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Jack Wilshere is planning to hold talks with Arsenal after seeing Mikel Arteta state that the "doors are always open" for a familiar face at Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners boss offered that olive branch to his former team-mate last week after seeing the midfielder, who has 34 England caps to his name, fail to find a new club.

Wilshere has been a free agent since reaching the end of his contract at Bournemouth over the summer, with Arsenal happy to let him train with them as he searches for another opportunity.

What did Arteta say?

The Spaniard, who spent five years playing alongside Wilshere, said: "He is someone that I know who I shared the dressing room with, someone who is so loved around the club with every person here and our doors are always open."

What has Wilshere said?

The 29-year-old, who left Arsenal for West Ham in 2018 but has continued to struggle for form and fitness since then, told Sky Sports of Arteta's offer: "I spent the majority of my life in that club, I gave a lot to that club.

"To hear the manager - who I played with, who I had a good relationship with, I really enjoyed playing with him, sharing the dressing room with him - to hear him come out and say the door is always open is nice."

Pressed on whether he will take up an invitation, Wilshere added: "It can only help me.

"Being around good players, training with world-class players and as well just being in a team environment is something I'm interested in.

"I'm sure that I'll have a conversation with someone at the club over the next couple of days."

What was Wilshere's record at Arsenal?

Having joined the Gunners' academy system at the age of nine, Wilshere progressed through the ranks to make his senior debut in September 2008.

He went on to take in 197 appearances for Arsenal, scoring 14 goals, but Injuries would become an all too familiar theme for an all-action playmaker and his progress stalled as a result.

From being the Gunners' Player of the Year and a PFA Young Player of the Year award winner in 2011, he left as a free agent in the summer of 2018.

A spark could not be rediscovered at West Ham or Bournemouth, leaving Wilshere scratching around for a new club in the present.

He did take in a brief spell training with Como in August, but is back in England as Serie B sides can only sign non-EU players from other Italian clubs.

Further reading

South Africa has expressed their interest in hosting the 2021 Fifa Club World Cup after Japan pulled out owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The latter recently hosted the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, but has now opted to back out from staging another global event.

With Fifa in the market for a new host, South African Football Association (Safa) president Dr Danny Jordaan has confirmed that the Southern African country is interested in hosting the Club World Cup.

The administrator is expected to formally express Safa's interest when he meets Fifa secretary general Fatma Samoura in Lagos, Nigeria. The 70-year-old football administrator has, however, admitted that Safa is yet to get South African government approval to hold the showpiece, but meetings with the sports minister Nathi Mthethwa are planned.

If Safa gets the green light, then Mamelodi Sundowns will represent South Africa by virtue of winning the PSL in the concluded season.

Fans have now taken to their respective social media accounts.

Sundowns to win the Club world cup via backdoor as usual, make it happen �¯ �¯

Morocco international Hamza Mendyl was on target as Gaziantep claimed a 2-0 win in the Turkish top-tier at home against Antalyaspor.

GFK had not collected a win since the league began, and had initially collected a draw and two losses. It explains why the Monday night game was vital for them, and playing at home was a massive advantage.

The first 45 minutes were a struggle for both teams owing to a failure to take the limited chances created. The defenders cleared the danger very well when tested.

After the pause, the hosts made some changes, Joao Figueiredo giving way to Nouha Dicko as the technical bench tried to make amends for a better second half.

The change paid dividends in the 54th minute as the visitors conceded a penalty in the 54th minute. Muhammet Demir stepped up, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way and getting the vital opening goal.

It seemed the match would be won by a solitary goal, but in the ninth minute of added time, Mendyl connected a Dogan Erdogan pass to ensure the team secured their first win of the campaign.

Gaziantep started their campaign with a 3-2 loss away to Fatih Karagumruk. They had to finish the game with 10 players after Anyelo Sagal was sent off late in the first half.

Their second match was at home against Besiktas and it ended in a stalemate. However, they again lost their next match on the road, this time against Yeni Malatyaspor.

