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At this juncture, only the top two Malaysian tiers are expected to be resumed, in September, following the movement control order period (MCO) caused by the global Covid-19 outbreak.

Although competitions organiser Malaysian Football League's (MFL) directives on the status of Malaysia's top three tiers are clear, with the 2020 M3 League abandoned, the status of the fourth tier and below is rather nebulous.

The 2020 M3's cancellation was done due to the projected costs of holding matches post-MCO, which are expected to be prohibitive, as well as the government's still-enforced ban on public gatherings, with most M3 teams playing at open grounds that make keeping spectators away impossible.

In the M3 cancellation statement it issued earlier this month, MFL merely recommended that the M4 tier, comprising amateur and state leagues run across the country by state FAs and private organisers, be cancelled as well for the same reasons.

For the time being, the Malaysian government has yet to lift restrictions on contact sports being played at any level, although no-contact training can already be held by teams that satisfy four key health and safety requirements.

But the Selangor state league is just standing by for the restrictions to be lifted so it can resume, said the Selangor FA (FAS) secretary-general Johan Kamal Hamidon.

"Although it is not one of the official M4 competitions, our state league important in terms of development. For example, every team needs to field at least one U-21 player in each match. But in general terms, the sport needs to continue to be relevant in the community and we have an obligation to ensure that the community has a competitive avenue, as long as it is not against the rules.
 
"We at FAS have told the competing teams that we'd like to continue this year's competitions upon the government's approval, although we may not resume them if the restrictions and SOP (standard operating procedures) are too stringent. For now, we're just keeping our options open until a more concrete directive is issued.

"If the update is positive and the costs of continuing the league are not too high, there is enough time for the competitions to continue. It won't take longer than two months for the league to be wrapped up, so we have until October to make a decision. But if things cannot proceed, I believe these teams will be alright because they don't pay their players at the professional level," he told Goal in a telephone conversation on Monday.

Johan Kamal. Photo by Zulhilmi Zainal

With the country's U-21 competition, the President Cup, and U-19 league, the Youth Cup alsao abandoned this season by the Malaysian FA (FAM), Johan also revealed a plan to organise competitions for Selangor's youth players.

"Again, this all depends on the government's decision on contact sports and the costs, but we may organise a league for our youth players.

"We may invite good teams to take part in it, maybe M3 teams, because we want our youth players to have game time. We'll see how it goes," he explains.

Johan also revealed that there is a possibility that the Malaysian league may be resumed earlier than its tentative September plan. However, the plan to play only the remaining seven fixtures of the two tiers' 'first half' remains, while the plan to organise a truncated Malaysia Cup may change.

"I was told by MFL that the league may continue in mid-August instead because they want to fit the international calendar, while on our side we are happy that the players won't be overexerted by playing in too many matches in a short period of time," he divulged.

"We would be happy if the league is resumed earlier, because that means we can avoid injury risks to the players."

Ederson has credited Pep Guardiola with making him a better goalkeeper and says the Manchester City boss "sees football in another way" to others.

Brazil international Ederson has spent three seasons working under the Catalan coach, playing a key part in two Premier League title successes and four domestic cup triumphs.

The 26-year-old is well known for his ability to command the box and start attacks from deep, but he was at fault for both goals in March's derby defeat to Manchester United.

However, Ederson insists that taking risks is something that is expected of him under Guardiola, who he credits for taking his game to the next level.

"The role of a goalkeeper in Pep's team is like the 11th outfield player on the pitch, in terms of the build-up, the pressing," he told Sky Sports. 

"I think it's more difficult. There is a bigger responsibility because you can't afford to make any mistakes. If you do, it probably ends in an opposition goal.

"Pep is a great manager who sees football in another way. He lives football and breathes football. The way he thinks about the game is completely different to other managers. 

"He has helped me a lot, but not only me, the rest of my team-mates too.

"You can tell he implanted a style of play in all of us and in the club, so we don't need much time to practice our football style because we have been playing it for a long time now."

Ederson has been compared to Barcelona legend Ronald Koeman in terms of his ball-playing ability from the back, something that the former Benfica stopper believes comes naturally to him.

"I don't practice it that much, maybe two or three times a week," he said. "It's a natural skill that I have, to hit long balls, so I don't need to practice it every day.

"I think futsal helped me a lot when I was 11 or 12 years old. It helped me to think quicker and look for the passing lines. I think I managed to move those lessons to 11-a-side."

Ederson has previously suggested that he is interested in playing outfield in the future, but he does not expect that to happen during his time at the Etihad Stadium.

"When I play with my friends, I always play as a midfielder," he added. "I could do it, but not here at City. 

"We already have lots of good midfielders in the team. It's only jokes, but if one day there is an opportunity, who knows?"

