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Kylian Mbappe has been hailed as "an exceptional player who makes the biggest clubs dream" as Paris Saint-Germain attempt to fend off interest in the France star.

The 21-year-old became the first teenager since Pele to score in a World Cup final two years ago, and he has kicked on since helping Les Bleus to that global triumph.

Former France and Manchester United striker Louis Saha says Mbappe is "the most valuable player on Earth", and claims it is only natural clubs such as Real Madrid should be sniffing around.

Mbappe scored 33 goals in Ligue 1 in the 2018-19 season, despite starting just 24 games, and managed 18 in 17 starts before the coronavirus pandemic shortened the 2019-20 campaign.

"He's completely in control of his own destiny," Saha told Stats Perform News.

"He's already a man at his young age. He's very mature, he knows what he wants. He doesn't hide and that's to his credit.

"At his age he manages to defy physics, he goes super fast. Anything we do in the normal way will be different for him, period.

"I think he's an exceptional player who makes the biggest clubs dream, which is normal. He's the most valuable player on Earth.

"So, it's normal for him to dream about things that other people or players wouldn't understand."

Mbappe will naturally want to make the most of his talent, whether in Paris or elsewhere, and Saha points to clubs with recent history of Champions League success as likely holding appeal.

The Real Madrid rumour is one that has persisted the longest, while Liverpool have also been touted as a possible future club for the former Monaco player.

Saha understands why such talk has endured, particularly given Mbappe has just two years remaining on his contract.

"I think that at some point, when you're in a club like Paris which is still developing, which is not at the level of Real, Barca or other clubs like Juventus, inevitably, without disrespect to the club… it will always remain a rumour," he added.

"As long as he doesn't sign [a new contract], it will always remain a rumour. Because he's a great player, he has to deal with it."

Former AS Roma midfielder Ahmed Apimah Barusso reveals he took inspiration from erstwhile Chelsea ace and former international team-mate Michael Essien in reaching the elite stage.

After years in the Italian lower divisions, the former Nania FC man earned his big break in 2007 when he signed for Roma from Serie B side Rimini.

His breakthrough, together with a fine start at Stadio Olimpico, secured him a place in Ghana's squad for the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) where he played together with Essien.

“I was always arguing with my coach at Rimini. He told me I had to break into the national team set up and be like Michael Essien,” Barusso, whose career was weighed down by injuries, told CitiSports.

“Anytime Chelsea was playing that season, he would tell me to stop everything I was doing and watch the game and take notes on Essien’s performance.

”Michael Essien was a very great player at the time, and we played in a similar position.

”I had no choice but to watch because if I wasn’t able to answer his questions the following day, I’d be in trouble."

Essien, currently on the books of Azerbaijani fold Sabail, remains one of the most accomplished Ghanaian footballers.

The 37-year-old won the Ligue 1 title twice during his time with French giants Lyon.

After moving to Chelsea in 2005, he helped the Blues win the league in 2005-06 and 2009-10, lifted the FA Cup four times, the League Cup once, the Community Shield once and the Uefa Champions League in 2011-12.

Ahead of the start of the 2012-13 season, the Ghanaian joined Spanish giants Real Madrid on a season-long loan deal, reuniting with former manager Jose Mourinho.

After the Madrid stint, Essien would return to make five league appearances at Stamford Bridge before joining AC Milan on a permanent deal in 2014.

The Accra-born played for Bastia in France after leaving Ghanaian outfit Liberty Professionals. He was also on the books of Greek outfit Panathinaikos in 2015-16.

At international level, the utility man was among the group that qualified Ghana to their first-ever Fifa World Cup tournament in 2006, going ahead to play at the final tournament.

He also laced his boots for the Black Stars at the 2014 World Cup after missing the 2010 edition due to injury.

Toby Alderweireld has warned Tottenham's opponents that the Londoners are fit and raring to go following the coronavirus lockdown. 

Spurs will restart Premier League action on June 19 at home against Manchester United as normal service is resumed after the three-month hiatus caused by the pandemic. 

The clash could prove crucial in determining the identity of the division's Champions League qualifiers, with United currently occupying fifth place and Spurs trailing by four points back in eighth. 

