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Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter has revealed the reason veteran goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune will captain the Glamour Boys this season.

The 34-year-old custodian was Chiefs’ captain in the 2020-21 campaign but he did not play regularly owing to injury and loss of form, which meant the armband was rotated between Ramahlwe Mphahlele, Samir Nurkovic, and Bernard Parker.

With Amakhosi set to kick off their campaign with an away game against TS Galaxy on Sunday, Baxter has revealed why Khune will continue to carry the armband in 2021-22 season.

What did Baxter say?

“We had a discussion around this the other day and the club captain will be Itu,” he told reporters as quoted by idiskitimes.

“Club captain, meaning whenever he plays he’s captain, whenever he doesn’t play, he’s still club captain. It doesn’t change that he is the voice of the squad and he is the go-to man, now that will not change.”

Despite confirming Khune as the captain, Baxter could not reveal who will take the assistant role.

“Apart from that, we wanted a captain for the team; we want all players to take responsibility. We want all players to have a voice, we want all players to be confident enough to help their teammates,” Baxter continued.

“Now, we’re talking about a senior player or a player that has been outstanding or a player that has clearly shown leadership qualities.

“Now that one, we might see against Mamelodi Sundowns but we want to be a captain-full team with people that are there to take the pressure, are there to take responsibility, there to have a voice and dare to express themselves.

“I think if you get lots of players good enough, the armband can almost go to anybody.”

Khune is among the players whose contracts were extended by the Soweto-giants ahead of the start of the season.

He started out as a striker when he arrived for trials at Chiefs in 1999, but assumed the gloves by chance after he experienced chest problems during a junior game and found himself being reduced to a ball boy.

Further PSL reading 

Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter will be keen to see his side start their Premier Soccer League campaign on a positive note when the Soweto giants face TS Galaxy at Mbombela Stadium on Sunday.

The match also marks Baxter’s first league outing as Amakhosi coach since he returned for a second stint at the club.

Interestingly, Baxter’s last PSL match in charge of Chiefs was a 2-0 win over Chippa United in May 2015 as they claimed the league title.

That was the last time the Soweto giants won a piece of major silverware.

TV Channel, Live Score & How To Watch

Squads & Team News

No TS Galaxy player is suspended and coach Owen Da Gama will have an opportunity to present some of his nine new signings in this match.

Right-back Pogiso Sanoka has been appointed captain for the season despite arriving at the club in February this year as a free agent. 

Chiefs have long-term injury concerns about attackers Leonardo Castro and Dumisani Zuma.

Forward Lebogang Manayama started training with the rest of the squad last week after a long period on the sidelines and could feature at Mbombela Stadium.

Midfielder Keagan Dolly is slowly returning to his best shape after arriving at Chiefs overweight according to Baxter and the player himself.

In the match against Mamelodi Sundowns last weekend, Dolly came on as a second-half substitute and provided an assist for Khama Billiat.

The two promised to reincarnate the old combination from their days at Masandawana.

Match Preview

While Chiefs and TS Galaxy will be opening their 2021/22 PSL campaign against each other, they interestingly, last met in the closing game of last season’s league race.

In that match, Chiefs won 1-0 courtesy of a Samir Nurkovic first-half strike at Mbombela Stadium on June 5 to secure a top-eight spot.

Now back in Mpumalanga, Amakhosi would be hoping to replicate that result against a side that once beat them in the Nedbank Cup final as a National First Division team. 

TS Galaxy will be facing a Chiefs side that has already gauged their capabilities in two high-profile games.

After making their nine new signings, the Soweto giants met Orlando Pirates in the Carling Black Label Cup and won on penalties.

Chiefs also faced Sundowns in last weekend’s MTN8 quarter-final match which they lost on penalties after a 2-2 regulation time draw.

TS Galaxy’s last competitive game was their hosting of Amakhosi in June. 

