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McKinstry defends decision to keep Watambala in Uganda squad to face South Sudan

The former Barca forward had claimed he was owed €43.6m in bonuses by his old team, however he must now repay money to the Spanish side

Neymar has been ordered to repay €6.7 million (£6.1m/$7.5m) to former club Barcelona after a judge ruled in favour of the Liga side amid a bonus dispute between club and player.

The Brazil international and former Barca player had claimed he was owed €43.6m (£39m/$49m) in bonuses by his old team, however this was dismissed and he must now repay money to his former club.

A statement on the club website said: "FC Barcelona welcomes the judgment handed down today by the Social Court 15 of Barcelona, in connection with lawsuits between the club and the player Neymar Junior in claiming compensation for the bonus signed in his last contract renewal.

"The judgment dismisses the player's claim in its entirety, which demanded the payment of €43.6m, and estimates a large part of the claim filed by FC Barcelona, ​​under which the player must return the club €6.7m."

Neymar is able to appeal this decision.

The PSG forward had filed the lawsuit in August 2017 after Barcelona declined to pay bonus included in his contract renewal signed in 2016, with Neymar completing his world-record transfer to the French club the following summer.

Barcelona contended that the clause relating to the payment was rendered null and void when he left Camp Nou, while the footballer's agent and father, Neymar Sr., accused Barca of "blackmail", and the player's camp even called for the Spanish giants to be expelled from the Champions League for not paying his bonus.

The case was initially taken to FIFA, who closed their investigation with no action in February 2018, and now Barca have been awarded the judgement in the law courts.

Neymar left Barca in 2017 in an attempt to move out from the shadow of Lionel Messi and increase his own chances of winning the Ballon d'Or.

While he has won every domestic trophy on offer in France - they have won the Ligue 1 title in every season the Brazilian has played for the French side - the club have yet to find any success in the Champions League, while Neymar has regularly been linked with a move away from Paris and a potential return to Barcelona.

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Serie A 2020-21 season preview: Can Milan clubs stop Ronaldo, Juventus from another title?

Everton, Tottenham and Arsenal have all been linked with 'The Wee Man', who will leave the Cherries after refusing a contract extension

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe has confirmed winger Ryan Fraser will not play for the club again.

Fraser opted against signing a short-term extension to his current contract, which expires on June 30, to cover the remainder of the rescheduled Premier League season.

The 26-year-old Scotland international has been linked with Everton, Arsenal and Tottenham among others and Howe insists he only wants players who are fully focused on Bournemouth's battle against relegation.

The Cherries are in the relegation zone, sitting third bottom but level on points with West Ham and Watford immediately above them, as they prepare to restart their campaign at home to Crystal Palace on Saturday.

"I don't think I was particularly surprised by his decision," Howe told a news conference. "It's been clear to us as a club for some time that Ryan was not going to sign a new contract with us.

"The first thing to say on this is no-one could have predicted what would have happened with the virus, the season shutting down and then being extended. Ryan's then found himself in a very difficult position because of that.

"He has now played his last game for the football club. He won't be involved with us for the last nine games.

"I only want players who are fully focused on the relegation battle that we have ahead and I'm looking forward to doing that with my squad.

"These are the most important games this football club has had in recent times and we need everybody in the same position mentally, fight tooth and nail for the football club.

"Ryan, due to his contract situation, can't commit to that. Two games for us wasn't going to make the difference. We need a nine-game commitment and he can't give that at this moment in time.

"We go ahead with the current squad and probably the strongest squad I've had to pick from this season. Hopefully that will show in the games we have.

"[Fraser] didn't deserve this ending but the circumstances that have arisen have meant this has happened.

"I'm sad for him because he's had a really good link with the supporters and they've really loved him during his time here. The way it's ended is uncomfortable for me and it's sad because it shouldn't have ended like this."

Fraser joined Bournemouth from Aberdeen in January 2013, when they were still in League One. He has made 208 appearances for the club, scoring 24 times.

Original author: Dom Farrell
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Liverpool complete Thiago signing from Bayern

Clubs in the English top flight have until June 23 to tie down players to short-term deals if they want to finish the 2019-20 season
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Guardiola 'satisfied' with squad after arrivals

The former South Africa coach is set to lead the Bhubaneswar-based club in the coming season

Indian Super League (ISL) outfit Odisha FC have signed Stuart Baxter as their head coach ahead of the 2020-21 season.

The 66-year-old will be the club's sixth coach in seven seasons as the English-born Scot is set to take over from Josep Gombau who led the club over the last two seasons at Delhi Dynamos and later Odisha FC.

On joining the club, the experienced coach said, "I'm pleased to say that Odisha FC and I have reached an agreement for the upcoming ISL season. The vision of the Sharma family for the club representing the sporting state of Odisha is an exciting one with development, teamwork and cooperation with our stakeholders serving as cornerstones for the task ahead.

"I'm looking forward to the challenge of Indian football and the opportunity to develop players and coaches in India. I'd like to wish all the supporters, players and staff good health during these testing times. Together we will bring joy and success to the region."

