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Mamelodi Sundowns co-coach Rhulani Mokwena has hit out at a ‘mole’ at the club for leaking information to the media as he admits allegations of discord in their technical team.

Recent reports suggested working relations between Mokwena and his co-coach Manqoba Mngqithi, as well as Steve Komphela, had broken. 

This is the second season with Sundowns having such a coaching set-up which was established following the departure of Pitso Mosimane. 

“I read the article and was expecting this question already,” said Mokwena as per Sport 24.

“It’s a difficult one to answer; it’s also difficult to come across as not being honest. But at the same time also to protect the club as we've got a very, very big game at the weekend. Our focus and our energies must be on that.

“But also, in the corner of my brain, there's also the need to clarify some of the things, and it's a pity because sometimes some of the things come out, and you're like ‘oh my goodness, how did this get out?’

“That is probably the biggest issue, having a mole and having people that report certain things to the media. We shouldn't have people in our club that go about that sort of behaviour, and that should not be allowed.

“In any organisation, any household, if ever there are any relations, of course, there is going to be one or two squabbles or disagreements. Those should not be blown out of proportion.”

The reports of cracks in the Masandawana technical teams were further fuelled by Komphela being linked with a move to Orlando Pirates. 

The reports also come as Premier Soccer League defending champions Sundowns have been struggling to play convincing football.

Mokwena said he was at pains to explain the situation within their technical team, saying one of them had to “apologise.”

“You know I get disappointed personally when I am on the other side, and to be honest with you, maybe this question should be posed to coach Manqoba Mngqithi,” Mokwena said.

“Because what was reported in the media, there is an element of truth to it, but for me, the coach apologised, and we moved on. It's important for Mamelodi Sundowns to move on, and I have nothing further to add.”

After failing to win their last two games, a 0-0 league outing against Chippa United and the 1-1 MTN8 semi-final clash against Golden Arrows, Sundowns now switch focus to Kaizer Chiefs.

They host Amakhosi in a league match at Loftus Versfeld on Sunday.

Former Orlando Pirates midfielder Gerald Modabi feels the club is getting it wrong on the transfer market by signing players who are having little impact in the team.

This season, the Buccaneers signed defender Kwanda Mngonyama and midfielder Bandile Shandu, both from Maritzburg United.

Also signed were Goodman Mosele, Ntsako Makhubele and Monnapule Saleng who was immediately sent out to Swallows FC on loan.

The club then went to West Africa to bring in Ghanaian forward Kwane Peprah and Nigerian defender Olisa Ndah.

“I think maybe the guys who are being signed are not the right players for the team,” Modabi told Phakaathi.

“And now, with a club like Pirates, you will always find the supporters saying this player is not the club’s material because they know what kind of a player you have to be to fit in at Pirates.”

With the season still in the early stages, only Shandu and Mosele have featured in Premier Soccer League games but are yet to dish out influential performances, while others are yet to play.

The Buccaneers are yet to win a single match this season, starting with elimination from the MTN8 by Soweto rivals Swallows FC.

They then drew their Premier Soccer League matches against Stellenbosch and Marumo Gallants as they now prepare to meet Swallows again on Saturday.

Four of the Buccaneers’ new signings were made by Josef Zinnabauer before the club brought in three more after the German’s departure.

“If you check at the past players, they were streetwise footballers like Teboho Moloi, Botsotso Makhanya, Joseph Makhanya, Gift Leremi, Benedict Vilakazi and even the Zambian, Perry Mutapa,” said Modabi.

“People might say, like me, he didn’t play 40 games back to back, but he was in that mold of Pirates material. Not players who need the chairman to visit the club’s training facilities now and again to make sure that everything is okay [motivated to play well].”

Sadio Mane saw off competition from Mohamed Salah to win Liverpool’s Goal of the Month award for August.

Mane finished off a fine team move, courtesy of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s assist, to double the Reds’ lead in their 2-0 victory over Burnley on August 21.

The 69th-minute strike was Mane's maiden goal of the season and it was also his 50th league goal for Jurgen Klopp's side at Anfield.

Salah's curling strike against Norwich City followed in second spot while Kaide Gordon's long-range shot for Liverpool U23s against Everton came third.

Roberto Firmino's goal against Norwich was fourth and Diogo Jota's opener against Burnley took fifth spot.

Liverpool are on an unbeaten run in the Premier League having won two and drawn one of their three opening matches. Klopp's men will aim to stretch their fine run when they visit Leeds United on Sunday.

