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Cardiff City manager Neil Harris has revealed Sol Bamba is ‘fine’ and ready for the restart of the Championship.

The centre-back has been a consistent performer for the Bluebirds since joining the side in 2016 before he suffered a ligament injury in March 2019.

The injury ruled him out from action from the remaining part of the 2018-19 season as his side failed in their quest to remain in the Premier League.

Bamba returned from the problem in November but has only played four times in the Championship against Birmingham City, Sheffield Wednesday, Queens Park Rangers and West Bromwich Albion before the outbreak of Covid-19.

Ahead of the resumption of the English second-tier this June, Harris believes the Bluebirds can benefit from the experience of the 35-year-old.

"Sol is fine. He has done every session, we are really pleased. We appreciate he is not getting any younger in years,” Haris was quoted as saying by BBC Sports.

"He is doing everything the players do, but you don't expect Sol Bamba to run with a player like Dion Sanderson, for example, who is 14 or 15 years younger.

"We have to be respectful of players who are at different levels and ages. But Sol has trained every session and has been great around the pitches, as ever."

Cardiff are currently ninth in the Championship table with 54 points from 37 games, two points below the play-off spot.

Bamba is not short of experience to help the side back to the Premier League, having played for Paris Saint-Germain, Dunfermline Athletic and Scottish side Hibernian.

The defender also featured for Leicester City, Trabzonspor, Palermo and Leeds United before joining Cardiff in 2016.

On the international scene, he has made 46 appearances for Ivory Coast and was part of the team that reached the final of the Africa Cup of Nations in 2012.

The centre-back played for the Elephants at the 2010 and 2014 World Cups in South Africa and Brazil respectively.

He has made 104 league appearances for Cardiff since making his debut against Bristol City in October 2016 and will hope to continue to play his part for the side.

Fiorentina midfielder Alfred Duncan has taken to social media to share his thoughts on the ongoing protests on racism in the world.

The protests came about after an American, George Floyd passed away in the city of Minneapolis after a police officer knelt on his neck for several minutes, before passing away in hospital.

Thousands of people in not only American cities but all over the world have gathered to call for an end to police brutality.

A host of African footballers including Duncan's countrymen Kevin-Prince Boateng, Thomas Partey and Michael Essien have all stood in solidarity for Floyd and all those who have been subject to racism.

"I have been a victim in many occasions, humiliated, insulted and ignored by even the people next to me," Duncan said in an Instagram post.

"I know and I need no reminder that I’m black and I’m more than proud of who and what I am! People tend to forget we were made from dust and so shall we all end up.

"Nobody is born racist so it’s a matter of education from parents since it starts from home. I will never feel inferior to anybody anyway nor for any reason!!! We are all human and that’s the race I know.

"Following a trending black post on social media doesn’t make you a non-racist...I won’t allow anyone to abuse me since I don’t abuse anyone so I urge my fellow brothers to be strong because anybody who tries to bring you down is already below you.

"Hate is a disease that has no cure! I’m human and I love being me."

Racism is very rife in football with players such as Kalidou Koulibaly, Boateng, Jeremie Boga, Franck Kessie all targeted, leading to calls for tougher punishment for culpable offenders.

Duncan is on loan at Fiorentina from Sassuolo.

The 27-year old Ghana international joined in January while nursing a hamstring injury, but did recover and made three starts against Sampdoria, AC Milan and Udinese, playing 90 minutes in the latter two before the Serie A was halted because of the coronavirus pandemic in March.

However, with a return to league fixtures confirmed, Duncan will hope to be part of the Viola starting XI when they welcome Brescia to the Artemio Franchi on June 22.

Adama Traore has been linked with a move to Liverpool but his former manager Tony Pulis thinks he should "settle down" at Wolves and aim for the Spain squad.

Barcelona youth product Traore has enjoyed a fantastic 2019-20 at Wolves, where he has scored four goals and supplied seven assists in the Premier League while playing primarily as a wing-back under Nuno Espirito Santo.

The 24-year-old, with whom Pulis retains a good relationship following their time together at Middlesbrough, is reportedly wanted by league leaders Liverpool, plus Manchester City and Manchester United.