The Monday win is a confidence booster for Gaziantep who are currently placed in the 14th position with four points. They have scored five goals so far and conceded five.

Antalyaspor are a position lower with as many points. They have an inferior goal difference having scored four goals and conceded seven.

Besiktas lead the chase for the title with 10 points, the same as Trabzonspor, Fenerbahce, and Konyaspor who are placed second, third and fourth respectively, thanks to their goal difference.

Atletico Madrid are the reigning champions of La Liga and boast one of the most impressive squads in European football, which was added to over the summer.

The likes of Jan Oblak, Luis Suarez, Koke, Yannick Carrasco and Stefan Savic are among the household names at Wanda Metropolitano, and Antoine Griezmann is now back among that group after re-joining the club on loan from Barcelona.

But how do Atletico's top stars fare in the ratings on FIFA 22? Goal brings you all the details about how they measure up on EA Sports’ new game.

Atletico Madrid FIFA 22 player ratings

The highest-rated player in Atletico's squad is Slovenian goalkeeper Jan Oblak at 91, with their top scorer in La Liga last season, Suarez, coming in second with a rating of 88.

Spanish midfielder Llorente is next up at 86, while Griezmann and Koke have both been classified at 85.

The likes of Carrasco, Felipe, Savic, Kieran Trippier and Jose Gimenez are all rated at 84, with Angel Correa, Joao Felix and Thomas Lemar coming in at 83.

Elsewhere, summer signing Rodrigo De Paul has been graded at 82, the same rating as Mario Hermoso, and Hector Herrera and Renan Lodi are both classed at 81.

Two more new arrivals have been rated at 79 apiece in the form of Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Lecomte, with Serbian striker Ivan Saponjic completing the list with a grade of 71.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is set to sit out AC Milan's Champions League clash with Liverpool on Wednesday after picking up an untimely Achilles injury.

The Rossoneri are due at Anfield for a heavyweight opener to their 2021-22 group stage campaign.

Stefano Pioloi's side will, however, have to make do without the services of a mercurial Swedish striker, with Ibrahimovic picking up an untimely knock that will lead to him being left behind in Italy.

What has been said?

Pioli has told Sky Sport Italia of losing Ibrahimovic ahead of an eagerly-anticipated encounter: "He ended Milan-Lazio with tendon inflammation, today he tried to train but will not be risked."

Klopp - 'Zlatan is one of the greatest ever'

Speaking at a press conference ahead of tomorrow's game, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp hailed the 39-year-old.

"Zlatan, what a player! What a player!" Klopp told reporters. "I think I saw a few injuries when he got injured a few months ago. I’m not sure if he had the surgery, but I saw a video of him on the spinning bike, fighting back, saying ‘lions don’t rest for long’ or whatever. 

"And he is always right! He came on now in the last game after a long time and scored immediately. He’s the man for exceptional moments in games.

"If he’s not playing then probably Olivier Giroud plays or [Ante] Rebic is playing. All slightly different profiles but all good. 

"It will be interesting, but Zlatan is for sure one of the best players ever in this game.He knows that and he says that to everybody - and I like that about him! That’s the confidence he brings in all the games.

"That he’s still physically that fit is just incredible and shows that some careers ended too early, because there is a little bit of fuel in the tank and he squeezes every last drop out of his body and wants to stay in the game as long as possible.

"Rightly so. He is absolutely capable of playing in each league in the world. Absolutely exceptional."

More to follow...

Former Ghana head coach CK Akonnor has given special thanks to predecessor James Kwasi Appiah after getting the sack on Monday.

Akonnor’s reign as Black Stars boss came to an end after 21 months following a series of poor results, including a 1-0 loss to South Africa in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers last week.

He was handed the Ghana job in January last year, replacing Appiah who guided the team to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations tournament.