Salah, Mane and Naby Keita are back in Liverpool after going on international assignments with their countries for the 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifiers.

After missing Egypt’s 1-0 win over Angola due to coronavirus travel restrictions by the Premier League, Salah joined the Pharaohs in Franceville where they battled to a 1-1 draw against Gabon.

Mane, meanwhile, enjoyed a fine outing with Senegal by scoring a goal in each of their games. He opened the scoring in the Teranga Lions' 2-0 home win over Togo before wrapping up their 3-1 victory in Congo with a penalty.

Keita, on his part, helped Guinea settle for a 1-1 draw with Guinea-Bissau before a military coup forced their home match against Morocco to be postponed indefinitely on Sunday.

The violence got the Reds worried but he arrived in England on Wednesday on a private plane.

“Naby is fine. Yesterday he was not here [at the AXA Training Centre] but he was in Liverpool again," German coach Klopp told the club's website.

"I will have a chat with him today, but from what I know from all the calls and talks we had, he’s fine.”

Cristiano Ronaldo has hinted that he could stay at Manchester United for the next "three or four years", with the £20 million ($28m) summer signing declaring that he's back to "win again".

United completed one of the most surprising transfers in recent history when re-signing Ronaldo from Juventus on deadline day, tying the 36-year-old down to a one-year deal with the option of an extra year.

Ronaldo has now outlined his ambitions after returning to the club where he initially became one of the biggest superstars in world football, while also suggesting that he could remain on their books through to 2025.

What's been said?

The Portuguese was interviewed by former team-mate Wes Brown on MUTV ahead of his potential second debut against Newcastle on Saturday, and gave a strong answer when quizzed on whether he can help bring the team's five-year wait for silverware to an end.

“This is why I am here,” said Ronaldo. "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.”

What did Ronaldo achieve in his first spell at United?

United only spent £12m to sign Ronaldo from Sporting in 2003, which turned out to be a bargain as he went on to help the club win eight major trophies, including three Premier League titles and the Champions League.

The mercurial frontman scored 118 goals in 292 appearances for the Red Devils in total, and also won the first of his five Ballon d'Or awards at Old Trafford - with the other four gathered after his move to Real Madrid in 2009.

Will Ronaldo start against Newcastle?

Ronaldo showed off his predatory instincts once again by scoring two late goals to give Portugal a 2-1 World Cup qualifying win over the Republic of Ireland last week, but also picked up a suspension after being shown a yellow card.

The ex-Juve talisman returned to Manchester early as a result, and after observing a five-day quarantine period, linked up with his new teammates for training on Tuesday.

Ronaldo could, therefore, make a strong claim for a spot in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's starting XI against Newcastle, but will face competition from the likes of Mason Greenwood, Edinson Cavani and Jadon Sancho.

Further reading

Nigeria international Chidozie Awaziem has vowed to give everything towards helping Alanyaspor achieve their goals.

The 24-year-old joined the Turkish Super Lig side on loan from Portuguese club Boavista until the end of the 2021-22 campaign.

Awaziem's presence is projected to boost the club’s backline after losing two of their last league games in the current campaign.

Addressing media during his unveiling on Thursday, the Super Eagle disclosed he did not have a second thought before joining the club while expressing his zeal to give his best at the Bahcesehir Okullari Stadium.

"I'm very happy to be welcomed like this and I'm glad I came to such a beautiful place,” Awaziem was quoted by Alanyaspor website.

“I have been hearing about Alanyaspor's name and achievements for a long time so, I didn't think about it when the offer came in. I agreed immediately.

“No one doubts that I will give anything to achieve the goals. I have a structure that gives everything on the field.”

Meanwhile, club president Hasan Cavusoglu has no doubt about the African star’s ability to help the squad.

"Awaziem left after the Nigeria game and arrived in Alanya last night. He's a footballer we believe will contribute to our team,” he said.

“It's not easy to transfer players like that. He almost came to Besiktas recently, but he got lucky. We think we make a very good team.

“I believe that Alanyaspor will return to its old days with our new manager.

“We lost two games, but we're still in the league. With Awaziem, the technical team and the Alanyaspor community, we will strive to bring our team to its rightful place together.

“Awaziem is now a part of Alanyaspor. We're together until the end of the season. I think we will have a good season."

The Enugu-born centre-back is expected to make his debut when Alanyaspor host Giresunspor on Monday evening.

On the international scene, Awaziem was also part of Rohr's squad for the 2018 Fifa World Cup in Russia and the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt where they finished third.