Former Stoke City boss Pulis believes Traore should be looking to lay down roots at Molineux and focus on breaking into the Spain set-up ahead of Euro 2020, which will be held next year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Pulis told Stats Perform News: "I think Adama always had the ability to play. The big thing was his confidence. I think I probably caught him at the right time. He had gone and worked for a few managers who weren't enamoured enough to play him on a regular basis.

"I obviously knew him as a West Brom manager watching [Aston] Villa, watched him in the reserves a few times. His pace and balance was just extraordinary.

"Going to Middlesbrough, he wasn't in the team when I got there but I wanted to make him a focal point of the team. We did that and the biggest thing with him is that he grew in confidence and he started to believe in himself.

"I made him my best friend. He used to come in and make me a cup of coffee after lunch and we would sit down and watch videos. He became a friend and he knew he'd be first pick on the team sheet. And the team understood what we could get from him and what we couldn't. Having said that, as the season progressed, he learned the other side of the game [defensive] well as well.

"You meet people in life who are really, really good people, and Adama is a really good person. You hope and pray those people get everything out of life that they possibly can.

"He's gone to Wolves - we didn't want to get rid of him at Middlesbrough, but the only problem was the finances… He went to the right club, stepped up and has murdered it.

"I think he can only get better. His temperament and personality is first class. His next step, I speak to him now and then, his next step is to get a place in the Spanish side.

"I'll be quite content for him, and I said this to him, to settle down. He seems happy at Wolves. He's playing under a manager that's confident with him and gives the respect Adama needs.

"But Adama's big challenge is seeing if he can get a place in the Spanish team and keep it."

During his time at the Riverside, Pulis did not enjoy the same sort of relationship with striker Martin Braithwaite, whom he is surprised to see now playing at LaLiga champions Barcelona.

"He was completely different to Adama in personality. Different traits as a player. I never thought Braithwaite wanted to be at Middlesbrough although he signed a contract," said Pulis.

"He spent more time telling me that he wanted to leave than be at the club. In the end I hope and pray that the club got a good price for him because they paid a lot for him. They certainly paid him an enormous amount of money wages-wise, it was just extraordinary.

"Am I surprised he's gone to Barcelona? Yes. Is he playing every week? I don't know. Is he going to play every week? I don't know. Was he my cup of tea? Adama was. Braithwaite wasn't."

Azam FC coach Aristica Cioba has confessed the absence of seven key players from his squad will greatly affect the team’s performances when the Mainland Premier League resumes.

The Tanzanian top-flight will resume on June 13 after it was given the green light by President John Pombe Magufuli but with three days to go, Azam are yet to get their foreign players in camp owing to lockdowns occasioned by the coronavirus pandemic in their respective countries.

While Cioba managed to navigate his way from Romania, where he had to travel via bus to Germany before connecting a flight to Tanzania via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the absence of players has left him scratching his head with three days remaining to the league's resumption.

The Azam players not in Dar es Salaam include Ghanaian trio of Razak Abalora, Dan Amoa and Yakubu Mohamed, Nicolas Wadada (of Uganda), and three players in Zimbabwe - Never Tigere, Bruce Kangwa and Donald Ngoma.

“It will be difficult for us to win matches without our key players, which includes our number one goalkeeper,” Cioba told reporters after the team’s training session on Tuesday.

“[It is] tough to get the players to Tanzania because most of the countries are still under lockdown owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, and now what I can do is promote players from our B team and sharpen them ahead of the season restart.

“I have already started planning without them [the seven players], I don’t think they will be able to make it here in time for the first matches, it is a huge headache for me, but something coaches have to go through.

“The players I have promoted from team B will need another two weeks to get rhythm but all in all we will fight with them and make sure we get a good start and win our matches.”

Meanwhile, Cioba will offer the chance to test new players when they host KMC in a friendly at Azam Complex on Wednesday.

The friendly had been cancelled after TFF suspended build-up matches but after a meeting with clubs, it has been allowed to start and will kick-off at 7 pm.

Azam, who are sitting second on the league table behind leaders Simba SC are also in the domestic cup where they have been drawn to Wekundu wa Msimbazi in the quarter-finals.

The ‘Ice-Cream Makers’ will open their league campaign with a home match against Mbao FC on June 14.

