Looking for Soccer News?

Veteran administrator Sam Nyamweya has requested the Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) to consider allowing three clubs initially sponsored by the company to be sponsored by other investors.

Kenyan Premier League (KPL) side Western Stima and two National Super League sides, Coast Stima and Nairobi Stima were initially under the KPLC before they pulled out.

"We the football stakeholders were taken aback by the announcement by Kenya Power and Lighting Company of withdrawing sponsorship from three of its football teams participating in the Kenyan Premier League and the second-tier League the National Superleague, citing adverse business environment owing to the Covid-19 pandemic," the Football Kenya Federation Presidential candidate said in a letter addressed to company's Managing Director and CEO Bernard Ngugi and obtained by Goal.

"It is without a doubt that the KPLC has consistently and over the years supported football through the innovative Charity Cup and by sponsoring their own Company branded football teams.

"The withdrawal of a trusted partner like Kenya Power and Lighting Company is devastating to the football ecosystem and the consequences far-reaching.

"The immediate casualties being Western Stima FC a top Kenyan Premier League club which has been consistent and posted good results over the years in the Kenyan Premier League, the other casualties are the National Superleague sides Nairobi Stima who finished fourth and their sister club Coast Stima which finished seventh on the Log in the National Super League 2019/2020 League season."

Nyamweya has gone ahead to propose ways in which the three clubs can get another sponsor to continue taking part in their respective leagues in future.

"I propose that Kenya Power and lighting company consider reverting Coast Stima Football club to its original status as a community club based in Mombasa and revert to its previous name Coast United FC. 

"The County Government of Mombasa through His Excellency Governor Ali Joho considers sponsoring Coast United which, for all intents and purposes, represents the football face of the Coastal Community and specifically that of Mombasa without prejudice to Bandari FC and Modern Coast Rangers equally teams from Mombasa County.

The County of Nairobi has been challenged to adopt Nairobi Stima and rebrand it to Nairobi County FC as well. However, Nyamweya proposes something else on the Kisumu based side.

"Western Stima FC, whose name connotes close association with western region Counties, though in practice Western Stima is a Kisumu based team, considers relocating to the North Rift Region and be adopted, sponsored and rebranded by either Uasin Gishu County Government, Trans Nzoia County Government, Nandi County or Elgeyo Marakwet County Government.  

"The rationale for the relocation of Western Stima to the North Rift region is three-fold, one the North Rift Region has not had a team in the top tier league for a while, two there is enormous talent in the North Rift Region that can be harnessed to make the team a powerhouse in Kenyan football, three Kakamega County is sponsoring Kakamega Homeboyz and Kisumu County is Sponsoring Kisumu All-stars and it will be highly unlikely for the two Counties to sponsor an additional team and more so a top tier team whose budget is quite high."

The administrator believes this is the only way for the clubs to continue existing after the departure of KPLC.

"It is my considered opinion that if my proposal is well received and accepted it will cushion the players from loss of income and a platform to showcase their talents, the same will trigger a football renaissance in the proposed Counties and the enormous investment by Kenya Power and Lighting Company will be safeguarded and secured." 

Antonio Conte conceded Inter's failure to claim all three points against Sassuolo was "troubling", but the coach believes his side would have been worthy winners.

Inter twice threw away a lead late on as a frantic Serie A encounter ended 3-3 at San Siro, with the Nerazzurri missing the chance to apply some pressure to Lazio and Juventus.

Francesco Caputo's early goal gave Sassuolo the lead, but Romelu Lukaku and Cristiano Biraghi put Inter ahead by the break, before Roberto Gagliardini missed a golden chance to make it 3-1.

Sassuolo made their luck count, with Domenico Berardi scoring from the spot in the 81st minute, before Borja Valero then restored Inter's lead only for Giangiacomo Magnani to salvage a point for the visitors. Milan Skriniar's red card capped a remarkable conclusion to the clash.

"I think we deserved much more considering how much we created, whereas I don't recall any Samir Handanovic saves," a frustrated Conte told reporters. 

"It's something we keep repeating in this pattern and we are paying a heavy price. I am very disappointed and so are the lads.

"When you play this type of game and put so much into it, you have the chance to win despite the difficulties in the key area of midfield, you have to take home the three points. We didn't do that - it's disappointing and troubling.

"There are situations where we need to score goals and we are paying for these naive errors. We had the chances to finish it and we didn't. I don't know what more we can do other than keep working.

"I am happy with the performance, we've got to be more careful on the details. That is where we can grow and improve.

"We must try to win all of our remaining matches, regardless of what will happen, because I want the team always aiming for the maximum. I don't want any regrets, but we have some tonight."

Biraghi's goal was his first in Serie A since September 2018, yet the full-back was left equally as disappointed as his coach.

"When you play for Inter, you're part of a great team and need to move on immediately. The away trip to Parma is a chance to get back on track," he told Inter's official website.

"We need to think like a great team. We are focused on winning. Since we've been back, we've had more opportunities than our opponents. Failing to kill off games has become a problem."

“A good attack wins you games, a good defence wins you titles” is one of those cliched football opinions that never seems to go away.

After Chelsea’s recent transfer activity, their performance at Aston Villa prompted many to suggest they’ll achieve little if their unconvincing backline isn’t strengthened in the summer.

Frank Lampard has, in the last few months, seen the Blues board secure the services of Ajax and Morocco playmaker Hakim Ziyech and prolific RB Leipzig attacker Timo Werner for next season. Still, there were moments in his side’s 2-1 comeback victory at Villa Park to indicate failings at the back persist and could prevent them from challenging Manchester City and Liverpool at the top of the Premier League.

