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Cape Town City have received a massive boost with the news striker Kermit Erasmus has recovered from a hamstring injury.

The Citizens hitman suffered the injury two months ago and coach Jan Olde Riekerink will welcome the news just as they await to hear an announcement from the Premier Soccer League (PSL) on when to return to full training.

With South African football halted in March owing to the coronavirus pandemic, PSL clubs were forced to train from home and the Mother City outfit will welcome the news.

“Kermit Erasmus has successfully recovered from the hamstring injury he suffered two months ago. Welcome back Romeo!” said City in a statement.

Although the former Orlando Pirates and SuperSport United forward will be key for the former MTN8 winners once the South African Football Association (Safa) and the PSL announce the dates to return to training on the field of play, his future remains a subject of speculation.

As things stand, the country is in Level 3 lockdown, and football activities are still suspended, but Safa recently announced the games will return during Level 1 whereas the current lockdown level is set to end at the end of this month.

Meanwhile, Erasmus has reportedly attracted interest from Mamelodi Sundowns as manager Pitso Mosimane is looking to secure the services of a top striker.

Although chairman John Comitis promised they will hold on to their top players, it remains to be seen if the nippy forward will eventually leave the club and join the Brazilians next season.

The veteran boss explained they are not prepared to sell the Port Elizabeth-born striker, stating clearly players such as Sundowns target, Edmilson Dove and Thabo Nodada who are linked with Kaizer Chiefs are going nowhere.

Taking a look at his contribution this term, the 29-year-old has netted 10 goals out of 20 appearances in all competitions and has provided two assists.

On the log table, the Citizens are placed 10th on the PSL standings - four points above the relegation play-off spot.

Former Harambee Stars and Gor Mahia defender Wesley Onguso has ventured into the Boda Boda business.

The business, that uses motorbikes for transportation of clients, has been a booming adventure among youth in the country and the left-back is now engaging in it to make ends meet.

Onguso, the 2017 Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup winner with Harambee Stars, is currently turning out for Nairobi City Stars.

He was part of the playing unit that ensured City Stars topped the National Super League table and eventually got promoted when Football Kenya Federation (FKF) cancelled the league.

Onguso's new venture comes at a time when the majority of the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) players suffered salary delays as clubs ran without sponsors. The league itself did not have a title sponsor which further affected the financial health of clubs.

He is also part of the campaign team that sensitizes Kawangware residents on Covid-19 preventive measures.

Kenyan footballers have been out of action since mid-March when the leagues were stopped owing to the measures put in place to help contain the spread of the coronavirus.

Apart from turning out for Gor Mahia, Onguso has played for Sofapaka, Western Stima, Posta Rangers and Mathare United.

Onguso's story follows another similar case where Posta Rangers defender Humphrey Okot revealed doing manual jobs during this period of no action.

“It’s been tough for us but we have to do what we can to put food on the table, pay rent and other amenities while ensuring we stick to the strict government restrictions,” Okot told The Star.

A few days ago, AFC Leopards coach Anthony Kimani urged active players to start investing for the sake of their future financial health.

“Many players sometimes forget football is a sport that you cannot play for a lifetime. Footballers have a short period like 10 years and so it is important to keep in mind to start building a foundation that will sustain you in future,” Kimani said.

“If one has an opportunity to pursue further education, the better and if you want to invest in business it is important to do it now. It would be very critical because once you retire you would find life going on rather smoothly.

“If the current players start planning for the future now, the better.”

Hansi Flick wants to see fans allowed into the stadium for Bayern Munich's DFB-Pokal final with Bayer Leverkusen, despite the continued threat of coronavirus.

Bayern booked their place in the final for a third successive year by beating Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1 on Wednesday, thanks to goals from Ivan Perisic and Robert Lewandowski.

Leverkusen are now the only side standing between the Bavarians and yet another domestic trophy, as Peter Bosz's men reached the showpiece by seeing off fourth-tier Saarbrucken 3-0 in the first semi-final.

The two clubs will meet at Berlin's Olympic Stadium on July 4, and as it stands the match will be held behind closed doors due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

All fixtures in Germany have been held in empty stadiums since the season restarted on May 18, but Flick is hopeful an exception can be made for next month's final.

"I have always said that viewers are very, very lacking. If it is that you decide that viewers are there - so much the better," the Bayern boss told a press conference on Friday. "These are things that I cannot decide, that we cannot decide. It will be decided somewhere else.

"It will certainly be good for fans to be in the stadium. It is up to the others to judge how this is done."

Flick went on to deliver an update on the fitness of Niklas Sule and Philippe Coutinho, both of whom have missed Bayern's last six matches through injury.

Sule has been sidelined since October with a cruciate ligament injury, while Coutinho has stepped up his recovery after undergoing surgery on an ankle issue in April.