Having surrendered the league title, Gor Mahia will be playing for pride when they take on Nzoia Sugar at Ruaraka grounds on Sunday.

K’Ogalo will miss out on the title for the first time in four years but they will represent the country in the Caf Confederation Cup having won the FKF Shield Cup.

TV Channel, Live Stream & How To Watch

In Kenya, the game will NOT be LIVE on TV.

Squads & Team News

Gor Mahia head coach Mark Harrison has conceded his team struggled at various points this season because of squad depth and acknowledged it contributed to dismal performances in the top-flight.

“It is a struggle; we are struggling with the depth at the moment because we have 20 players for selection instead of the 26. having lost [several] payers,” Harrison told Goal.

“It means we have to be active in the transfer market, finding proper replacements for the players who have left and good signings for the new season.

“It is about reclaiming the title we have lost to our rivals and ensuring we are also competitive in continental competitions. It will happen if we get a strong squad and enough depth for the new campaign.”

Some of the players who missed Gor matches include Kenneth Muguna, who moved to sign for Tanzania’s Azam FC, and defender Charles Momanyi, who has joined Tusker.

Probable XI for Gor Mahia: Mathews, P. Otieno, Ochieng, Shakava, Momanyi, Wendo, Onyango, Nikiema, Ulimwengu, Macharia, Miheso.

Nzoia Sugar are targeting a good end to the season and coach Ibrahim Shikanda is confident they will finish with a win against K’Ogalo.

“We want to end the season well, we know Gor Mahia is a tough team but we want to finish on a high, we want a win and we will go for a win,” Shikanda told Goal ahead of the game. 

Probable XI for Nzoia Sugar: Katasi, Karani, Wanjala, Wandera, Ronack, Baraza, Kibande, Juma, Simiyu, Kapchanga, Felicien.

Match Preview

While Gor Mahia beat Posta Rangers 1-0 in their last league assignment, Nzoia Sugar secured a 0-0 draw against runaway leaders Tusker.

The Sugar Millers won the first round meeting 2-1 and they will be seeking to register their first double over the outgoing champions.

Last season, Gor Mahia won the two matches – 2-0 in the away game and 3-0 in the home game – while in 2019, Gor Mahia won the first meeting 2-1 but Nzoia recovered to win the second round fixture 1-0.

In the 2018 season, it was Gor Mahia who hauled six points from the fixture, winning the first meeting 1-0 and then finishing off with a 3-1 win.

While Gor Mahia are seventh on the log with 45 points from 31 matches, Nzoia are placed 14th with 30 points from 31 outings.

Marcus Rashford is "very happy" with how his shoulder surgery has gone, according to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, as the Manchester United forward makes his return to training with the club.

The attacker has been sidelined since the Euro 2020 Final at Wembley after opting to undergo a procedure to correct the long-standing issue, ruling him out of the opening weeks of the new term.

But with the operation a success, the England man has now returned to the club's facilities as he continues to step up his rehabilitation, with his manager noting that he is "chomping at the bit" to make his return.

What has been said?

“He seemed very happy with the surgery,” Solskjaer told United's website ahead of his side's trip to Southampton in the Premier League on Sunday.

“He’s working in the gym, we see him every day, so he’ll be chomping at the bit when it gets nearer to the time when he can come back."

The Norwegian also vouched that he expects Rashford to return in a rich vein of form, having struggled over the latter half of last season at various points

“Of course, any time you’re off with an injury is a hard time but it’s also time to reflect and find yourself again," he added. "That’s what we hope is going to happen to Marcus.”

The bigger picture

While Rashford's hit-and-miss form on the pitch for both United and England across the latter half of the 2020-21 campaign made for a club concern, his charitable actions off it have continued to inspire new generations.

Solskjaer has already backed the 23-year-old, alongside new recruit Jadon Sancho, to bounce back from the heartbreak of their penalty shootout misses against Italy in the Three Lions' Euro 2020 final defeat.

