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Bloemfontein Celtic defender Justice Chabalala is keen to win silverware with his parent club, Orlando Pirates.

The 28-year-old player's loan deal at Celtic was recently extended by two months following an agreement between the two clubs with the current season expected to resume soon.

Chabalala wants to emulate Pirates legend Lucky Lekgwathi, who won eight major trophies during his 14-year spell with the Soweto giants before he retired at the age of 40 in 2016.

“I want to reach greater heights in my career like Lekgwathi. I want to win trophies like he did at Pirates. He was always disciplined on and off the pitch leading by example, that is why he had a successful career," Chabalala told Daily Sun.

“I haven’t reached my peak because I don’t even have a trophy, except for the Black Label Cup. I hope to win the Nedbank Cup [Celtic beat TS Sporting to reach the semi-final stage]. I haven’t done anything in my career that’s why I am so hungry.”

The towering centre back joined Siwelele from Bucs midway through the current campaign and he helped the Free State giants reach the Nedbank Cup semi-finals and the competition is expected to be completed when the season resumes.

Chabalala admitted that he is unsure whether he will return to Pirates or stay at Celtic at the end of the current campaign having enjoyed regular game time at Siwelele, before the current season was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic last March.

“To be honest I don’t know what will happen at the end of the season. I still have another year on my contract with Pirates. But I am happy that I am getting more game time at Celtic. I deserve this chance since I have always worked hard," he added.

"Whatever decision Pirates take I don’t have a problem as long as I will enjoy playing football. I am enjoying myself at the moment as we have players like Lucky Baloyi and Jackson Mabokgwane who also played with me at Pirates.”

The former Free State Stars player feels that the forced PSL break due to the coronavirus pandemic might kill Siwelele’s momentum when the season resumes.

“We had good form before the season was stopped. But we can’t do anything to restore it, except to double our efforts when we resume the season," he said.

"We are not used to playing without our fans, but we can’t do anything about it except to got out there and make them proud.”

Celtic are placed ninth on the Premier Soccer League (PSL) standings - three points behind eighth-placed Highlands Park.

Ray Parlour says Matteo Guendouzi must ‘toe the line’ to avoid throwing away his Arsenal career.

The French midfielder was left out of Mikel Arteta’s matchday squad for a second successive game on Sunday when the Gunners booked their spot in the FA Cup semi-finals with a 2-1 win at Sheffield United.

His absence comes amid the fall-out from his clash with Neal Maupay following Arsenal’s defeat at Brighton on June 20, an incident which saw Guendouzi grab the Seagulls striker round the neck.

The 21-year-old avoided a retrospective ban from the Football Association, but hasn't avoided the wrath of Arteta - who has since left him out of his squads for the games at Southampton and Sheffield United.

And Parlour - who made a club record 333 Premier League appearances for Arenal and won three league titles with the Gunners - believes the former Lorient man needs to control his emotions and listen to his coach if he is to win his place back.

“He’s got to toe the line,” Parlour told Goal.

“He’s a very energetic player, a very good player. I think it’s a situation where Arteta now is stamping his authority, which is something you have to do as a manager. You have to get the respect of the players.

“Matteo has maybe stepped out of line and he’s left him out. I’ve always said do your talking on the pitch. As long as you are performing, you get away with certain incidents.

“I do like the way he plays, he’s got good energy, but it comes down to Arteta. I don’t see him every day in training, I don’t see if he’s a bit of a sulker, I just don’t know.

“Arteta now has got to get that out of him, see what makes him tick. He’s a young lad, he’s still learning and that’s what Arteta’s trying to get across to him.”

There have been suggestions that Guendouzi could be on his way out of Arsenal this summer, with French publication L’Equipe reporting that he told head coach Arteta of his desire to leave during a meeting last week.

The report also suggested that Arsenal would be happy to sanction the sale, providing the right offer arrived at the end of the season, but Parlour believes Arteta still views the midfielder as an important member of his squad.

“I still think he’s certainly part of his plans for now,” said the Gunners legend. “He’s just trying to put people in line and show he’s the boss. He will get a lot of respect from the players if you say how it is to them individually.

“I know for a fact that Arteta is very good going round everyone and having a chat with them, trying to see their feelings and their characters. Maybe Matteo wasn’t right and that’s why he’s dropped him.”

Harry Maguire is getting "better and better" with each passing game, according to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who says the Manchester United captain "has a magnet on his head".

Maguire has been the first name on Solskjaer's team-sheet since his £80 million ($98m) move to Old Trafford from Leicester last summer, having quickly adapted to the demands of playing for one of the world's biggest clubs.

The 27-year-old has featured in 44 games for United this season, scoring three goals, while forging a solid partnership with Victor Lindelof in the heart of the defence.

The England international was named the Red Devils' new skipper following Ashley Young's move to Inter in January, and he has taken on the extra responsibility admirably.

Maguire's latest standout display came as United booked their place in the FA Cup semi-finals with a 2-1 win over Norwich on Saturday.

He popped up in the box to net a dramatic late winner in the second half of extra time, and subsequently picked up the man of the match award.

Solskjaer is "very happy" with how Maguire is progressing, but thinks there is still much more to come from a player who thrives on regular playing time.