Baxter's had two stints with the South African national team including his last assignment when he famously defeated Mohammed Salah's Egypt in the 2019 African Cup of Nations to make it into the quarter-finals. His previous stint with the Bafana Bafana was preceded by him leading the England U-19 team between 2002 and 2004.

In his overall coaching career, Baxter has managed 455 games in all competitions, won 220, drew 75 and lost 160 times in his time in Europe, Africa and Asia. He won two Premier Soccer League titles with South African outfit Kaizer Chiefs besides winning the MTN8 Cup once and the Nedbank Cup thrice including twice with SuperSport United.

He had a fair amount of success in Sweden as well where he led AIK into the group stages of the UEFA Champions League after winning the Swedish championship with them and a Swedish Cup each with AIK and Helsingborgs IF.

Delhi Dynamos/Odisha FC's best performance so far is making it to the play-offs twice, in 2015 and 2016, under former managers Roberto Carlos and Gianluca Zambrotta respectively. 

 

Original author: Goal
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Liverpool 5-3 Chelsea: Report, Ratings & Reaction as Reds Score Five Ahead of Trophy Celebrations

The induction of Baxter is a shift from the Spanish mould that has been the norm for the past three years...

Stuart Baxter boasts of a globetrotting career with the British manager working in eight countries on three continents. His upcoming stint with Odisha FC will be his first on Indian soil and second in Asia. 

His appointment points towards a shift in modus operandi of recruiting a head coach by the Odisha and the erstwhile Delhi Dynamos management. For the past three seasons, they had pinned their hopes on Spanish managers but failed to secure play-off qualification. Moreover, the selection of Miguel Angel Portugal and Josep Gombau was approved after working closely with Qatar's Aspire Academy, an institute with whom Odisha have a strategic partnership of four years.

Although both the coaches managed to leave their mark on the team with a distinct style of football, results have remained at bay. After finishing eighth in two successive seasons, they improved their record considerably with a sixth-place finish in the previous campaign, and more importantly remained in the hunt for a playoff spot till the penultimate matchday. 

After Gombau and Odisha mutually agreed to terminate the contract, the time was ripe for a fresh impetus. This time the think tank took matters in their own hand and opted for someone who has the experience and has found success all over the globe.

He has won the top-flight division and Cup with Sweden's AIK and also has the distinction of being the first coach to win a Premier Soccer League title in his first season in South Africa with the Kaizer Chiefs. But he reached the zenith of success when he guided the Bafana Bafana to the quarterfinal of the AFCON Cup 2019.

In Baxter, they have a man who by his own admission is “pretty easily transportable”, and is flexible enough to mould himself to suit the project at hand. At Odisha, he will be entrusted with the responsibility of bringing out the best from a bunch of potential youngsters who have been showing flashes of brilliance but have failed to produce the goods consistently. 

His challenge will be to push players like Shubham Sarangi, Vinit Rai, Jerry Mawihmingthanga to the next level and at the same time nurture upcoming talents like Akshunna Tyagi and Rishabh Dobriyal. 

It is unlikely that he will be furnished with a star-studded squad with the best players in each position. But the 66-year-old has shown that he has the expertise to turn heads even with underdogs. 

Not many placed their bets on a nervy South African side who barely scraped through the group stages on goal difference against Mohamed Salah's Egypt. But at the final whistle, Salah left in tears dismayed and shocked after getting knocked out at their own backyard by Baxter's men.

"When it comes to coach Stuart‚ he appeared to be more detailed when it came to the analysis of his team and the individual analysis of the players in his team. And he plans very well in terms of his opponents. So I think the modern way of coaching with coach Stuart was well applied," commented Molefi Ntseki, coach South Africa national team, after taking over the mantle following an unceremonious exit of Baxter. 

He is another English coach who advocates attractive football, unlike the common misconception about the long-ball game coaches from that region are said to prefer.

Can Odisha turn around their fortunes with Baxter at the helm? The Juggernauts wait in eager anticipation. 

Original author: Soham Mukherjee
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LAFC clinch Supporters´ Shield after 95th-minute Bouanga winner, Sounders´ 13-year playoffs run ende

The former Red Devils goalkeeper has hailed the impact of the Nigerian forward at Old Trafford

Former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel has labelled Odion Ighalo as "one of the most positive surprises ever".

The 31-year old has shone brightly at the Old Trafford since arriving on loan from Shanghai Shenhua in January, scoring four goals in eight competitive appearances.

With the coronavirus pandemic halting football activities, Ighalo’s initial loan deal was to expire in May, but has now been extended till January 2021, ensuring he completes the ongoing season.

"I think he’s been one of the most positive surprises ever,” Schmeichel told the Express.

"First of all his personality around the club, he’s been a revelation around the club. Everybody has tagged on and liked him straight away.

“When you have that kind of personality, it changes the whole team. Someone who brings a laugh into the dressing room, rather than coming in grumpy or not saying anything.

“It changes the dynamics. And what he’s done on the pitch, that really has surprised me.

“I was kind of confused…because it was last day and it looked as if they were just needing and looking to bring someone in.