Flick added on how close a prized duo are to returning to training: "They need two more tests beforehand. Today we did the first and will do the second on Monday. If everything fits, then maybe they can be brought back slowly after the Bremen game."

Next up for Bayern is a crucial showdown against Borussia Monchengladbach at Allianz Arena on Saturday, where another win will see them move to within three points of an eight consecutive Bundesliga crown.

Flick's side have picked up maximum points from their last five matches, but Monchengladbach will likely provide a stern test as they continue to chase down a top-four finish.

Football reruns!, Here are all the fixtures that are being shown in Malaysia this week during this coronovirus impacted period.

*All times shown are Malaysian.

Saturday June 13

Start your Saturday with the K-League before turning your attention towards the Bundesliga and LaLiga.

Sunday June 14

More Bundesliga, K-League and LaLiga action with current league leaders Barcelona in action for the first time.

Monday June 15

Capped off your weekend of exciting football with Real Madrid against Eibar in the early hours of Monday morning.

Dylan Kerr states it is frustrating for the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) and all players at large to stay for this long without football.

In Kenya, football was suspended on March 16 owing to Covid-19 and from all indications, the 2019/20 season has come to an abrupt end. The tactician has challenged authorities to put in place mechanisms which will ensure football is played quicker in case we have a situation similar to the current one.

"As a former player it’s very frustrating, and it is hopefully a once in a lifetime pandemic that will be learnt from," Kerr told Goal.

"Plans should be put in place if something like [Covid-19] happens again; the football ruling bodies can work quickly to put football back to the supporters."

The former Gor Mahia coach has also revealed players miss the bond and the unity experienced when together which makes it even tougher.

"It is the bond between players that is frustrating; we are not golfers or tennis players, snooker athletes or a gymnast where you have self-motivation. To be the best, footballers need everyone to make one the best and it is why players miss training," Kerr added.

"The bond a squad has when they are together is priceless. The laughter I create as a coach is what success builds."

The 53-year-old has now urged friends and family members to help motivate players at home to continue training to be fit.

"Clubs have to understand a player's motivation both at home and at work. The feel-good factor that you have, support, not just from family and friends but also your peers. 

"As a coach, I am constantly in contact [with players] not just as a coach but as their friend to keep mentally challenged." 

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) announced the KPL has been annulled on April 30. However, the league managers stated the Federation has no legal mandate to do the same.

KPL wrote to the Confederation of African Football (Caf) over the same before going to the Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT). The Tribunal gave a stay order after submissions were made on June 12, the ruling will be made on June 30.

Hugo Lloris believes last season's Champions League final heartbreak and a lack of stability account for Tottenham's struggles in the 2019-20 campaign.

A little over a year ago, Spurs were finalists in Europe's premier competition but went down 2-0 to Liverpool in Madrid.

Since then a lot has happened. Mauricio Pochettino was sacked in November with Spurs sitting 14th in the Premier League and Jose Mourinho was brought in to turn the tide.

The results have been mixed, with Tottenham out of every competition and facing a battle to secure a top-four finish when the Premier League resumes after the coronavirus-enforced hiatus next week.

Asked to explain Spurs' fall, Lloris said: "Wow, it's difficult to explain. Last season, we went on an incredible run in the Champions League and we finished the season on our knees, and you don't have time to recover from one season before you have to start a new one"

Spurs' rocky campaign has been beset by injury issues. Lloris himself missed three months with a dislocated elbow, while star striker Harry Kane and talismanic forward Son Heung-min would have missed the rest of 2019-20 had the global health crisis not afforded extra recovery time.

"There was the accumulation of things that provoked the situation, and then of course a lot of injured players," Lloris explained. "The change of manager. It's difficult to stay stable and to be always looking at the top. There is sometimes one season when everything goes against you."

Spurs are seven points adrift of the Champions League places with just nine games to play and start the resumption of their campaign with a crucial home fixture against fifth-place Manchester United.

Lloris is relishing the chance of a fresh start and welcomed the prospect of having Kane back in the fold to boost their flagging European ambitions.

"It's like a new season that is going to start," Lloris said. "It's true to say we were not at our best, but it belongs to the past. 

"The team will look different to a few months ago. We are more or less all fit, this is a big difference.

"He [Kane] is ready. In his mind he is ready and that's the most important thing. He recovered very well from his bad injury and he is the one really looking forward to getting back into the competition.

"Everyone knows his targets, his ambition and his willingness to win. We all need the repetition of games to reach our best level, but that is going to be the case even for the opponents we are going to play.

"Harry is in a good place and just waiting to start the season again, like all of us."

The Tanzanian government has warned venues that will not adhere to set health guidelines during Mainland Premier League matches will risk being banned from hosting the same.

