Looking for Soccer News?

Mikel Arteta has been "outstanding" in coping with the pressure at Arsenal and shown "courage" in his initial months at the helm, says Brendan Rodgers.

Leicester City are scheduled to take in a trip to north London to face Arteta's Arsenal in the Premier League on Tuesday.

They won November's reverse fixture 2-0 as Unai Emery's tenure with the Gunners was drawing to a close, with Arteta taking charge the following month.

Arsenal have won four straight games in all competitions ahead of the Leicester clash at Emirates Stadium, and Foxes boss Rodgers has been impressed with the impact a former club captain has had in such a short period of time.

"I think Mikel has done very, very well since he's gone in," said the 47-year-old, whose team are currently sitting third in the table.

"He's gone into a club with huge expectations, which he knows from being a player there. He's gone in on his first job, into a huge task, and I think how he's dealt with it so far has been outstanding.

"From a tactical perspective, he's made it very clear how they want to play. The style, you can see.

"That is not an easy style to put in place and implement, especially at a club that wants to be challenging straight away as well.

"His courage since he's gone in, to want to develop that. They've played with a couple of different systems but the style has always remained the same. 

"That is something that bodes well for the future and for him."

Leicester have said James Maddison and Ben Chilwell are major injury doubts for the game, with Chelsea and Manchester United breathing down their necks in the race for a top-four finish.

Saturday's 3-0 home win over Crystal Palace ended a four-match winless run since the Premier League's resumption and Rodgers has confidence ahead of the last five games of the campaign.

Asked if his side were capable of finishing the job to secure Champions League football, Rodgers said: "There is absolutely no doubt.

"We've shown over 33 games our talent. Okay, we are maybe missing some players that have helped us along that way but as a squad, we're very focused on achieving it.

"We will fight to the very, very last whistle to finish as high as we possibly can."

Chelsea are one point adrift of Leicester at the moment, with a resurgent Manchester United three behind.

Seventh-placed Arsenal have moved to within six points of United and are still hoping to challenge for a European place, having beaten Wolves 2-0 at Molineux last time out.

Chidozie Awaziem is confident Leganes can avoid relegation from La Liga at the end of the season, following their 1-0 win over Espanyol on Sunday.

The Cucumber Growers have played six games without a victory before securing a hard-fourth win at RCDE Stadium, the run of poor form ensured they remain in the drop zone.

Awaziem made a cameo appearance in the encounter after replacing Aitor Ruibal while his compatriot Kenneth Omeruo was not listed as Jonathan Cristian Silva scored the only goal of the game.

The victory against Francisco Rufete’s men has boosted the confidence of the 23-year-old Nigeria international that his side can maintain their Spanish top-flight status at the end of the campaign.

“I believe in the team 100%. The spirit the guys are putting in the team is massive and I believe we are going to achieve our aim and beat the drop,” Awaziem told AOI.

“We are trying our best game by game and we showed huge character today so hopefully we can maintain this and turn it around in our remaining games.”

With their win against Espanyol, the Cucumber Growers moved off the bottom of the league table to 19th spot after gathering 28 points from 34 games.

Awaziem, who has partnered his compatriot Omeruo in most part of the campaign, will hope to make a return to the starting lineup when they take on Eibar on Thursday.

The centre-back joined the Estadio Municipal de Butarque outfit on a season-long loan move from Portuguese club Porto.

The defender has been with the Blue and White since 2014 but has only played 10 league games for the senior side, having spent most of his time on loan.

Awaziem spent the 2017-18 season on loan with French side Nantes and then featured for Turkish Super Lig side Caykur Rizespor in the first half of the 2018-19 campaign.

The centre-back joined Leganes last summer and has made 27 appearances across all competitions for the Cucumber Growers.

Former SuperSport United midfielder Dean Furman looks back at his stay in South Africa with the reigning MTN8 champions, saying it was a wonderful experience for him and his family.

The 32-year-old also explains why he could not play for Chelsea’s senior team whilst adding that it’s not by fluke to see his former manager and now Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers being successful.

Furman also says the coronavirus pandemic has hurt his plans as he looks to secure a new move.

“I had to uproot myself and my wife, who’s from Manchester. It was daunting for her but she had a fantastic experience. I was lucky enough to lift four trophies and be in six domestic cup finals and the equivalent of the Europa League final,” Furman told TheGuardian.

“You’re stopped for selfies everywhere you go.  The people are so friendly. I played for the national team and came in the unknown because I was playing at Oldham [Athletic].

“I’d seen other players who’d gone down a similar path struggle to be accepted. But for some reason, the fans took to me.

