THE highly anticipated first-round clash of the Premier League between Tanzania’s football giants, Simba SC and Young Africans, has undergone a significant change.

Initially slated to take place at the KMC Complex at Mwenge, Dar es Salaam, on October 19, the match will now be held at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium on the same day, with the kickoff time scheduled for 05:00 PM.

This adjustment was announced yesterday by the Tanzania Premier League Board (TPLB), which also revealed a series of changes to the overall Premier League schedule for the 2024/2025 season.

In a detailed statement, the TPLB explained the rationale behind the adjustments. “The Tanzania Premier League Board (TPLB) has made improvements to the schedule of the NBC Premier League where it has scheduled dates for 14 games that did not have dates in the previous schedule and made date changes in four (4) games,” the statement read.

Additionally, the board has altered the kickoff times for two matches and changed the venue for one match. The adjustments were necessitated by the recent eliminations of Azam FC and Coastal Union from the CAF interclub competitions, allowing their matches to be rescheduled within the domestic league.

“The complete NBC Premier League schedule for the 2024/2025 season is available on the website of the Tanzania Premier League Board (www.ligikuu.co.tz),” the statement further noted.

The changes notably impact Azam and Coastal Union, whose fixtures were initially left unscheduled to accommodate their participation in the CAF competitions. With their eliminations, the TPLB has now slotted their domestic league matches into the calendar.

Azam’s rescheduled matches include encounters against KMC on September 19, Pamba Jiji on September 13, and Coastal Union on September 22. Additionally, Azam will face KenGold on October 29 and Singida Black Stars on November 3.

Coastal Union, on the other hand, will now meet Mashujaa on September 13, Namungo on September 17, Kagera Sugar on October 28, and Singida Black Stars on November 7.

The upcoming clash between Simba and Young Africans on October 19 will mark the second meeting between the two fierce rivals in less than three months. The last time these titans of Tanzanian football faced off was in the semi-final of the Community Shield on August 8, where Young Africans emerged victorious with a 1-0 win.

Simba will be looking to avenge their previous losses, including a narrow 2-1 defeat to Young Africans in their last Premier League encounter on April 20, earlier this year. 

The Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, known for its electrifying atmosphere during such high-stakes matches, is expected to be a cauldron of excitement as fans from both sides flock to witness what promises to be another thrilling chapter in this storied rivalry.

The adjustments made by the TPLB to the Premier League schedule reflect the board’s commitment to ensuring a well-organized and competitive league season. As the 2024/2025 campaign progresses, the rescheduled fixtures, including the much-anticipated Simba vs. Young Africans showdown, are set to add further intrigue and excitement to Tanzania’s top-flight football.

With the full league schedule now available online, fans can plan ahead and ensure they don’t miss a moment of the action in what is shaping up to be a compelling season.