Now, with his latest step on the road to a full recovery complete, the forward will be hopeful of featuring once more for the Red Devils sooner rather than later.

Further reading

Former India international Syed Shahid Hakim has passed away at the age of 82. The former FIFA referee had recently suffered a stroke and was recuperating from the same at a hospital in Gulbarga, Karnataka. 

He was a member of the Indian squad that participated in the 1960 Rome Olympics, where they finished sixth. However, he did not get to play a single minute in the Olympics, where the coach was his own father Syed Abdul Rahim. 

He won the Santosh Trophy with Services in 1960 and at the club level, he plied his trade with City College Old Boys in Hyderabad and the Indian Air Force. 

After retiring from football, he took up refereeing as a profession and had been a FIFA International Referee, officiating in 33 international games including some matches in the prestigious AFC Asian Cup 1988 at Doha, Qatar.

He had served as the Chief Project Director at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) for over a decade his last assignment was as Project Director in charge of scouting before the 2017 U-17 FIFA World Cup.

Hakim was a former assistant coach of the Indian National team during the 1982 Asian Games and also independently took charge of the team during a tournament in Merdeka. He had guided Mahindra and Mahindra to the Durand Cup title in 1998 beating Kolkata giants East Bengal. His managerial career included stints at Salgaocar SC, Hindustan FC, and Bengal Mumbai Club. He also coached a boys team to win an inter-district tournament in Gulbarga recently.

He was conferred the Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017. He was the second footballer to receive the award after Shabbir Ali in 2011. 

AIFF President Praful Patel condoled his death and said, “It is devastating to hear that Hakim-saab is no more. He was a member of Indian Football’s golden generation who played a stellar role in popularising the sport in the country. His contribution to Indian Football can never be forgotten. I share the grief.”

Riyad Mahrez revelled in Manchester City’s first win of the 2021-22 Premier League season as the Citizens silenced Norwich City 5-0 on Saturday evening.

Having bowed 1-0 to Tottenham Hotspur in their first game, Pep Guardiola’s men stepped up to decimate the Canaries at the Etihad Stadium.

City got off to an impressive start in the seventh minute as goalkeeper Tim Krul turned the ball into his own net, before Jack Grealish doubled their advantage in the 22nd minute thanks to an assist from Gabriel Jesus.

Aymeric Laporte extended the hosts’ lead in the 64th minute before Raheem Sterling made it four goals for the reigning English champions in the 71st minute having been teed up by Jesus.

Mahrez – who replaced Grealish in the 75th minute – completed the rout six minutes from full time after firing past goalkeeper Krul following good work from Ruben Dias.

Satisfied with the performance of his team against Daniel Farke’s men, the Algerian star went on social media to celebrate: “The season has started,” the 30-year-old wrote on Instagram.

The 2016 African Player of the Year made his name at Leicester City, a club he joined from Le Havre in 2014.

After winning the English topflight with the Foxes, he moved to Man City for £60 million ($83m) in the summer of 2018 and has become an important member of their squad.

During the 2020-21 campaign, he featured in 27 league games with nine goals to his credit as the Citizens ruled England for the seventh time in their history.

The African star – in a recent interview - claimed to be embracing added fight for places in Guardiola’s squad, with the presence of Grealish and Phil Foden.

"I think I had good numbers last year, but I could’ve had more,” he told City+.

"But my performances were very good, so I was happy. The competition here has helped me a lot to improve my game. The manager as well. He is very demanding, he’s very into little details and he pushes you until the end.

"You have to be strong mentally to go higher and higher. You just have to work hard and play good every game and the manager decides, but if you play very good every game you have more of a chance to play."

Manchester City take on Arsenal in their next game on August 28.

Paul Pogba will not leave Manchester United in the current transfer window, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer insists.

The midfielder continues to be linked with a move away from Old Trafford as Paris Saint-Germain are reported to want the France international.

Pogba is in the last year of his contract with United and Solskjaer said in July that the club were in talks to tie him to a new deal.

