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N'Golo Kante and Willian are in contention for Chelsea's FA Cup final clash with Arsenal on Saturday, but Frank Lampard refused to be drawn on who will start in goal.

Chelsea manager Lampard seemed uncertain in terms of team selection ahead of Saturday in regards to who will play in goal – Kepa Arrizabalaga is the usual first-choice, but his form has been underwhelming, with Willy Caballero replacing the Spaniard against Wolves, and the veteran Argentina international is a regular in cup competitions.

"It's difficult because we have competition in the squad," Lampard said. "I have changed it at times, we consider the games as we go – for big games, it becomes more difficult.

"I know how much players want to be in these games, but people off the bench have made a huge difference in recent games.

"It [leaving players out for a final] is difficult for me, difficult [for the players] to take, but players have to be positive."

France international Kante has endured a frustrating season for the Blues, with numerous injury issues and fitness problems putting him on the sidelines.

The latest was a hamstring issue suffered early this month and he has not featured since, only returning to training prior to the final Premier League game of the season, but the midfielder is in the squad for Saturday's showdown at Wembley, while Willian – absent from the win over Wolves last weekend with an unspecified problem – could also be involved.

Lampard did not have such good news regarding Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who will not feature.

"Yes, N'Golo Kante and Willian are in the squad," Lampard said in Friday's pre-match news conference. "We will see if they're fit enough to be involved, but Ruben Loftus-Cheek has picked up a small problem and is out of the game."

Brazilian winger Willian has enjoyed a prominent season at Stamford Bridge, racking up nine goals and seven assists in the league and arguably rediscovering his best form despite uncertainty over his future.

The 31-year-old, whose current deal is set to expire at the end of the season, has reportedly rejected a new two-year contract at the club because he wants an extra season on top of that.

Since football resumed in June, Willian has scored three goals and set up another two and his attitude has not surprised Lampard.

When asked if he expected the Brazilian's professionalism despite a somewhat awkward situation, Lampard said: "Yes, I've known Willian for many years as a player and I have coached him.

"If anyone wants to know the mentality of him, then that has been shown since restart. He has given everything. I would expect nothing less than he's shown already."

Lampard and his Arsenal counterpart Mikel Arteta will be aiming to win the first piece of silverware in their managerial careers on Saturday.

Four London clubs will be involved in two major finals over the coming days—live on SuperSport—as Chelsea and Arsenal meet in the FA Cup final, and Fulham and Brentford compete for the right to play in the Premier League next season.

There are subplots aplenty ahead of Saturday’s showpiece between the Gunners and the Blues, the 139th edition of the FA Cup final.

Notably, the match represents an opportunity for two rookie coaches—Mikel Arteta and Frank Lampard—to win the first silverware of their nascent managerial careers.

Lampard has enjoyed a successful first season at Stamford Bridge—particularly considering the club’s transfer ban—as he oversaw qualification for the Champions League at the first time of asking.

However, the ex-England midfielder has yet to solve the capital club’s defensive issues; they conceded eight goals across their last two away games—at Sheffield United and Liverpool—and it’s an area Lamps needs to address ahead of Saturday’s showdown.

Up front, Olivier Giroud has come out fighting in the media this week following the club’s signing of Timo Werner.

The former RasenBallsport Leipzig man and Tammy Abraham represent stiff competition for Giroud, but the Frenchman has rolled back the years in 2020, and has reaffirmed why he is such an effective leading man for the Blues.

The Gunners have their own superstars in offensive areas, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang coming off the back of a Premier League season in which he’s netted 22 goals—second only to top scorer Jamie Vardy.

Auba will be disappointed to have missed out on the Golden Boot he won last term, but considering the upheaval at the Emirates Stadium this term, his haul represents an excellent achievement.

He’s a striker at the top of his game, and he’s now supported by a cast that includes exciting younger players like Nicolas Pepe, Eddie Nketiah and Bukayo Saka.

On their day, the North Londoners have the quality in the final third to put the Blues’ defence to the sword, although they’ll also be wary of their own vulnerabilities at the back.

While the Gunners were outclassed by Manchester City in the first game back after the restart, they improved dramatically by the time the two clubs met again in the semi-final.

Arsenal ultimately won 2-0—their best performance under Arteta—and will be hoping to channel this showing on Saturday.

