Looking for Soccer News?

AFC Leopards chairman Dan Shikanda has explained the reason why Kakamega Homeboyz will remain “their factory” despite the rivalry between the two clubs.

AFC Leopards and Homeboyz have always remained rivals from the Western region with the latter dominating Ingwe in terms of results in the last few seasons.

Despite the rivalry between the two FKF Premier League clubs, Ingwe have often signed players from the Western-based club.

The latest tussle for a player was in the recent transfer window when AFC Leopards went for the services of midfielder Peter Thiong’o, a move which irked Homeboyz top brass, including chairman Cleophas Shimanyula, who refused to allow the player to join their rivals.

However, after a long tussle, Thiong’o was allowed to sign for AFC Leopards as a free agent.

Revisiting the issue, Ingwe boss Shikanda has now told Goal why AFC Leopards cannot survive without the help of Homeboyz.

“Without Kakamega Homeboyz there is no AFC Leopards,” Shikanda told Goal. “We all know where good players come from, they all come from Western and Homeboyz are based in Western, so when you see us going for their players during the transfer window, don’t be surprised.

“In terms of signing players, Homeboyz will remain our feeder club and I am saying this with due respect to the club, they will remain our factory and that is why I say without them, we don’t have AFC Leopards.”

Shikanda has further likened the AFC Leopards versus Homeboyz transfer signing sagas to when Gor Mahia could sign players from Kisumu All-Stars and Ingwe sign players from the defunct Motcom.

“In previous years, there was no Gor Mahia without Kisumu All-Stars,” Shikanda continued. “Gor Mahia could only sign players from the Kisumu-based clubs and same case with AFC Leopards who could only sign players from Motcom FC.

“It is the same scenario now, we have to sign players from Homeboyz because they are the best team from Western, we should assist each other when it comes to signings and Homeboyz should understand the scenario.”

Asked which was the biggest team between AFC Leopards and Homeboyz, Shimanyula explained: “For me, the biggest team is the one which has won many titles and that is AFC Leopards.

“I want to challenge Homeboyz to start winning trophies so that they can mix it with the big boys, I hope they can win the league soon because AFC Leopards is now targeting to do well in Caf competitions, we want to win the Caf title soon.”

Ingwe have started the 2020-21 season well and have managed to collect nine points from their opening four games with the only defeat coming against bogey side Western Stima.

Eric Bailly has expressed his delight after Manchester United ended 2020 with a 1-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers in Tuesday’s Premier League game.

Marcus Rashford scored the only goal of the game moments before full-time after he was set up by Bruno Fernandes.

The Ivory Coast international made his third Premier League start and fourth league appearance of the season for the Red Devils and helped them to keep a clean sheet in the encounter.

The win ensured Ole Gunnar Solskjar’s men moved to the second spot on the Premier League table after gathering 30 points from 15 games.

Bailly has taken to social media to share his feelings after his side ended 2020, which was dominated by the coronavirus outbreak, with a win.

“A clean sheet and a victory - good way to end a year to forget. We are coming for you, 2021,” Bailly posted on Instagram.

Bailly has been with Manchester United since the summer of 2016 when he arrived from Spanish club Villarreal.

The centre-back has, however, struggled to firmly establish himself at Old Trafford due to injury problems, playing only 58 Premier League games for the club so far. 

He made four league appearances for United last season due to a knee injury and in the current campaign, he has featured seven times across all competitions.

Despite his struggle with injuries, the 26-year-old was handed a new deal by the Red Devils and expressed his appreciation to the club.

“For me it was very important. At a time when I was suffering a little bit and struggling with my injury, the club showed great confidence, enough to extend my contract, and it gives me a real feeling of prestige to be able to continue being part of this squad and this club,” he told the club website.

“The feeling then is that I want to pay back that faith and confidence they’ve shown in me and being part of something here.”

The defender will hope to reciprocate the good gesture by the club in 2021, starting with their first game of the year against Aston Villa.

Manchester United are now seeing the best of Paul Pogba, according to Gary Neville, who says the Frenchman can take the Red Devils to the title.

Pogba has been in and out of the headlines at Old Trafford once again this season, with his commitment to the club's cause called into question amid persistent transfer rumours.

The World Cup winner fueled speculation over his future in October by admitting it would be a "dream" for him to play for Real Madrid one day, but United took up the option to extend his contract by an extra year later that month.

