Simba aim to stay in title race as JKT plot upset in league tie
What you need to know:
- Both teams are determined to secure maximum points as the season nears its conclusion, with each side eyeing a better position in the league standings
Dar es Salaam. One of Tanzania’s football powerhouses, Simba SC, will face a challenging test this afternoon as they take on JKT Tanzania in a Mainland Tanzania Premier League encounter.
The match is scheduled to kick off at 4.15pm at the Major General Isamuhyo Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
Both teams are determined to secure maximum points as the season nears its conclusion, with each side eyeing a better position in the league standings.
Simba, currently sitting second with 60 points from 23 matches, are aiming for a win to close the gap on arch-rivals Young Africans (Yanga), who top the table with 70 points from 26 matches.
A victory today would see Simba reduce the difference to seven points, with three matches in hand — keeping their title hopes very much alive.
On the other side, JKT Tanzania, who are placed seventh with 32 points from 26 matches, will also be fighting hard for a win. A victory for them would not only end their losing streak against Simba but would also propel them to sixth place, overtaking Dodoma Jiji FC, who currently have 34 points from 27 matches.
For JKT Tanzania, today’s clash presents both a challenge and an opportunity to improve their mid-table standing. However, history is not on JKT Tanzania’s side. Records show that they have failed to register a win or even a draw against Simba in their last five league meetings. Simba have dominated these encounters, showcasing their experience, depth, and consistency.
Their last meeting on December 24, 2024, at the KMC Complex in Dar es Salaam, ended in a narrow 1-0 victory for Simba.
The only goal came in dramatic fashion — a controversial penalty converted by Jean Ahoua in the 90+3rd minute.
The match stirred debate and criticism among football stakeholders, particularly concerning the officiating by referee Kefa Kayombo from Mbeya region, who awarded the late spot-kick. Today’s game promises to be intense, with both teams aware of what’s at stake.
For Simba, it's a chance to continue their pursuit of the league title and apply pressure on Yanga.
For JKT Tanzania, it’s about breaking a poor run of form against Simba and climbing higher up the standings.