If the Spaniard wins the cup, it would not only represent an awesome achievement so early into his career, but he’d also become the first person to win the oldest competition in the world game as both captain and head coach.

SuperSport Fixtures

Saturday 1 August – Arsenal vs Chelsea (FA Cup)

Sunday 2 August – Atalanta vs Inter Milan

Sunday 2 August – Juventus vs Roma

Sunday 2 August – AC Milan vs Cagliari

Sunday 2 August – Napoli vs Lazio

Tuesday 4 August – Fulham vs Brentford (EFL Championship Playoff Final)

Another major final involving two London clubs will take place on Tuesday, when a gruelling Championship season comes to an end with the playoff final between Fulham and Brentford.

It’s been a tough season for both of these two, each of whom flirted with automatic promotion but were forced to contest the playoffs after missing out to Leeds United and West Bromwich Albion.

Fulham, relegated last term, have impressed with their attacking football under another inexperienced coach—Scott Parker—this season, and in Aleksandar Mitrovic, they boast a potential match-winner.

While they were defeated by Cardiff City on Thursday evening in the second leg of their playoff, they progressed 3-2 on aggregate, and that loss may well ensure that there’s no chance of complacency heading into the final match of the season.

It’s a fixture worth a reported £170 million—considering the riches on offer in the Premier League—which would represent a meteoric rise for Brentford, who haven’t been in the top tier for 73 years.

The Bees bounced back to defeat Swansea City in their semi-final second leg—the final match at their historic Griffin Park ground—and are in fine fettle heading into the showpiece encounter.

Brentford have endured a rocky ride in recent weeks, and will be taking little for granted.

Their eight-game winning streak came to a screeching halt with three defeats against Stoke City, Barnsley and Swansea City.

They missed out on automatic promotion—ceding the initiative to the Albion—but made amends with that excellent second-leg showing against the Swans.

Can they now defeat their near-neighbours to reach the big time?

Finally, on Sunday, Serie A reaches its conclusion with the final round of league fixtures.

There are some fascinating ties as well, with high-flying Atalanta hosting Internazionale, champions Juventus at home against AS Roma, and Lazio set to go away to Champions League hopefuls Napoli.

The most intrigue is in Bergamo, where Atalanta and Inter are contesting second place in a battle between two sides who will already be gearing up for next season’s UCL campaigns and...who knows…perhaps a title challenge.

Atalanta return to the Champions League for the second consecutive season, and are currently on a 19-game unbeaten run in all competitions.

They’ve never finished higher than third in the top flight, and will surely be desperate to end the season in their best ever league position.

Lazio’s victory over Brescia in midweek means that they too can leapfrog the duo into second place, and are currently on a three-game winning streak.

Could they deny Atalanta a first-ever second-placed finish?

Milan have revealed their brand-new home kit for the 2020/21 season.

PUMA have tapped into the essence of the city, capturing the elegance and grandeur of Milan with their new take of the famous red-and-black stripes.

The shirt will get its first official, on-pitch unveiling on August 1 as the Rossoneri host Cagliari in the final game of the Serie A season.

Featuring vertical stripes that are wider than the 2019/2020 edition, it also has completely black sleeves.

However, the real unique and distinctive feature of the jersey is represented by the printed tone-on-tone, inspired by the striking patterns and architecture of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, one of the most iconic sights in Milan.

"The AC Milan jersey is symbolic, representing the pride and belonging of millions of fans around the world,” said Casper Stylsvig, Milan’s Chief Revenue Officer.

“The new design pays homage to the tradition, culture and iconic architecture which is synonymous with our beautiful city. AC Milan is built on innovation, community, integrity and inclusiveness, and PUMA have effectively captured these core values within this elegant new design."

Milan’s new threads are a suggestive blend of football and culture, tradition and modernity, confirmed David Bremond, PUMA's Head of Product Line Management Teamsport said.

"AC Milan is more than a football club; it represents the culture of the city. We wanted to create a jersey that respects the traditions of the club and speaks to the fans inside and outside of Italy. We have incorporated the iconic architecture of Milan into this jersey, to truly represent not only the city but the culture that influences it."

The new AC Milan Home kit is available from July 28th at puma.com, PUMA stores, AC Milan official stores, store.milan.com and at select retailers worldwide.