“My first call-up was away to Brazil – the start of an incredible journey. You go to some incredible places. I’ve probably ticked off half of Africa. I’ve been to three Africa Cup of Nations. The last one was knocking out Egypt in Cairo.

“We had decided that we weren’t going to sign another contract in South Africa. But once we went to lockdown, it was strict.”

After joining the Blues as a nine-year-old, Furman says he was hoping to become a superstar in the English Premier League (EPL).

“I was hoping I’d be the next superstar. But we were signing players for millions at 16. The competition in the reserves was up,” he added.

“We signed players like Scott Sinclair and Ryan Bertrand. At 18 Chelsea decided not to keep me on.

 “It was an incredible time. Brendan Rodgers took over as our manager in the youth team. It’s no surprise to see how successful he has been in Scotland and with Leicester. On the pitch, everything had a structure.

“I remember the first day he came in and told us that while he was the youth team manager at Reading the reserve players wanted to train with him and so did the first team.

“His training was second to none. We were young men and he helped us grow up off the pitch.”

Speaking about Jewish players in the game, ‘Mlungu’ says he would like to see more players but they must be prepared to sacrifice.

“We’re few and far between. I would love to see more Jewish players. To become a pro, sacrifice is key,” he continued.

“If there was a bar mitzvah party on a Saturday night, I’d leave at 10. It was a sacrifice for my parents. My dad would come home from work at 5.30, take me from north London to Harlington for training and then bring me home.”

Manchester United legend Andy Cole says Mason Greenwood has a “freakish” amount of goalscoring ability.

Already enjoying a breakthrough year before the season was suspended, the 18-year-old Greenwood has been one of the stars of the restart with two goals and two assists in his last two games.

With Paul Pogba returning from injury to play alongside Bruno Fernandes, and Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial combining well with Greenwood, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side have lifted themselves to within two points of the top four.

“The break’s done us really well,” Cole told MUTV. “I think it’s galvanised everyone.

“No doubt Ole’s had a chance to speak with everyone about getting more goals, and getting more ugly goals as well.”

As the third-highest goalscorer in Premier League history, Cole can speak with some authority on the subject of finding the net – and he is very excited about Greenwood.

“It’s good to see Mason doing so well,” he said. “It’s freakish, he can go either side and you know he’s going to produce that kind of quality.

“The two goals he got [against Bournemouth] were very, very special goals and long may it continue with the boy. He’s still learning his trade, but, every time he gets the opportunity, he shows just how good a player he is.

“He looks very level-headed as well, which is a big thing, and he’ll be a Manchester United player for many, many years to come.”

Greenwood’s double in the 5-2 win over Bournemouth at the weekend took him to 17 goals in all competitions this season.

Though he has played more games, that is the same tally reached by Wayne Rooney in his first season at Old Trafford, and Cole has been hugely impressed with his debut campaign.

“I think of all the plaudits that have been sent his way,” he added.

“I’m listening to Ole saying he’s the best finisher in the club, and, at 18 years of age, if a manager is giving you those kind of plaudits, those kind of things can weigh really heavily.

“But he’s taken everything in his stride, he’s gone out there and never let anyone down. Now the goals seem to be flying in for him, left or right foot.”

Simba SC midfielder Sharaf Shaiboub has five matches to prove he deserves another contract at the club.

The player has recently rejoined Wekundu wa Msimbazi from Sudan after almost four months out. The 26-year-old creative midfielder signed a one-year deal with the newly crowned Tanzania Mainland League which was set to expire after the completion of the current campaign.

"Shiboub's contract with the club has already expired and what is keeping him at the team is the guideline by Confederation of African Football (Caf) to extend the term of free agents by a month or so," a source close to the club told Mwanaspoti.

"All we want is to have a look at the player and see his impact in the remaining matches. If he proves his worth, then we can extend his contract by another year."

The former El Hilal player has also revealed his target after rejoining the 21-time league champions.

"Currently, all I am doing is working hard to get my fitness back," Shaiboub revealed.

"I am training harder with my colleagues because I am hungry for my return. All I am yearning for is a chance in the remaining matches to show my potential and ability.

"I have always given my best for the team until Covid-19 happened and stopped everything, but I am working hard for my return."

In an earlier interview, Francis Kahata insisted the Msimbazi based side will fight to win a double this season.

"Simba had better preparations and took their opponents with the seriousness they deserve. There was no complacency and we are happy to have made it to the last four and keeping the double-dream alive," the 29-year-old told Goal.

"Now we are focusing on our semi-final game [against Yanga SC] hoping to get a positive outcome."

It will be the third time Yanga and Simba will be meeting in the Kariakoo Derby. In the last two, there has been a draw and a win, in favour of Yanga.