Fans stormed outside the Yanga SC dressing room calling out for the release of Ivorian striker Gnamien Yikpe after Sunday's 0-0 draw against Azam FC.

The towering striker was signed by Timu ya Wananchi in January, penning a two-year contract. However, he has failed to live up to expectations and has so far scored just one goal for the team.

After the restart of the Tanzania Mainland League on June 13, the team faithful expected better from the forward.

A poor performance in the 1-0 win against Mwadui - where he missed one gilt-edged chance - and another lacklustre display in the goalless draw against Azam may have sealed his fate at the club.

"Drop Yikpe, release Yikpe," were the chants heard from hundreds of fans who were protesting outside the 27-time league champions' dressing room after Sunday's game.

"I take the point gained in our match, but I am not happy at all with some performance," an agitated fan said.

"Who signed [David] Molinga and Yikpe? Especially the latter, we were told he was a good striker who performed well for the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) side Gor Mahia, so what happened to him here [at Yanga]?

"A striker who has scored just two goals [in all competitions], what does that tell you? The fans are hurt, we are hurting not the management. Is this the new Yanga we had been promised?"

Coach Luc Eymael did not hesitate to criticize his attackers for misfiring.

"I am disappointed with all my strikers,” Eymael told Goal after the match.

"We created chances after chances, but we don’t finish the chances we create, if we don’t score that is a big problem, 30 crosses and we cannot find the back of the net? I think that is a big problem.

"Our biggest problem currently is we are not scoring, that is the biggest problem we have, it is that simple, we are not scoring goals despite creating chances and something must be done urgently before we play our next match.

"I cannot change the players [strikers] now, I can only ask them to rectify the mistakes in training like we keep doing, we must think about scoring and the strikers must stand up now and be counted, they should get their scoring boots back, I don’t need to shout at them but they should know what they are supposed to do."

Jan Vertonghen has agreed to extend his existing contract at Tottenham until the end of the season.

Vertonghen has established himself as one of the most consistent performers in the Premier League since moving to Spurs from Ajax in 2013.

The 33-year-old has racked up 311 appearances for the club in total, scoring 12 goals, while forging a formidable partnership at the back with fellow countryman Toby Alderweireld.

However, the Belgium international's time in north London appears to be drawing to a close, with his current deal set to expire this summer.

Vertonghen dropped the biggest hint over his future yet in May as he revealed his ambition to learn another language while continuing to play in top-level European competition.

He told Play Sports Kot : "I want to play in Europe and learn another language. Spain and Italy are options. And the duration of the contract will also play a role."

Vertonghen was due to drop into the free agency pool at the end of the month, but Tottenham have at least managed to tie him down through to the conclusion of the 2019-20 campaign.

Spurs confirmed that the ex-Ajax star and back-up goalkeeper Michel Vorm have committed to fresh terms on Monday.

A statement on the club's official website reads: "We can confirm that defender Jan Vertonghen and goalkeeper Michel Vorm have agreed to extend their existing contracts with the club until the end of the 2019-20 season.

"Both players’ contracts were due to expire at the end of this month and this extension means they will now be available to play for us for the remainder of the current Premier League season."

Spurs have also revealed the extension of several loan deals, including Danny Rose's season-long stint at Newcastle.

The statement continues: "We have also agreed to extend the loans of Danny Rose (Newcastle United), Kyle Walker-Peters (Southampton), Jack Clarke and Luke Amos (both QPR), Brandon Austin (Viborg) and Armando Shashoua (Atletico Baleares) until the end of their respective league seasons."

Tottenham will be back in Premier League action when they play host to West Ham on Tuesday, in a must-win game for Jose Mourinho's men as they continue to chase down a top-four finish.

Manchester City’s victory over Arsenal in midweek coupled with Liverpool’s 0-0 draw against Everton on Sunday means that the Reds’ wait for a first Premier League title in 30 years will roll into another week.

Can Jurgen Klopp’s Merseysiders finally get their hands on the championship this week?

SuperSport bring you all of the action from what is set to be another dramatic week of Prem action.

On Monday, City host Burnley, in their next fixture at home following the return of action following the coronavirus suspension.

City were rampant against Arsenal on Wednesday, exploiting uncertainty in the Gunners’ defence to secure a 3-0 victory through Raheem Sterling, Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden.

Had the gap to Liverpool not been so significant, then Pep Guardiola’s would have looked every bit like champions-elect, but seven defeats this season hasn’t been good enough to keep pace with Jurgen Klopp’s side.

However, should City beat Burnley at home on Monday, they will prevent the Reds from wrapping up the title at home against Crystal Palace on Wednesday evening.

Both matches are live on SuperSport.