The Norwegian boss told United's official website: “I think his performances on the pitch say it all. He’s become club captain, he’s a leader and he’s chipping in with goals, so I’m very happy with Harry.

"He’s a big lad and he gets better and better the more he plays. I think we’ll see him improving more and more the games he plays. He’ll get his sharpness from games.”

Asked whether Maguire will start weighing in with more headed goals as he looks to get on the end of dead balls, Solskjaer responded: “Definitely, and he should do. Tim Krul had a great save on Saturday from his header and we know that he’s a threat to anyone.

"I said it when we played Leicester last season it’s like he has a magnet on his head with the ball and we’re now getting used to him and his movement, with Bruno [Fernandes] coming up with some good deliveries. And we know when Harry is in there then anything can happen.”

The Red Devils will be back in Premier League action away at Brighton on Tuesday, but Solskjaer insists there will be no excuses for his side as they look to extend their 14-match unbeaten run.

He added: “That’s the normal routine for a Man United player. You play midweek, weekend, midweek, weekend… you do that all the time.

"You can discuss other teams and say they have 24 hours more recovery and blah blah blah, but it doesn’t fit into my thinking. As soon as you sign for Man United you should be ready to play up to 60 games a season with a game every three or four days.”

Young Africans (Yanga SC) coach Luc Eymael has called on his players to make the day special by beating Kagera Sugar in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup on Tuesday.

The two sides will face off at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam as they seek a ticket in the last four but coach Eymael’s focus is to earn revenge against a side that beat him in his first match in charge of Yanga.

Eymael arrived in Yanga from Black Leopards of South Africa to sign a short-term deal but received a rude awakening after losing his first match 3-0 to Kagera in the Mainland Premier League.

“Kagera is a strong team, they beat me 3-0 even before I had settled with Yanga, I had just arrived and my first match in charge was against them and they beat me, I want my players to make my day by revenging today [Tuesday],” Eymael told Goal on Tuesday.

“They are a very physical side and during my first encounter with them, they really troubled my side, and I have been watching the side since then, they beat me just two days after arriving in Dar es Salaam and it was a bit painful for me, I know my players will return the favour and beat them.”

Eymael further revealed their focus now is to make sure they win the domestic Cup to earn a ticket to Caf Confederation Cup next season.

“We are not talking about the league anymore now that Simba SC have been crowned, we want to make sure we do well in the domestic Cup, we have a realistic chance of getting a ticket to the Confederation Cup and my boys are aware of that,” Eymael continued.

“We are not far away from the final but we want to take it a game at a time, every game has its own story to tell and that is why we don’t want to jump the gun but take it a game at a time.”

Eymael also confirmed that Ghanaian striker Bernard Morrison, who has missed a couple of league matches since it resumed on June 13, will make the 18-man squad for the fixture but could not reveal whether he will start.

“I have named him in the 18-man squad for the clash but I don’t know whether he will play any part or not,” Eymael added. “I don’t want to commit myself now that he will play, but the good news is that he has made it to the squad for the match.”

In another FA Cup match, newly crowned league champions Simba will take on Azam FC at the same venue on Wednesday.

Lille striker Victor Osimhen has dedicated his Marc Vivien Foe best Ligue 1 African player award for the 2019-20 season to his late father.

The 21-year-old was signed by the Stade Pierre-Mauroy outfit last summer from Belgian club Sporting Charleroi as a direct replacement for Nicolas Pepe, who moved to England to join Premier League side Arsenal.

The Super Eagles forward quickly warmed himself into the hearts of the Mastiffs fans with his impressive performances, scooping the league’s Player of the Month award barely three months after teaming up with Christophe Galtier’s men.

The young striker found the back of the net 13 times and provided five assists in 27 league games in the 2019-20 season, a campaign which was abruptly ended due to the outbreak of coronavirus in France and across the world.

His performances saw him win the best African player award in the division, becoming the second Nigerian to scoop the accolade after Nigeria legend Vincent Enyeama.

In winning the prize, the 21-year-old beats off stiff competitions from his compatriot and Nantes winger Moses Simon, Saint-Etienne’s Denis Bouanga, Montpellier’s Andy Delort, Monaco’s Islam Slimani, Rennes’ Mbaye Niang, Hamari Traore and Edouard Mendy.

Osimhen, who lost his father last month at the age of 80, has taken to social media to dedicate the award to him while also applauding other nominees.

“[I am] grateful to God almighty, I dedicate this amazing award to my late father. Thanks to those who voted for me and also a big shout out goes to Moses Simon and the rest of the nominees. Thank you once more,” Osimhen tweeted.

At the close of the 2019-20 season, the young striker bagged 18 goals and provided six assists across all competitions for Lille and was deservedly named the club’s Player of the Season.

However, his efforts were not enough to help the Mastiffs clinch a place in the Champions League next season after they finished fourth, which the forward felt disappointed about.

Osimhen announced himself to the world at the 2015 U17 World Cup in Chile, where he won the Golden Boot and Silver Ball awards to help Nigeria win the trophy.

On the back of these eye-catching displays, he was snapped up German Bundesliga side Wolfsburg in 2017 but failed to enjoy game time with the side owing to his struggles with injuries and loss for form.