And while lockdown necessitated a change in each club's training practices, Alderweireld insists that at Spurs at least there was no reduction in intensity. 

“I think we have prepared ourselves in the best way possible,” the Belgium defender explained to talkSPORT.

“People think because we were in lockdown, we were on some sort of holiday, but we weren’t.

“Friday we went in lockdown and Saturday and Sunday we were at home – but on Monday we were straight into zoom sessions and all of the equipment was sent to us at home for our muscles.

“We got the training we needed to keep our tone in the muscles. We had GPS for the running in the park – not easy running, tough running.

“So when we got back to training it was not like a holiday. And when we trained, we trained very hard. Sometimes it’s harder to train one-on-one than with the whole team. I think we are ready to compete.”

The Premier League's announcement that fixtures would resume came less than three weeks prior to the opening matches, but Alderweireld repeated that they have long been prepared to get back out on the pitch.

“You cannot compare [lockdown with pre-season]. We didn’t have a holiday, we just prepare and train by ourselves and we didn’t know when we were playing again," he added.

“Mentally and physically we had to be ready and we were absolutely ready at all time.

“The Premier League could have said that it could be two to three weeks but we knew we had to be ready.

“We just had to prepare ourselves physically and mentally for when the time was right to go back again.”

If you follow Gary Lineker on Twitter, there’s a fair chance you will have seen one of the platform’s more enduring running jokes.

“@GaryLineker shat on _____”.

It has been a favourite of ‘Football Twitter’ for a number of years, long enough ago that many will have seen the gag without knowing its origins.

The story comes from England’s memorable run to the semi-finals of the World Cup at Italia 90.

Sir Bobby Robson’s Three Lions began their campaign with a 1-1 draw against the Republic of Ireland at Cagliari’s Stadio Sant’Elia.

Lineker got the opening goal inside 10 minutes. It was the first of four goals he would score at the tournament following his Golden Boot-winning six at the 1986 World Cup.

However, the former Barcelona forward, playing for Tottenham at the time, became unwell during the match.

He later explained the situation to BBC Radio 5 Live .

"I've never admitted to it, but it's true,” Lineker said.

“It was a World Cup game. It's filmed, I've seen it but unless you know [what was happening] you wouldn't know.

"I was not very well; I was poorly at half-time but I carried on.

"The ball went down the left-hand side. I did try to tackle someone, I stretched and then I relaxed myself.

“I was very fortunate it rained that night and I could do something about it. It was messy, it just came out, it happened. How much detail do you want?

"It's true; it was the opening game of the 1990 World Cup against the Republic of Ireland.

“You can see me rubbing the ground like a dog; it was the most horrendous experience of my life, but I tell you I never found so much space in a game than I did that night after that happened."

Somewhat admirably, Lineker played on until the 83rd minute, when he was put out of his misery and replaced by Wolves icon Steve Bull.

Luckily for Lineker, it would not prove the most memorable image of his from the tournament.

After England had gotten past Belgium and Cameroon, they were eliminated by eventual winners West Germany on penalties in the semi-final in Turin.

Star man Paul Gascoigne was booked in that game, meaning he would have missed the final if England had qualified.

The image of Lineker signalling his concern to the bench as Gascoigne fumed in the background has become one of the most iconic in England’s footballing history.

Sven-Goran Eriksson has urged Raheem Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne to stay at Manchester City and resist the temptation of Real Madrid.

City this week made their case in an appeal against a two-year ban from UEFA competition, after being found to have breached Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules.

The outcome of that challenge at the Court of Arbitration for Sport is reportedly not expected until July, by which time City's reign as Premier League champions is likely to have been ended by Liverpool.

If City are forced to miss two Champions League campaigns, such a blow could tempt their top players to look elsewhere. Madrid have been frequently linked with forward Sterling, while De Bruyne has hinted he would consider his future if the two-season ban was upheld.

Former City and England manager Eriksson says Sterling and playmaker De Bruyne can choose their own destiny, but cautioned that they are already playing at the highest level in domestic club football.

“Well, they will play for Real Madrid if they want to do it, but I would be disappointed," Eriksson told Stats Perform News. "I don't know - I really hope they stay in England. When you look at it so far, and for many years now, the Premier League is the best league in the world, no doubts about that - most popular, the best league to see.