Liverpool’s meeting with the Eagles at Anfield is by no means a foregone conclusion, and not just because the Merseysiders were uninspiring in Sunday’s lacklustre draw with Everton at Goodison Park.

Palace have been among the most impressive teams back in action so far, and were utterly convincing in their 2-0 victory over struggling Bournemouth.

Of course, the Eagles are well-drilled under Roy Hodgson, but their threat going forward—notably Jordan Ayew and Wilfried Zaha—can cause problems for the Reds at the other end.

Regardless of Liverpool’s result on Wednesday, their wait for the title might still extend until early July, when they must travel away to the Etihad Stadium, if City win.

SuperSport Fixtures

Monday 22 June – Manchester City vs Burnley (Premier League)

Monday 22 June – Bologna vs Juventus (Serie A)

Tuesday 23 June – Spurs vs West Ham (Premier League)

Tuesday 23 June – Barcelona vs Athletic Bilbao (LaLiga)

Wednesday 24 June – Manchester United vs Sheffield United (Premier League)

Wednesday 24 June – Liverpool vs Crystal Palace (Premier League)

Wednesday 24 June – Atalanta vs Lazio (Serie A)

Wednesday 24 June – Inter Milan vs Sassuolo (Serie A)

Wednesday 24 June – Real Madrid vs Mallorca (LaLiga)

Also in Premier League action this week, SuperSport viewers will be treated to a London derby on Tuesday evening, when Tottenham Hotspur face capital rivals West Ham United.

Spurs appeared primed to secure a valuable victory against Manchester United in their first match back, only for Eric Dier to concede a penalty late on and Bruno Fernandes to step up to fire home the resulting spot-kick.

It’s a result that leaves Spurs four points behind United in fifth, while the Hammers’ defeat by Wolves leaves them on 27 points, and only above the relegation zone on goal difference.

United can take a major step towards the Champions League if they can see off the challenge of Sheffield United at home on Wednesday.

It’s not just about the Premier League on SuperSport this week, with viewers also able to enjoy action from Europe’s other major leagues.

In Italy, Juventus are away at Bologna on Monday, while Lazio’s match away at Atalanta and Internazionale’s home game with Sassuolo are both being broadcast on Wednesday.

Inter returned to action with a 2-1 victory over Sampdoria on Sunday evening, with Romelu Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez opening the scoring inside the first 33 minutes as Antonio Conte’s side reaffirmed their title credentials.

Can they overhaul Juventus? Their current six-point gap appears significant, but with 12 games still to play, and so much up for grabs, the Nerazzurri will still believe.

There’s also Spanish top-flight action on SuperSport this week, with Barcelona hosting Athletic Bilbao on Tuesday evening before Real Madrid face Real Mallorca on Wednesday.

Barca were held 0-0 by Sevilla on Friday evening, a result which allowed Real Madrid to claim top spot with Sunday evening’s 2-1 victory over Real Sociedad.

Both of the Spanish top-flight’s big two struggled to break down their weekend opponents, but while Barca never got the opening goal—and dropped two points—Real finally did undo Sociedad’s resolve with goals from Sergio Ramos and Karim Benzema.

La Liga’s title race is getting increasingly tight as the weeks fly by, and neither of the two giants at the top of the table can afford any slip-ups.

Liverpool should be doing “all they can” to reach a loan agreement with Barcelona for Philippe Coutinho, says John Aldridge, with a short-term deal making sense to “all parties”.

Jurgen Klopp has offered little indication that he will be joining the chase for a Brazil international playmaker when the next window opens.

Plenty of Premier League clubs are said to be mulling over a move to bring a player who has previously flourished at Anfield back to English football.

Opinion on whether or not Liverpool should form part of that pursuit remains mixed, with many eager to point out that a side on the brink of title glory have moved on from the South American schemer .

Aldridge concedes that Coutinho’s push for the exits back in January 2018 left “a nasty taste in the mouth”, with bridges that will need to be rebuilt in order for any deal to be explored.

He is, however, adamant that a player with strong ties to the Reds, and one who retains match-altering ability despite his recent struggles at Barca and Bayern Munich, should be among those Klopp is considering.

Liverpool were short on attacking spark when making their return to competitive action in a 0-0 derby draw with Everton, and Coutinho could be the man to add greater depth to their ranks.

Former Reds frontman Aldridge told Sunday World: “I think Liverpool should do all they can to bring him back to Anfield.

“I know there will be some fans out there who might be surprised by my call for Liverpool’s owners to hand Coutinho a route back to Anfield, but let me explain why I think this transfer could work for all parties.

“Despite his troubles in Spain, we are talking about a class player here who lit up the Premier League. He was a big hero of the Anfield faithful during his time at the club.

“He understands how English football works and would not need long to acclimatise if he returns to Liverpool. Crucially, this loan move could be funded within the tight financial boundaries Klopp is working with this summer.”

