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Harvey Elliott has “got the lot”, says former Liverpool star Jason McAteer, with the 17-year-old considered to be capable of scaling the same heights as Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Wayne Rooney.

Premier League heavyweights at Anfield bought into the teenager’s potential when snapping him up from Fulham.

Jurgen Klopp handed the promising midfielder senior minutes in 2019-20, with Elliott taking in eight appearances across all competitions.

Big things are expected of the England U17 international in the future, with McAteer of the opinion that he could follow in the footsteps of Barcelona and Manchester United legends.

The former Reds star told Off The Ball: "Obviously we have got Harvey Elliott - who is going to be an absolute superstar.

"He's 17... what an attitude, what a player. He's playing wide at the minute but I can see him slotting into that midfield central area. Maybe as a Xavi or an Iniesta [type].

"If he develops the right way, he could be as good as one of those players. And that's saying something. This kid has got the lot."

McAteer added: "[Elliott] can play with both feet. He has got that ability to see things, to open things up, to play that little killer pass.

"What I love about him is he never spends longer than four or five seconds on the ball. He knows what he is doing. He knows what he sees beforehand.

"His execution more often than not, is on point.

"They come around every once in a while. I had the privilege of playing with [Michael] Owen, the privilege of playing with [Robbie] Fowler. I saw [Wayne] Rooney at a young age being on Merseyside.

"I put him in that bracket. Absolutely."

Elliott is not the only youngster to be breaking through at Liverpool, with Neco Williams and Curtis Jones stepping out of a famed academy system to see competitive game time.

Rhian Brewster is also looking to earn a regular role, with the 20-year-old frontman having netted 11 goals during a productive loan spell at Swansea to suggest that he is ready to make his mark on Merseyside.

McAteer added on the U17 World Cup winner: "I believe he is training really, really well. I think he has now stepped a little bit ahead of Divock Origi, which might raise some eyebrows.

"But I think he is ready to slot in to give a bit of rest to the front three that usually pick themselves. You can rely on him for 20 to 25 minutes.

"I wouldn't say any of these youngsters are pushing for starts. Curtis may be the one you would look at. But there is plenty of talent coming through."

New Young Africans (Yanga SC) top executive Senzo Mazingiza has warned rivals from underrating Tanzanian football.

In a tweet responding to fans welcoming Premier League side Tanzania Prisons to their new home Nelson Mandela Stadium in Rukwa, Mazingiza was amazed by the reception showed to the top-flight team.

Tanzania Prisons relocated to Rukwa from Mbeya as their old stadium is undergoing renovation and may not be available for the 2020/21 season set to start on September 6.

“Ignore Tanzania football at your own peril. Something is cooking here and the love of football from locals is unmatched,” the South African football administrator tweeted.

“Grateful to be part of it.”

By joining the record Mainland Premier League champions, Mazingiza is set to lead a second Tanzanian club after his stint at Simba, Yanga’s traditional arch-rivals.

His exit from Simba was marred by controversies as the Wekundu wa Msimbazi chair Mohamed Dewji claimed the South African administrator had not delivered on his requirements. 

Meanwhile, Tanzanian clubs have confirmed the stadiums they will use to host their upcoming home ties.

Simba and Yanga have confirmed the Uhuru National Stadium or the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in the coastal city of Dar es Salaam will continue to be their home grounds.

Former league and FA champions Azam will use their Chamazi Complex while Biashara United will host matches at Karume Stadium in Mara.

Dodoma Jiji will welcome their new Premier League rivals at Jamhuri Stadium in Dodoma whereas Ihefu FC, another newly-promoted side, will play at Highlands Estate in Mbeya.

JKT Tanzania will use the same ground with their local rivals Dodoma Jiji while KMC FC will be at Uhuru Stadium.

CCM Gairo in Morogoro will be home to Mtibwa Sugar while Namungo FC will remain at Majaliwa Stadium in Lindi.

Ushirika Moshi in Kilimanjaro will host Polisi Tanzania and Gwambina FC will maintain their Gwambina Ground.

Mwadui will continue to use Mwadui Complex whereas Kagera Sugar will host rivals at Kaitaba Stadium in Shinyanga.

Sokoine Stadium will continue to host Mbeya FC’s matches while Ruvu Shooting, under Boniface Mkwasa, will be at Mabatini Stadium in Pwani.

Finally, Coastal Union will keep Mkwakwani Stadium in Tanga.

