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Moses Simon has ambitions of playing in the Premier League and would welcome the chance to represent Chelsea in the future.

As a teenager, the winger never hid his love for the English elite division while expressing his love for the Stamford Bridge giants.

Simon turned heads in his debut season in France following a loan move from LaLiga outfit Levante.

Featuring in 30 matches for La Beaujoire-Louis Fonteneau giants before football in France was called off owing to the coronavirus pandemic; the 24-year-old was the Canaries’ top scorer with nine goals across all competitions.

In the French top-flight, he registered five goals and five assists which earned him the team’s Player of the Season accolade – garnering 40 percent of votes in a poll conducted by the club’s faithful.

Furthermore, he was handed a four-year deal that would see him remain in Christian Gourcuff’s squad until 2024, nonetheless, he is considering a future with the 2012 European champions.

According to him, he fancies their style of play while disclosing that former Nigeria captain John Obi Mikel and Cote d’Ivoire legend Didier Drogba made him admire the west London club.

“It is the Blues because I think I play their kind of football and will fit in well,” Simon told Goal.

“I like the way they play and I love them because of John Obi Mikel and Didier Drogba.

“Should that happen, I’ll be so happy because that will be a dream come true for me.”

Born in Jos, the capital city of Plateau State, Simon began his career at GBS Academy before heading to the famed Ajax Youth Academy.

In January 2014, he signed a three-year contract for Slovak side AS Trencin. Thanks to his impressive performance in the Slovak top-flight, he was snapped up by KAA Gent.

After four seasons with the Buffalos – where he won the Belgian Pro League and Belgian Super Cup titles - the Super Eagles star joined Levante on a five-year contract before crossing to France.

Should his dream before a reality, he will become the fourth Nigeria international after Celestine Babayaro, Mikel and Victor Moses to play for Chelsea.

Ghana striker Michael Sarpong has confirmed he has held talks with Simba SC over a possible transfer.

The 24-year-old striker is currently a free agent after Rayon Sports fired him three months after he protested the decision to suspend player salaries and wages owing to the effects caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Though Rayon were keen to re-sign the striker, the Rwandan giants have reportedly dropped their interest and are now keen to sign Togolese striker Alex Harlley Nyarko.

Sarpong has now confirmed that Simba officials have held talks with him over a possible transfer and it could be made public soon.

“We have an agreement in place and everything seems to be going smoothly, hopefully, the deal can be sealed in the near future. The contract is being worked on between my agent and Simba,” Sarpong is quoted as saying by New Times.

“There are just a few minor details we are yet to agree on.”

Sarpong joined Rayon Sports in 2018 and has been one of their key strikers, topping the goalscoring chart with 16 goals during the 2018-19 season and he led the side to clinch their ninth league title.

Sarpong is confident he will replicate the same form if he signed for Simba.

“I believe in my craft and the ability to succeed anywhere,” he said. “If I sign for Simba, I will make sure to give my best for the club’s success. All I require is a good working environment,” Sarpong continued.

Meanwhile, Simba midfielder Jonas Mkude will miss their league match against Mwadui FC at National Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Saturday.

The Taifa Stars player picked up an injury during the friendly against KMC, and despite returning to training under the care of fitness trainer, he will not be fit to face Mwadui, in a match Simba must-win after dropping points in their first match against Ruvu Shooting.

“We don’t want to rush him back and must wait for a clearance from the team doctor,” Simba’s team manager Patrick Rweyemanu told reporters on Friday.

Simba will also miss the services of Sudanese player Sharraf Shaiboub, who is still stranded in his native country owing to the lockdown imposed by the government to help curb the spread of Covid-19.

Manchester United are coming back stronger after the coronavirus break but Chelsea can beat them to a top-four finish, according to Joe Cole.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side returned to action with a 1-1 draw at Tottenham on Friday night, with Chelsea travelling to Aston Villa on Sunday.

The Blues, currently in fourth, can extend their lead over fifth-placed United to four points with a win at Villa Park.

Paul Pogba impressed on his return from injury for United, but Cole thinks Frank Lampard’s side have enough to hold off their Champions League challenge.