"Other leagues are good, but how many people are looking at Spanish football if it's not Barcelona or Real Madrid, maybe Atletico Madrid? I don't think many.

"Bundesliga, it's a little bit the same if [Borussia] Dortmund's not playing, if Bayern [Munich] is not playing, are you sitting looking at it? In England it's different because any team can beat any other team. It's good football and it's always a fight, a good fight in England."

To lose Sterling, De Bruyne, or both, would be a huge setback for City on the pitch, but Eriksson knows Pep Guardiola is just as important to the four-time Premier League winners.

Manager Guardiola has a year left on his City contract and has not ruled out signing an extension.

The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss appears likely to at least see out his current deal, having this week brought in his mentor Juanma Lillo as a new assistant coach, but much could still happen to change that.

"Of course it's important," Eriksson said of the Spaniard's future. "He's considered one of the best, if not the best coach in the world. He has been so for a long time.

"To lose him before the contract finishes would be bad for Manchester City: bad for the fans, bad for the players, bad for the club. Not sending out a good message. I hope they will do everything to try to keep him at least until the contract finishes."

Bengaluru FC and India international forward Sunil Chhetri believes it is important for the country to host major football tournaments like the FIFA U-17 World Cup and AFC Asian Cup.

After having successfully hosted the U-17 Men's World Cup in 2017, India are once against set to host the U-17 Women's World Cup in February 2021.

During a Facebook Live chat on the Indian Football Team page, the Bengaluru star commented on how playing the World Cup will help the young Indian girls.

“It’s massive. We already saw what it did to the country after hosting the U-17 World Cup for the boys. The young boys are so confident now. It is because of the exposure they got - they played matches against the top teams in the world. I am pretty sure this will happen to the girls also. It sets the bar. We have to keep getting these tournaments and AIFF are working so hard to get these tournaments.

“Today when I talk to Suresh (Wangjam) I don’t have to tell him much, he knows a lot. He has already made a mark. Players like Amarjit (Kiyam), Rahul (KP), they are also doing really well. I am really looking forward to watching the U17 World Cup.”

India will also host the Women’s AFC Asian Cup in 2022 and the Indian skipper is excited about the kind of exposure the Women’s team will get by playing in a tournament of global reputation.

“The Women’s Asian Cup is a massive opportunity. I know the feeling when you play against the top teams in Asia. That’s where you want to be as a footballer.”

Chhetri also had a word of advice for the Women’s team which will take part in the Asian Cup in 2022.

“The advice is that girls start training from now. I know there is time but start preparing from now. It’s going to be at a different level. So make sure you keep no stones unturned while preparing. The suggestion is to enjoy on the pitch.”

The Bafana Bafana international was heavily linked with SuperSport's Tshwane rivals, Mamelodi Sundowns during the January 2020 transfer window.

However, Sundowns head coach Pitso Mosimane confirmed that they had cooled off their interest in the player shortly before Modiba signed a new deal with Matsatsantsa last February.

Prior to that, SuperSport's chief executive officer Stanley Matthews had made it clear that the defender-come-midfielder was not for sale.

The three-time Premier Soccer League (PSL) champions seem to have softened their stance about losing the highly-rated player.

“Aubrey has a buyout clause. If somebody comes and meets the requirements they will own Aubrey Modiba,” Matthews told IOL.

Modiba scored in the team's last match which was the 2-0 victory over Highlands Park in a PSL clash at Makhulong Stadium on March 8.

The current season was then suspended indefinitely due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Matthews suggested that there may have some enquiries about Modiba, whose new deal with the club will expire at the end of the 2023/24 season.

“If they want the player they will come and get him. I am ready for that and they know the price, so there’s nothing to discuss," he added.

“Even after I renewed his contract, there’s still interest in Modiba. I renewed Jeremy Brockie’s contract and the interest got higher. Renewing doesn’t mean anything."

Modiba has confirmed Sundowns' interest in his services earlier this season, but he made it known that he was happy at SuperSport at the time.

The former South Africa under-23 international, who can operate as a left-back and left-winger, has netted five goals in 14 league appearances for Matsatsantsa this season.

