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FC Dallas forward Fafa Picault has spoken openly about the racism he was forced to endure during his time on the books at Cagliari as a teenager, revealing that even his coach was involved in the long-term abuse.

Picault, now 29, was born in New York to Haitian immigrant parents and developed a love for football from a young age when playing on the streets of the city.

At 16, the attacker made the brave choice to move to Italy and begin his career in Cagliari's youth side, firmly moving out of his comfort zone as he pursued a career at the highest possible level.

And while Picault has admitted in the past that his stint in Europe was hugely helpful for his on-field development, the abuse he suffered at the hands of team-mates, staff and fans ultimately saw him return to the US after five massively testing years.

“You have different forms of racism,” Picault said in a Facebook live chat. “I've dealt with it differently in different locker rooms and in stadiums.

“When I moved to Italy I was about 16 and I moved up to the first team around 17 years old. I was split between what a lot of young players do where you train with the first team and go back and play reserve games with the reserve team.

“Our coach at the time with the reserve team was probably one of the worst people I've met. Daily, I had to deal with him calling me a monkey or telling me I need to go back to the jungle in Africa, black players don't have technique, you're just fast, go run, we brought you here to run.

“He didn't bring me, the president brought me, but he said that's what I was brought for. When we would train he would just say anything that was nasty. If I told a younger guy to do something he would say: 'No, you have to do it because you're black'.

“I would have monkey stickers posted in my locker at times and I was getting in fist fights maybe twice a week.

“I was managing that with AP classes back home that I was finishing online and also still have to perform on the soccer field – which was probably the easiest part. 

“The easiest part was the soccer at the time.”

Diego Godin insists he is happy at Inter amid reports the experienced Uruguayan defender is looking for a way out just a year after his arrival in Serie A.

The 34-year-old joined Inter on a three-year contract last summer on a free transfer from Atletico Madrid, but he has struggled to command a regular starting role under Antonio Conte.

Reports have suggested that Inter are willing to cut their losses on the centre-half, and that Godin is also prepared to consider a change of scenery.

Tottenham have been linked with an approach for Godin, who has previously claimed that Manchester United and Juventus tried to sign him while he was at Atletico.

Lyon, along with clubs in the MLS and Chinese Super League, have also been mentioned as possible destinations for the South American.

However, Godin has sought to quell any notion that he wants to quit San Siro and has stated his intention to stick with Inter to try to help the club to win silverware.

"The truth is that I was surprised by this news," said Godin. "Since I came to this club I have always felt very comfortable. Both the club and the fans welcomed me very well and from day one I felt at home.

"It never occurred to me to leave Inter. I feel part of the project. The playing squad is spectacular.

"My intention is to fulfil my contract and enjoy this wonderful stage in Italy and Inter, who trusted me.

"I took responsibility and came with the intention of helping to win titles again. Here I am happy and I know that the feeling of the club is the same, which fills me with pride.

"I do not understand why some media insist that I am looking for a way out, when they know that this is a lie. I have never spoken to anyone on this subject, because it is simply not true.

"I'm going to stay here, and try to help the team in whatever they need. And if they continue to be happy with me, my time at Inter will be extended as long as they want."

AFC Leopards goalkeeper Benjamin Ochan has revealed what made him stick with the club despite the financial turmoil at the former Kenyan champions.

Ochan was the only foreign player who remained at AFC Leopards after the rest left because of unpaid salaries when the club was left without a sponsor.

Coach Casa Mbungo and players Tresor Ndikumana, Soter Kayumba, Vincent Habamahoro and Ismail Diarra left in January due to the financial challenges.

“I am a family man and I know when things are tough that is the time you need to gel more, stick together and be there for one another,” Ochan said during an interactive session with the fans on the club's official Facebook page.

“I have learnt a lot from being raised from a challenging background and one of the lessons is that you do not run away from challenges. I am happy we did not walk away from the challenges but we bonded more.

“Money is not everything, but everyone, including me, wants money but I believe AFC Leopards are a big brand. We are praying that things change and of course we know problems are not going to stay forever.

“Problems made us better and I believe next season is not going to be the same and sponsors must come and sponsor AFC Leopards because we are going to be champions.”

The Ugandan also spoke of the factors which made it possible for him to keep 13 clean sheets in his maiden Kenyan Premier League (KPL) season.

“Everyone at AFC Leopards has been amazing from the fans to the groundsmen and the players themselves,” he added. 

“The clean sheets that I kept cannot be credited to me alone because it was a collective effort from the strikers, the midfielders and the defence.

“If we stick together, the way we did, then I know for sure the sky is the limit.

“I wanted more clean sheets because last season my colleague had 15 and I had targeted to get 17 but who knows maybe next season God may help me to push for more and get even 18 of them.”

Ochan came and established himself as an indisputable figure in the first team but he says the coronavirus denied him a chance to win a title for the club.

“My first target was to win something for AFC Leopards but unfortunately, it was not the case as we did not win the league,” he concluded.

“Ingwe are a big team that needs to get back to the continental assignments but with the pandemic that was not possible.

“But again, we should look at the positives and one of them is we managed to remain together after many people thought the team was collapsing when many players left.

“Seeing the fans supporting us and players sticking together for me that is a great achievement despite the challenges.”

Ochan is in Uganda after he left when the league was suspended in March.