What has been said?

Although Pogba has not come to an agreement with the Red Devils so far, Solskjaer does not see him leaving before the transfer window closes on August 31.

"Yes, I expect Paul to be here when the first of September comes," the United boss told reporters.

“If you've got a five-year contract or a one-year contract, when you sign for Man Utd you have to rise to the challenge of performing on a consistent level.

“I'm not worried whatsoever that the length of any player's contract is changing the level of their motivation and inspiration. You want to play well for your team, your team-mates, yourself, your family, every time you play.

“What I expect is that the attitude and the approach to every game is the right one. That we have the same focus, the right focus, the right professionalism and, with that, I have no worries about Paul whatsoever.”

He added: “As a footballer, when you look around and you see good footballers next to you, that puts another layer of responsibility on yourself and your own performances.

“You have to play well to be in the team, you have to play well to be successful in this team.

“Paul is enjoying his football and I've said many times, my job is to make sure we're getting the best out of Paul and Bruno (Fernandes) and all the very good players we've got within a team structure.

“For me, to make players stay at Man Utd, when you see a good squad and get good results that helps.

“There was no better place to be when I was a player because we kept on winning.”

Will Pogba sign a new deal?

The 28-year-old's future has been the subject of constant speculation, but Solskjaer is confident he will commit to a new deal.

The Norwegian said last week that the progress United have made over the last year will persuade Pogba that the club can match his ambition and lead to him signing an extension.

Meanwhile, former midfielder Paul Scholes has predicted he will remain at the Premier League side for the long term, saying: "I think he’ll end up signing a new contract.

"If this team carries on in this manner, progressing like it is – I don’t want to get too excited – but it’s a team that can go on and win trophies and that’s what he wants to do."

Further reading

Yusuf Demir became the youngest foreign player to feature for Barcelona in La Liga since Lionel Messi on Saturday.

The Austria international replaced Martin Braithwaite shortly after the hour mark of the Blaugrana's 1-1 draw with Athletic Club.

It is the first time the winger has featured for the Catalan side since joining this summer.

What has happened?

At 18 years and 80 days old, he is the youngest non-Spanish player to represent the Camp Nou side in La Liga in almost 17 years. 

Barca icon Messi was the previous youngest, having made his top-flight debut for the club in October 2004 at the age of 17 years and 114 days.

What has been said?

Speaking after the game, Barca coach Ronald Koeman suggested that Demir will learn and benefit from the experience of playing at San Mames.

Koeman said: "Demir has had a hard time in the big San Mames stadium because he's still very young, but it is very good for him to have made his debut here to begin to adapt to football of this level."

Who is Yusuf Demir?

Demir joined the Blaugrana from Rapid Vienna in July in an initial loan deal that includes a €10 million (£9m/$12m) purchase option

He impressed in his homeland after making his debut in the Bundesliga in 2019 and went on to make 38 senior appearances.

Demir got his first cap for Austria in March, coming off the bench in the last five minutes of the 3-1 win against Faroe Islands in 2022 World Cup qualifying.

Further reading

Gerard Pique went off injured in the first half of Barcelona's La Liga match against Athletic Club.

The centre-back went down after an aerial duel with Alex Berenguer at the half-hour mark of the clash in Bilbao.

He was taken off shortly afterwards and replaced by 22-year-old Ronald Araujo.

What has happened?

Barca coach Ronald Koeman said in his pre-match press conference that the 34-year-old had been suffering from "minor annoyances" but had trained as normal this week.

But the defender has become increasingly unable to finish matches for the Camp Nou outfit.

This is the sixth time he has been taken off in his last 13 starts in La Liga, which is the same number of times he had been substituted in his previous 111 starting XI appearances.

Pique's fitness woes

The Spain international's contribution to Barcelona last season was limited by injuries.

He was kept out for four months with a knee injury in the middle of the campaign but lasted less than a month before being ruled out with another issue.

