Fear grows for bottom clubs in Mainland Premier League run-in

DAR ES SALAAM: RELEGATION pressure is increasing in the Mainland Premier League after another difficult round of results for teams battling to avoid the drop, with only five matches remaining this season.

Bottom side KMC moved closer to relegation following a 3-0 defeat to Azam FC on Monday, leaving them with just nine points from 25 matches and facing a major challenge to survive.

Mbeya City also remain in danger after suffering a heavy 4-1 defeat to Singida Black Stars, in another Mainland Premier League match played yesterday to keep them in 14th place on 22 points. Namungo’s problems deepened after a 3-1 loss to league leaders Young Africans on Monday leaving them 13th on 25 points, the current relegation playoff position.

Although Tanzania Prisons boosted their survival hopes with a 3-2 victory over Pamba Jiji yesterday, they remain second from bottom with 20 points and still face a difficult fight to avoid relegation. With the season entering its final five matches, the battle for survival is becoming increasingly tight among the teams in the lower half of the table.

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Young Africans, Simba, Azam FC and Singida Black Stars appear safe from relegation as they occupy the top four positions with 60, 58, 52 and 41 points respectively. JKT Tanzania and TRA United are also in a relatively secure position on 38 and 37 points, while Pamba Jiji and Dodoma Jiji, both on 33 points, have created some breathing space above the danger zone.

Fountain Gate, on 29 points and Coastal Union, with 28, still need positive results to avoid being dragged deeper into the relegation fight. Mashujaa and Mtibwa Sugar, both on 27 points, remain under pressure as the gap between them and the playoff zone is narrow.

Namungo currently occupy the playoff position with 25 points, while Mbeya City and Tanzania Prisons sit in the automatic relegation places with 22 and 20 points respectively.

KMC remain rooted to the bottom of the table after managing only two wins all season and are now facing the most serious threat of relegation unless they produce a major turnaround in their remaining fixtures.