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Simba SC captain John Bocco has assessed their Vodacom Premier League (VPL) readiness and reveals the focus is now on the Ruvu Shooting match.

The tie will be the first of the Wekundu wa Msimbazi who are keen to retain the title. Although Bocco is aware of the challenge ahead, he says they will fight to defend the VPL title and try to do better in domestic cup assignments.

“Our minds are now focused on the first meeting but what I know is that the league is going to be very tough given the kind of preparations teams have undertaken,” Bocco told the club's portal.

“We are all thinking about the Ruvu Shooting tie where we will need to win in order to put ourselves in an even better position to defend the league title.

“The coaches are working extra hard to make sure we will be ready by then even as our focus is to defend the league title and do better in FA Cup ties.”

Meanwhile, coach Sven Vandenbroeck has revealed his satisfaction by how his players are training ahead of the league resumption. Simba have played two friendly matches so far against Transit Camp and KMC FC and won all the encounters.

“I am satisfied with the level of my players during training, they are motivated and are working according to how we want them to,” Vandenbroeck told the club's portal.

“I have assessed how the team played and they did what they were asked to and the outcome from the two friendlies is something I can say I was satisfied with.”

Finally, Simba will have to face Ruvu Shooting without their defensive midfielder Jonas Mkude. Vandenbroeck could be forced to field either Gerosn Fraga or Mzamiru Yassin after Mkude's injury.

“I do not know for how long I am going to miss him [Mkude] as I am waiting for the doctors' reports on the severity of the injury,” the Belgian tactician told Mwanaspoti.

“Surely, I cannot see him playing against Ruvu Shooting.

“Seeing how he reacted to the injury what I can say is we would just need to wait for the doctors to reveal the extent of the injury and what kind of recovery measures ought to be taken so that he can recover fast.

“Though I am ailing, I am thankful to God that I have started undergoing the initial treatment as I await to know the exact seriousness of the injury and what medication will be prescribed,” Mkude told Mwanaspoti.

Simba have been training at Mo Simba Arena for a couple of weeks now.

FIFA has confirmed that it will allow the transfer window to open before the end of the delayed 2019-20 season in order to aid clubs during the coronavirus pandemic.

The disease and the resulting interruption to football activities has hit clubs hard across the world, as well as creating huge uncertainty over the future. 

Thousands of players' contracts expire in June, leaving them officially free agents despite the restart of activities that began in May with the Bundesliga. 

Another area of uncertainty concerned the coming window, with clubs unclear over whether new signings would be eligible to feature in the remaining fixtures of 2019-20. 

FIFA has thus moved to offer clarity over the situation with new guidelines for both affected parties this summer, explaining that registration of new players would be permitted ahead of the current season's close.

A statement released by the world governing body on Thursday explained: "In order to avoid any concerns regarding unemployed players, players are permitted to be registered with a maximum of three clubs and are eligible to play in official matches for three clubs during the same season.

"In order to give priority to clubs to complete their 2019-20 season with their original squad, provide flexibility, and allow associations to properly plan their football calendar, those associations following a dual-year calendar are permitted to commence the “first registration period” for the 2020-21 season prior to the completion of the 2019-20 season, subject to certain conditions.

"In order to provide financial relief to parties involved in disputes before FIFA, for any claim lodged between 10 June 2020 and 31 December 2020 (both inclusive), there will be no requirement to pay an advance of costs and no procedural costs shall be ordered.

"For any claim lodged prior to 10 June 2020 which has yet to be decided, the maximum amount of the procedural costs shall be equivalent to any advance of costs paid."

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters has already said England’s top flight will not allow clubs to sign players before July 25, after the delayed campaign is brought to an end. Most European leagues have similar plans in place.

Fifa also announced that players would be allowed to play for up to three clubs – rather than the usual two – during the same season.

Granada defensive midfielder Ramon Azeez has expressed his delight with the restart of La Liga and is keen to play again.  

The Spanish top-flight has been put on hold since mid-March owing to the coronavirus outbreak which is still wreaking havoc around the world.

The league will, however, resume on June 11 as safety measures have been put in place with games set to be played behind closed doors, thus, becoming the second European top-flight to resume after the Bundesliga.

Granada are ninth on the league table with 38 points from 27 games and will take on fifth-placed Getafe, who will be expected to parade Nigeria’s Oghenekaro Etebo on Friday.