As a result, Pique made just 18 appearances in La Liga as Koeman's side finished third in the table.

Further reading

Manuel Pellegrini has labelled La Liga a "disgrace" for being too slow and says they must do more to cut out the time-wasting and diving.

The Chilean coach saw his Real Betis team held to a 1-1 draw by Cadiz in their league clash on Friday.

Pellegrini was disappointed his side could not find the winner against such defensive opponents and feels the Spanish top flight is being held back by teams that disrupt the flow of matches.

What has been said?

Pellegrini launched into a tirade in his post-match press conference, telling reporters: "We have to make an effort between referees, coaches and players so that La Liga is not this shame because in the referees' meeting they told us that it is the slowest league in Europe. 

"People want to watch a show, and we're not giving it to them. The most time-wasting, the most dives, it's a disgrace.

"There is a show that we have to take care of. People pay a ticket for something."

What next for Betis?

Pellegrini's team have two points from as many matches so far in La Liga.

But a huge test awaits his side next week as they host Real Madrid at the Estadio Benito Villamarin.

The Verdiblancos have a respectable record against the capital club, though, having won two and drawn one of their last six meetings.

Further reading

It may not feel like it, but this weekend’s fixture between Arsenal and Chelsea sees the Gunners coming in as the form team.

The Blues may have finished the 2020/21 season with Europe’s ultimate prize, but they curiously found Mikel Arteta an inscrutable puzzle over the course of the campaign.

First, Frank Lampard tried his hand at it, and came away with a 3-1 defeat; then Thomas Tuchel was forced to watch in bemusement as Arsenal pulled off the ultimate smash-and-grab, defying their low possession share to come away with a 1-0 win from Stamford Bridge.

Go back a few months before that, and the image of Pierre Emerick Aubameyang sashaying past Kurt Zouma and dinking the ball into the back of the net for the FA Cup went viral many times over.

It is a patch of form that completely belies the trajectory of the clubs involved.

While Chelsea were large and in charge against Crystal Palace on the opening day, Arsenal laboured in defeat to newly promoted Brentford, failing to muster an attempt on target until the final third of the game.

It painted a glum picture of the season ahead, so much so that not even the rash of transfer activity during the week has been enough to lift the spirits of the club faithful.

While the European champions will know better than to take the outcome of any derby (let alone this one) for granted, they will be aware this is as good a chance as any to arrest their poor run of recent form against the Gunners.

Quite apart from the form sheet, there has been an inversion of fortunes for both sides where it matters most. While Arsenal could, in all likelihood, be without the services of their two senior strikers – Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette – for the second week running, Chelsea are set to hand a start to their new standard bearer in attack.

For Romelu Lukaku, the opportunity to be the main man for the club he first joined as a teenager back in 2011 has been a long time coming.

The Belgium international has had to prove himself away from London in the ensuing decade, but now returns as a striker at the very zenith of his powers and as one of the premier practitioners of the finishing art in football today.

His hefty transfer valuation, which Chelsea were only too happy to pay to prise him away from Italian champions Inter, is testament to that.

That he is making his second debut in this fixture is also quite significant and symbolic. It is, after all, against Arsenal that Didier Drogba, the man Lukaku has cited as an idol growing up, often let loose.

The Ivorian wreaked havoc frequently upon the Gunners, being the embodiment of the very things that Arsene Wenger’s post-Invincibles vintage struggled with: unabashed physicality and explosiveness.

As Arsenal shifted toward a more technical, prosaic style, Drogba feasted, allowing Chelsea to play quickly and directly and himself dominating duels against the likes of Philippe Senderos, Kolo Toure, former teammate William Gallas and Thomas Vermaelen.

In all, he scored 13 goals in 15 appearances against the Gunners, memorably snatched the 2009 FA Cup trophy late on, and left mental and emotional scars in his wake. “I knew Philippe Senderos… against Chelsea, against Didier Drogba, where he would genuinely panic, like he was going through the match before playing it,” Gallas told French outlet RMC in 2018.