The 27-year-old was laid low with coronavirus at the start of the campaign, and has had to gradually work his way back into Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's starting XI amid increased competition for places in the middle of the park following the summer arrival of Donny van de Beek from Ajax.

Pogba had just started to get his rhythm back before Mino Raiola dropped an unwelcome bombshell ahead of the Champions League group stage decider against RB Leipzig on December 8.

The agent claimed his client's career in Manchester was "over" and that he needed a new challenge, having been unable to express himself at Old Trafford for quite some time.

However, Pogba proved to be the only shining light during United's 3-2 defeat to Leipzig as he sparked a late comeback after coming off the bench, and has since rediscovered his best form.

The France international's latest 90 minutes of action came during a 1-0 home win over Wolves on Tuesday night, which ensured that Solskjaer's side are sitting in second place in the Premier League heading into the new year.

Before that clash, Neville talked up the extra quality a fully fit and firing Pogba brings to United's line up, while expressing his belief that the playmaker could play a key role in helping them win back the Premier League trophy come May.

"When they played Leipzig his agent came out and said he wanted to leave, but since then I have seen the best of Paul Pogba,' the treble winner told Amazon Prime Video.

"I have got to say I prefer watching Manchester United when he is playing because he gives them something that might take them on the way to the title. He is a world-class player."

Neville also reserved special praise for Bruno Fernandes, who has been directly involved in more goals than any other player in the top-flight since making his debut for United in February.

The former United defender said of a man who notched his seventh assist of the season against Wolves: "It's the impact he's had on the club. Forget the goals and assists, it's the winning mentality, every time he goes on the field he wants to win, he drives the team forward.

"He is absolutely outstanding. He pops up everywhere on the field."

Pogba and Fernandes will both be in line to feature again when the Manchester outfit play host to high-flying Aston Villa on New Year's Day.

Lothar Matthaus says Germany coach Joachim Low should be sacked if the national team underperform at Euro 2020 and believes everyone at the German Football Association (DFB) who backed him should follow.

Low has been in charge of Germany since 2006 but the pressure on the coach has been building amid their disappointing results this year.

Germany have won three of the eight matches they have played in 2020, having drawn with Spain, Switzerland, twice, and Turkey before they were trounced 6-0 by La Roja in their final match of the year.

Despite their underwhelming performances, the DFB declared the 60-year-old would remain in charge as the European Championship approaches and Germany legend Matthaus says Low is not the only one who should pay the price should things turn sour next summer.

He told Suddeutsche Zeitung: "If the European Championship doesn't go as we would expect from the quality of players that we have, then it is not only Low who will have to go, but all of those who decided that he should stay. They must also bear the consequences.

"The [6-0] game against Spain was an exceptional case, but when I look at the overall situation or remember the games that they have struggled to win or in which we conceded a goal at the last moment, I realise that [Low as Germany boss] doesn't fit anymore."

The 1980 European Championship and 1990 World Cup winner added: "Things just aren't as clear as they were in 2016 or 2018. His answers sound a bit like: 'Just let me do it - the rest of you have no idea!' And then this apathy on the bench, especially against Spain!

"But the fans' faith has been lost, and I think the DFB is underestimating that. I would like Joachim Low to get back on track - for him and for German football."

Germany have been drawn in Group F in the summer tournament, alongside France, Hungary and Portugal. They will start the competition with a match against France in Munich.

Erling Haaland has expressed his belief that Sergio Ramos, Virgil van Dijk and Kalidou Koulibaly are the best defenders in the world.

Haaland has been the scourge of centre-backs across Europe since bursting onto the scene with Red Bull Salzburg in the first half of the 2019-20 campaign.

Salzburg were dealt a tough draw after qualifying for the Champions League group stages, with Liverpool, Napoli and Genk pulled out of the hat to join them in Group E.

However, the Austrian outfit quickly proved they wouldn't be pushovers by thrashing Genk 6-2, with Haaland helping himself to a hat-trick, and they produced a similarly brilliant attacking display against Liverpool on matchday two.

Haaland got himself on the scoresheet during a 4-3 defeat at Anfield, and went on to fire home five more goals in the group, including three against Napoli.

The Norwegian forward's performances earned him a €20 million (£18m/$25m) move to Borussia Dortmund in January, and he has since solidified his reputation as one of the most exciting young players in Europe.

The 20-year-old now has plenty of experience playing at the highest level in both the Bundesliga and Champions League, with very few defences able to keep out a man who has hit 33 goals in his first 32 outings for BVB.