“But that’s not the truth. And what he’s done is just fantastic.

“And another thing as well, someone like him, all of his life the only thing he really wanted to achieve was to play for Manchester United.

“Now that has been cut short by circumstances that are out of everybody’s control. And for what he’s done, in the very few games he’s ended up playing, it would have been heartbreaking if that was to stop."

With the return of Marcus Rashford to fitness, Ighalo’s chances of starting games might be very limited, but Schmeichel acknowledges that he can still be of great value from the bench.

“I think he might not be a starter but he might be somebody you can throw into the mix," the 56-year old continued.

"You’ve seen him in the Europa League, like Ole himself, he can come on and change a game.

“Nobody, nobody, knows that better than the Manchester United manager. The value of having someone on the bench who can change a game, so I’m really happy about that.”

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men will be up against Tottenham Hotspur on Friday night with the hope of temporarily displacing Chelsea from fourth spot on the table.

Original author: Kunle Fayiga
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Morocco manager Walid Regragui reacts to World Cup exit at hands of France

The deal will see the Tanzanian giants advised on areas of digital transformation, marketing and sales among other things

La Liga and Sevilla FC have signed a strategic consultancy agreement with Tanzanian giants Young Africans (Yanga SC).

The agreement will see Sevilla provide advise on sporting management, economic management and fans with an aim of helping the record Tanzanian champions in their transformation journey.

The development follows a historic agreement between the two sides early in June which will see the Andalusia-based outfit contribute its strategic vision to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of Yanga‘s resource management and complete its evolution into a leading club in Tanzania.

“Our international strategy, as well as having a presence and increasing interest in the competition, has the aim of making football grow on a local level. We think that increasing interest in football in each country is good for everyone,” La Liga International Development Director Oscar Mayo said

“It will be three-and-a-half-year agreement, in which we will advise them in management and activities with the fans, digital transformation, marketing and sales, economic control, digitalisation or international development.”

The director of Sevilla FC Jose Maria Cruz said the club's coaches will travel to the East African nation when travel restrictions will be lifted in order to implement the details of the pact.

“In these complicated moments for travel, the idea is that the work is more telematic and as soon as the sanitary circumstances allow it, we can complement it with the presence of our technicians there in Tanzania,” said Cruz.

“When the circumstances allow it, our coaches will be present in Tanzania.”

“Just like when we have asked La Liga for help to go to an international market, we have had it when they ask us for help in a specific country, we have thrown ourselves into it. We understand that there has to be a joint work.”

Yanga's chairman Mshindo Msolla hailed the deal when it was signed in Dare Salaam a few weeks ago saying it will greatly help their bid to transform the Wananchi side.

“It is a new dawn for this great club of Tanzania as we venture into transforming ourselves into a respected club across Africa. We are very happy that the deal is now sealed and we now look forward to making the partnership a great success,” Msolla said then.

“I am excited to witness one of the historic moments for this great club that I have supported since my childhood," former Tanzania President Jakaya Kikwete, who witnessed the signing of the agreement, said.

“It is aimed at improving the standards of the club and now we should use the deal to the maximum and make sure we become a force to reckon with in Africa.”

Original author: Kiplagat Sang
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Aurelio De Laurentiis gives mixed update on Victor Osimhen future

The striker will not take part in RB Leipzig's Champions League campaign but has the best wishes of his current head coach

RB Leipzig boss Julian Nagelsmann has launched a staunch defence of Timo Werner after the Germany striker completed his move to Chelsea.

Werner agreed terms on a deal that reportedly takes him through to 2025 at Stamford Bridge, with the Blues said to have paid a reported £47.5million for his services.

The 24-year-old will become a Chelsea player in July, meaning he will not feature for Leipzig when their Champions League campaign resumes, with the tournament due to be completed in a shortened format in Lisbon in August.

Werner's decision to make the move to London while Leipzig are still in Europe's premier competition has drawn condemnation among some quarters in Germany.

But Nagelsmann had sympathy for his departing superstar in the context of the unprecedented complications caused by the coronavirus pandemic and is convinced Werner will give his all for Leipzig's final two Bundesliga games.

Speaking at a news conference ahead of Leipzig's clash with Borussia Dortmund on Saturday, Nagelsmann said: "I would like to defend him. 

"I don't like the way he's portrayed right now. I read some reports yesterday where it was said that he was not a sportsman, since he does not want to play in the Champions League for us anymore.

"He is a great sportsman who will give his all for us in the last two matches and who certainly will score in the last two matches. 

"If he stays healthy he will play for sure and be a normal member of our team even though he will leave us. 

"Regarding the Champions League, I would have loved to have him on board and would have liked it if he'd play for us. Simply because he is great player who scores a lot of goals. 

"But I can understand his and his team's side. He's coming to another city in a different country with a foreign language. 

"It's an unusual situation due to Covid, we never had something like this in football, with all competitions being spread out, everything being different and different measures need to be taken."

Nagelsmann believes Werner would have wanted to see out the Champions League campaign and says he must not be judged negatively by the unusual situation.

