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South Africa youth international Sphephelo Sithole is delighted after making his debut in the Portuguese Primeira Liga for CF Os Belenenses.

The 21-year-old midfielder played his first competitive match for the Blues From Restelo as they fought back to hold Sporting Braga to a 1-1 draw on Wednesday night.

Sithole was introduced in the 76th minute with his side trailing 1-0 at Estadio Municipal de Braga and the equalizing goal was netted by Mateo Casierra four minutes later.

Belenenses also had South African defender-come-midfielder Thibang Phete on the pitch as they claimed a point against their much-fancied hosts.

His countryman Sithole became the first South African footballer to test positive for the coronavirus two months ago.

However, the lanky player has since recovered from the deadly virus which has caused significant disruption to the worldwide sporting calendar.

Sithole took to social media to express his delight at making his professional debut and he is already looking forward to their next match which is against Gil Vicente on Sunday, July 19.

"I'm very happy to have made my professional debut and for helping the team to earn a point in the match. Now let's move on to the next game," Sithole wrote on his official Twitter account.

Belenenses are currently placed 14th on the Primeira Liga log - two points above the relegation zone and they will be looking to win their last two games in order to retain their status in Portugal's top-flight league.

Sithole was nurtured in the KwaZulu-Natal Academy before he moved to Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon's academy in 2017.

The promising midfielder, who has played for the South Africa under-17 and under-20 national teams, also had a spell with Portuguese club Vitoria Guimaraes' Under-23 side.

He was snapped up by Belenenses at the beginning of the current season and he has now played his maiden game for the Blues From Restelo's first team.

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder has sent a message to pub patrons who claim they were unlucky not to have a career in football to “shut up”, as they clearly did not have the same desire to succeed as Leicester striker Jamie Vardy.

Vardy came up the hard way in the footballing ranks, first being released by Sheffield Wednesday as a youth and grafting his way through the lower tiers before eventually being signed by Nigel Pearson for the Foxes in 2012.

The English attacker, now 33 years old, would go on to win the Championship and then the Premier League just a year after being promoted, and Wilder was candid in his assessment of the big talkers who claim injuries or bad luck prevented them from reaching the same heights as Vardy.

“I go to the pub quite often after we've had a win and it makes me smile sometimes when you might be sat in company and people will say, 'I could have made it' or, 'Yeah, I was a bit unlucky' and, 'I had an injury and something didn't happen for me',” the Blades boss told a press conference.

“You know what? Sat in the pub watching the TV up in the corner and going, 'Yeah, that could have been me', well, it wasn't you. It wasn't you, that's what I would say. It wasn't you because you didn't do it. You didn't get off the canvas like Jamie Vardy.

“You didn't go and prove yourself, you didn't take the setbacks and keep coming back and step back and keep coming back. You didn't. So you deserve to be in the pub and have the career that you've had, not the one that Jamie Vardy's got. So shut up.”

He added: “From a professional point of view and watching him in his career, it's been a magnificent effort. 

“To be released by the team you love is a hammer blow and to get up off the canvas and prove people wrong by getting his hands dirty at Stocksbridge and Halifax and Fleetwood, and then Nigel to take a punt for a million quid was a huge statement and one that's proved justified. 

“To prove himself in the Championship and into the Premier League, Premier League winner, England international, serial goalscorer and still having the drive and determination to go right to the final breath he has a footballer, he's an incredible example for a footballer.”

General Director of Lille Marc Ingla has confirmed the imminent departure of their star forward Victor Osimhen to Serie A side Napoli.

The forward has been heavily linked with a move to the Parthenopeans lately following his eye-catching performances in his debut season with the Stade Pierre-Mauroy outfit.

After his initial fear of racism in Italy, the striker has now made up his mind to team up with Gennaro Gattuso’s men and to ensure the success of the move, after he recently changed his agent.

According to L'Equipe, the Nigeria international started negotiations with the Stadio San Paolo outfit on Monday and a deal of about €81 million could be reached soon.  

Should the move be successful, the forward would earn seven times more than what he currently earns at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy outfit.

During the unveiling of Isaac Lihadj, Ingla affirmed Osimhen’s transfer to Napoli has reached the final stage of completion.

"We are in the last stage [of discussions]. The player has made his choice. It is a regret to see him leave but we must be aware of the strength of the market,” Ingla said.

"We do not hide our economic model. We must not only consider the amount of the transfer but also the salary that is offered to the player.

“We are not a final destination. With us, players thrive. We use their talent but we also build their careers. We are also in this process. It is the life of a club and the market. For him and his family, this can be an exceptional opportunity."

Last summer the French outfit sold Ivory Coast international Nicolas Pepe to Arsenal for £72 million and Osimhen’s deal could surpass that amount, which will see him become Nigeria's most expensive player.

The forward joined the Stade Pierre-Mauroy outfit last summer from Belgian side Sporting Charleroi and delivered fine performances.

The 21-year-old bagged 18 goals and provided six assists in 38 appearances across all competitions, winning the club’s Player of the Season award among other accolades.

Osimhen burst into the limelight at the 2015 U17 World Cup in Chile, where he won the Golden Boot and Silver Ball awards to help Nigeria win the title.

The Ultimate Strikers Academy graduate, who currently has nine caps for the Super Eagles, will link up with Senegal international Kalidou Koulibaly if his transfer is successful.