Aldridge added, with Klopp having already passed up the chance to sign Timo Werner from RB Leipzig: “Liverpool’s decision to pull out of a deal to sign Werner confirmed they are short of cash after the coronavirus pandemic ripped a hole on football’s finances, but a one-year deal should be affordable.

“Coutinho didn’t handle his exit from Liverpool as well as he could have done. With his eagerness to complete what he saw as a dream move to Barcelona seeing him pull a few tricks to get out of the club.

“That left a nasty taste in the mouth, but we are heading into this summer with Liverpool openly admitting they can’t afford to sign top players. They could have a chance to get around that by getting Coutinho in on loan.

“Liverpool can’t afford to stand still and allow their opponents to close the gap they have opened up on the opposition in the Premier League. So that’s why I say a deal to bring Coutinho back on loan would make sense for all parties.”

Liverpool "disappointed" in Sunday's Merseyside derby and need to be more "clinical" going forward, says Jordan Henderson.

Jurgen Klopp's men were held to a 0-0 draw by Everton at Goodison Park over the weekend, as they failed to get back to winning ways following the coronavirus-enforced break in the 2019-20 campaign.

Liverpool have been the Premier League's standout side by some distance this season, but their usual attacking vigour was in short supply against their local rivals.

In the end, the Reds were lucky to escape with a point, as Klopp admitted himself post-match, with Tom Davies going closest for the hosts when he hit the woodwork in the 80th minute.

Henderson, who got a full 90 minutes of action under his belt against the Toffees, has conceded that the reigning European champions lacked a cutting edge during their first outing since March.

The Liverpool captain told the club's official website: "I think we can be a lot better of course. We know that [but] there were still some positive things that I thought were good.

"We tried to adapt to the situation but overall obviously we are disappointed because we wanted to come here and get the three points.

"But there are still plenty of positives, a clean sheet and I thought we defended really well. We just lacked that bit in the final third.

"The intensity was pretty good with the counter-pressing with the ball higher up the pitch. I thought that was good.

"We were unlucky with a couple of injuries and hopefully they are not too bad. Overall, we’ve just got to take it, move on and try to be better in the next game."

Liverpool are now only five points away from sealing a first league title in 30 years, but their coronation might have been delayed even further were it not for Alisson's late save from Dominic Calvert-Lewin's instinctive flick.

Henderson went on to praise the Brazilian for his contribution, before looking ahead to a meeting with Crystal Palace on Wednesday.

The midfielder added: "He has been outstanding all season and he’s come up with a brilliant save as well to keep us with a clean sheet, so that was important for us.

"Like I said, in the final third I think we can be a little bit better and more clinical but we'll get ready now for Wednesday.

"Every game in the Premier League is tough and each team. You look at our next game against Crystal Palace, who performed well on Saturday, so every game we play will be tough.

"We’ve just got to perform as best as we can and try and win as many games as we can."

National Super League (NSL) side Shabana FC have welcomed the Kisii County government's move to renovate the Gusii Stadium.

The renovation will see the iconic stadium have a VIP pavilion while its carrying capacity on the terraces is also expected to increase.

The work has been undergoing as football actions remain suspended and Shabana feels the time is enough for the renovation works to be finished before the next season begins.

“Ten spectator stands have been constructed. An additional 10 stands will increase the capacity of 8,000 while the VIP stand will accommodate 2,500 people,” Shabana's statement on Facebook read.

“As Shabana FC family we have welcomed the new developments which are being undertaken after the indefinite suspension of the NSL.”

“It's quite a good move to have these renovations while the league is on break. Otherwise, it would have cost us a lot of money to play our home matches in Awendo, Kericho or even Narok,” Vice-chairman Nyandoro Kambi said.

“The fans should have the same spirit as that will make the players feel a sense of belonging and in return play to the maximum for better results,” Shabana's Organizing Secretary Stephen Kiama stated.

The Kisii Governor James Ongwae revealed why his government has undertaken to renovate the facility which is one of the recognised stadiums in the Nyanza region.

“Kisii is a sporting region and I thought, as a governor, that this stadium will remain behind as a memory to my people that indeed devolution works," Ongwae told Nation Sports.

“The Kisii County Government has prioritised youth talent nurturing and sports by implementing a massive expansion programme for Gusii Stadium.

“Gusii region has produced a number of champions in athletics, including the legendary Nyantika Maiyoro who honed his skills at the Gusii Stadium. This behoves us to establish a modern facility to nurture this talent.

“The Gusii Stadium now has a sitting capacity of 12,000 and we are keen on improving it to meet international standards.

