Yanga’s title grip

Holders Young Africans have their title retention bid on a sharp knife edge as they squarely bank on Simba to falter in their very next league game.

Simba will be visiting JKT Ruvu at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam tomorrow in a match which would decide on Yanga’s title grip.

A win for Simba would automatically dethrone Yanga as the holders have a weak ceiling of 55 points should they win all the remaining four matches.

Simba would hit a 56-point mark to complicate Yanga’s title retention strategies as the number of points will be unassailable by the holders.

Unless Simba lose or drop two points through draw, the Yanga will have a lifeline to fight for the title.

Yanga’s 3-2 loss to ‘blood’ brothers Toto ay the CCM Kirumba Stadium in Mwanza on Sunday has severely halted the team’s title aspirations.

There is no option for Yanga except to post victories in all of their four matches in hand. The soccer rivals return leg tie set for May 5 at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam is likely to be reduced to a formality one without having significant impact on title for the holders.

However, Simba are supposed to keep an eye on Azam team that trails the pacemakers by three points after 23 appearances.

Both Simba and Azam need to maintain a three-match winning streak to keep title aspirations for either side on track.

However, Yanga’s title hope might get a boost should they win an appeal for docked points to be decided by the Reconciliation and Disciplinary Committee headed by former Police Commander Alfred Tibaigana today.

Yanga are protesting the ruling of the premier league committee to chop off three match points and as many goals resulting from fielding suspended defender Nadir Haroub in their match against Coastal Union a fortnight ago.