Azeez has been a consistent performer for Diego Martínez’s men in this campaign and he is eager to get back to action to continue from where he stopped before the outbreak of Covid-19.

“I’m so glad to be back on the pitch again and I can’t wait. It has been weeks of uncertainties due to the lockdown and the virus’s continuous spread but I am glad we are back at it,” Azeez told AOI .

Azeez has spent the majority of his professional career in Spain, joining Almeria in 2011 and went on to spend six years with the side.

In the summer of 2017, the midfielder moved to Lugo before teaming up with Granada last year and helped the Nazaries secure promotion to La Liga.

The Super Eagles player has made 21 appearances across all competitions for the Nuevo Los Carmenes outfit in this campaign and feels the Spanish top-flight is one of the best leagues in the world.

“Football in Spain is top notch and of high quality. If one can successfully play in La Liga, I think it will be safe to say you can play anywhere else in the world,” he added.

Azeez’ impressive performances for Granada recently earned him a recall to the Super Eagles, after he was shut out of the team for five years.

The midfielder has six caps for Nigeria and was part of the invited players to take on Sierra Leone in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying game before its suspension due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Azeez will hope to continue his consistent showings for his club as they aim to secure a place in Europe next season.

Asante Kotoko skipper Felix Annan believes the club's directive to stay off the transfer market for a year is not cast in stone. 

At a first meeting of a new board of the Kumasi-based side earlier this week, it was announced club life patron Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has instructed the outfit against signing any new players.

The order has been greeted with mixed reactions by the Porcupine Warriors fraternity. 

"We are just players and we are here to do our job, and cope with the directives that come from the hierarchy of the club," Annan told Kotoko Express App.

"I do agree with the directive because consistency is good for team building. It will be good for us if we have a consistent team.

"However, if there is the need to augment the squad with one or two players, I think that will not be a big problem. Buying too many players does not help in having the cohesion the team deserves.

"But the one or two additions, If needed, I think the board can discuss that with Otumfuo because in football, you can’t predict when an injury will occur.

"However, I agree with the King's idea because we need to be able to keep a group for a long time.

"Moreover, as players, we are ready to give our best to achieve whatever we want to achieve together."

Kotoko are arguably Ghana's biggest club and the most successful in the history of the Premier League with 23 titles. 

The last of their trophies came in 2014. The side has also won the Ghana FA Cup on nine occasions and the Super Cup three times.

On the continental level, they ruled Africa in 1970 and 1983.

Kotoko's new nine-member Kotoko board was announced last month. 

The unit is led by Kwame Kyei, who has been at the helm of affairs for the last three years. 

Jude Arthur (Board Chairman for Ghana Commercial Bank), Kwadwo Boateng Gyamfi (Board Chairman Ghana EXIM Bank), Kwasi Osei Ofori (Chairman Erdmark Group/ CEO Rocksure Mining Ltd), Lawyer Kwamina Mensah (Corporate Lawyer), Alhaji Lamine (Businessman), Joseph Yaw Adu (Retired Director of Sports at Kwame Nkrumah University Science and Technology), Baffour Kwame Kusi (Otumfuo's Ankobeahene), and Evelyn Nsiah Asare (Acting Head of Sports at Sunyani Technical University) complete the board. 

This season, Kotoko sit third on the league table, the championship having been at a standstill since March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Former Asante Kotoko centre-back Gabriel Issah Ahmed believes Ghana Premier League clubs have a responsibility to up their game to improve the patronage of the championship.

The common belief on the local scene is that match attendance numbers have significantly dropped in recent times, a phenomenon partly attributed to the exodus of players abroad each season.

With matchday revenue the most viable traditional source of income in Ghana, clubs have been left ruing the decline in match proceeds.

“It will be very hard for me to advise any player right now, I wouldn’t ask any player to stick to a [Ghanaian] club when he gets a chance to move outside," Ahmed told GTV Sports Plus.

"I am not talking about Kotoko, I am talking about a general issue. If we want our league to be much better and pull out crowds like we did from the ’90s to the 2000’s, then players need to be paid better and then they must be kept for a long time in the country.

"That is where supporters will have belief in them [players] to come to the stadium and watch them.

“If you look at our days, Hearts of Oak supporters coming to the stadium knew they had somebody like Adjah Tetteh, Don Bortey, they had a whole lot of players.

"Same thing as Kotoko. A fan coming to the stadium knew he was coming to watch Yusif Chibsah, he knew he was going to watch Charles Taylor, Issah Ahmed, Stephen Oduro. The names go on and on and that was what we had during our time.”