“It's hard because none of us have seen any kind of form, we don't know what's going on,” Cole said on BT Sport.

“You look at the logic and Pogba is going to be back fit for Man Utd. Bruno Fernandes will have settled in a little bit more. He looks like an excellent signing. They'll be chasing Chelsea down.

“The logical thing is Man Utd will come back stronger because they've got their best player back in Paul Pogba, but I think Frank's got enough to hang on in there and nick that fourth place.

“I know Frank's a winner and he'll be looking at the FA Cup as well. That's vitally important for that club because over the last 20 years has been built on winning trophies and that's what the fans want to see.”

Chelsea are through to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, but face a difficult trip to Leicester at the end of June.

Back in the Premier League, Cole also cast a glance over the relegation battle.

The bottom six are separated by just eight points, with three teams level on 27 points going into this weekend’s fixtures.

While Cole is backing the relative rookie Lampard to thrive at Chelsea, he thinks experience is key at the other end of the table.

“The managers have a real hire wire job to do, you've got to crack the whip to get the players fit, and any players in their squad who are a little bit fragile, or susceptible to injuries, they're the ones that you risk losing,” he said.

“A hamstring problem, a three or four-week problem now, that's the season done. Managers have to get the right balance to get the fitness into the legs but also keeping them fresh enough so they don't pick up any silly niggling injuries.

“An experienced manager now is vital. If you get it wrong and lose two or three of your best players for a three or four-week spell, you really give yourself less of a chance of achieving your goal.”

Harry Winks has come in for criticism from Patrice Evra for his role – or lack of a role – in Manchester United’s goal against Tottenham on Friday.

Spurs were leading 1-0 through Steven Bergwijn’s goal when Bruno Fernandes equalised from the penalty spot, with the match finishing 1-1.

Substitute Paul Pogba won the penalty, dancing around Eric Dier at the edge of the area before being brought down.

Evra felt Winks, the next-closest Spurs player to the action at the time, should have given his team-mate some help instead of watching on as he gave away a foul.

“It’s funny, people criticise Paul when he makes a mistake,” Evra said on Sky Sports.

“I have got so much respect for Fred, for Scott [McTominay], but you can see the difference when Paul is on the pitch.

“This goal here, he has just destroyed Dier. I think maybe Dier saw an invisible fan!

“I am complaining as well about the number eight, Winks, because he is just looking at Dier being destroyed. He looks like he’s waiting for a cup of tea or something.”

Pogba impressed after coming on for the final half an hour of Friday’s game, linking up well with new midfield partner Bruno Fernandes as the pair played together for the first time.

The France international completed 18 of his 19 attempted passes, four of his six duels, and won possession five times for his side.

“I saw that anger [from Pogba], that appetite to show everyone that he is one of the best midfielders for Man Utd,” Evra added.

Pogba has long been linked with a move away from Old Trafford, but it now seems as though he will stay and fight for his place at United.

Solskjaer says he has a part to play with his side still fighting on numerous fronts.

“Paul Pogba is one of the best players in the world and he has been training hard, training well but I need to make sure I look after everyone,” the Norwegian told Sky Sports.

“We have the Europa League, FA Cup and Paul will gradually play more and a vital part."

The Busoga Kingdom has withdrawn the use of their name by the Ugandan Premier League (UPL) side Busoga United.

The withdrawal of the use of the name by the team comes after the reported misunderstanding between the two parties over the club ownership boils.

The move taken by the Busoga Kingdom also means, Kyabazinga, King William Wilberforce Gabula Nadiope IV, ceases to be the club's patron.

“We agreed that the Busoga Kingdom, upon request of [Ms Diana] Nyago [the club's chairperson] permitted her to use the name Busoga United FC to register a football club in interest of Busoga community,” read a letter by the Busoga Kingdom Prime Minister Dr Joseph Muvawala as reported by Sports Nation.

“Automatically, the Kyabazinga of Busoga became the patron of this club which position he maintained to date.

“We have noted with concern that the said Nyago, allocated herself 51% shares of the club and also purportedly allocated Busoga Kingdom and Dr Joseph Muvawala 2% shares each without their consent and knowledge.