"I don't think one should judge from a far distance what kind of player or human being Timo Werner is. It is his right," he added. 

"It's a pity and sad and I believe he would have liked to play. However, it is a transfer that ends a big chapter of his life and where a new one with a lot of changes begins. 

"It's normal that during this time he does not want to take the risk of being injured, even though that rarely happens with him. 

"He wants to make his move together with his girlfriend so I can completely understand. It's not right that he is being blamed for his decision. 

"That does not mean I would not have liked him to take part in these matches. Timo knows this. He still is a good guy and a great player, so you must not criticise him in every TV show and claim that he is not a good sportsman."

Original author: Peter Hanson
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Argentina's representatives face tough Copa challenge against Brazil's giants

Ahead of Friday's heavyweight clash, Goal rank the top 10 Africans to have featured for either side
Original author: Ed Dove
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Transfer Talk: Guerreiro emerges as Man City's new left-back target

The Germany winger is in the final year of his contract and Bayern Munich are keen to sign the 24-year-old

Leroy Sane has told Manchester City that he will not sign a new contract with the Premier League champions, Pep Guardiola has confirmed.

The Germany international is entering the final year of his contract at the Etihad Stadium, with Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich leading the chase for the 24-year-old.

Guardiola confirmed that the club have made several offers to the winger but he has no interest in signing a new deal with the club.

Sane will leave for the Allianz Arena this summer if the two clubs can agree a fee, although City maintain he will not be allowed to leave on the cheap.

"Leroy has said he doesn't want to extend the contract," Guardiola said ahead of Monday night's clash with Burnley.

"It means he wants to leave. It's going to happen this summer or at the end of his contract. The club have offered him two or three times and he rejected so he's going to play for another club.

"Leroy rejected to extend the contact and everybody knows that. If at the end of this season we agree between the two clubs he is going to leave, if not he is going to stay another year."

Sane was at the centre of a transfer saga between the clubs last summer that was expected to rumble on until deadline day, only for the winger to suffer a serious knee injury in the Community Shield in August.

Bayern decided against a move in January, with Sane still recovering from the setback that has seen him miss the whole season so far, though he was edging closer to an on-field return when the Premier League was shut down by the Covid-19 outbreak.

He was an unused sub for the Premier League return against Arsenal, although Guardiola says he remains in his plans for the rest of this season.

Sane joined City in August 2016 from Schalke in a deal worth €52 million (£37m/$46m) and the City boss admitted he is saddened that he wants to leave.

"I'm so disappointed," he added. "We want him. He's a young player with incredible potential and incredible quality and that's difficult to find all around the world.

"We tried before the injury, we tried before the surgery and after that, but he rejected and he has other ambitions. I understand. We want players who want to play for this club.

"We respect him, he's an incredibly nice guy. We love him, I love him so much. He's so well- educated, has a nice family. It's just he decides he wants another adventure for his career."

Goalkeeper Claudio Bravo is out of contract at the end of the month and the City boss confirmed he will sign a short extension to stay with the club for longer.

Original author: Jonathan Smith
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Brazil triumphs again, but Copa America Femenina is getting stronger

The £47.5 million striker puts the French international's place in the team in doubt, however the Blues forward is confident in his abilities

Olivier Giroud says fellow striker Timo Werner signing for Chelsea is going to provide him with "more motivation" and that he relishes the competition.

Werner has joined the Blues in a £47.5million (€52m/$60m) deal from RB Leipzig after the Stamford Bridge side won a long-term transfer battle, securing his signature ahead of a host of other interested parties including Premier League rivals Liverpool.

The arrival of the German puts more pressure on the other Chelsea forwards, including Giroud, however the French international said it is just a chance for him to step up and make life difficult for manager Frank Lampard.

Giroud told The Guardian: “He [Werner] is going to be a very good signing and will provide more motivation for strikers.

“I’ve been the super sub but I want to make the gaffer’s choices even more difficult.”

The 33-year-old signed a one-year contract extension at Chelsea earlier this season, having worked his way back into the side in the first few months of 2020 after rarely featuring under Lampard in the first half of the season.

Giroud had scored twice in nine Premier League games this season before the 2019-20 campaign was postponed because of coronavirus, however after a 100-day hiatus the English top flight has returned, with Chelsea's first match back coming against Aston Villa on Sunday.

Giroud's club and international team-mate N'Golo Kante was one of the players to voice their concerns about football returning, with BAME people disproportinately affected by Covid-19.

The defensive midfielder is back and now available for selection, however, and Giroud says he understands his team-mate's concerns.

He said: “I believe, like all the player,s he had at-risk people in his entourage, so that’s why he didn’t feel very comfortable. I respect that. We are very glad to have him back and I think he will definitely be here for the first game. He is looking good.”

Giroud was a key part of France's World Cup winning side in Russia in 2018, however his chances of a tournament swansong at Euro 2020 have been damaged after the competition was delayed until 2021 because of coronavirus.

He will be 34 when the tournament comes around, but Giroud - who has 39 goals from 97 games for France - is refusing to worry about his international future.