The Blues have seemingly prioritised signing a left-back (the primary target is understood to be Ben Chilwell), but is the logic of the 2019 Europa League winners flawed?

Admittedly, there’s a need to solve their issues on the left, given Marcos Alonso is naturally a wing-back and Emerson Palmieri has failed to convince in both roles, but should Lampard look to solve issues in central defence first?

On the evidence of Sunday’s win over Villa, perhaps he should.

Chelsea have four centre-backs: Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen, Kurt Zouma and Fikayo Tomori, who, as individuals, each have their strengths.

Rudiger’s aggression comes in handy from time to time, Christensen’s poise in possession sees many tag him as the most comfortable with the ball at his feet, Zouma’s aerial strength is second to none, while Tomori’s speed and passing have shone at Stamford Bridge this term.

However, there remains a suspicion that Lampard doesn’t know his best partnership while the absence of a true leader among the quartet has left the rearguard without a voice or defensive organiser like John Terry in the 2000s and 2010s.

Frustratingly, the current crop have their pronounced flaws, and always seem to have a mistake in them.

Against Dean Smith’s side, Rudiger, who lost more than half of his total duels, nearly let the home side through on goal in the second-half after taking his eye off the ball while attempting a pass. His defensive partner Christensen made an unforgivable gaffe late on that nearly allowed Jota to equalize with his first touch.

These sort of schoolboy errors have cost the West London club dear in Lampard’s first season at the helm, and the general feeling is a top centre-back ought to be high on the club’s wish-list, particularly as they seem all set in attack.

Two possible solutions immediately spring to mind: Kalidou Koulibaly and Dayot Upamecano.

The Napoli centre-back is widely regarded as one of the best in Europe and has been linked with a move to Chelsea for years. The Serie A Best Defender for 18/19 ticks nearly every box, and can comfortably be considered world class. He’s dominant in the air, reads the game superbly and is comfortable with the ball at his feet.

Having been named in the Italian top flight’s Team of the Year on four occasions, the perception was that this year would be K2’s last in Naples. That was before the coronavirus pandemic, however, and it remains to be seen if the Blues will be willing to splurge on a player who is reportedly valued at £90 million by the uncompromising Aurelio De Laurentiis.

Given the Senegal star’s just turned 29, he’s got little resale value and doesn’t fit the profile of signing the West London club are looking to build around. It is believed this was the thinking when opting for Werner (24) as opposed to the 31-year-old Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who, like the Napoli man is top class, but ageing.

The London side signed the younger German forward from Leipzig instead and could return to the Red Bulls to prise their top centre-half away.

Upamecano, a French youth international of Bissau-Guinean descent, has come on in leaps and bounds since signing in 2017 and is tipped to become one of the best defenders of his generation.

Still 21, the highly-rated youngster's calmness in possession belies his youth, while his strength in the tackle typifies his iron-willed nature. Rarely is the wonderkid bullied by the opposition and he has the requisite physicality to thrive in the English game.

His positioning rarely sees him caught in no man’s land, and he possesses the recovery pace to get back in position if ever he’s found wanting.

Be that as it may, Upamecano, despite his strengths, isn’t the finished article.

The centre-back is still prone to the odd lapse in concentration which has been evident since the Bundesliga resumed in May. He’s struggled for consistency since the German top flight returned, causing many to doubt whether the young star is set for that big move that’s been touted for the last 12 months.

There are also doubts as to whether he can be the commanding presence Chelsea need in defence as he’s younger and arguably inexperienced compared to the current crop at Lampard’s disposal.

A dive into Koulibaly and Upamecano’s statistics present some interesting facts.

While the pair are head and shoulders above Rudiger for total duels won, tackles won per match and interceptions per game, they aren’t significantly better than the trident of Christensen, Zouma and Tomori.

The Senegalese wins 60 percent of his total duels, makes 1.1 interceptions per match and 2.6 tackles per game, while the France U-21 international’s stats read 60 percent of successful tussles, 1.5 interceptions and 1.9 tackles respectively.

Christensen wins 65 percent of his duels, makes 1.3 interceptions per game and wins 2 tackles per match. Zouma, on the other hand, is successful in 66 percent of challenges, makes 1.9 interceptions and wins one tackle per outing, while Tomori’s read 62 percent of total duels won, 1.5 interceptions per match and 1.9 tackles per game.

Given the aforementioned comparison, doubts may arise as to whether Lampard’s team will be boosted by either import for big money moves.

Koulibaly is more established and is one of the leading players in his position in Europe while the younger Upamecano is still earning his stripes, fits into the club’s profile of transfer target and already posts statistics to rival the Napoli defender, despite his youth.

Lampard needs a commanding centre-back to complete his rebuild at Chelsea, and based on a comparison between the pair, a move for Upamecano would represent a wiser long-term move.

The debate as to which side can be considered the best, Liverpool or Manchester City, can be compared to the long-running Lionel Messi versus Cristiano Ronaldo argument, says Jamie Redknapp.

Pep Guardiola has overseen a period of domestic dominance at the Etihad Stadium in recent years.

A star-studded City side have collected back-to-back Premier League crowns – with the 100-point mark reached in one of those – while also rewriting the history books with a treble triumph.

The Blues have, however, fallen behind North West rivals from Anfield this season, with Jurgen Klopp raising the bar of collective brilliance.

Liverpool currently stand on the brink of a first title triumph in 30 years, with the Reds having swept aside all before them in 2019-20.

They have been a model of consistency, like City before them, and Redknapp admits there is no right answer to be found when picking between two brilliant options – much like the debate which sees a Barcelona icon compared to a Juventus superstar.

