Premier soccer league kicks off

Mainland premier soccer league kicks off at the six venues with all twelve teams in action this afternoon.

Holders Simba face friendly looking African Lyon that won the premiership berth in the previous season at the Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

Simba’s rivals Young Africans are already in Dodoma to play against Police FC team that rejoined the top flight league after a year in the first division.

Arusha’s Sheikh Amri Abeid Stadium will be the home venue for newly promoted AFC who invite Azam from Dar es Salaam.

Mtibwa Sugar have an away assignment against Majimaji in Songea while Toto Africa host newly promoted Ruvu Shooting Stars at their CCM Kirumba Stadium in Mwanza.

Kagera Sugar are at home to visiting Ruvu JKT at the Kaitaba Stadium in Bukoba to sum up the premiership opening fixtures for today.

The league would be temporarily suspended for twenty days to pave the way for national team’s camping ahead of the 2012 African Nations cup qualifier opener against Algeria in Algiers on September 4.

The suspension will be for Simba and Young Africans teams who have bulk of the national team players.

Simba play their second match against Azam FC at their base in Dar es Salaam while Young Africans will be in Arusha on September 11 to honour their fixture against AFC Arusha.

Not all the premier soccer teams have players in the national team.

Highlight of the league action will be on the outcome of three matches involving Young Africans, Simba and Azam FC.

Ruvu Shooting’s prowess will be tested to the limits by Toto Africa who survived relegation wrath miraculously in the previous season.

In Songea, still fans would be keen to know whether the team is strong enough to unleash its superiority over visiting Mtibwa Sugar.

Their previous season’s match played at the same venue produced bribery scandal repercussions as the visitors lost by a lone goal.

Holders Simba have a hurdle to cross as they face Lyon who claimed a point during their previous season’s return leg to stain Simba’s rollercoaster show and delay title celebrations for weeks.

The first half of the league season winds up on November 7 before resuming on January 15. The league season ends on April 10.