Lionel Messi became the first player to score 20 LaLiga goals in 12 consecutive seasons as Barcelona made a winning return against RCD Mallorca on Saturday. 

Arturo Vidal headed the league leaders in front, just 65 seconds into their first match since March 7 following the coronavirus pandemic. 

Quique Setien's side cruised to a 4-0 victory, Messi rounding off the scoring to add to his impressive collection of La Liga records.  

Sevilla prevailed 2-0 in El Gran Derbi against Real Betis, Fernando Reges scoring the game-sealing second goal from a 62nd-minute corner.  

And there was late drama at Mestalla where Rodrigo looked have scored an 89th-minute Valencia winner, only for Gonzalo Melero to level from the penalty spot in the eighth minute of added time, rescuing a point for Levante 

Click the image below to relive the excitement of Matchday 28 in La Liga.

Former Mamelodi Sundowns defender Luvhengo Mungomeni says competing with the likes of Vuyo Mere, Siboniso Gaxa, and Michael Manzini made it difficult for him to settle down at Chloorkop.

The retired defender also credited current Golden Arrows coach and former Kaizer Chiefs mentor Steve Komphela, saying he played a massive role in developing his game at international level.

Now focusing in his business and based in Johannesburg, the lanky former centre-back stated that he also enjoyed his football under four-time Premier Soccer League (PSL) winner Gordon Igesund whilst saying he didn't want to go around attending trials.

“I think at Sundowns, I was competing with the best players there. Let’s be honest, I mean I played with OJ [Mbulelo] Mabizela, Manzini, Pa [Siboniso] Gaxa and [Vuyo] Mere and I was young," Mungomeni told Goal.

“It was not easy to play and compete against those guys at the time. These were fully established players and I was coming from Black Leopards.

"I still had to settle down and cement my place. I scored goals for Sundowns and then I joined Swallows, that’s when I can say it was my best time in football.”

Speaking about coaches that made him shine at the top level, the former Mthatha Bush Bucks player mentioned Komphela as one of the best and explained why he would do anything for Igesund.

"The good coach has to be Komphela at international level, that coach groomed me. There was also coach Serame Letsoaka, the late Styles Phumo and those guys made me who I am,” Mungomeni added.

“I am not talking about the development level at home [Venda], but these are the coaches that brought out the best in me. I will always be grateful to them. At club level, when I played under coach Igesund. That was the best year of my football.

“He was awesome, I would die for him at Swallows because some of the times, I recall I would play, I would feel my body says no but I would push, just for him.

“I would tell myself, let me tear this ligament because it will get better. He is one of the coaches that believed in me. I recall when I received my first call-up to the national team, even if Pitso [Mosimane] called me up.

"However, I didn’t get a chance to play for Pitso - not even a single game.

“They also called me to the national team but Gordon is the man, he believed in me and it’s always nice when you get such a coach."

On failed moves to join the Lions of the North and Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila (TTM), Mungomeni revealed he had no regrets but explained why he decided to hang up his boots.

“To be honest, my contract with Swallows was ending in 2017 and the club got relegated to the ABC Motsepe [league], I still had a contract and things were not going well for the team,” added the Siloam-born legend.

“I just had to stop, I told myself that I will not become that player running around doing trials. What is it that I needed to prove because I took care of my body in terms of fitness? 

"I never got fat and why will I be running around like a headless chicken doing trials? I never received a letter to attend a disciplinary hearing in my entire career because I was disciplined.

“I remember I went to Highlands Park and they told me about the budgets, I went to train with TTM and they told me about their budget. I understood but I stopped there.

“I had plans with my life and I don’t have regrets when I look back. I enjoyed my football career. My leg got broken and I couldn’t break another leg at the age of 30 or over 30. It was not worth it anymore.

"Out of football, you can still make money and survive. If it doesn’t happen then it’s okay, who am I?”

Having featured in more than 150 games in the South African top-flight, the former Lidoda Duvha defender said he always dreamt of playing professional football.

“I retired from football for a long time, I last played football in 2015 and just after Swallows got relegated, I lost interest in football. I felt I needed to focus on other things, I’m still in Joburg full time but I do travel to Venda,” he continued.

“I stayed for a long time in Venda during the lockdown. It is an honour to have played for Sundowns. My dream was to play professional football especially for a boy coming from the rural areas, I had to hustle on trials and so on.

“I was born in a football family, I signed for [Mthatha] Bush Bucks at a very young age and I survived in East London. I went to Leopards then I also survived in Venda.

“I was also doing well for the U20s and it was nice to work under great coaches like Komphela. Coming from Venda and playing football until retirement was nice. I told myself I won’t retire when I’m very old.

“I’ve seen many things happening to football players that happen when they retire and I didn’t want to be like those players. For me, it was a dream to retire when I was still young.”

Kenya captain Victor Wanyama and Montreal Impact players have passed their coronavirus tests and have been allowed to resume full team training. 

Major League Soccer (MLS) is expected to run from July 8 to August 11 but all the teams' officials and players must be subjected to two Covid-19 tests.

Wanyama and his teammates have now passed the tests and have been given the green light to resume full joint training sessions from Thursday.

“I think this period of three months here where we weren’t able to do what we want and love to do every day, to be back today [Thursday], we have a new sense of energy,” Wanyama's goalkeeper teammate Evan Bush said.