Gor Mahia Secretary-General Sam Ochola has warned supporters against consuming incessant rumours regarding the signing of players, stating the team is currently finalising with World Football Governing Body Fifa regarding the lifting of the transfer ban.

There have been reports on social media on alleged completed signings, with the latest one being Harambee Star Cliff Nyakeya who is rumoured to have sealed a one-year deal with the club. K'Ogalo have denied the reports and the official has further insisted on the same. 

Signing information will be communicated 

"The club is detesting the incessant rumours and speculations going round about our playing unit on social media and other outlets," Ochola told Goal.

"Currently we are finalising with Fifa to lift the ban on us to enable the club to sign new players. Information relating to our playing unit and issues around it will be communicated officially in due course by the club."

Gor Mahia is awaiting Fifa green light 

Meanwhile, Gor Mahia sporting director Omondi Aduda confirmed the team is now ready to write to Fifa to be allowed to bring in new players after settling their debts.

"Gor Mahia are currently free of any debt, we have cleared all of them," Aduda told Goal. 

"Starting with [Shafik] Batambuze, even his lawyer has written to the club confirming receipt of the money and on [Dickson] Ambundo, we also settled his dues through his Nairobi-based lawyer.  

"For Polack, it is a done deal as well. Nothing is remaining and all we are now working on is to communicate the same to Fifa and get the green light to sign new players in the ongoing transfer window."

Mikel Arteta has insisted that Arsenal's "doors are always open" for Jack Wilshere as he continues his search for a new club.

Wilshere initially began his career at Arsenal in 2008, emerging as one of the most talented young midfielders of his generation under Arsene Wenger.

However, injuries held him back from reaching his full potential and he left the club in 2018 before going on to take in underwhelming spells at West Ham and Bournemouth, but Arteta has hinted that he would be welcome back at Emirates Stadium.

What's been said?

Wilshere is currently available on a free transfer, and the Arsenal boss has offered the 29-year-old a potential olive branch having built up a good relationship with him as a player in north London between 2011 and 2016.

Asked whether he could invite the ex-England international to train with his squad, Arteta told a press conference on Thursday: “[He is] someone that I know, that I shared the dressing room with.

“Someone who is so loved around the club with every person here and our doors are always open.”

Wilshere's Arsenal record

Wilshere only made 198 appearances across all competitions over the course of his decade-long stay at Arsenal, but did win two FA Cups and the Community Shield.

He also managed to score 14 goals while setting up a further 30 for his team-mates, and won 34 caps for England when at the peak of his powers. 

What other options does Wilshere have?

Wilshere has been linked with a number of English clubs since leaving Bournemouth in June, and Scottish champions Rangers were also credited with an interest in his services during the summer transfer window.

However, the experienced playmaker has yet to find a new employer, and has been training with Serie B outfit Calcio Como to keep his fitness levels up.

Como cannot sign Wilshere due to the fact Serie B clubs are not allowed to purchase non-EU players from outside of Italy, but he has admitted that he is hoping to attract interest from Serie A clubs.

“I’d gladly join an Italian club straight away if given the chance," he told Gazzetta dello Sport earlier this month. "The experience at Como is a positive one, so I think I’d settle in quickly."

Further reading

Football Manager 2022 will be coming to screens across the world this November as the latest edition gets ready to launch.

Last year's title - Football Manager 2021 - proved typically popular (with over 446 million matches played since launch) and the excitement is building ahead of the release of the new game. 

So if you're considering getting the game, wondering what's new and just generally curios, Goal brings you all you need to know!

On this page

What is the Football Manager 2022 release date?

November 9, 2021 is the release date for Football Manager 2022. The date was confirmed on September 9.

That means it will be available to buy and play in time for the busy holiday and Christmas period, so those who want the game can include it on their lists.

Early Access is available to those who pre-purchase the game and that means the game will be available to play approximately two weeks before the official launch date - around October 26.

The launch date has reverted to the customary early November time. Last year, the launch of Football Manager 2021 was delayed until the end of the November.

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How much will Football Manager 2022 cost?

Football Manager 2022 is priced at £39.99 in the UK and $54.99  in the U.S.

However, a 10 per cent reduction* applies if you wish to pre-purchase the game, meaning it will cost £36 or $49.50 .

The game is available to buy as a PC or Mac download via Epic or Steam  and the official Sega store , as well as the Microsoft store . 

Football Manager 2022 Xbox edition and Football Manager 2022 Touch will be considerably cheaper than the full game.