Cape Town City midfielder Thabo Nodada says coach Jan Olde Riekerink has done an excellent job so far, saying they were starting to do better in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) after the Christmas break.

The Citizens' nippy midfielder has credited the Dutch manager for keeping his calm despite taking over a team that was bruised, singling out his sense of humour.

Nodada looks at former coach Benni McCarthy’s axing as one of the reasons why the 57-year-old boss came to a tough environment, saying replacing a coach that was trusted by the players wasn’t going to be easy.

“He is coming into a team that is bruised, he came into a team that had lost a coach that had an understanding, the belief and trust with 90 to 100% of his players and losing a coach like that is obviously going to have certain disadvantages to the team and our results showed that,” Nodada told the South African Football Journalists Association.

“The jokes were just interesting you know, humour that you don’t normally get from someone who is in a position of fire.

“He kept a cool head and didn’t try to tweak a lot of the things that we were already doing. I think he understood that at the time he arrived we were already active there is no pre-season.”

After parting ways with the former Bafana Bafana striker in the middle of the season, the 25-year-old has added that Riekerink was smart to ensure he builds relationships with his players as soon as possible.

“And he’s going to have to try as quickly as possible to develop relationships with players and get players on his side and working for him,” added the midfielder.

“I think if you look at how we came back from December and how we started January, I think that was a team that was much different from the team that was there a couple of games after Benni [McCarthy] left.

“So, yeah, I think he’s been doing a great job so far, and if the results were different I think we would be speaking something different.”

The former MTN8 champions axed the 2003/04 Uefa Champions League winner when the club was languishing at 13th on the log table after nine games back in November.

However, they now sit 10th on the table as they look to finish in the top-eight with 27 points just before the season was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic in March.

Nordsjaelland youth coach and former Ghana international Laryea Kingston has confirmed club prodigy Mohammed Kudus is on the radar of “most of the big European clubs” but he prefers a possible move to Liverpool for the 19-year-old.

The attacker has been linked to a host of ‘big boys’ including Borussia Dortmund, Tottenham Hotspur and Inter Milan, owing to his fine performances in the Danish elite division.

French fold Olympique Marseille, Italian side Sampdoria and the English duo of Everton and Newcastle United have also been mentioned in the transfer rumour mill.

“At our team FCN [FC Nordsjaelland], Kudus is one of the important players and the head coach wants to build the team around him. Most of the games that he’s played, he did very well. And now most of the big European clubs are chasing him, so it’s good for him and it’s good for the country as well,” Kingston told Goal.

“The only thing is he should consider a club where he feels he could play week in week out. He’s young, so when he goes and he’s playing, it’s going to build his confidence but when he goes and he doesn’t get playing time, that’s when his confidence goes down and his performance will drop.

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

“I will prefer Everton but if Liverpool comes in, they are a big club with guaranteed Champions League football, I think that [Liverpool] will help him a lot more than he will get at the other two clubs [Everton and Newcastle]. If I am in his shoes and I’m to pick between Liverpool, Everton and Newcastle, I know it’s going to be tough at Liverpool but I will choose Liverpool. Liverpool may already have a lot of good players at his position but so long as they want him, then they know what they want to do with him.”

Kudus joined Nordsjaelland from Ghanaian feeder club Right to Dream Academy.

Although traditionally a midfielder, the attacker’s knack for goals has seen him moved to advanced roles on the pitch, leading to debates about his best position.

So far this season, the Accra-born has made 21 league appearances involving 18 starts, nine goals and one assist.

“We have our style of play. Sometimes when people sitting back watch, they say he [Kudus] is playing very deep but he doesn’t play very deep,” Kingston explained.

“We play with a false-9 sometimes and always I see him at that role. Our wide players don’t usually stay on the line like you see with Mane and Salah at Liverpool. Any time you see our wide players at wide positions, then it is when we are defending and are deep in our half. In the attacking third, you see them very narrow, going close to the false-9 which is mostly Kudus.

“Kudus’ role is like a No.10 but he drops to the midfield to pick the ball and drive up. The moment the ball goes to the wide areas, you see him making runs into the 18-yard box. So I don’t see him playing very deep.