“You don’t want to take it for granted anymore. So, I’m going to take that as my mentality every day, and hopefully, the guys do the same.”

Montreal Impact now join other clubs such Atlanta United, Chicago Fire, FC Cincinnati, Colorado Rapids, Columbus Crew, FC Dallas, D.C. United, Houston Dynamo, Inter Miami, Los Angeles Galaxy, Nashville SC, New England Revolution, New York City FC, New York Red Bulls, Orlando City, Philadelphia Union, Real Salt Lake, Seattle Sounders and Sporting Kansas City in holding full team sessions.

MLS will resume playing via a tournament in Orlando featuring all 26 teams after it was suspended on March 12.

Players were given permission to train individually from May 6 but testing was not a requirement at the time, as they social distanced themselves during those workouts.

The second phase was effected on June 1 as players were allowed to train in small groups and testing was not required once more, as no more than six players trained together and kept a distance.

MLS has now allowed phase three to be started where full testing was required and clubs had to conduct these tests before leaving for Orlando. MLS will conduct the remaining part of the season, on a tournament basis, in Orlando.

“There are three key issues. First is that clubs have to have the testing capacity to test players, second is that they have local government approvals [to return to training] and third is a variety of protocols, in terms of sanitized facilities and PPE [personal protective equipment]," MLS Deputy Commissioner Mark Abbott said earlier when providing guidance before the resumption of matches.

Once in Orlando, MLS will provide testing which will be conducted when players and staff arrive, then continued throughout the tournament.  

Los Angeles FC, Minnesota United, Portland Timbers and the San Jose Earthquakes are yet to get their own approval.

Onduparaka FC patron Bernard Atiku has explained why some Ugandan Premier League (UPL) clubs are opposed to the reforms fronted by the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (Fufa).

Among the reforms Fufa is seeking to implement in the top-tier is the reduction of teams from the current 16 to 12, but this has generated intense debate. During Thursday's consultative meeting, the clubs made their presentation through Aggrey Ashaba.

Among their issues they want to be implemented first include stadium funding, increase in prize money, governance re-calibration, creation of a chairmen’s forum, commercialisation model of the league and refereeing reforms 

“I am very hopeful that our submission in regard to the reforms of the league that Fufa is proposing will give them an insight and guide them in the decision-making process," Atiku said as is quoted by Sports Nation.

“We have come out with our position as clubs which is let’s stay the reforms because there are some strategic challenges that we need to address as a league and once those challenges are addressed, I am sure the league will get lucrative and attractive to the sponsors.”

Atiku was among the chairman who boycotted the initial meeting with Fufa and revealed their earlier decision was due to a communication breakdown with the federation.

The clubs had also sought intervention from the government against some of Fufa's recent decisions.

“We agreed to attend after receiving the agenda in time and also sitting down as club owners to understand the issues therein for discussion and also to prepare a position that is agreeable by all the clubs,” he added.

“Having tried to communicate with Fufa and UPL and failed, we decided to petition Minister Janet Museveni and having these issues presented correctly by our chairman, to us somehow settled the nerves.

“What has also come out clear is that the clubs have not been fighting Fufa or [President Moses] Magogo. We wanted to be heard, and the platform was not there. It was admitted that the communication challenges were there.

“I thank Fufa for allowing us to debate. It’s only in an environment like this that we can relay the challenges. We can either agree or disagree but I believe this is a good platform for both the clubs and the FA.

“We should be looking at professionalisation but we cannot if we don’t have an enabling environment.”

Ronald Mutebi of Bright Stars also commended the meeting between the FA and the clubs.

“When we come to such meetings, we have many issues but we must leave with a bit of diagnosis. Looking at issues with political ammunition but rather deliberate, find solutions and avoid reacting to situations,” Mutebi said.

EA Sports will launch the next edition of FIFA - FIFA 21 - in October 2020, despite the difficulties associated with the Covid-19 pandemic, which has disrupted various industries, including football.

Every year, the pressure is on games developers to come up with something that tops the previous effort, with avid gamers always keen to see new features or upgrades to existing aspects of the game.

It's all about improving the user experience and, while the creative work is led by the experts, gamers are consulted and their concerns are certainly part of the decision-making process.

So, what sort of new features will be on FIFA 21? Goal takes a look at some potential changes and the things people want to see.

Gameplay & graphics upgrades

The release of FIFA 21 will occur around the same time that next-generation consoles PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, so the expectation is that the game will be better on those new consoles.

Along with Madden NFL 21, FIFA 21 showcases EA Sports' new 'Next Level' updates. These include a variety of graphical and gameplay developments, including new features that are only available in the PS5 and Xbox Series X versions of the game.

Controller haptics are a new addition in FIFA 21 on PS5, thanks to the console's DualSense controller, which allows you to "feel the rhythm of the game in your hands" and respond to shots, passes and tackles through the controller.

Deferred rendering and lightning will add to the realism of the game, with stadiums looking more like their real-life counterparts, while player physiques have been improved to look and feel more natural.

In addition, spatialised audio improves in-game sound effects, while there has been improvements in off-ball humanisation so that players react more realistically during games.

EA Sports has also promised the fastest load times ever for FIFA 21, meaning players will not have to wait as long to begin a match when they boot up the game.