The Harambee Stars midfielder played a vital part as Simba bagged their third consecutive league title this season and their 21st in general. However, the winger insists they are still keen on bagging maximum points in the remaining matches.

"I take the opportunity to thank the fans, management and the technical bench for playing a huge role in helping us successfully defend the title," the Kenyan added.

"We are remaining with six league matches, and we are going all the way to ensure we win. No complacency, we have to take all matches with the seriousness they deserve.

"So those who think we will get our feet off the peddle after winning the title are wrong."

The FA Cup semi-final is scheduled for July 11-12 with the overall winner playing in the Caf Confederation Cup.

In another semi-final match, Sahare All-Stars will play Namungo. Yanga had qualified on Tuesday after seeing off Kagera Sugar 2-1 while Namungo FC eliminated Alliance FC 2-0. 

Namungo’s opponents Sahare All-Stars defeated Premier League outfit Ndanda FC to book their slot in the final four. 

Gor Mahia coach Steven Polack has hinted he will travel to his native country at the start of August after the resumption of international flights.

Kenya moved to ban local and international flights in mid-March after the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic but on Monday during his address to the nation, President Uhuru Kenyatta confirmed local flights will resume on July 15 while international flights will start in August.

However, the ban on sporting activities and social gatherings was extended for the next 30 days and thus jeopardising the resumption of the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) and it could also affect the kick-off date for the new season which was pencilled for late August.

Polack has, however, said he will board the first flight to Finland to see his family if and when the resumption of international flights take effect.

“I understand that Kenyans have been in Nairobi and Mombasa and the other counties but they could not go home because of the lockdown to see their families, but remember our families are thousands and thousands of kilometres away,” Polack told Goal on Monday.

“Basically after August 7, the government says okay, we can now be starting playing football again meaning the KPL season could start by the end of September, so when do we go home to see our family?

“I want to be quite frank, I really want to go home, I really want to go and see my family, I miss my children, my children every time I call them they keep asking me when are you coming, when are you coming, every month, every month and they ask me the same question, and I would really want to go and spend some quality time with them.

“I need to spend time with them, father and daughter and father and son quality time, be next to them and that is something I have been looking forward to and now that the President says international flights will open in August, I am ready to head home and be with my family.

“If they resume in August I will go home for even seven days and come back home, I also need to find out when I go home, will I be in isolation in my country for 14 days? And when I come back another 14 days in isolation in Kenya? I need to know this before I travel.”

Polack joined Gor Mahia at the start of the season replacing Dylan Kerr, and managed to win the curtain-raiser – KPL Cup – and the league title, after FKF moved to end the 2019-20 season owing to the effects caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and declare K’Ogalo the champions.

Former Orlando Pirates winger Tlou Segolela has pleaded for midfielder Joseph Malongoane to be given an opportunity to “showcase what he can do” after recently parting ways with Kaizer Chiefs.

Malongoane left Chiefs last week together with fellow midfielders George Maluleka and Kabelo Mahlasela and is now club-hunting.

The past two seasons have seen Malongoane being injury-blighted which deprived him of some game time before he was released by Chiefs following the expiry of his contract.

Last season he made just two appearances in all competitions, before failing to play a single match this term, prompting Chiefs not to give him a new deal.

But Segolela who hails from Moletjie, Limpopo, the same area where Malongoane was born has advised the midfielder he played with at Orlando Pirates during the 2013/14 season that leaving Chiefs is not the end of his football career.

“Football, as they say, does not have a formula, it’s full of surprises but it was really sad for him just from being injured to be released like that,” Segolela told Far Post.

“If you look at [Mamelodi] Sundowns, they gave Thapelo Morena a contract who had a similar injury and was given five years. But that one differs with teams you know but for him life is like that, he just has to be strong, man up, no one will do it for him – you have to do it for yourself so those are my words [of advice] I can tell him.”

Segolela who has been clubless himself since 2017 when he left Polokwane City believes that Malongoane just needs a chance to prove his worth.

“He has proven that he is a great player if he gets an opportunity. The only problem that he is facing at the moment is the opportunity so what you can ask is for other teams to give him a chance to showcase what he can do,” said Segolela.

No club has been strongly linked with Malongoane so far.

Reading winger Yakou Meite and Brentford’s forward Said Benrahma have been nominated for Championship Team of the Week.

Ivory Coast international Meite scored four goals, the first in his career, to help Mark Bowen’s men bounce back to winning ways in style with a 5-0 triumph over Luton Town on Saturday. 

The forward swiftly completed his hat-trick moments before the half-time break before his 62nd-minute effort sealed the victory.

The Paris Saint-Germain graduate has now bagged 16 goals in 30 appearances across all competitions for the Royals in this campaign.