The forward, however, rediscovered himself after joining Belgian First Division side Charleroi in 2018 on loan before the deal was made permanent.

The Super Eagles marksman, who has been linked with a number of European clubs, will hope to continue his brilliant performances in the 2020-21 campaign.

Former Harambee Star Duncan Ochieng has detailed how difficult it is to be a goalkeeper.

Ochieng played for 10 clubs before retiring at Tusker in 2017 and says a goalkeeper, whenever a mistake occurs, is always the first person to be blamed.

A memorable goalkeeping moment, which of course left him furious, was during the FKF Shield Cup match between Sofapaka and AFC Leopards in 2013. The goalkeeper left his area comically to clear an oncoming ball but he did not manage it and left Allan Wanga to plant the ball into an empty net.

AFC Leopards went on to win the trophy in the final after dispatching Sofapaka 2-0 in the semi-finals.

"First to be blamed; last to be credited – that’s the life of a goalkeeper," Ochieng wrote on his Facebook page.

Ochieng, who served Kenyan Premier League (KPL) side Mathare United for 16 years in four different stints, was quick to argue that strikers are always getting much credit compared to a goalkeeper.

"It’s often said that a striker can laze around, shoot blanks and run like a headless chicken for the entire game, but his stoppage-time goal makes him the hero," stated the retired goalkeeper who won the KPL title with Mathare United and Tusker in 2008 and 2011 respectively.

"A goalkeeper, on the other hand, can make Superman-like saves the entire game, yet his one and only blunder make him the villain."

The former Sofapaka custodian also explained how lapses in defence can end up being labelled a goalkeeper's blunder.

"While some may argue that defensive errors come from various avenues and not just only from the man between the sticks, others will only zero in on the terrible blunders that leave no one else but the keeper to be blamed," added the former IK Sleipner star.

Ochieng went on to advise goalkeepers on how to deal with such criticism.

"The best goalkeepers are egotistical and it is important that they are such men. Goalkeepers need to believe they are the best to keep going up the ladder," he concluded.

"It is not enough if a goalkeeper says it by his words; a goalkeeper truly needs to believe in the fact that he is the best at what he does."

Ainsley Maitland-Niles admits that Arsenal have endured some “tough times” in the 2019-20 campaign, but the 22-year-old believes the Gunners boast the “character” to come through that stronger.

Another collection of uncomfortable questions have been asked at Emirates Stadium across the current campaign.

They have led to a change in the dugout being made, with Mikel Arteta now calling the shots, while top-four dreams have faded away once again.

Arsenal are, however, through to the semi-finals of the FA Cup, having overcome Sheffield United in the last eight, and feel there is cause for optimism heading forward.

There remain a number of issues to be addressed, such as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s future and who to acquire in the next transfer window, but Maitland-Niles is among those feeling positive.

The Gunners academy graduate told Arsenal Digital: "We've been building a lot of character.

"The tough times we're in show we've got the character to come back and keep fighting, trying to do as well as we can in the league and in the domestic cups, as much as we can.
 
"[My message to the fans is to] just keep supporting us, stick with us. We're a team in progress, just like a lot of other teams, and we're trying to win as many games as we can to please the fans."

The versatile youngster added on progress in the FA Cup: "It's an amazing feeling [to reach the semi-final].

"Every club wants to go to Wembley and play. For us to do it, away, and we haven't had the best of results away recently... it's good to pick up that win."

Arsenal required a last-gasp winner from Dani Ceballos in order to edge their way past Sheffield United.

The Blades had cancelled out Nicolas Pepe’s penalty when finding the target three minutes from time, but an on-loan Spanish midfielder was to have the final say at Bramall Lane.

Arteta’s side are now readying themselves for a semi-final showdown with holders Manchester City – a team that swept them aside with the minimum of fuss during the Gunners’ first game back in competitive action after a three-month hiatus.

Sadio Mane has outlined his ambition to achieve even "bigger things" at Liverpool following their title triumph, while insisting there is still "another step" for Jurgen Klopp's side to take towards greatness.

Liverpool's first league crown in 30 years was sewn up after Manchester City's 2-1 defeat away at Chelsea last Thursday, as they now hold an unassailable 23-point lead at the top of the table with only seven games left to play.

Klopp's men have set new standards of excellence in terms of consistency this season, winning all but three of their 31 fixtures to date to avenge their narrow loss to City in the 2018-19 title race.

The Reds are being tipped to dominate English football for the foreseeable future after adding an elusive piece of silverware to their collection, but Mane has warned that the whole squad will have to stay "hungry" in order to keep winning major trophies.

The Senegalese winger told the club's official website: "I think this is another step for all of us in our career for what we want to achieve, because as football players you have to be always professional and always hungry in a good way to win everything.

"I think we have a great team, great staff and the club is amazing, so we have another step and big things to achieve so we won’t stop here.

"We just have to believe in ourselves still and keep working harder and be humble for sure – work hard and try to achieve bigger and bigger things with this club."

Mane has enjoyed another stellar individual campaign at Anfield, having already contributed 19 goals and 12 assists to Liverpool's cause in 40 appearances.

The 28-year-old went on to thank Klopp for bringing the best out of him, highlighting the German's abilities as a man-manager and mentor.