“The signatures on the share allotment do not belong to the representatives of the Busoga Kingdom or Dr Muvawala and the same needs to be investigated.

“We have never authorised the said Nyago to allot shares in the same club as has been revealed.

“In light of the above, Busoga Kingdom is withdrawing the Kyabazinga as patron for this club and the name Busoga United FC and request that the same should not be used by Ms Nyago until proper procedures of registration are followed.”

The development comes a few days after Nyago had claimed the club does not get any financial support from the Kingdom at all.

“But the club is not called Busoga Kingdom United, it’s Busoga United FC,” Nyago said then.

“I don’t think to change the name gave us an attachment to the kingdom, like when you go down the market here, you will find a mall called Busoga Mall, is it attached to the kingdom? No.

“So, the name just gave us an attachment to Busoga, and, to me, Busoga Kingdom is different from Busoga United.”

Busoga United, formerly known as KJSSS FC, was promoted to the Premier League in the 2013/2014 season and changed its name last year.

Young Africans (Yanga SC) coach Luc Eymael has openly claimed they will be going for revenge when they take on Azam FC in a Mainland Premier League match on Sunday.

The top-flight resumed on June 13 with Yanga beating Mwadui FC 1-0 and then managing a 1-1 draw against JKT Tanzania while Azam have only played one match, beating Mbao FC 2-0 at Azam Complex in Dar es Salaam.

The two giants will now clash in the second round fixture at National Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Sunday and the Belgian coach has confessed they will be going for revenge having lost the first round battle 1-0.

“They beat us 1-0 in the first round and it was an own goal, a mistake by my own keeper but, we have prepared well, the players looked tired because of the long travel back to Dar es Salaam but our training on Friday was perfect," Eymael told Goal on Saturday.

“I know my boys are ready and yes it is good to take revenge against them [Azam] and also win the match to keep our chances of finishing second on the league table alive, I also hope to see a good brand of soccer because we are playing in a good pitch, and not a bouncing pitch.

“I know it will be a good brand of soccer in the display from both teams, they like playing a passing game and we also do like playing a passing game, so it will be an entertaining game for the fans but we are ready to get maximum points.”

Eymael also confirmed striker Bernard Morrison had returned to training after missing the first two matches after it was reported rivals Simba SC had tried to hijack his services.

However, Eymael could not state whether the Ghanaian striker will be available to start only confirming the absence of defender Lamine Moro, who was sent off against JKT Tanzania and right back Juma Abdul, who is suspended because of two yellow cards.

“I will not be able to tell you whether Morrison will start or not, I don’t tell my starting eleven to journalists but I only tell my players first before the game, but Morrison is back in training,” Eymael continued.

“My right-back Juma Abdul will miss the clash because of two yellow cards, we didn’t know this until yesterday [Friday] when we were informed he is suspended and will not play but it is not a big deal, we will handle the situation same as Moro, who will also sit it out.”

A win for Yanga will see them move above Azam in the 20-team league table.

Kenya international midfielder Duncan Otieno is open to AFC Leopards return at any given time.

The former Ingwe skipper left the den in October 2018 for Zambian side Nkana FC where he is still contracted.

"Leopards will always remain my home and I cannot refuse to play for them," Otieno told Goal on Saturday.

"If the club management can come up with a good offer for me, I will consider it; remember I have a soft spot for the club which cannot be taken by anyone. However, no one has contacted me about it."

The towering midfielder's contract with the Red Devils will expire in October this year and the 26-year-old is not sure whether he will be at the club or not.

"The team is currently struggling financially and we have some internal problems at the moment," Otieno revealed.

"We are also facing financial problems at the club, it has affected some of our activities.

"I will hold a meeting with them after the Covid-19 pandemic is over and make a decision after that. Several teams have shown their interest in my services but I have not made my mind yet.

"Currently, I cannot guarantee where I will be playing next season."

Prior to Otieno's move to Zambia, national team call-ups used to come in handy but it is currently not the case. Did his move down South affect his chances with Harambee Stars?