Liverpool have been "in holiday mode" since winning the title, according to Jermaine Pennant, who was left "raging" after seeing the Reds let the Premier League points record slip away.

The Reds were named champions of England for the first time in 30 years when Manchester City suffered a 2-1 loss away to Chelsea on June 25.

Jurgen Klopp's men picked up an elusive piece of silverware with seven games left to spare, but have been guilty of taking their foot off the gas amid city-wide celebrations over the last few weeks.

Liverpool lost heavily to City at Etihad Stadium a week after their coronation, and also dropped points at home to Burnley last Saturday, with wins against Aston Villa and Brighton wedged in between.

They were still on track to set a new standard in terms of points won in single-season heading into their final three fixtures, but a 2-1 humbling at the hands of Arsenal on Wednesday officially put the record beyond their reach.

Sadio Mane gave the Reds the lead at Emirates Stadium, before the Gunners completed a stunning turnaround before half-time thanks to goals from Alexandre Lacazette and Reiss Nelson.

Pennant has criticised Klopp's side for throwing the game away, while accusing the players of allowing complacency to creep in at a time when a place in the hall of fame beckoned.

The former Liverpool winger told Talksport: “Look, if we had got beat, I’d have accepted it. Fair enough, we’ve gone to Arsenal and we lost. But they didn’t beat us, we handed it to them on a platter!

“They had three shots on our goal and scored two, we had 24 attempts and scored one… I’m raging!

"It’s about making more history. I get it, 30 years not winning the league and now we’ve won it, but what, then we get complacent?

“Let’s go on to win a bit more, let’s be a great team like Man City have been over the last two years.

“They’ve won the league and everyone’s human so they feel they’ve got nothing to play for now.

“But it’s like, subconsciously, they’re in holiday mode and they’ve just come off the boil a little bit, but they should keep on going!

“We’ve won the league and we haven’t really been allowed to celebrate it properly, so why not create a little bit more history to give the fans something to cheer about a little bit more?”

Konami are set to launch the 20th instalment of their hugely popular Pro Evolution Soccer series in 2020, with gamers itching to find out what eFootball Pro Evolution Soccer 2021 - PES 2021 has in store.

Every year, PES is up against its arch rival FIFA in the clash for football video game supremacy and, having clawed back some ground from EA Sports' best-selling title, the hope will be to improve on things in 2020.

Goal takes a look at when PES 2021 will be released, what the price will be, which licences it will have and much more.

Contents

When is PES 2021 released? 

PES 2021 will be released on September 15, 2020 - in keeping with previous launch dates - and it will be available as a downloadable 'season update'.

The early September release date is consistent with the apparent policy of launching roughly two weeks before EA Sports' FIFA series, with FIFA 21 expected to be released at the end of September .

A demo should, in theory, be available to play from July or August if previous launch schedules are followed.

Konami released a trailer for the game on July 16, which can be watched below.

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What is the price of PES 2021? 

The standard edition of PES 2021 can be pre-ordered at a special price of £24.99 in the United Kingdom or $29.99 in the United States.

Club editions (for Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Juventus, Manchester United or Arsenal) cost slightly more at £29.99 in the UK and $34.99 in the US.

Those special prices are half the usual price of the new PES games, which tend to fall in the region of £50 in the UK or $60 in the US. 

In 2019, the initial sale price of PES 2020 was £47.99 in the UK and $59.99 in the U.S., which made the game slightly cheaper to buy than its FIFA 20 counterpart.

The 'Legend' edition of PES 2020, which featured Ronaldinho on the cover, was a bit more expensive at £59.99 in the UK and $79.99 in the U.S.

It is likely that the price of the game will be somewhat more costly when it is eventually released on next generation consoles such as the PS5 and Xbox Series X.

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What licences will PES 2021 have?

Konami has recently been increasing its number of licensing agreements and the company has landed several star attractions in the past few seasons, including Juventus, Barcelona and Manchester United.

We know for certain that Barcelona will remain in the game as an official partner, having signed a new four-year deal with Konami in 2019.

Similarly, we can be sure that Juventus will be a key feature of PES 2021 because the Serie A giants agreed 'a long-term' exclusive partnership with the company in 2019. The exclusivity means that Juventus are known as 'Piemonte Calcio' in FIFA 20 and that will probably continue to be the case in FIFA 21.

Arsenal is another club that will definitely feature as an officially licensed team after agreeing to extend their agreement with Konami for a further three years in 2019.

Konami's agreements with Milan and Inter will not be applicable in PES 2021, so they will be known as Milano RN and Lombardia NA - the initials being a reference to Rossoneri and Nerazzurri .

You can see a list of the officially licensed teams that have been confirmed for on PES 2021. More will follow.

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Which consoles will PES 2021 be out on?

PES 2021 will be released on PS4, Xbox One and PC.

The new game is also expected to be released on the new Sony PS5 and Xbox Series X, but it is not clear if it will be a launch title on the next gen devices.

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When can I pre-order PES 2021? 

Gamers can pre-order PES 2021 right now, with Konami promoting the 25th anniversary special price from July.

Click below for more information on how to pre-order PES 2021 and avail of the special offers:

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What new features will PES 2021 have?

We do not know yet what new features will be included in PES 2021, but fans have been making their views heard about what they would like to see.

We've taken a look at what fresh additions will be in the game as well as some areas of possible improvement.