Football Manager 2021 Xbox was priced at £29.99 in the UK and $39.99 in the U.S., while Football Manager 2021 Touch cost £21.99 or $29.99.

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What devices will Football Manager 2022 be on?

Football Manager 2022 will be available to play on PC, Mac, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One and mobile devices.

The Xbox edition of Football Manager 2022 will launch on the same date as the PC/Mac version, as will FM22 Mobile.

Football Manager 2022 Touch will also be available to play on the Nintendo Switch.

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What new features will Football Manager 2022 have?

New features on Football Manager 2022 will be revealed in "late September" per the official website.

Last year, Football Manager 2021 saw a number of fresh additions, including xG data and match analysis, and Football Manager 2022 will no doubt aim to satisfy some desires.

Graphics

With each iteration of Football Manager, efforts have been made to improve the gameplay graphics and that will be no different for Football Manager 2022.

Last year, the match UI (User Interface) was redesigned to improve lighting and actions of the match display. We can expect more upgrades to the simulation in FM22.

Leagues & licensing

There will be an update to the licensing in Football Manager 2022, with full details set to be confirmed in late September.

One notable change is the absence of 'Manchester United' from the game following a trademark dispute between the Premier League club and Sega.

For the first time in the history of the game, the Old Trafford team will be known as 'Manchester UFC' or 'Man UFC' instead of their official name.

A tweet from the official Football Manager account in August 2021 read: "From FM22 onwards, the Manchester United football club will be named ‘Manchester UFC’ or ‘Man UFC’.

"These name changes have been made purely to settle the dispute on a no admissions basis."

There have long been omissions in the history of Football Manager, with a number of teams and leagues not playable due to licensing.

Football Manager 2021 featured over 100 leagues from 52 different countries spread across five continents and Football Manager 2022 will be similarly stacked full of options.

The game's developers are always open to new suggestions and a common request on the Sports Interactive Community forums is to include the Japanese football pyramid.

Women's football

In 2021, the brains behind Football Manager announced that  women's football would soon be introduced to the game, but Football Manager 2022 comes too early.

“We've been doing this behind the scenes for over a year. I'm sick of having to say to people on social media, when they're asking me about it, 'when we do it, we'll do it properly'. We can now actually talk about it more," Football Manager studio director Miles Jacobson said in July.

Tina Keech has been appointed the game's head of women's football research and the expectation is that the database required will take a number of years to build, so the women's game will not be a feature in FM 22.

Women coaches will feature, however, and have done for a number of editions of Football Manager.

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Football Manager 2022 trailer

A teaser trailer for Football Manager 2022 was released on September 9 in conjunction with the launch-date announcement.

Very little is given away in the trailer, with the focus mostly on reflecting on what has come before, with lines about dreaming big and earning success for the fans figuring prominently.

You can watch the trailer in the video above.

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Kaizer Chiefs head coach Stuart Baxter says they are closely monitoring Keagan Dolly and Khama Billiat ahead of Sunday’s Premier Soccer League clash against Mamelodi Sundowns at Loftus Versfeld.

Dolly, who had Baxter worried about his weight, is gradually settling in the Chiefs squad and started for the first time in their last match, a 2-1 win over Baroka FC in which he lasted 84 minutes.

Billiat on the other hand is coming from national duty with Zimbabwe as he featured for the Warriors in the 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Ethiopia.

The Zimbabwean scored one of Chiefs’ goals against Baroka and Amakhosi would also be hoping for Lebogang Manyama to be fully fit on Sunday.

“We got Lebo [Manyama] back into normal training. We’re managing Keagan and how much he can play, we’re managing Khama. He has played a few times for the national team, so I’m guessing he is fully integrated into the squad now,” said Baxter as per iDiski Times.

Chiefs will make the trip to Tshwane without forward Leonardo Castro who is yet to play this season due to injury and is still “way down the road” in terms of recovery, according to the coach.

Defender Siyabonga Ngezana also appears far from returning to full fitness while midfielder Dumisani Zuma has also been ruled out.

“We’ve got Leo Castro, who is still in Colombia. He can’t do any sort of rehab yet after his operation. He is totally immobilised at the moment. That one is way down the road,” Baxter said.

“We’ve Zuma, who is jogging. He is in that phase of his rehab. We’ve got Siya [Ngezana], who is doing exactly the same. He’s had a very bad one [injury] and he has reached that phase – jogging slash limping. So he is not available anytime soon. 