Kenyan Premier League (KPL) giants Gor Mahia are desperate to land KCB defender Michael Kibwage as a replacement of Joash Onyango who left recently for Tanzania Mainland League champions Simba SC.

The Kenyan side need to strengthen their defence to have a better chance of performing well in continental and domestic assignments. Kibwage is seen as a player who can maintain the required quality at the back.

"Gor Mahia want Kibwage, they have already met him and discussed the possibility of him leaving KCB," a source close to the club told Goal on Saturday.

"The problem we have is his signing fee which is quite high from the player and we are negotiating. While the team is ready to give him in excess of Ksh1.5 million, Kibwage wants Ksh 3 million.

"We will have to discuss again and see whether we can reach a consensus or not, but he is a quality defender who will improve the team."

Charles Momanyi is reportedly on his way out of K'Ogalo as well, and KCB are interested in his services.

The 22-year-old Kenya defender has been instrumental for the Bankers since joining from AFC Leopards and is quickly establishing himself among the best in the country. 

"As a player I have dreams and they keep me going," Kibwage told Goal in an earlier interview.

"As I had said, we are targeting the KPL next season and we believe it is achievable. But for me, I want to win the Caf Champions League in the next few seasons. This is not meant for some players, it is meant for all, the difference is the effort one makes to achieve it."

The 2020/21 KPL season might kick-off in October and the defender hopes it goes according to plan.

"I am yearning to give my best to my team and win the Defender of the Season Award on back-to-back basis," Kibwage continued.

"All this will happen if the league returns, and we hope it happens as planned. We are going for it as a team, and I am also going for my targets, my individual objectives and nothing is going to stop me."

Orlando Pirates legend Jerry Sikhosana has a made a bold prediction about the destination of the PSL trophy. 

According to Sikhosana, Mamelodi Sundowns will beat Kaizer Chiefs to lift the trophy at the end of the season. 

This despite the Brazilians' struggles since the return of competitive football where they have drawn three and lost one of their four league games since the restart. 

Amakhosi, on the other hand, have collected just four points out of a possible nine.

"We've got an excellent season ahead of us in terms of the games that are left for the title teams that are in front. Kaizer Chiefs are leading the log. Mamelodi Sundowns are right on their trail. And we've seen how much both teams have lost the points," said Sikhosana in a video he posted on Facebook.  

"And I still believe Mamelodi Sundowns have an outside chance of winning the league but of course, they are not in their good form," he said.   

Sikhosana feels Amakhosi still have a few tough games ahead of them compared to Sundowns. 

Ernst Middendorp's men still have Sundowns and Bidvest Wits to play in the remaining five matches of the season. 

And for that reason, he is of the view that Pitso Mosimane will lift his third successive league title.   

"They are also struggling after the reintroduction of our football but I still believe and see Sundowns taking over the first spot from Kaizer Chiefs, especially with the games that are still going to be played by Kaizer Chiefs.  

"Sundowns still have to play Kaizer Chiefs - and Kaizer Chiefs themselves still have to play Bidvest Wits. So, I think and believe Sundowns are going to win the league," concluded Sikhosana.     

As things stand, Amakhosi lead the standings by five points after the Brazilians' failure to beat Maritzburg United on Friday night. 

Sundowns had the chance to reduce the gap to just three points but the Team of Choice twice came from behind to force a 2-2 draw in Tshwane. 

This means the Soweto giants could move eight points clear of their title rivals with a win over Stellenbosch FC on Sunday afternoon. 

Former Zambia national team and Zesco United striker Jackson Mwanza has challenged Kenyan forward John Makwatta to remain steadfast and focused.

Makwatta joined the Ndola-based side in January from the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) side AFC Leopards and scored four goals before the coronavirus break interfered with his good form.

The former Ulinzi Stars and Buildcon star had scored 13 goals for Ingwe in half-a-season before he left for Zambia.

“He came in very well and scored very important goals for us,” Mwanza told the club’s website.

“Makwatta is a good player with a bright future. However, he needs to remain steadfast and focused on what he does best if he is to progress beyond his current levels.

“As a striker, you are always judged by the number of goals you score for your team. This is even difficult if you are playing for a big club like Zesco United.

“I am positive he will do wonders next season especially that he came in quite late.”

The club’s U19 coach also urged the senior players to respond in the next campaign after failing to defend the title in the cancelled season.