“With enough spectator ablution blocks and adequate water supply system installed, the stadium is on a pedestal of rivalling established ones like the Nyayo National Stadium in hosting major events, thus injecting more revenue to the local economy besides exposing our youth to professional players who will come to play in Kisii.”

The stadium had hosted the Kenya Inter-County Sports and Cultural Association (Kicosca) games two years ago.

Paul Pogba’s cameo appearance for Manchester United against Tottenham proved that he is “world class” and much more than a “standard Premier League player”, says Michael Owen.

Questions have been asked on a regular basis as to whether the France international deserves a standing among the global elite since he returned to Old Trafford in the summer of 2016.

There has never been any doubting his ability, with the 27-year-old a World Cup winner and talismanic presence for his country. Consistency has, however, proved to be an issue at club level, while fitness struggles having further hampered his progress in the 2019-20 campaign.

A return to action was made in style, though, against Spurs, with Pogba stepping off the bench in north London to win the penalty that allowed United to take something from a 1-1 draw.

His quick feet inside the box lured Eric Dier into a clumsy challenge, presenting Bruno Fernandes with an opportunity to convert from the spot, while there were also flashes of the power and passing range for which he is famed.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hopes there is much more to come from a player with many doubters to win over, with United eager to see Pogba flourish alongside Portugal international Fernandes.

Owen is among those expecting good things from that partnership, with plenty of encouragement taken from their first competitive outing together. Pogba must prove himself deserving of a key role in Solskjaer’s plans, with his outing against Tottenham showing that he can be a Premier League superstar if fit and firing on all cylinders.

Former United striker Owen told Premier League Productions of a man who continues to divide opinion: “These players are the difference. That is the difference between just a Premier League player and someone that we all talk about, all the time.

“That [Pogba winning a penalty] is just a moment of brilliance when the game is hard, when Tottenham get 11 men behind the ball.

“You need something out of the ordinary, and Paul Pogba has got that about him. The little shimmy and that’s it.

“If it wasn’t for him, then they would have got beaten 1-0. It’s brilliant play. That’s the difference between standard Premier League players and world-class players.”

Pogba will be looking to force his way into Solskjaer’s starting XI for a meeting with Sheffield United on Wednesday, with the Red Devils needing another positive result in that contest to keep themselves in the hunt for a top-four finish.

Maritzburg United chairman Farook Kadodia has rubbished reports that they are currently negotiating with Orlando Pirates for the services of goalkeeper Richard Ofori.

The Team of Choice boss also refuted claims that he demands R15 million for the Ghanaian netminder, saying they are not talking to any Premier Soccer League (PSL) clubs.

Ofori has been linked with a move to the Buccaneers for some time as coach Josef Zinnbauer looks to strengthen his goalkeeping department.

“No, it’s not true that I want R15 million for Ofori. I don’t know who is spreading false stories. That’s is just a lie,” Kadodia told Isolezwe.

“There is no club that we are privately talking to regarding Ofori. We are not talking to any club and that includes Orlando Pirates.”

With Pirates having the likes of Joris Delle, Siyabonga Mpontshane, and Wayne Sandilands in their goalkeeping department, the Black Stars international has been reportedly targeted by the Soweto giants to beef up their squad.

The 26-year-old has established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the country and he is likely to be nominated for the PSL Goalkeeper of the Season award.

The towering player has kept 10 clean sheets from 22 league matches this season which has been suspended indefinitely due to the coronavirus pandemic since mid-March.

On the other hand, the chairman has already confirmed that an unnamed Belgian club is interested in their first-choice keeper.

Moreover, Pirates are reportedly competing against Mamelodi Sundowns for the keeper’s services, but the latest reports suggesting that the reigning PSL champions are close to signing Bidvest Wits’ Ricardo Goss means they might have pulled out of the race.

However, the agile keeper has made it clear that he is in no rush to leave the Team of Choice, saying the club has treated him well as he is now in his third season in the PSL, having joined coach Eric Tinkler's troops from Ghanaian club Legon Cities in 2017.

The impact of Coronavirus in football has been unprecedented, shutting the game down all over the globe with leagues suspended and players and coaches left in a limbo. The case has been the same with India as well.

Though, thankfully, the domestic season was almost complete when the pandemic ended live football. However, the national team did suffer with their joint 2022 World Cup-2023 Asian Cup qualifying matches in March cancelled.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has now put out new dates for those matches, with India set to take on Qatar, Bangladesh and Afghanistan in October and November later this year.

However, the impact of Covid-19 has been different in each country and it could have an effect on the teams' preparations for the qualifiers. For example, the cases seem to have come relatively under control in Qatar while the count has kept on increasing steadily in India and Bangladesh.

As of Sunday night, Qatar has had more than 87000 positive cases of Covid-19 (more than 30000 cases per million) but the rate has come down, prompting the government to ease the restrictions. As such, the Qatar Football Association (QFA) has already started preparations to resume the league which was halted by the pandemic.