"He is a great manager and everybody is happy with him," said Mane. "I am lucky to be working with him for sure, because as a player and a human being I have developed under him which is really important for every player.

"We can see how the players develop in this team, so I think all the things come from him. So I will say again, thanks to him."

Liverpool are currently on course to break City's all-time record points haul, but will have to prove their mettle once again when they come up against Pep Guardiola's men at the Etihad Stadium on Thursday.

Asked whether a win over the recently dethroned champions will top off a superb season, Mane responded: "For sure. Like I always said, we don’t have to stop and we won’t stop for sure after being champion.

"I think it’s another step of our careers and what we want to achieve so I can say for myself, it’s part of us and it’s the past now so we have to make sure we [carry on].

"Records in football are always there to beat so for sure we want to achieve again something special after being champion. It’s going to be a really, really good game [and] for us there are no excuses, we have to do everything possible to win it because now we have seven games.

"We are going to take it game by game and try to win all of them because it’s our dream and really important for us."

Mamelodi Sundowns defender Anele Ngcongca has opened up about why he left top Belgian club KRC Genk and joined the Tshwane giants.

The experienced player returned home in 2016 after nine years with Genk where he enjoyed some success with the club before he had a fall-out with his former coach Peter Maes.

Ngcongca, who won the Belgian Pro League, two Belgian Cups and Super Cup with the Smurfs, revealed he left the club on loan as he felt that Maes was disrespectful towards him.

"That thing is there; racism is alive and we can’t hide it. I have experienced it from my own coach at Genk, Peter Maes," Ngcongca told City Press.

"He led to my departure at the club [in 2016]. The incident that got me upset was during preseason training when I got kicked badly on my ankle in a friendly game and he said: ‘I thought Africans were strong.’

"I was like: ‘You say an African can be knocked down by a car and just stand up?’ Our fallout was a big story in the media in Belgium," he explained.

"Honestly, Genk were giving me good money and I did not intend to leave the club. But I had no choice because of the attitude and disrespect of this coach."

Upon his return from his loan spell at AS Troyes where he played in the French Ligue 1, Ngcongca decided to leave Genk having attracted interest from Sundowns and their PSL rivals, Kaizer Chiefs.

"I was sent on loan to France [at Troyes AC] and when I came back, Maes was still there," the Bafana Bafana international said.

"But I had already made up my mind [about leaving] after a call from coach Pitso [Mosimane] who was interested in me joining Sundowns. I had also spoken to Chiefs before the call from Sundowns."

"Yes, I spoke to Bobby [Motaung], but in the end I opted for a better offer. I am sorry if I let Chiefs down, but football is a business."

Ngcongca has had a successful spell with Sundowns having helped the team clinch five major trophies including two PSL titles and a Caf Champions League title.

Barcelona legend Xavi Hernandez has commended the work done by Qatar's Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) after the Education City Stadium, the third host venue of World Cup 2022 to be completed, was inaugurated on schedule even amidst the Coronavirus pandemic. 

The Spanish great opined that the completion of the venue is a signal of the better times to come. He felt the feat spoke volumes of the progress that Qatar have made in spite of being affected by Covid-19. The midfielder also expressed his gratitude to the health workers who are leading the fight against the deadly virus. 

"It was fitting that the ceremony (stadium inauguration) was dedicated to those who are working on the frontline. It has been a challenging time – but thanks to the effort and work of the authorities and all the population, I do see some light at the end of this long, dark tunnel, both here and around the world. 

"All of us, including fans, players, coaches, ambassadors, country leaders and residents of the region, have an amazing opportunity (and responsibility) to truly make a difference in delivering not only the greatest World Cup in tournament history but also a uniquely unifying tournament that pulls us together, after this unprecedented period of separation," said Xavi, who is also one of the ambassadors of SC.

Xavi is hopeful that football will resume across the world within a short time and that would, in turn, help the fans to get back to regular life. 

"I have no doubt that football will help us return to some kind of normalcy. The sport is resuming in many parts of the world. The pandemic has been a life lesson for us all. I think we will all appreciate the little things in life after this testing time. I believe football is the best and most powerful tool to unite cultures, countries and people of all backgrounds. We have the opportunity to make the World Cup in 2022 the event which brings the world together after the pandemic, and I look forward – now more than ever before – to this tournament truly delivering something more than amazing…something unique. At a time when the world needs it most," commented the former midfield maestro. 

The Education City stadium, nicknamed 'Diamond in the Desert', has a capacity of 40000 and has advanced technology like the stadium cooling and other such features. The façade features triangles that form complex, diamond-esque geometrical patterns, appearing to change colour with the sun's movement across the sky.

It has received a five-star rating from the Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS) and parts of the stadium can be re-purposed after the tournament. It is the first Qatar 2022 World Cup venue to get such a rating. The arena's capacity will be reduced by half and 20,000 seats will be donated to build stadiums in developing countries, helping cultivate a passion for the game around the globe.

Kenya's long-serving captain Musa Otieno has been hospitalised after contracting the coronavirus, according to his brother-in-law Collins Okinyo.

The news of Otieno's hospitalisation was confirmed by Okinyo who also wished the former Harambee Star a quick recovery.

