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Kaizer Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp has credited his tactical substitutions for a strong second-half showing that led to a turnaround in Saturday’s 3-2 Premier Soccer (PSL) win over Polokwane City at Loftus Versfeld.

Chiefs found themselves a goal down 17 minutes into the match before they fell further down just after the hour mark as they appeared headed for an embarrassing evening.

But Samir Nurkovic led their comeback with two assists and Chiefs found the back of the net thrice inside seven minutes to record a victory that extended their lead to six points.

With Willard Katsande, Ramahlwe Mphahlele being thrown in at the beginning of the second half for Kearyn Baccus, Reeve Frosler and Yagan Sasman respectively, Middendorp appeared to have made effective changes.

Katsande was the first to score to set off the comeback and the coach has hailed his tactical adjustments in the second period.

“We weren't a very happy team at half-time. A compliment to Polokwane City. They caught us [sleeping] three/four times in addition. We were not very happy to have it 0-1, there is no doubt about it," Middendorp told SuperSport TV .

“It was the changes in the second half with experienced players, compliments to Katsande, Rama, Bernard Parker coming in [with] the calmness, coolness, structure we built up totally in a different way.

“But good. Despite being 2-0 down and then the seven, eight minutes to make it happen that shows the ambition, that shows character, that each and everybody and of the team. It’s just we were really happy like I said they [the three subs] gave us a second chance at the beginning of the second half.

"It was not good in the first half, there was no pressure on the ball, the long balls coming on top. Also the defence line and we haven’t really only reacted. We were not in a situation that as we have seen it against Wits [it was] totally different [against Polokwane]. Today only in the second half [we were] much better. We were ambitious, we were focused and committed in a way. We wanted to win this game and we have done it.”

Saturday’s victory comes after the 1-1 draw with Bidvest Wits on Tuesday in their first match of the season restart.

In having their lead extended to six points, Chiefs would also thank Highlands Park for restricting Mamelodi Sundowns to a 1-1 draw on Friday.

In their next match, Middendorp and his men will face Bloemfontein Celtic.

Middendorp’s Polokwane City opposite number Clinton Larsen blamed missing a glut of chances in the first half, as well as poor defending in the second stanza for their demise.

“It is hard to accept. But I think we got what we deserved today based on the chances we missed in the first half," said Larsen.

"We should have come three or four to the good and I believe that is where we lost the game, had we gone three or four-nil. You don’t get Chiefs on the ropes like that every day and we didn’t take those chances but what a good performance from the team in the first half.

“A lot of teams have been talking that we don’t have rhythm. We had it at training and we saw it today. They [Chiefs] got back into the game in the second half which they had to. They are league contenders and they came back into the game.

"The disappointing part for me is that we worked on defending set pieces and the balls in the near post in particular, we knew that’s an area we needed to defend well and we didn’t do that and we got punished for it. We will keep supporting our players, we will keep soldiering on.”

The defeat saw Polokwane City dropping into the relegation zone and they play SuperSport United in their next match on Wednesday.

Former Arsenal head of football Raul Sanllehi has expressed his frustration at cutting ties with the club after almost three years of collaboration, while insisting he bears no ill will following his exit. 

Sanllehi arrived at the Emirates Stadium in November 2017 as head of football relations before stepping into a more senior role when Ivan Gazidis left the Gunners for AC Milan at the end of December. 

On Saturday, however, Arsenal announced that Sanllehi would be leaving the club, with Vinai Venkatesham adding football responsibilities to his existing role of managing director. 

"Raul has made a big contribution during his time with us and will always be part of the Arsenal family. We thank him for all his hard work and expertise and wish him every future success," owner Stan Kroenke signalled in a statement.

"We have no doubt that Vinai is the right person to take the club forward. He has shown outstanding leadership during the current crisis and is held in high regard internally and externally.

"We know everyone will rally round him so we can move forward successfully."

In a subsequent statement, Sanllehi thanked Arsenal for the opportunity to work at the Premier League club, but also expressed his disappointment at seeing his time at the Emirates come to an end. 

"It is with mixed feelings that I end my professional relationship with Arsenal. As said, many mixed (and contradictory) feelings arise, from deep sadness to full pride and gratefulness to have been given the opportunity to work in such a special club alongside the best professionals and human beings I've met over my 25 years in the industry," Sanllehi explained in a statement published by Gooner Talk.

"I will continue a Gooner for the rest of my days, and I will be celebrating every goal and title they (we) achieve in the coming years. 

"I said I had many contradictory feelings at this time, many, but one I don't have is anger. Not at all!

"Of course I feel frustrated and powerless but I also have the certainty I gave my best work and effort to bring this club back where it belongs."

Former Everton and West Bromwich Albion striker Victor Anichebe has stated the Black Lives Matter movement has encouraged him to expand his skills by enrolling for courses.

Anichebe stressed there are many available roles for black people in the sports industry, and he is working to fit into one.

The ex-Nigeria international who is presently a free agent after leaving Chinese outfit Beijing Enterprises in 2017, revealed he attended the Black Lives Matter marches in Liverpool.