Nkana FC won their 13th title after edging out Forest Rangers. Zesco United finished fifth and  missed out on continental football qualification for the first time in eight years.

“There is definitely a need to respond,” Mwanza added.

“The players need to show the desire to get back to the top, where this club belongs. Yes, we lost the title in difficult circumstances, however, we need to be accountable for what has transpired.

“The Zesco United I played for many years ago is different from the current Zesco United. This club has been transformed into a winning machine.

“This is a team whose philosophy now is highly focused on not only winning domestic titles but also participating in Caf competitions.

“This change means that every player needs to adapt to what the club stands for and what it yearns to achieve. Key to all this is a discipline on and off the pitch.”

Football Association of Zambia [FAZ] cancelled the local league after the coronavirus infections among the football fraternity increased when the competition had just restarted in mid-July.

Luis Suarez says Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu should tell him if he wants the Uruguayan striker to leave the club.

After Ronald Koeman's appointment as coach, the Catalan side are expected to make more big changes to the first-team following their second-place finish in La Liga and 8-2 humiliation at the hands of Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-final.

The 33-year-old forward scored 21 goals in 36 appearances in all competitions in the last campaign, having been hindered by a knee injury, while he has also entered the final year of his contract at Camp Nou.

The ex-Ajax and Liverpool star says he wants to remain at the club for the time being, but wants clarity from Bartomeu as rumours about his future continue to circulate. 

“There is talk of some names that the president gave, of changes that can be made, but nobody told me that they want to do without me,” Suarez said in an interview with El Pais . 

“If this is the desire of the club, it would be good if the person in charge speaks directly to me. I've been at Barca for six years, enough time to say what they think. It's better to tell me if I am one of the ones that they want out. It remains to be seen.

“I also want the best for the club and my plan today is to continue, but if the club thinks that I am expendable, I have no problem speaking with those who decide.

“[I want to stay], as long as I am counted on, I want to continue contributing as much as I can.

“I have felt the support of the fans since I arrived and that also gives me a lot of strength to continue.”

Suarez added that he would accept a substitute role next season should the Blaugrana strengthen in attack during the transfer window.

“I would accept it here as I have always accepted it in my career,” he said.

“Competition is always good and if the coach considers that I should start from the bench, I have no problem helping with the role they give me. I think I can still contribute a lot to this club.”

Asisat Oshoala insists she is solely focused on helping Barcelona win football matches rather than putting pressure on herself to score for the Catalans in the Women's Champions League.

Despite only managing to score once in four previous appearances for Barcelona in this year's European competition, the Nigeria international still boasts of 26 goals in 26 outings across all competitions.

Oshoala, who had last played a competitive match in 1-0 win against Deportivo la Coruna in February before coronavirus lockdown, was handed a starting role by manager Lluis Cortes against Atletico Madrid on Friday evening. 

The 26-year-old missed two good chances but contributed an inadvertent assist after her miscued acrobatic attempt fell to Kheira Hamraoui and she went on to score the winner 10 minutes from time..

In spite of struggling to find the target against Atletico, the forward, who scored three goals in recent 9-1 aggregate win over Montipeller attributed their unconvincing win to a five-month hiatus.

"This was our first game in a very long time so a lot of things could have been better," Oshoala told Uefa.com.

"Coming from a couple of months without playing, trying to get our rhythm going, we don't expect everything to be perfect but we can be better, for sure. 

"Getting a goal at the end of the game was a very good one for us. That's what big teams do. Just make sure you get the goal whichever way you can. 

"You have to respect every side, they're a very good team – one of the best in Europe. It was a tough game, but at the end of the day we were victorious and that's the most important thing. 

"It will give us a lot of confidence and a different mindset going into the next game. 

Friday's quarterfinal win in Bilbao confirms Barcelona's semi-final date with Wolfsburg, who thrashed Glasgow City 9-1 to advance.

Tuesday's tie will see the two teams meeting for the third time in the competition, and the first since 2014 when the Spanish side suffered a 5-0 quarterfinal aggregate defeat to the German giants.

With Wolfsburg aiming to reach their fifth final appearance this year, Oshoala has backed her side to ruin the German's dream and realise a back-to-back final qualification at Anoeta Stadium.

"It's still the same mindset, we want to go in and give our best all the time," she continued.

"We want to make sure we play good football and try to get through the next round. We have to enjoy the moment now and work harder for the next game.

"I think we're one of the best teams in Europe. Each game we try to give our best.

