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Atletico Madrid head coach Diego Simeone hailed his team's late win over Real Valladolid as they boosted their chances of finishing in La Liga's top four.

Vitolo came off the bench and headed home the 81st-minute winner for Atletico in a 1-0 victory at home to Valladolid on Saturday.

Atletico moved back up to third in the standings – level on points with Sevilla after 30 games and four clear of Getafe – in the race for Champions League qualification.

"It's always important to take something from a game and even better when you win," Simeone said. "There were things to improve, but we've had three months without a normal preparation and then you're playing every three days.

"There's a need to adapt and reinvent yourself, given the circumstances. This was a very important win.

"We had chances in the first half and couldn't score, then in the second half it was tough against a very organised side. We could have won or lost, but we achieved a great result."

Atletico played behind closed doors at the Wanda Metropolitano due to the coronavirus pandemic and Simeone added: "The fans weren't there in the flesh, but they were there in spirit.

"The minute of silence before the match and the music in the empty stadium were pure emotion. We lost many people."

A clutch of chances had been spurned by the time Vitolo came off the bench to replace Marcos Llorente with 17 minutes remaining, with Joao Felix and Alvaro Morata having gone close.

When the breakthrough came in the 81st minute it was dramatic, Vitolo heading at goal after a corner from the left reached him at the far post.

Valladolid defender Kiko Olivas felt he had nodded it off the line after diving spectacularly to reach the ball, but replays showed it was six inches over and Atletico moved back up to third.

Vitolo, whose Atletico side have eliminated titleholders Liverpool en route to the Champions League quarter-finals this season, said: "The club's goal is to quality for the Champions League next season. There are many teams that trying and it will be decided in the last matches. Hopefully we can enter and give the fans joy."

Gor Mahia chairman Ambrose Rachier has clarified sponsors Betsafe will start bankrolling the club when the new Kenyan Premier League (KPL) season kicks off.

On Thursday, the Kenyan champions, along with their sworn rivals AFC Leopards, signed a partnership deal with the betting firm that will last for the next three years, with K’Ogalo set to pocket KSh55million per year while Ingwe will receive KSh45 million.

But according to the K’Ogalo chairman, despite penning the deal, the club will only start getting financial support when the new season kicks off in August.

“As things stand now, we don’t have anything to give back to the new sponsor because there is no football being played,” Rachier told reporters after Gor Mahia players were hosted to a luncheon on Saturday.

“What we agreed on when signing the deal, is they will only be able to start funding the club when football resumes, and that can only be possible when our league starts again.”

Rachier further revealed the club was working on ways to reduce their monthly wage bill, which currently stands at Sh5million, by half.

“We have 35 players who are in our payroll and we must have Sh5million every month to clear their salaries and this is becoming a bit too much for the club to handle, so our aim, for now, is to try and reduce it to at least half,” Rachier continued.

“If you ask me, I would prefer our wage bill to stand at Sh3million a month because we can try to handle it.”

Rachier also called on Gor Mahia fans to register as members in big numbers so they can directly help support the team financially.

“Like in most cases, and more so in Europe, most clubs are being run by fans through membership, they directly contribute and play a big role to support their clubs, we can also try and cultivate that culture at Gor Mahia,” Rachier concluded.

Rachier’s statement came barely a day after Gor Mahia coach Steven Polack called on the club officials not to relax but instead, work hard to secure more sponsors.

Polack warned the club officials not to rest on their laurels and continue to work hard for more sponsors, giving an example of how Gor Mahia were left suffering after SportPesa withdrew their support early this season, leaving them with no place to run to for help.

“The fight to get a new sponsor has been going on for a long time and to get new support is not easy and I want to thank the chairman [Ambrose Rachier] for the good work he has put in and the other people, who helped along the way to secure the deal,” Polack told Goal on Friday.

“I am happy for the club now we have a sponsor, but one sponsor is not enough in football, in football you need more than one sponsor, if you look around the world any club around the world, even the smallest teams have more than one sponsor.

“Let me explain to you, you can’t put all your eggs in one basket, because look at what happened to SportPesa, they dropped out and that was it, there was no one to support the club with money, there was no one to cover up after they left, you need to have at least three sponsors.”

Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards have been struggling since SportPesa, their previous sponsor, left, leaving the club to depend on fans, members, and other well-wishers to honour matches and settle players' allowances at times.

Jurgen Klopp is making dreams come true at Liverpool and "embodies" the club, right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold says.

The Reds are closing in on a first Premier League title in 30 years as they sit 22 points clear of Manchester City at the top of the table with nine games to play.

England international Alexander-Arnold says the Champions League holders owe a great deal of their recent success to the German coach.

He told BBC Radio 5 Live: "To think back to where the club was when he took over to now, all the players and what level we were at whether he bought us or helped us come up from the academy, the things he's done to the whole club have been mind-blowing.

"To change the whole club, to change everyone from doubters to believers, to get everybody thinking the same way, believing the same way and having the same dreams.