"Quick recovery to Kenyan legend, longest-serving captain at 13 years, and of course my brother-in-law Musa Otero Otieno. You will beat Covid-19, you have always been strong," Okinyo posted on his Facebook page.

Meanwhile, an official of the Kenya Association of Former Footballers (KAFF) Athanus Obongo said the former Santos FC defender is doing well now.

Otieno underwent numerous tests, including that of the coronavirus, before he was admitted. 

"On Friday last week, I received a phone call from one of my friends telling me that former Harambee Stars captain Musa Otieno Ongao has been seen at IDH Hospital but does not look in good shape," Obongo said in a statement obtained by Goal.

"I immediately called the captain and talked to him to find out what's the problem. He told me he was having some high fever and was feeling a bit weak.

"Several tests were done on him and he was requested to go back home and come back for the results after four days. I advised him not to return home but go to Kenyatta National Hospital [KNH] for further checks."

Obongo detailed how he tried to find help so as to have the former AFC Leopards and Tusker defender undergo treatment.

He says the retired captain was attended to and was placed under the intensive care of doctors and is now doing well.

"I immediately contacted his elder brother Barrack 'Ogoji' Ouma and the Football Kenya Federation through Deputy President Madam Doris Petra and also contacted a well-known doctor who immediately swung into action," added Obongo.

"Musa was later put on oxygen and later was admitted to ward 7.  More tests were done including one for Covid-19.

"I have been in constant contact with the family and doctors and I want to assure the football family that our legend is responding well to treatment.

"On behalf of the Kenya Association of Former Footballers (KAFF) we would want to wish our captain fantastic a quick recovery and let's keep on praying for our legend.

"This statement has been approved by the family."

Otieno served the national team from 1993 to 2009 and made 105 appearances including the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Tunisia.

He won Kenyan Premier League (KPL) titles with AFC Leopards in 1992 before doing the same with Kenya Breweries, now Tusker, in 1997.

He left for South Africa in 1997 to join Santos FC and became one of the key figures as they lifted the league title in the 2001/02 season.

Otieno left Santos on loan to Cleveland City Stars before returning to the Lansdowne club and retired in 2011.

A top Simba SC official has hit out at those claiming the Mainland Premier League was easy as the reason they won it with six matches to spare.

The Wekundu wa Mzimbazi were crowned champions despite a 0-0 draw against Tanzania Prisons in their match played at Sokoine Stadium in Mbeya City on Sunday.

This is after close challengers Azam FC dropped points in a 1-1 draw against Biashara United on Saturday, leaving Simba needing a point to win a third straight title and which they achieved against Prisons.

Simba Information Officer Haji Manara has now castigated those saying that the league was easy insisting it was the toughest ever season for his side.

“To win the league three times in a row is not easy, this time the league was very tough but I hear others saying the league was very easy and that is why we won with a margin of many points and with six matches to spare,” Manara told Goal on Tuesday.

“The league was very tough because every team was fighting hard every day to beat Simba and that is why it was tough for us, we want to thank God we won the league now and our focus is now on the FA Cup where we have a match on Wednesday against Azam.”

Manara revealed the team was yet to celebrate winning the league title because of the fixtures they are facing in the next weeks.

“We have not celebrated our latest achievement because we have several matches coming up, starting with the FA Cup fixture,” Manara continued.

“We only finished the game on Sunday and travelled back to Dar es Salaam and now we want to prepare well for the FA Cup match before we can confirm what plans we have to celebrate the title triumph, of course, we will celebrate, but we must make sure it is done in a right way.

“Our priority now is the game against Azam and even though I have heard one of their officials claiming we did not deserve to win the title, that the league title was handed to us, it is wrong in modern football to issue such statements, it is very wrong but we will face them and see what will happen.

“We respect Azam, we respect them in and outside the pitch, they have invested a lot and deserve to be in the league, they should respect Simba, we [Simba] showed our intentions to win the title from the first match and we were not there when Azam lost to Kagera Sugar and drew against Biashara United.

“They have lacked respect for the new champions but that is fine, I also want to thank Yanga coach [Luc Eymael] because he is a gentleman, he picked a phone and called our coach to congratulate him, that is what we call football, and not to talk bad about a team which just won the title.”

Virgil van Dijk is “top of the list” when it comes to centre-half talent in the Premier League, admits Caglar Soyuncu, with the Leicester defender looking to take important lessons from a Liverpool title winner.

Many have a talismanic presence at Anfield in the number one spot when it comes to defensive talent in the world game.

That is because Van Dijk has starred not only on a domestic stage, but also in Champions League and Club World Cup triumphs for the Reds.

His arrival on Merseyside has coincided with a record-setting return to prominence for Liverpool, with the Netherlands international considered to have been a final piece in the puzzle for Jurgen Klopp.

Soyuncu forms part of Van Dijk’s ever-growing fan club, with the Turkish star prepared to admit that he can learn plenty from those he lines up against on a regular basis in the English top flight.

The highly-rated 24-year-old told Sky Sports: "I always watch and learn from other players.

"There are so many great defenders in this league. I wouldn't limit myself to only watching one or two teams and their players, there are so many quality players in the Premier League and I try to watch and learn from many others.

"There are so many good centre-backs playing in this league but I have to say Van Dijk is top of that list and where they [are] in the league and how he's done shows that."