"Winning games is something that comes from hard work from the team. As a team, we just hope to keep getting better."

Posta Rangers coach Sammy Omollo believes Anthony Akumu should be in the starting team of Harambee Stars.

The Kaizer Chiefs midfielder has been one of the best players in the country but still underrated, and was controversially omitted from the Harambee Stars squad for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) held in Egypt.

"I feel this is the right time to give Akumu an opportunity to play for the national team," Omollo told Goal on Saturday.

"He is one of the active players currently, and he has been consistent at club level; only that he has not been given an opportunity to replicate his performance with Harambee Stars. However, I feel, the Afcon qualifiers scheduled for November will be a perfect moment for the player to be given a first-team chance.

"It has been a challenge for coaches to pick him because he plays in the same position as the captain [Victor Wanyama], but I am confident Akumu can be considered this time around."

With the Confederation of African Football (Caf) setting November as the month for qualifiers, the 50-year-old believes preparations should commence as soon as possible.

"Players should be called to camp," Omollo opined.

"Despite the Covid-19 situation, it is possible for the Federation to engage the respective authorities to come up with a plan and guidelines to enable the team to get prepared.

"We have slightly more than two months for the technical bench to ready the team, but without proper planning, it will not be enough and we will end up struggling in the qualifiers."

Does Kenya have a chance of playing in the Afcon in 2022?

"Of course yes, we have what it takes, it goes down to preparations," the former defender stated.

"We have a game away to Comoros which I am optimistic we can win, then at home against Egypt. We need maximum points at home and at least four away, and we will be dining with the big boys in Cameroon." 

Kenya started their Group G campaign with a 1-1 draw away to Egypt before being held 1-1 by Togo at home. 

Comoros are leading the pack with four points while Harambee Stars and Egypt are on two points each. Togo are at the bottom with one point.

Former Nigeria coach Emmanuel Amuneke believes Huesca midfielder Kelechi Nwakali will have learnt lessons from his time at Arsenal.  

The 22-year-old teamed up with the Emirates Stadium outfit after his eye-catching performances at the U17 World Cup in Chile in 2015.  

The midfielder captained the Golden Eaglets to win the title for a record time and won the Most Valuable Player of the tournament.  

Nwakali spent three years with the Gunners without featuring for the Premier League club and had to make do with loan spells at MVV Maastricht, VVV-Venlo and Porto B.

The midfielder left the Emirates Stadium outfit permanently in the summer of 2019 to team up with Huesca in an effort to reignite his career.

Nwakali was part of Míchel’s side that gained promotion to La Liga last season after emerging as champions of the Segunda Division.

Amuneke, under whom the midfielder broke into the limelight, feels the Diamond Football Academy graduate should have learnt lessons from his situation at Arsenal which will help to stabilize his career.

“I think Kelechi is a gifted player with the quality he has but, of course, after the world cup, he was signed by Arsenal which everybody believes that with his quality and the style of Arsenal kind of football, he would be able to find a way but unfortunately things didn’t work out the way people expected,” Amuneke told Brila FM .

“It’s a kind of lesson to him because when success comes a lot of people come around those with good intentions and bad intentions.

“Everybody comes with different ideas, but if you are not able to sit down and analyze things at the end of the day it looks as if you are jumping from one direction to another.”

After featuring for Nigeria at the U17, Nwakali also played for the West Africans at the U20 level and has one cap for the Super Eagles.

The midfielder will hope to shine for the Oscenses in the Spanish top-flight to boost his regular call-up to the Nigeria national team.

Young Africans (Yanga SC) have revealed reasons why they will not face Europa League champions, Sevilla, during the Yanga Day celebrations.

The Yanga Day celebrations are expected to culminate on August 29 and going by the traditions the club has always welcomed a foreign team to crown the moment with a friendly tie. 

According to their media liaison officer Hassan Bumbuli, Yanga had planned to invite their Spanish partners for the friendly but the coronavirus pandemic made the whole idea hard to implement.

“Our main hope was that our senior team would play Sevilla because we have entered into a partnership agreement with them,” Bumbuli told Soka Letu.

“But things have been hard to organise that match especially because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“The pandemic disorganised a lot of things and made it even hard to get a team that is ready to travel and play in a friendly match.

“We are able because Yanga are a big team that is capable of organising big things as we are the record champions so we do not have any reason to fear anyone.

“Because we have failed to secure the Sevilla friendly, we are in talks with other teams so that we can have to play a bigger team at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium. We will need a good game.