"He just embodies the whole club. Even without being from the city, the country and being local, he just clicks with the club. He does it with every person - the fans, the staff and the players.

"You've got to respect the things he does. Every person who has been involved with him can only thank him as much as possible. The way he develops the people around him to making their dreams come true and helping them do what they want is amazing.

"He is someone who will always be special to the club and to me personally."

Liverpool make are back in action for the first time since March when they take on local rivals Everton on Sunday.

Victory against the Toffees will put the Anfield side within three points of claiming the crown and Alexander-Arnold says they remain fully focused on doing the job despite the long delay.

"If you can imagine your ultimate dream and being so, so close to it - two steps away from it really - and someone saying: 'You need to wait over 100 days then you might get it'. It was quite frustrating," the 21-year-old added.

"But the league position hasn't changed, our mentality hasn't changed and that is to win every game, push boundaries, break records, win the league and be remembered.

"You have to wait so long to win the league, then when you do it, you have to wait so long to celebrate it properly. The things we see on that day, though, will hopefully be things we will never forget."

After signing a consultancy agreement with Spanish giants Sevilla and the Spanish top flight earlier this week, Yanga SC's players could land future deals playing in Europe, according to La Liga Africa regional manager Juan Botella.

La Liga and Sevilla entered into a three-year deal with Yanga in which they will help the African side develop in various managerial aspects.

Although the pact entails helping Yanga evolve on areas of digital transformation, marketing and sales, economic control, digitalisation or international development, Botella has not ruled out the possibility of helping players seek greener pastures in Europe.

“The promotion of talent is certainly a fundamental aspect of the partnership, but we must not forget that first, we want to help grow the local championship,” Botella told Goal.

“Therefore, the migration of a player abroad must be seen as a possibility [in relation to the sporting scenario of each player] and we will definitively work hard to enhance local players potential with our expertise on the field.

“It is key for a professional football club to understand and interact with its fan base using data, providing them with new and better experiences, and develop its own training system using La Liga coaching techniques.

“Develop and share La Liga's unique training methodology is part of the collaboration.”

The official further elaborated how the deal will help the development of grassroots football.

“It would not make sense if we do not develop grassroots football," added the regional manager.

“It is actually one of our pillars in which we would like to help Tanzanian players and we will do it not only with Yanga but also with the Tanzanian Football Federation, an institution that we have a great relationship with.

“The transformation of the Tanzanian club will gradually take place across all different areas, in order to make Yanga a professional football entity towards efficiency entering in a new era of sports.

“We will transform the whole entity from its current management structure to digital and new technologies.”

Botella is confident the project is headed for success even though the record Tanzanian champions have tried to transform, twice before, with little success.

“The most important asset to success is the willingness and Yanga clearly have it. They are full of enthusiasm and they are ready to jump into the next step,” continued the official.

“This time they are not alone, we will walk together with them throughout the ambitious path of transformation.

“In addition to it, GSM [Yanga's sponsor], which has a broad view of the world of football and a lot of experience in various fields [logistics, trading, manufacturing, retail, travel] is also keen to support the project.

“We, La Liga and Sevilla have as well great expertise in our fields and there is no better partner than someone that already gone through the same process you are about to start.”

Coaches from Sevilla are expected to travel to Tanzania when travel restrictions are lessened in order to help jump-start the project.

Former URA FC CEO Ivan Kakembo has hit out at coach Sam Ssimbwa who he describes as a man who wanted to be everything at the club.

The two did not have a smooth time during their time at the Kampala-based side and the administrator left the team last December after his contract with the four-time Ugandan Premier League champions expired.

"Nothing brings me together with Ssimbwa but the job, even when I go for a holiday, I will be in Miami in the USA but Ssimbwa will be at Pine," Kakembo told Sanyuka TV as quoted by Sports Nation.

"What Ssimbwa failed to understand is that he cannot work under organizational structures. He is a coach but wants to be the CEO and everything at the same time."

The 53-year-old former Sofapaka tactician at one point fell out with his star player Steven Bengo while at SC Villa and Kakembo has also commented on the issue.

"At Villa, he let players sing songs about his wife [Sophie Nantongo] and at one time I guess his wife never came back and he ended up punching midfielder Steven Bengo, you all remember those disciplinary proceedings," he added.

The former Uganda international midfielder, meanwhile, accused his former CEO of signing players without his consent, while the administrator accused the tactician of asking for money to allegedly bribe referees.

Ssimbwa resigned as Sofapaka coach in 2018 after the team was held to a draw by Thika United early in the season and came to the Tax Collectors eyeing both the Uganda Cup and the league title after penning a permanent deal with the Kampala side.

Ssimbwa put pen to paper on a three-year deal with the club after serving the team for two months on a temporary basis.

He replaced former Bandari and Tusker tactician Paul Nkata, who had left URA for a return to the Kenyan Premier League with Kakamega Homeboyz.