“I’m grateful to HE President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the Sports Ministry, my former boss Kwasi Appiah, the leadership of the GFA, colleagues I worked with, players and Ghanaians for the opportunity to serve. Wishing the team all the best. Thank you, Ghana,” Akonnor posted on his official Twitter account on Tuesday.

Akonnor led Ghana for 10 matches during his tenure, winning only four of the fixtures. Four other games ended in defeat while two matches ended in draws.

According to the Ghana Football Association on Monday, a new coach is expected to be appointed in the next 72 hours.

Former Black Stars boss Appiah, Right to Dream Academy head of football Mas-Ud Didi Dramani, former Ghana U23 coach Ibrahim Tanko, and erstwhile Ghana winger and current Borussia Dortmund assistant coach Otto Addo have all been linked to the vacant job.

Former Netherlands midfielder of Ghanaian descent George Boateng as well as erstwhile Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac, ex-Borussia Dortmund boss Lucien Favre, ex-Senegal, Mali and Tunisia manager Alain Giresse, Italian coach Francesco Guidolin, and Pep Guardiola’s former Manchester City assistant Domenec Torrent have also been mentioned as potential candidates.

“We are having a problem because we are not developing our coaches. The FA doesn’t have any criteria for the development processes,” 1978 Africa Cup of Nations winner with Ghana, Mohammed Polo, has told Otec FM.

“Who is coming on board if we decide to go in for another local coach?

“We have something to tell them [GFA] should they bring in any foreign coach and he fails. You should empower your local coaches. We need to go deeper, what is happening goes deeper than what we are seeing.”

The Ghana new coach’s first task will be to lead the Black Stars into a World Cup qualifying double-header against Zimbabwe next month.

Former Bafana Bafana international Andrew Rabutla believes Njabulo Ngcobo is good enough to play regularly for Kaizer Chiefs. 

Much was expected from the reigning PSL Defender of the Season when he joined Amakhosi from their Soweto rivals, Swallows FC prior to the start of the current season.

However, Ngcobo is yet to make his official debut for Chiefs with the club's head coach Stuart Baxter preferring the central defensive partnership of Erick Mathoho and Daniel Cardoso.

“The situation Ngcobo finds himself in at the moment at Chiefs is definitely not good for the player,” Rabutla said on Sowetan. 

“I watched Chiefs’ match against [Mamelodi] Sundowns at the weekend and there were a few incidents where Mathoho was caught in one-on-one situations with attackers threatening them in the box.

“I am not saying Mathoho is the one who must be sacrificed for Ngcobo but what I am saying is that if it was Ngcobo, he was possibly going to handle those situations better.”

Having helped Bafana defeat Ghana in the 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifier on September 9, Ngcobo watched from the bench as Chiefs succumbed to a 2-0 defeat to Sundowns in a PSL encounter.

Rabutla, who played for South Africa at the 1998 Africa Cup of Nations in Burkina Faso, feels that Ngcobo would improve the Amakhosi defence.

“I watched him closely at Swallows last season and I know he is a very good defender who will surely add value if he is given an opportunity to play," he continued. 

“I think they signed him because he is a good player and he must be itching to get on the field and show what he can do for a big club like Chiefs, and also continue impressing national coach Hugo Broos.

“He is good enough and he will definitely challenge the guys who are there if he is given an opportunity. The coach must play him because we also need him for Bafana Bafana.

“How can you not play a player who played almost all the matches for Swallows last season? I don’t understand it," the former Jomo Cosmos star added.

"He has all the qualities of a defender because he is good in the air, he is quick, he is a man marker, he produces clean tackles and he can handle all the situations required of a defender.”

Ngcobo will be hoping to make his official debut for Chiefs when they take on Royal AM in a PSL match on Saturday.

Rio Ferdinand has hit back at any doubters of Cristiano Ronaldo, with the former Manchester United defender pointing out that the 36-year-old "outscored Romelu Lukaku last season" and remains on a "different stratosphere" to most.

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner finds himself back at Old Trafford 12 years after a memorable first spell in English football came to a close and with a standing among the all-time greats having been safely secured.