Tanzania are set to become the first country in the East African region to resume their top-flight which was halted in mid-March after the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

The league is now set to resume on Saturday with Young Africans (Yanga SC) taking on Mwadui at the CCM Kambarage Stadium, while Coastal Union will welcome Namungo FC at the Mkwakwani Stadium in Tanga.

The government had already put in measures to be followed by teams and stadium managers to make sure that they help curb the spread of Covid-19.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Culture, Arts, and Sports, Hassan Abbasi has now warned that no health irregularities will be tolerated and whoever will break the laws will be dealt with.

“Other countries have not managed to resume their leagues, while those which have decided to continue are doing so without supporters,” Abbasi is quoted by Daily News.

“Here, the State has allowed people to go and watch live the games by following health safety guideline protocols and what else do you want to be given?”

Abbasi continued: “We will not hesitate to ban stadia that will not follow the laid down rules, everyone must follow the rules as stipulated.”

Some of the tough measures include committing stadium managements, sports associations and federations to install facilities that will allow to put in place running water and soap as well as sanitizers while insuring everyone involved uses them before entering venues.

Opening entry gates early will also be mandatory, so as to avoid overcrowding and allow fans to maintain a one-metre distance while entering the venue, seating arrangement should also adhere to one-metre distances.

The fans, team officials, journalists, and all other stakeholders involved would also be required to wear face masks throughout when at the venue.

The government has also warned against wild celebrations, saying any goal scored should not invite hugging, while the exchange of jerseys at the end of the match and handshake (before and after the match) will also not be tolerated.

In addition, substitutes sitting on the bench will be required to wear masks and must sit a metre apart, while players coming off the pitch will be required to wear masks immediately leaving the field.

Striker Alfred Leku has claimed he was never treated like a player at Proline FC.

Leku joined Proline at the beginning of the abandoned 2019/20 season after penning a one-year contract and has said he would not want a longer time with the club given how he was treated.

Proline were relegated to the Fufa Big League when the Premier League ended due to the restrictions placed to counter the spread of the coronavirus.

“I signed for only one season with them and its done. Even if I still had a contract with Proline, I would leave because I never had enough playing time there,” Lule told Sports Nation.

“I was not treated like a player. I didn’t get playing time.”

Leku is, however, accepting the fact that coaching changes might have affected his time at the club.

“I don’t want to say that Proline are bad because these situations happen in football but the change in coaches affected me," he said.

“I joined Proline because of Bisaso [Shafiq] and when he left, I knew it was the end of the road for me.”

Matia Lule was appointed as Bisaso's successor before the club went on again to appoint Baker Mbowa in place of Lule.

Leku also spoke about his time at Jwaneng Galaxy in Botswana. 

“It was the same issue of coaches because I was also signed by another coach who then left after some weeks,” Leku revealed.

"Then the team brought in Miguel Da Costa [who had loaned me out when I was at Vipers SC], he did the same to me in Botswana.

“Unfortunately, the team [Extension Gunners] I went on loan in Bostwana never had money and being a foreigner, life became hard in that team.

“Since I never had a good relationship with Da Costa, I came back to my mother club and he said he can’t add more players to the team.”

Meanwhile, Busoga United defender David Bagoole has stated they have a team that can win the UPL title next season.

“We have very many good players who can help us to challenge for the title and surely that must be our ultimate target next season,” Bagoole told Football256.

Bagoole, who was key as United finished fourth, said it was unfortunate for the league to be cancelled.

“It’s bitter that we didn’t play to the end but anybody can understand the situation that we’re in right now,” he concluded.

“Much as we would have liked to play all the games, the pandemic couldn’t allow us, but I am happy with where we finished and we should be targeting the title next term.

“Credit [for a good season] goes to whoever is associated with the club from the president to the fans for the endless support.”

“But more credit goes to the players and the coach because they really did a tremendous job.”

Former Maritzburg United winger Bhongolwethu Jayiya has revealed that he had to choose between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates.

The 30-year-old ended up moving to Chiefs ahead of the 2017/18 season after he failed to extend his contract at Cape Town City where he had established himself as one of the top wingers in the PSL.

“The move to Chiefs had a lot of things and complications. I wanted to stay at Cape Town City. We had negotiations with the [City] boss John Comitis and we didn’t agree on the packages and everything… I just had to move," Jayiya told Far Post.

“It [was] not about the money, it was about a package that was suitable for me and my family because I had a young daughter at the time, newborn and because I am a family orientated person. I wanted to go back to Johannesburg, I wanted to be around my family.

“I met up with my agent, I needed to make a big club move in my career. I have played for all the small teams. I remember we inquired with Mamelodi Sundowns, Chiefs and Orlando Pirates. Sundowns had many players in my position, so it was between Chiefs and Pirates."

