DAR ES SALAAM hockey teams, Ngome and Black Mambaz, are set to face off in the city this morning as the battle for the trophy in the 2025 Mapinduzi tournament gathers pace.

It will be one of the day's two encounters in the men's event as the Tanzania Hockey Association (THA)-organized showpiece enters the second day at the Lugalo venue.

In the men's event's second clash, domestic hockey big guns Moshi Khalsa would lock horns with the Twende team in a fixture scheduled to start at 9 am.

In the women's showdown, Buza will take on Ilala in the day's first game slated for 1 pm, whereas Twende will face the TPDF squad in the following tie.

The THA Chairman Kaushik Doshi disclosed that six men's teams and four women's outfits are battling it out in the annual showdown - to be played for three days.

Tanzania People's Defence Force (TPDF) outfit, Moshi Khalsa, Black Mambaz, Zanzibar, Twende, and Ngome make the men's event teams.

The women's event teams are regular campaigners - Twende and TPDF team, and Buza and Ilala - mostly made up of youthful female hockey players.

Contenders in the men's event have been placed in pools A and B, consisting of three squads apiece.

Defending champions Moshi Khalsa, the TPDF team and Twende make Pool A, with Pool B constituting Black Mambaz, Ngome, and Zanzibar.

Doshi pointed out that the women's event would be played in a round robin system.

The THA boss added that the showdown has once again been sponsored by Reliance Insurance Co and Nas Tyre Service Ltd.

This year's showdown will come to an end tomorrow - with the trophy tie set for 10.30 am.

Notable absentees in the 2025 edition of the showpiece are Arusha Twigas, Tanga Stars, JMK Youth Park, and Kili Vijana.

The season-opening hockey showdown is a continuation of efforts by THA to boost hockey promotion domestically.

The Mapinduzi hockey tournament champions are confirmed as the particular season's national hockey club champions and they are guaranteed participation in continental club tournaments.