Questions are, however, being asked of whether Ronaldo can maintain remarkable standards in the latter stages of a distinguished career - despite hitting a brace on his first outing back in the Premier League - and Ferdinand is amazed that critics still exist.

What has been said?

The ex-United centre-half, who once graced the same side as Ronaldo, told his Vibe with Five YouTube channel: "What makes me laugh is people saying he’s different. Of course he’s different, anyone is different after 10 years, 15 years since he’s been at Man Utd right. People are just spouting the obvious.

"He’s going to be different, he’s going to be maybe a yard slower than he was before. But he’s actually a yard or two quicker in the mind now, he knows how to move like a number nine in the box.

"His movements to get on the ball, his awareness of space and the movements around him. The anticipation, and that’s the key thing for a number nine. Anticipation for where the ball is going to end up. I don’t care how old you are, if you’ve got that anticipation it sets you apart and he’s got that, more than most if not anybody.

"People are just over-analysing the situation which is understandable because he’s such a big draw, but some of the stuff I was hearing... and this is off the back of being the top goalscorer in Serie A last year!

"I keep saying it. He outscored Lukaku last season in Serie A, who everyone is saying is a new man, he’s this, and listen Lukaku is the guy but you can’t then say you’re worried about Cristiano Ronaldo just because he’s 36.

"He’s not any old 36-year-old. Get that out of your mind, he’s different. He’s separate. He’s different from any other 36-year-old there’s been and probably ever will be in the game because physically and mentally he’s on a different stratosphere to everyone else."

Will Ronaldo star again for Man Utd?

The Portuguese talisman, who is now the leading scorer in men's international football, hit 118 goals for United during his first spell in Manchester and is already up and running in his second after helping to down Newcastle on debut.

While some may be questioning his ability to perform at the peak of his powers, Ronaldo has made it clear that he is back with the Red Devils to win and has no intention of slowing down any time soon.

He has already told MUTV: "I am not here for a vacation. As I told you, before was good, winning important things and I wore the shirt before many years ago, but I am here to win again. 

"I am capable, me and my team-mates. I am ready to go, I am ready to go. It is a good chance for me, for the supporters, for the club, to get one step ahead. 

"I am ready and I think I will be a huge thing in the next three or four years."

United, with Ronaldo in their travelling squad, will be back in action on Tuesday when facing Swiss side Young Boys in their 2021-22 Champions League group-stage opener.

Further reading

Manchester United will be hoping to go deep into this season's Champions League competition, and there may come a point when they have their upcoming opponents to thank for helping them to progress.

The Red Devils are due to open their 2021-22 group-stage campaign against Young Boys on Tuesday, with the Swiss side having played a pivotal role in UEFA's decision to abolish the away-goals rule.

No longer will teams playing at home in the knockout stages of European competition be stung with a double blow when seeing their defensive unit breached, with Wanja Greuel partly responsible for important changes being pushed through.

What has been said?

Greuel, who is CEO of Young Boys, told Goal and SPOX of his desire to do away with a divisive rule in continental tournaments: "I grew up in Kaiserslautern, so I was a big FCK fan and had a season ticket at the Betzenberg for 13 years. In November 1991, Lautern played Barcelona in the European Cup in the qualifying round for the group phase. The first leg at Camp Nou was lost 2-0. 

"I was 14 years old when I was in the stadium for the second leg, it was a massive atmosphere and a sensational game. FCK led 3-0 until injury time, then Jose Mari Bakero scored to make it 3-1 and Lautern were eliminated - and in the same season Barca won the competition. It p*ssed me off that a team was knocked out even though the aggregate score was 3-3.

"That was my original experience, but I've always been annoyed by that rule afterwards as well. So many things are tried to be optimised in football, with goal-line technology, video evidence or calibrated lines, but if two teams score the same number of goals, one has to be eliminated. I always thought that was unfair. That's why, as a youngster and student, I used to send letters to the editor to trade magazines, so that this huge injustice would finally be addressed. But no one ever did.

