Looking for Soccer News?

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) are still hopeful of concluding the FKF Shield Cup if the government lifts the ban on sporting activities when it expires on July 7.

While FKF moved to end the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) season and declare Gor Mahia champions and promote Nairobi City Stars and Bidco United, the Federation’s CEO now says they can still conclude the Shield competition which was in the quarter-final stage if the curfew is lifted.

However, whether it will be played or not, will depend on the government’s next move on the 30-day curfew imposed in the country to contain the coronavirus pandemic, which will elapse on July 7.

“If we manage to get 10 days, we can effectively play the competition to the end and get a deserved winner,” Otieno told Goal on Wednesday.

“If the government lifts the ban and allows sporting activities to resume, then we will only need 10 days to complete the competition, we only need to play on Tuesday, Thursday and play the final on Saturday and we will have a winner.”

On Tuesday, Confederation of African Football (Caf) released teams that have been cleared to play in the Confederation Cup, but Kenya was missing out because they could not give out a name as the tournament was yet to conclude.

Otieno now says they have written to Caf pleading to be given more time to see whether they can have the 10 days to conclude the competition.

“We have written to Caf seeking for more time, we are just buying time hoping the government will lift the ban when the current curfew comes to an end, and then we conclude the tournament, and after, to forward in the name of the winners to Caf,” Otieno continued.

“Caf has not responded to our request yet and so we are just waiting, we are keeping our fingers crossed and hope they can grant us more time so that we can have a deserved winner in the competition.”

Bandari represented Kenya in the last competition and were eliminated in the play-off stage after losing 5-2 on aggregate to Guinean outfit Horoya AC.

By virtue of ending the league, Gor Mahia will now carry Kenya’s flag in the Caf Champions League for the fourth season in a row.

Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford burst onto the scene in 2016 and he is now considered one of England's best young players, with an abundance of potential.

His stock sky-rocketed following his sudden arrival into the team at Old Trafford and his performances have earned him a number of new deals with the club.

Rashford can already say he has won the League Cup, the FA Cup and the Europa League, as well as the Community Shield, not to mention the fact that he has played in a World Cup semi-final.

So how much has his brief career been worth so far? Goal takes a look at how lucrative Rashford's football journey has been.

Contents

What is Marcus Rashford's net worth?

British finance magazine Spear's estimates Rashford's net worth to be around £65 million ($80m), which is quite impressive, even if it seems a tad unrealistic considering his youth.

A clearer picture will undoubtedly emerge in the coming years as he earns more money through new, more lucrative, contracts, but right now he appears to be doing quite well.

Given that Rashford is only at the beginning of his career he has not had the time required to amass the sort of wealth that is enjoyed by the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

Aside from his salary at Man United, details of his wealth are not exactly clear, but his various endorsements, particularly with sportswear giants Nike, are sure to be worth plenty of money.

Return to top

How much does Marcus Rashford earn?

Rashford signed a new contract with Manchester United in 2019 that is reportedly worth £200,000 ($250k) a week.

The deal runs until 2023 and is a mammoth increase on his previous package, which saw him earning £20,000 a week.

With a salary of £200,000 a week, Rashford would be earning over £10m per year for his efforts before bonuses and other play-related incentives are taken into account.

You can see an approximate breakdown of how much Rashford earns below.

*Approximates

Return to top

What sponsorship deals does Marcus Rashford have?

Rashford is a Nike athlete and, since his breakthrough at Old Trafford, he has featured in a number of the sportswear brand's promotional campaigns.

Along with Tottenham's Harry Kane and Manchester City's Raheem Sterling, he is one of England's top Nike footballers and his stature with the brand is perhaps illustrated by the fact that he has rubbed shoulders with the likes of Robert Lewandowski, Gonzalo Higuain and Edinson Cavani in advertisements.

As well as Nike, Rashford is a 'McDonald's Football Ambassador' and in December 2017 he took part in a promotion that saw him return to his former club, Fletcher Moss Rangers to distribute brand new kits.

He has also worked closely with EA Sports in the promotion of their FIFA video game series.

Return to top

What businesses does Marcus Rashford have?

Rashford is only at the beginning of his career in football, so he can be forgiven if long-term business interests are not to the front of his thoughts right now. 

However, like many footballers, he does appear to have set up a property business, suggesting that he will invest some of his earnings into that industry.

Of course, there is still plenty of time for him to follow in the footsteps of other footballers by venturing further into the realm of business.

Return to top

What charity work does Marcus Rashford do?

Rashford has used his status as one of England and Manchester United's biggest stars to highlight many social issues in an effort to effect positive change in society.