Ssimbwa has two Uganda Cup medals to his name, having scooped the title in 1999 with Mbale Heroes and Express in 2007, who he also guided to a league title in 2011-2012 season.

The journeyman has also coached Soana, SC Villa, Police (Rwanda), SC Victoria University and KCCA FC.
 

Azam FC coach Aristica Cioaba has maintained their target from the Young Africans (Yanga SC) match is to make sure that they remain second on the Mainland Premier League table.

The “Ice Cream Makers’ will take on the Jangwani Street-based giants in the top of the bill clash at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Sunday.

Azam are currently second on the 20-team league table with 57 points, two more than Yanga, and the Romanian coach has stressed the importance of making sure they keep the position by the end of the match.

“We have finished our one-week training for this game, every player’s level is going up, the physical level is also going up step by step and the spirit of players in training every day is very good and I trust the players will now fight and win this game,” Cioaba told reporters on Sunday.

“After this game, we still have other eight matches coming up, the league is not finished yet but I don’t like putting my head on one game, I speak for you that our plan is to fight for the top finish this season and we will continue to fight in every game.

“Yanga is one good team here, one of the biggest teams in the country, they have good history and have more support here, but Azam is one team fighting down from the pitch, down from the pitch, and fighting for every game and fighting for every point and today [Sunday] I am ready to make sure after this game Azam remain the second position in the table.”

On whether Azam will welcome to the squad three of their Zimbabwean players - Never Tigere, Bruce Kangwa, and Donald Ngoma - who arrived late from Harare owing to the lockdown occasioned by the coronavirus pandemic, Cioaba said: “My players who will start must have been training for the past weeks, and we cannot rush the players who just came the other day.

“But I think we will have two or three new players coming into the squad to boost the team in the fight for the points. We want the points; same way Yanga will be coming for the points but we are ready to carry the day.”

Yanga will be seeking to avenge their 1-0 defeat in the reverse fixture.

Jose Mourinho should leave Dele Alli out of the Tottenham starting XI for Tuesday’s match against West Ham because Erik Lamela deserves to keep his place, according to former Spurs striker Darren Bent.

Alli missed Friday’s 1-1 draw against Manchester United because he was suspended for posting a racially insensitive video on social media in February amid the coronavirus pandemic, with Argentina international Lamela lining up in attacking midfield for his 11th start in the Premier League this season.

The 24-year-old, who has scored nine times in 35 appearances in all competitions this term, is available to aid the London side's quest for a place in next season's Champions League when they are in action against the Hammers on Tuesday.

However Bent believes Jose Mourinho should put England international Alli on the bench for another week and instead give Lamela another chance to shine alongside star striker Harry Kane and wingers Son Heung-min and Steven Bergwijn.

“It’s going to be an interesting one because I think he might go with the same team,” Bent said in an interview with Football Insider. “I think Bergwijn, he’s going to play after his goal and his performance, Harry Kane, he’s not going to drop him, Son, you’re not going to drop him, so the next one is Lamela.

“You’d have to say Lamela played really, really well and to be fair, Lo Celso didn’t even start. I think Alli might have to wait and wait.

“I think it would be a little bit unfair if Lamela was to come out. Every player deserves a fair crack and Lamela hasn’t at times hasn’t covered himself in glory which is why he hasn’t been a regular but when he does play well, I think he’s earned the right to get another go.”

Tottenham are eighth in the Premier League after 30 games, four points behind United, who occupy the Europa League place, and a further two points behind fourth-placed Chelsea.

After Tuesday's clash with their London rivals, Mourinho's men, who have not won any of their last seven matches in all competitions, visit Sheffield United on July 2.

Crystal Palace striker Jordan Ayew became the highest-scoring Ghanaian in Premier League history when he netted to help the Eagles to victory over Bournemouth on Saturday.

The forward's first-half strike ensured a 2-0 away triumph at Vitality Stadium on the return of the top-flight after a coronavirus suspension.

The goal was his ninth of the season, the match his 29th.

But there was more to the strike than just drawing him closer to double figures as it put Ayew clear as the highest-scoring Ghanaian in the history of the Premier League with 25 goals.

He was tied with former Leeds United forward Anthony Yeboah on 24 goals ahead of Saturday's fixture.

Seven of the France-born's strikes came while he was on the books of Aston Villa, eight while with Swansea City and 10 at Palace.

Ayew reached the 25 goal mark in 129 matches while Yeboah scored his 24 goals in 47 appearances.

Andre Ayew, Jordan's older brother, is third on the Ghana chart with 21 goals in 87 outings, having played for Swansea and West Ham United.

Former Chelsea ace Michael Essien occupies the fourth position, with 17 goals in 168 matches, while ex-Sunderland star Asamoah Gyan is fifth with 10 goals in 34 matches.

Jordan is also on the brink of breaking another record, this time at Palace, with eight more matches to the end of the season.

The attacker's goals have so far won Palace 14 points this term, leaving him just one point behind Andrew Johnson’s contribution in 2004-05 as no single player has collected the Eagles more points in Premier League history.