"I came to YB from Infront in 2015 and was appointed chief executive officer in September 2016. But the topic of the away-goals rule became more concrete in 2019, when I was elected to the ECA board. Then I raised the issue and put it on the agenda.

"The majority were also of the opinion that something had to be changed because it had been under discussion for some time. So I said: 'Let's move forward' and made an official motion. That's how the away-goals rule came on the agenda of UEFA's Club Competition Committee and, from there, there was a recommendation to the Executive Committee, which finally abolished the rule officially at the end of June for the new season.

"I was at a virtual meeting of the Club Competition Committee where there was a big discussion with a lot of pro-abolition and very little against. One person who was not entirely convinced was Emilio Butragueno from Real Madrid. But in the end, there were only two or three votes against or abstentions from the 40 or so participants.

"The rule is simply no longer up to date. It was introduced in 1965, at a time when away matches were still expensive adventure trips, in stadiums and on poor grass pitches that were unfamiliar. And the previously customary deciding matches made the whole thing even more expensive. Today, that is no longer the case. So the injustice of eliminating a team that is not inferior but equal in points and goals should be abolished. And that one goal is simply worth more than another.

"The abolition of the rule benefits the quality of the game because attacking is rewarded. Because there was always an insane amount of tactics for fear of conceding a goal at home, most of the home teams no longer played primarily to win, but above all to avoid conceding a goal at home. And if you scored away from home, the opponent had to score three goals to make up for a 1-0 - and then all the tension was gone.

"I am absolutely convinced that the rule change makes football fairer and more attractive. In my eyes, the rule should have been abolished 10, if not 20 years ago. Of course, it would have been even better 30 years ago when Lautern played Barcelona, but you can't have everything."

Would change have happened without Greuel?

Greuel is reluctant to take full responsibility for forcing through tweaks to UEFA competition that have been a long time in the making, but he is happy to accept that he helped to accelerate that process.

Asked if changes would not have happened without him, the Young Boys executive added: "I wouldn't say that, because the topic has been discussed for years, and many prominent coaches such as Arsene Wenger and Thomas Tuchel have already spoken out in favour of abolishing it. So I didn't initiate it on my own. But I dare say that I set the ball rolling with my proposal. The rule would probably have fallen at some point without me, but not now."

Young Boys, who have already come through two Champions League qualifying rounds and a play-off this season, are now readying themselves for a memorable meeting with Premier League giants Manchester United in Bern.

Greuel said of that occasion: "That is an absolute gift for our club. Already in 2018, the club's first-time participation in the Champions League group stage was gigantic and this time, too, we have fantastic opponents. Especially the opening home match against Manchester United with Cristiano Ronaldo and all the other stars is a highlight in our club's history."

Further reading

The Champions League group stage is back, and—perhaps more so than ever—Europe’s premier club competition will kick off with a series of blockbuster heavyweights.

Liverpool square off with AC Milan in a replay of their iconic 2005 Champions League final, while Bayern Munich and Barcelona collide, while Internazionale will go toe to toe with Real Madrid.

Any of these fixtures—in name alone—could be potential finals, although this time around, it represents the first step on the road to glory for these six European hopefuls.

These fixtures are the focus of this week’s African Football HQ UCL special, as the pod discuss the biggest bouts of the first round of group stage fixtures.

One of the major questions is how this new-look Barcelona team can fare against Bayern as Ronald Koeman faces a genuine early season test.

While the German giants dispatched RasenBallsport Leipzig 4-1 at the weekend, Barca are still getting to grips with life beyond Lionel Messi—who departed for Paris Saint-Germain—and Antonie Griezmann, who returned to Atletico Madrid.

It represents opportunity for Memphis Depay, who now must shoulder much of the goalscoring burden, and Ansu Fati, who now inherits that hefty Barca No. 10 shirt…and the expectation that accompanies it.