"Far from it," Otieno explains, "you know my position in the team is also very competitive.

"Not being called does not mean my quality is questionable, but it means I have to work harder to deserve it. So I will just give my best at club level and get my recall to the national team through merit.

"Remember, we have the likes of Anthony Akumu, Victor Wanyama and Johanna Omollo among others who play in that role. I will be giving my best and when the time comes, I will make a return to the team.

"I am just hoping the [Covid-19] pandemic can be controlled sooner and normalcy returns. From there we will have an easy way forward and we will once again work harder on the pitch to hit our targets."

Former Uganda and SC Villa striker Andrew Mukasa has pleaded for assistance as he continues to recover from mental illness.

Villa's legend has asked for financial help and 'a small phone' as he battles the mental issue he has been suffering for over 10 years now.

“I am doing fine. There is a big change now as compared to the past,” Fimbo, as Mukasa is popularly known, is quoted as saying by Sports Nation.

“Although I am still struggling financially, I need money to buy medicine, new clothing and maybe a small phone.”

Before the coronavirus pandemic, Mukasa was staying with his brother Ronnie Makabai but had to return to his rural home at Wakaliga.

“I have to thank God and [Ronnie] Makabai who have been there for me, and everyone who has done his best to see that my son recovers up to this stage,” Mukasa's Grace Nandawula said.

“Fimbo is now doing well, he can wash his clothes, we can have good conversations and he is that patient who even asks for his medicines, and he is a smart person who now loves his God.

“However, there challenges we face especially getting his medicine, food, clothing and, of course, the house where he sleeps in is in a worrying state."

Mukasa won Premier League titles in 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001 with Villa and also lifted the Uganda Cup trophies twice with the same club. He won Uganda's Player of the Year in 1999.

Mukasa's plight has been reported almost a week after a number of Ugandan goalkeepers paid a courtesy call to former Ugandan goalkeeper Jamil Kasirye.

Fred Kajoba, Charles Lukwago, Ismail Watenga, Crested Cranes skipper Ruth Aturo and Dennis Onyango took part in the initiative to reach out to Kasirye.

“We are looking forward to setting up something that will stay around for a long time to sustain all the goalkeepers in need of help at any time be it the retired or those still active," Kajoba said as they promised to ensure retired players do not suffer anymore.

“We shall now start up a union which will keep us together because, from today onwards, we don’t want to hear any of our goalkeepers suffering.” 

Mukasa, who was the league top scorer in 1999 and 2000 with SC Villa, was appointed Uganda captain in 2000.

Highlands Park central midfielder Reneilwe Letsholonyane says George Maluleka has the talent to succeed at Mamelodi Sundowns.

The 31-year-old midfielder is set to join Sundowns on a free transfer from Kaizer Chiefs at the end of the current season after signing a pre-contract with Masandawana.

Letsholonyane, 38, played with Maluleka at Chiefs where they won the Premier Soccer League (PSL) title and MTN8 during the 2014/15 season.

“He [Maluleka] is a good guy, a good boy, he is one of the players I enjoyed playing with. He is younger than I am, he’s a good player,” Letsholonyane told Far Post.

“Talent-wise, I don’t doubt that because he is talented, he can compete with any other player in the PSL when he puts his mind on it when he works hard. So, definitely he will make it but mentally he must be in the right place."

Nicknamed Yeye, Letsholonyane achieved legendary status at Chiefs during his eight-year spell with the Soweto giants, before he decided to leave the club for SuperSport United in 2016 after failing to agree terms on a new contract.

Maluleka will also part ways with Amakhosi after deciding against signing a new deal and Yeye explained his former teammate will have to be mentally ready to play for the reigning PSL champions.

“Look whether you join Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs,  Mamelodi Sundowns, I would put SuperSport and Bidvest Wits in because they are also somewhere there, when joining these teams. Obviously especially the ‘big three’ [Chiefs, Sundowns and Pirates], you first overcome the mental part of being there," he said.

“You know that it is not going to be easy, it is not going to be easy for him to be in that environment. It is a new environment, whether it is in the country or not, the fact is a new environment.