Euro 2020 (2021)

Expect to see a bespoke Euro 2020 patch update in PES 2021.

Konami had been working towards releasing such an update in April 2020 for PES 2020, but UEFA's decision to postpone the tournament means that the big launch on PES 2020 was delayed. 

With the tournament now not taking place until June 2021, it makes sense for Konami to include it in their new game, though it may not be available straight away.

The new game is set to hit shelves in September and Euro 2020 play-offs will likely be played in November, so a European Championship patch could be available before then.

Master League improvements

The Master League is the PES equivalent to Career Mode on FIFA and, while the overall experience of the mode is generally satisfying for many, there are small tweaks that could be made.

Small changes to the user experience side of things, as well as issues such as managing transfers, friendly matches and rate of player improvement have all been highlighted by gamers online.

Better graphics & gameplay

With the prospect of PES 2021 on PS5 and Xbox Series X, PES fans can rightly expect to see an improvement in the game's graphics and gamplay on a higher spec game engine.

A common request among gamers is the expansion of dynamic weather, lighting and match experience.

So, for example, the rhythm of a game can change if it suddenly blows a gale or the heavens unleash a deluge, while certain players are subjected to more scrutiny by supporters for various reasons.

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Who will be on the cover of PES 2021?

Lionel Messi was on the cover of the standard edition of PES 2020 and there is a strong possibility that the Barcelona captain will remain the face of the game worldwide.

The Argentine is prominent in the launch trailer and the promotional imagery on the official website, suggesting that he will be the PES 2021 cover star.

Indeed, Barca also adorned the front cover of the Legend edition of the previous game, with Ronaldinho appearing in the colours of the Catalan club as the star attraction.

However, there will undoubtedly be some pressure from Juventus to get their main man Cristiano Ronaldo on the cover, particularly considering the exclusive nature of their agreement.

It is also possible that Konami will split cover image honours between a selection of their official partners' stars.

For PES 2020, Messi was joined on some versions with Manchester United's Scott McTominay, Juve's Miralem Pjanic and Bayern Munich's Serge Gnabry.

Konami do offer club specific editions of the game which solely feature cover stars from some of their partner clubs.

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Mikel Arteta needs £150 million ($189m) to spend on a new squad, according to Perry Groves, who says Arsenal played "survival football" during their win over Liverpool.

Arsenal welcomed the newly crowned Premier League champions to Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night, where they were looking to bounce back from a frustrating north London derby defeat to Tottenham.

Liverpool dominated possession throughout the match, managing 24 shots at goal to the Gunners' total of three, with Sadio Mane opening the scoring 20 minutes in.

However, Alexandre Lacazette pounced on a short backpass from Virgil van Dijk to level the scores just after the half-hour mark, before Reiss Nelson completed an unlikely first-half turnaround.

Arsenal held on for a 2-1 victory, but Arteta admitted post-match that there is still a huge gulf between the two sides in terms of quality.

The Gunners boss also conceded that significant investment in the transfer market this summer will be necessary for his side to close that gap, and Groves understands the Spaniard's frustration.

The former Arsenal midfielder says the current squad is lacking depth in several departments, with it his belief that Arteta has done an impressive job of maximising their output since inheriting the managerial reigns in December.

“Arsenal need money spent in different areas, especially at centre-half and in central midfield," Groves told Talksport.

“I can see what Arteta is trying to do, I can see there’s a plan, but at the moment he’s dealing with six, seven, eight players he knows he doesn’t really want, but, he’s got to keep using them and be cute.

“We’ve got a lot of young players coming in, which is good, but watching the game against Liverpool it was survival football, let’s be honest. There is a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel, but the finances, that squad probably needs £100m or £150m spent on it.”

Arsenal are ninth in the Premier League standings at the moment, but they can still secure a Europa League spot if they win their remaining two fixtures against Aston Villa and Watford. The win over Spurs left them with 53 points from 36 games, two behind rivals Tottenham in seventh.

Ghana youngster Mohammed Kudus completed a move to Dutch giants Ajax Amsterdam on Thursday.

The 19-year-old joins Erik ten Hag's fold from Danish outfit Nordsjaelland on a five-year deal reportedly worth €9 million.

He has been handed the No.20 jersey at the Eredivisie side.

"Ajax have reached an agreement with Mohammed Kudus and FC Nordsjaelland about the transfer of the Ghanaian to Amsterdam," Ajax announced on their official website.

"The multifunctional midfielder/attacker will sign a contract that will take effect immediately and he has a term of five years, until June 30, 2025.

"Kudus was born on August 2, 2000 in Accra, Ghana."

Kudus made 25 Super Liga appearances for Nordsjaelland this season, starting 22 of the games and scoring 11 times.

"I would have liked to have left FCN [FC Nordsjaelland], the club's fans and my teammates with European football to look forward to next season, and it is a disappointment to me that it did not succeed, but I feel that after all, I got a footprint, and everyone in the club must know that you have left a big imprint on my heart that I will always have with me," the attacker told his former club's official website. 

"It has been a long journey for me with both tailwinds and bumps on the road. I am grateful for it because it has brought me development, confidence and opportunities.

"Now a new place awaits me and Ajax Amsterdam is a very special club with a very special culture, which I look forward to embracing. I look forward to continuing my development at Ajax and continuing the pursuit of my dream. 