The man also known as Postman helped coach Kaitano Tembo's side clinch the 2019 MTN8 having started three matches in the competition.

Since joining the Tshwane giants from Cape Town City in 2016, Modiba has lifted two MTN8 trophies and Nedbank Cup.

Postman also helped SuperSport reach the 2017 Caf Confederation Cup final where they were narrowly defeated by DR Congolese giants TP Mazembe.

He made 12 appearances in the second-tier competition of African club football and scored once in the process.

Former Manchester City No. 2 Mikel Arteta is looking forward to his return to the Etihad Stadium, although the absence of fans will make it a bittersweet experience for the Arsenal boss. 

Arteta left City at the end of 2019 after more than three years working as Pep Guardiola's right-hand man in order to take up the vacant Gunners job. 

Results were initially disappointing, but there were signs that Arteta and Arsenal had turned a corner having won four of their last five games in all competitions prior to the interruption to activities caused by coronavirus. 

Now, as fate would have it, the Londoners resume their Premier League campaign at none other than Arteta's former employers and behind closed doors - a prospect that gives the manager mixed feelings. 

"It is going to be strange, I can't deny that. I know everybody there and spent four magnificent years with those players and staff," he explained to Sky Sports. 

"I am really excited as well, I can't wait to start competing again and doing what we love most which is to play football. It is going to be very special for me and I am looking forward to it."

City have lost just two games all season at the Etihad, but early evidence from the Bundesliga suggests that home advantage has been lessened due to the empty stands. Arteta certainly hopes that will be the case, with June 17's clash against Pep's charges the first of four consecutive matches on the road for Arsenal. 

"We have got a good measure with what is happening in the Bundesliga at the moment," Arteta said. "I hope it is going to help.

"Football is about passion and energy and when you lose that, it is balanced much more, but I know how strong they are and what they are able to do if they are all switched on so we have to be well prepared to go there and win the game.

"It better be right that playing away is an advantage because we are away four times in a row."

Arsenal currently sit in ninth place in the Premier League standings, but fifth-placed Manchester United are just five points ahead in what will be the final Champions League qualifying spot should City's ongoing appeal against their ban fail to prosper.

Ever wondered who Indian football legend Sunil Chhetri idolised while growing up? Well, the Bengaluru FC forward answered that question while speaking in a Facebook live session in the Indian football team page on Thursday.

Chhetri said, “I idolised IM Vijayan and Krisanu Dey when I started watching football. After that, it was Bhaichung Bhutia in India and Brazilian Ronaldo abroad. After that, it kept changing.”

Chhetri also spoke about his experience of sharing a dressing room with his idol Bhutia in his first year at Mohun Bagan.

“I remember I had a chat with Bhaichung when I was in Mohun Bagan, my debut season. He came back from Bury. I used to ask him how you do it because he was the most prominent figure in Indian football. He was huge. He told me that don’t worry, you won't even know how time passes by and you will be there. Now when I get a congratulatory message from him for completing 15 years it feels special.”

About Bhutia’s influence on his career, Chhetri said, “Before I speak about his influence I must tell that the first match I played, he wasn’t there. I think he was injured. So probably that was the reason why I got a chance to be in the team. Venkatesh was my captain.

“The influence of Bhaichung is immense. I remember when I was in the ninth or 10th standard we went to watch the Durand Cup in Delhi. Bhaichung was there. We just wanted to touch them. I signed for Mohun Bagan and then I got the news that Bhaichung also joined the club. The first day he met me he told me that I have heard about you and you are doing well. I told everyone in my family and friends that Bhaichung told me that.

“From there to sharing dressing rooms with him for the club and the country is a huge thing. I learned a lot from him. Not only him, but the other senior players also inspired me.”

Takumi Minamino was among the goalscorers as Liverpool stepped up their preparations for the Premier League restart with a 6-0 friendly win over Blackburn.

The Japanese forward was in good form as Jurgen Klopp’s side recorded a comprehensive victory at Anfield on Thursday afternoon.

Minamino had already created a goal for Naby Keita before he swept home a Sadio Mane cross to give the Reds a 3-0 half-time lead.