“He spent a whole lot of time at Chiefs where they do things differently to where he is gonna be going. So first, you overcome the mental strength, you need to overcome things we can’t see, your feelings, it is not easy."

The former Bafana Bafana international admitted that it was not easy for him to leave the Naturena-based giants where he was one of the fan-favourites.

“I can tell you this myself, it wasn’t easy for him to decide that he is leaving Chiefs and joining Sundowns," he added.

“I know that I experienced that firsthand. It’s eating him up inside but at the end of the day he had to make a decision and he did, he must leave with his decision."

Mauleka, who is nicknamed Mido, reportedly signed a four-year deal with Sundowns and he will compete with the likes of Hompho Kekana, Tiyani Mabunda, Oupa Manyisa and Andile Jali in midfield.

Former South Africa international Katlego Mphela has revealed he joined Kaizer Chiefs because Mamelodi Sundowns were dragging their feet to renew his contract, which made him feel not needed at Chloorkop.

As he entered the final six months of his Mamelodi Sundowns contract in January 2014, Mphela said he heard no word from the club regarding his future.

This was after failing to start a game for Sundowns in the first half of the 2013/14 season where he made five appearances from the bench, scoring two goals.

Chiefs then came calling and a transfer deadline day loan move to Naturena followed before it was switched to a permanent transfer in July 2014 after he had spent five and half seasons with the Brazilians.

“For me it was a bit of a difficult situation because I had my agent [and] on the other side I had the team. All I know is that there were six months left on my contract,” said Mphela on Marawa Sports Worldwide on Metro FM.

“You know when you are left with six months you are allowed to sign elsewhere when the club does not engage you and that’s what happened until such a time when rumours came out that I had signed for Chiefs and that’s when my agent came back and told me that these people [Chiefs] want to engage you.

“But then remember I had to think about myself and other things because I asked myself that I have been here for a lengthy part of my life and my contract is expiring [but] no one is saying anything, no one is saying we are going to renew [your contract] or not. I felt like, wow, 'I am not needed there and then here are offers.' What do you do as a person?”

Mphela says before settling for Chiefs, he turned down a lucrative contract offer from Mpumalanga Black Aces as well as SuperSport United.

He had previously worked with then Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter in the national team and he says he still had unfinished business with Bafana Bafana, which made it easy for him to pick Amakhosi.

“I had an offer from Aces and they put more money to be honest, more than anyone. Yes they put more money [than Kaizer Chiefs] but I was like ‘I still want to play for the national team,’ you consider those things,” Mphela said.

“And SuperSport United were there, they were willing to offer not more money but a longer contract. And then Chiefs came the last minute and I thought about it because I had worked with Stuart Baxter before.

“For him to come to me, I didn’t go to him, he came to me, I was like ‘this guy wants me, actually I am going to make it.’ I had played for him before so he came to me and I decided right there ‘ok cool I’m coming.’ I made a decision that I am going to Chiefs.”

Five months after his Sundowns departure, the Brazilians were crowned Premier Soccer League (PSL) champions and his stay at Chiefs also saw limited game time but he, however, ended his stint there as a league champion.

Simba SC coach Sven Vandenbroeck has confessed they will face a difficult and tough opponent in Mwadui FC when they face off in a Mainland Premier League match on Saturday.

The league champions started their campaign to retain the title with a 1-1 draw against Ruvu Shooting while Mwadui succumbed to a 1-0 defeat against Young Africans (Yanga SC) at Kambarage Stadium in Shinyanga.

As the two teams prepare to face off at National Stadium in Dar es Salaam, the Belgian coach has admitted it will not be an easy task for his boys, in a match they will also be seeking revenge having lost the first round fixture 1-0.

It was Mwadui who beat Simba for the first time this season and the coach is aware of the threats posed by the Shinyanga-based club.

“It will be a difficult game, Mwadui is one of the teams that can trouble you and you saw what they did to us in the first round tie,” Vandenbroeck is quoted by the club’s official website.

“We definitely want to bounce back from the draw against Ruvu and get a win because we want to keep our title chances on track but it will not be a walk in the park, we must be ready and I have warned my players against underrating our opponents, they should take the game seriously.”