“I went to the Black Lives Matter marches in Liverpool. It was great to see such a diverse crowd there – people from many different backgrounds and nationalities,” Anichebe wrote in his column on the Everton website.

“I was really proud of Liverpool when I went. I didn’t think the turnout would be like that. It shows people are together.

“But what’s the end goal now? What are we pushing towards? In society, we need to figure out ways to make systematic changes, or we’ll lose momentum.

“We need equal opportunities for black people. In football, there are so many senior roles available that could be filled by black people.

“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do – go into those positions - to have a seat at the table. The events of the last couple of months have prompted me to sit up and look at it more seriously.

“I’m doing some courses now focused on expanding my skills that could help me get into those roles.

“I know James Vaughan and Joleon Lescott are also looking to take courses like that, too. It’s up to us to take action.”

The 32-year-old spent most of his career in England playing for Everton, West Brom and Sunderland, before he headed to China in 2017.

Anichebe spent seven years at Goodison Park and he disclosed his worst experience of racism came when he featured for the club during a Europa League match.

“One of the worst experiences of racism I have ever received was in an away Europa League game when I was at Everton. It was terrible,” he recalled.

“We were walking around the stadium and some of the opposition supporters were spitting all over me.

“The people who were walking with us put umbrellas up to shield the players.

“Some fans were throwing bananas, too. I just felt sorry for those people – to have so much hate eating you up inside.

“I scored in the match. But it’s not enough that a black player can score a goal to answer back to those people. What does that even mean?

“It’s more than sport. They need to be educated if real change is going to happen.”

Orlando Pirates coach Josef Zinnbauer has expressed his frustration following their failure to find the back of the net as they drew in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) at home against Bidvest Wits at Ellis Park Stadium on Saturday evening.

The Buccaneers manager said the fact the Clever Boys goalkeeper Ricardo Goss won the Man of the Match award is proof they created chances to find the back of the net.

On the other hand, his counterpart Gavin Hunt shared a contrasting remark, saying they could have comfortably won the clash and that the former Golden Arrows keeper didn’t deserve the accolade.

“It was a 50/50 [chance for both teams], we had to control the game to dominate and to show a little luck in our chances from Wits,” Zinnbauer told SuperSport TV.

“But we had a lot of chances and yeah we’ve been unfortunate we cannot win the game and then when you see the man of the match, the goalkeeper; it’s a language that he was very good and we needed a goal.

“We cannot say it was bad and we did everything that was possible to win the game, and when the goal was coming it was going to be easy for us to win the game and get confidence.

“Yeah it’s true [we failed to score in the last four matches], I said it before that when you have a chance and you don’t score, then it’s a problem for me as a coach. But we have, I don’t know how many shots we had from the goal today and in the last game [against Mamelodi Sundowns], the same.

“This day it was a keeper, we had two big chances and some other chances, it’s the same with the last game where we didn’t score. It’s good for me to have the chance but the goal is not coming.

“Before it was Sundowns and it was the same top team [Wits] in the league. Now we have to see what’s coming in smaller teams and it’s normal. It’s not so easy to win the game but we do all things, it was a good game for us but we couldn’t get the three points.”

On his impression on the encounter, the four-time PSL winner believes the likes of Deon Hotto could have netted three times, saying they should create their own luck.

“First of all, how does Ricardo Goss win the man of the match? It baffles my mind when I think we should have won the match tonight comfortably,” Hunt told SuperSport TV.

“I mean the score could have been, they had one chance which he saved and I don’t think they had anything after that. So, yeah it’s disappointing. I’ve said the same thing the whole week.

“This is one game we should have won comfortably, we had more than enough chances. We dominated but the longer the game goes, yeah, they can have the chances and he makes the save but it’s not man of the match stuff.

“My players were magnificent tonight, Cole Alexander, five-star performance in the midfield. Keegan Ritchie, he hasn’t played for ages and played in the midfield, magnificent.

“I mean Deon Hotto should have had a hat-trick, Haashim Domingo should have had a hat-trick. I mean the chances they missed. It comes but we had three games, [Kaizer] Chiefs, Pirates and Sundowns in six-seven days, fantastic. Two days we go again and a few more players, we’ll see.

“Great performance, I can’t fault them, I can’t say [we needed] luck because you have to create your own, we have to score the chances we created. We’ll go again, try and create more.”

Ex-Nigeria coach Sunday Oliseh was happy to see Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies announce himself to the world after his dominating performance in their 8-2 win over Barcelona.

The Ghana-born full-back who has pledged his allegiance to Canada on the international scene, tamed Lionel Messi in Friday’s Champions League quarter-final fixture and he was also a constant threat to Barcelona’s defence.

Apart from his defensive contribution, Davies produced a masterclass display in assisting Joshua Kimmich to score Bayern's fifth goal in the 63rd minute at the Estadio da Luz.

He outclassed Nelson Semedo on the left flank before powering into the penalty area to lay the ball across goal for Kimmich to tap in.

Oliseh seems to be an admirer of Davies and he lauded the 19-year-old’s qualities which include his pace and hunger to win games.