Another gameplay addition that would increase the realism of FIFA 21 is VAR .

While there is strictly no need for a video assistant referee in the game due to the fact that AI makes calls on whether a foul was committed inside the box or there has been an offside, it is now a part of football.

Adding VAR would only be an aesthetic touch, but it would have to be incorporated well, so as to avoid it becoming repetitive, for example.

New Ultimate Team Icons

FIFA 20's new class of Icons included the likes of Kenny Dalglish, Ian Wright and Ronald Koeman, as well as cover star Zinedine Zidane, but what will FIFA 21 bring?

There is already an extensive list of past players on FUT, but there are still some notable absentees, not to mention those iconic stars who recently hung up their boots for good.

Roma and Italy hero Francesco Totti, for example, is widely tipped to be included in the next game as an Icon, as is Chelsea's John Terry and former Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic.

Others include Gabriel Batistuta, Phillipp Lahm, Cafu and Tim Cahill.

One icon who is unlikely to appear on FIFA 21 is David Beckham, who has had a deal with EA Sports' rival brand Pro Evolution Soccer to appear on their game only.

Career Mode improvements

Every year there seems to be a slew of minor issues with Career Mode and FIFA gamers are never shy about airing their grievances.

One the biggest peeves for players is the apparently preponderance of unrealistic transfers, which see transfers of big players between bitter rivals, which, while it does happen, doesn't happen that often.

Issues with the youth academy part of the mode have also been noted, with the more meticulous types preferring a more hands-on interface and greater options in the development of players.

Another request that has appeared on FIFA forums has been the ability to customise club kits instead of having to wear the same kit with the same sponsor despite moving a number of seasons in the virtual future.

Changes to Volta 

The new game mode Volta was rolled out in FIFA 20 with much fanfare as EA Sports sought to reimagine the classic FIFA Street game with small-sided football.

While it was indeed a popular addition with its Journey-style aspect, there have been calls to expand the FIFA street football universe with more venues.

However, some gamers who recall the more cartoonish FIFA Street games of old have suggested that realism isn't exactly necessary in a five-a-side freestyle football game.

Leagues & competitions

EA Sports' FIFA series has long been the most far-reaching football simulation game when it comes to officially licensed players and teams, but they have been hit with some big losses in recent years.

There was no Juventus on FIFA 20 for example, while River Plate and Boca Juniors were also initially unavailable. As well as that there were some issues with licensing for international teams, including Brazil.

They won't be able to get Juventus back, but they can perhaps make up for it somewhat with the addition of more officially licensed competitions.

It is unlikely, given the preference for EA Sports to launch a 'World Cup' edition of the game, but a tournament mode similar to the classic 'Road to World Cup' games, would be a welcome addition.

Gor Mahia coach Steven Polack has warned club officials not to relax but instead, work hard to secure more sponsors after they sealed a deal with new betting firm Betsafe.

The Kenyan champions, alongside their rivals AFC Leopards, signed a partnership deal that will last for the next three years, with K’Ogalo set to pocket KSh55million per year while Ingwe will pocket KSh45 million.

The new deal has excited the British coach, who has been with the club for one season while the club went through financial difficulties, which has seen the playing unit and officials owed up to five months’ salary.

Polack has, however, 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.

“If you watch football on TV, you see many sponsors around the pitch, all of them are supporting teams because you can see several adverts around the pitch which will end up to support the team and then you have your main sponsor, so it becomes easy to run your club.

“I am not only looking at Gor Mahia but even in South Africa teams have more than one sponsor, so they need to work hard and get more sponsors so they can be able to keep the club financially stable, but one thing is for sure, I know Gor Mahia officials are not going to sit and wait, they are going to work hard and get more sponsors, we have already talked about it.

“You can only work hard to get a sponsor and if you get you then you get, and if you don’t then you don’t, but it is good to try and keep pushing.”

However, Polack lauded the arrival of Betsafe, terming it as a good move in the right direction for the club, who will represent Kenya in the Caf Champions League next season.

“It is a good stepping stone, it is a good move in the right direction for the club but we must also make sure the money is used wisely, we have to use it wisely, that is the main thing and nobody wants to hear in five months we don’t have money, so we must be wise and I believe they will be,” Polack concluded.

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

The summer months usually mean the same thing for football fans. If there are no international tournaments to enjoy, it is a long wait for the new campaign to begin – and the latest instalment of EA Sports’ FIFA series to be released.

Of course, 2020 will be very different. Not only on the pitch, where league seasons are stretching through the summer, but in the gaming world too.

Seven years since the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One were first released, the next generation of gaming consoles – the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X – are set to debut.

Fans are excited for the possibilities the step-up in hardware could bring, and FIFA players are no different.

EA Sports has released its first-look video at FIFA 21, with the current-gen adaptation pushed back by the disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

On current consoles, FIFA 21 is now set to be released on October 9, 2021, a slight delay on the usual release on the final Friday of September. FIFA 21 early access is available from October 6 on these consoles.

Release dates for the PS5 and Xbox Series X have not been confirmed at this point. However, some clues are available as to when they could be.

Both consoles are expected to be released during the holiday season of 2020, in the lead-up to Christmas.

Some reports have suggested the Xbox Series X could be coming in November 2020, perhaps November 26 – Thanksgiving in the U.S. – after some now-removed marketing material which had teased ‘coming Thanksgiving 2020’.