Dimitar Berbatov says Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has proven his managerial credentials at the highest level, while turning Manchester United into a consistent side once again.

United secured a third-place Premier League finish and Champions League qualification by beating Leicester 2-0 at the King Power Stadium on the final day of the season.

Solskjaer's men started the campaign slowly and slipped way off the top-four pace heading into the new year, but results improved drastically following the winter arrival of Bruno Fernandes.

The Red Devils won nine of their last 14 fixtures to leapfrog Chelsea and Leicester in the table and picked up the joint highest number of points in the league along with Manchester City after returning from lockdown in June.

Questions were asked over Solskjaer's credentials during his first few months in the Old Trafford hot seat, but his belief in the club's younger players and smart recruitment in the transfer market has reaped rewards in 2020.

Berbatov has credited the Norwegian for overseeing a return to Europe's premier competition, which he believes will be crucial in attracting more top talent to the club this summer.

The former United striker also hailed Solskjaer for lifting the mood in the dressing room, telling Betfair: "I'm happy for everyone at the United after they hit their target of qualifying for the Champions League. They deserve it. They had to beat Leicester and they did it. I'm happy for Ole and the team, this will be huge for the club and for everybody.

"There will always be doubters, but overall people will realise managers need time to build. There are obstacles, of course, but in the future things can improve, and Ole has shown that.

"It will be more difficult now with the Champions League, and you will still get criticism next year when you lose, but for now, we should be happy with the work he has done. I think the players love him, and that's shown by how they've played.

"He's made United consistent, which they haven't been for so long, and he brought it when it counted the most. They were smart, consistent, and they got results.

"You can buy players now because everyone wants to play in the Champions League, and Ole has shown what a good manager he is."

Former Ghana international Sola Ayew has hailed nephews Jordan and Andre for their outstanding performances in the 2019-20 football season.

While Jordan grabbed headlines on the books of Premier League side Crystal Palace, Andre was arguably the toast of Swansea City fans in the Championship.

Interestingly, they both finished the term as their clubs' top scorer.

“It [Jordan's performances] is not surprising to us at all, looking at what he's doing in the Premier League. He has the qualities to do more than what he's even doing now,” Sola told Nkunim FM.

“The family is solidly behind him, we pray against injury and hope he can do more.

“As for the performance of Dede Ayew, I think we need not to waste time on it because we all know the qualities of him, what he has done and what he can do."

Jordan netted nine times in 37 appearances to help Palace to a 14th finish in the Premier League.

In the process, he broke the record as Ghana's top scorer in the English top-flight, his 25 strikes going one strike clear of Anthony Yeboah's haul.

His outstanding showing did not go unappreciated as he won Crystal Palace's Player of the Year, Crystal Palace Players' Player of the Year and Goal of the Year honours at the club's end of season awards on Tuesday.

“I’ve worked so hard to get into the team and I think the first season I came into this team wasn’t the best but the club had faith in me, the club wanted me to stay and I wanted to stay as well,” Ayew said after picking up his prizes.

"I had the desire to have a better season and things have gone so well. I’m just grateful."

Andre, on the other hand, scored 15 times in 44 matches to help Swansea reach the Championship play-off semi-final.

With seven assists to his name also, the 30-year-old contributed to 22 goals for the Jack Army, who finished sixth in the regular season.

“I’m very happy with the season. I’m happy with the squad I’ve had around me and the players who have given me", Ayew recently said, as reported by his club's official website.

Jordan and Andre are both products of French side Olympique Marseille.

Bayer Leverkusen director Simon Rolfes says that the club has not received an offer for Kai Havertz amid widespread reports that Chelsea are chasing the German star. 

The Blues have been heavily linked with the German midfielder in recent weeks, having already completed deals for his compatriot Timo Werner as well as ex-Ajax star Hakim Ziyech.

Havertz's performances this season helped capture the attention of Frank Lampard's side, with the 21-year-old providing 12 goals in 30 games to guide Bayer to fifth place in the Bundesliga. 

Chelsea have had discussions with Havertz's representatives and will next look to agree on a fee after establishing that he wants to move to Stamford Bridge.

The midfielder had been tipped to make an early exit this summer, departing Bayer Leverkusen before the club's return to the Europa League, much like how Werner's deal was pushed through ahead of RB Leipzig's Champions League tie against Atletico Madrid.