He said: “Panic is not for me. Time is not playing on my side, I’m almost 34, but my body is ready to play a few more years at the best level. We are World Cup champions and we want to do like our brothers from France 98 and win the European Championship.”

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Man City are already the world's best team, but UCL win would make them legends

The key trio only have a year left on their contracts, but talks have been ongoing regarding extensions at the Allianz Arena

Thiago Alcantara, David Alaba and Jerome Boateng are yet to sign new contracts that will keep them at Bayern Munich beyond next year, but Hansi Flick wants them all to remain.

Speculation has swirled around numerous key Bayern players in recent times, with several having contracts that expire at the end of the 2020-21 season.

Reports have suggested Thiago has been in talks with the club regarding a new deal, but that Bayern are growing frustrated by the Spaniard's prolonged silence.

That has led to suggestions Thiago might be looking for a way out, and if his desire is to leave, Bayern will have to offload him in the coming months or risk losing him on a free transfer next year.

As for Boateng, the experienced central defender also has a season left on his current terms, and despite enjoying an impressive resurgence under Flick, Paris Saint-Germain and Hertha Berlin – his first club – have been mooted as potential destinations.

Alaba finds himself in a similar position with his contract, but Flick reiterated a preference for the trio to stay with the Bundesliga champions.

"Thiago is an exceptional player, an excellent football player," he told reporters on Friday. "He brings every team a great level of play and is very intelligent.

"I would like him to stay here. He and the club know that. I want him and Alaba to help us next year.

"We are in good spirits that it can work out, but in sport you never know how it will turn out. Both players are top, top players.

"David and Jerome are doing very well, he [Boateng] is in a very good shape. That is the basis that we are defensively so good.

"It is clear that you want to have such experienced players in your own ranks. I cannot say what thoughts Jerome has. He's at a certain age, maybe he wants another challenge by switching. He has another year of contract. If he stays, I'm not sad."

Flick also wants Bayern's loan players, such as Ivan Perisic and Philippe Coutinho, to remain at least until the end of the latter stages of the Champions League, which will take place in August.

But he accepts both could have to return to their parent clubs, Inter and Barcelona, respectively.

"We are in an exchange, but it is still too early to talk about departures," he said. "We have three games left, then there is a short break, then there is the Champions League.

"We want to play the Champions League as we started the season and have finished. I want the loan players to stay there, but the clubs have to negotiate."

Original author: Ryan Benson
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Bernardo Silva reveals key to Man City's demolition of Real Madrid

Video: Arteta backs David Luiz to bounce back from City nightmare | Goal.com

Premier League

14:26 BST 19/06/2020

David Luiz sad Arsenal 2020

Arteta believes David Luiz will bounce back from a poor performance against Manchester City

Original author: Goal
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Coventry edge Boro to reach Champ playoff final

The Reds boss was full of praise for the Manchester United forward after his persistence led to a £120m initiative to support vulnerable children

Jurgen Klopp has hailed Marcus Rashford after the Manchester United star helped force a crucial government U-turn on free school meals for children.

Rashford launched a campaign to force Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his cabinet to reverse its decision not to award free-meal vouchers to more than one million children in England outside of term time.

The England international wrote an open letter to MPs, and detailed his own experience growing up using food banks and receiving free school meals.

His lobbying forced a change in government policy, with the establishment of a £120 million ($149m) Covid Summer Food Fund confirmed earlier this week.

Speaking at a virtual press conference ahead of Liverpool’s return to Premier League action this weekend, Klopp praised Rashford’s campaign, and insisted football must continue to do all it can to affect social and political change where possible.

Klopp said: “What Marcus Rashford did, I could not respect more. It’s unbelievable. It’s a little bit of a shame that he had to do it, because things like this should be just natural. 

“But there was something to do and he did the job in an incredible manner. What he did during lockdown was absolutely fantastic.”

Klopp also praised his own players who, led by captain Jordan Henderson, made significant contributions to local charitable causes during lockdown, and who were heavily involved in the creation of the #PlayersTogether initiative which will see crucial funds distributed to NHS charities across the UK.

“What Hendo and the players did during lockdown, I am proud but not surprised,” Klopp added. “They do a lot of things without talking about it, and that makes me proud.

“The players were ready to immediately help during this difficult time.”

Discussing the Black Lives Matter movement, meanwhile, Klopp insisted that football should not ignore political issues and should instead do all it can to make a difference.

“If football is a role model for anything in life it is for equality,” he said. “Wherever you are from, whatever country you are from, whichever colour you are, you are the same. 

“I know it’s easy to say that, but it’s just completely natural for us in football. That’s how it should be everywhere. Judge people only because of who they are, nothing else.

“It is so dumb not to be like this, I cannot understand it but it is like this, so we have to stand up. We will do what we have to do to sort this situation, for now and for the future. We can’t change the past but we can change the future so we should all try.”

Original author: Neil Jones
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Burnley 0-0 West Ham: Player ratings from bore draw at Turf Moor

The Ghanaian full-back will not be part of the travelling Eagles contingent to the Vitality Stadium on Saturday

Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson announced that Jeffrey Schlupp will be unavailable for the Premier League game against Bournemouth on Saturday after getting injured in training on Thursday.