The former Ajax star also claimed Bayern Munich’s humiliation of Barcelona was not an accident as the German champions produced the better performance.

“Extremely pleased, the world has finally discovered the extraordinary talent of Alphonso Davies of Bayern Munich,” Oliseh tweeted. “He has it all: Pace, skills, vision, endurance, intelligence and an insatiable will to win.

“Bayern did not accidentally crush Barca, they were all round better in my view.”

The defeat was Barcelona’s heaviest defeat in the Champions League, however, Bayern Munich are still in the hunt for their sixth glory in the elite European competition.

Hansi Flick’s side will face the winner of the game between Manchester City and Lyon in the semi-final on Wednesday.

Russian Superliga side Zenit Saint Petersburg have completed the signing of Cameroon international Tatiana Ekogo on a one-year contract.

The Saint Petersburg-based outfit secured the services of the Indomitable Lionesses striker as a free agent after she parted ways with rivals Yenisey following the expiration of her contract.

Ekogo joined Russian side Yenisey from Cameroonian club Louves Minproff in January 2019, made 18 appearances and scored four goals on her maiden professional outing abroad.

On the international scene, she was part of Cameroon's campaign at the 2015 African Games in Congo-Brazaville, where the Indomitable Lionesses won silver in the women's football category.

The signing of Ekogo will further help the survival quest of the Russian top-flight outfit this season, having suffered defeats in all three opening matches in the current campaign.

On capturing Ekogo, Zenit's head coach Olga Poryadina expressed her joy over the signing of the Cameroonian, while extolling her qualities.

"We are glad to welcome Tatiana to the team," Proyadina told the Russian website. 

"We looked at it, followed its work. Tatyana performed well last season, playing for Yenisey, so it was decided to invite her to the team. 

"An important factor was that she has experience playing in the Russian championship, so that adaptation will not be difficult. 

"Moreover, this year's season is fleeting. I hope Tatiana will prove herself, show her game and help the team this season."

Ekogo's stay in the Russian top-flight means three Africans are competing in the Superliga this season, after compatriot Gabrielle Onguene and Nigeria's Ogonna Chukwudi with CSKA Moscow.

Having sealed her move, the 23-year-old could be available for her debut when Zenit travel to challenge leaders Lokomotiv Moscow in the nation's capital on Sunday.

New Borussia Dortmund signing Jude Bellingham is adamant that his hefty transfer fee will not weigh on his shoulders as he adapts to life in Germany. 

Bellingham became the most expensive 17-year-old in football history when Dortmund swooped to pay an initial £25 million ($33m) to sign the midfielder from Birmingham City. 

The Bundesliga side beat off reported suitors Manchester United for his signature, creating great expectations over the teenager after he impressed in the Championship.  

Despite that burden, however, Bellingham insists that any pressure he feels will be of his own making as he strives for success at Signal Iduna Park. 

"No, not really. It's almost a nice thing to have, BVB putting that much faith in me to deliver," he explained to reporters.

"But, for me, the pressure I put on myself is more than the pressure of any price tag or [expectation from any] media outlet. I will try and do the best for me and this club regardless of the price tag.

"I want to achieve everything possible, but you have to be realistic.

"I think, the way this club is moving, I think we can definitely try and challenge for the title as we have done in the last few years. We'll try our best to do that.

"It's a huge club with an amazing fan base. I think they deserve titles and trophies. Obviously I can't guarantee that - but I will say that I will give everything to try and achieve that."

Stourbridge native Bellingham joined Birmingham at Under-8 level and spent his entire youth career at St Andrew's before making the move to Dortmund, and he admits that leaving his boyhood club was not an easy decision. 

"The hardest thing about leaving Birmingham was because I had been there so long," he added

"It felt like they were a massive part of me, being a fan and then working [my way up] all the way through the academy and playing for the first team.

"But I think in life you have to take opportunities, and this is a huge one for me to come and play for such a big club. It wasn't a hard one [decision] for me to come here."

The youngster made his debut for Birmingham in August 2019 to become their youngest-ever first-team player, and went on to score four goals in 41 Championship games in his maiden season as the Blues finished 20th, narrowly avoiding relegation to League One. 

Maxwel Cornet and Moussa Dembele continue to haunt Manchester City as the Lyon stars equalled Lionel Messi on Saturday with their goals against the Premier League side.

The duo combined to score three goals on Saturday, leading Lyon to the Champions League semi-finals with a 3-1 victory over City.

Cornet left Pep Guardiola's side stunned in the first half of the Champions League quarter-final as he fired underdogs Lyon into the lead.

Cornet's big moment came in the 23rd minute as Lyon forward Karl Toko Ekambi broke free from the City backline.

Following a spectacular tackle from Eric Garcia to dispossess Toko Ekambi, Cornet pounced as he fired a shot past Ederson and into the back of the net.

The goal gave Lyon a 1-0 lead early, but it wasn't the first time Cornet got the better of the City defence.

Cornet previously terrorised the City rearguard in the 2018-19 Champions League, as Lyon faced off with Pep Guardiola's side in the group stage.