“If you are not part of the FCN or Right to Dream staff, you may not understand our style of play. It’s a little bit different, 4-3-3 but sometimes the way the players stand on the pitch is very different. But Kudus is a No.10 player.”

After representing Ghana at U17 and U20 levels, Kudus announced his arrival at senior stage in style as he netted on his debut against South Africa in November last year.

“Kudus is a very good inclusion to the Ghana national team. I have known him since he was about 12-years-old at Right to Dream and his style has not changed at all,” Kingston added.

“When he is on the pitch, he always wants to give everything. I see him putting up very good performances with the national team. When the Dede Ayews and the Jordan Ayews leave the national team, he is someone that every coach will love to build a team around.”

Ugandan Premier League (UPL) side Express FC have reached an agreement to bring back midfielder Geoffrey Lwesibawa.

Lwesibawa, who is returning to Wankulukuku for another stint from Tooro United FC, has penned a two-year deal that has delighted coach Wasswa Bbosa.

"Lwesibawa is a good player,” Bbosa is quoted by New Vision. “He is not my brother that I like moving with him but he is someone who adds something to the team.

“He started at Express but above all, every coach has players who believe in him and vice versa, and the most talented, ambitious, and creative players are on our list and are yet to join us.”

Interestingly, Lwesibawa has turned out for all teams handled by Bbosa in the Ugandan top-flight including SC Villa and Tooro United.

He becomes the first signing for coach Bbosa, who in a recent interview, revealed a daunting task had been placed on his shoulders after being confirmed as the club's permanent coach.

According to Bbosa, who joined the Red Eagles in February on an interim basis replacing fired George Ssimwogerere, the club bosses have demanded he delivers the UPL trophy in the next three years.

“My bosses want me to deliver the title in the time they have given me and I believe it is very possible. We are going to start by recruiting about 12 players, some of whom I have already identified,” Bbosa told reporters after being confirmed on a permanent basis.

“We can’t compete with Vipers SC, KCCA FC and URA FC on star players but I’ll bring competent players to make Express rise again.”

However, Bbosa believes the objectives of the club, which he helped avoid relegation this term after helping them to finish ninth on the league table, can be achieved in three years.

“The first year will be for rebuilding, the second, we will go for the title and the third will be a real business. With my favoured 4-3-3 counter-attacking formation and with right players, expect Express to be back,” Bbosa further said.

Looking at their reputation, Express are six-time champions of the league, with 10 Uganda Cup titles.

Mainz have published an exchange with a fan who cancelled his membership because of the presence of black players in the team.

While protests against racism and police brutality have swept the United States and various countries across the world in response to the murder of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis, several Bundesliga players have expressed solidarity with demonstrators on the field.

As tensions remain high, Mainz received a message from a supporter complaining about the multi-racial make-up of the squad and arguing German players are being denied a chance.

"For several months now I have been unable to identify myself with this club (professional football)! I’ve since gotten the impression that I’m at the Africa Cup, instead of in the German Bundesliga. I know what’s coming, but no – I’m not racist in any way. I resent that. But, too much is enough," Mainz quoted the fan as saying.

"But when the starting line-up for the past weeks has featured nine (!!!) Black players and German talents are being given fewer and fewer chances of their own, then this is no longer the club that has been near and dear to my heart over all these years."

However, Mainz replied to inform the now former member that they are happy to cut ties with a racist and stated their conduct goes against the club's mission statement.

The response read: "While we usually regret to hear of anyone wanting to cancel their membership and fight passionately for each of our members, in this instance we cannot begin to express any regret.

"Racism is born when racist thoughts are spread, not only when someone calls themselves a racist – something which rarely happens.

"And yes, you are right: you cannot identify yourself with our club. For us, skin colour or any other characteristics simply do not play a role. All that matters to us, is that someone is human and that they share in our values.

"Those are the kinds of people we welcome in our community. In light of this, we welcome your cancellation as the reasons you’ve given clearly prove that you do not share those values that our club is based on.

"Our position is clearly defined in our statutes and in our mission statement, which was developed in partnership with our fans and members."

Hearts of Oak skipper Mohammed Fatawu has set his sights on leading the club to end their long wait for a major title.