Ayew's big moment on Saturday came in the 23rd minute when he shot into the bottom-left corner from close range after Patrick van Aanholt delivered a good ball into the box. 

Captain Luka Milivojevic had put the Eagles in front 11 minutes earlier, curling a sweet free-kick into the net after Wilfried Zaha was fouled by David Brooks outside the box.

Ayew joined Palace in January 2019 for a half-season loan stint from Swansea. Despite a frustrating spell which yielded only one league goal, the striker was on a permanent deal at the end of the season.

He first came to England in 2015, signing for Villa from French side Lorient. In January 2017, he left for Swansea.

While in France, Ayew also played for Sochaux and Olympique Marseille.

Sam Nyamweya has highlighted the achievements he thinks were registered when he served as the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) president.

Nyaweya is among the individuals who have declared their interest to vie for the post this time around and he says his achievements during a tenure that ended in 2016 are there to be seen.

One of the achievements that the former FKF supremo pointed out is winning the hosting rights for the 2018 African Nations Championship which Kenya was stripped of later over a lack of preparedness.

“I did all that we could and got rights to host Chan. FKF should have pushed the government to ensure we hosted the event because it is not the government that runs football,” Nyamweya told Radio Jambo.

“I would have protested even to the State House and pleaded that we ensure Chan was hosted in the country.”

Nyamweya also tabled the performance of the Harambee Stars as proof enough of how he was in charge of a working office that achieved a lot.

“I left when Kenya was ranked 90 on the Fifa rankings and, during my entire time in office, there was no time we were ranked below the 100 mark. Now, we are ranked 107,” he added. 

“The national team players were covered by UAP Insurance. All of them were covered and there were no complaints of failure of treatment.”

On the current grandstanding between FKF and the Kenyan Premier League, Nyamweya revealed the strategy he used to solve such issues at the time.

“FKF and KPL always worked out their differences through negotiations,” he pointed out.

“Anytime there was a misunderstanding I would call Ambrose Rachier [then KPL chairman] so that we could sit and iron out issues.

"The joint Executive Committee was meeting at least once every two weeks.

“It is now two years since the current members met that is why you can see everything is in disarray.”

Nyamweya also took credit for the fact that a number of Kenyans served in key positions in international events or bodies during his tenure.

“I can remember that I also pushed a number of our officials to join the Caf Executive Committee and one of them was Doris Petra who was a representative in the Women Committee. Robert Asembo served in the Caf's Constitutional Committee,” he concluded.

“I am proud of the two. Aden Marwa served during the 2014 World Cup courtesy of my lobbying efforts and you know that is not an easy task.

“All these [achievements] are there to be seen.”

Nyamweya and his fellow contestants will wait longer as the FKF is not sure when the mandatory elections will be held.

Kaizer Chiefs vice-captain Willard Katsande says the late Edzai Kasinauyo played an important role in his football career.

The Zimbabwean football legend played for several South African clubs in the PSL era including, Moroka Swallows and Ajax Cape Town, before he retired and became an agent.

One of the players he represented was former Zimbabwe captain Katsande, having facilitated the defensive midfielder's big move to Chiefs from Ajax Cape Town in 2011.

Kasinauyo, who was a retired winger, sadly died at the age of 42 on June 16, 2017, in Johannesburg after falling ill.

"It’s always good to remember an icon like Edzai and May His Soul Rest in Peace. For me working with him was great. He is the guy who put me when I am today," Katsande told The Sunday Mail.

"If it wasn’t for him I would not be where I am. Yes, some people might say it’s your talent but who made it possible? How much talent has been lost in the bush without being explored?

"If you look at me, Khama [Billiat], Evans Rusike, Blessing Moyo, Oscar Machapa, Gilbert Mapemba and many other players who came through him, we knew we had to work hard in order not to disappoint our mudhara [big man in Shona]."

Kasinauyo made Katsande believe that he could flourish at Chiefs like their compatriot Tinashe Nengomasha, who is one of Amakhosi's greatest midfielders in the PSL era.

"He was professional and would always get straight to the point and tell you baba what you are doing is not right. He would not gossip behind your back," he continued.

"He made me believe in my abilities and when he told me that I could command the Kaizer Chiefs jersey after Tinashe Nengomasha.

"I looked myself in the mirror and thought maybe this guy is just flattering me but he kept on inspiring me and made me realize that I am good."

Katsande explained that Kasinauyo was like a parent to him, having helped him secure a move to South Africa from Zimbabwean side Gunners FC when he joined Ajax in 2010.

"Losing him was like losing a parent and he is not going to be replaceable… a guy could cater for you in everything and would visit my mum," he added.

"He was smart, clever, honest and always hardworking as a player, administrator or agent.

"In Shona they say munhu akanaka hararame [a good person doesn't live long], I didn’t know what it means at first but now I know because I have lost some of the most important people in my life, my parents and Edzai."

