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Azam FC goalkeeper Mathias Kigonya has explained his work is to save penalties hence the reason he denied Simba SC's Clatous Chama in a Mainland Premier League match on Sunday.

The Ugandan keeper made his debut for the ‘Ice Cream Makers’ in a fixture he put up a man-of-the-match display as they snatched a 2-2 draw against the reigning champions at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.

After Simba took a deserved lead through striker Meddie Kagere in the 28th minute, they were awarded a penalty two minutes later after Luis Miquisonne was brought down inside the box.

The Zambian midfielder stepped up to take the penalty which Kigonya dived the right way to save and deny them a chance to score their second goal.

Kigonya then went on to put up a superb display as Azam recovered from 1-0 down after the break to score two goals in the second half and as they headed to win 2-1, Simba snatched a late point from Luis Miquisonne's strike.

The former Sofapaka keeper has now explained why he saved the penalty from Chama, insisting he was just doing his job.

“It was just a normal penalty from Clatous [Chama] which I had to save because that is my job, it is the reason I stand between the sticks,” Kigonya said as quoted by Sokalabongo.

“I have to keep the goal safe, it is my duty to protect my team from conceding goals because we all have our duties to perform and my target is also to make sure we don’t concede easily.”

On Azam getting a point from the fixture, Kigonya said: “A point from the game is not bad considering we were playing away from and also we had already conceded early on into the game.

“We now must shift our focus to the next league match because we want to make sure we do our best in the upcoming matches.”

The draw enabled Azam to reach 33 points and remain third on the 18-team table while Simba are second on 39 points and Yanga SC are top with 44 points from 18 matches.

While Azam will shift focus to league matches, Simba will now prepare for the Caf Champions League group stage, where they are scheduled to kick off their campaign with an away game against Vita Club of Congo on February 12.

Tomas Soucek’s controversial red card against Fulham has been overturned on appeal, with the Czech midfielder avoiding a three-match ban for catching Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic with his elbow.

An uneventful Premier League meeting at Craven Cottage on Saturday had David Moyes’ men playing out the closing stages of a 0-0 draw with 10 men.

Referee Mike Dean was asked by his VAR colleagues to review the incident in question on a pitch-side monitor, with many left baffled as to how he came to a sending off call that West Ham have now had rescinded.

What has been said?

Prior to West Ham confirming their appeal had been successful, manager David Moyes had told reporters: "My reflections are that I'm disappointed with football in general, that the officials involved would allow these situations to take over the game. The first question is about that. Given the decision, there was no decision to give.

“I think every footballer's got a responsibility to do the correct thing. I feel that officials are giving footballers the opportunity to gain success in some way from their actions.

“The only people who can stop it are the officials. If players are going to be successful, gaining an advantage in the game, we can't let that happen."

West Ham left-back Aaron Cresswell has added: “I've watched it back and I don't understand what they've seen.

“Everybody who knows Tomas knows he's not that type of person, far from it, and even Mitrovic has said he hardly touched him.

“He's not even looking towards Mitrovic so it's clearly frustrating.”

What happened?

Soucek was looking to attack a late free kick prior to his dismissal against Fulham.

Mitrovic had been asked to keep an eye on the in-form midfielder and was keen to get to grips with the 25-year-old’s shirt.

As Soucek sought to free himself, he raised his arms and caught the Cottagers striker in the face with the point of his elbow.

There appeared to be little intent on the part of the Hammers talisman, but he was still sent for an early bath.

The bigger picture

VAR is now back under the spotlight, in a season that continues to be dominated by contentious calls.

West Ham wasted no time, though, in asking the relevant authorities to reassess the incident in question and will be delighted to learn that Soucek has avoided a suspension.

He will now be available for an FA Cup fifth-round clash with Manchester United on Tuesday and Premier League meetings with Sheffield United and Tottenham.

Further reading

Marcelo Bielsa has Leeds United operating at “150 per cent” of their capacity, claims Mateusz Klich, with the Whites waiting to discover whether their enigmatic boss will be signing a new contract.

An entertaining side from Elland Road have taken the Premier League by storm this season, with their unique brand of football winning plenty of admirers.

Bielsa has enhanced his reputation across a productive spell in English football, but questions continue to be asked of his future.

What has been said?

“We seem like we can play to 150 per cent of our capacity (because of Bielsa), because we have all played the best football in our lives and we are all in the best physical condition,” Klich has told reporters ahead of a meeting with Crystal Palace on Monday.

The Poland international has added on his experience at Elland Road, having been snapped up from FC Twente in 2017: “The first season wasn’t great, but then Marcelo Bielsa came in as manager and the rest is history.”

How long is Bielsa’s contract?

The 65-year-old tactician has been working on one-year deals throughout his time at Leeds.

The latest of those was signed last summer and will expire when the 2020-21 campaign comes to a close.

Long-term thinking has never been part of Bielsa’s makeup, with there a desire on his part to never get too comfortable and to ensure that he always has a challenge to take on.

Leeds have presented him with that, but he has already delivered on his remit by guiding the Whites back into the Premier League for the first time in 16 years.

The bigger picture

Bielsa’s high-energy approach has delivered rich rewards for Leeds, with promotion secured under his guidance in 2019-20 at the second time of asking.

His side have been full of goals in the current campaign, with only the top five proving to be more productive in the final third, but leaks have sprung at the back – with only second-from-bottom West Brom conceding more goals.

The Whites want to maintain their recent momentum by tying a highly-rated coach to fresh terms, but his career history suggests that a decision will not be made until the summer.

Further reading

Former Chelsea striker Tony Cascarino has hit out at Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after he struggled to make his mark in Arsenal’s 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa.

He recently returned to Mikel Arteta’s team after attending to some family issues that kept him out for a few weeks, but he has scored just two Premier League goals in 2021 which came in the Gunners’ 3-0 hammering of Newcastle United on January 18.

On Saturday, Aubameyang was thrown into the fray as a replacement for Alexandre Lacazette in the 59th minute but he could not cancel out Ollie Watkins' second-minute opener at Villa Park.

The 31-year-old managed just eight touches in the final 31 minutes and did not manage to get his only shot in the encounter on target.

In his assessment of the game, Cascarino – who also played for Aston Villa – was critical of Willian, who replaced injured Thomas Partey, for not making an impact as well after Arsenal dropped to 10th on the league table.

“Arsenal got frustrated,” Cascarino told talkSport. “The biggest disappointment for Arsenal is when you see two players that come on, who have been quality… Willian was poor, he kept giving away the ball and Aubameyang.

“These are two top-quality players who have done a hell of a lot in football that came on and made no impact at all.

“Aubameyang, I didn’t even know he’d really come on.

“He’s been far too anonymous this year as a player because he is a player that Mikel Arteta can’t afford for him not to change games and make things happen.”

After scoring 22 Premier League goals in each of the last two seasons for the Gunners, Aubameyang is struggling to find the back of the net with just five goals in 19 league appearances so far this campaign.

He will be aiming to fire Arteta's side to winning ways, after going winless in their last three games, when they host Leeds United for their next match on February 14.

Football clubs traditionally display the trophies they have won in gleaming cabinets as a visual representation of the success that has been achieved over the years.

Trophy rooms are popular attractions in the stadiums of clubs such as Barcelona, Celtic and Liverpool, with fans flocking to get a photo with the various pieces of silverware.

On your next visit to the trophy room as you survey the polished displays, you might wonder if they are originals or replicas.

With that in mind, Goal takes a look at whether clubs get to keep the trophies they win.

When it comes to possession of trophies, different competitions have their own particular customs and an occasion may well arise when a club gets to keep a trophy.

Generally speaking, however, it is usually a case that a club keeps a trophy temporarily or else they are given a replica.

The winners of the Premier League get to keep the trophy for a limited period of time after they win it and are expected to return it to the league at least three weeks before the end of a season.

In actual fact there are two Premier League trophies - they are identical, with the reigning champions keeping one for a season and another which always remains in possession of the league.

While Premier League champions do not get to keep the trophy permanently, some competitions have had rules in the past which stipulated that the trophy could be kept in certain circumstances.

For example, from 1969 until 2008, a UEFA rule existed which allowed the European Cup/Champions League trophy to be kept by a team that won it five times or, alternatively, three times in a row.

A total of six clubs have made the Champions League trophy their property as a result. Real Madrid, Ajax, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, AC Milan and Barcelona each have a version in their own trophy rooms.

That rule was changed ahead of the 2008-09 season and now UEFA keeps the original, with the Champions League winners now given a replica trophy instead.

A similar situation to the Champions League applies to the World Cup trophy.

Brazil famously kept the original World Cup trophy - the Jules Rimet 'Victory' trophy - when they won the tournament for the third time in 1970. 

Unfortunately for the Brazilian football federation (CBF), the trophy was stolen from them and never recovered, with suggestions that it was melted down by thieves.

The rule which stipulated that a country could keep the World Cup trophy if they won it three times is no longer in place and, just as UEFA keeps the Champions League cup, FIFA now keeps the original.

However, every World Cup winner is given a gold-plated replica - known as a FIFA World Cup Winners' Trophy - for their trophy case.

The idea that winning a competition three times was enough to earn ownership was widely adhered to and applied in the early days of the FA Cup too.

Though it is no longer in place, Manchester City can say that they now own the FA Cup - the old trophy, at least - having purchased it at an auction in 2021.

"This cup is a visible reminder of the rich and long history of English football to which Manchester City is inextricably entwined," said City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak.

"Winning this actual trophy in 1904 was a turning point for the club and for the city of Manchester in that it firmly cemented football in the heart of its community."

Borussia Dortmund director Sebastian Kehl says Edin Terzic still has the full support of the board despite another damaging Bundesliga defeat.

Dortmund slipped to sixth in the standings after their eighth defeat of the season away at Freiburg at the weekend, with questions now being asked over Terzic's position.

Dortmund are now in danger of missing out on a top-four finish, but the man who runs the club's player department has insisted that the interim manager's short-term future is secure.

What was said?

"Every day we see how Edin Terzic works with the players both professionally and emotionally," Kehl, who has been Dortmund's head of first-team football since 2018, told Kicker after the Freiburg loss.

"How meticulously he goes to work and how clearly he addresses problem points openly and honestly. We, therefore, have absolutely no criticism of his work."

Terzic's record at Dortmund

BVB drafted in Terzic following the sacking of Lucien Favre in early December, but the German head coach has so far been unable to turn the team's fortunes around.

Dortmund have lost four of their opening nine Bundesliga matches under Terzic, who has only seen his side keep one clean sheet since his arrival in the Westfalenstadion dugout.

The German giants have, however, progressed in the DFB-Pokal on his watch, with a 3-2 home win over Paderborn on February 2 seeing them through to the quarter-finals of the competition.

The bigger picture

Dortmund officials will have a decision to make if the team's recent inconsistency continues in the coming weeks, with a vital fixture against Hoffenheim up next on Saturday.

Terzic is on a contract which is due to run until the end of the season, but Dortmund could seek to replace him early amid links with a number of high profile managerial candidates.

RB Leipzig boss Julian Nagelsmann has been touted as a potential long-term successor for Favre, while Borussia Monchengladbach's Marco Rose and RB Salzburg coach Jesse Marsch are also reportedly in the frame.

Further reading

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says David de Gea must “earn his place” at Manchester United, with another error-prone performance from the Spaniard against Everton leading to calls for goalkeeping change at Old Trafford.

A once reliable number one – who has four Player of the Year awards to his name with the Red Devils – endured an evening to forget against the Toffees, with a dramatic contest ending in a 3-3 draw.

Fingers of blame have been pointed in De Gea’s direction for pushing the ball into Abdoulaye Doucoure’s path for Everton’s first goal, while he also held back when allowing Dominic Calvert-Lewin to prod home a late leveller.

What has been said?

“Every player has to earn his place,” United boss Solskjaer told reporters when reflecting on more dropped points for his side.

“We’re a squad with competition and that applies to every single one in the team.”

Red Devils legend Gary Neville told Sky Sports on the day: “David de Gea, there, at the end. He doesn't even come in line with the ball.

“I think you want the goalkeeper to come and eat the striker. You just want your goalkeeper to come out there and absolutely take him out. Goalkeepers are so quick off their line nowadays.

“It wasn't a great night for the goalkeeper, it wasn't a great night for the centre-backs either and we've known from the start Manchester United needed a stronger centre-back pairing. That hasn't changed. No point going on about it tonight. It's cost them.”

Another United icon, Roy Keane, has said: “I’m certainly not his [De Gea’s] biggest fan. The one thing you want from your goalkeeper is courage and he didn’t show that for the equalising goal. Not a good sign.”

The bigger picture

Calls for United to bring in reinforcements at the back are nothing new, with plenty suggesting that another centre-half and added competition at right-back are required at Old Trafford.

Between the sticks, Solskjaer does have alternative options that he can turn to.

England international Dean Henderson has been waiting patiently for his opportunity after returning to Manchester from two productive loan spells at Sheffield United.

He has seen three Premier League outings this season, but the last of those came back on December 17.

It is not the first time, though, that De Gea has faced questions of form and favour, and the 30-year-old has managed to retain his position to this point.

United, though, are looking to chase down long-awaited trophies this season, across multiple fronts, and need a reliable last line of defence in order to bring a four-year wait for major silverware to a close.

Further reading

Federation of Uganda Football Associations president Moses Magogo has left the future of head coach Johnathan McKinstry lying in the hands of a technical team.

Magogo revealed the performance of the Northern Irish coach is currently under review by the technical team who will give a final report on the assessment.

McKinstry found himself under intense criticism after Uganda were eliminated at the group stage of the African Nations Championship in Cameroon.

They finished at the bottom of their group after losing to Morocco and Togo, and drawn Rwanda 0-0 in their opening game.

“There is an evaluation which is going on, and I always listen to my technical people, even during the appointments, my job is to say yes or no,” Magogo said as was quoted by Sports Nation.

“I am not saying we are going to fire him or not, but the fact is that there is an evaluation ongoing.

“At the moment, we are taking stock of what he has done since he arrived here and whatever the technical report that will come to us in the next few days, we will come out with a final decision.

“And as Fufa, we are not shy with our decision, we will come out and say that we have discontinued our engagement or we are giving him approval. I have my personal view as Uganda fan but I believe that the technical people are better in analysing.”

Magogo revisited how he stood with the previous coaches, Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic and Sebastien Desabre, who were later sacked despite helping the team qualify for Afcon finals.

“When the technical people have done their evaluation, I have also come out clear,” the Caf Executive Committee member added.

“When they wanted to fire Micho, I came out and said that he should be given more time and I was later justified. I said the same during Desabre’s early days when results were not coming, and I am proud of my decision.”

After elimination, Uganda are set to focus on African Cup of Nations qualification as two games against Burkina Faso and Malawi remains.

The junior sides – the Hippos and the Cubs – are preparing to feature in the Afcon U20 and U17 editions competitions, respectively.

Thomas Partey says it is “amazing” to have Martin Odegaard at Arsenal, with the Gunners midfielder hoping a Norwegian playmaker can help Mikel Arteta’s side hit ultimate targets before transfer options are weighed up.

A highly-rated 22-year-old midfielder is set to see out the season at Emirates Stadium, with a lack of game time under Zinedine Zidane at Santiago Bernabeu leading a former teenage prodigy to north London.

It remains to be seen how long Odegaard will spend in English football, with various alternative targets for Arteta being mooted, but Partey is delighted to have him on board.

What has been said?

“It’s difficult when you play against him. I remember playing against him, he’s so intelligent, he is always quick on the ball, he doesn’t give you a chance to win the ball,” Partey has told Stadium Astro.

“It’s amazing to have him here. I hope he has a great season and he’s able to help us achieve what we want to achieve.”

What are the terms of Odegaard’s loan?

There is no obligation to buy included in the deal that has taken Odegaard onto Arsenal’s books.

As things stand, he will be due back in Madrid when the 2020-21 campaign comes to a close.

The Gunners may decide to explore the option of a permanent deal, though, as the general consensus is that long-term successors are required to fill the boots of Mesut Ozil.

A World Cup winner departed for Fenerbahce during the winter transfer window, bringing a long-running saga regarding his future to a close.

Odegaard is helping to fill that void, but has been restricted to two substitute appearances so far as Emile Smith Rowe occupies a No.10 role for Arteta’s side.

The bigger picture

Arsenal are being linked with a number of creative midfielders heading towards the summer.

Odegaard has put himself in the shop window by taking on a Premier League challenge, but there is no guarantee that he could be prised from Real’s clutches.

Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish is considered by many to fit the mould at Emirates Stadium, while long-standing interest has been held in Lyon star Houssem Aouar – a man expected to make a big-money move away from the comforts of his native France at some stage in the near future.

Further reading

Arteta confirms Partey injury in Arsenal loss to Aston Villa

Arteta angered by more costly mistakes from Arsenal after being ‘better team’ in Aston Villa defeat

Which are the world's richest football clubs in 2021?

Steve McManaman has slammed Alisson for his "amateurish" display against Manchester City, insisting the Liverpool goalkeeper "had the worst game that anyone has seen in the Premier League", but Georginio Wijnaldum has spoken out in defence of the Brazilian custodian.

Alisson had a day to forget as Liverpool suffered a third successive defeat at Anfield, this time at the hands of Pep Guardiola's City.

The South American gifted the Blues two of their goals in a 4-1 victory which saw them move 10 points clear of the defending champions at the top of the Premier League.

What was said?

Former Liverpool midfielder McManaman told Premier League Productions post-match: "The goalkeeper has possibly had the worst game that anyone has seen in the Premier League and for Liverpool.

"They get back into the game at 1-1 and then inexplicably because he just throws the game away – not throws the game away they’re the wrong words – but he puts the game out of Liverpool’s reach with really amateurish mistakes.

"It’s very unlike him. We know he missed the last game through illness but he was back in today. Even for the fourth goal which you don’t want to take away from a lovely strike from Phil Foden but you’re almost thinking that’s a mistake by the goalkeeper too. It was really uncharacteristic play."

Reds star Wijnaldum has sought to defend his club colleague by telling Liverpool's official website: “When you play football, you always know everyone can make a mistake. If you look at the whole season, I don’t know how many players made a mistake.

“And if you look at the other side, he [Alisson] saved us so much. It will always happen that a goalkeeper makes a mistake. You just try to fix it in the game.

“We were more disappointed that we couldn’t change it around for him because if you look at since he was here how many times he saved us – he won trophies for us – it’s difficult that we couldn’t change it around for him.”

What were Alisson's mistakes? 

Liverpool had not long got themselves back into the game at Anfield before Alisson's first error, with a Mohamed Salah penalty having cancelled out Ilkay Gundogan's opener.

The Brazil international tried to get the ball upfield quickly after receiving a back pass from Fabinho, but fluffed his lines, with the ball ending up straight at Phil Foden's feet.

Foden then danced his way into the box before teeing up Gundogan for his second of the game, leaving Alisson with his head in his hands.

That moment clearly affected the Reds' keeper, as he repeated the same mistake moments later, this time passing the ball straight to Bernardo Silva to set up Raheem Sterling for the simplest of close-range headers.

What's next for Liverpool?

Liverpool will now benefit from a week off to dust themselves down before a must-win trip to Leicester City on February 13.

Klopp's men are now only one point ahead of Chelsea and West Ham in fourth, and will be in real danger of missing out on Champions League qualification if they fail to rediscover a consistent streak.

Further reading

Vipers SC head coach Fred Kajoba believes his charges could have easily scored eight goals or even 10 against Malaba Youth Development Association (Myda) FC in the Ugandan Premier League game played on Saturday.

The reigning champions produced their 'A' game to beat the promoted side 7-0 at St Mary's Stadium. 

Yunus Sentamu and Paul Mucureezi scored braces and additional goals from Ceasar Manzoki, Disan Galiwango, and Ibrahim Orit handed the Venoms the huge win from the rescheduled game.

However, despite the big win, the tactician believes his charges should have done better and get more goals.

"Definitely I am happy with the result and the performance," Kajoba said as quoted by Football256.

"That is the way for a big team like Vipers, but we should not be resting because there is a lot that needs to be improved. Yes, the result flatters, but our performance should have been better because we could have scored eight or ten on the day."

The veteran tactician believes his charges are still an unfinished side and have the potential to get positive outcomes convincingly and consistently.

"There are certain things that need to be improved. I know how good this group can be and am sure we can get to a level where we produce such results consistently," Kajoba added.

"Until we get there, we are not resting, and we shall not celebrate the victory as much though we take the positives from the game."  

Initially, the tactician had expressed his delight with the competition in the club's attacking department.

The Ugandan Premier League champions have established strikers - Caeser Manzoki, Milton Karisa, Paul Mucureezi, Yunus Ssentamu, and Dan Sserunkuma who are giving their best to be regulars.

Kajoba, however, stated he will be giving a chance to the players who impress him in training.

After Saturday's win, the Venoms moved third on the log with 10 points from the four games they have played. The Kitende-based charges have registered three wins and a draw, scoring 15 goals in the process and conceding one. 

Myda are 15th with one point after five games. They have lost four games and drawn just one, scoring eight goals and conceding 19.
 

New Mamelodi Sundowns signing Rushine De Reuck accepts that he will have to work hard to earn a place in the Masandawana starting XI.

De Reuck joined the 2016 African champions last week from Maritzburg United, where he had built his name on the back of some highly impressive performances over three-and-a-half seasons.

Having helped Maritzburg escape relegation last season he'll now be focused on trying to help the Brazilians retain their league title, while also challenging for the Caf Champions League, as well as the Nedbank Cup, another trophy the Pretoria side won last season.

“It’s a step in the right direction for me, something I’ve always wanted, something I’ve worked hard towards," the 25-year-old told the Sundowns website.

"I’m excited to be part of this team. I know that I’ll get better and it gives me a lot of motivation to be here. I’m also a bit nervous but it’s normal when you are in a new environment."

The Cape Town-born former Milano United player will be competing with the likes of Ricardo Nascimento, Mosa Lebusa, Brian Mandela Onyango and Bangaly Soumahoro for a place in the starting XI. Rivaldo Coetzee has been used mainly in midfield, but is also a centre-back by trade.

With such competition, De Reuck knows he won't walk straight into the team.

“My short term goal is to try and settle in as quickly as possible on and off the field, also I would like to break into the squad as soon as I can but I know that it won’t be easy," he said.

"Having Cape Town boys [the likes of Lyle Lakay, Jody February, Grant Margeman and Haashim Domingo] makes things a bit easier you know, going to help me settle in about faster and I’ve also played with Lebo Maboe and Brian Onyango at Maritzburg United in the past so that helps me as well.

"Very happy to be here and can’t wait to contribute to this amazing club."

De Reuck has signed a five-year deal with Downs. He could potentially make his league debut for his new club when Sundowns host Baroka FC on 21 February.

Jurgen Klopp is facing “real questions” for the first time in his Liverpool reign, says Jamie Carragher, with the Reds left sweating on a top-four finish as they struggle for form in 2021.

An untimely wobble is being endured by the men from Merseyside, with three successive defeats suffered at Anfield for the first time since 1963 – with Burnley, Brighton and Manchester City landing crushing blows on the reigning Premier League champions.

A fourth-place standing has been taken up as a result, with five sides within five points of Klopp’s title holders, and Carragher fears Champions League qualification is no longer guaranteed.

What has been said?

“This is threatening Liverpool's top-four hopes," Reds legend Carragher told Sky Sports during a demoralising 4-1 defeat to City. “They have to find something quickly. The top four places are massively up for grabs.

“It would have been unthinkable to say that at the start of the season about this Liverpool team but there are so many teams jostling for those positions.

“I think this is the first time under Jurgen Klopp when real questions are starting to be asked. There will be even more after this game. This is the first time in five-and-a-half years when it is not really going to plan.

“The next couple of games are Leicester away and Everton at home, two teams who are really in there fighting for those positions as well. There is so much up for grabs. Liverpool have to put this right.

“It's been the same players for the last four years. They probably could do with a couple of players to freshen up the starting line-up. This team has been together since the Champions League final in Kiev.”

The bigger picture

Klopp is tied to a contract through to 2024 and there is no suggestion that his position is coming under threat, given all that he has achieved at Anfield.

Liverpool do, however, need to find a spark from somewhere if they are to avoid seeing a testing season implode.

Injury struggles have hampered the Reds’ cause in 2020-21, with several key men ruled out, but there is enough quality at their disposal to remain competitive.

They need to start digging deep as, after bringing a 30-year wait for title glory to a close, missing out on the Champions League altogether would have been unthinkable when another coronavirus-impacted season got underway.

What is up next?

Liverpool will take in a trip to Leicester on Saturday with the Foxes sat one place and three points above them in the table.

A derby date with Merseyside neighbours Everton takes place a week after a visit to the King Power Stadium, with those domestic outings sandwiching the first leg of a crucial Champions League last-16 encounter with RB Leipzig.

Further reading

AFC Leopards chairman Dan Shikanda has explained why they are happy to have managed a 0-0 draw against rivals Gor Mahia in an FKF Premier League match on Sunday.

The two Kenyan giants shared the spoils in their 89th Mashemeji Derby played at Kasarani Stadium and Shikanda has now said the point they earned from the fixture could be decisive for them at the end of the season.

“We came close to beat them,” Shikanda told Goal on Monday.

“I don’t know why players feared to score against them, especially the second half we played very well but lacked the edge to score during the decisive moments.

“But I am happy we managed to get a draw, it means we still stay ahead of them on the table and it shows you we are in the title race, the point will prove crucial at the end of the season, it might help us to win the title.

“So as much as we are celebrating getting a point from them, what I know it might turn out to be vital. The draw is also welcome for us, we have not beaten them since 2016 and we have started with a draw and it means our next meeting, we will beat them.”

Heading into the derby, AFC Leopards had not beaten Gor Mahia since 2016 and they were riding high in the league having registered three straight wins from recent matches.

Shikanda has further said the derby’s outcome will boost the team’s chances of winning the title this campaign.

“Our target of winning the title still stands, we still have matches to play for but we are not out of it, we will keep fighting hard until the end of the season,” Shikanda continued.

“We came into the season with plans, we have to win a trophy and the derby result clearly shows you we mean business, we will try next time to beat them.”

The draw enabled AFC Leopards to reach 19 points but will remain in position four on the 18-team table while Gor Mahia are sixth on 16 points from nine matches.

AFC Leopards will reject Anthony Kimani’s resignation when he officially tenders his letter, Goal can exclusively report.