The Phobians have not laid their hands on a trophy since winning the Ghana Premier League title eleven years ago.

The second most successful club in the history of the domestic top-flight, the Accra-based side have clinched the league title on 19 occasions.

“It has been long since we won a major trophy and as captain of this great club, I feel the pain of the fans who in diverse ways have supported us all this while," Fatawu told his club's official website.

“I challenge myself to end this drought and together with my colleagues, we are constantly working hard to put smiles on the faces of the fans.

“There is enough talent at the club to see us through and we cannot wait for football to resume in Ghana after the coronavirus pandemic.

“I look forward to the day when I will lift a trophy and dedicate it to the fans for being with us through these trying moments and, together we will all celebrate."

Hearts have also won the Ghana FA Cup 10 times, the last title coming in 2000.

The outfit has also won the Ghana Super Cup twice.

On the continental level, Hearts ruled Africa in 2000 when they beat Tunisian side Esperance to win the Caf Champions League. The following year, they lifted the Caf Super Cup.

In 2005, the Accra-based fold, the Phobians ruled one more time when they edged country rivals Asante Kotoko in a local derby to win the Caf Confederation Cup.

Having last won the Ghana Premier League in 2009, the Phobians will hope to start their trophy revival with a 20th domestic title.

This season, the Accra-based side sits ninth on the league table at Matchweek 15. There is uncertainty, however, about the completion of the championship, having been halted since March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Football remains suspended in the West African nation until at least July 31 as part of the measures to curb the spread of the disease.

The Ghana Football Association (GFA), who made an unsuccessful proposal to the national government about the possible prompt return of football under tight safety protocols such as playing matches behind closed doors, has said it would not take a final decision on the championship until June 30.

Cameroon international Gaelle Enganamouit has announced her retirement from football at the age of 28, Goal understands.

The striker has been without a club since she mutually parted ways in April 2019 with Spanish side Malaga, who she joined four months earlier after leaving Norwegian outfit Avaldsnes.

Despite her fitness worries, she made Cameroon's squad for the 2019 Women's World Cup but did not feature in any matches as the Indomitable Lionesses reached the Round of 16 in France.

Goal has learnt that the former Rosengard, Dalian Quanjian, Avaldsness and Malaga striker has decided to temporarily hang up her boots, with high hopes of bouncing back in the near future.

On Tuesday, Enganamouit made the low-key announcement as she marked her 28th birthday, having struggled to recover from a recurring anterior cruciate ligament injury.

In club football, Enganamouit is most well known for her time with Eskilstuna United DFF, for whom she made 41 appearances and scored 24 goals for the Swedish Damallsvenskan side in 2015.

Before arriving in Sweden, she shot into prominence on the global stage when she scored the fastest goal in women's football history in 2012, after just two seconds, for Spartak Subotica in Serbia.

On the international stage, the Lorema of Yaounde product starred in Cameroon's first Olympic Games in London 2012 and then their first Women's World Cup three years later in Canada.

She scored a hat-trick in the 6-0 group win over Ecuador to become the first African to score three in a Women's World Cup match during the 2015 edition, and capped that year by winning the Damallsvenskan top scorer award with 18 goals.

The African women's football legend also won the 2015 African Women's Player of the Year prize, and was nominated for the BBC Women's Footballer of the Year award in 2016.

Bastian Schweinsteiger has revealed what David Luiz told him before Didier Drogba's iconic goal in the 2012 Champions League final.

Chelsea pulled off a stunning upset to knock out Barcelona in the semi-finals and set-up a meeting with Bayern, who conquered Real Madrid in a similarly dramatic last-four encounter.

The German giants were strong favourites heading into the final, which was held in their own backyard at the Allianz Arena.

Indeed, it was Bayern who dominated proceedings in terms of clear-cut chances, but Chelsea's resolute defence stood firm as the likes of Arjen Robben and Thomas Muller toiled to find a way through.

Petr Cech produced a man-of-the-match performance in the Blues' goal although he was powerless to stop the German giants from taking the lead with just seven minutes left to play.

Muller headed home a pinpoint Toni Kroos cross to send the home supporters into raptures and leave Bayern on the verge of a fifth European crown, but Chelsea were not to be denied.