The financial woes of clubs have been undoubtedly heightened by the coronavirus pandemic which has resulted in a temporary suspension of the Premier League since March.

The competition was at the Matchweek 15 stage when it grounded to a halt.

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) and the Ghana League Clubs Association (Ghalca) resorted to the Government of Ghana for support but mission proved futile.

Issah Ahmed, 38, was a member of Ghana's squad at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

After the tournament, he left Kotoko for Danish side Renders. 

La Liga chief Javier Tebas is looking forward to the resumption of activities in the Spanish top-flight, but he had stern words for the players who have been caught flouting coronavirus lockdown and distancing rules. 

Barcelona's Nelson Semedo became the latest star to break protocols this week after attending a birthday party that surpassed the limit for social gatherings set by the Spanish government. 

Previously a host of Sevilla stars including Argentine trio Ever Banega, Lucas Ocampos and Franco Vazquez faced criticism after posing for a photo following a barbecue, which was also attended by more than 10 guests. 

Luka Jovic of Real Madrid similarly broke quarantine regulations by leaving Madrid in order to celebrate his girlfriend's birthday in Belgrade, and returned to Merengue training with a broken foot. 

La Liga kicks off on Thursday with a Seville derby between Sevilla and Betis and Tebas wants players to behave themselves - or else face lockdown measures between games in order to preserve safety measures.

"We hope we don't have to reach that extreme, but if players cannot stop going to barbecues or parties, we will not have a choice," the Liga boss told reporters about the possibility of confining players to club training centres until the season is completed.

"We have shown trust in the players, so please pay back that trust and do not break it. Breaking the rules does not only damage La Liga, but people's health in general." 

On a more positive note, Tebas expressed his hope that the empty stadiums that will welcome the Primera Division back this weekend will eventually give way to limited crowds attending matches. 

“If we can get 10% or 15% [of the capacity], we would be happy,” he added. “The pandemic is on a sharp decline. The return to stadiums would have to be coordinated by the ministry for health and the Sports Council, and it is obviously not going to be the whole stadium.

"If we can get 10%, 15% this season we would be very happy. It would be part of that ‘normality’; it is important that fans start to return.”

Takumi Minamino was among the goalscorers as Liverpool stepped up their preparations for the Premier League restart with a 6-0 friendly win over Blackburn.

The Japanese forward was in good form as Jurgen Klopp’s side recorded a comprehensive victory at Anfield on Thursday afternoon.

Minamino had already created a goal for Naby Keita before he swept home a Sadio Mane cross to give the Reds a 3-0 half-time lead.

Mane had opened the scoring early on, following up to finish after Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s shot had been saved by Rovers keeper Christian Walton. 

Keita stabbed home the second after being squared the ball by Minamino, who was played through by James Milner following slick build-up play started from the back by Virgil van Dijk.

Blackburn struggled to make chances, striker Sam Gallagher denied by Alisson before Joel Matip made it 4-0 midway through the second half by tapping in a Roberto Firmino header, and Ki-Jana Hoever added a quickfire fifth before another youngster, Leighton Clarkson, rounded off the scoring with a fine late strike.

Ben Brereton came closest for the visitors in the second half, shooting just wide of substitute goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher’s post.

Klopp took the chance to utilise much of his first-team squad, although it is understood that neither Mo Salah nor Andy Robertson were involved, while Firmino was one of seven second-half substitutes, setting up Matip for his goal.

A host of younger players featured after the break, with Jake Cain and Kelleher both given minutes along with Dutch defender Hoever and the diminutive midfielder Clarkson.

Liverpool are expected to play at least one more friendly before they resume their league campaign away at Everton a week on Sunday. The Reds are currently 25 points clear at the top of the Premier League, and need just six more points to be crowned champions for the first time since 1990.

They could be crowned league winners on Sunday by winning the match away to their local rivals, if reigning champions Manchester City lose to Arsenal on June 17, in one of the first two Premier League fixtures played following the coronavirus-enforced break.

Ever wondered who Indian football legend Sunil Chhetri idolised while growing up? Well, the Bengaluru FC forward answered that question while speaking in a Facebook live session in the Indian football team page on Thursday.

Chhetri said, “I idolised IM Vijayan and Krisanu Dey when I started watching football. After that, it was Bhaichung Bhutia in India and Brazilian Ronaldo abroad. After that, it kept changing.”