The former Liverpool midfielder told Sky Sports after seeing Klopp’s side ease to a 4-0 victory over Crystal Palace: "It's like the analogy of Messi or Ronaldo, which one do you prefer? They're both brilliant at what they do.

"Man City play through midfield more, they like a possession-based game. Liverpool are different, they get it up to the front three and magic happens, like that last goal [Sadio Mane’s against Palace]. That's what it's all about for Liverpool, they've got so much pace going forward.

"But you can't say either is wrong, they're both great to watch and a joy in their own right. Some like Ronaldo, some like Messi. It depends on the type of football you like."

Another ex-Liverpool star, Graeme Souness, agrees that there is little to choose between the Reds and Blues.

The Scot added: "If you're making a direct comparison between the two teams, they both have top goalkeepers, you'd rather have Liverpool's back four and then City's midfield, then toss a coin for the attackers. It's a different type of football, both great to watch.

"But if you're playing against Liverpool you have to be prepared to go to war with them. They want to bully you, get in your face and be really aggressive. The three midfield players, you wouldn't describe any of them as silky, they're all warrior types. They want to run over you.

"If you're playing against City they want to play triangles and pass you to death. So they are different but they're very special.

"Who would I rather watch? Liverpool [against Palace] were fantastic and, against Arsenal, City were fantastic.

"We're enjoying a purple patch. I think these are two special teams in the time of the Premier League. These teams could dominate European football as well."

Yanga SC coach Luc Eymael believes his charges could have done better in stopping Namungo from scoring their goals in the 2-2 draw.

The Jangwani Street-based giants came into the match buoyed by Azam FC’s 1-0 defeat against Kagera Sugar and knew a win would see them move second on the 20-team league table.  

Charles Manyama scored a brace for the fourth-placed side before substitute David Moling returned the favour to ensure the spoils were shared by the two Tanzania Mainland League sides.

"We conceded two stupid goals which I am sure we could have avoided," Eymael told Goal on Thursday.

"The first goal, the goalkeeper makes a mistake, and we are punished and in the second one, [Manyama] wins a duel, goes past three defenders before scoring.

"He was not stopped, no commitment at all and we ended up conceding in the game I believe we should not have."

The 60-year-old has also hit again on his charges for failing to take advantage of their domination in the first half.

"We had five clear scoring chances which we failed to convert, it was a one-sided affair in the first half but the best we could do is hit the woodwork," Eymael continued.

The officials ruled out two goals from Timu ya Wananchi, something that did not go down well with the Belgian.

"Four goals in our last two matches have been cancelled, but what I did not agree with is the denied goal scored by my left back [Adeyuma Saleh] with a deflection from a Namungo defender.

"I wonder how that turned out to be offside."

However, replays sanctified the officials; Tariq Seif, who was in an off-side position, made a move towards the strike which might have confused the goalkeeper.

Following Wednesday's draw, Yanga have now managed a single win – a 1-0 result against Mwadui FC, since the league returned on June 13. The other matches have ended in draws, 1-1 against JKT Tanzania, 0-0 against Azam, and now 2-2 against Namungo.

In other matches played on Wednesday, champions Simba SC are now a win away from being crowned again after they beat Mbeya City 2-0.

Captain John Bocco was the team’s hero notching a double, the opener coming in the sixth minute with the hosts struggling to contain the giants but were unlucky not to concede another goal until the second half.

Bocco earned his brace in the 54th minute to help Wekundu wa Msimbazi record not only a win but also a clean sheet in Mbeya. The victory saw Simba add their tally to 78 points after playing 31 matches.

Mbeya City will remain in position 18 on the 20-team table with 30 points from the same number of matches. Mbeya are not completely out of the relegation zone given the 19th-placed Mbao FC have four fewer points.

Azam's bid to keep second place received a big blow after they lost 1-0 to Kagera Sugar while Alliance FC and Polisi Tanzania fought to share points in their respective tie from a 1-1 scoreline.

Nemanja Matic is enjoying “some of his best football”, admits Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, with the 31-year-old midfielder considered to be playing his way towards a new contract.

The Serbia international has seen an option taken up in his current deal that will keep him at Old Trafford until the summer of 2021.

With only 12 months to run on that agreement, though, more long-term decisions need to be made.

Matic has been with United since 2017, taking in 111 appearances on the back of being lured away from Chelsea – where he landed two Premier League titles.

He has not always been guaranteed a starting berth under various bosses, but is back in favour with Solskjaer and underlining his value to the collective cause.

Another assured showing was put in during a 3-0 victory over Sheffield United, as his holding qualities allowed the likes of Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba to flourish, and his manager concedes that the offer of fresh terms could be made at some point in the near future.

Solskjaer told United’s official website: “Nemanja is playing some of his best football. He’s had a good pre-season for the first time in many, many years and today he was dictating the game and his experience is vital for us.

“I’m very, very happy that we’re seeing the best of Nemanja and he’ll be important for us and then, of course, it’s down to performances and if Nemanja wants to stay but at the moment he’s in great form.”

Matic, who will turn 32 in August, is enjoying his football at present, with there plenty of competition and quality to be found within United’s midfield ranks.

An experienced performer said: “It is always good to play with top players and we are lucky we have top players in every position. [Against Sheffield United] I played with Bruno and Paul and we did really well.

“It was a good formation and I am sure in the future we can improve a lot together also with Scott [McTominay] and Fred when they play with us.”

While Matic and Co ensured that Solskjaer’s side were rarely threatened against the Blades, it was French forward Anthony Martial who stole the headlines as he grabbed a hat-trick.