Depay, who failed to make his mark at Manchester United, excelled at Olympique Lyonnais, but proving himself to be Barca’s leading man is a whole other challenge for the Netherlands attacker.

For Bayern too, the Barca showdown represents a real test for new boss Julian Nagelsmann, who will be hoping that new signing—and ex-Leipzig charge—Dayot Upamecano can continue to establish himself as one of the finest young defenders of his generation.

Real Madrid vs Internazionale is a truly blockbuster fixture, although there’s no doubt that the Italian giants are a much changed force from the team who won the Serie A title last season.

Despite that success, the Nerazzurri are in the process of a remodelling, with the likes of head coach Antonio Conte, Achraf Hakimi, Romelu Lukaku and Ashley Young among the prominent Inter figures who are no longer at the club.

Christian Eriksen, too, was another key member of the title-winning team who won’t be available against Real.

Eduardo Camavinga’s star turn at the weekend suggests he is settling quickly at Real, but without Raphael Varane or Sergio Ramos, the club of the capital also have some remodelling to do if they are to once again reach the pinnacle of the European game.

Finally, Liverpool vs Milan represents a blockbuster in its own right—even without discussing the unforgettable 2005 final.

The Reds are built upon a spine of African talent, with Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Naby Keita and Joel Matip all key elements of Jurgen Klopp’s plans, and critically, they’re already proven winners.

Can the Merseysiders prove that they are once again the best bet to provide an African winner for this year’s competition?

Real Madrid are one of the biggest football clubs in the world and inevitably boast some of the best players around.

The likes of Eden Hazard, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale are long-established superstars, with Vinicius Jr and Eduardo Camavinga among a host of young pretenders.

So, what are the Blancos stars’ player ratings in FIFA 22? Goal brings you all the details about how they measure up on EA Sports’ new game.

Real Madrid FIFA 22 player ratings

Long-serving midfield general Casemiro and talismanic frontman Benzema currently lead as Real's highest-rated outfield players with ratings of 89, with first-choice goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois given the same grade.

German playmaker Toni Kroos is next up at 88, with his midfield partner Luka Modric classified just below him at 87.

Much-maligned winger Hazard has dropped to 85 in the latest edition of FIFA, the same rating as Spanish right-back Dani Carvajal.

The likes of Marco Asensio, Ferland Mendy and Fede Valverde have been graded at 83, while Welsh winger Gareth Bale is rated at 82 alongside Eder Militao and Isco.

Elsewhere, new signing Camavinga has been given a 78 rating, two below Vinicius and one behind Rodrygo and Luka Jovic, with Jesus Vallejo and Andriy Lunin completing the list at 75 and 74 respectively.

Galatasaray coach Fatih Terim has criticised Mostafa Mohamed's performance for the team, stating it will warrant him a return to Zamalek.

The Pharaoh attacker is playing for the Turkish heavyweights on loan from Zamalek but has so far failed to impress. The latest assignment for him was on Sunday when his team threw a two-goal lead against Trabzonspor to draw 2-2.

The forward has managed just one assist in the nine matches he has played for the club in all competitions as the team has struggled to cope with the exit of Henry Onyekuru and Radamel Falcao.

"If you want to play in France or the Premier League, you must do what I tell you," Terim told Mohamed as quoted by MyNet.

"Otherwise, the team you will leave [for] from here will be Zamalek. No one will want you with this performance. If you don't recover, you will play for Zamalek next season."

This season, Galatasaray have been knocked out of the Champions League and have eight points from a possible 12 in the league after two wins and as many draws.

Meanwhile, Morocco international Hamza Mendyl was on target as Gaziantep claimed a 2-0 win in the Turkish top-tier at home against Antalyaspor.

GFK had not collected a win since the league began, and had initially collected a draw and two losses. It explains why the Monday night game was vital for them, and playing at home was a massive advantage.

The first 45 minutes were a struggle for both teams owing to a failure to take the limited chances created. The defenders cleared the danger very well when tested.