The Ghana international had been out with a hip injury since December 2019 and made a return after he was named on the bench in a 1-0 win over Watford on March 7 before the league was suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic.

He has however suffered a setback and will not be part of the squad along with his teammates James Tomkins and Martin Kelly.

Schlupp has scored two goals and provided two assists in the Premier League this season, both happening on back-to-back occasions.

His assists first game in a shock 2-1 victory at Manchester United and then a home win against Aston Villa, while his goals came in an away win at Burnley followed by the sole goal in the reverse fixture against Bournemouth at Selhurst Park.

"James Tomkins hasn’t recovered, we hoped he would but he hasn’t. Jeff Schlupp picked up an injury during our training sessions early on and he's still out with that injury and now Martin Kelly has picked up a calf injury to add to the thigh injury that he had and suffered from," Hodgson told me media.

"It’s a bit disappointing, especially with regards to James Tomkins and Martin Kelly, who were injured basically when we stopped and I was rather hoping they’d recover. But they’ve picked up fresh injuries."

The former Liverpool manager went to assert he has very little concerns about the fitness level of his team.

"I haven’t had general concerns over our fitness level. But it’s fitness levels over 90 minutes of intense football," he said.

"The fitness level you need to deal with that is always going to be an unknown until you’ve got a few games behind you."

Prior to the Premier League suspension, Crystal Palace won three games in a row all by a 1-0 scoreline with Ghana forward Jordan Ayew scoring in two of them.

The 28-year old is the South London outfit's top scorer in the league with eight goals, which is an English top-flight best for him.

Palace sit in 11th spot on the standings, 12 points clear of 18th-placed Bournemouth.

Original author: Kunle Fayiga
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‘We deserved to win’ - Troost-Ekong on Udinese’s victory over Juventus

The Belgian coach had a smile on his face after learning they will play the ‘Ice Cream Makers’ at the National Stadium

Young Africans (Yanga SC) coach Luc Eymael is delighted they are returning to Dar es Salaam to take on Azam FC in a Mainland Premier League match on Sunday.

The Jangwani Street-based giants have already played two away matches since the top-flight resumed – managing a 1-0 win against Mwadui FC in Shinyanga and securing a 1-1 draw against JKT Tanzania in Dodoma.

On both occasions, the Belgian coach blamed the condition of the pitch for the results, insisting his players are denied the chance to play their passing game because of the bouncing grounds.

Against JKT, Eymael revealed to Goal his side struggled to play their usual game because the playing surface was bouncing like popcorn.

“It was a very tough game, very difficult pitch, bouncing everywhere, the ball was bouncing like popcorn and they have a very small changing room, where the opponent could enter to go the washroom, there was only one washroom and very small,” Eymael told Goal on Thursday.

“I was talking to my boys at the half-time break and even the referee managed to enter and go to the washroom, I have never seen that in my life, very small changing room and very bad pitch the ball bouncing everywhere but one point is better than nothing.”

Eymael has now told Goal he is happy they will play Azam at the National Stadium, which he described as “a big stadium with a good playing surface.”

“We must be ready for Azam game on Sunday and we finally play in the big stadium and a good pitch so our fans should expect a free-flowing game, a better game than from the first two matches,” Eymael told Goal on Friday.

“My players are always fond to playing a passing game and that is my philosophy but when you get onto a bouncing pitch then it becomes difficult for them to play their game.

"I like the National Stadium because the playing surface is well kept and we can now play freely without any problems.”

On how prepared they are to face Azam, Eymael said: “We are getting ready and I know it is going to be a difficult battle but my only hope is that we play our game, if we do so, then Azam will be in for trouble.”

Yanga will be keen to get a win and overtake Azam for the second spot on the 20-team league table.

Original author: Dennis Mabuka
  104 Hits

Ntshangase: Ex-SuperSport United midfielder close to completing permanent Maritzburg United move

The local government has moved to ban their first venue from taking fans after they failed to adhere to safety measures

JKT Tanzania have become the first team in the Mainland Premier League to suffer the government's wrath after their Jamhuri Stadium was banned from hosting matches with fans.

This is after the club failed to observe health measures put in place by the Ministry of Health to help curb the spread of the coronavirus when they played against Young Africans (Yanga SC) in a league match which ended 1-1 on Wednesday.

Before the league returned after President John Pombe Magufuli gave the green light, the Tanzanian government warned venues that do not adhere to set health guidelines during the matches will risk being banned from hosting in future.

The government had already put in measures to be followed by teams and stadium managers to make sure they help curb the spread of Covid-19.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Culture, Arts, and Sports, Hassan Abbasi confirmed the action taken by the government, saying fans will no longer be allowed at the venue until further notice.

“I was there at the stadium and I inspected the venue at 13:00 whereby everything was fine but things went out of hand from 14:00 onwards as the concerned authorities failed to control the incoming fans,” Abbasi is quoted by Daily News.