"I owe it to all my coaches and teammates in FC Nordsjælland and at Right to Dream."

The 19-year-old joined Nordsjaelland from feeder Ghanaian club Right to Dream Academy in 2018.

"Kudus' journey and development with us has been fantastic. A huge gift must be given to Kudus himself and to the many coaches, staff members and teammates who have contributed to the big step he is now ready to take," Nordsjaelland coach Jan Laursen said.

"That the choice ends up falling on Ajax is the result of a very long and thorough process where they have followed him closely and they have been really thorough and have laid out a plan for him so that his development can continue and we will hopefully see him realise the enormous potential in future.

"It is no coincidence that Kudus has reached where he is now and that he could strive so quickly in FCN and Denmark. 

"His time at Right to Dream Academy shaped him into the strong player and strong man he is today. The many tournaments he played with his [would-be] future teammates in FC Nordsjælland at our joint international academy have had a great impact on the feeling and welcome and as he was ready to perform both humanly and as a football player. 

"We are very proud of both Kudus, his entire journey and the great work behind it all in Denmark and in Ghana."

After representing Ghana at both U17 and U20 levels, Kudus made a step-up to the senior team last year, scoring on his debut as the Black Stars beat South Africa 2-0 in a 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier last November. 

Barcelona defender Jean-Clair Todibo has revealed that Manchester United refused to sign him after a trial in his teenage years.

Todibo began his professional journey at Toulouse, where he spent three years before being snapped up by Barcelona on a free transfer in January 2019.

The French centre-back's career trajectory could have been quite different had United decided to offer him a contract before he moved to Stadium de Toulouse from Les Lilas as a youth player.

The 20-year-old says he was pleased with how he performed during his brief trial with the Red Devils, but was left in the dark when they decided against bringing him onto their books permanently.

"It was crazy, I went from Les Lilas to United," Todibo told Onze Mondial. "It was a dream that was coming true when I hadn’t done anything, really. It was just a trial. Everything went well, but I wasn’t taken.

"I don’t know why my trial didn’t lead to anything. I still haven’t received an explanation to this day."

The defender's first year at Barca was a frustrating one, as he was restricted to just five first-team appearances amid strong competition for places alongside the likes of Gerard Pique, Clement Lenglet and Samuel Umtiti.

The Blaugrana decided to send Todibo out on loan to Schalke in the winter transfer window, and he featured in ten games for the German outfit before missing the end of the 2019-20 campaign through injury.

The France U20 international feels he was unfairly omitted from Barca's squad on a number of occasions in the first half of the season, as he added: "For me, this season, I deserved more playing time.

"The first six months, when I arrived, I did not mind not playing because in training, I saw that I didn’t have the level yet, but this year, I would have deserved to play more. I didn’t make a big deal out of it because it was the choice of the coach and I understand. 

"If I’m a coach, I prefer to put Pique to Todibo. He has a real track record, he’s a great player - but I think I could have played certain matches."

Uganda attacking midfielder Moses Waiswa believes young players like Vipers SC's Frank Tumwesigye, who is commonly referred to as Zaga and Ashraf Mugume need support and trust to realise their potential.

Zaga and Allan Okello were seen as the prospects of Ugandan football, but while the former has proved his ability and sealed a move to Moroccan top-tier side Paradou AC, his peer is struggling to get playing time at the newly crowned Ugandan Premier League side.

"I can say Frank Tumwesigye and Ashraf Mugume (Fadiga) are in the same category, so talented but need support and trust," Waiswa said as quoted by Football256. 

"They can be great treasures in our football. Zaga is a promising and a very talented young lad. So, I will say he needs your support and trust for him to gain back his full confidence.

"He came from a hard background with bad people so we need to applaud him for his resilience because amidst the struggles he has kept pushing."

The 23-year-old SuperSport United player feels the player's confidence is a notch lower and it has played a role in his performances and growth at the club.

"Basically, I can say the boy needs a second chance and trust from the coaches because this gives the player the zeal to keep performing. At his age, it’s early to call him off," Waiswa continued.

"Zaga’s problem is not the team. I played with him from school and later at Vipers SC and I would see the challenge from him; but his confidence has been toned down and with our support, he can get back to his best."

The Cranes midfielder has also urged players to have a strong mentality in the game. He has also urged the Ugandans to help their players grow and have patience with the upcoming ones.

"As Ugandans, we have to learn to support our people because at the end of it all we are the same. But still, I call upon players to also boost their mentality and dream big," Waiswa advises.

 "At some point, we all lose it. You know football is a mind game; though the legs kick the ball, the commands come from the head. So, inspiration and support are so vital to breeding the right mindset of a player.  

"I reckon we have a lot of talent in Uganda just like my brother Zaga, but we need patience and time for them to show the world what they can offer.  

"I can say the biggest problem with Ugandan players is a poor mentality. At times we have small dreams, but as a player, it would be right if you dream to be at the biggest level of the game."

The midfielder was to be part of the Uganda squad for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) held in Egypt, but a nasty knee injury denied him the opportunity.

He has since recovered and was a key player for his team in the South African top-tier before the Covid-19 outbreak led to the suspension of games.

Former Black Leopards coach Cavin Johnson says he hopes to return to the technical area next season as he has no offers on the table because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Johannesburg-born manager says due to the lockdown, the transfer market is quiet as clubs prefer to cut costs considering the fact the ravaging pandemic has brought about financial implications.