The former Bidvest Wits player, who helped City clinch the 2016 Telkom Knockout Cup, disclosed that he did not enjoy his time with Amakhosi as he was inconsistent.

"I sat down with my mom. My mom is a Chiefs supporter, she said to me, ‘my child whatever you choose is fine but for me, it would be nice to see you play at Chiefs’," he added.

“I went to a team that comes with big pressure. When I joined Chiefs, there was a lot of pressure, they hadn’t won a trophy for about three to four years and you are a new player coming in and there are players who are playing well, but haven’t been able to bring in trophies."

Jayiya struggled with injuries during his two-year spell with the Soweto giants and he felt sometimes he was thrown into the deep end when he was not ready to play.

“So, as a new player to come in and start playing was going to be hard. So, I thought I would get a chance and my mind at that time when I wasn’t playing was mainly focused on my family. I told myself, things are not happening right now I can’t force things, let me just focus on what I can control which is my family," he said.

“You would find that sometimes, they would throw you into the deep end when you were not even thinking of playing and you were not ready and that just messes up your opportunity at Chiefs, but at the end of the day you need to be ready at all times."

“I wasn’t focused on grabbing the opportunity because I had been sidelined for so long. If I had the same mentality I had when I was at City, it was going to be a different story. I have no grudges, it is life, it happens, you just have to take it on the chin and move on."

Jayiya made 20 appearances across all competitions for Chiefs without scoring a single goal and he is currently a free agent having left Amakhosi in May 2019.

Odsonne Edouard has played down talk of a potential summer move to Arsenal, insisting he would "love to be a part" a tenth straight title win for Celtic.

Celtic were awarded the Scottish Premier League crown for a ninth successive year in May when the decision was taken to cancel all remaining fixtures due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Hoops were 13 points clear of Rangers having played a game more than their arch-rivals, and Edouard picked up the Golden Boot after scoring 22 goals in 27 appearances.

Neil Lennon has confirmed that Celtic are trying to tie Edouard down to a new deal which will see him remain at Celtic Park beyond 2022, as a number of top clubs continue to be linked with the French striker ahead of the summer transfer window.

Arsenal have reportedly identified the 22-year-old as a possible replacement for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who has been tipped to leave Emirates Stadium when the market reopens.

However, Edouard remains fully committed to Celtic at the moment, and hopes to get back on the pitch as soon as possible after seeing his progress interrupted by the Covid-19 crisis.

The forward said after being named the Scottish Football Writers’ Association Player of the Year: "Winning 10 in a row is very important for the club, the players and the fans. Of course, I would love to be part of it. No one knows what will happen in the future but I want to be a part of it.

“My first target right now is to play football again after so much time away from the pitch. I only set personal targets for myself once the season actually starts. At the moment, I am still under contract with Celtic and my priority is to get back playing again. In the future, we will see what happens.”

Edouard added on being the subject of interest from Arsenal: "It shows you are working hard and doing the right things as a player. It is flattering, but I just concentrate on trying to play well for Celtic. That’s what I am focused on at the moment.”

Edouard went on to express his delight after becoming the first French player in history to pick up Scottish football's top individual prize.

He said: “I’m very happy with the award. It shows I worked hard and had a good season. It gives me a lot of confidence for the future. The other three players on the short-list were not there by chance. It’s because they are real quality players.

“I’m very proud to be the first French player to win this award, I know how important it is.

“There were a lot of highlights for me during the season but the biggest one was winning the title for nine in a row. That’s the reason we play.”

Tanzania Premier League Board (TPLB) has now given a go clear for the Mainland Premier League to resume on Saturday.

The Tanzanian top-flight was halted in mid-March owing to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, but three weeks ago, President John Pombe Magufuli allowed sporting activities and social gatherings to return in the country hence paving way for the league to return.

While the teams started training immediately, the league was set to start on June 13 and Young Africans (Yanga SC) will open the fixtures with an away match against Mwadui at Kambarage Stadium in Shinyanga while Coastal Union will come up against Namungo FC at Mkwakwani Stadium in Tanga.

TPLB through CEO Almas Kasongo have now assured Tanzanians they are 100 percent ready to set the ball rolling with the action and will also strictly follow the safety measures put in place by the government to help curb the spread of Covid-19.

“We have already put on the ground people, who manage games such as commissioners and referees,” Kasongo is quoted by Daily News.

“We have also completed providing awareness to people who will watch the games live at the stadia on procedures they need to follow to be safe from contracting the Covid-19 disease.”

Kasongo further said they have put in place a third eye that will ensure all the remaining nine rounds of matches are played without controversy and end without eliciting boardroom decisions.

“We know this period will be more difficult than the previous ones, that is why we are keen to monitor every move to avoid any malpractices,” Kasongo continued.

“We want to use the remaining league matches as a pilot on how we will be able to run the league next season since there are major transformations that are coming up.”

