face crucial fixtures

AS the Mainland Premier League season draws to a close, the eyes and ears of football fans are focused on the matches of defending champions Young Africans (yanga) and Simba SC, which will take place at different venues tomorrow.

Young Africans will be at the Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar hosting Dodoma Jiji, aiming for a crucial win ahead of their final league match against Simba scheduled for next Wednesday.

A win for Young Africans is extremely important, considering they currently lead the Premier League standings with 76 points - just one point ahead of second-placed Simba, who have 75 points after both teams have played 28 matches.

To reach those 76 points, Young Africans have won 25 matches, drawn once, and lost only twice, scoring 76 goals and conceding just ten.

Any result other than a win could be a major setback for Young Africans heading into their season finale against Simba.

At the moment, Young Africans are chasing a treble this season, having already secured the Community Shield. 

In addition to the league title, they are also in the running for the Federation Cup, in which they will face Singida Black Stars in the final at Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar on June 28.

To achieve this dream, Young Africans, under coach Miloud Hamdi, must win all three of their remaining matches.

A win against Dodoma Jiji would also ease the pressure, as it would mean they only need a draw against Simba in their final match to be crowned champions.

On the other hand, Simba will face Kagera Sugar, who have already been relegated, at the KMC Complex tomorrow.

With 75 points, Simba have won 24 matches, drawn three, and lost only once.

A win is also crucial for Simba ahead of their final showdown against arch-rivals Young Africans, given the tight league standings.

Securing all three points would keep Simba's title hopes alive, as they could clinch the championship if they defeat Young Africans next Wednesday at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.

Aware of this, Simba, coached by Fadlu Davids, will be fully motivated to secure a win against Kagera Sugar in tomorrow’s clash.

As it stands, the outcome of tomorrow's two matches could very well determine who will be crowned Mainland Premier League champions this season.