After scoring the first of two goals in a 2-1 win at the Etihad in the first match of the group stage, Cornet fired two more in their second clash, a 2-2 draw back in France.

In the second half of Saturday's clash, City fired back through Kevin De Bruyne, with the Belgian levelling the match at one apiece before Dembele added two goals of his own to seal Lyon's win.

Dembele had previously fired a brace as a member of Celtic, as the French forward led the way in a 3-3 draw with City in September 2016.

With Saturday's goals, Cornet and Dembele each have four goals against City in the Champions League, giving them the joint-most goals against the club in the competition since Guardiola took over in 2016.

Only Messi has scored the same amount since the Catalan arrived at the Etihad, with the Argentine firing four times as Barcelona faced off with his former manager back in the group stage in 2016.

Cornet has not had a particularly prolific campaign for Lyon, having fired only four goals in 22 Ligue 1 matches this season.

The Ivorian international joined Lyon from Metz in 2015, having made at least 36 appearances in each of his first five full seasons with the Ligue 1 side. 

Dembele, meanwhile, joined Lyon in 2018, scoring 31 league goals over his first two seasons with the club.

Lyon finished the 2019-20 campaign seventh in Ligue 1 after the French season was halted due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

The French side did, however, stun Juventus to advance to the quarter-finals, going through on away goals despite losing the second leg 2-1. 

Manchester City again came unstuck against Lyon in the Champions League as a controversial 3-1 defeat saw Pep Guardiola miss out on a semi-final against his former club Bayern Munich.

Lyon won away to City in the 2018-19 group stage - also drawing at home - and they again had the tournament favourites' number in Lisbon on Saturday.

Maxwel Cornet scored in both prior meetings between the sides and was on target once more midway through the first half as City struggled to get to grips with the five-man defence named by Guardiola.

That formation was ditched before the hour mark and Kevin De Bruyne equalised, but substitute Moussa Dembele restored Lyon's lead following a contentious counter-attack with 11 minutes remaining and then added another after an Ederson error.

Raheem Sterling remarkably missed an open goal between Dembele's decisive strikes as City suffered further European misery in stunning fashion.

Kaizer Chiefs managed to secure the full three points when they beat Polokwane City 3-2 in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) on Saturday afternoon at Loftus Versfeld Stadium.

In their second PSL match since the restart of their league campaign, Chiefs visited their bogey side and they went into the half-time break trailing 1-0.

As they were fresh from a 1-1 draw against Bidvest Wits on Wednesday night, the log leaders were looking avenge the 1-0 defeat they suffered at the hands of Rise and Shine at FNB Stadium in the first round.

Coach Ernst Middendorp made four changes from the team he used against the Clever Boys at Orlando Stadium where he brought on Anthony Akumu, Lazarous Kambole, Kearyn Baccus as well as Reeve Frosler.

On the part of the hosts, coach Clinton Larsen was chasing a win as they returned to action since March when the season was forcefully halted because of the coronavirus pandemic.

However, in the seventh minute, Samir Nurkovic nearly opened the scoring when he received a ball in the box, yet his half-volley could only hit the side of the net.

Seven minutes later, City forced a save out of goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi who managed to punch Vusimuzi Mngomezulu’s cross away from danger.

However, the deadlock was broken two minutes later by the Polokwane-based club when Baccus was dispossessed in the heart of the park allowing Lesiba Nku  to capitalize when he flicked the ball over the oncoming Akpeyi.

Skipper Jabulani Maluleke delivered his trademark defence-splitting passes for Salulani Phiri but the speedy attacker could not direct his effort on target with only Akpeyi to beat in the 20th minute.

Polokwane goalkeeper Cyril Chibwe had to protect their lead when he denied the Soweto giants through Kambole heading to the 40th minute as Larsen's troops went to the tunnel leading 1-0.

Upon their return from the interval, Middendorp introduced Willard Katsande for Baccus, Ramahlwe Mphahlele for Frosler whilst Bernard Parker came on for Yagan Sasman as they looked to solidify their midfield and break down the hosts’ defence.

Amakhosi resorted to long balls into the final third in search of Nurkovic, but Chibwe was equal to the task towards the hour mark.

On the other hand, veteran midfielder, Maluleke was at his best on set-pieces when he doubled their lead from range after his free-kick deflected off the wall to beat the Nigerian keeper on his left corner, making it 2-0.

Chiefs looked for an immediate response from a free-kick in a promising area just outside of the box, but defender Erick Mathoho’s header could not trouble Chibwe.

A few moments later, Lebogang Manyama and teammates continued to probe for a goal as his delivery into the box produced brilliant save from the Zambian international goalkeeper.

Eventually, the Naturena-based giants managed to pull one back through Katsande  when he headed home on the far post after Nurkovic’s intelligent flick-on from the near post with 19 minutes to go.

Four minutes later, Akumu made it 2-2 for the log leaders from Parker’s well-taken corner kick, allowing the big midfielder to slot it home from close range.

As City was still licking their wounds, Nurkovic unleashed a thunderous shot from range a minute later to beat Chibwe on the right corner, making it 3-2 for the Glamour Boys.