He also promised fair officiating from the match referees, who were recently paid their accrued salaries.

“As the board, we are well prepared to see no irregularities are entertained in the upcoming matches in all the three leagues,” Kasongo added.

“I believe referees, coordinators, and commissioners have prepared well for the resumption of the leagues like we have done in order to make sure that the season ends.”

On Sunday, defending champions Simba SC will entertain Ruvu Shooting at the National Stadium, while Azam FC will face off with Mbao FC at Azam Complex in Dar es Salaam respectively.

Tottenham's hopes of qualifying for the Champions League will be over if they fail to beat Manchester United on June 19, according to Tim Sherwood.

Spurs endured a miserable six-game winless run before the 2019-20 season was temporarily shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic in March.

Jose Mourinho's men exited Europe and the FA Cup during that period, while also slipping to eighth in the Premier League standings.

Spurs could still sneak back into the Champions League if Manchester City's two-season ban from the competition is held up, but United are currently sitting in the coveted fifth spot.

The two teams will meet in north London next Friday as the top-flight resumes behind closed doors, with Sherwood well aware that Tottenham cannot afford any slip-ups as they look to close the four-point gap between themselves and the Red Devils.

“The form going into the break counts for nothing,” the former Tottenham midfielder and manager told Talksport. “It’s a fresh season.

“They’ve had a mini pre-season there. They’ve got nine games to finish in their objective, which is in the Champions League.

“[Paul] Pogba is back as well and that will be a massive plus; Pogba, [Bruno] Fernandes and [Scott] McTominay in that midfield is quite formidable in my opinion.

“If I’m Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and I’m looking at the teams below me, Tottenham are the major threat. I would say, ‘lets go all out to win this football game’. If you do you put Tottenham to bed, I don’t think they catch Manchester United if they do not beat Manchester United in the first game.”

Sherwood went on to discuss another of his former club's aspirations in the final weeks of the season, as Aston Villa bid to avoid an immediate return to the Championship.

The 51-year-old, who had a brief spell in charge at Villa Park in 2015, says Dean Smith's side will once again have to rely on Jack Grealish if they are to beat the drop.

“I think they’ve got as good a chance as any down there. Obviously they were relying on games later on in the run in at home but it’s going to make no difference now," said Sherwood. “Really, if you are looking at the example of the Bundesliga, the home form counts for very little without the fans being there.

“I hope they stay up; they are a big club and I want to see them in the Premier League, but there are a lot of other teams fighting for their lives down there as well.

“They are so reliant [on Jack Grealish]. I don’t know any team, for a very long time, who are so reliant on one player. Jack Grealish is Aston Villa at the moment.

“If he can turn it on, give him the ball in the last few minutes of the game, take it to the heart of the defenders, causes havoc. He could be the reason [they stay up]. If they stay up then I’m certain Jack Grealish is the reason.”

SC Braga striker Luther Singh is not interested in joining the PSL Big Three, Kaizer Chiefs, Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates.

The 22-year-old is one of South Africa's best youngsters and he has caught the eye while playing for Moreirense FC in the Portuguese Primeira Liga this season on loan from Braga.

Singh, who has been linked with Sundowns in the past, explained why he is not ready to come back home having left South Africa as a teenager five years ago.

"To be honest and realistic, at my age, it wouldn't be wise for me to do that [return to South Africa]. It would be good because I'd be with my family, but it's not what I actually want," Singh told the South African Football Journalists' Association (Safja).

"I feel like there's a lot more to achieve in Europe and there's a lot more that I can win in Europe before going back home. I feel like home will always be there.

"It will always be good to play back at home but at this moment in time, where I am, I am happy and there's more room for improvement. I think there's more room for me to first make a name for myself before going back home."

Singh netted three goals and registered two assists in 13 league appearances before sustaining a foot injury while playing for Moreirense last December.

However, the Soweto-born player, who won the Golden Boot award at the 2017 Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals, is open to the idea of playing in the PSL in the latter stages of his career.

"Home will always be a place for me to end off, and it will be easy for me to do that, but I feel like I haven't achieved anything yet and I still have a lot to prove and to work for, so it's all in my hands and it's all ahead of me," he said.

"It wouldn't be wise for me just to give up all the sacrifices I've put in of being away from home for so long, since the age of 15. I just need to stay where I am because I'm happy, and see how things go on. 

"If things don't work out for me then yeah, obviously I'll consider going home. But where I am now, I'm in a good space and I'm happy so I just need to continue working hard and control what I can control."

The coronavirus pandemic led to the suspension of the Primeira Liga last March, but the league recently resumed behind closed doors and Singh made his return to action against Rio Ave last night as they lost 1-0.

"Going back to South Africa, for now, is out of my control, so it would be disrespectful to say I want to go home now because of what's happening [with Covid-19]. So, for now, SA is off the table for me."