Kasinauyo also facilitated Katsande's Chiefs teammate and compatriot Khama Billiat's big transfer to Mamelodi Sundowns from Ajax in 2013.

"Just check the number of players in South Africa he brought and how they have stamped their authority through hard work and compare now after his death how the numbers of those coming to South Africa have declined," he concluded.

Jeremie Boga has stressed he has no regrets about leaving Chelsea after a strong season in Serie A with Sassuolo. 

The 23-year-old attacker moved to Italy in 2018 and has scored eight goals while contributing a further four assist across 25 appearances this season. 

That form has seen Boga linked with possible moves to Inter and Juventus - though he remains contracted to Sassuolo until 2022. 

While open to embracing a new challenge next season, Boga harbours zero regrets on his decision to depart the Blues. 

"I am ready for a new chapter," Boga told Telefoot. "I have no regrets, as I made the right decision in leaving Chelsea. I think that was the best choice I could’ve made in the circumstances.

"Nothing is definitive yet. I spoke to coach Roberto De Zerbi to have a better understanding of the situation. I am ready for a new challenge, whether it is in Italy or abroad, but I could remain at Sassuolo too.

"I think Serie A football is suited to me and I am having the best season of my career so far."

Boga, who came through Chelsea's academy, only made one senior appearance for the club.

Goal recently revealed that the Blues are in advanced talks with Sassuolo which would see them earn an undisclosed one-off fee and exchange their buyback clause to a first option on a future sale of Boga. 

Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia moved to conduct talks with Sassuolo to remove the €15 million (£13.5m/$17m) buyback clause, which allowed Sassuolo to get a bargain when they signed Boga for £4m in 2018 amid competition from Lille, Celta Vigo and Real Betis.

Sassuolo chairman Giovanni Carnevali is under pressure to sell Boga but is determined to hold onto his star despite mounting interest.

"Boga has grown a lot, we must give credit to [Sassuolo coach Roberto] De Zerbi who made him grow," Carnevali said on Rai TV Show, Domenica Sportiva.

"He is requested by various clubs but we intend to keep him, we do not want to sell him because we will continue in the project that [owner] Dr Squinzi had in mind. He [Boga] will be a Neroverde also next year."

The Indian U16 team is faced with an uphill task of competing in a challenging group in the final round of the AFC U16 Championship that will be held in Bahrain at the end of the year.

The colts will have to battle against Australia, South Korea and Uzbekistan in the Group Stage. A top-two finish will guarantee a spot in the quarterfinal, which remains India’s best performance in the history of the competition.

The top four teams will qualify for the 2021 FIFA U17 World Cup that will be hosted by Peru next year. Clearly, there is all to play for when the India colts take the pitch in November.

Here we look at how they performed in the previous editions of the competitions.

This will be the 19th edition of the AFC U16 Championship, with India set to make its ninth appearance. Of the eight times India featured in the final round of this competition, they could manage to get past the Group Stage on only two occasions – 2002 and 2018.

India debuted in the U16 Championship in the 1990 edition which was hosted by UAE. Eight teams drawn in two groups vied for the four semi-final spots. After straightforward defeats against the hosts and China, India managed a 1-0 consolation win over Jordan. They finished third in the group and hence failed to qualify for the knockout stages.

India’s next appearance in the competition was in 1996. They were drawn alongside hosts Thailand and three other teams in Group B. The final round now had 10 teams in total but again, only the top two teams qualified for the knockout rounds. The Indian colts finished last in the table picking up a solitary win against China.

A change in format in the UAE 2002 edition saw 12 teams feature in the Group Stages. The top two from each group and two of the best third-placed teams qualified for the quarterfinal. After a defeat to China in their opening fixture, India defeated Myanmar and played out a stalemate with UAE to register four points in three games. This enabled them to qualify for the quarterfinals as one of the best third-placed sides. However, a 3-1 defeat to South Korea ended their campaign at this stage.

The 2004 Japan edition saw an expansion to 16 teams in the final round. The 16 teams were sorted into four groups, with the top two teams from each group qualifying for the quarterfinals. The Indian colts were drawn alongside Iran, Kuwait and Malaysia. Two losses and a win (over Malaysia) meant that they finished third in the group and were eliminated.

After failing to qualify for the competition in 2006, the Indian colts next took the pitch in 2008 in Uzbekistan. Like their 2004 campaign, India could only manage a third-place finish after defeats to South Korea, Syria and a win over Indonesia.

The 2012 edition was one to forget for India. The colts finished last in the group on both occasions. India hosted the tournament in 2016 but a 3-3 draw against Saudi Arabia was their best result in the group stage.

It would be fair to label India’s performance in the 2018 AFC U16 Championship their best in history. Grouped alongside Indonesia, Iran and Vietnam, India qualified for the knockout stage after remaining unbeaten in the Group Stages. They beat Vietnam and played out goalless draws against the other two teams to finish as runners-up in the group.