Mane had opened the scoring early on, following up to finish after Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s shot had been saved by Rovers keeper Christian Walton. 

Keita stabbed home the second after being squared the ball by Minamino, who was played through by James Milner following slick build-up play started from the back by Virgil van Dijk.

Blackburn struggled to make chances, striker Sam Gallagher denied by Alisson before Joel Matip made it 4-0 midway through the second half by tapping in a Roberto Firmino header, and Ki-Jana Hoever added a quickfire fifth before another youngster, Leighton Clarkson, rounded off the scoring with a fine late strike.

Ben Brereton came closest for the visitors in the second half, shooting just wide of substitute goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher’s post.

Klopp took the chance to utilise much of his first-team squad, although it is understood that neither Mo Salah nor Andy Robertson were involved, while Firmino was one of seven second-half substitutes, setting up Matip for his goal.

A host of younger players featured after the break, with Jake Cain and Kelleher both given minutes along with Dutch defender Hoever and the diminutive midfielder Clarkson.

Liverpool are expected to play at least one more friendly before they resume their league campaign away at Everton a week on Sunday. The Reds are currently 25 points clear at the top of the Premier League, and need just six more points to be crowned champions for the first time since 1990.

They could be crowned league winners on Sunday by winning the match away to their local rivals, if reigning champions Manchester City lose to Arsenal on June 17, in one of the first two Premier League fixtures played following the coronavirus-enforced break.

La Liga chief Javier Tebas is looking forward to the resumption of activities in the Spanish top-flight, but he had stern words for the players who have been caught flouting coronavirus lockdown and distancing rules. 

Barcelona's Nelson Semedo became the latest star to break protocols this week after attending a birthday party that surpassed the limit for social gatherings set by the Spanish government. 

Previously a host of Sevilla stars including Argentine trio Ever Banega, Lucas Ocampos and Franco Vazquez faced criticism after posing for a photo following a barbecue, which was also attended by more than 10 guests. 

Luka Jovic of Real Madrid similarly broke quarantine regulations by leaving Madrid in order to celebrate his girlfriend's birthday in Belgrade, and returned to Merengue training with a broken foot. 

La Liga kicks off on Thursday with a Seville derby between Sevilla and Betis and Tebas wants players to behave themselves - or else face lockdown measures between games in order to preserve safety measures.

"We hope we don't have to reach that extreme, but if players cannot stop going to barbecues or parties, we will not have a choice," the Liga boss told reporters about the possibility of confining players to club training centres until the season is completed.

"We have shown trust in the players, so please pay back that trust and do not break it. Breaking the rules does not only damage La Liga, but people's health in general." 

On a more positive note, Tebas expressed his hope that the empty stadiums that will welcome the Primera Division back this weekend will eventually give way to limited crowds attending matches. 

“If we can get 10% or 15% [of the capacity], we would be happy,” he added. “The pandemic is on a sharp decline. The return to stadiums would have to be coordinated by the ministry for health and the Sports Council, and it is obviously not going to be the whole stadium.

"If we can get 10%, 15% this season we would be very happy. It would be part of that ‘normality’; it is important that fans start to return.”

Former Asante Kotoko centre-back Gabriel Issah Ahmed believes Ghana Premier League clubs have a responsibility to up their game to improve the patronage of the championship.

The common belief on the local scene is that match attendance numbers have significantly dropped in recent times, a phenomenon partly attributed to the exodus of players abroad each season.

With matchday revenue the most viable traditional source of income in Ghana, clubs have been left ruing the decline in match proceeds.

“It will be very hard for me to advise any player right now, I wouldn’t ask any player to stick to a [Ghanaian] club when he gets a chance to move outside," Ahmed told GTV Sports Plus.

"I am not talking about Kotoko, I am talking about a general issue. If we want our league to be much better and pull out crowds like we did from the ’90s to the 2000’s, then players need to be paid better and then they must be kept for a long time in the country.

"That is where supporters will have belief in them [players] to come to the stadium and watch them.

“If you look at our days, Hearts of Oak supporters coming to the stadium knew they had somebody like Adjah Tetteh, Don Bortey, they had a whole lot of players.