“We are going to announce the team that we are to play against in due course but for now, we have sent a letter of invitation to Rayon Sports of Rwanda. They are also a big team.

“If things go according to plans we will announce the same.”

Meanwhile, Yanga have lauded Sevilla for their Europa League 3-2 final victory against Inter Milan.

“We are proud to learn from the best exemplary and successful club. Congratulations,” Yanga's congratulatory message read.

Yanga and Sevilla entered into a partnership that will see the La Liga team offer advice on sporting management, economic management and fans with an aim of helping the Tanzanian record league champions in their transformation journey.

The agreement will also see Sevilla contribute its strategic vision to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of Yanga‘s resource management, and complete its evolution into the leading club in Tanzania.

The Yanga-Sevilla consultancy agreement is set to last for three years and digital transformation, marketing and sales, economic control, digitalisation or international development policies are also part of the agreed plans for Timu Ya Wanachi.

Kaizer Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp is aware his team will come up against a very good Stellenbosch FC side that has come a long way in their first season in the PSL. 

While Amakhosi hammered the Stellenbosch-based outfit 4-1 in the first round, Middendorp feels they cannot be underestimated, especially after beating Golden Arrows upon the resumption of the season last week. 

"It's a team that is playing in its first PSL season and I think [they are] in a very good position; not really having anything to do with relegation," Middendorp told the Amakhosi media team.  

"It shows already that they are a good team, a qualified team, a team that has been successful in their opening game against Golden Arrows."  

Middendorp said the setup of the teams they have come across since the return of football has made it difficult for Chiefs, and he's expected an element of surprise from almost all of the teams they are going to face in the remaining five games. 

"The setup of these teams is always different. If you compare them with the selection and setup in other games, what we've seen when it comes to a game, where we compete it's always something... and it's not new... it's always something where you have to be prepared knowing that the elements of surprise will come." 

However, he believes the match will depend on how much Amakhosi will show their ambition on the pitch, and he has urged each and every player of his squad to stand up and be counted. 

Middendorp added they should forget about their 3-1 defeat to Bloemfontein Celtic and focus on doing well in the next five games, starting with the clash against Steve Barker's men.  

"But it's up to us. As I said before, it's up to everybody in this selected team to really sharpen up and to really show that ambition. Forget about the last defeat and look forward," added Middendorp.     

The Glamour Boys could open an eight-point gap between themselves and second-placed Mamelodi Sundowns with a win over Stellenbosch.

This after the Brazilians dropped two crucial points when they were held to a 2-2 draw by Maritzburg United on Friday night. 

Monaco manager Niko Kovac has lauded Henry Onyekuru and believes he is one of the best wingers in Ligue 1.

The 23-year-old joined the Monegasques in the summer of 2019 after ending his two-year stay with Premier League club Everton following his inability to acquire a work permit in England.

The Nigeria international struggled for game time with the Stade Louis II outfit on his arrival, owing to illness and other factors.

He had to rejoin Galatasaray on loan in January for a change in fortune, having impressed with the side during his first spell, where he helped the club win the 2018-19 Super Lig title.

Onyekuru has returned to Monaco after his loan deal with the Yellow and Reds expired and has been delivering convincing showings for the club during their pre-season games.

The forward has formed a productive partnership with Gelson Martins to the admiration of their manager Kovac.

“You have certainly seen how we played against AZ. We played well, we were well prepared to line up in a 4-3-3,” Kovac told the club website.

“But the system is not important to me, it is mainly the attitude of the players that I watch. Henry and Gelson bring us work on the wings, we know their qualities.

“I have confidence in them, and I think we have one of the best pair of wingers in France.”

Onyekuru will hope to replicate his eye-catching pre-season performances when Monaco take on Reims in their opening Ligue 1 game of the 2020-21 season on Sunday.

The winger started his career with Aspire Academy before he joined Belgian First Division A side Eupen in 2015.

He delivered sparkling performances for the Pandas during his two-year stay with the side and in the 2016–17 season he finished as the league’s joint top-scorer with 22 goals, which caught the attention of EPL side Everton and he was subsequently signed in 2017.

Onyekuru has 11 caps for Nigeria since he made his debut against Togo in a friendly in 2017 and was part of the Super Eagles side that finished third at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

Former Manchester United defender John O'Kane has revealed he suffers from autism and opened up about its effect on his playing career.