However, director Rudi Voller said that there is no chance of the club selling Havertz before Leverkusen's European run is complete, saying that the midfielder's participation is "set in stone".

Rolfes echoed a similar sentiment, saying that the club has not received an official offer just yet and, even if there was one, Leverkusen would expect Havertz to finish the season.

"So far we have no offer," Rolfes said in a press conference. "We know about the interest of clubs, but there is no official offer.

"We have said several times that we will end the season with our entire squad. And that includes Kai. That goes without saying for us."

He added: "He is focused. Kai is relaxed with the speculations, is focused, in a good mood.

“He makes a good impression. The holiday did him good like the other players.”

Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger, also a German international, hailed Havertz as a "great talent", having previously been dubbed Agent Rudiger for his role in the recruitment of Werner earlier this year.

The Blues are set to face Arsenal in the FA Cup final this weekend before continuing their Champions League campaign against Bayern Munich.

Bayer Leverkusen, meanwhile, will continue their Europa League journey with their round of 16 second-leg against Rangers, having won the first leg 3-1 with Havertz scoring from the penalty spot.

Bayer Leverkusen will be powerless to resist selling Kai Havertz to Chelsea if the Blues' billionaire owner Roman Abramovich wants the German at Stamford Bridge, according to the Premier League club's former manager, Avram Grant.

Havertz, 21, has been a revelation in the Bundesliga ever since making his breakthrough as a 17-year-old in the 2016-17 campaign.

The midfielder, who has been played in an increasingly attack-minded role over the past two years, has scored 29 Bundesliga goals since the start of the 2018-19 campaign.

Already a Germany international, Havertz is widely expected to leave Leverkusen in the coming weeks, with Chelsea said to be his most likely destination.

The financial implications of the coronavirus pandemic, combined with Chelsea's recent deals for Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner, have led to suggestions the club might not be willing to meet Leverkusen's apparent €78million (£70m/$90m) asking price.

However Grant thinks the Blues will sign anyone if the owner wants them.

Speaking to Stats Perform News, Grant said: "Abramovich didn't have a problem with money before! When he wants something, he buys it.

"He doesn't do things to save money. Whether they have more or less money, I don't think it's important.

"What I think is important is that they started to use the academy. They spent so much money on it and they didn't give anyone a chance [before]. My policy at Chelsea was that we wanted one third of the squad as under-21 players, because you cannot invest a lot into the academy and not give them a chance.

"Now, not as a policy, they gave them a chance, and Frank has done a great job. Michael Emenalo, a director, was always complaining that we invested a lot of money in them [academy players] but we don't give them a chance.

"When you have a good young player, they can develop a lot and there are a lot of good talents at Chelsea, and we're in a good phase for the coming years.

"With a good signing they can compete with Liverpool or Man City. [Havertz] has the quality. We need to wait and see [if he's the one to bridge the gap]."

The signings of Ziyech and Werner, from Ajax and RB Leipzig respectively, have been widely applauded, particularly given they were both secured well before the conclusion of the season, but Grant urges caution, highlighting that many big signings in a short period does not always guarantee success.

"On paper they look like good signings and that they can make the team stronger, but we need to wait and see," Grant said. "We've seen years ago, Tottenham bought a lot of players but they bought too much and many didn't perform well - eventually Harry Redknapp saved them and did a very good job.

"I think you need to be careful when you sign a player, whether they will be good for the squad, but I'm sure they've checked this. It's not only about quality."

India international winger Nikhil Poojary is looking forward to Hyderabad's upcoming Indian Super League (ISL) season with Albert Roca as the head coach.

The club had a horrendous debut season in the ISL, finishing at the bottom of the table with 10 points.

In a live Instagram chat on Friday, the winger said. "We had a good pre-season but the first game was a bubble buster for us. I think it was one of those seasons where everything went wrong for us."

Brown was sacked midway through the season and former Saudi Arabia assistant Albert Roca was brought on board as the Englishman's replacement. Caretaker coaches Mehrajuddin Wadoo and Xavier Gurri saw out the rest of the season and Hyderabad signed out with a 5-1 win over NorthEast United but failed to avoid a bottom-placed finish.

With Roca set to take over the first team from the upcoming season, Poojary feels that the onus will be on the players to meet the expectations of the former Bengaluru head coach. 