Yet again, it was South Korea that ended India’s campaign in the tournament with a 1-0 win in the quarterfinals. That they conceded just one goal throughout the tournaments throws light on the top-notch and well-disciplined defending that was on display.

When the youngsters take the field in Bahrain later this year, they will do well repeat or better their performance from the previous edition. A strong statement following a tremendous qualifying campaign in which they won two games and drew one game with a goal difference of +10 provides the fans with reasons to be optimistic about the team.

India U17 head coach Shuvendu Panda is somebody who has worked in a lot of roles in youth football. He's been with the All India Football Federation's (AIFF) youth set up ever since 2016 and is a highly-qualified youth coach.

Currently in charge of the India U17 team, Panda is very much involved in India's endeavour to ensure a steady supply of talent for the national team. He feels the vision of the Indian FA, with respect to grassroots development, is extremely encouraging.

"All the gigantic and majestic structures are stable only because of its strong and appropriate foundation. Similarly, the attempts made in grassroots development in Indian Football by the AlFF are in line with proper investment for future harvest. A novel beginning has been made – but a sustained effort by all stakeholders will give a further push in achieving its goal," he told Goal .

The AIFF had received the Asian Football Confederation's (AFC) "Grassroots Charter Bronze Level" back in February this year, something that allows AIFF to promote its basic-level events as AFC recognised. Panda was quick to point this fact out.

"In the recent past AFC has recognised the effort of AIFF Grassroots development programme in India."

He also pointed out the contributions of former India striker Abhishek Yadav, the Director of the National Teams, and Isac Doru, India's current Technical Director - two people he considers have had a huge influence on him.

"The vision for football development in India of Mr. Abhishek Yadav is quite encouraging. Similarly, technical input towards the youth development of Mr Isac Doru is highly influencing."

Panda, who hails from Odisha, is an AFC A Licensed coach and has undertaken coaching courses in several top European nations. He feels the evolving dynamics of football makes it necessary for coaches to keep themselves updated, something that motivates him to take up new courses.

"I got the opportunity to undertake several coaching assignments in the country and coaching courses in the top European countries and clubs like Netherlands, Benfica FC, Portugal, Club Brugge FC, Belgium and Hazduk Split FC, Croatia respectively. I personally believe that at no point of time, I can say that “I know everything". The demand of techniques, tactics and rules involved in football is dynamic and evolving. Hence, I need to be updated always and try to fit in the emerging scenario.

"Secondly the dedication, motivation and sacrifice of my better half who is an ex-International football player has played a vital role in my life to embrace success."

Odisha has played a huge role in Panda's development as a coach, providing him with opportunities to improve at every stage of his journey as a coach before the AIFF recruited him.

"I started my career as head coach for Bhubaneswar district team in 2011- 12 immediately after completion of my AFC C License. Then I became the head coach of Kishore Club, Bhubaneswar from 2012 to 2014. I worked as assistant coach for the U14 Sub-Junior Odisha state team in the year 2014. In that year, I was also the head coach for U15 Sub-Junior Odisha state team in the Manchester United Premier Cup 2014 held in New Delhi," recanted Panda.

"In 2015, I worked as an assistant coach of Sub Junior Odisha state team and in the same year, I became the assistant coach of Santosh Trophy team of Odisha. I was in charge of U15 Sports Hostel Odisha Team as head coach, in the Indian Youth League in the year 2017-18."

He was quick to credit the support Odisha government has extended towards sports development in the state. "Enhancement of sports environment is a flagship programme of the Government of Odisha. Policy of the Govt of Odisha is to hire all the best and experienced personnel to take responsibilities with all liberties with the aim to achieve the intended output.

"I am one among a few lucky persons to shoulder the responsibility for the improvement of football in Odisha."

After impressing in his various stints in Odisha, the AIFF was quick to note his rise and took him under their wing. Panda played a variety of roles in India's youth set up before assuming his current role.

"I have also worked as a scout for U17 World Cup Team and as a scout in Sub-Junior National Championship for both the boys and girls' National teams. I also worked as a scout for senior national women's team in the first ever Indian Women League (IWL) right after completing my AFC A Licence in the year 2016."

"Now I am playing the vital role as head coach for AIFF Academy team for boys born on or after 01.01.2003."

Panda counts former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson as one of his coaching idols and an influence on his coaching philosophy.

"Different icons at different stages of my life had influenced me. As a player, Roberto Carlos, and as a coach Sir Alex Ferguson. I took charge of the coaching assignment after getting highly inspired by the knowledge, skills, personality, behaviour and dedication of Mr Savio Madeira, Mr Scott O'Donell and Mr Raymond Verheijen.

"Apart from the above, there are few people from my native state Odisha who have guided me and encouraged me in my early career as player and coach."

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has criticised England's handling of the coronavirus crisis, revealing he feels like an alien for continuing to take it seriously. 

Despite seeing how hard the pandemic hit Italy and Spain, the United Kingdom struggled to prepare for the virus with over 300,000 confirmed cases and 42,000 deaths to date. 