Johnson parted ways with Lidoda Duvha in the middle of the current campaign and was replaced by his assistant manager Allan Clark who is looking to save the Thohoyandou-based outfit from relegation.

“I'm on lockdown like everybody else. The teams are using what they have to make sure they survive as you know this is a challenging period for everyone,” Johnson told Goal.

“Once the lockdown ends and everything else returns to normal, we will see what happens. There are no offers as yet for me. Hopefully [I can return next season], we hope so."

The 61-year-old former AmaZulu manager took over at Leopards in December when he replaced Luc Eymael who is now in charge of Tanzanian giants, Young Africans SC.

Formerly in charge of Platinum Stars, Johnson returned to top-flight football for the first time since September after he was released by Durban-based AmaZulu.

In the wake of his departure from the Venda-based Premier Soccer League (PSL) club in February, Leopards announced Clark as his successor on a caretaker basis until the end of the season, but the experienced manager is hopeful of a possible return to the elite division.

Staying with the former National First Division (NFD) outfit, players such as former Mamelodi Sundowns winger Mogakolodi Ngele, reported Brazilians' target Lesedi Kapinga, as well as ex-Dikwena anchorman Robert Ng'ambi and Tshwarelo Bereng were retained on short-term deals until the end of the 2019/20 campaign.

As things stand, Leopards occupy 16th spot on the PSL log table with 20 points from 24 matches and their mission is to salvage their top-flight status once the season resumes next month since it was halted in March.

On the other hand, the former SuperSport United manager has endured tough times in the current campaign as he was sacked twice by Usuthu and Leopards but hopes his agent will pull all the stops and find a job for him.

Gary Neville has warned Manchester United not to delay signing Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund.

The Red Devils have been strongly linked with Sancho throughout the 2019-20 campaign, which has seen the winger's stock rise higher than ever before.

The England international hit 20 goals in 40 appearances for BVB, and also contributed 20 assists as Lucien Favre's side finished second in the Bundesliga and made it to the Champions League knockout stages.

United are thought to be leading the race for Sancho's signature ahead of Premier League rivals Chelsea and Manchester City, but Dortmund are reportedly set to demand a fee in excess of £100 million ($126m) for a prized asset in the summer transfer window.

Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain have also been linked with the 20-year-old, however, it has been suggested that the financial impact of the coronavirus crisis will prevent Europe's top clubs from finalising any big-money deals.

Neville says United cannot afford to wait another year before making a move for Sancho, with it his belief that his former club are well placed to secure his services when the market reopens on July 27.

The Red Devils legend said during an interview with Webby & O'Neill: "You’re still going to have to basically encourage the player to come, you’re still going to have to pay the money to the club. You’re not going to be able to bully Borussia Dortmund if they’re going to sell him.

"Next summer, Real Madrid might be in for him, Bayern Munich might be in for him, City might be back in for him – although they’ve said they’re not – and Chelsea might come in for him.

"When all the other clubs are armed with money, he might have four or five choices. The fact that he could come to Manchester United this summer, because Manchester United are the only shop in town maybe that can afford him this summer, is where United will get players they may not have been able to get previously.

"Manchester United, I’m sure over the last six, seven, eight, nine years when they’ve signed players and they’ve spent all that money, they have probably wanted players that have gone to other clubs but they’ve not been able to get them because those players have preferred to go and play for other clubs.

"Manchester United now, hopefully, are in a position whereby they can get players to come to the club. Paul Pogba’s staying at Manchester United now, I think. He wouldn’t be if it hadn’t have been for coronavirus. I’m sure the other clubs in Europe would have said, 'Right, we’ll have him', but now they haven’t got the money to have him.

"Manchester United now have the opportunity to exploit the market. That might not mean getting players cheaper – I think they will get them cheaper – but just the fact they can get players without the market being as competitive.

"If there’s only you going into the shop you’ve got a better chance of buying than if there’s four or five of you going in and looking at the same thing, and I think that’s where Manchester United have an advantage.

"If they can somehow put together a £150m pot, they can get maybe another £30m to £50m from players they want to get rid of, they’ve got a pot of money there to go and do some real damage with to get three or four players."

Kenyan Premier League (KPL) side AFC Leopards hosted prominent businessman Zedekiah Bundotich for talks over a possible sponsorship deal.

AFC Leopards are in the market looking for another sponsor and the meeting between Bundotich and the top club officials is said to have centred on talks of working together.

“Buzeki [as the businessman is popularly known] met and held lengthy discussions with club officials led by chairman Dan Shikanda as they explored the possibility of working together,” AFC Leopards' statement read.

The Rift Valley politician also confirmed he has been an AFC Leopards fan for a very long-time.

“I remember when I was young, without the TV, I knew the Leopards players by name by just following the matches on the radio. AFC Leopards have always been my team,” Bundotich said.

“We have to stop talking and walk the talk. The club can share the kind of engagement how they would like to have with us and we can work out a mutually beneficial partnership.”

Dr Shikanda is confident the meeting will lead to a concrete future partnership between AFC Leopards and the businessman.

“We need more partners on board,” Shikanda said.

“We are delighted to have you with us here at the club during these challenging times and we look forward to creating a long-lasting working partnership with you. We need all our fans back in the stadium.”