"We all know what kind of impact Roca had on BFC (Bengaluru FC). The way the team (Bengaluru) played that season (2017-18 ISL runners-up) was surreal. They finished way above (at least eight points) everyone else [in the league phase] and we know where he was. He was (assistant coach) with (Frank) Rijkaard in Barcelona and he has trained some top players like Deco.

"So I think we have to meet his expectations to do well. For him to have the same impact he had at Bengaluru, we have to meet his expectations. Otherwise, it won't match. I am excited to play for him and learn whatever I can," Poojary concluded.

Football enthusiasts have taken to social media to celebrate Victor Osimhen following his permanent signing to Napoli.

The Nigeria international joins Gennaro Gattuso's team on a five-year contract for a reported fee of €50 million from Lille.

The move to Italy comes on the back of Osimhen's impressive debut campaign in Ligue 1 where he scored 13 goals for the Great Danes, who finished the 2019-20 campaign in the fourth place.

The transfer has led well-wishers, including the 21-year-old's former team Lille, the world football governing body, Fifa and the Nigeria national team to send congratulatory messages.

Over 15 Ethiopia-based Ghanaian footballers have completed a 14-day mandatory quarantine in Prampram following their evacuation.

The players were transported back home earlier this month following a distress call to the Government of Ghana.

Black Stars defender Lee Addy, who starred at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, headlines the returnees who were retained at the Ghana Football Association's Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence national teams' training facility in Prampram.

“On behalf of the players, I would like to thank the Government of Ghana, the GFA, the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) and everybody who contributed for us to be brought back home,” Addy said, as reported by the football's governing body's official website.

“We say a big thank you to the GFA, especially Mr. Alex Asante, the Deputy General Secretary; they have done very, very well.

“I will like to use this opportunity to thank the media, the people who spread the message for the government to come to our aid.

“We thank the Ghanaian public and the Doctors who took care of us upon our return. May God bless us all."

The contingent made headlines in June after being spotted in a viral social media pleading for help from the Government of Ghana as they lamented their difficult conditions of living in Ethiopia due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The video showed the players standing outside the Ghanaian embassy in Addis Ababa, with claims of failing to get desired help from the consulate for a flight back home.

“We paid for our ticket cost but the government played a major role in terms of organization. We the senior players paid for some of the players who couldn’t afford the cost,” Addy told OTEC FM upon their return earlier this month.

“Three players were left behind because they needed to negotiate with their clubs for contract renewals. We came straight to Prampram with some students who were also stranded in Addis Ababa and South Africa.

“We are pleased with what the government and the GFA have done for us, in fact, we didn’t expect them to help us this way."

Ex-Asante Kotoko and Medeama shot-stopper Muntari Tagoe, Kweku Andoh, Latif Mohammed, Rahim Osman, Tuffour Frimpong and Aaron Amoah were among 22 players stranded in Ethiopia.

Andrea Pirlo has claimed he turned down offers from the Premier League and Serie A to become Juventus' new U23s manager.

Pirlo was officially unveiled in his new role at the Allianz Stadium on Thursday, as he took charge of the club's reserves following Fabio Pecchia's departure.

The former Italy international racked up 164 appearances for Juve between 2011 and 2015, winning seven major trophies in total including four Serie A titles.

Pirlo went on to spend two years in MLS with New York City FC before hanging up his boots in 2017, and has since taken the necessary steps to move into coaching.

The 41-year-old has opted to begin his management career in familiar surroundings, with ex-Juve goalkeeper Marco Storari also returning to the club in a sporting director role to help him in his first year in the dugout.

Pirlo is now ready to put into practice everything he learned from his former managers, and has already made it his goal to emulate the achievements of modern-day managerial greats Pep Guardiola and Zinedine Zidane.

The World Cup winner says that although he received plenty of interest from other clubs, he always felt that Juve was the best place for him to gain experience.

"I have had many coaches, everyone has taught me a lot: [Carlo] Ancelotti, [Marcelo] Lippi, [Antonio] Conte and [Massimiliano] Allegri - but I think everyone has to go their own way," Pirlo told a press conference at his presentation ceremony.

"My team will have to play well, it will always have to play to win. I hated many things as a footballer, and I don't want to see them as a coach.

"Guardiola and Zidane? Everyone would like to imitate their paths, but you must deserve it.