Drogba powered an unstoppable header past Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer after meeting a Frank Lampard corner in the 88th minute, which sent the match into extra time.

Chelsea held on for penalties and ended up winning 4-3 on spot-kicks, with Drogba also converting the winning kick, to secure the famous trophy for the first time in their history.

Schweinsteiger, who was left crestfallen with the rest of the Bayern squad after a dramatic encounter, says Luiz predicted his Chelsea team-mate Drogba would equalise when Lampard stepped up to swing in a late set-piece.

The ex-Bayern midfielder said during the Amazon documentary 'Schw31ns7eiger Memories - From Beginning to Legend': "David Luiz came into the box and said to me: 'And now: Goal!'"

Schweinsteiger went on to admit that Jupp Heynckes struggled to raise volunteers for the shoot-out, adding: “Almost all of them p*ssed off. They flocked away, raised their hands and said: 'I don't want to,' "

The former Germany international did step up to the mark himself but fluffed his lines from 12 yards and says he was unable to face the crowd after buckling under the intense pressure of the situation.

He said: "I didn't want to see the disappointed faces. You knew: Now you can't do better, it's over."

Former Orlando Pirates and Bidvest Wits winger Daine Klate has completed his Uefa B License with the Irish Football Association. 

The 35-year-old followed in the footsteps of Benni McCarthy and Steven Pienaar by advancing his coaching skills in Ireland. 

Klate has been working on his coaching badges since retiring from professional football about a year ago. 

And in May, he was handed his biggest coaching qualification to date - the Uefa B Diploma and he shared his latest success with his followers on social media. 

Klate previously revealed that the coronavirus pandemic disrupted his plans to acquire his Uefa A License and he would hope to go back and complete it once the situation gets better. 

The retired winger will return to SuperSport United to do practicals for his coaching badges after striking an agreement with club CEO Stanley Matthews. 

He started his professional at Matsatsantsa in 2004 before playing for the likes of Orlando Pirates and Bidvest Wits. 

Klate retired at the end of the 2018/19 season whilst on the books of Chippa United. 

He left the game as a player having played almost 350 professional matches - scoring 58 and recording a whopping 77 assists across all competitions. 

He joined the side's MDC team as their head coach until he was released from his contract mid-way through the 2019/20 season. 

Klate, one of the most successful players of his generation, will hope to return to the dugout as head coach in the near future - and realise his dream of imparting his knowledge to the younger generation of players in the South African football. 

The Port Elizabeth-born star won six league titles, three MTN8 and three Telkom Knockout Cup titles among other major trophies.

He enjoyed huge success at both SuperSport United and Orlando Pirates but it was at Wits where his sixth league medal would come as Gavin Hunt steered the Braamfontein-based side to a league and cup double during the 2016/17 PSL season.

Former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has aired his regret at pushing so hard for the introduction of current Financial Fair Play regulations and is not convinced that a move towards MLS-style salary caps would work in Europe.

Restrictions on how much any given side can spend over the course of any given three-year window were implemented in a bid to stop teams from living beyond their means.

Loopholes have been found, though, with action – such as the two-year European ban Manchester City are currently contesting – often doing little to counter the problems which still exist.

Wenger concedes that the rich are getting richer and rivals who are forced to abide by the rules being left further and further behind – with the financial implications of the Covid-19 pandemic doing nobody any favours.

“I did fight a lot for Financial Fair Play,” Wenger, who was famed for his frugal approach to recruitment across 22 years at Arsenal, told The Athletic on the current state of football.

“What I regret is that when I did fight, teams were allowed to do what they wanted and these teams are in charge now in strong positions in the league.

“They are, of course, now supportive of financial fair play because it suits them. But they do not want anybody new to come in and be a threat. 

“Maybe we should open the door by being very cautious ethically. To create more flexibility in results, maybe we have to open the door or make sure everyone has the same resources.

“It is too predictable now. For example, in France, before the championship starts, everybody asks, ‘Who will be second?’”

Wenger believes solutions can be found which will help to level the playing field, but the Frenchman is not convinced that an American model can be followed – with salary caps used across major sports in the United States such as MLS, NBA and NFL.

 “Yes, I’m convinced UEFA is conscious of that,” Wenger added on what can be done.