Chhetri also spoke about his experience of sharing a dressing room with his idol Bhutia in his first year at Mohun Bagan.

“I remember I had a chat with Bhaichung when I was in Mohun Bagan, my debut season. He came back from Bury. I used to ask him how you do it because he was the most prominent figure in Indian football. He was huge. He told me that don’t worry, you won't even know how time passes by and you will be there. Now when I get a congratulatory message from him for completing 15 years it feels special.”

About Bhutia’s influence on his career, Chhetri said, “Before I speak about his influence I must tell that the first match I played, he wasn’t there. I think he was injured. So probably that was the reason why I got a chance to be in the team. Venkatesh was my captain.

“The influence of Bhaichung is immense. I remember when I was in the ninth or 10th standard we went to watch the Durand Cup in Delhi. Bhaichung was there. We just wanted to touch them. I signed for Mohun Bagan and then I got the news that Bhaichung also joined the club. The first day he met me he told me that I have heard about you and you are doing well. I told everyone in my family and friends that Bhaichung told me that.

“From there to sharing dressing rooms with him for the club and the country is a huge thing. I learned a lot from him. Not only him, but the other senior players also inspired me.”

Former Manchester City No. 2 Mikel Arteta is looking forward to his return to the Etihad Stadium, although the absence of fans will make it a bittersweet experience for the Arsenal boss. 

Arteta left City at the end of 2019 after more than three years working as Pep Guardiola's right-hand man in order to take up the vacant Gunners job. 

Results were initially disappointing, but there were signs that Arteta and Arsenal had turned a corner having won four of their last five games in all competitions prior to the interruption to activities caused by coronavirus. 

Now, as fate would have it, the Londoners resume their Premier League campaign at none other than Arteta's former employers and behind closed doors - a prospect that gives the manager mixed feelings. 

"It is going to be strange, I can't deny that. I know everybody there and spent four magnificent years with those players and staff," he explained to Sky Sports. 

"I am really excited as well, I can't wait to start competing again and doing what we love most which is to play football. It is going to be very special for me and I am looking forward to it."

City have lost just two games all season at the Etihad, but early evidence from the Bundesliga suggests that home advantage has been lessened due to the empty stands. Arteta certainly hopes that will be the case, with June 17's clash against Pep's charges the first of four consecutive matches on the road for Arsenal. 

"We have got a good measure with what is happening in the Bundesliga at the moment," Arteta said. "I hope it is going to help.

"Football is about passion and energy and when you lose that, it is balanced much more, but I know how strong they are and what they are able to do if they are all switched on so we have to be well prepared to go there and win the game.

"It better be right that playing away is an advantage because we are away four times in a row."

Arsenal currently sit in ninth place in the Premier League standings, but fifth-placed Manchester United are just five points ahead in what will be the final Champions League qualifying spot should City's ongoing appeal against their ban fail to prosper.

The Bafana Bafana international was heavily linked with SuperSport's Tshwane rivals, Mamelodi Sundowns during the January 2020 transfer window.

However, Sundowns head coach Pitso Mosimane confirmed that they had cooled off their interest in the player shortly before Modiba signed a new deal with Matsatsantsa last February.

Prior to that, SuperSport's chief executive officer Stanley Matthews had made it clear that the defender-come-midfielder was not for sale.

The three-time Premier Soccer League (PSL) champions seem to have softened their stance about losing the highly-rated player.

“Aubrey has a buyout clause. If somebody comes and meets the requirements they will own Aubrey Modiba,” Matthews told IOL.

Modiba scored in the team's last match which was the 2-0 victory over Highlands Park in a PSL clash at Makhulong Stadium on March 8.

The current season was then suspended indefinitely due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Matthews suggested that there may have some enquiries about Modiba, whose new deal with the club will expire at the end of the 2023/24 season.

“If they want the player they will come and get him. I am ready for that and they know the price, so there’s nothing to discuss," he added.

“Even after I renewed his contract, there’s still interest in Modiba. I renewed Jeremy Brockie’s contract and the interest got higher. Renewing doesn’t mean anything."

Modiba has confirmed Sundowns' interest in his services earlier this season, but he made it known that he was happy at SuperSport at the time.

The former South Africa under-23 international, who can operate as a left-back and left-winger, has netted five goals in 14 league appearances for Matsatsantsa this season.

The man also known as Postman helped coach Kaitano Tembo's side clinch the 2019 MTN8 having started three matches in the competition.