Similarly, some outlets reported that the PlayStation 5 release date had been accidentally leaked. Amazon France listed the console as being available from November 20, 2020, a listing which has since been removed.

That would make sense as it would place the release date in the middle of holiday shopping season and a week before Black Friday, but it has not been officially confirmed.

FIFA 21’s release date on these new consoles won’t be confirmed until that of the consoles themselves but, as flagship sports titles alongside NBA 2K and Madden NFL, expect confirmation to follow sooner rather than later.

It has been announced that, through EA’s dual entitlement programme, gamers who buy FIFA 21 on Xbox One or PS4 before the launch of FIFA 22 will be able to claim a free upgrade for the equivalent console – so fans don’t need to wait until the next-gen release to enjoy the newest instalment.

Paul Mukatabala has revealed helping SC Villa win the Ugandan Premier League in 1994 remains one of the best memories of his playing days.

The Wakiso-based side had lost its key players owing to several reasons and were not regarded as title contenders, and the current assistant tactician explained the situation at the time.

"After the departure, and, or retirement of a majority of the stars of the SC Villa great side of 1990-1993, leading SC Villa to the 1994 League title as the star player in a squad of mainly a young team that had been given no chance when pitted against the experienced international players at Express FC," Mukatabala recalls as reported by the Sports Nation.

"This was my third league title after earlier triumphs in 1990 and 1992."

The Villa legend also mentioned four other special moments which he said will forever remain in his memory.  

"Making my league debut for SC Villa in 1990 just weeks after signing for the club as a youngster in April [is also one of my best moments]," he continued.

"[The debut was] made even sweeter by the fact that I provided the assist for the winning goal, thumped home by the great [late] Magid Musisi in a 1-0 win against a stubborn Uganda Airlines at Nakivubo stadium.

"[Another best moment was] being named in the starting [team] and playing in two consecutive Africa Cup Competitions. 

"The 1991 Africa Cup of Champion Clubs(Caf CL) vs Club Africaine of Tunisia and the 1992 CAF Abiola Cup (now Confederation Cup) vs Shooting Stars of Nigeria."  

The former attacking midfielder also revealed some of his special moments in front of the goal, while his first top tier hat-trick came against Nate FC 23 years ago.

"Scoring my first hat-trick in international club football vs AS Sotema of Madagascar in the 1993 Caf Champions League at Nakivubo stadium, in front of my own club adoring fans," Mukatabala added.

"I was a regular goal-scoring midfielder at SC Villa, but getting my first hat-trick in a league match and walking away with the Match Day ball was pretty special for me. 

"And that was against Nate FC at Nakivubo Stadium in 1997."

Mukatabala turned out for SC Villa from 1990-1997 before making a return to the club later on as the assistant coach.

He is also doubling as the CEO for the Uganda Football Players' Association (Ufpa) and is the National Team's officer. 

FC Goa's star midfielder Edu Bedia has admitted that he was left surprised by the turn of events towards the end of the last Indian Super League (ISL) season which culminated in the sacking of head coach Sergio Lobera. The Spaniard was let go with FC Goa leading the table with three games to play.

Clifford Miranda was put in charge and the team managed to finish top of the table and qualify for the AFC Champions League group stages. However, they could not negotiate their way past Chennaiyin FC in the play-offs.

"The club decided to sign Lobera according to their philosophy and now (it is) Ferrando. At that time, I have to say, I was surprised that the coach was sacked but it was a crucial time. So we had no time to think about it. We had to move forward and that brought the team closer than ever. We finally achieved the qualification for the AFC Champions League," he told Goal.

The Spanish midfielder, however, has thrown his weight behind Lobera's successor Juan Ferrando who was recently appointed at the helm of affairs.

"I think he (Ferrando) shares the same football philosophy that the club has. One of the strong points of FC Goa has been to set a philosophy and stick to it. I'm very happy with the signing of Ferrando. He is ready to start working. The first thing I spoke with him about is how excited I am about the next season and I can't wait to start the game.

"I can't wait to start at my hundred per cent. We have been discussing a lot about the ISL and the different aspects of Indian football," he revealed.

Bedia has called for a longer than usual pre-season ahead of the 2020-21 ISL campaign.

The sixth season of ISL ended on March 14, 2019, and with the next edition expected to have a delayed start due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. Bedia believes that this could have an effect on the quality of football matches. 

"Once the (ISL) competition starts again, there will be two key factors - one will be the fitness level and the second one is injuries. We will have to have a longer than usual pre-season. All the football players and coaches will want to avoid injuries and for that, you have to do a long pre-season and start from scratch. That fitness level, you will get from practice sessions and matches but the first thing will be to avoid injuries that will come after the long gap," he said.

Speaking of his own fitness level amidst the lockdown, he explained, "These three months of lockdown has been a very tough situation. I have only been able to do some cycling and some strength workouts with resistance bands. It's been a very difficult task to stay in shape but I have achieved that goal. More than the physical aspect, it's been difficult psychologically because you cannot go anywhere."

Several key players like Ahmed Jahouh, Mourtada Fall, Mandar Rao Dessai and Jackichand Singh have left and Bedia feels that the transitional phase is something every club has to face.

"During the last (three) years we have been able to keep the core of the whole team which I think is very difficult because nowadays in football you see how squads keep changing from season to season. This season is our turn to change the core of the team," he stated.