“I am especially happy for Anthony scoring his first hat trick. It is very important for him to score goals,” said Matic.

“It is important for every striker for confidence. I am happy that our strikers are in good condition and for me, Anthony was man of the match. He used almost every chance he had to score.

“Let us see in the future what he can do for us but I am happy for him and congratulations to him.”

Mamelodi Sundowns captain Hlompho Kekana is dreaming of more continental glory under club coaches, Pitso Mosimane and Manqoba Mngqithi.

This comes after head coach Mosimane and his assistant Mngqithi extended their contracts at the Chloorkop-based giants.

The duo has led Sundowns to nine major trophies since Mosimane was joined by Mngqithi in the technical team midway through to the 2013/14 season.

Kekana is enjoying working under the two local tacticians with the current season having been suspended indefinitely due to the coronavirus pandemic since mid-March 2020.

"It's a big plus for the club simply because we have been working [well] together for the last few years," Kekana told SuperSport.com.

"Their work speaks for itself. We understand the way they [Mosimane and Mngqithi] do things."

Mosimane had two assistants in Mngqithi and Rhulani Mokwena when he guided Sundowns to the 2016 Caf Champions League and 2017 Caf Super Cup triumphs.

Mokwena left the Brazilians for Orlando Pirates at the end of the 2016/17 season and Mosimane decided to stick with Mngqithi as his sole assistant.

Kekana is hoping to win another Champions League title in the future having captained Masandawana as they clinched the trophy four years ago.

"Obviously, we share [a common] goal whenever we compete on the continent. We have already won the Caf Champions League together," he said.

"We want to continue experiencing similar moments together for as long as we are here at Sundowns."

The 35-year-old player is among the Sundowns players, who have signed new long-term deals in recent months including Gaston Sirino and Thapelo Morena.

"It is another big plus for the team and it is good that he has adapted so well [to Sundowns' style of play]," he said about Sirino, who joined Sundowns in January 2018.

"The environment he is working under also makes him feel at home."

Sirino netted five goals in four appearances in the Telkom Knockout as Sundowns clinched the South African League Cup and his exploits have not gone unnoticed.

The Uruguayan playmaker was linked with Egyptian football powerhouse Al Ahly in recent months, but Sundowns have moved swiftly to offer him a new deal which he signed.

Thabo Qalinge is leaving SuperSport United at the end of his contract as indicated by club CEO Stan Matthews. 

This is because he made little or no impact at all after featuring in just five times since joining Matsatsantsa in August 2019. 

At the time, he had just been dumped by the Buccaneers - five years after signing him from the now-defunct club Mpumalanga Black Aces. 

Qalinge admitted in one of his recent interviews that perhaps leaving Aces for the Sea Robbers wasn't a right move after having to reach his full potential despite being one of most exciting players in the PSL at the time. 

It is common knowledge Kaizer Chiefs wanted to sign Qalinge - in fact, they submitted an official offer for the services of the speedy winger but Pirates hijacked the deal at the 11th hour. 

Qalinge also knew that he was going to Chiefs until he was told he's leaving Aces for Pirates after the announcement by the Ghosts in the off-season of 2014. 

The fact of the matter is that at the time of the announcement in 2014, Qalinge had not agreed on personal terms with Pirates - it was a club-to-club agreement which Aces had already accepted - and that saw them reject Chiefs; the club the player himself wanted to play for. 

As a professional, Qalinge had to accept his fate, move to Pirates and continue doing what he knows without being involved in the politics of football. 

However, he never really cracked it at Pirates as he either struggled for form or sustained injuries for the better part of his five-year stint with the club because he was just limited to just 11 league appearances in his first and 14 the following season. 

And that's when his career started taking a nosedive, maybe because of the frustrations due to his lack of regular game time under various managers at Pirates.

This is not an indictment on either Qalinge or Pirates but should he have moved to a club he wanted to play for which is Chiefs, chances are that he would have blossomed. 

At the time, Chiefs needed a player like him and didn't have too many right-wingers who could create and score goals. 

It was during Amakhosi's dominant era under Stuart Baxter; a period which saw them win four trophies, including two league titles before things started falling away for them, and this is when Qalinge would have perhaps shone. 

In addition, the Chiefs rebuilding phase started in Steve Komphela's second season in charge - and the level of quality they had at the time was nowhere close to what they are known for. 

So many players came and left during that period and this could have been a breakthrough and a chance for Qalinge to take his football career to another level. 

Qalinge appeared to have made peace with the fact that he was a benchwarmer in his third season as there was no consistency in how the technical team decided on its team selection. 

He would be in the team this week and play well, only to be dropped the following week without no explanation, and that impacted negatively on his progress.  

When he was released by Pirates, many thought he would finally get back to his best, but the truth of the matter is that he would need to find his feet again.

He needs a coach and a club that will be patient with him while he tries to rediscover himself and form, and SuperSport were not prepared to give him that this season. 

At 28, Qalinge is at the peak of his career and deserves to play regularly but it's up to him to make the right decision on his next move because that could well be his last chance to redeem himself and show South Africa his true potential. 

Two games for Arsenal after the Premier League’s restart, and the situation for Mikel Arteta is looking fairly bleak.

Before the lockdown, results suggested they had put their hat in the ring for a Champions League spot, a situation that looked inconceivable when Arteta replaced Unai Emery in December.

However, defeats by Manchester City and Brighton & Hove Albion have now seen the Gunners fall 11 points behind Chelsea and nine adrift of Manchester United and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Those twin defeats, 3-0 at the Etihad Stadium and 2-1 at the Amex Stadium, in isolation may not have been overly criticised in normal circumstances, however, the manner of both losses were truly unacceptable.