Since joining the Tshwane giants from Cape Town City in 2016, Modiba has lifted two MTN8 trophies and Nedbank Cup.

Postman also helped SuperSport reach the 2017 Caf Confederation Cup final where they were narrowly defeated by DR Congolese giants TP Mazembe.

He made 12 appearances in the second-tier competition of African club football and scored once in the process.

Bengaluru FC and India international forward Sunil Chhetri believes it is important for the country to host major football tournaments like the FIFA U-17 World Cup and AFC Asian Cup.

After having successfully hosted the U-17 Men's World Cup in 2017, India are once against set to host the U-17 Women's World Cup in February 2021.

During a Facebook Live chat on the Indian Football Team page, the Bengaluru star commented on how playing the World Cup will help the young Indian girls.

“It’s massive. We already saw what it did to the country after hosting the U-17 World Cup for the boys. The young boys are so confident now. It is because of the exposure they got - they played matches against the top teams in the world. I am pretty sure this will happen to the girls also. It sets the bar. We have to keep getting these tournaments and AIFF are working so hard to get these tournaments.

“Today when I talk to Suresh (Wangjam) I don’t have to tell him much, he knows a lot. He has already made a mark. Players like Amarjit (Kiyam), Rahul (KP), they are also doing really well. I am really looking forward to watching the U17 World Cup.”

India will also host the Women’s AFC Asian Cup in 2022 and the Indian skipper is excited about the kind of exposure the Women’s team will get by playing in a tournament of global reputation.

“The Women’s Asian Cup is a massive opportunity. I know the feeling when you play against the top teams in Asia. That’s where you want to be as a footballer.”

Chhetri also had a word of advice for the Women’s team which will take part in the Asian Cup in 2022.

“The advice is that girls start training from now. I know there is time but start preparing from now. It’s going to be at a different level. So make sure you keep no stones unturned while preparing. The suggestion is to enjoy on the pitch.”

Sven-Goran Eriksson has urged Raheem Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne to stay at Manchester City and resist the temptation of Real Madrid.

City this week made their case in an appeal against a two-year ban from UEFA competition, after being found to have breached Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules.

The outcome of that challenge at the Court of Arbitration for Sport is reportedly not expected until July, by which time City's reign as Premier League champions is likely to have been ended by Liverpool.

If City are forced to miss two Champions League campaigns, such a blow could tempt their top players to look elsewhere. Madrid have been frequently linked with forward Sterling, while De Bruyne has hinted he would consider his future if the two-season ban was upheld.

Former City and England manager Eriksson says Sterling and playmaker De Bruyne can choose their own destiny, but cautioned that they are already playing at the highest level in domestic club football.

“Well, they will play for Real Madrid if they want to do it, but I would be disappointed," Eriksson told Stats Perform News. "I don't know - I really hope they stay in England. When you look at it so far, and for many years now, the Premier League is the best league in the world, no doubts about that - most popular, the best league to see.

"Other leagues are good, but how many people are looking at Spanish football if it's not Barcelona or Real Madrid, maybe Atletico Madrid? I don't think many.

"Bundesliga, it's a little bit the same if [Borussia] Dortmund's not playing, if Bayern [Munich] is not playing, are you sitting looking at it? In England it's different because any team can beat any other team. It's good football and it's always a fight, a good fight in England."

To lose Sterling, De Bruyne, or both, would be a huge setback for City on the pitch, but Eriksson knows Pep Guardiola is just as important to the four-time Premier League winners.

Manager Guardiola has a year left on his City contract and has not ruled out signing an extension.

The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss appears likely to at least see out his current deal, having this week brought in his mentor Juanma Lillo as a new assistant coach, but much could still happen to change that.

"Of course it's important," Eriksson said of the Spaniard's future. "He's considered one of the best, if not the best coach in the world. He has been so for a long time.

"To lose him before the contract finishes would be bad for Manchester City: bad for the fans, bad for the players, bad for the club. Not sending out a good message. I hope they will do everything to try to keep him at least until the contract finishes."

Joel Latibeaudiere is already mulling over his transfer options for next season, with the Manchester City starlet determined to follow the lead of Jadon Sancho and Phil Foden by becoming a senior star.

The highly rated defender was the man to lift the U17 World Cup as captain of England’s young lions in 2017.

A number of star turns from that squad have gone on to enjoy meteoric rises to prominence, with Sancho arguably the pick of the bunch. He took the brave decision to leave City for Borussia Dortmund three years ago and is now a senior international star and one of the most sought-after talents in world football.