The former Real Zaragoza player has extended his contract till the end of 2021-22 season and it was a rather easy decision for the midfielder. 

"I think my role will be the same from what it has been the last three years. I will try to help all the new players coming in. This will be my fourth year in Goa and I think I have acclimatised to life in Goa on and off the pitch. I think the club is doing a great job to get new players and a lot of new players are also being promoted from the dev (developmental) team. So I'm really happy about that.

"The club and I decided to extend my contract because I am very happy with the club and I believe that life in Goa is very good for me. I also believe that Goa deserves to win the (ISL) trophy. In the past (two) years, we have won the Super Cup and last year we qualified for the AFC Champions League, but I think winning the ISL next season will be the icing on the cake."

As part of a structural revamp of the club, Kerala Blasters decided to appoint a sporting director earlier this year. After three months in the job, Lithuanian Karolis Skinkys has had to resort to online communication and deal with practical limitations with respect to his work due to the Coronavirus pandemic. 

However, the former FK Suduva director is not new to challenges. He was instrumental in the decision-making processes at his earlier club which ultimately helped them earn their place in European competitions. Skinkys, from thousands of kilometres away, is very much involved in the project that's taking shape in Kochi. 

"My (initial) impressions are positive and I’m very excited about this challenge. I really like how much attention is being paid to football in India, especially in Kerala and the growth potential here is huge. The club has a great vision to ensure the development of football, both for the first team players as well as the youth sector. Right from the beginning of my communication with Kerala Blasters, I felt trust and commitment in the people here. Hence, I’m eagerly looking forward to adding my contribution to achieving the goals of the club," he told Goal . 

The ongoing pandemic has hit clubs and companies across the globe and the situation at Kerala Blasters isn't too different. 

Skinkys explained, "Without a doubt, all the processes were affected by the pandemic. So far, we are unaware of even the starting dates of the league. This has surely influenced recruitment and the season's preparation.

"As planned earlier, not being able to be in Kerala at the moment is also a big challenge. However, I have full trust in my team to adapt and overcome these challenges. This is life and we are finding alternatives like online communication to make headway with preparations."

Skinkys knows what it is like to help a club grow in stature. After all, Suduva gained promotion to the top division and had their stints in both the Champions League and the Europa League during his tenure. But how much will he have to adapt so that his methods work in Indian football?

He answered, "Football is a simple game that is very difficult to play (in a ) simple (way). The situation on the management side is also similar. My job is simple but quite difficult to execute.

"Firstly, it is important for me to create the right tools and a supportive ecosystem to achieve the desired results. This includes recruitment of professional coaches, experienced and capable support staff, talented and quality players, build a competitive environment within the squad and also ensure the growth of the academy players who have an opportunity to be promoted to the first team. 

"Successful implementation and control of these processes will help achieve results. Of course, each environment has its own challenges that require hard work of the entire organization but most importantly, it requires a trust in the processes by all stakeholders of the club."

Blasters have turned their focus to bringing in young footballers with a high ceiling for their potential. They already have the likes of Sahal Abdul Samad, Rahul KP, Jeakson Singh in their squad. The arrival of Givson Singh and possibly more young players provide plenty of hope for the future. 

"Identifying and developing young talents, who will go on to bring numerous laurels to the country and not just to the club has always been the focus of the club. In six ISL seasons, Kerala Blasters have been successful in (providing) three ISL emerging talents (ISL Emerging Player of the Year) in Sandesh Jhingan, Lalruatthara and Sahal. The club has also produced multiple national team players. This is proof of the commitment the club has towards the growth and development of Indian football," he said. 

He further added, "We are here to fulfil the vision and objectives of the club and will definitely focus on developing youth. In the near future, some of our players will have the opportunity to train and play abroad.

"That being said, it is equally important for the players to understand the importance of hard work in their career and that hard work achieves more than just pure talent in the long run. As a club, we will always be at the forefront to create more opportunities for them and help them dream big."

After three disappointing finishes in the last three seasons, Kerala Blasters will be looking to get into the playoffs under the new leadership when the seventh season of ISL kicks off later this year. 

India were drawn into a tough group which consists of South Korea, Australia, and Uzbekistan during the official draw of the AFC U-16 Championship Bahrain 2020 which was held at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday afternoon. 

Although the Blue Colts had a scintillating run in the qualifiers where they remained unbeaten, they will need to break a sweat to get the better of heavyweights South Korea and Australia.

But Henry Menezes, the deputy chairman of the Technical Committee of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), has put his weight behind the boys and thinks that Bibiano Fernandes' boys have the quality to shine at the continental stage.

"It is a good combination (the draw). We have the best breed of players in the U16 team, led by a very able coach in Bibiano Fernandes. We should now give them the confidence to perform well at the highest stage. They have done well in the exposure tours. There is a good outside chance that we can progress to the knockouts. 

"We need a bit of luck in the quarters, but on our given day we can challenge the best team. The competition is in November and I think if we get two good months of practice we will be ready for the tournament," the former goalkeeper told Goal. 

In the qualifiers held in September 2019, India had drawn against Uzbekistan 1-1. Fernandes' men took the lead after the hour-mark but shipped in a late goal to share the spoils. 