Singh spent last season on loan at Chaves from Braga and he scored twice in 17 Primeira Liga matches.

Chemelil Sugar head coach Charles Odera has appreciated the government KSh10,000 package for Kenyan Premier League (KPL) players.

Chemelil Sugar were among the beneficiaries of an initiative by the Ministry of Sports and Culture which is geared towards helping the players cope with the challenges that came about due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The players from selected teams deemed hard-hit by the pandemic have already received their first package with the initiative set to run for three months.

Chemelil Sugar were already facing their own financial challenges and had given away two walkovers when the 2019/20 season was running.

“We are very happy for the government gesture that has come at a very critical moment for players who were already suffering. The package is very important as it will help players cope with the challenges that came as a result of the pandemic,” Odera told Goal on Saturday.

“You know our players were already facing a difficult period during the season and given the government initiative to look at their welfare, we can only be thankful.

“Every member of the playing unit got the money as well as the technical bench staff. All are happy as it is a perfect gesture from the state. It is clear the government is capable of helping our players anytime.”

Chemelil Sugar's appreciation comes a day after Nzoia Sugar had expressed a similar message.

“I also want to thank the Sports Cabinet Secretary [Amina] Mohammed for this noble gesture. Sportsmen have been overlooked for many years and for once they have been appreciated,” Nzoia Sugar goalkeeper trainer Peter Mwaura told Goal on Friday.

Meanwhile, Posta Rangers defender Humphrey Okot has revealed how tough life has been for them as they were not among the listed beneficiaries.

“It’s been tough for us but we have to do what we can to put food on the table, pay rent and other amenities while ensuring we stick to the strict government restrictions,” Okot, who is keeping himself busy with a manual job offered by the Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company, told The Star.

The government's move came even when the league's fate remains unknown given the dispute surrounding its cancellation by the Football Kenya Federation (FKF).

Five years after making a dream move to then-reigning Premier League champions Chelsea in 2015, Abdul Rahman Baba is nearing the end of a third loan spell away from the club with La Liga outfit Real Mallorca.

With the left-back’s year-long spell ending soon and having signed a five-year deal with the Blues when he joined, so is his time at Stamford Bridge. With the Ghanaian now way down the pecking order at the 2019 Europa League winners, chances of a contract extension are remote, and Baba is edging ever closer to the exit in West London.

It’s been an unfortunate turn of events for the former Augsburg man who was highly rated at the time he switched to the Premier League from the Bundesliga. He won an incredible 83 percent of his tackles in his only year in the German top flight and was described as an all-action full-back capable of influencing games at both ends of the pitch, per The Telegraph.

Indeed, the West African was primed to rival Chelsea’s title-winning left-back at the time, Cesar Azpilicueta, and succeed where the overly attacking Filipe Luis failed. The Brazilian wideman returned to Atletico Madrid only a year after leaving Diego Simeone’s men, as he was unable to truly execute Jose Mourinho’s instructions.

Five years down the line, it’s safe to say those Baba expectations were never matched, let alone exceeded. One could mitigate for his failure at the Bridge, too: in hindsight, leaving the Bundesliga too early was a bad call, the upheaval of 2015/16 in West London didn’t help and, of course, a series of career-altering injuries that have crippled his development in the last three years.

The nature of Baba Rahman’s decline is underlined by how he’s not even in the conversation to become Chelsea’s next left-back under current boss Frank Lampard. The five-time Premier League champions are chasing a new left-back this summer, with Leicester City’s Ben Chilwell publicly the top target, while Ajax’s Nicolas Tagliafico and Porto’s Alex Telles are reportedly backup options.

Had their on-loan Mallorca full-back not stalled spectacularly in recent seasons, this could have been his time to finally become the club’s undisputed left-back with the Blues’ legend having reservations over Marcos Alonso, who is naturally a wing-back, and Emerson, who has struggled to impress at Stamford Bridge.

For the Chelsea loanee, it hasn’t just rained but it’s poured too, with an unceasing spate of layoffs plaguing him since a meniscus rupture at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.

Even though the ex-Asante Kotoko defender was on his first loan at the time with Schalke, that setback began his fall in the Stamford Bridge pecking order, as then-head coach Antonio Conte already had reservations about the full-back’s natural inclination to go forward.

In fairness, this seems odd, in hindsight given the Italian eventually switched to a 3-4-3 with Alonso on the left and Victor Moses, a converted winger, at right wing-back.

However, that injury suffered at Afcon 2017 meant Baba wasn’t considered for a return to Conte’s side to challenge the former Bolton Wanderers and Sunderland full-back.

His luck took a turn for the worse when, in September 2017, another long-term injury struck, ruling him out for the rest of the season.