"I also had proposals from other Serie A and Premier League teams, but I felt this was the right path to start my coaching career."

Pirlo went on to discuss his managerial philosophy, promising to draw on his experiences as a player to create an environment for success. He added: "My team will have to play well, it will always have to play to win. I hated many things as a footballer, and I don't want to see them as a coach."

Wazito FC defender Johnstone Omurwa believes he will have to be patient in his bid to be a consistent feature in the Kenyan national team.

The Harambee Stars currently has a plethora of options for central defenders, like Musa Mohammed, Brian Mandela, David Owino, Joash Onyango, Joseph Okumu.

After regularly being overlooked, the former Mathare United defender says it is not easy to be considered for national team duties but he has to continue doing his part.

"One thing, getting a call-up here in Kenya is not easy because we have many good defenders," Omurwa told Goal. 

"Many are experienced and have played many times for the national team apart from the likes of Joseph Okumu. Getting a call-up is very important because the environment gives you the urge to work harder and remain part of the team. I have been there, I have known what the coaches want.

"All I need right now is patience and working harder on the pitch. I cannot force a call-up as well because the current team is also very competitive. 

"Even on the bench, if you look you will realize the person next to you is experienced as well and even when someone gets injured, that experienced player will be the one who will be selected ahead of you, it is never that easy, there is stiff competition."

The 21-year-old has also revealed the importance of ensuring he makes the provisional team consistently.

"My time will surely come, as long as I am working harder consistently, there will be no course for alarm," Omurwa added.

"I have tried to be closer to the team by making up the provisional squad regularly and when I get the chance, it is all about grabbing it with both hands. It is all about learning and it cannot happen when you cannot even get a call-up to the provisional squad.

"And we all know, getting a call-up is not easy, and losing it is very easy that is why I am saying I have to show my worth when with the team to warrant my stay there."  

The towering defender is currently negotiating a deal to join Angola's Petro Atletico.

Azam FC have promised to sign players in every position after unveiling midfielder Awesu Ally Awesu as their first signing of the current transfer window.

Awesu arrived at Azam for a second stint from Kagera Sugar after penning a two-year deal on Thursday.

Azam CEO Abdulkarim Amin ‘Popat’ has confirmed to Goal the arrival of Awesu marks the start of the many transfer activities that will be witnessed at the Chamazi-based club, ahead of the new Mainland Premier League season.

“As usual and especially here at Azam since I took up my position, we always sign players according to what the coach wants and the good thing is that the coach has already given us the list of players he wants and that is what we want to fulfill,” Amin told Goal.

“Two days after we played our last league match, our coach [Aristica Cioaba] gave us the list of what players he wants, what areas he wants the team to work on and I can confirm he wants us to buy at least 12 players for the new season.

“We have already discussed as officials, we sat and discussed the list from the coach and out of the 12 players we have already landed [Awesu] and are also talking to the other targets.”

Amin continued: “The coach wants, two fullbacks, one defensive midfielder, two wing-backs, and one striker, because it was one of our weakest links this season, we did not score many goals because we lacked an out and out striker, and so the areas will be looked.

“And also out of the 12 players, we will also sign one goalkeeper, to give a challenge to existing keepers that we already have in our ranks, so it is going to be a beehive of activities as far as transfer of new players is concerned at Azam this window.”

The ‘Ice Cream Makers’ did not enjoy as good a season as they had anticipated at the beginning of the campaign, as they managed to finish third in the league with 70 points, 18 fewer than winners Simba SC, and two behind second-placed Yanga SC. They managed to get 20 wins, 10 draws and eight defeats.

The team also failed to retain their FA Cup title to stand a chance of representing the country in the Caf Confederation Cup. They were paired with Wekundu wa Msimbazi in the quarter-finals and fell 2-0.

Young Africans (Yanga SC) have completed the signing of Zawadi Peter Mauya from Mainland Premier League rivals Kagera Sugar.

The midfielder has signed a two-year deal with Timu Ya Mwananchi and becomes the first signing made by Yanga, a development that was made public on the social media pages of the club.

Mauya has also featured for another Premier League side Lipuli FC before and his departure from Kagera Sugar follows Awesu Awesu’s exit, as the latter signed for Azam FC on July 30.

The Jangwani-based club has been linked with a number of players including Coastal Union’s defender Bakari Mwamnyeto.