AFC Leopards signed a three-year partnership deal with Betsafe in June where they are expected to land KSh40 million per year.

Meanwhile, former AFC Leopards defender Michael Kibwage has revealed how the club helped him deal with the loss of his mother.

“My morale went down and I felt like the world had ended,” Kibwage told The Star.

“I was so disappointed and felt so bad knowing that she won't be there to see my game at the top level and even in the future.

“It's been disturbing me but I always try to keep going. I also thank my former club AFC Leopards who supported me during that difficult period of my life and for giving me the confidence I needed at that time.”

Kibwage left Ingwe and joined KCB in 2018 where he says he is happy as the captain.

“I have had a fantastic time with KCB,” concluded the star.

“Everyone at KCB is happy and ready to do his part. The management is doing their job, the technical bench is doing their job and the players know what is required of them as well.”

Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA FC) have confirmed the departure of Jackson Nunda.

The midfielder arrived in 2015 at Lugogo Stadium but his stay was affected by regular injuries and the club has now confirmed he has left.

Nunda becomes the first player KCCA have confirmed to have departed in the ongoing transfer window.

Reports in Uganda indicate Sadam Juma, Mike Mutyaba, Jamal Malyamungu, Muzamir Mutyaba, Erisa Ssekisambu and Nicholas Kasozi will also leave the 13-time Premier League champions.

Kassasiro Boys have already made a few signings in preparation for the 2020/21 season where they will participate in the Caf Confederation Cup after finishing second in the abandoned season.

Ashraf Mugume, Dennis Iguma, Stefano Mizengo and Charles Lwanga are the players who have already sealed moves to KCCA.

Further reports indicate Pius Obuya and Bright Anukani will be unveiled soon after successful contractual negotiations with the Kampala-based side.

Meanwhile, KCCA's new defender Iguma has revealed he had to use a huge sum of money in order to get medication after an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.

Iguma got injured when he twisted his knee while playing for Kazma of Kuwait in 2019 and he had to seek private treatment after the club failed to cater for it.

“We had developed misunderstandings with the club management and they refused to take care of me,” Iguma told Daily Monitor.

“I knew I still had a bright future ahead and within a week I had terminated my contract and returned to Kampala.”

The 27-year-old defender said he sought treatment at Kampala Imaging Centre and Nsambya Hospital among other facilities.

“Even before I checked in at CoRSU Hospital-Kisubi for the final operation, I had spent over USh20M in a bid to get back to action,” he added.

“I’m glad that after 10 months out in recovery, I managed to start kicking a ball and later getting this KCCA deal.”

The former SC Villa and Al Ahed star signed a two-year deal with KCCA.

“My main focus now is not playing for the national team or going back to professional football but to get back my best form,” he concluded.

“I want to repay the faith KCCA and manager Mike Mutebi have given me and win trophies here.” 

Musalia Mudavadi has explained why AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia must end their dependency on financial support from politicians.

A number of politicians have always come to the rescue of the two clubs especially when they are facing acute financial problems.

The former AFC Leopards patron said any politician who opts to support either team should do it as an ordinary fan.

“Let us find a way of getting the politicians out of the way as privileged financial supporters of clubs. Let politicians be supportive as is the case with other ordinary fans,” Mudavadi told KTN News.

“They should not look at it from a privileged position that because one is a politician then it's is a privileged position to support ether AFC Leopards or Gor Mahia.

“It is not sustainable to imagine a politician or two can underwrite any club in this country.

“I can tell you that when I was the patron of AFC Leopards, I used to pay salaries for the players and I can say it was not easy. The players have families, have to pay rent and take care of their medical needs.

“There should be a well-thought arrangement and strategy and it should not be a politically-driven agenda but it should be driven by the management of the clubs. 

“This is why I was telling Dan Shikanda he has a challenge as the chairman of AFC Leopards because he has to find a way of making it attractive so that people can come in and support him.

“Times and circumstances have changed and we must provide new approaches of how to support teams."

Musalia believes Kenyan clubs can borrow management formula from established leagues in order to keep teams afloat and sustainable.

“Look at the number of Premier League clubs in the UK and see who owns them, who runs them, and what is the management structure behind those clubs,” urged the former Sabatia Member of Parliament.

“We need to find a way of bringing in investors in our soccer so that we can have a sustainable way of buying players and give them a livelihood for the duration that he is working for that club.

The former Deputy Prime Minister also revealed the steps AFC Leopards have taken in as far as the construction of their home stadium is concerned.

“They have started processing the ownership of the land details but what I can say is that the journey has just started. Because subsequently, resources must be raised to start developing that stadium,” he concluded.

“We can, if we work out well, have an investment policy because AFC Leopards have already laid down their development programme.

“They are now looking at how to raise funds systematically and I would want everybody who is a supporter to support it. We also need to see if we can encourage large corporations to come and support such an effort.

“I think we can do it.”

Mudavadi paid KSh633,000 for the outstanding land rates that had made it impossible for AFC Leopards to build the facility.

Tanguy Ndombele should move away from Tottenham if he's not given the "chance to play", according to Dimitar Berbatov, who says the midfielder may be "fighting a losing battle" with Jose Mourinho.

Ndombele completed a £54 million ($68m) move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium from Lyon last summer, becoming the club's most expensive signing of all time in the process.