Vandenbroeck's sentiments were echoed by defender Erasto Nyoni who said they will not underrate Mwadui.

“We know them [Mwadui], we know what they can do even given the chance and we will make sure we don’t give them room. We have prepared well and I am sure we will win the match.”

Simba will miss the services of midfielder Jonas Mkude, who picked up an injury during the friendly against KMC, and despite returning to training under the care of fitness trainer, he will not be fit to face Mwadui, in a match Simba must win after dropping points in their first match against Ruvu Shooting.

“We don’t want to rush him back and must wait for a clearance from the team doctor,” Simba’s team manager Patrick Rweyemanu told reporters on Friday.

Simba will also miss the services of Sudanese player Sharraf Shaiboub, who is still stranded in his native country owing to the lockdown imposed by the government to help curb the spread of Covid-19.

Jurgen Klopp would embrace Liverpool being given an asterisk if they win the Premier League title, saying it would point to "the most difficult season ever".

Liverpool will resume their season with a clash against rivals Everton on Sunday, sitting 22 points clear at the top and on the verge of winning the club's first league title since 1990.

But after a break of more than three months and with games being played behind closed doors due to the coronavirus pandemic, critics say titles won this year will come with an asterisk.

Klopp said he would happily accept one, insisting it would highlight just how difficult a season it has been.

"Usually I do not pay too much attention to what everyone is saying around us," the Liverpool manager told UK newspapers.

"Now I have had a lot of time to read and I heard a lot and saw a lot. When that came up I had to google the word asterisk. I only knew the word from the comic [Asterix] before. This is the most difficult year and season to become champions. It is an interrupted season like has never happened before.

"Whoever will be champions at the end it will be historical because it is a year that we will never forget because hopefully it is the only year we ever have like this as human beings and a society because I hope we find solutions for this kind of thing in the future.

"It is historic now more than ever. Give us an asterisk. Yes, do it. Because it is the most difficult season ever and the only difference is there is quite a points gap between us and other teams.

"But if you saw [Manchester] City playing the other night, saw the team they played and saw the bench they had where they changed five times and there was still no Leroy Sane on the pitch, you think, 'Wow, that is really impressive.' That is our opponent."

With 27 wins in 29 Premier League games this season, Liverpool are two victories away from securing the title.

Klopp hopes his side can finish the job in style, although admitted to some uncertainty as to how they will perform behind closed doors.

"We worked so hard for this and we do not want to get over the line somehow. We want to play football," he said.

"Nobody has to tell us we are nearly there. I am not interested in nearly, or in close. I am interested in playing the best football we can play.

"We have no limits or comparisons to football behind closed doors. Is it possible to play outstanding, great, run a lot and run more than other periods? I do not know, but let's give it a try."

Barcelona coach Quique Setien disagreed with Gerard Pique and believes Real Madrid will drop points late in the La Liga season.

Setien's men were held to a 0-0 draw at Sevilla on Friday, giving Madrid the chance to join them on 65 points when they visit Real Sociedad.

Pique said it was hard to see Madrid dropping points in their remaining nine games, but Setien disagreed.

"I think that about Pique is the frustration of the moment. We were very confident because we had 30 very good minutes at the beginning of the game and then we got messy," he said, via AS.

"In the second half, we lost balls that gave them life.

"Tomorrow, he will surely think differently because I am sure that Madrid will not win everything."

A win against Sociedad on Sunday would send Madrid top of the table thanks to their head-to-head record against Barcelona after their El Clasico victory in March.

But Setien, whose side host Athletic Bilbao on Tuesday, is remaining upbeat.

"The rivals always have things to say, there are very tough confrontations and you have to be optimistic," he said.

"We don't depend on ourselves, but you have to be optimistic."

Barcelona were on top in the early stages against Sevilla but it was Jules Kounde from the latter who drilled a shot wide early.

It then took two Sevilla players to stop Lionel Messi at the expense of a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area at the 20-minute mark.