“Although I am not completely convinced a salary cap works.

“People speak of salary caps in America but you have, in the same team, someone who makes $5 million and another who makes $50,000. That also doesn’t work.”

Wenger is FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development, with the 70-year-old – who appears to have brought a distinguished coaching career to a close – in a position where he can impact the direction in which football heads from this point.

NorthEast United FC assistant coach Khalid Jamil suggested that the club is trying to sign as many local players as possible for the upcoming Indian Super League (ISL) 2020-21 season.

The Highlanders have not been as busy as other ISL clubs in the transfer window this time but Jamil suggested that the club is in no hurry to sign players as they still have a lot of time left in the transfer window that only ends on August 31, 2020.

During an online chat with the club, Jamil spoke about their plans for the upcoming season. He said, “We have signed some Indian players. We have taken some local boys. Our target is to get as many local boys as possible. We are also looking at some foreign players. But we are not in a hurry. We still have a lot of time.”

The Mumbai-based coach who is also the head of youth development at NorthEast suggested that they had started scouting for the youth teams as well as their reserves side but due to the nationwide lockdown amidst the Coronavirus pandemic, their activities got halted.

“Before the lockdown, we had started scouting for the U-13, U-15, U-18 and also the reserve team. After the lockdown, we will resume the process again.”

Jamil had taken charge of the club as their interim head coach for the final three matches of the ISL last season after Robert Jarni parted ways with the club. The Highlanders ended the season at the ninth position on the league table.

Speaking about the team’s poor performance last year, the former East Bengal coach said, “Last year the circumstances were different. Unfortunately due to injuries to key players we suffered. But this year we will work hard and aim for a play-offs spot.”

NorthEast United have signed midfielder Rochharzela from Aizawl FC this season and coach Khalid Jamil heaped praise on the 21-year-old midfielder. He even suggested that the youngster is worthy enough to replace Redeem Tlang who left the club to join FC Goa.

“Rochharzela is a very good player. He was with me at Aizawl FC. I think he can be a good replacement for Redeem (Tlang).”

Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns will have to wait for a new date for their Shell Helix Ultra Cup match.  

According to Stadium Management South Africa, the one-day tournament has been postponed until further notice. 

This is due to the coronavirus pandemic as well as the delay by the South African Football Association (Safa), the PSL as well as the government to find solutions on the immediate future of football in the country. 

The government has allowed contact sport to resume training but the season remains suspended as the league awaits the go-ahead to open doors for players to return to the training grounds. 

The annual event was launched two seasons ago and both Chiefs and Sundowns came on board to play part in the initiative. 

While it was played in the off-season in 2018 when Sundowns beat Chiefs 2-1 at the FNB Stadium, the organisers moved the match to October in 2019 due to the Africa Cup of Nations tournament which took place in Egypt. 

Sundowns failed to defend their title as they were thumped 4-2 by a rather ruthless Chiefs team last year.  

The Shell Helix Cup is a pre-season friendly between the two high-profile clubs - and it has given certain players an opportunity to impress their coaches. 

Leonardo Castro, in particular, used last year's match against his former club to win the hearts of Amakhosi and force his way into Ernst Middendorp's starting line-up after being sidelined for the first few games of the 2019/20 season.

On the other hand, Sundowns gave as many of their fringe players a chance to stake a claim in Pitso Mosimane, including Aubrey Ngoma and Oupa Manyisa - but the majority of them didn't come to the party. 

Unfortunately for Manyisa, that was the match where he suffered a long-term injury - and his lack of game time this season could cost him a place in the Sundowns squad for next season, especially with his contract set to expire

Manchester United have been warned off moves for Saul Niguez and Jack Grealish, with Dimitar Berbatov baffled as to why the Red Devils are considering investing more funds in a midfield unit that has Paul Pogba back fit and Bruno Fernandes starring.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is said to be in the market for more ball-playing talent when the next transfer window swings open.

Aston Villa playmaker Grealish has been a long-standing target for the Red Devils, with an official approach expected once the 2019-20 campaign comes to a close.

Spain international Saul has emerged as another potential option to fill a deeper role in United’s engine room, with assistance being sought for January addition Fernandes.