Benrahma, meanwhile, scored a hat-trick to help Brentford secure an effortless victory against Wigan Athletic on Saturday.  

The Algeria international’s effort inspired the Griffin Park outfit to the third spot on the Championship table, behind leaders Leeds United and West Bromwich Albion.

His impressive showing in the encounter has earned him a place among the best performing players in the week under review along with the Ivory Coast winger.

Benrahma has now scored 14 goals and provided nine assists in this campaign amid other dazzling displays.

The forward joined the Griffin Park outfit in the summer of 2018 from French club Nice and has continued to turn heads with his performances.

The former Angers player is currently on the radar of a number of Premier League clubs, including Chelsea, who are looking to strengthen their attack.

Benrahma will hope to help Thomas Frank’s men extend their winning run to seven games when they take on Charlton Athletic on Tuesday.

Meite, meanwhile, will look to add to his 12 Championship goal when Reading trade tackles with Huddersfield Town.

Mbeya City have boosted their survival chances in the Tanzania Mainland League after a 3-1 win over Coastal Union on Monday evening.

Absalom Chidiebele, Rehani Kibingu and Peter Mapunda scored for the home team with Ibrahim Ame getting a consolation for the visitors.

The match was scheduled for Sunday July 5 at the same venue but challenges on the road led to the postponement as the team reached late and players were not in the right shape to play.

The Green City Boys started the match on a high and they were rewarded after four minutes when Absalom Chidiebele managed to beat the defenders before coolly slotting the ball past the custodian.

Rehani Kibingu doubled the advantage in the 33rd minute to send the visitors into a panic mode.

However, they recollected themselves and ensured they do not concede another goal in the remaining minutes of the first half.

After the break, it took the Tanga based side 25 minutes to pull a goal back courtesy of Ibrahim Ame strike. It is a goal which gave Coastal Union hopes of making a comeback.

However, it was not going to be the case as Peter Mapunda finished a good move in the 87th minute to restore a two-goal advantage and help his team get maximum points.

The result is also sweet revenge for the hosts who lost the first round in Tanga 2-0.

Despite the win, Mbeya are still locked in the relegation zone. They are in 18th position with 36 points, two below safety after nine wins, as many draws and 15 losses in the 33 games played.

Coastal Union are fifth on the log with 48 points after winning 13 matches, drawing nine and losing 11. 

In other league matches played last weekend, Azam FC were the biggest winners as they defeated relegated Singida United 7-0.

Zimbabwean Obrey Chirwa scored four goals, Selemani Nado hit a brace while David Natley scored an own goal to complete the route. The Chamazi-based side is now second on the log with 62 points, 18 less than champions Simba SC who were held to a 0-0 draw by Ndanda FC.

27-time league champions Yanga SC were also held to a goalless draw by Biashara Mara United.

Somalia Football Federation (SFF) president Abdiqani Said Arab believes the renovation and completion of the Mogadishu Stadium will help them cut costs.

The Somalia football national team has been hosting their matches in neighbouring Djibouti due to the issues of insecurity that has rocked the Horn of Africa country for the last three decades.

“The use of Djibouti for our home games means that Ocean Stars had travelled twice for every national duty which caused SFF to spend a lot, so the availability of Mogadishu Stadium will save money for Somali football federation,” Arab told the federation's website.

Arab has, however, noted the unavailability of more stadiums to complement the national facility is another issue but all in all he is optimistic that the multipurpose capital city-based facility will serve in the meantime.

“The country doesn’t have enough facilities and we are still eying to have more venues, but the most important thing is the return of Mogadishu Stadium which is the home of Somali national team and having it in place will also cover other major needs” Arab added.

The federation chief also noted the newly-renovated stadium will serve the fans better in the upcoming matches. Somalia, like its neighbours and global nations, suspended football activities due to the coronavirus outbreak a few months ago.

“Somalis are football-mad people and the re-launch of Stadium Mogadishu would mean that we will get enough space for the tens of thousands who turn out for football matches in Somalia- most notably the best-supported competitions," he concluded.

Somalia national team coach Said Abdi Haibeh revealed they are looking forward to matches at their home stadium which has not been in use for a very long time after it was captured and used by militants.

“The players and I are all looking forward to enjoying at home and play in front of tens of thousands of home-based Somali fans,” Haibeh said in an earlier interview.

“It was a great honour for me to be selected and act as the manager of the history-making Somali national football team last year. The players are well-prepared and ready for the national duties including international friendlies.

“However, I believe that the home atmosphere is going to be electric. This is the long-standing dream of Somali Football Federation authorities and it will soon be true if Allah allows.” 