In 2020, the striker penned an open letter to the British parliament urging politicians to continue a free meal scheme for vulnerable children through the summer in light of the coronavirus pandemic. While it was initially rebuffed, pressure mounted on the UK government to such a degree that Prime Minister Boris Johnson performed a u-turn.

Rashford was extremely active in promoting various charities during the coronavirus pandemic of 2020, including foodbank services Fare Share and Co-op, as well as being part of the Players Together initiative, which donated money to the NHS.

He has long taken an interest in helping people who are homeless, working with Selfridges on their 'In the Box' Christmas campaign and has been to the fore in using his voice against racism. 

How many social media followers does Marcus Rashford have?

Rashford's social media presence is formidable for a player of his age, but it is probably not surprising considering that he is playing for one of the biggest clubs in the world. 

The England international has over 8.5 million followers on Instagram, a platform that he updates regularly, giving an insight into his lifestyle; which appears to include plenty of social time with team-mate Jesse Lingard.

Instagram is by far his most popular platform, with his official Twitter and Facebook pages not yet breaking the one-million mark in terms of followers.

Rashford has around 3 million followers on Twitter and his Facebook page is liked by over a million people.

Return to top

Bruno Fernandes is looking forward to playing alongside Paul Pogba as Manchester United prepare to face Tottenham in their first game of the Premier League restart.

The duo have yet to feature in a competitive match together as the Portugal star arrived at the club while Pogba was still recovering from ankle surgery.

There is growing excitement from supporters about seeing the pair in the same side ahead of Friday's meeting with Spurs, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer having played them together in a number of training games.

That included a friendly against West Brom at Old Trafford and Fernandes has admitted that it will be "amazing" to feature in the same team as the World Cup winner.

"I think everyone is excited to see Paul Pogba play again. He’s had a long time out injured and to play alongside him will be amazing," Fernandes told talkSPORT.  

"We have a lot of good players and the most important thing is the result for Manchester United. Everyone wants to play with the best players and Pogba is one of them."

Some have questioned whether the pair will be able to play alongside each other but Solskjaer has no issue in putting them both in the same team.

"Good players can always play together, so definitely, they can - it's a big yes," Solskjaer told Sky Sports   last month.

"I think it's exciting... we do have an exciting squad. I've got Scott [McTominay], Fred, Nemanja [Matic].There's many games coming up and I'm sure we can find a good connection between them. We've been discussing that as a coaching team of course, and we're looking forward to it.

On the adulation Fernandes has received from the United fans and being one of the leaders at Old Trafford, the Portuguese added: "They support me a lot and for me that’s really important.

"I’m very thankful for the support the fans gave me from the beginning, it has been perfect for me.

"From the beginning I feel I’ve been at home, like I never left Sporting. It was really important for me to start well with some good performances and we’ve had some amazing results.

"I think everyone has to be a leader in their own way. Everyone here is a leader, in everything you have different leaderships and I think I’m just another one. I try to help everyone and they try to help me.

"I do always want the ball, that is true, and I will always be like that."

Arsenal technical director Edu has confirmed head coach Mikel Arteta will have a big say in the club's transfer business, with the Gunners eager to create a harmonious culture that will see them return to challenging for major honours.

In the past, several managers have complained publicly about clubs not listening to their recruitment suggestions or philosophies for moving on to bigger and better things, with key players often sold for short-term profits rather than longer-lasting success.

Edu claims that no such scenario will appear at the Emirates, however, stating that Arteta's involvement in future planning is imperative to any potential success in seasons to come.

“Mikel has to be involved in recruitment, he must,” Edu told The Athletic. “We talk about what we need, the characteristics of the players, the system we’re going to play and then I start the process internally. That’s my role. 

“If he has names, if he advises or wants advice on players, that’s fine. If he wants to talk to the other guys [like scouts] of course he will talk to them, but normally that’s my process. That’s why the relationship between us needs to be very strong. 

“I have to understand his points and he has to understand the club’s points. Then we build everything together — that’s the main point.”

Edu went on to state that he knew Arteta was the man to take the club forward before they had even started talking about football, with the Spaniard's qualities as an thoughtful and insightful person making him a “special guy”.

“My first conversation with him was not about football and that’s what I really loved,” Edu added. “It was about concepts, respect, people and staff but not football. My beliefs and his beliefs are the same. 

“We were talking about life, about family, how important it is for the players to understand the importance of being together and respecting the club. After that conversation I was really surprised — we connected straight away with our ideas, philosophy and lifestyle. 

“So before we went through the technical part, I felt he was a special guy.