Up stepped Messi, and his shot beat the wall and might have beaten Tomas Vaclik too, but the goalkeeper was done a favour by Kounde, who cleared the ball from almost on the line with a flicked header over the bar.

Messi tested Vaclik moments later with another free-kick, and the goalkeeper was more comfortable second time around.

Inevitably at the centre of things, Messi avoided punishment for shoving Diego Carlos to the ground in first-half stoppage time after the home defender fouled Suarez.

Marc-Andre ter Stegen came to Barcelona's rescue early in the second half with a fine parry to deny Lucas Ocampos, the goalkeeper's strong left hand keeping out a thunderous shot from a tight angle to the right of goal.

The German thwarted Munir moments later too, pushing away a vicious left-footed strike.

Vaclik tipped another Messi free-kick over his crossbar at full stretch as the game entered its final 20 minutes, before Jordi Alba made a key block at the other end as Sevilla launched a three-on-one breakaway raid.

Ocampos drew a save from Ter Stegen with a low shot but neither side could successfully plot a way to a goal, Sergio Reguilon failing to properly get hold of a close-range shot at the death, to Barcelona's great relief.

Simba SC striker Meddie Kagere has described his striking partner John Bocco as a hard worker who always does not want to lose in a match.

The Rwandan striker, who signed for Simba from Kenyan champions Gor Mahia, has labelled the Taifa Stars’ striker as one of the coolest players in their squad, and who always knows what he needs to do to help the team.

“[Bocco] is one of the best leaders and top players that I have ever worked with,” Kagere told the club’s official website .

“He is one kind of a leader, who always wants to win and who always believes in winning, if you lose a game, you will see how mad he becomes, he never wants to lose in a match, he is a fighter and always a winner.

“Whenever you step onto the pitch [Bocco] will keep rallying the boys, he always wants three points and nothing else, he is also a very cool guy, and he knows what to do on the pitch, he knows how to get the goals and also he is very good at setting up someone to score.

“Whenever we lose or draw in a match, he will always come to us to explain to forget about the result and focus for the next match, that is him if he doesn’t win, then he will just encourage the players, to go for a win in the match.”

Kagere’s sentiments come a few weeks after Coastal Union defender Bakar Mwamnyeto heaped praise on Bocco saying his style of play can help him perform well in Europe.

Mwamnyeto described the forward as a complete player, who knows how to hold onto the ball when in possession, position himself to score and deliver a pass quickly when he sees an opposing defender.

Mwamyeto further confessed he has never come up against a striker of Bocco’s calibre insisting he is the only player to have troubled him since he made his debut in the top-flight.

“Without malice or favouring anyone, [Bocco] is the best striker in the Tanzanian league currently, he has the physique you need in a striker and I am sure many upcoming players are working hard to be like him,” Mwamnyeto said.

“He also has the advantage of being tall and can easily score goals either by using the head or leg and because of his experience, most defenders have always struggled to play against him, you don’t know what he will do when with the ball."

Bocco’s partnership with Rwandan striker Meddie Kagere has helped the latter to lead the goalscoring charts with 19 goals.

Rostov were thrashed 10-1 by Sochi on Friday, but their teenage goalkeeper Denis Popov set a new all-time Russian Premier League record for a stunning individual performance.

Rostov attracted attention for all the wrong reasons after the scoreline found its way around social media.

They had actually gone 1-0 up in the first minute of the game, but were eventually beaten by nine goals away from home.

Aleksandr Kokorin scored a hat-trick, Antonin Zabolotny and Dmitry Poloz bagged two each, while Andrei Mostovoy, Ivan Novoseltsev and Nikita Koldunov all got on the scoresheet.

After seeing themselves go viral, Rostov released a statement explaining the result.

It read: “A lot of supporters of our club who don't speak Russian cannot really understand how today's tie could end with a 10-1 score.

“We would like to explain. Six players of our club have been infected with coronavirus, and thus, the entire team had to be quarantined.

“Football Club Sochi turned down our offer to postpone the match, and this is exactly why these young players aged 16-19 had to play in this match.

“The score was most likely upsetting, however, we do want you to stay on the bright side!