The Frenchman committed to a six-year contract with the north Londoners, but his first season in the Premier League hasn't gone quite according to plan. The 23-year-old has only featured in 21 of Spurs' 36 Premier League fixtures, and has found himself reduced to a bit-part role in the squad since Mourinho's arrival as head coach in November.

Mourinho has publicly questioned Ndombele's fitness levels on a number of occasions, and he has only seen 64 minutes of action since the resumption of the campaign on June 17.

The Tottenham boss left the ex-Lyon star out of his squad for the 3-1 midweek win over Newcastle, and confirmed after the match that he will miss the final two games of the season due to a knee injury.

Berbatov is not certain that Ndombele will be able to force his way into Mourinho's plans when he returns, and has urged him to seek a transfer if regular playing time is no longer guaranteed.

"Ndombele was brought in under Mauricio Pochettino and it is normal for a new manager to shake things up. Maybe Mourinho thinks the Frenchman doesn't fit into his system," the former Spurs striker wrote in his latest column for Betfair.

"I was in a similar situation at Leverkusen. We changed managers three times and I needed to prove myself to each one, show them that I deserved to play.

"Also, at Spurs when Martin Jol left and Juande Ramos came, I remember him telling me that for his first game in charge he wanted to try something different, and he put me on the bench. I knew then that I needed to show him that he was wrong and he had made a mistake in doing that, so I had to prove myself.

"You have these situations where you need to fight for your place and show the boss that he has made the wrong decision. Sometimes, you can change the mind of a manager - I was lucky enough to do that at Spurs - but sometimes it doesn't matter what you do, a manager just might not like you.

"Ndombele has been linked with Bayern Munich and, if Mourinho continues to leave him out and the player doesn't want to sit on the bench, then he should move for sure. If he wants to stay and fight, he needs to be realistic and know that he has a chance to change the manager's mind, and that he isn't fighting a losing battle with Mourinho.

"Sometimes you can bust your balls in every training session, score goals in games and play good football but, if the manager doesn't like you, there's nothing you can do. If that is the situation between Mourinho and Ndombele, the player needs to move.

"He has been at Spurs for just a year and hasn't really had much of a chance to play. I'm a Spurs fan and I don't know how he can play and how he will turn out after five or six consecutive games so that I can make a fair assessment of him. For me, he should get more time, otherwise, it will be money stupidly spent."

John Stones has seen his future at Manchester City called into question, amid talk of interest from Arsenal and Everton, and the England international admits to having endured a “really frustrating” period at the Etihad Stadium.

Form and fitness concerns have been an issue for the 26-year-old centre-half throughout the 2019-20 campaign.

Questions were already being asked of whether he was the reliable option that City required at the heart of their back four now that Vincent Kompany is no longer around.

Stones has struggled to silence those doubters, with Pep Guardiola often opting to use holding midfielder Fernandinho as a defensive option ahead of more natural fits for that role.

That has led to transfer speculation being sparked in Manchester, with comings and goings being mooted.

It has been suggested that Stones could be moved on, with a return to Goodison Park or fresh start in north London seemingly on the cards, but no decision has been taken on that front as yet.

That is because a man who cost City £47.5 million ($60m) in the summer of 2016 is still hoping to overcome his recent struggles and convince the Blues of his worth.

Stones has told Sky Sports of his season so far: "Really frustrating from a personal perspective. Injury re-occurrence, then little things like getting injured a few days in after lockdown.

"It's been frustrating. I've tried to stay positive, and be ready when I'm called upon, and I feel I have been. Coming back after lockdown, getting fit again, and then coming back in and playing against some tough opponents.

"So I feel fit, feel ready to fight for the FA Cup at the weekend, and then the Champions League. I feel I'm on the right track. It's good to be getting that consistency of playing and keeping my fitness."

Stones saw another 90 minutes of Premier League action in City’s latest outing, but still ended a meeting with Bournemouth disappointed after seeing a clean sheet snatched away late on in a 2-1 win for Guardiola’s side.

"I'm really frustrated with conceding that goal at the end," Stones added.

"It's just an accumulation of things that happened in the game. Towards the end I felt we got a bit sloppy in our possession, and it's led to them scoring. It's probably a bit raw right now, obviously we've won, and it's good to get another win on the bounce.

"But from a personal point of view I'm frustrated we've conceded. We defended so well through the game, and they made it really difficult for us."

Stones will hope to have done enough to retain his place for an FA Cup semi-final clash with Arsenal on Saturday.

Football is the people’s game worldwide and it has especially won the hearts of South Africans. In keeping with their forward-thinking momentum and harnessing South African’s passion for the game, La Liga is bringing you entertainment in the comfort of your home with a new show.

As a Spanish league, La Liga's punditry can get lost in translation and lacks South African flavour. La Liga has found a solution to alleviate this, on 16 July, you will be able to enjoy a preview of La Liga Santander’s matchday 37 with Mzansi flair. The joint initiative between La Liga and SuperSport will be an experience that local fans will surely saviour.

The pre matchday show hosted by sports presenter Thato Moeng with renowned sports broadcaster Baba Mthethwa and South African comedian and football fanatic, Loyiso Gola. The trio shares a passion and have great knowledge of the game, and their energetic, larger-than-life personas are sure to offer a one-of-a-kind viewing experience. Viewers will be able to watch the show on Facebook live via La Liga and SuperSport Football’s accounts at 17:30.