O'Kane, 45, began his career with the Old Trafford side but was sent on loan to Wimbledon, Bury and Bradford City.

He ended up making just a handful of appearances for the Red Devils before leaving for Everton in 1998 but lasted less than two years before he joined Bolton.

O'Kane retired in 2006 because of kidney problems, but says he had other issues to juggle throughout his career.

“They’ve got me on pills for my kidney condition and everything is under control. What was never under control when I was playing was my mental state because of autism," the ex-United defender, who was involved in a Twitter argument with Gary Neville last year, told The Sun.

“My team-mates would call me The Spaceman, because at times I seemed a bit detached. Sir Alex Ferguson — in a good way — would whack me to get me going. There was a battle with Brian Clough at Nottingham Forest to sign me when I was 15.

“I came from Nottingham but Sir Alex got me after he invited me to his home. There was this surreal experience of us having a game of snooker together before we went to a game against Arsenal.

“He always liked me, always said: ‘Come on, you are my best right-back — go out and prove it’. I knew I was more gifted than most but I was never as committed because I was constantly battling things in my head.

“All my managers and team-mates knew there was something ‘different’ about me. I always knew I was autistic but I just tried to get on with it. But it was always such a mental drain. Nobody knew what I was really going through.

“Howard Kendall signed me for Everton in 1998, then got sacked and Walter Smith took over. By then I had the reputation of being too laid back, not committed enough, not hungry enough and Smith made his feelings clear.

“We never got on and he got rid of me as soon as he could. I never said there was pressure in my brain as well as on my body — I was just ‘lazy’ John O’Kane who threw his career away.”

Over a year after O'Kane departed, United went on to claim the domestic and European treble under Ferguson, and O'Kane feels he could have been part of the side if not for his autism.

He added: “Had I been able to be more emotionally committed, I might have been winning the 1999 treble."

Sevilla FC have been crowned champions of the Europa League after managing to edge Serie A giants Inter Milan in the final.

Watch all the highlights from the games right here:

Sevilla claimed a record sixth Europa League triumph this century as Diego Carlos proved an unlikely hero in a thrilling 3-2 win over Inter in Cologne.

Romelu Lukaku gave Inter a fifth-minute lead from the penalty spot – Diego Carlos might have been sent off for bringing him down - but Sevilla's semi-final hero Luuk de Jong overturned the deficit with a pair of fine first-half headers.

Diego Godin's 35th-minute leveller had Inter swiftly back on terms and the Serie A side appeared to be in the ascendency during a more circumspect second half, until a stunning twist in the tale.

Diego Carlos had been tormented by Lukaku for most of the game but his overhead-kick when Ever Banega's 74th-minute free-kick was partially cleared took a decisive touch off Inter's top scorer and flew into the net.

Ever Banega felt mixed emotions after Sevilla's Europa League triumph over Inter brought the curtain down on his stay with the club.

Argentina international Banega first joined Sevilla in 2014 and returned to the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan in 2017 after a season in Serie A with Inter.

He will continue his career in Saudi Arabia with Al-Shabab after Sevilla won Europe's secondary club competition for a record sixth time on Friday.

The 32-year-old played an important role as Julen Lopetegui's side beat his former club 3-2 in Cologne, setting up Luuk de Jong's second goal after Romelu Lukaku had put the Nerazzurri ahead in the fifth minute.

Diego Godin equalised in the 35th minute, but Lukaku sent an overhead kick from Diego Carlos into his own net after Inter failed to clear a free-kick from Banega and there was no way back for Inter.

"I have no words for this emotional and at the same time a bit said moment. I have to leave the club of my life, but I am satisfied," Banega told Movistar.

"I am leaving with another title, thanks to my team-mates, and I am leaving with my head held high.

"I want to thank all of them [the Sevilla players] for making me win another cup and the coaching staff for taking us to the top.

"The hug with Julen [Lopetegui after the final whistle] was one of love and work because of what we went through this season. I remember when I lowered the level a bit, he left me out of the team and showed me that without work you can't get anything.

"Now I have to enjoy, take the cup to Seville, to the people who could not be here but that we feel close too."

Banega spent five seasons at Sevilla across six years with a 12-month spell at Inter in between.

He participated in three of Sevilla's six Europa League titles but the 32-year-old was not offered a contract for next season.

Al-Shabab confirmed the signature of Banega in January, with the move to occur now that season has finished and the player's contract has now expired.