Mogadishu City Club and Horseed Sports Club featured in the opening match of the stadium on July 1.

Nemanja Matic has signed a new Manchester United contract which will keep him at the club until 2023.

The Serbian has been key for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side during their current unbeaten run and has been rewarded for his good form with a new deal.

There were doubts over the midfielder’s Old Trafford future earlier in the year as he struggled to keep his place in the starting XI after a slow start to the season.

The 31-year-old was considering a move away from United if game time was to be limited and his contract was set to expire this summer.

The club exercised an option to extend that deal for a year back in March and the former Chelsea man has now agreed fresh terms to keep him at the club for another three years.

Matic has made 27 appearances in all competitions this season and has been central to the club’s current good form acting as a shield in front of the defence, and the midfielder, who has made 114 appearances since arriving in 2017, is delighted to be extending his stay at the club  

“I am very happy that I will continue to be part of this great club. As a player, I still have a lot more to give and achieve in my career and to do that with Manchester United will be a huge honour,” Matic said.

“This is a really exciting team to be part of, we have a good balance of youth and experience within the squad and there is great comradery amongst the group.

"This is a key part of the season and we are playing well. We will continue to fight to finish the season on a high and make our amazing supporters proud.”

Solskjaer regularly started Matic after Christmas after an improvement in his form and the Norwegian explained why he is happy he has signed a new deal.

“I am delighted that Nemanja has signed a new contract, I know his experience, professionalism and leadership will be invaluable to this young talented group,” Solskjaer said.

“We have great strength in midfield and Nemanja’s attributes are a key part of that. Nemanja has been here for three seasons now and really understands the values of playing for Manchester United. 

"He remains hugely ambitious and determined which will be vital as we look to achieve our aims over the coming years.”

Lugano manager Maurizio Jacobacci has expressed his disappointment after Franklin Sasere missed a glorious chance in their 3-0 defeat to Young Boys in Sunday’s Swiss Super League game.

Ivorian midfielder Yao Eloge Koffi scored two own goals in the encounter before Mohamed Camara wrapped up the victory.  

Sasere joined the Cornaredo Stadium outfit last summer from Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) side Sunshine Stars on a three-year deal.  

The forward has since struggled for game time, having only featured in five league games for the side since his arrival in Switzerland.

The forward was afforded his first start at Stade de Suisse but failed to make the most of the opportunity and wasted the few chances that came his way before he was replaced in the 46th minute.

 When asked about Sasere’s missed chance in the encounter, Jacobacci expressed his displeasure at the situation.

“As for wasted opportunities, there is a bit of anger, because with a little more calmness, at least one of those goal-bound efforts could and should have been scored,” Jacobacci told the club website.

“Then it is true after conceding two goals that it is difficult to come back into the game and claim three points with a team like Young Boys".

The loss is their 11th in this campaign which ensured they dropped to seventh on the Super League table after gathering 33 points from 28 games.

Sasere is yet to open his account in the Super League and has only managed seven appearances across all competitions.

The former Ifeanyi Ubah player will hope to get a chance to play a part when Lugano take on St. Gallen in their next league game on Thursday.

Bayern Munich will let Thiago Alcantara and David Alaba dictate their own future, with the pair yet to sign contract extensions amid links to the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City.

The Bundesliga champions are reluctant to part with two prized assets, but have been unable to get either tied down on fresh terms.

With both men entering the final 12 months of their current deals, big decisions need to be made on where they will be playing in 2020-21.

Liverpool have emerged as frontrunners in the race for Thiago, with the Spain international said to be keen on making a fresh start in England. Jurgen Klopp has aired his admiration for the former Barcelona midfielder, with the newly crowned Premier League title winners in the market for more creativity in their engine room.

Alaba, meanwhile, has seen moves to either City or Chelsea mooted. Talk of interest in the Austrian from La Liga giants Barcelona and Real Madrid is also never far away, with the versatile 28-year-old having long been lauded as one of European football’s top talents.

Bayern are understandably keen to keep such ability on their books, but Flick will allow Thiago and Alaba to make up their own mind when it comes to any extended stay in Germany.

He told reporters when quizzed on the pair: “Both of them know what I think of them. We will give them time to think. I try to support as a coach and as an advisor. Ultimately, the player has to decide what he wants. We have to respect that.”

Thiago and Alaba have been a regular topic of conversation for Flick over recent weeks, with Bayern having once again wrapped up a Bundesliga crown with room to spare.

“It’s just that I always have hope. I always see things very positively,” he has said.

Asked specifically about Alaba, who has been on Bayern’s books since joining their academy system in 2008, Flick said: “You can end your career at a club where you were trained. That does not happen all too often today. He could lead the way. I hope we can convince him to sign with Bayern.