The side from Gelsenkirchen had renewed his loan deal for the campaign but he only featured in their final day encounter with Eintracht Frankfurt, coming on in the last 33 minutes.

The full-back’s fitness seemed to hold for another year or so, despite falling out of favour with the Royal Blues.

The German outfit cut short his loan spell in January last year, which led to another spell away from London at Stade Reims in Ligue 1.

Baba featured in 11 of a possible 16 league games, starting all of those games and completing 90 minutes unscathed on 10 occasions. He signed off with a remarkable performance against dominant champions Paris Saint-Germain, scoring and assisting as Reims stunned Thomas Tuchel’s side 3-1 in gameweek 38.

Indeed, it seemed like the Ghanaian was back on track...but misfortune struck early on in his current loan spell at Mallorca.

The defender picked up a serious knee injury in Los Bermellones’ 4-2 defeat by Getafe in September, which has restricted him to just two La Liga appearances this season.

It looked like the 25-year-old wouldn’t play again this season, but the coronavirus pandemic which put a halt to football across Europe has given him a chance of featuring before the expiration of the year-long loan.

The relegation-threatened side host leaders Barcelona on Saturday seeking to claim a huge scalp and continue a run of form that saw them win two in four pre-pandemic.

While the game against Lionel Messi and co. may come too soon for Baba, he’ll probably get games in the closing weeks of the season given the jam-packed calendar to complete the final 11 gameweeks.

The full-back’s future, after that, remains uncertain.

Young Africans (Yanga SC) coach Luc Eymael has revealed his frustration after forward Bernard Morrison refused to travel with him to Shinyanga ahead of their first Mainland Premier League match on Saturday.

The Belgian coach finally linked up with the rest of the squad on Friday ahead of their match against Mwadui but missing in action is the Ghanaian forward, whom he was supposed to travel with.

Eymael instead, travelled with Congolese striker David Molinga, who was also left behind when the team left for Shinyanga on Wednesday owing to unknown reasons.

Eymael has now exclusively told Goal he is not aware of what happened to Morrison because he was supposed to travel with him but later switched off his phone.

“Yes he [Morrison] promised to come with me on our trip to Shinyanga but he didn’t show up and he went further to switch off his phone,” Eymael told Goal on Saturday.

Asked if he will take action against the Ghanaian star, who joined Yanga in 2019 after leaving Orlando Pirates of South Africa, Eymael said: “I have no idea why he did that, I will first have to investigate and get to know the reason he decided to switch off his phone and then will make a decision.”

Apart from Morrison, Yanga will also miss the services of injured captain Papy Tshishimbi, Ally Ally, and Erick Kabamba.

Yanga information officer Hassan Bumbuli confirmed the absence of the three players but said they had a good enough squad to win the game in Shinyanga.

“Our captain [Tshishimbi] is still recovering from injury and the game has come too soon for him while Ally and Kabamba will be ready for our next match,” Bumbuli told reporters on Friday.

“We are happy our coach [Eymael] has finally linked up with the team, and can now take charge from Boniface Mkwasa, who was assisting while he was still in Belgium owing to the Covid-19.”

Yanga are currently third on the 20-team league table with 51 points, 20 points fewer than table-toppers Simba SC while Azam FC are placed in second position with 54 points.

The match against Mwadui will be staged at Kambarage Stadium on Saturday.

Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes "can come together" for Manchester United but "somebody might have to sacrifice a bit of something", according to Darren Fletcher.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is currently preparing his side for the Premier League restart, with a huge clash against Tottenham scheduled for next Friday.

The United boss will likely have a full squad to choose from for the first time this season, and Pogba is in line to make his first appearance for the club since December.

The World Cup winner underwent surgery on an ankle injury in January, but has benefitted from the extra recovery time afforded to him by the coronavirus enforced break in the campaign.

Former Red Devils striker Louis Saha says Pogba is "super motivated" to star alongside €55 million (£62m/$49m) winter signing Fernandes after returning to full fitness, with supporters eager to see if a spark ignites between the two mercurial talents in the middle of the pitch.

Fletcher is certain that Pogba and Fernandes are a compatible pairing, but he warns that one of them may have to adjust their game in order to bring the best out of the other.

"Without doubt, of course. Great players can come together,’" the ex-United midfielder told MUTV . "Listen: somebody might have to sacrifice a little bit of something – that’s part of being in a team, it’s not an individual sport.

"When you play with a certain midfield, whether it’s a midfield three, you adapt your game to complement each other. That’s what I had to do at United. I was in the team with lots of different midfielders, lots of combinations and, if a certain midfielder was playing, I would try to take up positions to allow him to benefit and he would do things to allow me to benefit.

"It’s all about being compatible and recognising the strengths of your fellow team-mates and how to get your best performance, but, ultimately, you might be sacrificing what you do best to allow someone else to excel, which helps the team win."