David Luiz’s half-hour of madness cost the North London club dear in their game in hand against City, while they failed to hold on to a second-half lead against a Seagulls side that were winless in 2020 before Saturday.

Barring an encouraging opening half-hour spell against Pep Guardiola’s side, the three-time top flight champions have been dire and largely listless in every area of the pitch.

One player who has impressed in the opening exchanges is Eddie Nketiah, who surprisingly led the attack when Alexander Lacazette would have been observers’ favourite to start in Manchester.

In a game devoid of any outstanding positives for the away side, as was the same at Brighton at the weekend, the 21-year-old frontman gave as good as he got until his substitution in the 67th minute.

Given the Gunners didn’t offer much in the way of attempts at the City goal (they could only muster three all night), it’s impossible to judge the youngster on his prowess in front of goal, for that game at least.

The England U-21 international got one of the visitors’ trio of attempts as he barely got a whiff of finding the back of the net, not to mention touch the ball inside the outgoing champions’ penalty area.

Still, with four of six ground duels won on the night, the talented striker sacrificed enough in and out of possession and showed he can thrive outside doing only the fancy stuff on the pitch. Only Kieran Tierney (won five duels) was more successful in his individual tussles out of Arsenal's players, and he played for the entirety of the match.

In Arsenal's troubled start back to action, few players have done a lot to commend them, but has Nketiah shown that he can be a key part of the club's future?

There have been positives and negatives in Arteta's time at the club, Nketiah being given a greater role in the team inclusive, but the enormity of the challenges facing the former Man City assistant threatens to overshadow the encouraging signs of the opening few months.

Despite the promising facets of his young frontman’s time in the side, the general feeling is that the 2019 Europa League finalists are at their best when Lacazette leads the attack and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang plays off the Frenchman on the left of the attack.

The former Olympique Lyon striker holds up the ball better and links play smoother than his wet-behind-the-ears teammate and still posts superior underlying numbers than the England youth international.

Lacazette creates one chance per game, while Nketiah manages 0.4 per match. This reflects in their assist numbers: three for the 29-year-old while the youngster is yet to set up a teammate in his embryonic time in the side. The experienced striker’s greater number of appearances (22 to seven) plays to his advantage, and maybe fails to present a balanced view as a consequence.

Still, his superiority in possession is the minimum level Nketiah has to reach at least if he’s to have a shot at leading the line at Arsenal in Arteta’s system.

It also goes without saying, but his efficiency in front of goal certainly needs to improve as the Gunners’ number nine.

With Aubameyang’s future in the air, and Lacazette considering his future as well if the club fail to qualify for Champions League football yet again next season, the young Anglo-Ghanaian frontman could find himself playing alongside Gabriel Martinelli, another hugely talented forward, next season.

The Brazilian has caught the eye in his debut season in English football, and has impressively become the first Gunners teenager since Nicolas Anelka to hit double figures in one season.

Chances of a consistent pairing with Nketiah remain slim for now given the established duo ahead of them in the pecking order, but the duo must persist in positioning themselves as the successors for their more established teammates.

While the 21-year-old has been decent since Arteta showed belief in him, Nketiah needs to improve his goalscoring and all-round play if he’s to win the hearts of Gooners and prove he can lead the line for years to come.

Wesley Onguso has revealed Dylan Kerr and the late Henry Omino remain the best coaches he has worked under.

The left-back worked with the late Omino at Western Stima in 2016 before leaving for Sofapaka a year later, and in 2018, he joined Gor Mahia where he met the Englishman.

"I have been under several top coaches in my footballing career," Onguso told Goal on Thursday.

"However, Kerr and the late Omino are the best I ever worked under; their qualities were unmatched.

"At Western Stima, [Omino] was literally a father figure to us. He knew how to handle us and even when we had wronged, he lovingly corrected us. We loved and respected him for that and on the pitch, we gave our best.

"For Kerr, his motivation was something else! He used to psych us up before matches and ensured every player is ready to play regardless of the opponent we were facing."

The experienced defender joined Nairobi City Stars in 2019 but spent about six months out of the field.

"It was my worst moment in football because I could not do anything," Onguso reveals.

"I fell sick, and thought it would take several weeks for me to be well, however, it was not the case. It took a whole six months for me to get back to playing shape. 

"Imagine, six months without playing football, it was not easy for me but I finally managed to shake off my problem."

So what are his best moments in football?

"I cannot forget 2018 because of winning the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) with Gor Mahia. It is a moment every player wishes to have and I feel privileged to have realized it.

"Also the 2019/20 season because we gave our best to help City Stars get back to KPL. It was not an easy campaign, but I am happy we managed to go all the way.

"Now that we are back in the top-tier, we want to make a statement as well by giving our best. Promotion is not enough, we are into the real challenge and we have to prove, on the pitch, that we are no pushovers."

Any goalkeeper in the world would struggle when working behind Arsenal’s back four, says Charlie Nicholas, while Alexandre Lacazette is among those considered to be “not doing enough” at the opposite end of the field.

The Gunners have endured a humbling return to Premier League action on the back of a coronavirus-enforced break, with back-to-back defeats suffered against Manchester City and Brighton.

Any hopes the north London giants had of forcing their way into top-four contention appear to have been dashed as they now sit 11 points off the pace.

Mikel Arteta’s side have slipped into 10th spot in the table, with Europa League qualification and a challenge for FA Cup glory now representing the height of their ambition.

Familiar issues continue to hamper Arsenal’s plans, despite initial progress being made under a new coach, with defensive leaks failing to be plugged.

That cause has been done few favours by an untimely injury suffered by first-choice keeper Bernd Leno, with Emiliano Martinez having to step in.