Soyuncu is rapidly climbing the centre-half rankings himself, with there suggestions that he could be targeted by Manchester City as the Blues seek to find a long-term successor to Vincent Kompany.

Ilkay Gundogan, one of those already on the books at the Etihad Stadium, has claimed that the Leicester star is only behind Van Dijk when it comes to the cream of the Premier League crop – with the German ranking the Turk ahead of the likes of Harry Maguire and Aymeric Laporte.

"I agree I'm having a very good season. It's been great so far," Soyuncu added.

"Every time I play, I get better, I believe that. So to hear such good things from a player like Ilkay is very flattering. He's a great player himself."

For now, Soyuncu’s focus is locked on the present, rather than the future, with Leicester in the process of trying to rediscover a spark that will allow them to wrap up a top-four finish and Champions League qualification.

Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain have extended the contract of Eric Choupo-Moting until the end of the 2019-20 season.

The forward’s two-year deal was set to expire at the end of June but the outbreak of coronavirus means the season will be extended.

Football activities have been suspended in France and across the world since mid-March following the pandemic, including the French top-flight.

The French top division, was, however, concluded on a points-per-game basis in April and the Parisians were declared champions.  

PSG will compete for two more domestic titles, Coupe de France and Coupe de la Ligue which have been scheduled for July 24 and 31 respectively.

The Parisians will also be contending for the Champions League trophy, a competition which has been put on hold since the outbreak of coronavirus but has now been given the green light to restart in August.

According to L'Équipe, Choupo-Moting, Thiago Silva and Sergio Rico have been handed contract extensions to enable them to play in the three competitions.

The Cameroon international made a stunning switch to the Parc des Princes outfit in the summer of 2018 following the relegation of Stoke City from the Premier League, having featured for the side in the 2017-18 season.

The forward made an impressive start to his PSG career, scoring in his first game in Ligue 1 after making his debut against Liverpool in a Champions League game.

The 31-year-old has, however, largely endured mixed fortunes since teaming up with the Parisians and in April 2019 he made a mistake that was tagged “one of the worst misses in the history of football".

In a match against Strasbourg, the forward unintentionally diverted a goal-bound effort from his teammate Christopher Nkunku in an attempt to touch the ball as it was about to cross the line.

Choupo-Moting has made 48 appearances for the Parisians across all competitions, scoring eight goals during his two-year stay with the side so far.

The forward will hope to help PSG clinch more titles before the end of this campaign and probably add more goals to his tally.

The striker has spent most of his career in Germany, playing for Hamburger, Mainz and Schalke 04.

QUICK FACTS

Team name: South Korea

Nickname: The Red Devils

Manager: Song Kyung-sub

Last game: South Korea 1-2 Turkey (January 2020)

TEAM PROFILE

South Korea boasts great success in the AFC U16 Championship. They won it twice - in Qatar in 1986 and in the UAE in 2002.

They were on the right side of penalty shootouts in both finals, with Yemen and Qatar at the receiving end in 1986 and 2002, respectively.

In their last five appearances in the competition, Korea managed two silver medals and one semi-final finish. After topping the group that also contained India in 2008, Korea eased past hosts Uzbekistan and edged Japan in the quarterfinals and semi-final respectively before succumbing to Iran in the final.

Interestingly, they could not qualify for the 2010 edition and sat out of the final round for only the fourth time in history.

Korea finished runners-up yet again in 2014. A comfortable group stage built up to two simple knockout rounds with the Red Devils comfortably getting past Japan and Syria. But DPR Korea edged them in the finals to claim their second title.

The 2016 AFC U16 Championship that was held in India remains the only edition since 1996 in which Korea qualified for the final round but failed to make it out of the group. However, they made a statement upon return in the 2018 edition with a top-four finish.

The Red Devils defeated two of their current group stage opponents in that edition. They topped a group that also contained Australia and defeated India in the quarterfinals before losing to Tajikistan on penalties in the semi-final.

Having remained in the top echelons of Asian football consistently, South Korea have featured in the FIFA U17 World Cup quite often.

One of their best runs in the competition arrived last year when they qualified for the quarterfinals in the tournament that was held in Brazil. A 1-0 defeat against eventual silver medallists Mexico ended their campaign.

LESSONS FROM THE PAST

Korea and India have faced each other thrice in the competition, with the former emerging victorious on all three occasions. The Red Devils eased to a 3-1 win in the quarterfinals in 2002 and further went on to claim the title.

The score-line was not kind to the Blue Colts when the two teams squared off in the Group Stage of the 2008 edition. Korea registered a 5-2 win as they topped the group with an incredible goal difference of +12.

More recently, Korea halted India’s promising run in 2018 with a hard-earned 1-0 win in the quarterfinals.

RECENT RESULTS

The Red Devils breezed past Thailand, Chinese Taipei and Myanmar in the qualifiers for the 2020 AFC U16 Championship that was held in Myanmar last year. They scored 13 and conceded zero goals in three games to storm into the final round.

Earlier this year, Korea finished runners-up in the 2020 Mercedes Benz Aegean Cup that was hosted by Turkey in January.