During its peak, there were fears the Premier League season would be abandoned completely with Klopp himself conceding he became fully aware of that possibility. 

But despite those sporting concerns, Klopp has stressed his real focus has remained on matters off the pitch as he noted the major difference in how England and Germany have dealt with the coronavirus. 

“I was not worried for one second that the ­government could cost us the title because I was worried about the numbers who were dying – and I’m still worried," Klopp said.

“I didn’t vote for this ­government. This government was the choice of other people. And the problem I had was that I got the news from England and the news from Germany. If aliens looked at us both from the outside, they would think we came from two different planets.

“From a personal point of view, I don’t understand why we started wearing face masks in closed areas on June 15 when five or six weeks ago all the other countries were doing it.

“You can argue about whether it makes sense to wear them, but all ­countries who started wearing face masks earlier have smaller casualty numbers than here in England. That’s the truth.

“When I see the numbers here in ­England and then in Germany, I think. Look, it’s not perfect in Germany, people have died and have been ill. But, in terms of living your life, it is completely different.

“If you want to enter a shop in Germany, but don’t wear a face mask, then you aren’t allowed in. With a face mask, you can go in all the shops you want. You can go to the hairdresser, wherever.

“They wear a face mask, you wear a face mask, and sometimes the people in the shop will have even more ­protection like a screen.

“When I go to the petrol ­station in England, I am the only one wearing a face mask and I’m the only one with gloves – I feel like an alien. I will not stop doing that until someone tells me it’s over.

"But inside the club, we are safe. We are tested twice a week and it is a safe ­environment.”

Liverpool return to Premier League action against Everton on Sunday, needing just two wins to wrap up the league title. 

Bright Edomwonyi has ended a run of 22 games without a goal with his effort in Austria Wien’s 2-1 away win at Swarovski Tirol.

The 25-year-old was yet to find the net for Christian Ilzer’s men in what is his second full campaign at the Franz Horr Stadium.

Against their hosts on Saturday, however, he rediscovered his scoring form to help his team continue their fight against demotion from the Austrian elite division.

Eight minutes into the clash at Innsbruck’s Tivoli-Neu, Edomwonyi gave his side the lead following Benedikt Pichler’s assist.

Tirol launched a comeback into the game as Slovenia forward Zlatko Dedic put them on level term in the 32nd minute.

Their ambition to get their seventh win of the season suffered a massive setback in the 40th minute as David Gugganig was given the marching orders for a second caution.

12 minutes into the second half, Pichler restored the Violets’ lead which proved to be the winning goal for Ilzer’s team as the hosts’ search for an equalizer proved fruitless.

Edomwonyi lasted for 89 minutes before he was replaced by Christoph Monschein. 22-year-old Gambian centre back Maudo Jarjue saw just one minute of action after replacing Dominik Fitz in the closing stages of the game.

For the hosts, ex- Red Bull Salzburg midfielder and Ghana’s Felix Adjei was handed a starter’s role but was substituted in the 46th minute for Florian Buchacher, while his compatriot Kelvin Yeboah was not listed for the showdown.

With this result, Austrian Wien top the relegation play-offs log with 25 points from 28 games, while Swarovski Tirol are in danger of relegation as they sit at the base of the table with just 14 points.

They continue their fight against the drop with a visit to St. Polten on Tuesday, while the Nigerian would be hoping to add to his goals tally this season when Wien travel to Modling for their clash versus Admira.

Born in Benin City, Edomwonyi began his professional career at Red Bull Salzburg before heading to Sturm Graz after loan spells at Wacker Innsbruck and TSV Hartberg.

In 2018, he won the Austrian Cup with Strum Graz before his move to switching to the Violets.

Mohammed Kudus scored a brace as Nordsjaelland cruised to a 4-0 win over Aalborg in Saturday's Danish Superliga fixture.

The 19-year-old winger found the back of the net twice within seven minutes in the second-half to stretch his tally to 11 goals after 23 games in the Danish top-flight this season.

A first-half brace from Mikkel Damsgaard fired the visitors ahead at Aalborg Portland Park before Kudus added to the goals in the 51st and 57th minutes.

Five Ghanaian stars were in action for Nordsjaelland with only Kudus playing for the entire duration of the encounter.

Ibrahim Sadiq and Isaac Atanga also started for Flemming Pedersen's side but they were replaced in the 69th and 70th minutes with Sadiq providing the assist for the opening goal before his substitution.

Abdul Mumin and Kamal Sulemana came on as second-half substitutes for the visitors while Uganda midfielder Robert Kakeeto played some minutes for Aalborg.

Following the win, Nordsjaelland climbed to fourth in the Superliga standings as they chase a spot in Europe next season.

They have gathered 45 points from 29 matches so far, with a point above fifth-place Brondby who they host for their next league fixture on June 28.

Kudus arrived in Denmark in 2018 after developing his game at Right to Dream Academy in Ghana.