Meanwhile, Yanga’s captain Papy Tshishimbi is fearful Luc Eymael’s recent demeaning utterances may end up affecting his entire coaching career in future.

“Eymael came and like any other employee, had the ambitions he had set to achieve,” Tshishimbi told Mwanaspoti.

“But he had to leave just after leading Yanga to the second place in the league. What worries me is the manner in which Eymael left the club, how it will affect him in the next destination wherever he may serve.

“There are ways Eymael would have chosen to relay his message on what was making his stay difficult but for now, it is difficult to do so because the society has delivered the judgement and some have developed hatred already.

“Football is a game that makes people from all walks of life meet and interact and there may be chances that we will meet again. 

“What is important for now, is to exercise caution so that what made him fall at Yanga does not bring him down at the next station of work.

“Yanga will remain forever but many of us came and we shall leave the way Eymael came and left.”

The midfielder went ahead to urge the club to work on what the Belgian stated are some of the reasons affecting the general performance of the team.

“For now, it is time that the club should work hard and correct faults that Eymael picked up and urged Yanga to improve on,” he concluded.

“It is important to improve on areas where improvement is needed so that next season those who are coming will not find the same challenges that their predecessors went through.”

The FA Community Shield is typically a curtain-raiser for the new Premier League season, taking place mere weeks before the start of the English top-flight.

The Covid-19 outbreak may have disrupted the majority of the calendar year, but football is slowly returning - and that means a showdown between two of England's biggest teams at Wembley Stadium.

Here's what you need to know about this year's FA Community Shield, when it will take place, who will be involved in it and more.

When is the 2020 FA Community Shield?

The 2020 FA Community Shield will take place on August 29, 2020 at Wembley Stadium.

It will be contested between Premier League winners Liverpool and the winners of the 2020 FA Cup, which will be either Arsenal or Chelsea.

Manchester City are current holders of the title, but they will be unable to participate as they finished as runners-up in the Premier League and were knocked out of the FA Cup at the semi-final stage by Arsenal.

Liverpool featured in the 2019 FA Community Shield as the second-placed Premier League team, as Manchester City were crowned winners of both the Premiership and the FA Cup.

The Reds lost the final on penalties after a 1-1 draw, allowing Manchester City to claim their sixth title.

Liverpool are 15-time winners of the FA Community Shield, last winning the trophy in 2006 in a 2-1 victory against Cardiff at the Millennium Stadium.

Arsenal are also tied with Liverpool on 15 FA Community Shield titles, while Chelsea have lifted the honour four times.

Will fans be allowed to attend the 2020 FA Community Shield?

According to reports, the FA are said to be using the 2020 FA Community Shield as a test event for allowing supporters back into the stadiums.

No fans have been allowed to attend matches in England since March due to the Covid-19 outbreak, but the 2020 FA Community Shield could see a small number of fans in the stands.

An allocated 15,000-20,000 fans could be allowed to watch the game while adhering to strict social distancing guidelines and mask-wearing procedures.

Simba SC defender Erasto Nyoni has given his young fan a jersey to reward his loyalty.

The youngster was pictured with a t-shirt printed with the player's name on his back with the number 18. The pictures went viral and the 30-year-old Taifa Stars international promised to buy him one, and on July 30, he honoured his promise.

"Erasto Nyoni has awarded his fan Jumanne Ulimwengu with a jersey," Simba SC confirmed on their social media platforms.

"A couple of weeks ago, the youngster was shown by Azam TV with a t-shirt which was printed the player's name and number.

"After rewarding him with the jersey, Jumanne requested Nyoni to also buy him a bicycle to help him get to school, and the defender promised to buy him that as well."

The defender is expected to line up for Wekundu wa Msimbazi on Sunday against Namungo FC in the FA Cup final.

The Msimbazi-based side is aiming at completing a double this season after winning the Tanzania Mainland League.

Simba defeated Yanga SC 4-1 in the semi-final to advance to the finals where they will play Namungo, who narrowly defeated Sahare All-Stars by a solitary goal in another semi-final.

Having won the league, the Sven Vandenbroeck-led side will play in the Caf Champions League next season. 

As a result, Namungo FC are set to represent Tanzania in the Caf Confederation Cup even without kicking a ball in the FA Cup final.