They finished on top of the group that also contained Albania, Ukraine and Macedonia. However, a 1-2 defeat to hosts Turkey in the final meant that the Red Devils had to settle for a silver medal.

The footballing world coming to a standstill for three months due to the Coronavirus pandemic. While most countries are yet to resume training, the Korean U16 team started working together from June 22nd and the group of 34 players were in a training in the camp until June 26th.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Manager Song Kyung-sub trained coaches as an instructor at the Korean Football Association (KFA) for 16 years. He started managing professionally in 2017, picking up the reins at K League side Gangwon FC.

The 49-year-old emphasises in build-up play, with his defenders starting the move in a patient manner. The team creates chances by passing in the final third and capitalising on the right moment to sting.

An incredible attack paired with a solid defence that did not concede a single goal in the qualifiers makes Korea a force to be reckoned with in the AFC U16 Championship.

PLAYER TO WATCH

The captain of the side Lee Gyu-baek is an exciting defender and a solid leader of the backline who has played a key role in amassing a massive number of clean-sheets in recent times (five in six games).

In attack, the Red Devils have Jang Ha-min, who has scored 14 goals in his last 13 games for the U16 side.

Former Spanish international defender Carlos Marchena had joined the Kerala Blasters as their marquee signing in the second edition of the Indian Super League (ISL).

Marchena, unfortunately, could appear in just one ISL match for the Blasters, as he had to part ways with the club in the middle of the season due to a back injury which he had suffered during the pre-season.

Current Kerala Blasters assistant coach Ishfaq Ahmed, who was a part of the Blasters playing squad back then, recalled his experience with Spanish World Cup winner.

“We are still in touch and he is my good friend now. He is one of the nicest persons I have met. He is very down to earth and intelligent. He had a superb technique. It was the last season of his career and he was 35 or 36 at that time. He could have easily played more but he had some back issues. Other than his injuries, he never missed a single day of training while at Kerala Blasters. He was a perfect team man," he told Goal.

The centre-back, who had a stellar career with Valencia and the Spanish national team, was a very warm person, felt Ishfaq.

“Carlos was always a very welcoming guy. Whenever someone approached him he always spoke with them. I was very fortunate to get a Spanish national team jersey from the 2010 World Cup. It was such a warm gesture. He went back to Spain after getting injured but while returning to India he remembered that I had asked him for the jersey and he was kind enough to bring me back the World Cup uniform.

“It was a heart touching moment for me that a player of his stature remembered my request. I was not very close to him at that time as he had just arrived. But now we are good friends," shared Ishfaq, highlighting how humble and approachable a person Marchena was.

The former Dempo winger suggested that despite language barriers, the Spanish defender never hesitated to help a youngster.

“His English was limited but he had translators. He would always encourage all the players. We were very surprised to see his technique. He used to train for free-kicks also and being a defender his set-piece technique was wonderful. He could strike the ball from even 40 yards,” said Ahmed.

He continued, “The most important thing is he used to always encourage the young players. Whether he was playing or he was on the bench he always used to egg the players on, say nice things to give the players confidence.”

On asked what he personally learned from a player of Carlos Marchena’s stature, the Kerala Blasters assistant coach said, “I learned more off the field. He was among the top players of the world during his playing days and yet when he came to India, he was so humble. He was an extremely humble person and humility is the thing which I learned from him."

At the age of 33, Lester Fernandez is currently a coach at the SP Academy and St. Xaviers' school, Nerul at Navi Mumbai. He also represented Kenkre FC in the Mumbai District Football Association (MDFA) Elite Division last season.

Fernandez was two matches away from clinching his first MDFA Elite Division as Kenkre led the table before the season was suspended owing to the Coronavirus pandemic. Winning the league would have been a good end to his playing career, Fernandez felt.

"Maybe I have played only 60-70 per cent of my football," he expressed to Goal. "I could have played for another four-to-five years or maybe more than that but it just didn't click. I don't know what to say about it also because the teams that I went to either closed down or the coach changed.

"I didn't want to go and play in the second division also back then, coming from the ISL. Maybe that is the fault I made. I should have maybe played somewhere to make my comeback."

Fernandez fetched Pune FC (now disbanded) a transfer fee of INR 20 lakhs when he moved to Kolkata outfit United SC in 2012. His stock had risen after he was voted the FPAI (Football Players' Association of India) Fans' Player of the Year for his performance in the 2010-11 I-League. However, Fernandez never thought he would disappear into obscurity so soon.

"For me, you know, what is hard to swallow is that I just vanished away from the scene and people don't even know what was the main reason. It was not about my fitness or anything," he insisted.

Football came spontaneously for Lester, who explained, "The area where I grew up was called Austin Town. Players like Carlton Chapman, Noel Wilson are all from the same area. Chapman played for India at that time. So everybody in our area wanted to be a footballer like him. I lived just behind the ground where all the players used to train. So I could see football happening right in front of my eyes."

As a youngster, Fernandez turned up for Bangalore 'A' Division side Wheel and Axle Plant of the Indian Railways for a season and played at the U-16 level for Karnataka before joining the famed Tata Football Academy (TFA) in 2003.