Nicholas feels for the Argentine shot-stopper, with the Gunners struggling for inspiration across the board at present.

The former Arsenal forward told Sky Sports as Arteta readies his side for a meeting with Southampton on Thursday: “I thought Emiliano Martinez did well when he came on [against Brighton], but tell me any goalkeeper who could play behind this back four? They are left so exposed.

“Martinez slightly got it wrong for the last goal but did not play badly at all. I cannot work out where a result is coming from for Arsenal at the minute.

“Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang looked more lively, and I do like Alexandre Lacazette but he was out of sorts. He has to earn the right to play and he is not doing enough.

“Nicolas Pepe scored a great goal but is not doing enough either. Eddie Nketiah will probably get a nod again and I do not have a problem with that.

“How do you work it out for Arsenal? The defence is poor - Mikel Arteta left Kieran Tierney out, but he does need games to get fit. He needs games to get confidence, but how do you get that in this defence? He has been brought into this.

“I do not know what his midfield selection is. Matteo Guendouzi is a talent but he needs experience with him, while Dani Ceballos is good on the ball but not without it, and we are in an absolute mess at the minute.

“We do not usually get something at Southampton and the top four is long gone, but I would be grateful for yet another draw, just to get a point on the board.”

Kenyan striker Ronald Okoth has explained why it will not be fair to compare Timo Werner and Didier Drogba at Chelsea.

Okoth discusses Drogba and the German who is currently serving RB Leipzig.

“It is always not fair to compare a younger player with a great, retired player at a club,” the former Western Stima and Mathare United star said in an interview with Goal.

“Players work under different managers and have to execute a different kind of play. Drogba and Werner, of course, are working in different eras so I think it would be unfair to make a comparison between the two players.

“These are two different kinds of players to say the least. I would rather see everyone conquer the league the way they want.

“It is fair for somebody to be judged to how they play and according to what they are offering currently instead of comparing him with another player.”

Chelsea recently announced the acquisition of the German striker and Okoth, a 2013 Kenyan Premier League (KPL) winner with Gor Mahia, examines whether he could be Drogba's replacement.

“I think every player has his own qualities and it is how each impacts the club but what I know is that Chelsea will not get another Drogba. It is now upon each striker to live up to expectations,” explained Okoth.

"The shoes which Drogba left at Stamford Bridge, and the fact he has been recognised with a stand, is quite a huge shoe to fill. 

“It is all about consistency and good performances and again one has to see that Chelsea have always been impatient. Drogba had a considerable longer stay at Chelsea and if Werner performs well as he has been doing in the Bundesliga, he has all the chances of making his name at Chelsea.

“Everything favours him, age at 24 is good for him, his match stats and the fact that he scores shows that he has everything to be a success at Chelsea. He just needs to be there for a very long time to be able to replicate the same things Drogba did.”

Drogba served Chelsea in two stints; from 2004 to 2012 where he scored 100 goals in 226 appearances and in 2014/15 where he managed four goals in 28 matches. Both stints were marked by club successes and Okoth examines why the London club has not been able to get a striker like him.

“We will never have another [Didier] Drogba the same way Kenya will not have another Dennis Oliech, and also we will not have another Michael Olunga. Every player has different qualities,” explained the Sofapaka striker.

“The difference has always been qualities and Drogba was a special player who was a natural striker. The height and physique favoured him. Almost everything worked for Drogba at Chelsea.

“Look at players like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo they just have that natural ability and I think that is what exactly Drogba had when he wore the Chelsea shirt.

“The inborn ability he had was exceptional and such kind of players are always seen once in a generation. That is why, until today, we have not seen another Drogba in a Chelsea shirt. It could also be the last time we are seeing players like Ronaldo and Messi.

“In Africa, we might likely struggle and go for a very long time without seeing another Samuel Eto'o. There is the type of players who would come once in a lifetime due to their unique qualities. 

“That is what Drogba had.”

Ansu Fati's father has dismissed rumours linking his son with a move to Manchester United, insisting "everyone that leaves Barcelona then wants to come back".

The Red Devils are reportedly lining up a summer approach for Fati, who is currently enjoying a breakout season at Camp Nou.

The 17-year-old made his senior debut for Barca back in August and has since racked up 26 appearances for the club in all competitions, scoring six goals.

Earlier this month, Blaugrana director Xavier Vilajoana ruled out the possibility of selling the Spain U21 international, while insisting he will become an "important player in the coming years".

Vilajoana told Sport: "For us, there's no story with Ansu, we have never spoken about selling him.

"We won't use players from the academy to make cash. In principle, we have no intention of selling the players we believe will make the first team."

Bori Fati is also certain the teenage winger will be staying put, and says he has heard nothing concrete regarding any potential interest from Premier League giants United.

The Barcelona starlet's father told Cadena Ser: "Ansu can't be a starter at Barca right now.

"I've always been happy since my son is at Barca ... I know nothing about Manchester United.

"Ansu and I are comfortable here in Barcelona. Everyone that leaves Barca then wants to come back."

Fati came on as a second-half substitute during Barca's last outing against Athletic Club on Tuesday, with Quique Setien's side managing to earn a 1-0 win at Camp Nou to stay hot on the heels of La Liga leaders Real Madrid.

Ivan Rakitic scored the only goal of the game after being set up by Lionel Messi, who has now contributed 19 assists and 26 goals to Barca's cause in 2019-20.

Fati Sr went on to hail the six-time Ballon d'Or winner for being a master of his craft, as he added: "Messi is the father of all footballers there.

"If you are alongside Messi, you have to be delighted and thank God."