“In the end, he’s a very important player for us, the heart. He’s not only an absolutely world-class player, but also important off the pitch.”

Midfielder Ibrahim Sadam Juma has revealed he turned down a chance to extend his stay at Ugandan Premier League giants KCCA FC.

Allegedly, the Kasasiro Boys tactician Mike Mutebi is not in the player's good books, something that might have contributed to his decision to snub a new deal.

"The club approached me last year about renewal and we held talks but as an individual, I need a new task," Juma revealed as quoted by Sports Nation on Monday.

"The global pandemic has affected my next move but when all comes back to normal, I will let you know where I will be playing from."

The 26-year-old midfielder joined the 13-time league champions in 2017 but has struggled to command a regular starting berth owing to several factors, among them injuries.

The former champions, who surrendered the Uganda Premier League (UPL) crown to rivals Vipers SC after the league was ended owing to the coronavirus pandemic, had initially expressed their intentions to release midfielders Sadam Juma, Muzamir Mutyaba, forward Mike Mutyaba - who has since retired owing to a heart condition - goalkeeper Jamal Malyamungu, and winger Simon Serunkuma.

The other players who might leave the Lugogo-based giants include defensive midfielder Nicholas Kasozi, midfielder Jackson Nunda and striker Erisa Ssekisambu.

KCCA coach Mike Mutebi had confirmed the club is already looking at bringing in youthful players to fill the gap when the changes are effected.

"We have already notified these players they are not in our plans and we wish them well," Mutebi is quoted by Daily Monitor. 

"It is only left to the club CEO [Anisha Muhoozi] to give them farewell letters.

"We thought Muzamir [Mutyaba] would step up and lead the team after Allan Okello left but he is not making progress after five years with us. Mike [Mutyaba] tried his best but injuries have hampered his delivery.

"Like Nunda, we gave Sadam a second chance but in three years they have both barely made 50 matches. They are ever in the sickbay and we can’t hold on anymore."

Mutebi went further to explain why he was sending away Ssekisambu, who joined the club after a stint with Kenyan champions Gor Mahia.

"Most of the players I’m driving out like [Ssekisambu] have failed to impress me with the second chance I gave them. It is the right time that I clear out this generation and look at the next one," he concluded.

Young Africans (Yanga SC) have received a major boost after forward Bernard Morrison boarded the plane to Bukoba ahead of the team’s Mainland Premier League match against Kagera Sugar on Thursday.

The Ghanaian player has been in and out of the Yanga squad and only featured once since the top-flight resume on June 13 – when he came on as a second-half substitute in a 0-0 draw against Azam FC at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

Morrison has been at the centre of a transfer saga after reports emerged that rivals Simba SC had tabled an offer to sign him, a move that forced Yanga to lodge an official complaint with the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) asking them to take action against the giants.

Despite returning to training last Thursday, Morrison once again could not show up as Yanga travelled to Mwanza for their league match against Biashara United which ended in a 0-0 draw on Sunday.

Morrison has now travelled to link up with the team ahead of their league clash against Kagera and also in readiness for the FA Cup derby against rivals Simba on Sunday.

“I said it before, I don’t have a problem with [Morrison] and I wanted the club to clear him to come and I am happy he is travelling to be with us before we play Kagera on Thursday,” Eymael told Goal on Monday.

“I would love to have him in my squad because we are chasing to finish second on the log and we also have the derby coming up, which I will like to use him against Simba, he can help us win the match and I want him to be fit and ready to play.”

Eymael had in an earlier interview told Goal the club will face Simba without their key midfielder Haruna Niyonzima, who picked up an injury against Biashara United.

“I lost Haruna [Niyonzima], one of my best players to injury, after only ten minutes into the game and it was due to a bad tackle and his knee twisted and so he will be out of Simba, and there was no reaction from the referee only a free-kick was given,” Eymael told Goal on Monday.

“It is a huge blow to my team because Haruna is one of my best players, one of my favourites, a hard worker a player who fights for the team, so he will not be available to play in the derby."

On Sunday, Yanga lost the second spot in the 20-team league table to Azam FC, who hammered Singida United 7-0 at Azam Complex.

Liverpool should be looking to bring Philippe Coutinho back to the club from a forgettable spell at Barcelona as there is nobody better to fill their number 10 berth, says Jose Enrique.

The Reds parted with the Brazil international playmaker back in the winter transfer window of 2018.

A professional dream was chased as Coutinho headed to Camp Nou, but a spell in Catalunya has becoming something of a nightmare.

The South American schemer has struggled to find his spark at Barca, leading to him being loaned out to Bayern Munich.