“First of all - our 17-year-old goalkeeper, Denis Popov, made 15 (!!!) breathtaking saves (including one penalty), which is a Russian Premier League new record! Denis absolutely stole the whole show today and got his well-deserved Man of the Match award!

“Another mind-blowing highlight was definitely our first goal! 17-year-old Roman Romanov scored an incredible goal and became the youngest person to score in the history of our club as well as top three in RPL history!

“Romanov is also among the top three young goal scorers in the history of Russian Leagues.

“We know you would agree our players were fighting for every inch of the pitch - each and every one of them showed incredible character and attitude today!

“We would like to express our gratitude to everyone, all the supporters of our club around the world.”

Despite the result, Rostov finished the day fourth in the 16-team Russian top flight, with Sochi in ninth.

Young Africans (Yanga SC) have officially written to Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) demanding action to be taken against rivals Simba SC for trying to hijack their striker Bernard Morrison.

The Ghanaian forward is yet to play for Yanga since the Mainland Premier League resumed on June 13 owing to the matter and the Jangwani Street-based giants have now reached out to TFF after the player claimed Simba had offered him USD5, 000 to ditch them.

According to Yanga’s Information Officer Hassan Bumbuli, Yanga have already gathered enough evidence to support their case and have forwarded the same to TFF for disciplinary action to be taken against Simba.

“Since the matter has been taken to the concerned authorities, I cannot say much but rather to let them conduct their work thoroughly while we wait for their final decision,” Bumbuli is quoted by Daily News.

Despite Yanga taking the matter to TFF, Simba have already denied tapping up the player with their Information Officer Haji Manara saying the player had lied to have been approached by the club’s president.

“In his audio clip, Morrison said the money was sent to him by Simba president but at Simba, we do not have a president as such, I do not really understand what he is talking about,” Manara is also quoted by Daily News.

On his recent claims, Morrison was quoted as saying: “I got a message from one agent of Simba who said the club wants to sign me so I can help them in the Caf Champions League next season.

“I told him to send me the offer via my WhatsApp address but he did not and instead, he personally brought it together with 10,000 dollars, which he said was sent by the club’s president saying that if I accept, we should share the amount equally with him.

“I told him to give me enough time to go through the contract and because everybody needs money, I pocketed my share but after they heard that I have signed a two-year contract extension at Yanga, the agent has been on my neck now.”

Goal understands Morrison is among the players who returned to Yanga training on Friday as they prepare to face Azam FC in a league match on Sunday.

Crystal Palace are bracing for another battle to keep hold of Wilfried Zaha, manager Roy Hodgson has admitted.

The Eagles are expecting more interest in their star player after fending off the advances of Arsenal last summer.

Zaha was Unai Emery’s number one target during his final window in charge of the Gunners, but he instead had to settle for Nicolas Pepe.

Arsenal are unlikely to be able to afford to finance a move for Zaha this time around, but Hodgson is still expecting bids to come in.

“It’s an unknown isn’t it, how much money is going to be floating around in the next window,” Hodgson pondered in a press conference.

“I think we’d be very foolish to relax and start thinking there will be no bids for Wilf Zaha, no big-money interest in him, because he’s such a good player.

“He has the ability to play at any level, anywhere in the world, so who knows? If we find it easy to keep him because there aren’t big bids coming in, that would be fine.

“But I certainly wouldn’t count on that because if I was at another club, I’d be looking to sign players of his quality.”

As well as Zaha, Palace are wary of interest in former Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho.

The 30-year-old has been strongly linked with a return to France with Lyon, but Hodgson says he isn’t aware of any contact.

“As far as I know, our club hasn’t had any contact with Lyon at all,” he said.

“So I don’t quite understand where that is coming from and until such time as the president of Lyon contacts Steve Parish or Doug Freedman, if he wants to go in that route and start discussing the possibilities and options of Mamadou Sakho joining Lyon, as far as I am concerned it doesn’t exist.

“This is just talk in the newspaper and who knows where that comes from because we have had no concrete dealings with Lyon at all.”

Crystal Palace travel to Bournemouth on Saturday evening in their first game back following the coronavirus-enforced break in play.