South Korea was in a brilliant run of form in the qualification stages as they not only won all the matches but also did not concede a single goal in three matches. Australia had also emerged victorious in all the matches but conceded just two goals. 

The marquee tournament will start on November 25 in Bahrain. 

Cristiano Ronaldo's sister Elma Aveiro has taken aim at Maurizio Sarri after Juventus lost the Coppa Italia final against Napoli on penalties. 

Gennaro Gattuso's side triumphed after a goalless 90 minutes in which Sarri's men struggled to carve out any clear chances, while Napoli were unlucky not to score a winner late in the game. 

The defeat was the first time Ronaldo has ever lost consecutive finals in his career with the Portugal forward criticised for his performance by Luca Toni.

Elma has however leaped to her brother's defence on social media as she seemingly slammed Sarri's tactics and pleaded for Ronaldo's Juventus teammates to step up. 

"What more can you do? My love, you can't do miracles on your own," she wrote on Instagram. 

"I can't understand how you can play like that. Anyway, keep your head up, you can't do anymore."

Sarri is no stranger to criticism for his style of play since arriving in Turin and admitted last year that he felt like he's been made out to be a terrorist at times. 

"I was defined as a Taliban because I always wanted to play my football, now it’s not good enough because I adapt to the different characteristics of my players," Sarri said.

"If I had to listen to or read the things that are said about Juventus, I would go crazy. I just get on with my work.

"I would like to see the most consistent team and certain attitudes, but we must take into consideration the different characteristics of our players."

Despite losing the Coppa Italia final on Wednesday, Juventus will restart their Serie A campaign on Monday with another league title in their sights. 

Sarri's side are one point clear of Lazio after 26 games and return to league action against Bologna. 

Prior to the coronavirus pandemic halting football in Italy, Juventus had claimed a crucial 2-0 win over Inter, who are now third in Serie A and nine points shy of the league leaders. 

After failing to score against Napoli midweek, Sarri conceded his side are yet to show their best following the enforced break. 

"Right now, however, we lack brilliance to make the amount of game produced dangerous and without that brilliance it becomes more difficult to beat the man, which our players are usually used to doing easily, and finding other solutions," he told Rai. 

"Two 0-0s are an unprecedented fact and I think it is characteristic of this period."

One of the most coveted youth tournaments in Asia, the AFC U16 Championship, is set to unfold in Bahrain later this year.

The 2020 version will be the 19th edition of the biennial tournament which will serve as the qualification path for the 2021 U17 World Cup. India have qualified for the tournament after topping their qualification group which consisted of Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Bahrain.

This edition will be the last to be played as an U16 tournament, as the AFC have proposed switching it from U16 to U17 format from 2023.

Though the Coronavirus pandemic has brought football to a standstill, it is hoped that the tournament will go ahead as per the new schedule and Goal brings you everything you need to know.

Contents

AFC U-16 Championship Bahrain 2020 format

The 2020 AFC U16 Championship will feature 16 teams - 12 of them qualified after winning their qualification groups while four best runners-up were also handed a spot.

The format for the final tournament will feature four groups of four teams each.

The winner and runner-up in each group will progress to the quarter-finals.

AFC U-16 Championship Bahrain 2020 group stage; Who are India's opponents

The group stages were confirmed with the 2020 AFC U16 Championship draw on June 18, 2020, at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur.

The tournament is proposed to take place from November 25, 2020 to December 12, 2020.

Host nation Bahrain will kick off the tournament against Qatar.

Group A

Group A fixtures

Group B

Group B fixtures

Group C

Group C fixtures

Group D

Group D fixtures

When and where will the 2020 AFC U16 Championship take place?

The tournament will be held in Bahrain who are hosting it for the first time ever.

It is worth noting that AFC is currently seeking approval from the AFC Competitions Committee on the new competition dates as stated above.

AFC U-16 Championship Bahrain 2020 host cities

The host cities for the tournament is yet to be confirmed by the AFC and the host nation.

AFC U-16 Championship previous winners

NOTE: Until 2006 it was held as an U17 tournament. The AFC have proposed switching back to an U17 tournament starting from 2023

FIFA U-17 World Cup Peru 2021

The 2020 AFC U16 Championship will serve as Asia's qualification tournament for the 2021 FIFA U17 World Cup which will be held in Peru.

Asia has four slots for the tournament and all the semifinalists from the 2020 AFC U16 Championship will qualify for the global youth tournament next year.

India were just one win away from reaching the 2019 U17 World Cup when they lost to South Korea in the quarter-finals in 2018.

Justin Kluivert has expressed his hope that Chris Smalling and Henrikh Mkhitaryan will extend their stay at Roma beyond the end of the season.

Manchester United defender Smalling completed a season-long loan move to Stadio Olimpico on August 30, after falling down the squad pecking order under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Old Trafford.

Arsenal allowed Mkhitaryan to commit to the same terms with the Italian giants three days later, and both men have since rediscovered their best form in Serie A.

Smalling has been a rock in the heart of Roma's defence, taking in 28 appearances in all competitions in total to help the team challenge for a top-four finish and a spot in the latter stages of the Europa League.

Mkhitaryan, meanwhile, has overcome a number of niggling injuries to contribute six goals and four assists to the Giallorossi's cause in 20 outings, slotting nicely into Paulo Fonseca's line up in midfield.