"Same thing as Kotoko. A fan coming to the stadium knew he was coming to watch Yusif Chibsah, he knew he was going to watch Charles Taylor, Issah Ahmed, Stephen Oduro. The names go on and on and that was what we had during our time.”

The financial woes of clubs have been undoubtedly heightened by the coronavirus pandemic which has resulted in a temporary suspension of the Premier League since March.

The competition was at the Matchweek 15 stage when it grounded to a halt.

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) and the Ghana League Clubs Association (Ghalca) resorted to the Government of Ghana for support but mission proved futile.

Issah Ahmed, 38, was a member of Ghana's squad at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

After the tournament, he left Kotoko for Danish side Renders. 

Asante Kotoko skipper Felix Annan believes the club's directive to stay off the transfer market for a year is not cast in stone. 

At a first meeting of a new board of the Kumasi-based side earlier this week, it was announced club life patron Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has instructed the outfit against signing any new players.

The order has been greeted with mixed reactions by the Porcupine Warriors fraternity. 

"We are just players and we are here to do our job, and cope with the directives that come from the hierarchy of the club," Annan told Kotoko Express App.

"I do agree with the directive because consistency is good for team building. It will be good for us if we have a consistent team.

"However, if there is the need to augment the squad with one or two players, I think that will not be a big problem. Buying too many players does not help in having the cohesion the team deserves.

"But the one or two additions, If needed, I think the board can discuss that with Otumfuo because in football, you can’t predict when an injury will occur.

"However, I agree with the King's idea because we need to be able to keep a group for a long time.

"Moreover, as players, we are ready to give our best to achieve whatever we want to achieve together."

Kotoko are arguably Ghana's biggest club and the most successful in the history of the Premier League with 23 titles. 

The last of their trophies came in 2014. The side has also won the Ghana FA Cup on nine occasions and the Super Cup three times.

On the continental level, they ruled Africa in 1970 and 1983.

Kotoko's new nine-member Kotoko board was announced last month. 

The unit is led by Kwame Kyei, who has been at the helm of affairs for the last three years. 

Jude Arthur (Board Chairman for Ghana Commercial Bank), Kwadwo Boateng Gyamfi (Board Chairman Ghana EXIM Bank), Kwasi Osei Ofori (Chairman Erdmark Group/ CEO Rocksure Mining Ltd), Lawyer Kwamina Mensah (Corporate Lawyer), Alhaji Lamine (Businessman), Joseph Yaw Adu (Retired Director of Sports at Kwame Nkrumah University Science and Technology), Baffour Kwame Kusi (Otumfuo's Ankobeahene), and Evelyn Nsiah Asare (Acting Head of Sports at Sunyani Technical University) complete the board. 

This season, Kotoko sit third on the league table, the championship having been at a standstill since March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Granada defensive midfielder Ramon Azeez has expressed his delight with the restart of La Liga and is keen to play again.  

The Spanish top-flight has been put on hold since mid-March owing to the coronavirus outbreak which is still wreaking havoc around the world.

The league will, however, resume on June 11 as safety measures have been put in place with games set to be played behind closed doors, thus, becoming the second European top-flight to resume after the Bundesliga.

Granada are ninth on the league table with 38 points from 27 games and will take on fifth-placed Getafe, who will be expected to parade Nigeria’s Oghenekaro Etebo on Friday.

Azeez has been a consistent performer for Diego Martínez’s men in this campaign and he is eager to get back to action to continue from where he stopped before the outbreak of Covid-19.

“I’m so glad to be back on the pitch again and I can’t wait. It has been weeks of uncertainties due to the lockdown and the virus’s continuous spread but I am glad we are back at it,” Azeez told AOI .

Azeez has spent the majority of his professional career in Spain, joining Almeria in 2011 and went on to spend six years with the side.

In the summer of 2017, the midfielder moved to Lugo before teaming up with Granada last year and helped the Nazaries secure promotion to La Liga.

The Super Eagles player has made 21 appearances across all competitions for the Nuevo Los Carmenes outfit in this campaign and feels the Spanish top-flight is one of the best leagues in the world.

“Football in Spain is top notch and of high quality. If one can successfully play in La Liga, I think it will be safe to say you can play anywhere else in the world,” he added.