Fletcher added on Fernandes' instant impact at Old Trafford following his move from Sporting: "I think he’s been fantastic. Listen, his ability has been there for everyone to see. For me, it’s been his personality and his attitude.

"He tries things, he tries difficult passes but, when he gives it away, it’s his reaction after he does it. It’s fantastic, his hunger to try and get the ball back. He doesn’t throw his arms up in the air or sulk and moan.

"He’s bossing people on the pitch, he’s taking responsibility. He’s looked like the epitome of a Manchester United player. He wants to be there, he wants the ball, he demands the ball. He’s seen Old Trafford as his theatre and he’s relishing it.

"He’s sort of been a breath of fresh air with personality more than anything, which is what you need to play for Man United. Ability’s not enough. You need the personality to play for Manchester United and he epitomises it."

The Indian national women’s team is set to embark on a momentous milestone with the 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup in sight.

India qualified for the final round of the tournament as hosts and will be featuring in the group stage of the competition for the first time since 2003. We take a look at the history of the Women’s Asian Cup and how India fared through the years.

The inaugural tournament was held in 1975 in Hong Kong, with just six teams featuring. New Zealand went on to win their first and only title so far after a 3-1 win over Thailand. The 2022 edition will be the 20th Women's Asian Cup and the second to be held in India. China have been the most successful side in the competition, boasting eight titles, seven of which arrived in a row between 1986 and 1993.

Japan are the defending champions of the competition after they beat Australia 1-0 in 2018 when it was held in Jordan.

India participated in the competition for the first time in 1979, with Calicut (Kozhikode) hosting the six-team tournament. The matches were of 60-minute duration. The country had representation from two teams - India S and India N.

The latter finished last in the group stage with just one win in five games but India S managed three wins and qualified for the semi-final after finishing behind only Chinese Taipei in the Group Stage.

India S drew Hong Kong in the semis and stormed to the finals with a comfortable 3-1 win. However, favourites Chinese Taipei were 2-0 winners in the summit clash as India S settled for a runners-up finish.

The 1981 Hong Kong edition saw the number of teams in the final round rise from six to eight. Two groups containing four teams were hence created, with the top two teams from each group qualifying for the semi-final.

India finished on top of Group A with two wins and a draw in three games. The wins included an 8-0 thrashing of Philippines with Shukla Nag scoring four goals. The incredible goal-difference of +13 allowed them to finish on top despite being level on points with Hong Kong.

Unfortunately, their campaign came to an end in the following round after a 1-0 defeat to Thailand. But a 2-0 win over Hong Kong with goals from Shukla Dutta and Socorina Pereira in the third-place match ensured India stood on the podium after claiming the third place. Meanwhile, Chinese Taipei defended the title with a 5-0 thumping of Thailand in the final.

The 1983 edition of the Women’s Asian Cup witnessed a change in format due to Taiwan and Japan withdrawing from the competition. The six teams – Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, India, Thailand (hosts), and the Philippines then participated in a single round-robin tournament, with the top two teams qualifying for the finals.

India impressed with four wins and just one defeat in the five games, hence finishing behind only Thailand, who won all their games. The hosts then defeated India 3-0 in the final to claim their first title. India had to settle for a runners-up finish yet again, like in the 1979 edition.

This was the golden period for Indian women in Asia. In just three years, they managed two silver medals and a bronze in the continental tournament. This was also the last time they managed to make it past the group stage of the competition.

After an absence of over 12 years, India featured in the 1995 edition of the Women’s Asian Cup that was hosted by Malaysia. They were grouped alongside Japan, South Korea and Uzbekistan in the first round. A sub-par show saw the women return with zero points from the Group Stage.

India came back stronger in the following edition (1997), finishing second in the Group Stage behind Japan. This campaign also included an emphatic 10-0 win over Guam and a 3-0 win over Hong Kong. But only one team from the group qualified for the knockouts and a 1-0 defeat against group leaders Japan meant that India’s campaign concluded in the Group Stage. Hosts China defended the title after conceding just one goal in the entire tournament.

The 1999 and 2001 editions held in the Philippines and Chinese Taipei respectively were not kind to India. The women could manage a fourth-place finish in the Group Stage of both tournaments, with only Malaysia below them on both occasions. They hence failed to make it to the knockouts on both occasions.

The Women’s Asian Cup 2003 was hosted by Thailand, with 14 teams participating in the Group Stages. India finished third in Group C with just one win in three games and were hence eliminated. China qualified from the group and went on to bag the silver medal as North Korea defended the title.

A separate qualifying tournament was held from the subsequent tournaments, starting from 2006. India could not feature in the final round of the tournament ever since.

When the women take the field in 2022, they will have a chance to go past the group stage for the first time in 39 years.