The Roma boss has publicly admitted that he would like to keep hold of the Premier League loanees, but as it stands, they will return to their parent clubs later this summer.

Kluivert is also eager to see the pair tied down to new contracts, having directly benefitted from playing alongside two "top players" that have been able to pass on valuable experience.

The Roma winger told Voetbalzone and Goal: "They fit very well into the team. Look at how Chris immediately made the difference. That is unbelievable. That is really a plus for the team.

"He is a defensive force, a warrior. Mkhitaryan has also proven his worth. He scores, gives assists, is important to the team. He passes on his experience to the team and certainly to me. I look up to him as a player who has been through a lot.

"He has had a good career and played for many clubs. I can certainly learn from that. We talk a lot anyway because he plays in the same position. He has a lot of experience, so of course he occasionally gives tips or emphasizes what I do well. I listen to that because he has already experienced it.

"I certainly hope they want to stay and they get the chance to stay. They are an added value to the team. They are top players."

Kluivert went on to discuss the topic of racism in football, following Roma's pledge to include a 'Black Lives Matter' patch on all of the players' shirts for their remaining 12 Serie A fixtures.

He said. "Racism is the worst thing going on in the world. It doesn't belong in this age. It should be over, but unfortunately, it is not over yet.

"When you see how many people are protesting, it is just nice to see. We all need to make the world a better place. Together. No black or white, but together as one. That's why I like the fact that so many people pay attention to it. Racism no longer belongs here."

The 41st edition of the AFC U-19 Championship will proceed as planned despite initial health and safety concerns caused by the global Covid-19 pandemic. On Thursday, June 18, the draw for the finals was held, and all 16 teams have been placed in their four respective groups.

Contents

AFC U-19 Championship 2020 format

The tournament will feature 16 teams  - 11 qualifying stage group winners, four best second-placed teams, as well as tournament hosts Uzbekistan.

Each finals group will feature four teams, with the top two finishers moving on to the quarter-final stage. The quarter-final winners will face off in the semi-finals, and the two semi-final winners will meet in the final match to determine the champions.

AFC U-19 Championship trophy. Photo from AFC

AFC U-19 Championship 2020 group stage

The group stage was confirmed with the 2020 AFC U-19 Championship draw on June 18, 2020.

Group A

Group A fixtures

Group B

Group B fixtures

Group C

Group C fixtures

Group D

Group D fixtures

When & where will AFC U-19 Championship 2020 take place?

The 41st edition of the AFC U-19 Championship will kick off in Uzbekistan on October 14, 2020 and will conclude on October 31, 2020.

It will be held at four venues that are located in three Uzbek cities.

AFC U-19 Championship 2020 venues

Past 10 AFC U-19 Championship winners

Saudi Arabia winning the 2018 edition. Photo from AFC

2021 FIFA U-20 World Cup

The four AFC U-19 Championship 2020 semi-finalists will automatically qualify for the 2021 U-20 World Cup, which will be hosted by Indonesia. As Indonesia will play in the World Cup next year  as its host regardless of their result in the AFC finals, if they reach the semis, a play-off stage will be played to find another World Cup participant. The four quarter-final stage losers will meet in the play-off semis, the two winners then squaring off in the play-off final, with the winner nabbing the right to appear in next year's U-20 World Cup, as the fifth Asian side.

Kelechi Nwakali made his long-awaited Huesca debut in Thursday’s 2-1 home defeat to Mirandes.

After completing a loan spell at Porto B, the Nigeria international joined the Segunda division outfit on a three-year deal from Premier League side Arsenal.

Since his move in September 2019, the 22-year-old has waited patiently for his maiden appearance – with his closest attempt an unused substitute role in the 3-1 triumph at Malaga on June 12.

However, he ended his wait as manager Michel brought him as an 83rd-minute substitute for Sergio Gomez.

Despite featuring for seven minutes, he could do little as his team bowed at home to the Reds at Estadio El Alcoraz.

After a goalless first-half in the Week 33 fixture, Alvaro Rey powered Mirandes ahead in the 62nd minute, but the hosts levelled matter through Rafa Mir eight minutes later.

Alvaro Pena handed Andoni Iraola’s team all points a stake with his 72nd-minute effort.

Cote d’Ivoire midfielder Cheick Doukoure who is on loan from Levante was an unused substitute by the hosts, while Ghana’s Ernest Ohemeng was not considered for action by manager Iraola.

This defeat marks a setback for Huesca who are chasing promotion to the Spanish elite division. They are currently fourth in the log after garnering 53 points from 33 outings – seven points below leaders Cadiz, while Mirandes moved to sixth.

Nwakali is pleased with his debut and assured that the Azulgranas will bounce back in their next outing.

“Thank God though it wasn’t the best result for the team we keep the focus on the next game,” he wrote on Instagram.

The ex-Arsenal player burst into limelight after captaining the Nigeria U17 team that paraded the likes of Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze to win the 2015 U17 World Cup in Chile.

His inspiring displays earned him the tournament’s Golden Ball ahead of Lille’s Osimhen and Mali’s Aly Malle. Nwakali’s stock rose after joining Arsenal on a five-year deal from Nigeria’s Diamond Football Academy.

After failed loan expeditions at MVV Maastricht, VVV Venlo and Porto B, the youngster was shipped out of the Emirates.