Six-time Saudi champions Al Shabab finished fifth in the Pro League in 2018-19.

Sudeva FC are all set to make their debut in the I-League from the upcoming 2020-21 season after being handed a direct entry by the AIFF to fill the spot left vacant by Mohun Bagan's merger with Indian Super League (ISL) outfit ATK.

The Delhi-based side was founded by Anuj Gupta and Vijay Hakari in 2014 and the team was competing in the youth circuits for a while.

They have been nurturing several youth talents in their setup in the past six years and now it's time for them step up to the senior level. Anuj Gupta has suggested that some of their youth products will feature in the senior team from this season.

“The whole idea of starting Sudeva was to develop players and make them go through a pathway so that they can become international standard players and play at the top level. Having an I-League club completes the pathway,” said Gupta during an online chat with the All India Football Federation (AIFF).

“So this year I will be having decent number of players who will graduate from the academy, who have been trained at Sudeva for many years. They were picked many years back and from that day till today, we have been their guardians. I won’t be having any foreign players especially due to the pandemic (Covid-19) situation. I don’t want a situation where the preseason starts and later the foreigners join. As a matter of policy, I have taken a decision to play with Indian players. It will be a mixture of young and experienced players. I hope I will be able to do justice to the I-League.”

Gupta is not thinking about competing for the I-League title in their debut with an all-Indian squad and he suggested that the target is to play attractive football and finish among the top five teams.

“It is my first year. I need to be realistic and practical. If we even come close to the title it will be like winning the World Cup because it is a difficult task when you are playing with Indian players completely. Winning the title is not in my mind but my aim is to give every single viewer a great experience. The aim is to play attractive and attacking football.

“The result does matter for the morale of the team but the spirit of the team will be high. We have to do well of course so that we get the recognition in Delhi as well in India. The ecosystem in Delhi would be benefited if we do well. We will want to finish among the top five teams this season,” said the Sudeva president.

The club co-founder also spoke about the importance of the development of women’s football and hinted that in the coming years he will start a women’s team.

“In 2017, I had done a collaboration with the United Nations Information Centre, India and Bhutan and we organised a girl’s football tournament in Sudeva. I have always been a believer that the moment you work for both boys and girls it adds to the brand and helps the society. It is the responsibility of every club to do what is the need of the hour. Women’s football in India is growing rapidly and they have a good rank, better than the men’s team,” said the Anuj Gupta.

Andhra Pradesh-based Srinidhi FC, which was formed in 2015, are all set to make their debut in the I-League from the 2021-22 season.

The Southern outfit have established a quality facility and have been taking part in the youth leagues of the All India Football Federation (AIFF). But now, they have been handed an opportunity to start their senior team.

Chairman of Sreenidhi Group, Dr. KT Mahi spoke about the club’s infrastructure and how they are looking to improve it further.

"I have travelled extensively in Europe. In order to produce world class players, we need to have world class infrastructure. This is one commitment we made and that was to provide world class facilities. That is what we will provide at our club.

"In May 2018, we started the construction of a world class football centre, SFC Football Village, with four international standard grounds. Two are already ready with floodlights. We have gyms, medical rooms and residential facilities. The construction will end in the next one and a half years and it will be a world class facility.

For youth development we already have youth teams playing in the youth leagues and we provide everything for free to our players. Our elite program runs throughout the year,” said Dr. Mahi in an online session with the AIFF.

I-League CEO Sunando Dhar was extremely appreciative of Sreenidhi's facilities.

"I haven’t seen it in person but saw it virtually and we were pleasantly surprised. Amazing infrastructure. Every young player aspires to grow in such atmosphere. I congratulate Sreenidhi on that and hope they keep growing on infrastructure and in other aspects," he said.

While there is still a year’s time before Sreenidhi FC will make their I-League debut, the chairman suggested that the club has already made progress in team recruitment and have shortlisted coaches’ and players’ names.

“I-League is highly competitive and we have to make a team that can compete and perform immediately. As a club, we have clearly defined our principles and philosophy which is to develop young players and it is a long process. In the senior team, it will be more about performance. With this, we have identified potential coaches which will be finalised in September itself. We have three or four very good candidates who can spot good players and are familiar with the Indian scenario. We have a tentative list of players and we are talking to them. Some of them are very keen to join us.”

Dr. Mahi informed that several young girls already train at their facility under the tutelage of Portuguese technical director Fabio Ferreira and they will soon launch a girls youth team.