Heading to the final 10 minutes of the thrilling contest, Larsen called in Puleng Tlolane to replace skipper Maluleke whilst Middendorp rested Khama Billiat for Philani Zulu.

Meanwhile, Kambole came close to making it four and also net his first in Chiefs’ colours, but he was denied on the goal line following a beautiful pass from Zulu in the 83rd minute.

As they looked to kill off the encounter, substitute and debutant Keletso Sefama managed to win a penalty for his club after he was fouled in the box and Daniel Cardoso missed as his effort hit the crossbar.

Resulting from the hard-earned win, Chiefs now have 52 points at the summit from 24 matches, leaving City in 15th with 23 points from 25 games.

Real Madrid full-back Marcelo has heaped praise on Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies after his impressive display in the 8-2 win over Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-final on Friday.

The German giants progressed to the final four of the competition when they humiliated Quique Setien's team in Cologne.

Left-back Davies collected the ball and rounded Barca icon Lionel Messi and skipped past Arturo Vidal before he pulled off an excellent move to evade Nelson Semedo and dart inside the box.

He then passed the ball into the middle of the six-yard box where Joshua Kimmich burst in to slot beyond Marc-Andre ter Stegen and net his side's fifth goal of the game.

Davies celebrated the victory by posting pictures from the game on Instagram, adding the caption: "Amazing performance from the team last night."

A host of footballers commented on the 19-year-old's post and among them was Brazil international Marcelo, who said: "You bring joy to my eyes when I see you play kid!"

Germany international Kimmich described Davies' assist as "world class", while Bayern coach Hansi Flick remarked that it was "simply beautiful" as he sang the Canada international's praises after the game.

"He has the quality. If he does it more often, it would be all the more beautiful," the former Germany assistant coach added.

Davies has been described as "a real hit" and a "top class" performer by Bayern president Herbert Hainer, while his former coach at Vancouver Whitecaps Carl Robinson recently backed him to become a legend at the Bundesliga champions.

Davies, who joined the Bavarian side from the Vancouver Whitecaps in January 2019, has scored three times and set up a further eight goals in 41 appearances in all competitions for Bayern this season.

They will go on to face the winner of Saturday's quarter-final tie between Manchester City and Lyon, while RB Leipzig and Paris Saint-Germain will meet in the other semi-final.

Stellenbosch defied their numerical disadvantage to dismiss Golden Arrows 1-0 at Tuks Stadium to steer seven points clear of the Premier Soccer League (PSL) relegating zone.

Ashley Du Preez scored his first goal of the season when he struck five minutes into the second half to hand Stellies three points as both sides returned to action for the first time since the restart of the South African football season.

Stellenbosch romped to the slender victory despite finishing the match with 10 men following a red card to Zimbabwean midfielder Ovidy Karuru 18 minutes from time.

It was redemption for Steve Barker's side as they picked themselves up after going for the coronavirus-induced break on the backdrop of two straight defeats.

Leletu Skelem set up Du Preez for the all-important goal that saw Stellenbosch climb a rung up to 10th spot on the log while Arrows remained in position eight.

Stellies could, however, drop back to 11th if Bloemfontein Celtic beat SuperSport United on Sunday.

For Steve Komphela's Arrows, it was a third straight league match without tasting victory as they struggled to breakdown their opponents.

Even striker Knox Mutizwa, who is the club's top goal-scorer with 11 league goals, could not infringe the Stellenbosch defence fortified by veterans Marc van Heerden and Robyn Johannes.

Arrows' quest to stop their winless run faces another stern test when they clash with Bidvest Wits at FNB Stadium on Tuesday, while Stellenbosch have Cape Town City at Tuks Stadium the following day.

Meanwhile, no goals were witnessed as AmaZulu and Baroka FC drew 0-0 at Lucas Moripe Stadium in a battle against relegation.

Both teams had gone to the nearly five-month football break with high revival hopes after registering victories in their respective last games in March.

Although they returned to action by avoiding defeat, Saturday's result saw Usuthu moving one place from the relegation zone up to position 14 while Baroka remained in 13th spot.

But AmaZulu could plunge back into the relegation zone if Polokwane City beat Kaizer Chiefs in the later kickoff. If Polokwane City win, Baroka would also drop one rung down but to position 14.

AmaZulu now have six days to prepare for their next assignment which is against Wits as Baroka get ready for Tuesday's fixture against Orlando Pirates.

Young Africans (Yanga SC) have handed fitness trainer Riedoh Berdian the mantle to handle the team until they secure a permanent coach.

The Jangwani giants are without a coach after they fired Belgian Luc Eymael at the end of the 2019-20 Mainland Premier League campaign where they finished the season without silverware.

Yanga have started preparations for the new season which is set to kick off on September 6 and according to information officer Hassani Bumbuli, Berdian will remain in charge until they secure the services of new a coach.

“We are still looking at the many CVs we received for the vacant role and will name our new coach as soon as we pick one,” Berdian is quoted by Sokaletu.