India, on the other hand, is still reeling under the increasing number of cases. The number of positive cases have already crossed the 400000 mark and is steadily rising. There is no sign of the curve flattening in the near future with most of the metropolitan cities overwhelmed by the crisis.

Bangladesh is also in a similar plight. They have more than 110000 cases, large for a country their size. For example, India has almost 309 positive cases per million while the figure is almost double (682) for Bangladesh.

Afghanistan have also been affected with more than 28000 cases, amounting to about 741 cases per million.

It looks highly uncertain that live football, or even training, might be possible in India and Bangladesh, or for that matter even Afghanistan, in the near future. In fact, the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) have not been able to take a decision on when domestic football could restart, despite the pleas of players and coaches.

Bangladesh's State Minister for Youth and Sports, Zahid Ahsan Russel, recently stated that it would not be possible to announce the timetable of the beginning domestic sports due to the crisis.

On the other hand, the relative abatement of the crisis in Qatar means that their league is set to restart on July 24, 2020. The Qatar Stars League (QSL) teams have already started training from June 10 after the authorities set out safety guidelines. The players and officials are set to undergo Coronavirus tests again in the coming week.

Qatar are aiming to complete their season by August 26, with the remaining rounds of the QSL set to be held at three stadiums having cooling technology - the newly launched Education City, Al Janoub and Jassim bin Hamad.

For India, the start of the new season is very much uncertain. It should ideally start in October or November but given the current scenario, it is unlikely that teams and players will get a proper pre-season by that time to regain their match fitness. The start of the new season is also uncertain and could be pushed back if the crisis worsens.

What this means for India is that by the time the World Cup qualifiers rolls along in October and November, Qatari players could be well ahead of their Indian counterparts in terms of match fitness. Whether India can actually hold a training camp or make adequate preparations for the qualifiers is also uncertain, given the travel restrictions and other limitations.

It could be that Bangladeshi and Afghani players' plight might be similar to the Indians. Though India's chances to qualify for the World Cup is over, they need to finish as high as possible to confirm their spot in the 2023 Asian Cup third round qualifiers. Else, they will have to play a play-off.

As such, every result, even against Qatar whom the Blue Tigers held to a draw away from home, will be important. India are currently fourth on the table with just three points from four games and need to finish third in order to confirm their spot in the third round of Asian Cup qualifiers.

The game against Qatar is set for October 8 at the Kalinga stadium in Bhubaneswar. However, Indian players have not trained outdoors since February and will need at least four-to-five weeks of preparation. It remains to be seen what the quarantine rules for each state will be for people moving from other states and whether it will apply to players coming in to take part in a training camp.

It is not easy in the current scenario and poses a lot of challenges to the authorities. Everything hinges on how the Coronavirus crisis plays out in the next few months.

Antonio Conte wants to see Christian Eriksen become "more decisive" after the midfielder helped Inter to a 2-1 win over Sampdoria.

Eriksen set up Romelu Lukaku's opener and Lautaro Martinez also scored as Inter moved within six points of Serie A leaders Juventus with their victory at San Siro on Sunday.

Morten Thorsby pulled a goal back for Sampdoria during the second half, but Inter secured three points.

Eriksen had a game-high five shots and four key passes, but Inter head coach Conte wants more from the midfielder.

"We had the chance to work with him. We had the time to improve from both physical and tactical point of view," Conte told a news conference.

"Nowadays he fits our project but he needs to be more decisive because he had many chances to score and he must score.

"But I am pleased the way he played, as the team, because we are going to play again in three days and those three points will be decisive for us."

Eriksen has scored two goals and provided as many assists in 10 games for Inter this season, having arrived from Tottenham in January.

The Danish international himself believes he has not produced his best form since joining Inter, but is eyeing further improvement after impressing in the win over Sampdoria.

The former Tottenham star has struggled since leaving the Premier League club for Inter in January, however, Eriksen has looked better since the coronavirus-enforced break, after scoring in the Coppa Italia semi-final second leg defeat against Napoli last time out.

Reflecting on his display as Inter moved within six points of Serie A leaders Juventus, the Denmark international told Sky: "I don't think that you've seen the true Eriksen.

"I can improve further and I hope to score more, I did so against Napoli but it didn't help the team so it doesn't matter for me and it was just a lucky effort. I had a few chances tonight and perhaps I rushed the strikes too much and I'll look to do better in the future."

He added: "Things keep getting better, I think it was the right decision to come here. I've been welcomed very well with a lot of warmth from both the fans and my team-mates.

"I'm proud to be here and of the fact that Inter wanted me. I'm disappointed to not experience the atmosphere put on by the fans at the stadium but things are going very well with everyone.