Soon after his graduation, he joined Dempo SC but soon lost his patience over lack of playing time. "Dempo had really good players that time and I wasn't getting much of a chance. Armando (Colaco) Sir asked me to have some patience but I always used to crib because I was out of TFA and my batchmates were playing at Sporting (Clube de Goa). And I thought that I couldn't afford to sit on the bench."

A season each at Vasco SC and Salgaocar FC was followed by a better stint at Pune wherein the Red Lizards finished third and fifth in the I-League but he personally excelled. He went on to win the IFA Shield with United SC (then Prayag United).

"After I left Dempo, I started to play well. The time at Pune was the peak and so I cannot regret that I left Dempo."

Fernandez made his way back to Pune after Mumbai Tigers pulled out from participating in the 2013-14 I-League, followed by a title winning season with ISL outfit Atletico de Kolkata (now ATK or ATK-Mohun Bagan). 

Back then, the two leagues were not played concurrent to each other, with the I-League following the ISL. Lester joined newly formed Bharat FC (now disbanded) in 2015. However, in just nine games, an injury was going to change the course of Fernandez's playing career.

"My (football) journey has been very good until I suffered [the ACL] injury in 2015. I was about to sign for FC Goa," he revealed. "They had even sent me the contract but just before signing, there was an East Bengal match in which I got injured. The [2015] ISL was going to start in a few months but my injury took another eight months to recover."

"After returning from my surgery, Bharat FC also shut shop," Fernandez rued his misfortune.

"I don't know if it was timing or what because the same year (2015) after my surgery, I had gone to Mumbai FC. I trained with them for one month and I was already fit but then they signed Arata (Izumi) from the ISL.

"I was supposed to sign for Chennai City (in 2017) but the coach (Robin Charles Raja) who called me there was sacked," Fernandez continued to narrate his ordeal.

"Then I didn't want to play for any second division club and that year got wasted. Then after three years, automatically I'm off the radar. So it became irritating. Even last year (2019), Ashok Sir (Dr. Ashok Kumar) who was at Pune FC (former general manager) called me to Gokulam (Kerala) but I thought against moving out of Mumbai."

Lester Fernandez made his international debut under former India coach Savio Medeira in 2012 and only has a couple of caps to his name.

"Now, you know how it works. Whether you have played football for five years or 10 years, you will have to go [to any club] on a trial basis. So maybe after a good pre-season, I could try out somewhere but I still have to think about it. If I play for a couple of years, either ways I will have to establish myself all over. There are also many coaches these days who are doing their licenses. So who knows what the future holds," signed off the AFC 'D' License holder.

The South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) has decided to postpone its upcoming tournaments due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. 

The 13th edition of the SAFF Championship, which was scheduled to take place in September this year in Bangladesh, has been postponed to 2021 after an online meeting which featured the general secretaries of the member associations.

Regarding the other tournaments, such as the U-15 Championship, U-15 Women's Championship & U-18 Women's Championship, a decision will only be taken in the next review meeting which has been scheduled for September this year. 

“The South Asian Football Federation held a meeting today via Zoom with its member associations’ general secretaries regarding the SAFF Competitions,” SAFF said in a news release.

“Hence taking into account SAFF has decided in principle to postpone SAFF Championship to 2021."

India last won the SAFF Championship in 2015 and then lost to the Maldives in the final in the next edition that took place in Bangladesh two years ago. India are also the defending champions of the U-18 and U-15 Men's tournaments and the senior Women's and U-15 Women's Championship. 

Bangladesh are set to be the hosts for the fourth time in the history of the competition. 

Filippo Inzaghi's Benevento clinched promotion to Serie A on Monday with seven league games to spare.

Former Cagliari striker Marco Sau came off the bench to score the only goal in Benevento's 1-0 victory over Juve Stabia, a result that sealed the Serie B title.

Benevento, who have won 23 of their 31 league games and lost just once, have a 24-point advantage over Crotone and Cittadella.

Ascoli were the last club to be promoted with seven games remaining, and they did so in 1977-78 when only two points were awarded for a victory.

Benevento were promoted to Serie A for the first time in their history three years ago, but they were relegated after just one campaign having lost their first 14 games.

Former AC Milan and Bologna boss Inzaghi took over 12 months ago and will re-join his brother and Lazio coach Simone in Italy's top flight next term.

"He is better than me in everything," the Benevento boss said recently. "I can only learn from Simone: he is a modern coach and seeing his Lazio side is a spectacle."

Benevento look to already be preparing for life in Serie A already as ex-Chelsea and Marseille striker Loic Remy was reported to have arrived for a medical on Monday ahead of signing.

The Sorcerers have scored a league-high 56 goals this season, while they've also let in the fewest, with only 15 goals conceded so far across 31 matches. 

Inzaghi is quickly proving his potential as a manager having also previously sealed promotion for Venezia to Serie B in 2017. 

Prior to claiming his latest success with Benevento, Inzaghi called for fans to avoid gathering with the coronavirus pandemic still ongoing and instead suggested they flock to their balconies. 

“We won’t gather because the virus is still active even if we are far away from it," he told Il Mattino. 

"We would give a very nice sign, truly incredible, if the whole city would decorate their balconies, windows, terraces and welcome the players, the technical staff and managers.Those who live in the alleys and not on the main street can be accommodated on the balcony or the terraces of a neighbour. I hope everything goes well.”