Further struggles for form and fitness have been suffered in Germany, with Coutinho about to see his No.10 shirt passed to Leroy Sane.

The 28-year-old is facing up to an uncertain future, with there seemingly no role for him back in Spain.

That has led to talk of a return to the Premier League being made, with various landing spots offered up – from Tottenham to Newcastle.

Liverpool have offered no indication that they are looking to bring Coutinho back into what is now a Premier League title-winning squad.

Enrique, though, believes that a player who has thrived at Anfield before could be the perfect option for Jurgen Klopp as he seeks to bring added creativity into his ranks.

The former Reds defender told Stadium Astro: “We need a playmaker, a number 10, who is going to be better than Coutinho for us?

“He knows the club, he knows the city, he’s going to perform straight away because he’s been a Premier League player.

“The only problem is wages-wise, I believe he’s very, very high wages-wise in Barcelona, so I’m not sure if he will go to Liverpool obviously losing money.

“The problem with Barcelona, they try to play him on the left side all the time, in Neymar’s position and he’s not this type of player, he needs to play in the middle.”

During his previous stint on Merseyside, which lasted five years, Coutinho took in 201 appearances for Liverpool.

He recorded 54 goals and 45 assists across those outings and Liverpool have, despite enjoying considerable success over the course of the last 13 months, opted against bringing in a like-for-like replacement as yet.

Massimiliano Allegri says he had contact with Real Madrid over becoming their head coach two years ago, but wanted to stay loyal to Juventus.

The former AC Milan boss spent five successful years in charge of Juve prior to his exit at the end of last season.

After Zinedine Zidane left Madrid following the 2017-18 campaign, the club had short spells with Julen Lopetegui and Santiago Solari in charge.

Allegri was one of the other options pursued by the club and the Italian thanked Madrid president Florentino Perez for his interest at the time. Madrid ultimately turned back to Zidane in March 2019.

"Two years ago, there was contact, but nothing came of it because I had a contract with Juve," Allegri told Marca about Madrid's interest. "Furthermore, I had a strong moral commitment to the club and its fans."

Allegri was asked what he likes most about the work Zidane is doing at Santiago Bernabeu, with a La Liga title on the horizon as the delayed 2019-20 season nears its conclusion.

"The strength he has had in finding the indispensable balance of a team so full of class and talent," Allegri said. "For me, the positioning of Casemiro has been a tactical masterclass from Zizou."

Discussing his own future, Allegri continued: "I've been charging my batteries [since leaving Juve] and enjoying time with my family and my city, Livorno, with my lifelong friends.

"I don't really care [if my next job is in Italy or abroad]. I'm looking for a club to share a project with and which has the ambition to compete to win."

When questioned over whether he would like to coach in La Liga, Allegri added: "Who in their right mind would say no to this question? No one.

"There is more pleasure of playing in La Liga, no matter the result. After conceding a goal, the team keeps playing as if nothing has happened. In Italy, on the other hand, there is much more love and attention for the details of the game and tactics. The brain almost always wins out over the heart, in general.

"[Italian football is more difficult] because of what I said before. The player doesn't have much freedom to enjoy themselves in a purely instinctive way and this sometimes makes it difficult."

Mexico manager Gerardo Martino has backed Raul Jimenez to seal a move to Manchester United this summer.

Jimenez has been a big hit in the Premier League since making his way to Wolves in the summer of 2018.

The 29-year arrived at Molineux on an initial season-long loan from Benfica, but he earned a permanent contract after netting 17 goals in his debut season.

The Mexican frontman has already improved on that tally in 2019-20, scoring 24 times in 44 outings across all competitions to help Wolves fight for a top-four finish and Europa League glory.

Jimenez is now being tipped for a big-money move to one of Europe's top clubs, with United and Juventus reportedly leading the race for his signature.

Martino thinks that the ex-Benfica star has more chance of playing regularly at Old Trafford than the Allianz Arena, with a number nine spot in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's line-up still up for grabs.

"Looking at it from the outside today I cannot see a specialist number nine like Raul at United," the Mexico boss told ESPN . "There are many forwards like [Marcus] Rashford, [Anthony] Martial and the boy who now plays as a right-winger, [Mason] Greenwood, but since Romelu Lukaku left I can't see a pure number nine like Raul.

"At Juventus, he will have more of a fight because [Cristiano] Ronaldo shares the inside of the pitch with whoever plays alongside him, with [Paulo] Dybala or with [Gonzalo] Higuain and maybe he has a tougher fight there."

Martino went on to advise Jimenez to weigh up all his options carefully before making a final decision on his future.

"We who see it from the outside, you [the journalist] and even me, always have the idea that a player has to aim for more and how good it would be for him to go to play for Manchester United," the 57-year-old added.