Instructively, Arsenal only ever managed one Premier League win over the Blues with Drogba in the line-up: a 3-1 triumph in 2010 at the Emirates Stadium.

Lukaku does not himself have such a gilded record against Arsenal.

Over 17 appearances across four clubs in England, the 28-year-old has only scored thrice when facing the Gunners, and only has four wins under his belt against Chelsea’s London rivals.

However, there is an important caveat to take into account.

For one, while Drogba arrived on the Premier League scene fully formed as a whirling force of nature, Lukaku has had to learn his craft on the most pressurized of stages.

The Belgian has also lurched between managerial approaches: from the minimalist stylings of West Bromwich Albion and Manchester United under Jose Mourinho, to the expansive, front-foot football of Roberto Martinez (first at Everton and now at international level with Belgium) and Antonio Conte.

It is under the latter that Lukaku has come on in leaps and bounds, dominating Serie A and leading Inter’s title charge over the last two seasons. At 28, where earlier in his career there was a degree of uncertainty as to how best to harness his manifest gifts, now the idea of Lukaku is crystallized. He will isolate, pin centre-backs, spin in behind, dominate in the air and finish with aplomb...just like Drogba.

The Ivorian’s first goal against Arsenal only came at the age of 27. Lukaku is a year late then, but that will not worry him too much. It won’t be any comfort to Arsenal’s defensive line on Sunday either, one can imagine.

The common denominator in all of Chelsea’s three recent defeats to the Gunners has been the absence of a true centre-forward to stick the ball in the back of the net. With Lukaku, that won’t be much of a problem anymore.

PSV Eindhoven recorded a comprehensive 4-1 victory over SC Cambuur in Saturday’s Dutch topflight game, with Noni Madueke among the goal scorers.

The England youth international of Nigerian origin scored a second-half goal as the Farmers breezed past the Yellow-Blues at the Philips Stadion.

Having suffered a 2-1 home defeat to Groningen in their opening match of the 2021-22 campaign, Henk de Jong’s men travelled to Eindhoven with the ambition of securing their first win of the season.

Nonetheless, the reverse was the case as they were unable to stop their rampant hosts.  

Pained by their midweek loss to Benfica – which ended their 17-match unbeaten run in all competitions – PSV started the game like a house on fire as they dominated every department of the game.

It took them just 17 minutes to take the lead as Davy Propper was in the right place at the right time to meet a well-executed corner kick by Netherlands international of Togolese and Ghanaian descents Cody Gakpo.

The visitors were yet to settle down before they doubled their advantage three minutes later through Eran Zahavi, who profited from an assist from Bruma.

Not willing to leak more goals, Cambuur adopted a defensive approach as they went into the half-time break with a two-goal deficit.

Roger Schmidt’s men extended their lead through Madueke in the 47th minute. He latched on to a pass from Jordan Teze to beat goalkeeper Sonny Stevens from the edge of the box.

Sierra Leone prospect Alex Bangura reduced the deficit for the visitors in the 65th minute – showing great composure to drill home a pass from Issa Kallon.

Olivier Boscagli restored PSV’s three-goal advantage in the 93rd minute with a cool finish.

This win is a morale booster for the 24-time Dutch league kings ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League play-off round second leg encounter against Benfica.

The Portuguese side claimed a 2-1 win in the first leg and anything short of victory against Jorge Jesus’ men would see PSV get demoted to Europa League.

For Cambuur, they would be hoping to come out of defeat when they welcome FC Twente to the Cambuur Stadion Leeuwarden on August 28. 

ATK Mohun Bagan registered a brilliant comeback to beat Maziya S&RC 3-1 in matchday 2 in Group D of the 2021 AFC Cup at the Maldives national football stadium, Male, on Saturday.