“After that, we went to football. I explained to him the team we had, the system we played, the system we believe we can play in the future, how we see the team. I did a presentation to him about our squad and then listened to his thinking. He was really excited. 

“And then there was a presentation by him to show me a little bit about his philosophy. Then we, together, started to create a plan. We interviewed a lot of people and that was a very beautiful experience for me, less than six months into the job myself. 

“You have to get to know the person, not just the coach. You see his family, his children, his character as a father and husband. That what I call the base. He has a very, very, very beautiful base.”

Bournemouth winger Ryan Fraser has turned down the opportunity to sign a short-term extension that would see him finish up the club's nine remaining Premier League matches, with his current contract set to expire at the end of the month.

The Scotland international, who has been heavily linked with a move to Arsenal in the past, will fall into the free agent pool come July, with it likely that the 26-year-old is keen to avoid unnecessary injury risk ahead of a potentially lucrative transfer. 

Former Gunners icon Ray Parlour recently responded to reports that Fraser would not stay on with the Cherries, branding the wide man's behaviour “disgraceful” and saying players can just as easily get injured in training as they would during a competitive match.

The diminutive attacker has paid no heed to his detractors, however, with Bournemouth announcing on Wednesday that Fraser was not amongst those who had put pen to paper on short-term deals.

“Simon Francis, Andrew Surman, Artur Boruc and Charlie Daniels have agreed short-term contract extensions to cover the remaining nine games of the 2019/20 season,” a club statement read.

“The quartet will prove a boost to Eddie Howe and his squad as the Cherries prepare for the return of the Premier League later this week.

“Francis, who is club captain, has played the most prominent role this season with 18 appearances in all competitions, whilst vice-captain Surman has featured on nine occasions.

“Goalkeeper Boruc has been named on the bench 29 times this season, while full-back Daniels is continuing his recovery from a long-term knee injury.

“Winger Ryan Fraser has declined to sign a short-term contract extension.

“The Cherries restart their Premier League campaign on Saturday 20th June, hosting Crystal Palace at Vitality Stadium. The game is the first-ever Premier League match to be broadcast on the BBC.”

Sitting in the relegation zone with 27 points from 29 games, Howe's charges must dig deep during the run-in, with the south-coast side currently on a streak of four matches without a win.

South African Football Association’s (Safa) president Dr Danny Jordaan has dropped a hint Bafana Bafana could return to action sooner rather than later.

The Safa boss explained they are communicating with Fifa regarding the return to international competitions, this comes after the matches were suspended following the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

On the other hand, Jordaan says they need to see the 2019/20 Premier Soccer League (PSL) season back in action before international games can return.

“As I’m talking to you, I’m responding to Fifa to check on their inputs about international football. I’m talking about issues raised by Fifa when it comes to international competitions,” said Jordaan as quoted by DailySun.

“International competitions are more complicated because our players must first come from Europe to South Africa, but there are no flights at the moment [due to lockdown restrictions].

“But in order for Bafana to play, we need domestic leagues to play because you cannot have players not playing in the domestic leagues and you want them to play at international competitions; the players must be match fit, they must come from a competitive environment, in this case, the PSL, before they go to Bafana to international competitions.

“Domestic competition must commence before you can have international competition.”

According to the publication, together with PSL chairman Dr. Irvin Khoza, Jordaan was tasked to deliver the 2019/20 NSL (National Soccer League) Covid-19 Health and Safety Directive protocols that were compiled by JLC (Joint Liaison Committee).

With the country still in Level 3 of lockdown, it is also reported Khoza and Jordaan have since met Sports Minister Nathi Mthethwa in a meeting on Monday via Zoom.

In addition, Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize was in Port Elizabeth on Monday where he also met Jordaan and discussed football-related issues.

Meanwhile, the current season was halted in March just before the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Sao Tome e Principe was cancelled.

As things stand, Kaizer Chiefs currently lead the log table with 48 points from 22 matches whilst Mamelodi Sundowns sit second with 44 points, Orlando Pirates and SuperSport United share third spot with 40 points.

Manchester City have a better team than Real Madrid, according to midfielder Rodri – but they can’t take Champions League progression for granted.

As authorities work on plans to finish the European campaign, City have one foot in the quarter-finals after coming from behind to beat Madrid 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu.

When the second leg is played, it will doubtless be a fascinating encounter between the teams currently sat second in the Premier League and La Liga, but Rodri is wary of overconfidence.

“I don’t trust any scoreline against Madrid, even though we won 2-1,” Rodri told Diario AS.