"In the first half, there was lots of space and I benefited from that before Sampdoria closed up in the second and I wasn't able to have the impact that I'd have liked."

Inter host Sassuolo as they return to Serie A action on Wednesday.

Benjamin Mendy brings "a special quality" to Manchester City, according to Pep Guardiola, who is hoping the French left-back can maintain full fitness after his impressive display against Arsenal.

City forked out £52 million ($64m) to lure Mendy to Etihad Stadium from Monaco in the summer of 2017, after watching him emerge as one of the brightest young talents in Europe at Stade Louis II.

Unfortunately, he has been unable to reach his full potential in Manchester due to a string of serious injuries, limiting him to just 47 appearances in all competitions over the past three seasons. 24 of those outings have come in 2019-20, but Guardiola had still been unable to rely on the France international prior to the coronavirus-enforced break in the campaign.

Mendy benefitted from two months in lockdown to get himself back into peak condition, and returned with a point to prove against Arsenal on Wednesday.

The 25-year-old played the full 90 minutes of City's 3-0 victory, producing an assured display in defence which helped to keep the Gunners quiet going forward.

Guardiola could stick with Mendy for his side's next fixture against Burnley on Monday, but he is reluctant to get carried away with the full-back's latest display.

Asked if the former Monaco star can play a key role in City's squad over the next few weeks, Guardiola told a pre-match press conference: “It’s our wish and his wish. He has a special quality with his energy. He came back so fit but it’s one game. Hopefully, he can play regularly.

“He’s a guy who missed a lot. Fabian Delph and Oleksandr (Zinchenko) and Danilo helped us a lot (when Mendy was out). I think it's so important to have him, but we have to wait, it’s just one game.

“The quality for Benjamin is to go outside, but Mendy is also learning to go inside too. It’s about being fit.

“He loves playing football. He plays without pressure – he’s a guy who handles pressure really well. But we could not count on him for two years, it’s a long time.”

After playing host to Burnley, City will turn their attention to a huge meeting with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Thursday, which could have a huge bearing on the top-four race.

Young Africans (Yanga SC) coach Luc Eymael has revealed captain Papy Tshishimbi will miss the next two matches in the Mainland Premier League.

The towering defender has already missed the first three matches since the top-flight restarted on June 13 after President John Pombe Magufuli gave the green light for all sporting activities to resume in the country.

Tshishimbi missed the 1-0 win against Mwadui FC in Shinyanga, the 1-1 draw against JKT Tanzania in Dodoma, and their 0-0 result against Azam FC at National Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Sunday.

The Belgian coach has exclusively told Goal the skipper will miss the next two matches as well, starting with Namungo FC on Tuesday.

“[Tshishimbi] will miss the next two matches because he is yet to recover fully from injury,” Eymael told Goal on Monday.

“We don’t want to rush him, we want him to heal properly to avoid him coming back to action and then returning to the treatment table, our doctors are monitoring his situation very closely and from what I have been told, he will be out for the next two matches.”

Asked whether he has missed the players’ presence in the past three matches, Eymael explained: “I don’t want to comment on that, no comment.”

On Sunday, Eymael hit out at his strikers for wasting scoring chances, something he said denied them the chance to beat Azam and move to the second spot on the 20-team league table.

“I am disappointed with all my strikers,” Eymael told Goal after the match.

“We created chances after chances, but we don’t finish the chances we create, if we don’t score that is a big problem, 30 crosses and we cannot find the back of the net? I think that is a big problem.

“Our biggest problem currently is we are not scoring, that is the biggest problem we have, it is that simple, we are not scoring goals despite creating chances and something must be done urgently before we play our next match.

“I cannot change the players [strikers] now, I can only ask them to rectify the mistakes in training like we keep doing, we must think about scoring and the strikers must stand up now and be counted, they should get their scoring boots back, I don’t need to shout at them but they should know what they are supposed to do.”

Yanga will remain third with 56 points as Azam maintain the second spot, with 58 points, after 30 matches.

Kenya international Joseph Okumu has explained he is not focused on taking the Harambee Stars armband from Victor Wanyama.

The towering defender, who has so far managed nine appearances, has been touted by many as the best replacement for Wanyama when he decides to quit playing for the Kenyan national team.

Okumu has the experience to captain the team having led Kenya’s U23 side and also Chemelil Sugar, where he started his playing career in the Kenyan Premier League (KPL).

However, Okumu has now clarified his intention, saying he does not want to take away the armband from the former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder but to always help Harambee Stars perform well in matches.

“My main focus is not to have the armband but just represent the nation to the best of my ability,” Okumu is quoted by Standard Sports.

“However, if an opportunity arises for me to lead the team then why not? But it will not be new to me because I had the same role at the U23 team.”