After the pause, the hosts made some changes, Joao Figueiredo giving way to Nouha Dicko as the technical bench tried to make amends.

The change paid dividends in the 54th minute as the visitors conceded a penalty in the 54th minute. Muhammet Demir stepped up, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way and getting the vital opening goal.

It seemed the match would be won by a solitary goal, but in the ninth minute of added time, Mendyl connected with a Dogan Erdogan pass to ensure the team secured their first win of the campaign.

CK Akonnor’s dismissal from his role as Ghana head coach has been met with mixed reactions.

After almost two years at the helm of affairs, the former Wolfsburg captain, alongside his two assistant coaches, received the sack letter on Monday following a run of uninspiring results.

In 10 matches under his tutelage, the Black Stars won 4 matches, lost four and drew two, heightening calls for his sack, particularly following a 1-0 away loss to South Africa in the 2022 World Cup qualifier last week.

While a section of Ghanaians see the Ghana Football Association’s big call as positive, others believe the coach was affected by situations beyond his control. Another group, meanwhile, is focused on who takes up the job as Ghana’s next coach.

Below are some of the best reactions:

Orlando Pirates have provided an update on some of their key players Thembinkosi Lorch, Richard Ofori and Innocent Maela ahead of their clash with Chippa United.

The Buccaneers have confirmed that three internationals will miss the PSL encounter which is scheduled to be played at the 2010 Fifa World Cup venue, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday.

Pirates' co-interim coach Fadlu Davids revealed to the media that talisman Lorch was out for the rest of the year last week.

The club's official website has now released the following statement indicating the Bafana Bafana forward will be out for three to four months due to a shoulder injury.

"The news has since been confirmed by the medical department who revealed that the 28-year-old suffered a freak accident while at home which has resulted in Nyoso requiring shoulder surgery," a club statement read. 

"The expected time for recovery of an injury of this nature is between 3 to 4 months."

The 28-year-old player, who struggled with injuries last season, started for Pirates in the Carling Black Label Cup clash against Kaizer Chiefs two months ago, before picking up the injury.

The site also revealed that Ofori is yet to recover from an injury that he picked up while on national duty for Ghana's Black Stars earlier this month. 

"Meanwhile, Orlandopiratesfc.com can also confirm that Richard Ofori is expected to miss the PSL clash against Chippa United," another statement read.

"The Ghanaian International, who suffered an injury while on international duty for the Black Stars, is still experiencing discomfort and pain on the site of injury."

The 27-year-old goalkeeper started Pirates' first three competitive matches this term including the MTN8 quarter-final clash against Swallows FC last month.

Furthermore, Pirates also confirmed that Zakhele Lepasa continues to undergo rehabilitation for the fracture.

The 24-year-old striker, who played seven matches in the league and netted once for Bucs last season, has been out of action since December 2020. 

Innocent Maela is two weeks post-surgery on an adductor longus injury and the Bafana international is expected to return to full training in three months.  

Napoli have confirmed striker Victor Osimhen is training on his own as they prepare to face Leicester City on Thursday.

The Nigeria international picked up an injury during the team’s 2-1 win against rivals Juventus at Diego Armando Maradona Stadium with Senegalese captain Kalidou Koulibaly popping up with a late strike to sink the Old Lady on Saturday.

It was Juventus who had taken the lead courtesy of Alvaro Morata in the 10th minute but Napoli came back a more rejuvenated side in the second half to level matters through Matteo Politano before the Senegalese star scored the winner in the 85th minute.

Napoli have now turned their focus to the Europa League opening fixture against Leicester at King Power Stadium and are sweating on the fitness level of the Super Eagle star.

“Napoli were back at the Konami Training Centre on Monday morning following their win over Juventus on Saturday,” read part of the statement on the club’s official website.

“Next up for the Azzurri is their Europa League group stage opener away at Leicester City on Thursday [21:00 CEST kick-off].