The winner of the domestic Cup usually gets full rights to play in Africa's second-tier club competition, but Simba are already in a continental competition, the runner-up gets the berth.

This will be the first time for the club to play in a continental assignment in their competition. Last season, Azam FC, who won the FA Cup, and KMC, who finished fourth on the league table, played in the Confederation Cup.

By the time, Tanzania had accumulated 18 points in the continental standings and were placed in 12th position, and as a result, were eligible to field four teams - two in the Champions League and two for the second-tier competition.

Namungo managed to finish the league in the fourth position behind Simba, Yanga SC and Azam FC.

Sunday FA Cup final will be played at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam. 

Police FC new signing Tom Ikara has revealed why he opted to sign for the club ahead of the new season.

Ikara was one of the players being targeted by the newly crowned Ugandan Premier League (UPL) champions Vipers SC and Uganda Revenue Authority (URA FC), but he instead opted to sign for the ‘Cops’ on a two-year deal.

Ikara has now revealed why he decided to sign for the Law Enforcers, who are keen to make a mark in the new campaign.

“What I considered for signing with Police was the quality playing time that I expect to have than elsewhere. I want to use this playing time to bounce back to the Uganda Cranes set up,” Ikara is quoted by Kawowo Sports.

“I want to be part of the competitive Police we know of with solid performances match after match.”

In a previous interview after signing the deal, Ikara, who has also featured Busoga United and KCCA FC before he signed for Mbarara on a loan deal, said: “I'm going to do my best and put in a better performance than before.

“Police is a big team with history and I am happy to associate with it.”

Coach Abdallah Mubiru was also happy to sign the player by stating: “We thank God who has enabled us to acquire his services because he brings a lot of experience and commitment.”

Ikara becomes the third signing for Police, who have already acquired the services of experienced midfielder Tony Mawejje from Al-Arabi SC in Kuwait, and Hassan Muhamood from Onduparaka FC.

Meanwhile, midfielders Yusuf Ssozi and Johnson Odong have all renewed their contracts with the club, who have set their sight in winning major titles in the coming season.

On unveiling Mawejje a week ago, Police chairman Asan Kasingye stated they will make sure they leave a mark in the league come the new season.

“We no longer just want to compete; we need to win trophies. We are former champions and its time to think big,” Kasingye told reporters.

“Football is a big enterprise in the world that doesn’t entertain mediocrity. We need to do the right thing like other clubs.”

Kasingye added it was the right time for the team to secure sponsors because Police are a big organisation and many people want to be part of it.

As he hopes to impress Bloemfontein Celtic’s technical team, former Mamelodi Sundowns striker Tokelo Rantie is barred from conducting interviews with the media.

According to Siwelele’s spokesman Sello Nduna, the Free State-based Premier Soccer League (PSL) club doesn’t want to put the former AFC Bournemouth hitman under pressure.

On the other hand, Nduna explains they have also taken the same measure on coach John Maduka, saying they want to protect the club from pressure.

“The team’s feeling is that both the coach and Tokelo should not do the interview now because he has not been signed yet, and we don’t want to put him and the team under pressure,” Nduna told DailySun.

The South African international is looking to secure a deal with the Nedbank Cup semi-finalists and has been training with the club since March when the 2019/20 PSL season was suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Although former coach Lehlohonolo Seema was seemingly impressed with the former Masandawana forward’s attitude in training, it seems the club is yet to decide on the 29-year-old’s future.

Rantie was released by coach Pitso Mosimane’s side following reports that he went AWOL from the club’s base at Chloorkop.

After featuring once for the reigning PSL champions in the Shell Helix Cup against Kaizer Chiefs, the Parys-born player was released in January.

On the other hand, Seema has since left the club to take over as Chippa United manager, replacing Rhulani Mokwena who returned to Sundowns, and Rantie still has to impress Maduka to earn a contract at the Mangaung-based outfit.

However, with the lanky striker a free agent, he is eligible to sign for the club should he impress Celtic and revive his ailing career.

Meanwhile, ex-Amakhosi assistant coach and Stars of Africa Academy boss Farouk Khan said there is very little coaches can do to help the striker, suggesting that Rantie is the only one that can solve his problems.

Celtic are ninth on the log with 28 points from 23 matches, and will target a top-eight finish when the season resumes next month, but their first assignment is against Baroka whom they meet in the Ke Yona semis next weekend.