Foden, who is also a product of the famed Ethiad Stadium academy system, is another who is now seeing regular game time with the 20-year-old impressing in the Premier League and Champions League.

Other U17 World Cup winners, such as Rhian Brewster and Conor Gallagher, have had to leave the likes of Liverpool and Chelsea on loan in order to further their respective developments.

Latibeaudiere has favoured a similar approach, with the 2019-20 campaign spent with FC Twente, and he is already considering another switch for next season – potentially one that keeps him in England.

He told the Manchester Evening News: “Just to get out there playing first team football. Literally the whole team from that World Cup has gone on to play at a first team club. That would definitely be the next step on my ladder for sure. Hopefully getting to somewhere like a Championship or another first division to keep playing my football.”

Latibeaudiere is held in high regard by City and his versatility could be put to good use in the future.

He has starred at youth level as a centre-half, but Twente have used him as a right-back at times this season and the ability to fill numerous positions should work in his favour heading forward.

“Most of my career I’ve played the whole way across the back four,” Latibeaudiere added. “I made my under-18s debut at Man City as a left-back believe it or not. The manager at Twente saw my strength, speed and willingness to get up and down the line so tried to play me regularly there and I had fun.

“I do think my natural position and where I’m best at is centrally but I can definitely see myself moving to a full-back slot if that’s what the manager needs.

“I’m lucky enough to have the skill set to do that and obviously doing it at a younger age by playing left-back, centre-back and right-back in my academy career so that puts me in good stead to play as a versatile player which managers do look for nowadays.”

India international and Bengaluru FC forward Sunil Chhetri is hoping to prolong his already remarkable football career with the help of his love for the game. 

The 35-year-old footballer, who is considered as one of the legends of Indian football, has scored 39 goals in 72 starts at Bengaluru FC in the last four seasons of the Indian Super League (ISL) and the player feels he is still feeling extremely fit to continue with his career. 

Celebrating the 15th year of the footballer's impact in Indian football, Chhetri spoke about his short-term plans in a Facebook live session on Thursday. He said, "I don’t want to (give) numbers. I feel the fittest at present. I am enjoying my football. So I don’t know. I don’t see it (retirement) anytime soon because I am enjoying it (football)."

He added, "This year I want to challenge Ashique (Kuruniyan) and Udanta (Singh) for a speed test."

With an excellent goalscoring record for Bengaluru and India national team back his argument, Chhetri is hoping to continue producing the goods in front of the goal until the goals dry up. 

He said, "So I am still the same as I was at 16. Unless there are 10 Sahals start scoring for the country and push me to the bench, until then I am alright. I will continue."

Chelsea must be considered Premier League title challengers for 2020-21 now that they are preparing to welcome Timo Werner’s goals and Hakim Ziyech’s flair onto their books, says Shaun Wright-Phillips.

The Blues already have a deal tied up that will see the Morocco international winger join their ranks from Ajax. The release clause in the contract of the prolific German striker at RB Leipzig has also been triggered, with Frank Lampard wasting no time when it comes to strengthening his squad.

Further additions are also said to be in the pipeline, with Leicester left-back Ben Chilwell the next top target to chase down.

Wright-Phillips is excited by the business being done, with the former Blues wideman telling AmericanGambler of Werner: “I think Lamps has done tremendously there, he’s a great player.

“He is hungry for goals and it gives Lamps the option there, and with Ziyech in there, Chelsea’s front three is looking very strong. As you can see, he’s having a nice mix of maturity and young talent, and it’s very hard to go wrong with that.”

Wright-Phillips added on Ziyech: “He brings that attacking flair, he scores goals and he creates goals.

“We have seen him do it in the Champions League, and now other wingers and other midfielders have to up their game because there is a lot of competition there. Having a lot of players on top of their game can only be a good thing for Lamps for and for Chelsea.”

Chelsea are preparing to part with Willian and Pedro at the end of their respective contracts, but Christian Pulisic is already part of the fold at Stamford Bridge while goal threat is provided by the likes of Tammy Abraham and Olivier Giroud.

Wright-Phillips believes important pieces of a difficult puzzle are being collected by Lampard, with it possible that the Blues could soon come back into contention for English football’s grandest prize.

He added when asked if he sees Chelsea challenging for the Premier League crown: “Yes, definitely. I think next year if he gets the players that he wants and get his team exactly as he wants it, then 100%.