Azeez’ impressive performances for Granada recently earned him a recall to the Super Eagles, after he was shut out of the team for five years.

The midfielder has six caps for Nigeria and was part of the invited players to take on Sierra Leone in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying game before its suspension due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Azeez will hope to continue his consistent showings for his club as they aim to secure a place in Europe next season.

FIFA has confirmed that it will allow the transfer window to open before the end of the delayed 2019-20 season in order to aid clubs during the coronavirus pandemic.

The disease and the resulting interruption to football activities has hit clubs hard across the world, as well as creating huge uncertainty over the future. 

Thousands of players' contracts expire in June, leaving them officially free agents despite the restart of activities that began in May with the Bundesliga. 

Another area of uncertainty concerned the coming window, with clubs unclear over whether new signings would be eligible to feature in the remaining fixtures of 2019-20. 

FIFA has thus moved to offer clarity over the situation with new guidelines for both affected parties this summer, explaining that registration of new players would be permitted ahead of the current season's close.

A statement released by the world governing body on Thursday explained: "In order to avoid any concerns regarding unemployed players, players are permitted to be registered with a maximum of three clubs and are eligible to play in official matches for three clubs during the same season.

"In order to give priority to clubs to complete their 2019-20 season with their original squad, provide flexibility, and allow associations to properly plan their football calendar, those associations following a dual-year calendar are permitted to commence the “first registration period” for the 2020-21 season prior to the completion of the 2019-20 season, subject to certain conditions.

"In order to provide financial relief to parties involved in disputes before FIFA, for any claim lodged between 10 June 2020 and 31 December 2020 (both inclusive), there will be no requirement to pay an advance of costs and no procedural costs shall be ordered.

"For any claim lodged prior to 10 June 2020 which has yet to be decided, the maximum amount of the procedural costs shall be equivalent to any advance of costs paid."

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters has already said England’s top flight will not allow clubs to sign players before July 25, after the delayed campaign is brought to an end. Most European leagues have similar plans in place.

Fifa also announced that players would be allowed to play for up to three clubs – rather than the usual two – during the same season.

Simba SC captain John Bocco has assessed their Vodacom Premier League (VPL) readiness and reveals the focus is now on the Ruvu Shooting match.

The tie will be the first of the Wekundu wa Msimbazi who are keen to retain the title. Although Bocco is aware of the challenge ahead, he says they will fight to defend the VPL title and try to do better in domestic cup assignments.

“Our minds are now focused on the first meeting but what I know is that the league is going to be very tough given the kind of preparations teams have undertaken,” Bocco told the club's portal.

“We are all thinking about the Ruvu Shooting tie where we will need to win in order to put ourselves in an even better position to defend the league title.

“The coaches are working extra hard to make sure we will be ready by then even as our focus is to defend the league title and do better in FA Cup ties.”

Meanwhile, coach Sven Vandenbroeck has revealed his satisfaction by how his players are training ahead of the league resumption. Simba have played two friendly matches so far against Transit Camp and KMC FC and won all the encounters.

“I am satisfied with the level of my players during training, they are motivated and are working according to how we want them to,” Vandenbroeck told the club's portal.

“I have assessed how the team played and they did what they were asked to and the outcome from the two friendlies is something I can say I was satisfied with.”

Finally, Simba will have to face Ruvu Shooting without their defensive midfielder Jonas Mkude. Vandenbroeck could be forced to field either Gerosn Fraga or Mzamiru Yassin after Mkude's injury.

“I do not know for how long I am going to miss him [Mkude] as I am waiting for the doctors' reports on the severity of the injury,” the Belgian tactician told Mwanaspoti.

“Surely, I cannot see him playing against Ruvu Shooting.

“Seeing how he reacted to the injury what I can say is we would just need to wait for the doctors to reveal the extent of the injury and what kind of recovery measures ought to be taken so that he can recover fast.

“Though I am ailing, I am thankful to God that I have started undergoing the initial treatment as I await to know the exact seriousness of the injury and what medication will be prescribed,” Mkude told Mwanaspoti.

Simba have been training at Mo Simba Arena for a couple of weeks now.