Okumu, who currently turns out for IF Elfsborg in Sweden, was among the players who shone for Kenya as they took part in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations finals held in Egypt.

Meanwhile, Okumu was in action for IF Elfsborg as they restarted the Sweden top-tier with a 1-0 win against IFK Goteborg and was also involved in a 2-2 draw against visiting Hammarby.

“It feels amazing to have started the season with a win. The team is in good spirits and we are working on getting the maximum points in our next match [Helsingborg],” Okumu explained on getting playing time in the Swedish league.

“But I expect to get as many playing minutes as possible and help the club achieve its goals as I develop myself too.”

On whether he has coped well in Sweden, Okumu said: “I have adapted to life here and I’m having a decent time despite the issues to deal with Covid-19. I have also had a good relationship with club manager Bo Jimmy Thelin and he is an amazing coach to work with.”

Okumu started his career with Green Commandoes, then joined KPL side Chemelil Sugar where he left to sign for Free State Stars in South Africa, and after that, he played for AFC Ann Arbor and Real Monarchs FC, both in the USA, before he sealed the transfer to Elfsborg in 2019.

Busoga United acquired the use of its name from the Registrar of Companies in the right manner, the club's chairperson Diana Nyoga has stated.

The Busoga Kingdom wrote to the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (Fufa), withdrawing the use of the name by the club, but Nyago says they followed all the procedures in the acquisition of the name.

“We followed the correct procedure of acquiring that name [Busoga United], through the Registrar of Companies, which the office advised that we seek authorization from the kingdom as per the rule against the use of traditional organization names,” Nyago told Football256.

“The kingdom gave us a letter of no objection to the cause, and that’s how we acquired the name for the club.

“So, in any case to the contrary, the same procedure has to be followed which is, unfortunately, heading into a legal battle.” 

The protracted tussle between the club and the kingdom comes a few days after Nyago claimed Busoga Kingdom Sports Minister Amin Bbosa had not been authorised by the club to attend Fufa's consultative meeting in the previous week.

“Fufa should come out and outline how the people who represented Busoga United are known in the club’s structures and they represented the club in what capacity,” she added.

“[Amin] Bbosa has no business whatsoever to represent the club irrespective of his position in the kingdom, which I respect. He is not an official at the club, that’s the truth and it doesn’t call for war."

The move taken by the Busoga Kingdom meant, Kyabazinga, King William Wilberforce Gabula Nadiope IV, ceased to be the club's patron. Adamant Nyago says credible evidence has to be presented by the kingdom as to why they are opposed to the club's use of the name.

“The person who signed the letter of no objection for us to use the Kingdom name will have to present very genuine reasons for the Registrar of Companies on why it should be changed now,” she concluded.

“Writing to Fufa is wrong because it was just at the receiving end of what name we presented to them as a club, they were not involved in the process, so why involve them in the name change process.”

Busoga United was initially called Kirinya Jinja SS and were promoted to the Premier League six seasons ago.

Mikel Arteta has been warned by Arsenal cult hero Perry Groves that handing a contract extension to David Luiz will see him come under unnecessary pressure as supporters start to “lose faith”.

As things stand, an experienced Brazilian defender is due to drop into the free agent pool this summer.

When crossing London from Chelsea in the summer of 2019, the South American centre-half only committed to a 12-month deal.

That agreement does include a clause that the Gunners can trigger to keep Luiz on their books for another season.

Those at Emirates Stadium are currently mulling over whether or not to take up that option.

Groves feels there is an easy decision to make, with Luiz having returned to Premier League action off the bench against Manchester City with a costly, error-strewn performance.

The South American made a mess of trying to clear his lines in that contest as Raheem Sterling broke the deadlock, before then conceding a penalty and being shown a red card.

Arteta is now being urged to move on quickly from Arsenal’s experiment with Luiz and keep fans onside by allowing an enigmatic figure to head through the exits.

“He’s 33 now and keeps making the same mistakes,” former Gunners midfielder Groves told talkSPORT.

“He can play one brilliant game in six where you think what a player he is, pinging it 60, 70 yards, getting in front of the centre-forward and nicking it.

“But then another three or four of those games, he’ll make a ricket or he won’t concentrate.

“If Arteta signs David Luiz, Arteta will come under pressure from Arsenal fans.

“They will lose faith in Arteta because it’s blatantly obvious that he [Luiz] is always going to cause you problems.

“Arteta wants to play a back four, he wants to play a high line, he wants to play a pressing game and David Luiz can’t do that.”

Luiz, who arrived in north London claiming that he could help to get Arsenal back on the trophy trail, has taken in 33 appearances across all competitions this season.

It may be that he is not seen again in 2019-20, with a suspension now set to be served before potentially moving on to pastures new.