“The team will thus remain under the watchful eyes of fitness coach Berdian, who will handle them for the period we are looking for a coach when we hire one, then he will resort to his normal duties at the club.

“We have at least 64 coaches who have applied for the vacant job and it will not be easy to get one from the list, we are still perusing every part of their CVs so we give the club a deserved coach, who can take us forward in the new season.

“The process might take two weeks or at least a week, and we will make the announcement.”

Yanga are keen to do well in the new campaign and they have already released 14 players, among them captain Papy Tshishimbi, as they restructure the team.

Other axed players include striker David Molinga, ex-Gor Mahia striker Gnamien Yikpe, Mrisho Ngassa, Jafary Mohamed, Mohamed Issa Banka, Tariq Seif, Andrew Vincent Dante, Patrick Sibomana, Muharami Issa, Ali Ali, Rafael Daud, Ali Mtoni Sonso and Eric Kabamba.

The Timu ya Wananchi had a disappointing campaign in the last season where they failed to reach the final of the FA Cup after losing to eventual winners and rivals Simba SC, and could only finish a distant second behind their old rivals on the league table.

They have now been linked a number of foreign players, including Kenyans Jesse Were and John Makwatta, who play for Zesco United, Sven Yidah of Kariobangi Sharks, Erick Rutanga of Rayon Sports and Mukoko Tonombe of AS Vita Club from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Penalties updated in FIFA 20, making them harder to score than ever. The same penalty system has been carried over into FIFA 21, meaning that players who mastered the process last year can be masters again this year.

FIFA 19 used to have an arrow which you powered up with the shoot button, but this was replaced by a cursor in FIFA 20 which you could aim anywhere in the goal but was trickier to point than the previous arrow indicator.

At first, this can seem a little daunting, but once you get used to aiming and powering up your shots correctly, penalties will become an almost guaranteed way to score goals.

Follow our expert advice on how to score penalties in FIFA 21.

How to aim penalties in FIFA 21

The first and most difficult part of scoring penalties in FIFA 21 is deciding where to aim your shot.

Players with high penalty attribute ratings are better at aiming as their shot cursor moves slowly.

To aim your penalty, choose the destination by using the left stick. 

The analog sticks are very sensitive, so you want to hold it in place when you have found the correct spot - usually in the top corner of the net.

Once you are holding the stick on the correct spot, you can power up your penalty.

Be careful, though, if you spend too long trying to aim, the player will just take a weak penalty down the middle.

If you are playing a two-player game and do not want your opponent to see where you are aiming, you can turn off the cursor by pressing Up on the D-Pad.

Turning it off just hides the icon on the screen, but aiming and shooting remains the same.

How to power up penalties in FIFA 21

Powering up penalties is easier than aiming them and is a quicker skill to perfect too.

The ideal penalty will fill two or two-and-a-half bars, which gives it more than enough power to ensure the goalkeeper cannot reach it.

Timed finishing has also been integrated into FIFA 21's penalties, meaning that you can improve the accuracy of your spot kicks by pressing the shoot button at the moment of impact.

To do this, watch the animation of the player and ball rather than the power bars after you have initially powered up your shot and press shoot when you see the player's foot hitting the ball.

The best way to perfect this and the aiming system is to practice in the Skill Games section of the game.

How to do a panenka penalty in FIFA 21

Once you have perfected taking proper penalties, you can add some flair to your spot kicks and troll your opponents from the penalty spot.

To do a chipped or panenka penalty, aiming is the same, but when powering up your shot, hold L1 on PlayStation or LB on Xbox to attempt to dink the ball over the goalkeeper.

A proper panenka will aim right down the middle of the goal, but you can use a chipped penalty while aiming towards the sides of the goal as well as down the middle.

Beware, if your opponent guesses right, these will be extremely easy saves for the goalkeeper.

Simba SC continue to be busy in the transfer market as they have now confirmed their fifth signing in the ongoing August transfer window.

The Tanzania champions have signed Zambia international Larry Bwalya from Super League side Power Dynamos. Bwalya is the third foreign player to have signed for Wekundu wa Msimbazi so far.

The Dar es Salaam-based club has already acquired Harambee Stars defender Joash Onyango on a two-year contract as well as Ghanaian winger Bernard Morrison, whose move remains a contested issue for now.

“Zambia midfielder [Larry] Bwalya has joined Simba from Power Dynamos. He is best known as 'Locomotive' and is a box-to-box midfielder, a magician left-footer,” Simba announced as they confirmed the arrival of the star from Kitwe.

“He who brought us Clatous Chama is the one who has brought Bwalya to us.”

Wekundu wa Msimbazi claimed one of their rivals had already set out on a journey to go and sign Bwalya.

“He came with the Ethiopia Airlines, the same plane our rivals boarded to go and sign him but in short, they have failed in their pursuit."

The 25-year-old has already featured for the Zambian national team three times. Simba have, however, failed to give the length of the contract handed to Bwalya.

Bwalya’s arrival means Simba now boasts of two Zambians. Chama was signed by the Tanzanian champions and went ahead to become one of the key figures of a dominating team in the country.