“La Liga is a great league with world-class players that is loved by South Africans and I think adding our local opinions and pre-match analysis will intensify the anticipation of the games”, said Baba Mthethwa, award-winning sports commentator. “La Liga catering to the local audience by creating this show is remarkable and we have no doubt that we will deliver expert opinions in an entertaining way,” added sports presenter, Thato Moeng.

The first of its kind La Liga matchday preview

On 16 July 2020, the Real Madrid vs Villarreal match will be the main feature on the pre matchday analysis show with South African punditry. Crowd favourite Real Madrid are in a position to win the league, while Villarreal are fighting for a place in Europe next season. With both teams fighting for different targets, the game is set to be a nail-biter. The reverse fixture ended in a thrilling 2-2 draw and a bit of controversy when Gareth Bale was given a straight red card in stoppage time.

Thato Moeng, Baba Mthethwa and Loyiso Gola will be keeping everyone engaged as they unpack statistics from previous matches like Real Madrid’s nine match unbeaten run since the restart while Villarreal have only lost twice since the restart to Real Madrid rivals Barcelona and Real Sociedad in their last outing. The trio will also touch on the La Liga Santander season, the tight race for the title between Barcelona and Real Madrid, Los Blancos’ last title and other matches that will be played simultaneously featuring Barcelona vs Osasuna, Real Sociedad vs Sevilla and Getafe vs Atletico Madrid. As if the fight for the UEFA positions, bottom of the table survival isn’t enough the banter between these three will certainly have you counting down the hours to kick-off!

“I have always wanted to be part of a matchday analysis show and I am very honoured to do it alongside celebrated sports presenter Thato Moeng and award-winning commentator Baba Mthethwa. This show can be enjoyed by South Africans from all walks of life,” said comedian, Loyiso Gola.

Are you ready?

"As La Liga we are always looking for new ways to bring the game closer to the fans and this time we’re doing it with familiar faces. We're excited to see how South Africans receive this show. We are looking forward to a positive reaction and engagement from the audience,” said Marcos Pelegrin, Managing Director of La Liga South Africa.

This show promises to be an exciting way for South Africans to receive in-depth analysis about their favourite sport. It goes beyond the world of football; it’s about embracing a global sporting community.

Be sure to catch all the La Liga action on SuperSport 7, DStv channel 207 and GOtv’s SuperSport Select 4. Available on DStv’s Premium, Compact Plus, Compact, Family and Access packages

Punjab FC has received the necessary clearance from FIFA to resume transfer activity from the upcoming summer window.

Earlier, FIFA had imposed restrictions on the club’s ability to register new players for three transfer windows following an instance of delayed payments to North Macedonian footballer Hristijan Denkovski.

After the player and the club were embroiled in a contractual dispute, FIFA’s Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC) passed a judgement in favour of the footballer on February 13 and had instructed the club to pay the compensation amount to the player within 45 days.

But despite the directive, the club failed to honour their obligation to the footballer within March 31, 2020. As a result, a transfer ban was imposed by the DRC and the club was instructed to clear the players’ dues at the earliest.

As per the contract, the player was supposed to earn $2000 per month and the final settlement amount was decided at $18,000 plus an interest rate of 5 per cent per annum on the amount as of August 29, 2019.

However, the DRC had also mentioned that Punjab had 45 days to clear the dues, after which the ban would come into effect. Since the club has been able to reach a settlement with the player the ban has been lifted with immediate effect. 

“RoundGlass Sports and Punjab FC are happy to have this matter cleared with FIFA. We have the highest regard for sportspersons and this case of the delayed payment goes against our ethos of providing a springboard for promoting Sports and Football in the nation. We look forward to the upcoming season with renewed focus, as our players have continued to build on their skills with active training, following a meticulous home-training schedule designed by our international coaches and technical team," stated a spokesperson of the club following the development. 

AC Milan manager Stefano Pioli has revealed Franck Kessie is now indispensable to his team after his recent performances.

The midfielder has been in fine form since the restart of the Italian top-flight after it was suspended in mid-March due to the outbreak of coronavirus.

The 23-year-old Ivory Coast international has scored three goals in his last three games, including his strike in their victory over Parma on Wednesday.

The midfielder has not been at his best since the arrival of Pioli in October 2019 and fell out with the Italian tactician on a number of times but has been delivering superb performances lately to the admiration of his manager.

“There was some problem at the beginning, then we understood each other and now he is indispensable for my Milan. Even in difficult moments of the game he is always positive and his teammates recognize this," Pioli said.

Kessie also explained his limited playing time with the Red and Blacks in recent time was due to injury and disciplinary issues.

“Nothing serious happened, I feel comfortable with him. In the week of Juventus, I was a little injured and then I arrived a little late for training,” Kessie added.

“It is for this reason that I have not been called up, it was the technician's choice. The fact that he then made me play again makes it clear that he has nothing against me and I have nothing against him. "

Kessie has made 33 appearances across all competitions for the San Siro outfit, scoring four goals and providing one assist.

The midfielder joined the Red and Blacks permanently last summer from Atalanta after his convincing displays during his two-year loan stay with the side.

The Stella Club academy graduate will hope to continue his impressive performances when Milan take on Bologna in their next league game on Saturday.

Kessie is also a key member of the Ivory Coast national team, having featured in 40 games for the Elephants.