Van Dijk and Koulibaly couldn't stop Haaland when he was at Salzburg, but he looks up to the pair as masters of their craft at the back, along with Madrid captain Ramos - whom he has yet to come up against in person.

“I have to say, for me, the three best in the world are Sergio Ramos, Virgil van Dijk and Kalidou Koulibaly. The three are good, strong and intelligent," the Dortmund talisman told Verdens Gang.

Haaland also opened up on his insatiable hunger for goals, adding: "For me, it's like a drug, there is no better feeling than after you've scored."

The former Salzburg frontman will be back in action with Dortmund when they take on Wolfsburg on January 3, having made a full recovery from a muscle injury.

Haaland was forced to sit out BVB's final six matches before the winter break, with the German giants now trailing Bayern Munich by eight points in the Bundesliga standings.

Zambia head coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic has explained why they gave fans a chance to help in the recruitment process of the 31 players heading to the African Nations Championship.

The former SC Villa head coach selected the majority of the players that had been included in the provisional squad and added five from the ‘Fans’ Select’ group.

Zesco United defenders Adrian Chama and Clement Mwape, Zanaco striker Roger Kola, midfielders Spencer Sautu of Power Dynamos and Harrison Chisala of Nkana FC are the players who joined the Chan squad after the fans selected them.

“The kind of competition we are going to needs an injection of maturity, seniority and experience,” Micho said as he unveiled the team.

“We did our own assessment, but we still left supporters to choose them and instead of us rewarding them on past experience, the players proved on the field of play what we spoke about hence we have involved them in our squad.”

The former African champions will be involved in a pre-Chan mini-tournament which will involve Cameroon, Niger and Uganda from January 1 to 7.

Micho’s men are in Group D alongside Namibia, Tanzania and Guinea for the tournament that will run from January 16 to February 10, 2021, in Cameroon.

Tanzania head coach Etienne Ndayiragije has already named his squad that was dominated by local rivals Simba SC and Young Africans (Yanga SC). The selection generated a fierce debate on why Metacha Mnata, the in-form Yanga goalkeeper – was left out.

Zambia Squad:

Goalkeepers: Charles Kalumba (Prison Leopards), Lameck Siame (Kabwe Warriors), Patrick Chooma (KYSA), Richard Nyirenda (Nchanga Rangers),

Defenders: Adrian Chama, Clement Mwape (both Zesco United), Benedict Chepeshi (Red Arrows), Dominic Chanda (Kabwe Warriors), Luka Banda (Napsa Stars), Golden Mafwenta (Buildcon), Kondwani Chiboni, Zacharia Chilongoshi, Benson Sakala (all Power Dynamos), Pride Mwansa (Nkwazi),

Midfielders: Amity Shamende (Green Eagles), Albert Kangwanda, Kelvin Kapumbu (both Zanaco), Leonard Mulenga, Jack Chirwa (both Green Buffaloes), Kelvin Kampamba, Bruce Musakanya (both Zesco United), Spencer Sautu, Chaniza Zulu (both Power Dynamos), Harrison Chisala (Nkana), Collins Sikombe (Lusaka Dynamo), Paul Katema, Felix Bulaya (both Red Arrows),

Strikers: Emmanuel Chabula (Lusaka Dynamos), Friday Samu (Green Buffaloes), Moses Phiri, Roger Kola (both Zanaco).

Sergio Reguilon is convinced Tottenham will win trophies under Jose Mourinho.

After a strong start to the season, Spurs have fallen behind in the Premier League title race, having won just one of their last six matches to leave them six points behind leaders Liverpool.

But 24-year-old left-back Reguilon, who joined from Real Madrid in the summer, is impressed by the former Chelsea, Inter and Manchester United coach's mentality and expects him to bring silverware to north London. 

He said in an interview with AS: "I saw, I don't know where, that in his second year Mourinho has won a title with every team he has been with.

"I personally look at him, I see that self-assurance that he has in himself and I say: 'We are going to win something, yes'.

"We are going to have to win something. With that mentality, things get done."

The Spain international has long been an admirer of Mourinho and was touched by a gesture the Portuguese manager made at Christmas. 

"I've always said that I wanted to play at some time in my life in the Premier and I had also said that I wanted Mourinho to coach me in my career. Many factors came together to make this possible," he said.

"Mourinho called me several times before making the decision. It was a reason to take into account, his insistence, because if he loved me so much it would be for something.

"I always say the same thing, I would like you to know him the way I know him. I could tell a thousand wonderful anecdotes.

"For example, on Christmas day, he knows that I am alone. We got to training on the 25th and I had a box at my space. I open it and it was a suckling pig already cooked. 

"He told me: 'I know you are alone at Christmas, so you don't have to cook dinner and can eat well'. There are details that people don't know on a day-to-day basis. For a footballer, [the coach] being aware of how you are away from football is very important."

Alongside Spain coach Luis Enrique, Mourinho is one of the best managers the full-back has played for, while Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane was a notable exception from his top two.

"For me, Mourinho and Luis Enrique are two top coaches. Each one has his method, each teacher has his booklet," he said.

"Luis Enrique likes more to be in control of the ball, more like the Spanish philosophy of taking care of the ball. Mourinho likes that we are strong, that we also have the ball, of course, but they are different ways of training. But in their measure they are both top."

Al Ahly head coach Pitso Mosimane has hit back at Al Ittihad of Alexandria assistant coach Ibrahim Hassan after his criticism of the South African tactician.

Hassan stated that coaching Al Ahly is an easy job and Mosimane would struggle by lasting just two games if he took charge of any other Egyptian Premier League side.

This came after Mosimane led Al Ahly to a 4-0 win over Al Ittihad in a league game on Monday as the Kagiso-born mentor returned to the dugout after recovering from coronavirus. 

It was the Mosimane's second win over Al Ittihad after Al Ahly eliminated the Alexandria-based side from the Egyptian Cup earlier this month.

Mosimane took Hassan's opinion in his stride and explained that the success he has enjoyed at the Red Devils has come through hard work. 

“I respect his [Ibrahim Hassan’s] opinion," Mosimane said on King Fut. 

"Maybe his statements suit clubs like Real Madrid and Manchester City as well, but I know that football does not work like that."

Mosimane hit the ground running at Al Ahly when he joined the club after resigning as Mamelodi Sundowns head coach at the end of September 2020.

The 2016 Caf Coach of the Year guided the Red Devils to the Caf Champions League and Egyptian Cup which saw the Cairo-based giants complete a treble in the 2019/20 season. 

The Red Devils had clinched the 2019/20 Egyptian Premier League title under Swiss coach Rene Weiler and Mosimane was in charge of the last seven games in the competition. 

“If it was like that so why didn’t Al Ahly win the Champions League in the past seven years?" Mosimane asked. 

“Being Al Ahly doesn’t mean we are automatically the winners of every game. We have to prepare for games and work hard to win."

Ibrahim Hassan’s twin brother and Ittihad head coach, Hossam Hassan, praised Mosimane earlier this month, saying he is a coach of a high calibre.

Mosimane is yet to lose a game as Al Ahly coach having taken charge of 14 games across all competitions - winning 13 while drawing one with 10 men against Pyramids FC.

David de Gea has called for Manchester United to stay calm amid talk of a tilt at the Premier League title.

United have risen to second in the top-flight standings 15 fixtures into the 2020-21 campaign, having recorded nine wins, three draws and only three losses.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's team closed the gap on defending champions and pacesetters Liverpool to just two points by beating Wolves 1-0 on Tuesday night, with Marcus Rashford grabbing the winner deep into stoppage time.

The Premier League trophy has been missing from the Old Trafford trophy cabinet since 2013, but the Red Devils are now being tipped to challenge their Merseyside rivals for English football's top prize come May.

De Gea is reluctant to look past United's next fixture against Aston Villa on New Year's Day though, as the Spanish goalkeeper points out there are still plenty of games to come in both domestic and European competitions.

“We need to be calm. There are still a lot of games to play, big games, and we have the cups as well so there are many, many games,” De Gea told MUTV.

“We have to stay focused and not look forward too much but just look to the next game. So, Aston Villa is the most important thing now.”

The 30-year-old shot-stopper added on the Red Devils' latest victory: “It was a massive win. To score at the end of the game, a tight game against a good team, this is the way to be at the top of the league,” said De Gea.

“They (Wolves) are a very good team, they defend well, they counter-attack and they have players up front with pace. It was tight. They had some chances but so did we. And scoring in the last minutes is always good. So we get the three points and that is massive for us.

“You have to fight until the end. You have to go until the end and we showed again today if you keep believing and keep trying, we can score winning goals like we did.

“It was a big performance from the whole team.”

Asked how the squad is coping with a congested fixture list, De Gea responded: “We have to be ready for Aston Villa now and recover because this was a hard game.

“The players have to recover very well because they had to run a lot and have played a lot of games, so recovering well is one of the most important things.”

Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers has revealed Wilfred Ndidi missed their clash against Crystal Palace on Monday because they didn't want to risk him.

The 24-year-old midfielder only recently returned from a groin injury which he suffered in September against Burnley.  

The Nigeria international has played seven games since his return to action but was rested in the Foxes’ draw against Palace at Selhurst Park.

Rodgers explained the midfielder was left out of the encounter to avoid a relapse of his injury and in order to give more time to recover fully.

"Wilf, you see how important he is for us, and he’s starting to get game-time, but again, we don’t want to risk him,” Rodgers told Leicester Mercury.

“We’ve got all the measurement of where he’s at and what zones he’s in, so we have to be careful with him.”

Ndidi was rock solid for Leicester in the 2019-20 season, featuring in 32 league games to help the club finish fifth and grab a Europa League ticket.

The midfielder has, however, been limited to nine games across all competitions in the current campaign due to his injury problems.

Ndidi has featured in a number of positions for Leicester since teaming up with the side, including the centre-back role where he also shone.

He remains one of the most consistent membes of the Foxes squad, having featured in more than 130 games since his arrival at the King Power Stadium.

Ndidi will hope to make a return for Leicester City when they take on Newcastle United in their next Premier League game on January 3.

The King Power Stadium outfit are currently third on the league table behind leaders Liverpool and Manchester United after gathering 29 points from 16 games.

2020 has been a year like no other, with the coronavirus pandemic transforming life—and football—as we previously knew it.

The world of African football has been no different, yet while it’s still had to adapt to the restrictions imposed by Covid-19—not least the rescheduling of the Africa Cup of Nations—the continent’s sportsmen have also been responsible for some of the most memorable moments of the last 12 months.

In this week’s episode of the African Football HQ podcast, it’s a Year-in-Review Special from Malek Shafei and Ed Dove, as they look back over the year that was and hand out their African football awards.

For Player of the Year, perhaps predictably, it’s a straight shootout between Liverpool duo Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane; one won the plaudits last season as the Reds clinched the title, but the other has excelled at the start of this campaign, scoring 13 goals.

Which of the pair will be chosen by Dove and Shafei as the AFHQ African Footballer of the Year?

We also look through some other categories, revealing our nominees for Breakout Star of the Year, Moment of the Year and Disappointment of the Year.

Breakout star is a hotly contested category, with the likes of Youssoufa Moukoko, Tino Kadewere and Silas Wamangituka all taking their standing to new heights this year after stepping up a level with their club sides.

Tosin Adarabioyo also deserves credit for his improvement at West Bromwich Albion, and after being sold by Manchester City for £2 million, he’s also a contender for signing of the season.

Malek believes that honour ought to be given to Tariq Lamptey following his departure from Chelsea and the progress he’s made at Brighton & Hove Albion, while Dove nominates Morocco duo Hakim Ziyech and Achraf Hakimi as his candidates for the Signing of the Year.

We also pick out our Disappointments of the Year, naming and shaming those players who have failed to live up to the hype, or struggled to realise the immense expectations that accompanied their high-profile transfers.

There’s also a special category of disappointment, reserved for those players who could have represented African nations, but ended up committing their future to European sides.

Did Adama Traore’s decision to ditch Mali for Spain hurt you the most, or was it Bukayo Saka closing the door to a future with Nigeria by turning out for England’s Three Lions?

Barcelona presidential candidate Agusti Benedito claims that he will bring in Monchi to shake up the club's much-derided transfer policy, while admitting that Lionel Messi's continued reluctance to commit his future at Camp Nou troubles him.

A former ally of Joan Laporta prior to his election win in 2003, Benedito has twice run unsuccessfully for the club's presidency. 

Third time's a charm, though, as they say, and the 56-year-old is confident of his chances at taking the top job from June 25 onwards. 

Should he triumph, renowned Sevilla sporting director Monchi will be given the opportunity to revolutionise a Barca side that has endured a torrid 2020 on the field. 

"We met in 2015 several times with Koeman and he had strong ideas. I think he will open a spell that lasts several years at the helm," Benedito explained to Goal. 

"In terms of sporting direction, back then we bet on Monchi and we spoke to him, too. I still think he is in the top three in the world and would be a brilliant addition.

"Back then it seemed he would never leave Sevilla and then he went to Italy and came back. The first thing I will do if I am president will be to call Monchi and try to convince him.

"Neymar? Let's see how he gets on with Covid-19! But I'm not sure he'd agree either in 2021 nor 2022. I don't think this is the time to be signing that kind of player and I don't think Qatar will let him go either. 

"They are organising the World Cup finals, the investment is huge, they have a top club in world football like PSG and I think that not only will they try to keep those kind of players but that they will also go out looking for new signings. 

"I think this summer we will be more focused on convincing Messi to stay than on Neymar's return." 

The issue of the club captain, who made public his desire to leave over the summer, has dominated the election agenda ever since. 

The Argentine voiced more criticisms of Barcelona and then-president Josep Bartomeu this week to La Sexta, and Benedito admits that he was disheartened by what he heard. 

"In the summer he made some huge declarations where he said clearly that he wanted to go and asked the president to let him go and now we need him to change his mind," he explained. 

"That interview was a unique opportunity to say that he was excited to continue and we didn't hear that. I wasn't able to hear a hopeful message and I'm worried, frankly. 

"Unlike what he told you in Goal, this time he didn't say he wanted to go but neither did he say that he wanted to stay."

Benedito added: "What us Cules are worried about is if he will stay on next season, that has nothing to do with what happens further down the road. We are hanging on his decision and after the interview I am still unsure whether he is interested in staying at the club because he didn't say so. 

"We have the best player in the world, who in August said he wanted to leave after 20 years at the club and who still hasn't said if he wants to stay. My concern is that the most likely scenario sees him leaving us in the summer. Who wouldn't be worried about losing the best player ever?

"Everything has its beginning and end but it would be a shame for Messi's time at Barca to be cut short. Bartomeu, the man responsible for having lied to him, was the worst president in club history."

Goffin Godfrey Oyirwoth has explained why he chose to sign for Sports Club Villa even when other Ugandan Premier League clubs were seriously chasing his signature.

The 20-year-old signed for the record champions in a deal that will see him at the club for two seasons, and he has opened up on why he was convinced to be part of the Villa fraternity.

“I love SC Villa, it is a big team and the best in Uganda,” Oyirwoth told the club’s website.

“There is no talented player who does not want to play for the best team. I felt happy as a player. I felt privileged knowing that a club in Villa’s stature was looking out for me.”

The youngster also explained why he chose jersey number 27 upon signing for the Jogoos.

“Initially, I wanted the number seven but I learned Benson Muhindo wears it, so I asked for any other ending with seven. That’s how I ended up with 27," he continued.

The Ugandan also opened up on his targets as he has already been regularly involved the ongoing season, which has gone on a recess to allow players feature in the African Nations Championship.

“When I signed for Villa, first I was focussed on working hard so as to break into starting XI which I have achieved in the first five games,” he added.

“Secondly, I want to be involved in more goals; I want to create more goals as well as score as many as possible and I want to win silverware for SC Villa.

“Starting all the five games is as a result of the hard work in training. It is a great feeling but again I will not take it for granted but rather continue working hard in order to keep my position.”

Oyirwoth revealed his best match came against Mbarara City in matchday two.

“I felt very happy that I was able to help the team earn the three points that day. Being involved in two goals helped me to build my confidence as a player,” he concluded. “I was also very impressed with the teamwork that day.”

“We are not performing poorly but we still have a lot to work on and improve as a team most especially our away form. And for me personally, I also have a lot to offer the team so that we make our performance better.”

Oyirwoth is among the youngsters who are under close scrutiny to see how they will perform in the 2020/21 season.

Fabio Capello has admitted he would like to see Harry Kane join Juventus, and that he'd swap Paulo Dybala for the Tottenham striker instead of Paul Pogba.

Dybala has been heavily linked with a move away from Juve in recent weeks, with the attacker yet to commit to fresh terms at the Allianz Stadium.

Goal has reported that the Argentine turned down the chance to extend his stay at the Allianz Stadium beyond 2022 over the summer, with the Bianconeri's offer deemed too low by both the player and his representatives.

Juve have yet to put forward an improved proposal, but club president Andrea Agnelli spoke out on the speculation surrounding the 27-year-old's future earlier this month.

“We see him as the captain of the future,” said Agnelli. “I know he has already received a proposal that would put him among the top 20 best-paid players in Europe. We’re looking forward to his response.”

Manchester United has been mooted as the most likely next destination for Dybala should he end up leaving Turin, with ex-Juve man Pogba linked with a return to the club as part of a potential exchange deal.

However, Capello doesn't think the Old Lady should be considering such a deal, and has suggested that it would only be worth sanctioning the Argentine's departure if Spurs talisman Kane can be convinced to move the other way.

The former Juve boss drew comparisons between Dybala and ex-Milan star Dejan Savicevic before weighing in on the transfer rumours, as he told Gazzetta Dello Sport: “Paulo reminds me of Savicevic, he too preferred to start from the right. He had great vision and special dribbling abilities.

“He had that great strength in the lower body to escape the tackles. Dybala is better at finishing, while Dejan was more an assist man. He had a quick pass. Well, maybe Dybala is a bit more individualistic.

“I wouldn’t swap Dybala to get Pogba. If I could, I’d trade him with Tottenham’s English striker Harry Kane.”

Dybala has been restricted to just 10 starts for Juve this season, with niggling fitness issues and a positive Covid-19 test restricting his contribution.

Capello blames coronavirus for his mixed form, and has no doubt that he still has a great deal to offer Andrea Pirlo's side when in peak physical condition.

“Covid is the explanation, especially for a player like Dybala, who needs to dribble a man,” the coaching icon added.

“The impression is that he’s a bit unfinished. He captivates but leaves doubts. He certainly has superior qualities; he really has all you need.

“He needs the physical conditions to return to his best. Paulo needs to be 100 per cent well. Dybala can do everything on the pitch if he is well, even playing in a trident with [Alvaro] Morata and [Cristiano] Ronaldo.”

The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has released the fixtures which will resume the Premier League in the New Year with the Gor Mahia against AFC Leopards' derby the only one affected.

According to the new list of fixtures obtained by Goal, the Mashemeji derby, which was due to be played on January 3 at Nyayo Stadium, has been postponed but no new date was given for the clash.

A source within the FKF has confirmed to Goal the reason to postpone the much-anticipated clash between the two local giants.

“We have been forced to call off the fixture to allow Gor Mahia prepare for their return leg clash of the Caf Champions League against CR Belouizdad on January 6,” the source, who did not want to be named, told Goal.

The Kenyan champions will face a tall order to qualify for the group stage of the competition as they suffered a humiliating 6-0 defeat to the North African side in the first meeting played on December 26 at Stade du 5 Juillet 1962 Stadium.

Goals from Amir Sayoud, who scored a hat-trick, Hamza Bellahouel, Larbi Tabti, and Maecky Ngombo were enough to put Belouizdad on course to qualify for the next stage.

Meanwhile, after taking a break on December 24 for Christmas and New Year holidays, the top-flight will resume on January 2, with six matches lined up across the country.

Kakamega Homeboyz, who unveiled Mozzabert as their new shirt sponsors on Tuesday - will start the round of fixtures with a home game against Nzoia Sugar at Bukhungu Stadium, while unbeaten Kariobangi Sharks will come up against Ulinzi Stars at Kasarani Stadium.

On January 3, Wazito FC will face Nairobi City Stars at Utalii grounds, Tusker tackle Sofapaka at Kasarani, Vihiga United entertain Bidco United at Mumias Complex Stadium while Bandari will take on Western Stima at Mbaraki grounds.

On Tuesday, Homeboyz chairman Cleophas Shimanyula explained why his team had posted a rather poor start to the campaign.

“We suffered a bad start because eight of our players were diagnosed with Covid-19 and five of them were first-team players,” Shimanyula told Goal.

“We had struggles because we had to use our junior players.”

Young Africans (Yanga SC) coach Cedric Kaze has admitted the team could miss two of their key players as they face Tanzania Prisons in a Mainland Premier League match on Thursday.

The Jangwani giants will start the second round of the 2020-21 season trying to maintain their unbeaten run against one of their bogey sides at Nelson Mandela Stadium in Sumbawanga.

However, Kaze has revealed new signing Saidi Ntibazonkiza, Yacouba Sogne, and Ditram Nchimbi are doubtful to face the Prison Warders owing to injuries and family issues.

“Both Ntibazonkiza and Yacouba picked up injuries during the Ihefu match while Nchimbi has been permitted to go and settle family problems but we still have a room for the named injured players to see how they will respond to the final training session and then we will know whether to feature them or not,” Kaze told Daily News.

On facing Tanzania Prisons, Kaze said: “Each game is different and we are aware that Tanzania Prisons are a good side too as they play as a team and they have a coach with vast experience of the Mainland Premier League but we have prepared in accordance with the status of the game itself.”

Kaze admitted he knows how teams have struggled to get points from Tanzania Prisons on their home turf, but maintained they are ready to finish the job.

Tanzania Prisons manager Prosper Mzeru is confident they have done enough preparation to get a positive result from the fixture.

“All matches are the same. It does not matter whether you are facing Mwadui or Biashara United since at the end, you get the same three points regardless of which side you played against. What differ are the names of teams,” Mzeru is quoted by Daily News.

“If we managed to draw against them in Dar es Salaam with our domestic players, it means we are much better than them and ready to take on the fight.”

Yanga will head into the first match of the second round still topping the league table with 43 points after 17 matches while Prisons are 11th on the table with 21 points accumulated following 17 outings.

Phil Neville believes Manchester United can sustain a title challenge through to the end of the season after their "robust" display against Wolves.

United moved up to second in the Premier League standings after securing a 1-0 win over Wolves at Old Trafford in dramatic fashion on Tuesday night.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side struggled to break down a well organised Wanderers defence over the course of the 90 minutes, while David de Gea was called into action to keep the scoreline level on several occasions at the other end of the pitch.

However, deep into stoppage time, the Red Devils found the breakthrough they'd been craving, as Bruno Fernandes found Marcus Rashford in the box with a searching through ball before the England international cut back onto his left foot and fired home, albeit with the aid of a heavy deflection.

The Manchester outfit are now just two points behind reigning champions Liverpool after 15 fixtures, with talk of the top-flight trophy making its way back to the Theatre of Dreams for the first time since 2012-13 building with each passing game.

Neville certainly believes his old club are best placed to dethrone their Merseyside rivals, having seen the players show the belief required to grind out victories even when not quite reaching their highest level of performance.

"I think they can [challenge for the title]," the former United midfielder, who has six Premier League winners' medals to his name, told Amazon Prime Video after the Wolves victory. "I think what you’ve got to do when you’re looking at a title race is look at the competition.

"Liverpool are out in front and rightly so, I think they’re the best team in the country. But there is no other team that is actually grasping to go and challenge Liverpool.

"Chelsea have slipped up, Tottenham have slipped up recently, Everton are up there who are in really good form. Apart from that, Manchester City are just climbing.

"United are in this title race if they keep to this level of performance. They’re playing better football, they’re entertaining, they’re starting to win at home. They’ve got a big squad, they’re scoring goals.

"There’s no reason why they can’t sustain this. Ole has spoken about them being more robust – you can see that, the last 20 minutes you could just smell that they started to believe something might happen.

"That’s what the best teams have. They’ve got to sustain that, keep that level of consistency but I do think they can maintain that for the rest of the season and challenge Liverpool, who at this moment of time have got injuries and could slip up."

SuperSport United head coach Kaitano Tembo is happy with Bradley Grobler's commitment amidst constant reports linking him with Orlando Pirates. 

Grobler is one of the best finishers in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) and the 32-year-old marksman has been linked with the Buccaneers over the last two years.

SuperSport chief executive officer Stan Matthews even announced that they would be open to selling Grobler if Pirates made an enticing offer for the player, prior to the start of the current season .

However, the Bafana Bafana international stayed put at the Tshwane giants and he has been scoring goals with ease this term.

“I have no doubt in my mind because I see him at training and I see the attitude in the matches, it has not changed, he is carrying on from where he left off last season,” said Tembo on The Citizen . 

“I know there will always be talk but at the same time, until something happens he is concentrating on his game and he has been doing that."

Grobler, who is an instinctive striker and clinical finisher with either foot, has impressively netted seven goals from seven matches in the league.

As a result, the former Ajax Cape Town and Platinum Stars player is sitting at the top of the league's scoring charts alongside Mamelodi Sundowns winger Themba Zwane.

Tembo explained that the youngsters in the team are benefiting from playing with the experienced centre-forward. 

"I am quite happy with his contribution to the team and he is one of our senior players, he helps the youngsters and that is important to us," he concluded. 

Grobler has also netted once in this season's MTN8 as SuperSport were eliminated from the lucrative competition by Bloemfontein Celtic.

The Sandton-born player missed out on last season's PSL Golden Boot award by two goals and he will be determined to win it for the first time in his career this term.

Grobler will be hoping to continue his rich scoring form when SuperSport take on Chippa United at Lucas Moripe Stadium on January 6. 

He has netted five goals in his last three league games.