The midfielder adds to the number of foreign players already at the club. Francis Kahata and Onyango from Kenya, Luis Miquissone from Mozambique, Meddie Kagere from Rwanda, Tairone Santos and Gerson Fraga from Brazil and Morrison are the other foreigners already in the books of Simba.

Midfielder Sharaf Shiboub of South Sudan, defender Pascal Wawa of Ivory Coast and midfielder Deogratius Kanda of the Democratic Republic of Congo are also foreigners now turning out for the 21-time league champions.

Local players who have already been signed are striker Charles Ilamfia from Premier League side Kinondoni Municipal Council (KMC FC) and right-back David Kameta from relegated Lipuli FC of Iringa.

Simba are rebuilding their team with the hope of doing better in the Caf Champions League for the 2020/21 season.

They were eliminated in the preliminary round in the previous season by UD Songo of Mozambique.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has called on his big-game players to step up to the challenge ahead of Manchester United’s Europa League semi-final clash against Sevilla.

The game, being played in Cologne, is United’s third semi-final of the season and Solskjaer is hoping his team can do what they have failed to do on the two previous occasions, against Manchester City and Chelsea, and reach the final, which is being held on August 21 at the RheinEnergieStadion.

“You know that, when you come to a semi-final, you're playing against good teams, big teams with quality, it's time to step up for big players in big-game moments,” Solskjaer said.

“You have to have 100 per cent focus, any little moment can win, lose or change the game and we've learnt it's very painful to lose a semi-final.”

One of those big-game players who can help drag United to their first final of the season is Bruno Fernandes.

The Portuguese scored the decisive penalty in the quarter-final victory over FC Copenhagen and he spoke about the support he has been given since arriving in the January transfer window.

“When a club pay €55 million (£47m/$65m) for a player, you have confidence from the club, of course from all the conversations I had with the coach and my team-mates,” Fernandes said.

“The coach, all the time, speaks to me to do my game and what I already did in Sporting to have the same confidence, try the same things, improve. When you have that voice to do your own thing it's easy for you.”

Solskjaer will be hoping his team start with that confidence Fernandes speaks of after they were slow to get out of the blocks against Copenhagen in the quarter-finals.

“We've had a few good days now preparing and recovering," said Solskjaer. "It's not very often we have six days between games, so we're ready, we are physically, definitely ready, mentally the boys will be ready.

"It’s a semi-final, everyone will want to take part and join in and I just want them to enjoy it. For me, I'm looking forward to it.

"We've had two semis this season, and we're happy with going as far as we have but we want to go one step further.

“I think in any game it’s important to start well. We talk about it, we prepare for a good start against good teams and if you start on the back foot, don’t get the first touches and the first goal, it’s going to be difficult. We're playing a team full of quality and if you don’t get touches it will be hard.”

Ex-Paris Saint-Germain star Valdo believes that when Neymar and Kylian Mbappe are on song the forward pair are a match for any defence on the planet. 

Neymar was in fine form in Wednesday's Champions League comeback victory over Atalanta, redeeming himself in the final stages after missing two clear chances early on. 

The Brazil international set up Marquinhos to bring PSG back level in the 90th minute and moments later set substitute Mbappe loose down the left to square for Eric Choupo-Moting, who sealed a 2-1 victory deep into injury time. 

PSG missed Mbappe prior to his introduction, with the France sensation recovering from an ankle sprain and starting on the bench. 

Valdo, who was part of the last PSG side to make the Champions League semi-finals back in 1995, believes that when fit both his Brazilian compatriot and Mbappe give the Parisians a crucial edge when going forward. 

"When you're Neymar Jr. or Kylian Mbappe, it's easier not to doubt," the ex-midfielder, who also represented the likes of Benfica, Gremio and Cruzeiro during his career as well as picking up 45 caps for Brazil, told PSG's official website.

"It's true that Neymar missed two opportunities that he usually scores. But we could feel he was in the game. When he plays at that level, there's no tactical system to stop him.

"A bit like Mbappe or Messi. When it’s the right night, he's unstoppable. Neymar had a lot of space, and on counter-attacks he was really impressive.

"As for Mbappe... If I'm the Atalanta coach and I see Kylian Mbappe coming on, I'm already very worried. It already means it's impossible to stop him, you need at least two players to stop him and the same goes for Neymar, it's very complicated.

"That's the strength of having a squad like Paris Saint-Germain. Let's hope now that Kylian will be at 100% for the next game, so that the opponents can't sleep well."

PSG now face RB Leipzig in Tuesday's semi-final, after the German side overcame Atletico Madrid in a tense quarter-final tie on Thursday.

The second last-four clash will be disputed between Bayern Munich, who destroyed Barcelona 8-2 on Friday, and the winner of Manchester City's tie against Lyon. 

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could not hide his admiration for Bayern Munich after watching them dismantle Barcelona in Friday's historic Champions League victory. 

The Bundesliga champions confirmed their status as favourites to win the European trophy in a scintillating 8-2 thrashing of Barca, who had no answer to their opponents' attacking verve as they were comprehensively beaten across the 90 minutes. 