Kimani – who was acting on an interim basis – informed the players that the Mashemeji derby action was his last duties with the club as he planned to walk out and pursue other ambitions.

However, a source at the club has now revealed to Goal that the administrative hierarchy of AFC Leopards are united and have decided not to accept Kimani’s resignation.

“The board is united on that matter and every official is of the opinion Kimani’s resignation will not be accepted under any circumstances,” the source said in a Monday interview with Goal.

“We want to keep him at the club, he is a resource we will not accept to lose to anyone especially our local rivals.

"AFC Leopards want to keep him because he understands the team, he has created great chemistry with the players and above all has done a good job which we have seen, the players have appreciated and even the fans are happy.

“We want him to remain in order to help the transition. You know Patrick Aussems is in the country and he needs a trusted ally to help him with the job. And who is the man to help if it is not Modo [Kimani]?”

Kimani has twice acted as AFC Leopards interim head coach - first when Casa Mbungo left in December 2019 when financial turmoil at the Den became unbearable and after Tomas Trucha – who cited life threats and insecurity as reasons for his resignation – left after leading Ingwe in the opening game against Tusker.

As news of Kimani’s resignation was revealed, AFC Leopards chairman Dan Shikanda was categorical that he was still in the dark over the issue.

“I have heard rumours Kimani has left after the derby but as a club, we have not received any letter from him on the same,” Shikanda said on Sunday.

“I can only comment further on the matter when I get his letter, for now, I don’t know if he has resigned.”

It is now a matter of waiting and seeing whether Kimani will be part of the technical bench when Ingwe visit Bandari for the next Premier League action.

Sammy Omollo believes Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards were both over-cautious in their approach during the goalless draw in the Football Kenya Federation Premier League Mashemeji Derby.

The two sworn rivals met at the Kasarani Stadium and in the entire 90 minutes, none managed to find the back of the net. It was a contrast to what the supporters had anticipated considering the fact that both teams have been scoring in their previous games.

"The 0-0 scoreline was unexpected considering the fact that Leopards have been scoring the same as Gor Mahia," Omollo told Goal on Monday.

"I believe both teams were cautious, they were cautious too much and it contributed to lack of many scoring chances. It was a tight game with fewer scoring opportunities."  

"Anyway, 0-0 was a fair result to both teams."

Despite stating the result was a fair result, the immediate former Posta Rangers coach believes the 13-time league champions have improved since last season.

"But Leopards have tried because they have been playing second fiddle to Gor Mahia in the last four years and it shows they have improved," Omollo continued.

"But again, a derby is sweeter with goals, but it was not the case on Sunday. We missed goals.

"K'Ogalo were better in the first half, [Nicholas] Kipkirui was wasteful though which is uncharacteristic of him. They marked Rupia well, he had no opportunity to score, meaning Gor Mahia had done good homework on him. 

"Both teams were not clinical in front of the goal and it took away some spark."    

Meanwhile, Leopards interim head coach Anthony Kimani left the club after the Mashemeji Derby.

Kimani left Ingwe after acting as their interim coach for the second time. When Rwandan tactician Casa Mbungo – now at Premier League side Bandari - left in December 2019, the retired Harambee Star took charge until Tomas Trucha was appointed before the current season began.

He also assumed the roles when Trucha – citing threats to life – resigned after he had led AFC Leopards to an opening 2-1 win against Tusker.

Kimani left the local heavyweights just a day after the former Simba SC head coach Patrick Aussems arrived to take charge of the club.

His exit now leaves Lawrence Webo – the goalkeeper coach and Tom Juma – Kenya’s retired midfielder – as the senior members of the technical bench that will now be under Aussems.

The timing of Kimani’s exit coincides with a rare point won against the Mashemeji rivals Gor Mahia. It is the first draw since the second match of the 2017 Premier League season.

AFC Leopards last defeated Gor Mahia in 2016.