The Maldivian side led 1-0 at half-time thanks to a strike by Aisam Ibrahim (24') from a counter-attack. However, Antonio Habas' men turned the table in the second half with Liston Colaco's (47') equaliser followed by Roy Krishna (63') putting his side into the lead and Manvir Singh bagging the insurance goal in the 76th minute.

Bengaluru FC crashed out of the AFC Cup 2021 group stage after managing a goalless draw in their second game of the group against Bangladesh's Bashundhara Kings.

Why did Bengaluru crash out of the AFC Cup after their second match?

After losing their opening fixture 0-2 against fellow Indian Super League (ISL) side ATK Mohun Bagan, the Blues had to win their second tie if they wanted to remain in the hunt for the knock-out spot. But the draw meant that the Marco Pezzaiuoli's side are now out of contention.

Bengaluru managed to pick just one point from two games. This means that even if the Blues win their third match, they can reach four points maximum. 

Their final game of the group will be an inconsequential clash against local club Maziya S&RC on August 24.

How can ATK Mohun Bagan qualify to the knockout stage?

As a result of the win over Maziya S&RC, and having defeated Bengaluru FC 2-0 in the previous game, the Mariners have reclaimed the top spot in the group as they now have six points from two games. Bashundhara Kings are second with four points, after the Bangladesh Premier League champions followed up a 2-0 win over Maziya with a goalless draw against Bengaluru FC on Saturday.

As only one team from Group D can progress to the next round where they will face the winner of the Central Asia Zonal final, the Kolkata giants now only need to avoid a defeat against Bashundhara Kings in the final group game on Tuesday in order to the Inter-zone play-off semi-finals.

If Bagan lose against Bashundhara Kings, then the Bangladeshi club will go through.

TS Galaxy midfielder Masilake Phohlongo has fired a warning to Kaizer Chiefs ahead of their opening match of the 2021/22 PSL season on Sunday.  

The Rockets will play host to Amakhosi at Mbombela Stadium where they achieved big results last season beating Chiefs' Soweto rivals, Swallows FC and Orlando Pirates. 

Phohlongo, who netted the winning goal against Pirates, stressed the importance of not conceding against the Glamour Boys. 

“It is a bit sad that we don’t have supporters at the stadium. Mbombela Stadium is our fortress” Phohlongo told the club's official website. "We’ve beaten the likes of Swallows and Orlando Pirates at Mbombela. We must not concede. That is going to be key for us."

However, Galaxy succumbed to a 1-0 loss to Chiefs at Mbombela Stadium in their final league match of the 2020/21 campaign, with Samir Nurkovic scoring the only goal of the encounter.

Phohlongo is pleased with the team's preparations and he also promised that they will fight in order to get can get the better of Amakhosi.

“As a team we are ready. We are prepared. It is the first game of the season. It is a must-win game for us. We know what we are looking for in a season. Everyone is ready," the 24-year-old continued. "The competition for places is tough. We will fight for one another. We’ve worked hard as a team. If we continue to work hard as a team, then the individuals will shine.

"When it comes to big games, the team always works hard. Everyone in this team wants to play against the so-called big teams. We want to win every game and it will start on Sunday. We are ready for it."

Chiefs are coming into this clash having been booted out of this season's MTN8 after losing to Mamelodi Sundowns in the quarter-finals last week.

“We have watched them. We’ve seen their weaknesses and strengths. Chiefs are a big team. We will give them respect but in the field of play, it is eleven versus eleven," Phohlongo added. "We are ready.

"On Sunday, it is going to be all about who works hard. We need to fight."

Phohlongo was part of the Bafana Bafana squad which won the 2021 Cosafa Cup in Port Elizabeth.

Brighton and Hove Albion continued their fine Premier League start with a convincing 2-0 victory over Watford on Saturday evening.

First-half goals from Shane Duffy and Neal Maupay propelled the Seagulls past the Hornets inside the American Express Community Stadium.