“It is Madrid and they are far from finished. We have a better team and we showed it in the first leg, but there is one step to take.

“We have to respect our opponents, we have to go for the victory because, if not, we will be in trouble.

“Eliminating Madrid, who have won three Champions League titles in a row and have been so powerful in recent years in Europe, would give us a lot of morale and confidence to say that it can be done. But there are great teams in Europe, not just Madrid.”

Rodri is coming towards the end of his first season at City, having joined in a club-record deal from Atletico Madrid last summer.

Seen as the long-term successor to Fernandinho in the holding role, the Spaniard has bedded in and will be expecting to kick on next term.

In moving from the Spanish capital, Rodri swapped Diego Simeone for Pep Guardiola.

They may seem like chalk and cheese in terms of their footballing philosophy, but Rodri says they are not all that different.

“Many people think that they are polar opposites and that they have nothing in common, but I see similarities,” he said.

“They are very intense, very hard-working, they make you do your best every day, they take training as if it were competition because it is an opportunity to learn, they love you 100 per cent.

“From there, each one has his way of understanding football and putting it across.

“I am lucky because working with both of them has made me a more complete player.”

AFC Leopards interim head coach Anthony Kimani has revealed how John Makwatta's exit affected the young players.

Makwatta joined Zambian giants at end of the January transfer window after netting 13 goals for the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) side and Kimani admits his exit was a big loss to young players.

“[John] Makwatta was a leader on and off the pitch and his personality was very inspiring to younger players. We definitely missed that when he left for Zambia,” Kimani told reporters.

Kimani was among the local coaches who took part in the Caf ‘C’ level courses conducted by the Kenya Football Federation (FKF).

“It was an important training. It has raised our knowledge and put us at another level,” said the 2008 KPL winning star with Mathare United.

“Seeing a number of former players undertake the same training was also refreshing. It built their ability to coach even if they are not already doing it now."

Tom Juma, a former Harambee Stars and the current Football Operations Manager at AFC Leopards, also lauded the initiative undertaken by the federation.

“There was a big vacuum as previous regimes never bothered to organize for such courses and the most recent ones have made a difference even at grassroots level,” Juma said.

“And when you look at the numbers trained, you realise there are many people and that it will make a big difference in their lives.”

Kakamega Homeboyz coach Nicholas Muyoti was also among the trainees and explained how the course is vital.

“Some people assume that if you were a player, then automatically you are qualified to be a coach. However, that is not always the case. The transition from playing to coaching is a process and needs knowledge,” said the former Thika United coach.

“In this regard, I am glad to have attended the Caf ‘C’ level course with a number of former players. It was very educative and went a long way to build our capacity.

“I benefitted a lot. It has helped me to look at coaching from a different perspective,” said Bidco coach Antony Akhulia.

Evans Mafuta (Nairobi Stima Assistant Coach), Rix Kanuli (Shabana Asst. Coach), Ibrahim Shikanda (Bandari Assistant Coach), Kinero Abdalla (Modern Coast Assistant Coach), Godfrey Oduor (KCB Assistant Coach), Charles Okere (Tusker Assistant Coach), Fred Ambani (Wazito Assistant Coach), John Amboko (Nairobi City Stars Assistant Coach), George Maina (Naivas Coach), and Pascal Ochieng (Posta Rangers Assistant Coach) were also the beneficiaries of the training.

Free State Stars chairman Mike Mokoena has passed away, the PSL confirmed in a statement on Wednesday morning. 

The cause of Mokoena's sudden death is still unknown.  

In a statement released by the league, PSL chairman paid tribute to Mokoena and hailed his contribution to South African football over the years. 

Mr Mike Mokoena, the Chairman of Free State Stars Football Club, one of the founding members of the NSL and longstanding member of the Executive Committee, has departed.
Our prayers are with the Mokoena family, especially its Matriarch, Ausi Joyce Mokoena who has been a pillar of strength that propped Bra Mike up over the years.

Mike Mokoena was a self-made man that took the fruits of his toil, which he could have used for his personal benefit and that of his family and invested selflessly into football. The Free State Stars payroll that he created and maintained, sometimes under very trying circumstances, is a source of viable livelihood for many.

Bra Mike was an epitome of practicality. People do not come more practical that Mr Mokoena lived.

He shined a spotlight on a little known town in South Africa. He literally put Qwa Qwa and the town of Bethlehem on the map. The economic activity generated by Free State Stars in that part of our country is a powerful legacy of a passionate man that always maintained that “where there is a will, there is a way”

Mike Mokoena, through his toil, left this world a better place than he found it.

May his soul repose peacefully.

Mokoena founded the now Free State Stars in 1977, and the club gained promotion to the professional league in 1985. 

Under his leadership, the club was bought by the league in 2002 when PSL reduced the number of teams from 18 to 16. 

In 2003, Mokoena returned to football after buying Ratanang Maholosiane's status and renamed it Free State Stars and the club was back in the PSL two years later.

While the club got relegated twice thereafter, including the 2018/19 season, Mokoena was proud to have watched Stars lift trophies while he was still in charge of the club.  

Stars won the 1994 Coca Cola Cup, Baymed Cup in 2006 as well as the Nedbank Cup in 2018 with Mokoena as the chairman.  

Former Bidvest Wits winger Sifiso Myeni is saddened by the club's decision to sell its Premier Soccer League (PSL) status.

National First Division (NFD) club Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila recently confirmed that they had purchased Wits' status ahead of next season.

However, the deal will still need to be approved by the PSL Executive Committee before it is officially completed.

Myeni was nurtured in the Wits academy before he went on to help the first team win major trophies.

“It’s sad that a club with such a rich history has been sold. The owners know why they sold it, maybe it was a business decision," Myeni told Daily Sun.

"I thought it was just rumours when I heard about the sale for the first time. But when I heard TTM boss reveal on the radio that the only thing left now was for the PSL to confirm the sale, then I knew the club was gone.

“I joined the club because they had a good youth set-up. Coach Roger de Sa and Eric Tinkler gave me the break to play professional football."

Myeni had two successful spells with the Clever Boys having inspired the team to the 2010 Nedbank Cup triumph as one of the key players.

Before moving to Orlando Pirates in 2012, he returned to Wits four years later, and he helped the team clinch a league and cup double (PSL title and MTN8) during the 2016/17 season.

The Soweto-born player will always cherish his memories with the Students where he played with PSL legends such as Moeneeb Josephs, Marawaan Bantam, and many others.

"I was signed within three days of having trials with the team. I played with a lot of great players like Marawaan Bantam, Winstanley brothers [Ivan, Neil], Richard Rantjie, Lehlohonolo Majoro and Moeneeb Josephs," he said.

"Other youngsters like Patrick Phungwayo and Sibusiso Vilakazi found me in the first team. 

"I am proud that I made history by becoming one of the first players to play at the new FNB Stadium in 2010 when we beat AmaZulu [3-0] in the Nedbank final. I made more history by winning the league with the club.”

Myeni was hoping to reunite with his former teammates to celebrate Wits' 100th anniversary next year, but this will no longer be possible.

“Maybe the team would have done something to celebrate 100 years and invite all players," he concluded.

Myeni is currently clubless after being released by NFD club TS Sporting earlier this month.

UK health secretary Matt Hancock has been mocked by the football world after referring to Manchester United's Marcus Rashford as 'Daniel' in an interview following the government's U-turn regarding free meals for vulnerable children.

Rashford recently penned an open letter to the British parliament in which he begged the government to extend a scheme that provides food vouchers for approximately 1.3 million disadvantaged children across the country.

At first, the Department of Education stated that the scheme would not run over the summer, but Rashford's plea gained enough popularity for Prime Minister Boris Johnson to state on Tuesday that the government would in fact continue to help those in need.

With that, Rashford firmly cemented himself as the most talked about Premier League footballer amongst politicians, including Hancock.

Hancock's name is well known to players in England's top flight too, with the health secretary having called for top-earning athletes to “do their bit” for the country after the UK began to announce its plans for tackling the coronavirus pandemic.

Despite all of that, however, Hancock still managed to refer to Rashford as 'Daniel' in an interview with Sky News on Wednesday.

“Righty-ho. Well I’ll tell you what happened, the Prime Minister talked to Daniel Rashford, he considered it and made his decision,” he said.

“I think it’s terrific, I’m in favour of making sure we get as much support as possible for people in difficult circumstances.

“I think that Marcus Rashford has done a great thing in the campaigning he’s done.”

Rashford responded to a tweet from Gary Lineker by saying he had been called 'much worse' in recent days on the back of his campaign.

Ex-England star Lineker also wrote: “Really looking forward to watching Richard Sterling, Colin De Bruyne, Danny Luiz and Co. tonight.”

Elsewhere, fellow Red Devil Gary Neville simply wished Rashford a good day, tweeting: “Morning Daniel”.

The healthy secretary subsequently tweeted to acknowledge the name mix-up, writing: "Too early. But in all seriousness Marcus you’re a credit to the nation."

Rashford also responded to that comment, replying: "As I said yesterday this was never about politics or me. The PM didn’t need to u-turn the decision but I’m thankful he did. I asked you to listen and you did that so on behalf of all mums likes mine, dads and carers that are struggling across the country, thank you."

Young Africans (Yanga SC) will miss the services of three key players when they take on JKT Tanzania in their second match of the Mainland Premier League on Wednesday.

The Jangwani Street-based giants resumed their action with a 1-0 win against Mwadui FC in a match played at Kambarage Stadium in Shinyanga on Saturday.

Ahead of their match against JKT, coach Luc Eymael has confirmed to Goal three players – captain Papy Tshishimbi, Lamine Moro, and Bernard Morrison – will not be involved in the fixture owing to various reasons.

“We will miss the services of our captain [Papy] who is out injured but recovering well and [Morrison] is yet to join the camp and will definitely come back when we return to Dar es Salaam," Eymael told Goal on Wednesday.

“We will see if Molinga makes it to the last 18 while Moro has a bruise on his knee and will not play.”

Asked on his plans for the match, Eymael said: “It is a big match for us, we want to keep the winning run going and will be going for a win, I know JKT will also fight to get a win so it will be a good battle.

“We have also worked on some of the mistakes which cropped up during the match against Mwadui and the players are looking good, I want us to finish as high as possible in the league and so every match is like a final to us.”

Meanwhile, JKT coach Abdallah Mohamed said they have done their homework well and will be out to beat Yanga.

“We have studied how they play and are ready to face, I must say we don’t fear them. I know they are one of the biggest teams in the country, but that will not count for us, all we need is a win.”

Eymael is likely to start underfire striker Gnamien Yikpe in the fixture. The Ivorian striker has received heavy criticism from Yanga fans, who insist he does not deserve to play for the team.

The fans have on many occasions taken to social media calling for the team to do away with the striker with others faulting the officials who were involved in signing the player from Kenyan champions Gor Mahia.

Former goalkeeper and current Fortuna Dusseldorf board member Lutz Pfannenstiel says that Eintracht Frankfurt sporting director Fredi Bobic could return Manchester United to glory.

Bobic has been Eintracht Frankfurt's sporting director since 2016, with the club experiencing a surge under his leadership. After winning the DFB-Pokal in 2017-18, the club finished seventh in the Bundesliga last season to seal a Europa League berth.

Frankfurt sit seventh this season and still remain involved in the Europa League round of 16, although the competition was postponed following a first-leg loss to FC Basel.

During Bobic's tenure, the club has gone on to sign stars like Luka Jovic, Sebastian Haller and Ante Rebic, with the former two making big-money moves away from the club while the latter is currently on loan with Milan.

Bobic has developed a reputation for finding and developing undiscovered talent, and it is that skill that Pfannenstiel says could help him retool a club with big money, like Man Utd.

"I'm very excited to see where Fredi's path leads him. I think there are three options," Pfannenstiel wrote in his column for DAZN . 

"First, he could stay in Frankfurt for a long time, but I personally do not believe that. After all, what more could he achieve after double qualifying for the Europa League and winning the DFB-Pokal? Bayern, Dortmund and Leipzig are currently difficult to reach for Frankfurt.

"Second, he could move to a top European club. Or third, he could do something completely different, something more exotic and work for a club where he can build something structurally.

"I personally would like to see how Fredi works with a bag full of money and which players he would sign. Even if working at a top club is completely different compared to developing and building up a club with limited resources, I am sure that Fredi would be up to the task.

"I am firmly convinced that he could lead a club like Manchester United back to the top. The question is rather whether he wants that. Conversely, top European clubs have long been on the downturn.

"At Man Utd, for example, restructuring with a strong sports director who works in the background of the trainer or manager, as they say on the island, would certainly work very well."

Prior to working with Frankfurt, Bobic served as the director of sport at Stuttgart before being sacked in 2014 after a near four-year stay.

During Bobic's spell with Stuttgart, the club decided to sell Joshua Kimmich, who ended up becoming a star with RB Leipzig and now Bayern Munich.

Additionally, Bobic pushed hard to sign a then-undiscovered Saul Niguez, who now is counted among the world's best midfielders at Atletico Madrid.

"Fredi wanted to keep Joshua Kimmich, for example, but the club was more interested in the quick money that could be made with him after his successful time at RB Leipzig," Pfannenstiel said.

"Another example of how unconventional and long-term Fredi thinks: Saul Niguez was with his father for talks at VfB in Stuttgart. Saul was a rough diamond at the time, 18 years old and just loaned to Rayo Vallecano.

"With VfB everything was already clear. For about €8 million (£7.2m/$9,), he could have been signed. Fredi was convinced of Saul, but did not get his commitment because the amount was too high for others. Today Saul is probably one of the best midfielders in the world and worth many times over."

Hector Bellerin has pledged to plant 3,000 trees for every win Arsenal amass between now and the end of the season.

The Gunners return to action in the Premier League on Wednesday night after a 102-day hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic when they take on Manchester City at Etihad Stadium.

That will be the first of 10 remaining league games for Mikel Arteta’s side, with victories vital as they attempt to earn a spot in next season’s Champions League.

Any wins will now have added significance to Bellerin, who has partnered with global charity One Tree Planted and committed to plant 3,000 trees for every success the Gunners enjoy before the end of the campaign.

“As a child growing up in Barcelona, I spent a lot of my with my grandad in his garden planting trees and playing in forests so it’s an issue very close to my heart,” said Bellerin.

“When I saw the great work that One Tree Planted do, not just the planting of the trees but within the communities as well, I knew it was something that I wanted to get involved in. I hope that by doing this and using my platform, others will see how important it is to look after our world and donate to a cause which really affects us all.”

Bellerin is well known for his stance on environmental issues and has spoken at length about subjects such as single-use plastics and the effects of climate change on society.

His partnership with One Tree Planted aims to draw attention to the fact that, according to a recent study, 4,500 acres of forest are cleared every hour leading to catastrophic effects on wildlife, ecosystems and weather patterns.

Diana Chaplin, Canopy Director of One Tree Planted, said: "It's great to know that there are champions for the environment in the sports world. Hector's passion for nature goes beyond words to make a real impact on the ground and help us plant trees where they're needed most.

“This will have a lasting benefit for people, nature, and wildlife for many years to come." 

Fans are invited to join the campaign and help plant even more trees to make a positive impact for the great outdoors. More details can be found here.

AFC Leopards goalkeeper Benjamin Ochan has revealed he is learning Karate as believes the season was better compared to the previous one.

Ochan joined AFC Leopards at the beginning of the abandoned season and went on to record 13 clean sheets.

The custodian, now in Uganda, said he has had to learn Karate as well as engaging in training regimes which keeps him fit.

“Life without football is tough because we are used to going to training then playing during the weekend but now you wake up and do housework and keep fit,” Ochan said during an interactive session with fans on AFC Leopards Facebook page.

“But anyway, this pandemic is real, life is tough and it feels like being in a prison. You know there is a total lockdown in Uganda and you have nowhere to go.

“I am learning karate by the way. Every morning I get on my bike and ride to the gym where we are working initially, it was just within my neighbourhood but now it is quite far about 20 kilometres.

“I do my karate and exercises that make me fit from Monday to Friday. I cannot say I am very fit but I can say I am 70% fit.”

The Uganda star assessed Ingwe's season which was his debut campaign in the Kenyan Premier League (KPL), revealed aborted targets and where he thinks the team might be next season.

“We had positives and negatives,” said the goalkeeper.

“The negative side of it is that we hoped to win the league but it has not been possible due to a number of factors but we had also aimed at finishing above position, however, but it was also not possible too due to Covid-19.

“The positive side of the season is that I think we have gelled well as a team, there is something to build on with a lot of youngsters coming through and the teamwork.

“There is love in the team and the support from the fans is amazing. We also worked tirelessly in the season as I believe we have something to build on.

“AFC Leopards finished 11th last season and we were number six this season with nine games left to go. I believe from the nine games, a top-three spot was very much possible.

“Climbing up the table is a promising thing and maybe next season we will be number one because AFC Leopards are a big team.”

Ochan's confidence of a better 2020/21 season echoes similar statements made by his head coach Anthony Kimani and the club's chairman Dan Shikanda.

Kenya international Duke Abuya has revealed his happiness at being turned into a midfielder from a defender at Nkana FC.

Abuya, who signed for the Zambian club on a two-year deal in January 2020 from Kariobangi Sharks, has become a regular starter for the side but playing in an unfamiliar role, where he has effectively partnered with another Kenyan player Duncan Otieno.

Abuya has openly confessed he is now enjoying the new role which has seen him score one goal for his side in the Zambian league.

“I’m really enjoying my new role in the team,” Abuya is quoted by Standard Sports. “The transition from the number ten attacking role to a provider has not been difficult for me. That’s an added advantage to me because I can do both of them.

“I was more than relieved to open my goal account at Nkana because I had endured a long goal drought in the Kenyan Premier League.”

Abuya, who featured for the national team Harambee Stars during the African Nations Championship (Chan) qualifier away to Tanzania, has also admitted that his main aim is to cement his place in the team.

“The national team is not like a club; this is a place that you must take your chances whenever given because the competition is too high,” Abuya continued.

“But if you don’t grab it with both hands, you will live to regret. Migne [Sebastien] told me he was impressed with my debut performance against Tanzania and immediately when he left, Kimanzi [Francis] called me up in the team. That means I’m heading in the right direction.”

On his move to play outside Kenya, Abuya said: “I always dreamt of playing outside Kenya, but I never knew it would be at a big club like Nkana.

“The move happened so fast and the positive thing is that I adapted to everything there very quickly. I just feel like I’m living my dream every day but that doesn’t mean I’m going to be complacent here.”

Abuya also praised Kenyan players in Nkana – Musa Mohammed, Harun Shakava, and Otieno – for helping him to settle down quickly in Zambia.

“Honestly, was it not for Musa, Duncan, and Shakava it would have been difficult for me to adapt at Nkana,” Abuya explained.

“They gave me a warm welcome and oriented me to the club. They taught me the ropes of what it takes to be a professional player. But I’m more grateful to Duncan for making things easier for me. I have really had fun in the seven matches we have played together in midfield.”

Bernardo Silva says the debate on who is better between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo is “not debatable” – because people should just enjoy them both.

The Manchester City man is a team-mate of Ronaldo’s for Portugal, with the pair having won last year’s inaugural Nations League tournament together.

Silva says the experience of training and playing alongside the Juventus forward has been a special one, hailing his exemplary work ethic off the pitch.

“It will be something special and unique to tell my kids and grandkids I was able to give him some assists,” Silva told BBC Sport.

“He's an example on and off the pitch. With Portugal, we train in the morning. In the afternoon everyone plays cards or PlayStation, but he goes to the gym.

“In the big moments, when you need him the most, he's always there.”

And, while the Messi v Ronaldo debate has now raged for over a decade, Silva wants no part in it.

“It's a debate that's not debatable,” he added.

“I think we need to feel privileged to be able to watch them at the same time together.

“They are two of the best players ever - if not the two best players ever.”

Silva is currently preparing for the return of the Premier League, with City returning to action on Wednesday night with a fixture against Arsenal.

Coming to the end of his third year in Manchester, the 25-year-old is settled and happy in his surroundings.

Plucked from Monaco at the end of the 2016-17 season, Silva says the feeling of signing for City was “amazing”.

“It was an amazing feeling. When we played Manchester City [with Monaco in the Champions League], the atmosphere was amazing.

“After the game I was talking to my team-mates and we were saying: ‘Wow, the atmosphere in England is really good. One day I'd like to play there.’

“At the end of the season when they contacted me and said they wanted to buy me; it was a pleasure to join the club.

“So far, I've been very happy at the club - so it was a great choice.

“I've been lucky to play for a team like Manchester City. It's a pleasure to be here with such amazing players and staff and be able to win so many trophies.”

Young Africans (Yanga SC) coach Luc Eymael has revealed he will continue to use “unwanted” striker Gnamien Yikpe until the end of the season.

The Ivorian striker, who signed for the Jangwani Street-based giants from Kenyan champions Gor Mahia, has come under heavy criticism especially from Yanga fans who feel he does not deserve to play for the team owing to his poor displays on the pitch.

The fans have on many occasions taken to social media calling for the team to do away with the striker with others faulting the officials who were involved in signing the player from K’Ogalo.

However, the Belgian tactician has distanced himself from the signing of the player saying he found him already playing for Yanga and went further to state he will continue to use him because “I don’t have enough strikers in the team.”

“I don’t want to comment about [Yikpe], it is not me who signed this player but currently we don’t have a lot of choices in the striking area and I have to use him until the end of the season,” Eymael told Goal on Wednesday.

“It seems he was a good player while he was playing for Gor Mahia but I don’t know what happened to him, he was already there when I came, because I found him already playing for Yanga.”

Four days ago, Yikpe revealed he was not affected by the pressure of fans to deliver despite having scored one goal since he signed for Yanga.

“People talk a lot [about me] but I usually don't listen to them,” Yikpe was quoted as saying by Mwanaspoti.

“They will always talk whether you are performing well or not. However, I am a Yanga player and I am contracted to the team. If it is about my performance, the management should be the one talking about it but as it stands, I have heard nothing from them.

“I have to train harder, but regarding playing time, I leave it for the coach to decide.”

Yanga are currently preparing to face JKT Tanzania in their second match after the return of the Mainland Premier League and Yikpe could still feature in the fixture.