"For me, that at one point in my life I was in a very big club [Barcelona], and having lived a difficult year there, I say that you have to be convinced of the step you want to take and you have to analyse it from many places.

"And he has elements to analyse it because, although he has not been at Manchester United, he was at Atletico Madrid and he was at Benfica. And he has elements to put in the balance to decide what he wants from his life.

"Maybe he wants a bigger challenge because he feels that he is in good shape and has to take advantage of it, maybe he wants to stay in this place, maybe the options you read about are not real and do not exist.

"I think the best thing is for Raul to make the decision based on the analysis he makes and with the consensus of his family because, when it comes to enjoying, not only the player suffers and enjoy, but also the family do it."

Weston McKennie has been linked with an imminent move to the Premier League, but Schalke “strongly believe” that the United States international will be on their books next season.

The 21-year-old midfielder has a seen a switch mooted which would see him follow in the footsteps of fellow countryman Christian Pulisic.

Chelsea lured one USMNT star away from the Bundesliga in 2019, with Pulisic heading to Stamford Bridge from Borussia Dortmund.

McKennie could be the next to trade life in Germany for English football. He is considered to be a player of promise, with close to 100 appearances at club level to go along with the 19 senior caps he has earned with his country.

Schalke, though, are reluctant to see another top talent slip their net, with the club’s sports director stating his confidence that McKennie can be retained.

Jochen Schneider has told Sport1: “He is our player. I strongly believe that he will stay with us.”

McKennie is considered to have a prominent role to play in Schalke’s future, with the German outfit aware that they cannot afford to invest heavily in ready-made superstars.

Schneider added: “We won't be able to afford the seasoned top players in the next few years. We have to be honest.

“We have to rely on the young players who emerge from the academy, but also on younger players who we bring to the club. Like Suat Serdar, who came two years ago, or Ozan Kabak last season, Weston McKennie, who went through youth system - these are the players we want and need to bet on in the future.”

Schalke ended the 2019-20 campaign in 12th spot, with any threat of a relegation dogfight fended off.

The hope is that they will take a positive step forwards next term, but there are several issues to address before then.

“[Mark] Uth and [Sebastian] Rudy are coming back. These are seasoned Bundesliga players who are the framework for the team. We plan with them,” said Schneider. “With [Nabil] Bentaleb, we have to see whether Newcastle want to take up the option, but he will be expensive.

“I don’t want to go into debt anymore. A lot of capital is tied up in players that we have lent out.

“If we can get good young players then we will also have a good team on the field, which is why we have one of the best youth academies in Germany, if not in Europe, and Norbert Elgert is one of the best instructors out there.”

Portuguese club Sporting Braga have secured the services of South Africa international Jermaine Seoposenwe on a two-year deal.

The Cidade Desportiva-based outfit signed the Banyana Banyana striker as a free agent after she parted ways with Primera Iberdrola side Real Betis, where she saw out her six-month contract.

During her short stint, Seoposenwe, who arrived from Lithuanian side Gintra Universitetas in February, only featured thrice before the coronavirus suspension and subsequent league cancellation in May.

In those three games, two were in Primera Iberdrola triumphs against Espanyol and Rayo Vallecano, while the other was a Copa de La Reina loss to Logrono for Pier Luigi Cherubino's team.

Earlier on her first professional outing at Gintra, the South Africa star enjoyed an impactful albeit brief spell, scoring six times in eight games for Rimantas Viktoravicius's team last season.

Having finished third last term, the 2019 Portuguese champions are eager to improve on their fortunes in the new season, having lost the services of at least 17 players to the summer window.

And Miguel Santos has made Seoposenwe and Cindy Konig his first signings since the club resumed its pre-season on July 2 as he began the quest to fill the vacuum left by the mass exodus.

Seoposenwe's arrival in Portugal swells the number of South Africans to make a move to the Portuguese BPI since their Women's World Cup outing last year to two, after Thembi Kgaltana.

Reacting to her switch, she expressed excitement over signing for Braga and shared her eagerness to hit the ground running in Portugal.

“I definitely hope to start well, be in touch with the team and fight for all the trophies," she told the club website. 

"That is the focus, working hard to achieve these goals. Liga BPI is a championship with players with a lot of skill and technique. 

"I am excited to be on the pitch and start training and playing with my teammates."

The Cape Town-born star started at JVW FC in her home country before earning a three-year scholarship to US' Samford University, where she played 80 matches and scored 39 goals.

The 26-year-old competed for Banyana at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, starred in a runners-up spot at the 2018 Africa Women's Cup of Nations and was part of the 2019 World Cup in France.