Bayern now await confirmation of their semi-final opponents, with Manchester City and Lyon playing the final quarter of this streamlined Champions League competition in Lisbon on Saturday. 

Solskjaer of course is no stranger to the Bavarians, having come off the bench to mastermind United's 1999 final victory in injury time to clinch the Red Devils' first win in the tournament for 33 years. 

The Norwegian boss cannot help but applaud Bayern's latest all-conquering team, who he believes have set a new benchmark for excellence through their exploits this season. 

"We watched it of course and I have to say Bayern Munich are setting the standard at the moment, throughout the season really," Solskjaer told reporters ahead of United's Europa League semi-final against Sevilla on Sunday.

"The new coach came in and they've been absolutely brilliant. Aggressive, pressing, their recovery runs, technically adept, it was a top, top class performance by a top team."

Sevilla will pose their own challenge to United's Europa League hopes, having booked their place in the last four with a late victory over Wolves thanks to Lucas Ocampos' goal. 

The Andalucians also impressed in the last 16 by dispatching Roma with ease and Solskjaer is in no doubt that Sunday's clash will be hard-fought for his charges. 

"It's a good, very well organised team, aggressive style of play, pressing, they've got some very good individuals there," he added.

"We have to play our best game, keep the ball when we can, play out of their press, we've got to be clever, creative and step up in big moments.

"The last pass is the finish. These games will be decided so often on either a set-piece or piece of individual brilliance by some players."

Manchester United star Bruno Fernandes says that he is thrilled to be compared to club legend Eric Cantona, but the Portuguese midfielder admitted that he has plenty of work to do to truly earn the right to be held up alongside the former French forward.

Fernandes joined Manchester United in January and has begun his time with the club in spectacular fashion, instantly becoming a vital piece for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after signing from Sporting CP.

Man Utd are set to face Sevilla on Sunday in the Europa League semi-finals, giving Fernandes a chance at securing his first trophy with the club.

And the 25-year-old midfielder says he'll need to lift plenty of silverware to justify comparisons to club legends like Cantona.

"For me it's really good to listen, talking about those names, but really for me, Cantona was an amazing player for the club," he said.

"I need to do much, much, much better to be compared with him. Like the coach said,[we want] to win some trophies and I will be happy this season if we win the Europa League."

Cantona won four Premier League titles in five years with Manchester United, having also found success at Leeds, Montpellier and Marseille.

In total, the Frenchman lifted nine trophies with Man Utd, scoring 82 goals across 185 games.

Fernandes, meanwhile, has scored 11 goals in his first 21 matches, including two in four Europa League games as the Red Devils close in on the tournament finale.

His adjustment to life at Old Trafford has been virtually seamless, and Fernandes says that Man Utd's surge since he made his move has been the result of a team-wide effort.

"I can't say it was easy but, of course, we have good results," he said. "I was scoring some goals, but it was easy, everyone in the team helped me a lot, gives me a lot of confidence.

"It was much easier for me, I've played already in Italy, I know how it is to be out of my country playing different leagues.

"The Premier League is completely different, but I have the confidence of the coach, staff, teammates and things are going really well because, when you have the confidence of everyone, you try and do your best."

In a special episode of the African Football HQ podcast this week, Malek Shafei speaks to Jeremy Seethal, the head scout of the Right to Dream Academy, one of Africa’s finest centres for youth production.

Founded in 1999 by Manchester United’s former African scout Tom Vernon, the academy’s origins can be found in Accra, with just a handful of students training on a dusty pitch.

In the subsequent decades, it’s progressed to become one of the jewels in the crown of African youth development and, in 2010, moved to a new academy—based in a bespoke $2.5million facility.

Right to Dream academy products can be found across the footballing world.

The likes of Michael Tetteh, Joshua Yaro and Godsway Donyoh graduated from the club’s academy, so too Thomas Agyepong and Yaw Yeboah, both of whom also spent time at Manchester City as they learned their trade.

From a Black Stars perspective, the talents of David Accam were honed at Right to Dream, while Majeed Waris—currently with Strasbourg on loan from FC Porto—became the first graduate to play at the World Cup.

Latterly, wonderkid Mohammed Kudus, who was just 12 when he arrived at the academy, swapped RTD partner club FC Nordsjaelland of Denmark for Dutch giants Ajax, signing for the Amsterdam heavyweights in a €9 million deal last month.

Head Scout Seethal spent time with AFHQ to talk us though his experiences with the academy, the progress made and some of the work that has already been undertaken in West Africa.

In the eight years Seethal has been at the academy, he’s been a key figure in several remarkable stories of personal progression, for youngsters whose football talent has allowed them to access higher education overseas.

He’s a man with a honed eye for talent, having worked as a scout with both Man City and Nordsjaelland, and has relished the prospect of taking on young talent and seeing them thrive on bigger stages, although he acknowledges that the process and model in Africa needs to be different to the academy system in Europe.

The South African scout also discusses the difficulties facing youngsters in his homeland, where he recognises that there’s an absence of viable structures in South Africa to help the best talent in the country reach the level that their talent deserves.