“We have already taken measures to ban fans from watching the matches live at the stadium. We asked the venue official why they failed to control the crowd and it was unfortunate that they had no answers.

“If you see the stadium is full, go back to your homes and watch the game on Television. This should be a lesson to other venues which will fail to adhere to the set-up health safety guideline protocols, fans will be banned from entering the venue to watch matches.”

Apart from Jamhuri Stadium, other venues to have hosted matches for the league which resumed on June 13, are CCM Kambarage Stadium in Shinyanga, Mkwakwani Stadium in Tanga, Azam Complex and the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

Some of the tough measures include committing stadium management, sports associations, and federations to install facilities that will allow putting in place running water and soap as well as sanitizers while insuring everyone involved uses them before entering venues.

Opening entry gates early will also be mandatory, so as to avoid overcrowding and allow fans to maintain a one-metre distance while entering the venue, seating arrangement should also adhere to one-metre distances.

The fans, team officials, journalists, and all other stakeholders involved would also be required to wear face masks throughout when at the venue.

The government has also warned against wild celebrations, saying any goal scored should not invite hugging, while the exchange of jerseys at the end of the match and handshakes, before and after the match, will also not be tolerated.

In addition, substitutes sitting on the bench will be required to wear masks and must sit a metre apart, while players coming off the pitch will be required to wear masks immediately after leaving the field.

Original author: Dennis Mabuka
  88 Hits

Marshmello to headline Champions League final opening ceremony

There are plenty of players with a legitimate claim to be given the great honour of gracing the front cover of the latest in the famous franchise

Video games have become enmeshed with real life and that is particularly true when it comes to football, with clubs and players devoting more time to virtual pursuits.

EA Sports' FIFA series is one of the biggest bestselling game franchises in the world, with millions of avid gamers - including professionals - immersing themselves into the world of Ultimate Team on an annual basis. Getting on the cover of FIFA is now a matter of great prestige for footballers, not to mention financially rewarding thanks to the associated marketing and brand boon.

So, who will be on the cover of FIFA 21 when it comes out? Goal takes a look at all of the candidates.

Who will be FIFA 21 cover star?

Following the release of EA Sports' first look at FIFA 21, two players have emerged as clear front-runners to be the game's new cover star.

It seems likely that FIFA 21 will have more than one cover star, whether that is spread across its multiple editions or a number of players sharing top billing together.

The first glimpse at the game most prominently featured Kylian Mbappe. Lightning-quick and skilful, the Paris Saint-Germain star is generally one of the most sought-after players on FIFA and he represents one of the new generation filling the boots of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Messi, of course, is a perennial contender for the FIFA front cover, but his situation is complicated somewhat by the fact that Barcelona have an exclusive partnership with Konami's eFootball Pro Evolution Soccer game. Similarly, Ronaldo is not likely to be on the FIFA 21 cover due to Juventus' partnership with Konami.

As well as Mbappe, the first-look video featured a number of images of Liverpool players and fans, with Virgil van Dijk standing out.

The Dutchman featured on the cover of FIFA 20 and ran Messi close in the 2019 Ballon d'Or voting, so it would not be a surprise to see him feature alongside Mbappe. Fans may hope the presence of a forward and defender together signals a balanced gameplay experience.

Regardless, there remains no shortage of alternatives to the two current front-runners.

Rising stars such as Borussia Dortmund's Erling Haaland and Jadon Sancho have been dazzling fans over the past few seasons, with each of them cultivating their own unique 'brand' on the pitch, replete with memorable celebrations.

Mbappe's PSG team-mate Neymar is another strong contender and has history with EA Sports, having featured on the revamped cover of FIFA 19, though the Brazilian would undoubtedly prefer to have sole billing.

Every year, FIFA fans across the world are invited to vote for the player they would most like to see on the cover of the game, which, while it may not ultimately be heeded, gives EA Sports an indication of who might be the popular choice.

Some of the candidates on the FIFPlay website vote, for example, include Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba, Liverpool's Mohamed Salah and the veteran Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Tottenham forward Heung-min Son is a popular suggestion for many who play the game, alongside the likes of Robert Lewandowski, Kevin De Bruyne and Christian Pulisic.

As mentioned, licensing agreements that exist with Konami mean that Barcelona and Juventus players are highly unlikely to feature on the front cover of FIFA 21. So, in addition to Messi and Ronaldo, it would appear to rule out popular players such as Antoine Griezmann, Paulo Dybala, Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho.

Who was the last FIFA cover star?

Real Madrid playmaker Eden Hazard was the cover star of FIFA 20 on the standard edition of the game. Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk was the face of the Champions edition.

Zinedine Zidane was the star of FIFA 20 Ultimate edition as EA Sports trumpeted the former Real Madrid player's long-awaited arrival as an Icon in the game's Ultimate Team mode.