Messi, Fati and Co. will be back in action on Saturday, with a tough trip to the Estadio Municipal de Balaidos to take on an in-form Celta Vigo side on the cards.

Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane will be “knocking on Jurgen Klopp’s door” once Liverpool wrap up a Premier League title triumph, says Danny Murphy, with there no chance of key men wanting to take in another break.

A three-month hiatus has already been taken in by star turns at Anfield this season, with the coronavirus outbreak forcing teams across the world into a period of lockdown.

A welcome return to competitive action has now arrived, with the schedule restarted in England on June 17, and Liverpool have moved ever-closer to securing a first top-flight crown in 30 years.

That line will be crossed at some stage in the near future, allowing long-awaited celebrations to be taken in on Merseyside – albeit at a safe social distance as fans still cannot attend games.

It has been suggested that Klopp may look to tinker with his selections once another piece of major silverware was been wrapped up, with another opportunity presenting itself to blood youngsters and give minutes to those on the fringes of the fold.

Murphy, though, cannot see prominent figures on Merseyside agreeing to step aside.

While collective success has been enjoyed, there are a number of important individual accolades still to be chased down – including the Golden Boot and notable Premier League records.

With that in mind, former Liverpool midfielder Murphy expects key men in Klopp’s squad to keep pushing for as many outings as possible.

He told Match of the Day: "If they were in the Champions League, I'd understand [resting players] more.

"But if I'm Mo Salah and I'm going for the golden boot or Mane or Trent [Alexander-Arnold, on track to challenge for the record of most assists in a Premier League season], I'd be knocking on [Klopp's] door saying I want to play these last few games.

"You want to be a part of the greatest team in Premier League history."

Liverpool have already sent a number of records tumbling in 2019-20, and there are still more to aim at.

Manchester City became the first side in English football to reach the 100-point mark when easing to a title win in 2017-18, but Klopp’s side have the potential to end the current campaign on 107.

The Reds will be back in action when facing City on July 2, with it possible that their coronation as Premier League kings will have been confirmed by then.

Zinedine Zidane believes Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos should retire at the Santiago Bernabeu amid question marks over his future.

Ramos' contract expires at the end of the 2020-21 season, by which time he will be 35, and it remains to be seen whether the star defender will remain in the Spanish capital.

The Spain skipper showed he is far from finished with another inspiring performance in Madrid's 2-0 La Liga victory over Real Mallorca on Wednesday.

Ramos – who took his season tally to nine goals, becoming the first defender to score eight or more goals in a single LaLiga campaign since Ezequiel Garay in 2006-07 – scored a stunning 56th-minute free-kick to ensure Madrid returned to the top of the table midweek.

"Sergio belongs here as a player," Madrid head coach Zidane told reporters afterwards. "He's been here for years and he should retire here. It's what I think and I'll stand by it."

Vinicius Junior broke the deadlock for Madrid in the 19th minute at the Alfredo Di Stefano stadium, where Ramos curled a set-piece past Manolo Reina 11 minutes into the second half.

A fourth consecutive victory since the coronavirus-enforced break saw Madrid move back to the summit due to their superior head-to-head record against bitter rivals Barcelona.

"We need to have the ball," Zidane said. "The setup isn't the most important thing for me, it's more about what we do on the pitch with the ball. We can do better, but I'm satisfied with what I saw and what these players are doing is not at all easy. 

"That's four wins in a row, but the standout feature for us today was our defensive solidity all round. We can get better going forward and that's what we'll try to do.

"We were a bit tired by the end today but that's not just Real Madrid, the same goes for all the teams. It's a strange situation, we're back training after 60 days and with the heat and everything. But we have to keep going and all we can do is be more alert with the players, we want to keep moving forward strong.

"We're all more or less in the same boat. The important thing is that it's four wins for us, but that's a credit to the players. We're training well and we always want more.

"The players' attitude has been phenomenal, so too has that of the players who are not playing as much, and this is what makes the difference in the dressing room. We have seven finals left, the players have to recover well and continue with what we are doing, we haven't won anything."

Out-of-favour star Gareth Bale, meanwhile, made his first start for Madrid since February. Bale, despite working hard, largely failed to impress against relegation-threatened Mallorca.

"We're happy with what we're doing and Gareth is an important player, he's always shown that," Zidane said.

"The important thing is to play like we're playing. The players change, but the important thing is that the dynamic doesn't change.

"As always, there are players who are going to have more minutes, but that has been the case all along and it's not going to change."

Boris Singh has steadily matured as a player since he led Manipur to the U14 national championship title in 2013. He has represented India in the AFC U16 Championship and subsequently at the world stage when the country hosted the U17 World Cup in 2017. 

However, from a very young age, he has learnt that failures will teach you more than success. He was rejected by the All India Football Federation's (AIFF) Elite Academy when he first appeared for trials. But a more chastening incident took place in the AFC U16 Championship match against Iran in Margao. 

"It was the final group game and a do-or-die match. Their winger was about to skip past me and I stick my foot out. I was shown a second yellow and was given the marching orders. I was not aware that a ban is carried forward in FIFA competitions. 

"For that red card, I missed the opening match against USA in the World Cup. I was sitting in the stands and I could not hold back my tears. From that moment, I decided I am never going to be sent-off in my career," reminisced Singh to Goal. 

At a tender age of 13, he had to leave the comforts of home to follow his passion for football. It was not easy for a child who had never before left his hamlet in Manipur, to criss-cross the country and take part in several trials and age-group tournaments. He was then called up to Goa for a trial by the Indian FA.