“They are still challenging for the Champions League spots now, so it’s only one step further forward, and that is challenging against Man City and Liverpool, who have run away with it this year.”

Chelsea will return to action on June 21 sat fourth in the table, three points clear of Manchester United and the Champions League-chasing pack with nine games left.

Yanga SC striker Gnamien Yikpe has revealed he is not affected by pressure from the fans to deliver.

The Ivorian has struggled to live per the standards expected when he joined from Kenyan Premier League (KPL) side Gor Mahia. The lanky striker has scored once since his hyped move to the Jangwani based side late last year.

The unforgiving fans have been vocal regarding the impact by the player and feel he should up his game.

"People talk a lot [about me] but I usually don't listen to them," Yikpe said as quoted 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."

The 27-time-league champions are set for their game against Mwadui in Shinyanga on Saturday, June 13 as the Tanzania Mainland League resumes since its suspension in mid-March.

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

This is a first-round match, (matchday 17) which had not been honoured before the league was cancelled.

Yanga's participation in the Caf Champions League made the fixture hard to be played at the time.

The second match will see Coastal Union host third-place chasing Namungo FC at Mkwakwani Ground with and is expected to kick-off at the same time as Yanga vs Mwadui.

On June 14, champions Simba SC will host Ruvu Shooting at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam and second-placed Azam FC will be at home at Azam Chamazi Complex, against Mbao FC.

Yanga will again be on duty on June 17 when they are hosted by JKT Tanzania at Jamhuri Stadium.

The Coastal Union vs Namungo FC, Azam vs Mbao FC, Simba vs Ruvu Shooting and Yanga vs JKT matches are Matchday 29 action.

Wekundu wa Msimbazi are top of the table with 71 points after playing 28 matches. They need five wins from the remaining 10 to be crowned. Azam are second with 54 with Timu ya Wananchi third with 51.

Erling Haaland would be a good fit for Liverpool, says Jan Age Fjortoft, as United to him means Leeds not Manchester.

The Norwegian frontman was born in Yorkshire during his father Alf Inge's spell at Elland Road. Haaland has never shied away from the fact that Leeds were the club he supported as a boy, and one he would like to represent in the future.

He is, however, being heavily linked with European superpowers at present, with Manchester United and Real Madrid seemingly still hot on his tail. Both missed out on his signature when a January move was made to Borussia Dortmund, but more prolific exploits in Germany have only served to thrust him further onto the radar of interested parties.

It has been suggested that Liverpool could join the hunt at some stage, with the Premier League leaders another side that is forever on the lookout for top talent. If current standards at Anfield can be maintained, then there is every reason to believe that Haaland would be interested in a switch to Merseyside.

Fellow countryman and former Norway international Fjortoft believes that could be the case, telling the Blood Red Podcast of a youngster being tipped for the very top: “At Dortmund, he has players like Julian Brandt who sees [his perfectly-timed runs].

“He would be a good fit for any club and for Liverpool he is good – when he speaks about United, he speaks about Leeds United!”

Fjortoft has stated on a regular basis that he expects Haaland’s career path to eventually lead him to the Premier League, with that stance being reiterated as he said: “I think he’ll end up in England at some stage, but he is 19 and we should make space to have five games without scoring. We should just wait and see how he is doing – he is at the right place now.”

Haaland has been showing that he can compete with the very best in the business, with his potential first being spotted this season when enjoying a goal-laden Champions League group stage with Red Bull Salzburg.

He found the target against Liverpool in a European arena, during a 4-3 defeat at Anfield, with Fjortoft revealing that the talented teenager did enough to get under the skin of Reds defender Virgil van Dijk.

A man now working as a television presenter added: “The first time I saw him live was at Anfield when he came on and I was amazed that this young kid created so much space.

“He scored one goal but he could have had three or four – he was unbelievable. I was amazed how he created space and how I define that is how his runs are wise and experienced.

“After the game, I interviewed Van Dijk, who I always like to interview because he is a gentleman, and I said ‘I have to ask you about the Norwegian, Erling Haland’, and he just said: ‘Well, we won the game’. So I said ‘Yes, but what do you think about him?’.

“Van Dijk said: ‘I didn’t see a lot of him’ and he was a bit angry because there was some mistakes done, and I said ‘It’s a good sign for a striker when a defender says he didn’t see him!’ – and then he just went away, Van Dijk.”