“Daniel [Akpeyi] is on his way back from Nigeria, but he didn’t pick up any injuries. Brandon [Petersen] had a little bit of a tweak, but he has trained this morning [Thursday]. He looked very good, we will see how he reacts tomorrow.

“You can always still pick up injuries between today and the game but at this moment this is what we’ve got.”

Chiefs and Sundowns are yet to taste defeat in the league this season with both teams recording a win and a draw so far.

Jurgen Klopp has addressed Virgil van Dijk's "scary moment" with the Netherlands over the international break while giving an update on the fitness of Roberto Firmino and Harvey Elliott.

Van Dijk has slotted straight back into Klopp's plans at the start of the season after missing the majority of Liverpool's 2020-21 campaign through injury, starting in wins over Norwich and Burnley as well as a 1-1 draw with Chelsea.

There were some fears that he could miss the Reds' next Premier League clash with Leeds United on Sunday after a nasty collision in the Netherlands' latest World Cup qualifier, but Klopp has now confirmed that the defender has assured him that he suffered no lasting damage.

What's been said?

Van Dijk played down the issue after his country's 6-1 victory against Turkey against Tuesday, telling reporters: "I’m fine, luckily. I’m already over it. Maybe because I am so big, they think I am acting, because when I go down, it goes in quite a slow way."

Klopp revealed the details of the conversation he had with the 30-year-old in the wake of the incident when quizzed by Liverpool's official website on the condition of his returning international stars.

“Taki [Minamino] is already here for a while, he got injured obviously with Japan," he said. "With Virgil, that was obviously a scary moment, you can imagine. I sent him a message after the game, ‘Are you alright?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘100 per cent?’ ‘200 per cent.’ ‘Come on, send me a video of you without limping...’ ‘I’m only limping off.’

“So he called me from the bus and said, ‘Boss, I’m fine!’ I said, ‘Why are you limping then?’ He said, ‘My wife asked the same!’ So, yeah, that was a bit of a tricky moment but apart from that, no, all fine [for the other international players]."

What about Firmino and Elliott?

Klopp went on to confirm that Elliott has shaken off the knock which saw him pull out of England's U21 squad, but was unable to deliver good news about Firmino, who picked up a hamstring issue against Chelsea.

“Bobby is not [fit], it happened in the game [against Chelsea] obviously. Harvey is fine again," he said.

Klopp added on whether James Milner has made a recovery from the thigh strain that kept him out of the Chelsea draw: "Millie, we have to see. Millie has to be part of team training yet, he was not part of team training so far, so we will see what he can do today. But he will get closer definitely.”

Further reading

Megan Rapinoe was among the injury absences as the U.S. women's national team released its roster for this month's friendlies against Paraguay, while Christen Press has opted out to focus on her mental health.

The USWNT will face Paraguay on September 16 in Cleveland and September 21 in Cincinnati in their first matches since winning the bronze medal at the Olympics this summer.

The roster was originally intended to be the same squad as the Olympics, but Rapinoe, Sam Mewis, Julie Ertz and Alyssa Naeher are out with injuries, while Press has taken a brief step back from the game. Andi Sullivan, Sophia Smith and Mallory Pugh were added to the roster.

What was said?

“We have a few players with injuries so we needed to add some depth to the roster and Andi, Sophia and Mal are not only having quality seasons for their NWSL teams, but they can also play multiple positions,” said USWNT head coach Vlatko Andonovski in a federation release.

“All the players will be played in as they’ve had a few matches with their clubs, so we’re planning on getting a quality start to our run to World Cup qualifying while also managing their workload as the majority of players will head back to their teams for the stretch run to the NWSL playoffs.”

Press takes a step back

In a post on Instagram, Press explained why she would not be participating in the friendlies.

"I’ve been a professional player for 10 years. And I’m very proud of the fact that I’ve been available for nearly every professional match for both club and country," the forward said.

"And yet, that has come with a focus, intensity, and prioritization that has left little room for much else. I’ve made the difficult decision to take some time away from the game to focus on my mental health, spiritual growth, and processing grief.

"I’m sad to miss the upcoming games and seeing all of our wonderful fans. I believe I will come back stronger than ever. Thanks for all your support on my journey."

Press was recently confirmed as the first signing for NWSL expansion outfit Angel City FC, which will begin play next season.

Full roster

GOALKEEPERS (2): Jane Campbell (Houston Dash), Adrianna Franch (Kansas City NWSL)

DEFENDERS (7): Abby Dahlkemper (Houston Dash), Tierna Davidson (Chicago Red Stars), Crystal Dunn (Portland Thorns FC), Casey Krueger (Chicago Red Stars), Kelley O’Hara (Washington Spirit), Becky Sauerbrunn (Portland Thorns FC), Emily Sonnett (Washington Spirit)

MIDFIELDERS (5): Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns FC), Rose Lavelle (OL Reign), Catarina Macario (Olympique Lyon, FRA), Kristie Mewis (Houston Dash), Andi Sullivan (Washington Spirit)

FORWARDS (6): Tobin Heath (Arsenal, ENG), Carli Lloyd (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride), Mallory Pugh (Chicago Red Stars), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns FC), Lynn Williams (North Carolina Courage)

Further reading

Football Manager 2022 will be released on November 9, with a teaser trailer having been launched to whet the appetite of supporters of the game.

As well as being available in the traditional PC format, FM22 will also be returning to Xbox, with details regarding new features to be confirmed in the coming weeks.

With a blockbuster summer transfer window having seen the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo change clubs, fans of the management simulation will undoubtedly be excited to start their careers when the game is released in two months' time.

Football Manager 2022 trailer

What do we know so far about FM22?

Sports Interactive has confirmed that Football Manager 2022 will be released on November 9, with the game to be made available for PC and Mac users on Steam, the Epic Games Store, and the Microsoft Store.

Football Manager Xbox Edition will also be released on the same day for console users.

Miles Jacobson, Sports Interactive's Studio Director, has said: "FM22 will break new ground for the Football Manager series as we arrive on Day One with Xbox Game Pass.

"The success of our return to Xbox last year surpassed even our expectations and we’re delighted to be expanding our partnership with Microsoft to give Game Pass members the chance to experience the closest thing to being a real football manager."

The game's mobile version, for iOS and Android, will also be returning and will be available on November 9. Details regarding Football Manager 2022 Touch, and the Nintendo Switch version of the game, are due to be released soon.

Further reading

Former Kaizer Chiefs defender Morgan Gould has retired from professional football after a successful 2019/20 season with Sekhukhune United.

The 38-year-old helped Sekhukhune secure promotion to the PSL from the National First Division and he has now decided to stop playing and retire from the beautiful game of football.

Gould is among the greatest defenders to have played in the PSL and he is one of the two defenders, who have been named the league's Footballer of the Year along with Tefu Mashamaite.

The Soweto-born player will now serve as  Sekhukhune reserve team assistant coach on a full-time basis according to the following statement from the club:

"Morgan Gould has announced his retirement from playing football to take over a full-time post as assistant coach of the Sekhukhune United Diski Challenge side," a club statement read.

"Former Bafana Bafana defender Gould has officially called it quits to his football career spanning over two decades, Gould was part of Sekhukhune United FC when they gained promotion to the DStv Premiership in the preceding season."

"Born 23 March 1983 in Soweto, the 38-year-old began his professional senior career at Jomo Cosmos in 2001. He later joined SuperSport United in 2008 and went on to win two league titles and a Nedbank Cup title. A move to Kaizer Chiefs in 2012 also saw Gould adding two more league titles in his career that has seen him also play for Stellenbosch FC."

"With over 31 Bafana Bafana caps under his belt, Gould made his first international debut for South Africa in 2008, and was part of the national team that participated in the 2009 Fifa Confederations Cup, held in South Africa. Gould will be working with the head coach of Sekhukhune United Diski Challenge side, Themba Masango."

"Paying tribute to Gould's huge contribution to the Club's success, Babina Noko’s Executive Chairman Simon Malatji said: "Gould’s leadership, intelligence and determination have seen him adapt brilliantly with some members of the team. He has a unique and special attribute that will contribute to the success of the MDC team. He will always be part of the Babina Noko family."

"Gould will make his managerial debut on Saturday 's DStv Diski Challenge game against Maritzburg United FC at Harry Gwala stadium 10:00."

Lionel Messi has admitted that landing Copa America glory with Argentina was the "most difficult" triumph of his trophy-laden career, with the Paris Saint-Germain superstar finally finding "peace of mind" at international level.

Having previously suffered final heartache at the 2014 World Cup and back-to-back Copas in 2015 and 2016, a six-time Ballon d'Or winner feared that senior glory with his country would never come.

He was, however, to inspire his nation to glory on Brazilian soil this summer, as he captained Lionel Scaloni's side to a memorable victory, and the 34-year-old can now relax knowing that he has hit all of his targets in a remarkable career.

What has been said? 

Messi has told ESPN of claiming the Copa America crown to sit alongside the enviable haul of honours he collected at Barcelona: "Everything I won was important and beautiful, but this was the most difficult because I went through many things. It was knock after knock.

"I finally had happy holidays from the first day to the last. Before I was bitter and now it was different from start to finish. My children sing Argentina songs all the time, they remember the final against Brazil and for me it's spectacular to see how they enjoy that."

Has Messi silenced any doubters?

While his standing as a modern day legend has been without question for some time, critics were quick to point to Messi's lack of international honours when it came to any greatest-of-all-time debate.

Those questions irked an ambitious character, but he now has the medals to prove doubters around the world wrong.

He added: "I have peace of mind of having achieved the dream that has been denied to me so many times.

"It was like a dream, a spectacular moment. I couldn't believe it had happened. I enjoy watching the images now more than at the time as I was in a daze. I didn't quite understand what was happening."

On reacting to painful defeats of the past, Messi said: "A part of the media treated us as failures, saying that we didn't feel the [responsibility] of wearing the jersey, that we shouldn't be in the national team.

"We tried to be champions before, we were the first ones to want to. It's very difficult to win a World Cup or a Copa America. At the time they didn't value what we did, they only put emphasis on the fact that we didn't achieve the aim. The important thing is to feel satisfied that you have given your all...luckily, the last [final] was different."

Further reading

Manchester is buzzing at the moment due to the presence of two of the finest sportspersons of this generation Cristiano Ronaldo and Virat Kohli in the city.

Cristiano Ronaldo, who moved back to Manchester United after a gap of 12 years this summer, is currently training with the club and is likely to make his second debut for the club on Saturday at the Old Trafford in a Premier League fixture against Newcastle United.

The Indian Cricket team along with their captain Virat Kohli too have arrived in Manchester to take on England in the fifth test match of the ongoing England vs India Test Series. India are currently leading 2-1 in the series.

As Kohli arrived and started training, Lancashire Cricket Club shared Kohli's photo on their Twitter handle and wrote about the presence of the two superstars in the same city currently. Manchester United responded to their twee writing 'One city, two GOATs'.

When will Cristiano Ronaldo make his second Man Utd debut?

The Portuguese star is expected to make his second bow for the Red Devils on Saturday, September 11, in a Premier League fixture against Newcastle at Old Trafford. The match kicks off at 7:30 pm Indian time.

There were reports that Ronaldo could instead be making his full debut on Tuesday, September 14 in the Champions League against Young Boys, due to the striker having to isolate in accordance with Covid-19 rules following international duty with Portugal.

It was suggested that due to the limited time that Ronaldo would be able to train with his new teammates ahead of Saturday's game, Man United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could delay his full debut until the Champions League fixture.

But Manchester United have excited supporters with an update of Ronaldo having joined training on September 7, hinting that the forward could very well still be set to make an appearance this weekend.

What has Virat Kohli said about Cristiano Ronaldo in the past?

It is no secret that the Indian captain admires and idolises Cristiano Ronaldo. Kohli has expressed his admiration for the Portuguese star on several occasions in the past. In 2020, during a chat with Indian football team captain Sunil Chhetri, Kohli explained why he idolises Ronaldo.

"Cristiano Ronaldo. There are many great athletes. There are so many people you look up to, who are amazing, but for a guy to turn up for big games that regularly. The thing that stood out was, he joined Juventus (and) I remember it was a UEFA Champions League match between Juventus and Atletico Madrid match. They lost 2-0 in the first leg. The second leg they were playing at home. For a guy to say two days prior to the game, to tell his friends that come for the game (because) it is going to be a special night.

“That conviction for a guy to say that we are going to go through and score a hat-trick. That for me is a beast mentality. In the world of sport, there are very few people who can claim to have that kind of a mentality. That mental strength for me is inspiring every time.”

Arsenal have been boosted by the news that Ben White and Thomas Partey will come back into contention this weekend for a crunch clash with Norwich.

The Gunners, who remain without a point or a goal in the Premier League this season, are due to play host to the Canaries at Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

Mikel Arteta desperately needs to find inspiration from somewhere, and two big-money signings are set to aid his cause by returning to the fold from enforced absences.

How could Arsenal line up against Norwich?

One man who will definitely will be in contention for a starting berth is £50 million ($69m) centre-half White, with the England international defender out of quarantine after testing positive for coronavirus.

Mohamed Elneny has been ruled out, though, after suffering a hamstring strain while away with Egypt, while Emile Smith Rowe sat out the latest fixture for England's U21 side through illness - but he should be okay by the weekend.

Granit Xhaka, who is another to have tested positive for Covid-19, is suspended anyway so would not have been able to face Norwich, with the Swiss midfielder starting a three-match ban.

Partey could plug that gap in the engine room, with the Ghanaian making a timely return after missing the start of the season with an ankle injury.

Gabriel Magalhaes is also back in training, as is Eddie Nketiah. New signing Takehiro Tomiyasu, meanwhile, could also be available, with Arteta having confirmed that the Gunners are trying to arrange a work permit that should be done "in the next few hours".

Any other fitness issues for Arsenal?

The only other slight concern for the Gunners could be the fitness of summer arrival Albert Sambi Lokonga.

The 21-year-old midfielder made his senior international debut for Belgium off the bench in a meeting with the Czech Republic, but was denied the opportunity to collect a second cap in a World Cup qualifying clash with Belarus on Wednesday.

Lokonga was unable to play any part in Belgium's matchday squad, as he took up a seat in the stands, with Roberto Martinez revealing that a minor knock picked up in training had kept a hot prospect on the sidelines.

The Belgium boss has told Walfoot, with Arsenal assured that the issue was nothing serious: "Regarding Sambi, it is not a sporting choice. 

"There was a small warning, I would not speak of injury, but of discomfort, in training.

"So we decided not to take any risk given the complicated conditions. It was not a sporadic decision on my part."

Further reading

East Bengal have once again rekindled their love affair with Spanish managers as the Red and Gold brigade appointed Manolo Diaz as their head coach for the upcoming Indian Super League (ISL) season after mutually terminating Robbie Fowler's contract. 

Their first Spanish manager was Alejandro Menendez in the 2018-19 I-League season, who was succeeded by Mario Rivera Campesino. Like Menendez, the current coach also has a history with Real Madrid Castilla, the reserve team of European giants Real Madrid. Diaz was in charge of the side in two different stints. He has also worked with Real Madrid's Juvenil B side (U19) earlier in his career. 

In 2008, he took the reins at Navalcarnero, a side which is currently plying their trade in Spanish fourth tier. He first got associated with Real Madrid Castilla in November 2013. After being in charge for 28 games he somehow managed to fend off relegation for the developmental team. In July 2014, he joined Ponferradina where he worked with Chelsea's goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga. 

He once again returned to Castilla in October 2018 and was working as an assistant to Santiago Solari. However, in November when Solari was called up to lead the senior team, Diaz came in the Castilla hot seat. 

During his managerial career, mostly as a developmental coach, he has worked with many players who have gone on to make a name for themselves. Let us take a look at some of those bright graduates who have trained under him. 

LUCAS VAZQUEZ

The versatile right winger trained who currently plays for Real Madrid trained under him in Castilla during the 2013-14 season. He has got 167 caps for Madrid and has scored 15 goals for the club. 

DIEGO LLORENTE

The centre-back failed to make a place for himself at Real Madrid, after graduating from Castilla but was a regular face in La Liga, playing for Rayo Vallecano, Malaga, and Real Sociedad. He currently plies his trade with Leeds United in the Premier League.

FERNANDO PACHECO

Pachecho was the first-choice goalkeeper during Diaz's Castilla stint in 2013-14. The goalkeeper made his Real Madrid debut in a 5-0 win over UE Cornella in Copa Del Rey and also travelled to FIFA Club World Cup as an unused third-choice keeper. Although he did not find success in Madrid, he has found first-team minutes at Alaves since 2017. 

RAUL DE TOMAS

The Madrid-born striker honed his skills at Castilla under Diaz in 2013-14. He scored seven goals and provided two assists in that season and was rewarded with a first-team call up in 2014-15. Although he could not find his footing with Los Blancos, he was in terrific form for Espanyol in the previous season where he scored 23 goals in 37 matches to propel his side back to La Liga. 

Mariano Diaz

The striker made his Castilla debut under Diaz on January 18, 2014 in a 2-1 loss against poting Gijon in the Segunda Division. He replaced Raul de Tomas to come in for the final five minutes. After a successful stint with Ligue 1 side Olympique Lyon he came back to Real Madrid and continues to be a part of the team.

Kepa Arrizabalaga

The Chelsea goalkeeper was the first-choice keeper at Ponferradina in the Segunda Division during the 2014-15 season.  He kept seven clean sheets in that season.