"AIFF Elite Academy happened to me at the right time. There were two teams, Team A and Team B. I was in Team B at first. There was Sajid Sir (Sajid Dar) and Bibiano Sir (Bibiano Fernandes). After a few weeks, there was another trial and I got into the A-team. 

"In the academy, I learnt to be disciplined. It is very important for a player to lead a disciplined life to give his best on the pitch. Then comes the technical aspect. We focused on the basics like how to stick to a formation. Receiving the ball, passing, shooting and every basic thing. Those years helped me greatly."

Singh admits that reviving the Indian Arrows project was the best thing to happen for him as it allowed him to rub shoulders with senior footballers and quality overseas players. He also spoke highly of coach Luis Norton de Matos under whom he learnt a lot.

"The two seasons with the Indian Arrows was fantastic. That gave me confidence. At first, my heart used to beat so fast before a match, now I have learnt to remain calm before a match. Matos Sir helped me a lot. We have a strong mentality and even if we fell behind we did not give up.

"I run a lot. I learnt when to run and how much to run. It is of no use to run all throughout the field for no cause. He also told me to create an understanding with m winger so that I know when to overlap and when not to. He was a great coach."

However, his most cherished win came under the tutelage of Floyd Pinto in national colours when the India U20 team beat Argentina 2-1 in the COTIF tournament in Spain.

"Before the Argentina match, we were completely focused. In the team meeting, Floyd sir asked us not to fear them. We just needed to give our 100 per cent. And the goal by Deepak (Tangri) in the fourth minute gave us a lot of confidence. We had a red card in the second half but that also did not dampen our spirits," exclaimed Singh. 

But his transition from a developmental team to a professional team has not been smooth. With ATK he has not featured in the Indian Super League (ISL) as coach Antonio Habas prefers more experienced campaigners like Prabir Das and Michael Soosairaj in his position. 

"I know I did not get many chances in ATK. I understand there are better players in the team. Prabir da (Prabir Das), Pritam Da (Pritam Kotal) are great players. But I train with full focus and I give my 100 per cent to impress the coach. The seniors also help me and they motivate me a lot. I am waiting for my opportunity. I will not get many chances but I intend to make the most of that one chance," said Singh with resolve. 

Singh has always turned adversity into opportunity. He had not given up when he couldn't make it to the Elite Academy in the first attempt and neither he would today after a disappointing season. One chance, he says all that he needs to prove himself. 

Sergio Lobera was unceremoniously shown the door by FC Goa at the business end of the previous season despite of the Gaurs occupying pole position on the India Super League (ISL) table. 

During his stint with Goa, he led them to three play-offs, one final, one Indian Super League (ISL) shield (almost) and one Super Cup title. During his tenure, Goa won the most games in the league, alongside Bengaluru FC who also won 31 games. He also remains the coach with the most points won during in this period (94).

With 110 goals in three seasons, Goa under Lobera were in a league of their own (after discounting the 14 goals Goa scored under Clifford Miranda towards the end of the league stages). Bengaluru FC (86) are second, the gap is clearly massive. And the firebrand striker in Ferran Corominas netted 48 of the 110 goals.

They have created the most chances in the same period (144). Yet again, the gap between the Gaurs and second-placed Bengaluru (105) is massive.

Lobera's men liked to control the game with the ball and they top the possession charts in all three seasons and have managed an average of 56.9 per cent in this period. Subsequently, they also boast of the maximum accurate passes.

Corominas, the league's highest goalscorer, was full of praises for his former manager and the time he spent under him.

"Sergio Lobera is a good coach who in the last three years has changed the way of playing at FC Goa and has implemented a soccer idea that wants to have possession of the ball and control of the game. He is smart, knows how to sign, and surrounds himself with good professionals. He also knows how to control the load well in training," Corominas stated to Goal. 

Goa have since appointed Spaniard Juan Ferrando for the upcoming season and will take part in the AFC Champions League.

Mumbai City have snapped up Lobera to lead them in the next season and if Corominas, who is currently without a club, continues his journey with Goa, the two will cross paths at least twice in the next ISL season. 

Roy Hodgson congratulated former club Liverpool and said it was just a matter of by how much they would win the Premier League.

Jurgen Klopp's men were impressive in a 4-0 victory over Hodgson's Crystal Palace at Anfield on Wednesday.

Liverpool will be crowned league champions for the first time since 1990 if Manchester City fail to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Thursday.

Hodgson, who managed Liverpool in 2010-11, praised Klopp's side and congratulated them on their season.

"They've been excellent. That moment [they are crowned champions] will arrive soon, quite simply because they are not going to lose any matches – they won't stop winning," he said, via the club's website.

"Their determination and desire in a game when you could have argued they could have taken it a little bit easy because they weren't put under real pressure from us, we didn't see that.

"Even in the last four or five minutes – they are desperately chasing every ball down, winning it back and trying to score again.

"With that type of attitude and desire there is no doubt [the] title is theirs, the big question is by how many points it is going to be, and I can only congratulate them on a wonderful season – two seasons really."

Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah, Fabinho and Sadio Mane were all on the scoresheet for Liverpool, who are now 23 points clear at the top.

Klopp felt the performance reflected just how much his side want to wrap up the title and their dedication to playing good football. 

“You should not underestimate how much this team wants it,” Klopp said. “This team really wants it. 

“They want to fulfil the wishes of the people at home, really. We all have a common dream but we have to work for it.  We have to work our way for it.

“We can’t play like other teams but we can play pretty good stuff. That is what the boys did. 

"The game was exceptional. From talking about football, it was exceptional from so many points of view. This game will last in my mind for a while. This is where we want to be. This is what we have to show against each and everybody. This is us."