He has settled in well with the Wild Tigers, scoring 14 goals in 49 league games since his arrival.

His goalscoring form has ignited transfer interest from several European clubs including Everton, Newcastle United and Marseille.

Meanwhile, Nordsjaelland youth coach and former Ghana international Laryea Kingston has advised the 19-year-old to consider a move to Merseyside.

“Looking at Newcastle and Everton, for me I think Everton will fit his game because they give a lot of young players chances. Even the English FA mostly pick youth players at Everton [for national teams], so they will help him develop," Kingston told Goal .

“I will prefer Everton but if Liverpool comes in, they are a big club with guaranteed Champions League football, I think that [Liverpool] will help him a lot more than he will get at the other two clubs [Everton and Newcastle].

"If I am in his shoes and I’m to pick between Liverpool, Everton and Newcastle, I know it’s going to be tough at Liverpool but I will choose Liverpool. Liverpool may already have a lot of good players at his position but so long as they want him, then they know what they want to do with him.”

After playing for Ghana U17 and U20 teams, the 19-year-old earned his maiden invitation to the Black Stars in November 2019 and he marked his debut appearance with a goal against South Africa in Cape Coast.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes it is impossible for the Reds to emulate Manchester United's era of dominance as they close in on the Premier League title.

Klopp's Liverpool are 22 points clear atop the table as they travel to Goodison Park for Sunday's Merseyside derby against rivals Everton.

Not since 1990 have Liverpool won a league trophy but the club are set to be crowned English champions for the 19th time, one behind United's record.

Rivals United dominated under legendary boss Alex Ferguson, winning 13 Premier League titles between 1992 and 2013.

"I don't think it is possible to dominate anymore, to be honest," said Klopp, whose Liverpool claimed the Champions League trophy last season.

"United had a pretty good combination, with an exceptional manager with a super eye for players and fantastic timing for how long you need a player in the team.

"The replacements he got were always exceptional — and there was the money, too. The combination for United was really good. We must have done something right, obviously, until now. But we have to do these things — and probably even more — to stay successful.

"And believe me, the others will not stop. United will strike back and Chelsea are on the front foot in the transfer market while no-one else has done anything because the times are so uncertain.

"And when I saw Manchester City beat Arsenal, I asked how is it possible we have 22 more points than them?"

Meanwhile, Klopp hit out at United Kingdom prime minister Boris Johnson over his handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

“I was not worried for one second that the ­government could cost us the title because I was worried about the numbers who were dying – and I’m still worried," he said.

“I didn’t vote for this ­government. This government was the choice of other people. And the problem I had was that I got the news from England and the news from Germany. If aliens looked at us both from the outside, they would think we came from two different planets.

“From a personal point of view, I don’t understand why we started wearing face masks in closed areas on June 15 when five or six weeks ago all the other countries were doing it."

Covid-19 has wreaked havoc globally, with more than 42,500 deaths in the UK and at least 303,000 confirmed cases. The coronavirus crisis also suspended the 2019-20 Premier League season in March before the campaign restarted this week.

Italy manager Roberto Mancini believes Mario Balotelli is throwing his talent away but still has time to turn his career around. 

The former Liverpool and Manchester City forward is expected to soon depart Serie A side Brescia after failing to live up to team standards set by manager Diego Lopez.

The 29-year-old has played for three different clubs in as many years with his last international appearance now dating back to 2018. 

Mancini remains a big fan of Balotelli's but admits the controversial striker continues to squander his "remarkable" potential. 

“I care for him, regardless of all the things he does,” Mancini told RAI Sport.

“I trained him when he was still just a kid, I played him and he was extraordinary for many years. My hope is that he will do something to change all this, as he’s still only 30 years old and would be at the peak of his football maturity.

“I hope one day he wakes up and realises he’s still throwing his talent away. Mario is an extraordinary lad, so kind and polite. I have explained to him many times that he is throwing his talent away, because his potential is remarkable.”

Balotelli has strongly denied recent reports he missed any training sessions with Brescia following the coronavirus pandemic.

"How can you write that I am not training on the pitch? There are journalists at the centre at all my sessions, obviously with their TV cameras!" Balotelli said on his Instagram story. 

"I attend two training sessions a day, almost every day! How can you deny the evidence? I didn't think I was a phantom, invisible to the cameras."

Despite those denials, Brescia president Massimo Cellino has declared Balotelli's time at the club is coming to an end. 

"I try to avoid legal action and the Balotelli case was blown out of proportion because there's no football and little else to talk about," he told Telelombardia. 

"He no longer has his head with us and I am taking his departure for granted. It's not necessarily different to what he's always done in his career – he's just a bit anarchic.

"His contract is automatically annulled in case of relegation into Serie B, so with all probability he'll be a free agent next season, considering our status.

"We didn't sign Balotelli just as a media coup, we really did believe he could've given us an important contribution on the pitch. I thought, because I like him, that he could create something new for himself in Brescia. We are disappointed in him."