“At the training ground, the squad kicked off the session with a practice game using smaller goals, followed by group tactical work. Those who weren't involved from the start in the defeat of Juventus then got stuck into a mini-match.

“Dries Mertens and Faouzi Ghoulam trained with the group for the full session, while Diego Demme and Victor [Osimhen] had individual sessions outside.

“Stanislav Lobotka received treatment and did individual work outside, with Lorenzo Insigne training in the gym after he picked up a knock on Saturday.”

The Italian side will face a wounded Leicester side who suffered a 1-0 defeat against Manchester City in their last league assignment.

Georginio Wijnaldum says that a lack of faith from Liverpool officials led to his departure from Anfield, as he has claimed that they "did not give me the feeling of wanting to keep me".

Liverpool paid £23 million ($32m) to bring Winaldum to Merseyside from Newcastle in the summer of 2016, and he went on to establish himself as one of the most influential members of Jurgen Klopp's squad.

The Dutchman helped the Reds win a sixth European Cup and first league title in 30 years, but wasn't given a contract extension beyond the 2020-21 campaign and ended up joining Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer in June.

What's been said?

Wijnaldum has now revealed that he never wanted to leave Anfield, but felt as though he was pushed through the exits after unsuccessful negotiations over a contract renewal.

“You follow your feeling," the 30-year-old told L'Equipe. "Several months ago, I had expressed the desire to stay in Liverpool but, without going into details, Liverpool did not give me the feeling of wanting to keep me.

"In these cases, we have to move forward."

Why did Wijnaldum choose PSG?

Barcelona was initially touted as the most likely next destination for Wijnaldum, but a deal never came to fruition amid the Catalan giants' struggles to reduce their overall wage bill.

The Netherlands international has now confirmed that PSG swooped in and made him an offer he couldn't refuse, adding: "Barcelona came. I was really happy because, since I was a child, as for the majority of Dutch players, it was the club of my dreams even if I must admit that my idol was Zinedine Zidane.

“I had a good idea to commit to Barca. But the negotiations lasted a very long time and Paris came in. Unlike six years earlier, the club showed me their desire to recruit me. It was time for me to have something else.”

How has Wijnaldum started in Paris?

Wijnaldum has already appeared in five games for PSG at the start of the 2021-22 season, helping them rise to the top of the Ligue 1 standings.

The midfielder looks set to continue playing a key role in Mauricio Pochettino's plans as the campaign progresses, with a Champions League group-stage opener against Club Brugge up next on Wednesday.

Further reading

AFC Leopards head coach Patrick Aussems is expected in the country on Thursday to sharpen the Football Kenya Federation Premier League heavyweights ahead of the new campaign.

It had not been clear whether the tactician will get back in Kenya to continue coaching Ingwe. Reports had already linked him with a move to Rwandan outfit Police FC.

But Leopards supporters have a reason to smile as it has been confirmed the Belgian is expected in the country this week.

"I can assure you that Aussems will be in the country on Thursday to guide Ingwe in the new season," Leopards assistant coach Tom Juma said as quoted by the Star.

The former Simba SC tactician has been at the helm of Ingwe since February. According to the former Harambee Star, every player has already reported back, apart from Burundi international Bienvenue Shaka.

"Our objective throughout the years has been to bag silverware each season and it hasn't changed at all. We began our training sessions on Monday at Camp Toyoyo and the boys are responding really well," Juma continued.

"Shaka is yet to report and actually he is not even in the country. I wouldn't really say with certainty he'll be back for the new season."

With the new season set to start later in September, the club's official team has revealed plans for the team.

"We have identified quite a number of players whom we intend to bring on board for the new season. We shall soon be revealing the crucial changes the club intends to effect ahead of the new season."

The club has so far lost Benjamin Ochan to Ugandan Premier League heavyweights KCCA, their top scorer Elvis Rupia who has opted to go abroad alongside Harrison Mwendwa.

Ingwe are aiming at winning the league for the first time since 1998. Last season, they finished fourth behind champions Tusker, KCB, and Bandari respectively.