Both teams came into the fixture having recorded victories their last time out. Brighton secured a 2-1 away win at Burnley, while Xisco Munoz's side defeated Aston Villa 3-2 at the Vicarage Road.

Parading the Nigerian trio of William Troost-Ekong, Emmanuel Dennis and Peter Etebo, Watford showed promise after the blast of Anthony Taylor’s whistle, but it was the hosts who took the lead in the tenth minute through Duffy.

The Republic of Ireland defender headed a perfect Pascal Gross’ corner-kick past goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann.

Despite their advantage, Graham Potter’s men continued to probe the visitors’ backline in search of more goals.

Nonetheless, their persistence paid off four minutes before the half-time break as Maupay doubled their advantage.

Man-of-the-match Yves Bissouma picked the pocket of Tom Cleverley in Watford half, before setting up the French forward who beat Bachmann in goal.

The hosts could have gone three goals up shortly after the restart, only for substitute Aaron Connolly to blaze his effort wide from just six yards out.

With no goals in the remaining minutes played, Potters’ men secured all points at stake to equal their longest unbeaten run (six matches) on home soil since their return to the EPL.

Troost-Ekong, Dennis and Etebo were in action for Watford from start to finish alongside Ismaila Sarr (Senegal) and Adam Masina (Morocco).

Meanwhile, Masina’s compatriot Imran Louza played no part in the defeat, while Ghana prospect Kwadwo Baah was an unused substitute.

On the other hand, Brighton paraded Mali international Bissouma for 90 minutes, while Zambia ace Enock Mwepu was introduced for Leandro Trossard in the 72nd minute. South Africa international Percy Tau was not listed by manager Potter.

The Hornets would be hoping to bounce back to reckoning when they travel to London for their next league outing against Tottenham Hotspur on August 29. Five days earlier, they lock horns with Crystal Palace at Vicarage Road in an English League Cup fixture.

Cheick Doucoure was given his marching orders as Ignatius Ganago and Simon Banza powered Lens to a 2-0 win over AS Monaco in Saturday’s Ligue 1 outing.

Playing his third game in the 2021-22 campaign, the Mali international midfielder was shown the way out by referee Jeremie Pignard a minute after the hour mark.

A reckless tackle on Krepin Diatta saw him red-carded, leaving Franck Haise’s team reduced to 10 men.

This is the first time the 21-year-old has been sent off for club and country since the start of his professional career in 2018.

Unbeaten in their last six games in all competitions, the Blood and Gold travelled to Stade Louis II to face Niko Kovac’s team – who were hoping to return to winning ways after defeats to Shakhtar Donetsk and Lorient in recent outings.

Despite dominating possession in the opening half, Monaco blew away numerous scoring opportunities.

Lens had their first major chance after 18 minutes, when Ganago took an ambitious shot, only for it to sail narrowly wide over Alexander Nuebel’s woodwork.  

Eight minutes before the end of 45 minutes, another chance beckoned for the hosts, but Jean Lucas’ speculative effort found the middle of Jean-Leca’s goal and refused to trouble him.

Seven minutes into the second half, the visitors took the lead in style. Benefitting from a pass from Jonathan Clauss, Ganago plotted his way through a poor Monaco backline before firing past Nuebel.

Even at Lens’ numerical disadvantage, Kovac’s men failed to take the initiative as their harvest of misses continued.

Their ambition to equalize suffered a massive setback in the 86th minute as Aleksandr Golovin was sent off for serious foul play.

Lens built on the newfound parity of players to double their advantage through substitute Banza. Przemyslaw Frankowski teed up the DR Congo prospect who made no mistake in finding the net.

Thanks to this win, Lens climbed to fourth in the log having accrued five points from three games, while Monaco occupy the 17th position with just one point.

The Monegasques will be hoping to return to winning ways against Troyes on August 29. Before then, they travel to Ukraine for their Champions League play-off round second leg against Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday.