Limping Azam FC hosts deflated Kinondoni Municipal Council FC

25Feb 2023
Michael Mwebe
Dar es Salaam
Sport
The Guardian
Limping Azam FC hosts deflated Kinondoni Municipal Council FC

THE Azam Complex Stadium will see Azam FC and Kinondoni Municipal Council FC do battle in 2022/23 NBC Premier League this Saturday evening, in what will be one of the most interesting games in the latest round of league fixtures.

Kinondoni Municipal Council FC midfielder, Emmanuel Mvuyekure (L), challenges his Azam FC counterpart, Sospeter Bajana when the clubs faced each other in the previous season's NBC Premier League clash held at Azam Complex Stadium in Dar es Salaam. PHOTO: COURTESY OF AZAM FC

The Dar es Salaam clubs are separated by 21 points in the 2022/23 NBC Premier League table, with third-placed Azam FC leading 12th-placed Kinondoni Municipal Council FC.

Azam FC is currently off the back of a tough 1-1 draw with Simba SC in a tie that took place at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium on Tuesday.

The Chamazi-based Azam FC is currently on a three-match winless streak and heads into the game against Kinondoni Municipal Council FC needing a swift response.

With fourth-placed Singida Big Stars playing later on Monday, this encounter is a magnificent opportunity for Azam FC to steer clear by three points and also reduce the gap with Simba SC, who will subsequently have a game in hand, to seven points.

Azam FC’s assistant coach Aggrey Morris admitted they are out of the title race and are now focused on ensuring they finish in the top four and winning against Kinondoni Municipal Council FC will go a long way in keeping off the chasing pack.

The gaffer noted: “In fact, if you look at our current position, it is difficult for Azam FC to become champions. What we are looking at is making sure we finish in the top four... we recognize that and our focus is on finishing in the top four.”

On the other side, Kinondoni Municipal Council FC comes into this clash having suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to defending champions Young Africans SC, alias Yanga, to stretch the former’s winless run to six league games having suffered five losses in the run.

Thierry Hitimana-coached Kinondoni Municipal Council FC had suffered back-to-back defeats to Namungo FC (3-1) and Ruvu Shooting (2-1) in the 2022/23 NBC Premier League before that, leaving the club just one point clear of the relegation zone, as it occupies 12th place.

Ahmed Ally, Kinondoni Municipal Council FC's assistant coach, said they have had only two days of preparation for this game and the technical bench will look to seek a balance between players who are recovering from the game against Yanga and those who are fresh to get a positive result.

In head-to-head stats, Azam FC and Kinondoni Municipal Council FC have met in nine league matches since the 2018/19 season.

The ice cream makers have claimed four wins compared to Kinondoni Municipal Council FC’s three, while two games have been drawn.

Kinondoni Municipal Council FC is yet to win away in the rivalry, though, suffering four defeats from their five matches as visitors.

When the teams met earlier this season, at Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam in October last year, Kinondoni Municipal Council FC claimed a 2-1 home win thanks to goals netted by George Makang’a and Steven Nzigamasabo.

It was a third successive home win in the rivalry for the Kinondoni Municipal Council-owned outfit.

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