He will get that from World Cup winner Pogba when competitive action resumes, with the Frenchman having shaking off the niggling knocks which have been holding him back.

If an £89 million ($113m) asset is able to prove his worth alongside Fernandes – who has hit the ground running in English football – then Berbatov sees no reason why United would want to splash out on reinforcing a department in which they are already well stocked.

The former Red Devils striker told Betfair: “Manchester United have been linked with Saul Niguez from Atletico Madrid again, and for me looking at the situation, Pogba is back, Fernandes is there, they have [Scott] McTominay who needs to play regularly because he's young and is doing so well, [Juan] Mata is there, [Nemanja] Matic is there who is great at what he does, and to put one more in the mix is only okay if you are going to use them and have them playing regularly because that transfer will probably cost a lot of money.

“In my opinion, I think they have enough quality in the team anyway, especially with Pogba coming back, but maybe Solskjaer has a different decision and he has decided that they need someone to strengthen there.

“There have also been reports about United being interested in Jack Grealish, last week [Jadon] Sancho was their top target, this week it's Grealish, next week it will be somebody else.

“There are so many players associated with a move to United at the moment, it is a good thing I suppose and for the players it boosts their reputation.

“I can see Grealish being a better fit at United than someone else, he is used to the Premier League and he is producing great goals and assists. But, he is similar to Fernandes, Pogba and Mata in a way and you don't want too much similarity in your team.

“With all these names mentioned it is going to be interesting to see if they actually sign any of them or maybe nobody will go because for me they have enough midfield players.

“Once they have finished this season, and players are out of contract or leave, then they may need someone. But if all of them stay, and they buy two more, then they will have to let a couple go, or if players aren't happy then they need to go to the manager and tell them they aren't happy with all other players in the same position.”

Former Mumbai City FC defender Anwar Ali has labelled Uruguayan football legend Diego Forlan as the most inspiring leader he has played with.

The 35-year-old Indian defender, who has 33 caps with the national team, and has represented the likes of JCT, Dempo, Delhi Dynamos, Mohun Bagan, Mumbai FC, East Bengal, ATK and Punjab FC during his illustrious career, interacted with Twitter users and answered their questions on Tuesday. 

He was part of the Mumbai City side that topped the Indian Super League (ISL) league table in 2016, with Forlan playing a key role in making it happen.

“During both my season at Mumbai City, we had so many leaders in the dressing room. But I think the one that stands out the most is Diego Forlan. Being on the same team and learning so much from him was the best experience in my career so far,” he said.

The centre-back reminisced arguably one of the best campaigns in the team's history and called it his best memory in a Mumbai City shirt. He also named his then-teammate Matias Defederico the best player he has played alongside.

“(The best moment) has to be topping the table and making the semifinals in 2016. It was the first semifinal in Mumbai City's history too and that made it even more special for me.

“There were so many (great players) but if I have to pick one, it will be Matias Defederico from our 2016 side,” Anwar responded when asked about the best player he has played with.

A compliment for a striker carries an added weight of credibility when it arrives from a centre-back. Anwar showered ace goal-scorer Odafa Okolie with praise when he named him the toughest player he has played against.

The Nigerian forward was the top-scorer of the I-League for three consecutive seasons between 2007-2010.

“As a defender, we've had a tough time facing strikers. I think the toughest one I have played against in my life was Odafa Okolie,” he said.

The veteran had words of praise for Sandesh Jhingan and expressed his desire to partner the India international defence. Portuguese and former Chennaiyin FC defender Henrique Sereno was another name that popped up.

Among the youngsters, it was Sarthak Golui and Sumit Rathi who were recipients of encouraging words from the Punjab defender.

“Among the Indians, Sandesh Jhingan. And Lucian Goian from the foreigners,” he replied when asked about his favourite defender in the ISL.

“(I would like to play with) Sandesh Jhingan - we played together at United Sikkim, it was when he was very young. It would be nice to play with him now. (Also) Henrique Sereno - he's a top-class defender, very experienced & well-respected world over and I would've liked to play alongside him too.

“Sarthak (Golui) is definitely one (player who has impressed). If I have to pick outside of Mumbai, Sumit Rathi from ATK,” he concluded.