Game Cover star(s)
FIFA 20 Eden Hazard / Virgil van Dijk / Zinedine Zidane
FIFA 19 Cristiano Ronaldo / Neymar / Kevin De Bruyne / Paulo Dybala
FIFA 18 Cristiano Ronaldo
FIFA 17 Marco Reus
FIFA 16 Lionel Messi
FIFA 15 Lionel Messi
FIFA 14 Lionel Messi
FIFA 13 Lionel Messi
FIFA 12 Wayne Rooney / Kaka
FIFA 11 Wayne Rooney / Kaka
FIFA 10 Wayne Rooney

FIFA 19 had a more complicated situation regarding the cover star, with Ronaldo being replaced by the trio of Neymar, Kevin De Bruyne and Paulo Dybala mid-way through the season.

Ronaldo had been appearing as the sole face on the cover of the game for the second time after also being the front of FIFA 18. A few years before the Portugal star took up occupancy on the cover, his eternal rival Messi had been the undisputed face of FIFA, appearing on the covers of FIFA 13, FIFA 14, FIFA 15 and FIFA 16.

The Argentina international was succeeded by Germany and Borussia Dortmund forward Marco Reus on FIFA 17, and Wayne Rooney was the main man for FIFA before Messi, alongside Kaka.

Check out the full history of FIFA cover stars here

Original author: Goal
  101 Hits

European soccer review: Olmo overshadows Kane's Bayern bow

The former Bafana assistant coach has revealed how he discovered Mahoota, who won four PSL titles

Former Mamelodi Sundowns forward Katlego Mashego has praised Highlands Park head coach Owen Da Gama.

The retired marksman worked with the veteran tactician at the now-defunct Platnum Stars between 2004 and 2006, known as Silver Stars at the time.

Mashego had made his professional career at Hellenic in 2001, but Da Gama was the man who helped transform 'Mahoota' into a quality striker at Stars.

“There’s no way you’d play for Owen da Gama’s team and fail to be a success when you move on,” Mashego told Far Post.

Mashego was born in a town called Bushbuckridge in Mpumalanga where Da Gama saw him for the first time.

Then-football agent Tim Sukazi, who would become Mashego's representative, recommended the left-footed frontman to Da Gama.

“I was to drive to Venda, but I then thought to go via Bushbuckridge to see this talent Tim had told me about,” Da Gama said on the same publication.

Da Gama is also credited for discovering former Silver Stars players Surprise Moriri and Stanley Kgatla, and Kaizer Chiefs defender Eric Mathoho.

The 58-year-old mentor, who is a former Bafana Bafana caretaker coach, has travelled to places like Limpopo and Mpumalanga in order to unearth talent in those provinces.

“If he visits a certain place and identifies a good player, he would never leave without the player," Mashego said about Da Gama, who has also coached Pirates, Free State Stars and Bloemfontein Celtic.

Mashego went on to become one of the best strikers in the history of the PSL after working with Da Gama at Silver Stars.

The former Bafana international is in the PSL's top 10 all-time leading goalscorers list with 88 goals although he was a bit of a journeyman during his career.

After playing for Hellenic and Silver Stars, Mahoota also turned out for Pirates, Sundowns, SuperSport United,  Moroka Swallows, Lamontville Golden Arrows as well as Chippa United.

Mashego, who won major trophies with SuperSport, Swallows, Pirates and Sundowns, also scooped the PSL Golden Boot at the end of the 2012/13 campaign with 13 goals.

He was part of the Bafana squad at the 2014 African Nations Championship and he retired from professional football early last year.

Original author: Austin Ditlhobolo
  92 Hits

Sources: U.S.'s Jones drawing European interest

The 34-year-old has lauded local FAs for giving coaches time to introduce and perfect a certain style of play

Uganda coach Johnathan McKinstry is impressed with the recent tactical developments witnessed in African teams.

According to the 34-year-old, most national teams on the continent have started to command a certain style of play, as a result of the consistency in the technical bench.

"I definitely feel now in more recent years, you have started to see teams develop a lot more tactically," McKinstry told Career Magazine.

"Yes, there have been foreign coaches, but there have also been great African coaches who have come into the likes of Senegal, Nigeria, Ghana and even DR Congo with Florent Ibenge."

The Northern Irish coach also lauded the teams who give the coaches longer contracts, which he feels is vital for teams to progress.

"They have really started to develop a style, it is because they have given coaches time – it is not just one or two years. These are guys who have been in their roles for four or five years that have been able to develop tactically," he continued. 

"There are still some nations who give coaches game-by-game contracts, how can you hope for a coach to develop a playing style when he knows that if he loses a game, he doesn’t have any security?"

The youthful tactician believes the quality at the Africa Cup of Nations reflects the developments made and not the World Cup, which is held after every four years.

"I know [2010 World Cup] was a big selling point at the time in the corridors for Fifa etc but am not sure that the World Cup had any tangible benefit to football in say, Sierra Leone, for example," he claimed.

"If you asked people their general opinion of the Africa cup of nations 10 or 15 years ago, they would have said; Individuals, exciting lots of goals, quite poor defending.

"There were really exciting football and really talented players but the joy of watching the Africa Cup of Nations 15 years ago was for those individual moments."  

McKinstry took over qualification for the 2021 Afcon to be held in Cameroon.


  

Original author: Seth Willis
  96 Hits

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