“At the school level, we already have girls football teams. We have our technical director from Portugal (Fabio Ferreira) and we have coaches and fitness coaches. A lot of girls have shown interest and even though we don’t have a proper youth team we will soon have a girls youth football side,” said the Sreenidhi Group chairman.

The 2019-20 2nd Division I-League is yet to be completed, with the final stages set to be held in the next couple of months if all goes to plan.

How much do you know about the third tier of professional football in India which came into existence in 2008?

This edition of Goal 's 'Sharp Minds' quiz is for the fans who remember what such moments from the 2nd Division I-League.

As we see football take a backseat among the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, here's your chance to while away some time.

We will bring you a set of 10 questions, a mixture of easy and tough ones, every week on Indian football. Try answering them on your own (without googling, we hope) and see how much you know about Indian football.

Share your scores with others and showboat. The latest edition of Sharp Minds is right here. Have fun.

NOTE : You are welcome to contact us through social media, if you need any clarification on the answers. We will try, to the best of our abilities, to explain.

Kevin Okumu has bid farewell to Nairobi City Stars in an emotional message after signing for Wazito FC.

The young defender, who was also a target for Kenyan Premier League (KPL) champions Gor Mahia, ended his four-year stay with Simba wa Nairobi to sign for Wazito on a two-year contract.

Okumu joined City Stars in 2016 from Young Rovers and endured relegation in his first season in the top-flight.

However, despite the team being relegated, Okumu stayed with the club and helped guide them back to the top-flight as they were promoted at the end of the 2019-20 season when Football Kenya Federation (FKF) moved to finalise the league season owing to the effects caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Though the club was keen to extend his contract which had lapsed on July 2020, Okumu opted for another challenge and landed at Wazito.

“They were four good wonderful years,” Okumu said as quoted by City Stars’ official website. “In June 2016 when I received an offer from Nairobi City Stars, I was convinced that this was where I had to play,

“Today I am certain it was the best of decisions. There were so many happy times, some sad and it was always very intense.

“I learnt a lot about myself. I developed a great deal, becoming a better player and a better person. With each training session, with each game, with every minute spent in the dressing room, I was always learning.”

Okumu’s statement continued: “The time has now come to move on. I am certainly going to miss my teammates. I will miss all the staff at the club who’ve always treated me like a son and I will miss the fans.

“I leave with my head held high, safe in the knowledge that I won things here, and always did my best in a Nairobi City Stars shirt!

“My heartfelt thanks go out to all of you and God bless you!”

City Stars CEO Patrick Korir said on the exit of the player: “He served us and we as City Stars wish the very best in his future endeavors.

“Simba wa Nairobi’s blessings are with him.”

Ouma becomes the second player to leave City Stars this window after goalkeeper Levis Opiyo signed for Gor Mahia.

Simba SC have come out to explain why they fired coach Patrick Aussems at the start of last season.

The Belgian coach had helped the Wekundu wa Msimbazi to clinch the Mainland Premier League title and had also won the season curtain-raiser – Community Shield Cup – before he was sacked.

His position was taken by another Belgian Sven Vandenbroeck who later went on to win two more titles – the league and FA Cup – as the club finished the 2019-20 season with a treble.

Simba chairman Mohammed Dewji has now revealed the reason why they had to part ways with Aussems.

“First of all, it was all about money issues, he wanted to extend his stay but he was asking for too much money,” Dewji said as quoted by Sokaletu.

“Though we had also won the league under his regime, we did not perform well in Caf Champions League as we exited in the preliminary round and this was not received well by the Simba board, it also contributed to his sacking.

“In short, Simba failed to reach the targets they had set under his watch, we never performed well in Caf competition, and that is where we want the team to do well, now we are the best team in Tanzania, we want to also conquer Africa.

“As a club, we gave Aussems all he wanted, we did our best and supported him but the results, especially in the Caf competition were not pleasing our eyes.”

Dewji continued: “He also had a bust up with Masoud [Djuma] who is our biggest fan and we felt it was time to let him go.”

Simba will now have another chance to represent the country in the Champions League and have moved to beef up their squad with new signings including defender Joash Onyango from Kenya Premier League (KPL) champions Gor Mahia.

But before they start the Champions League campaign, they will start the season with a Shield Cup clash against FA Cup semi-finalists Namungo FC at Sokoine Stadium on August 30.

Simba will then open their title defence with a clash against promoted side Ihefu FC on September 6.