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SC Villa head coach Edward Kaziba has revealed teamwork was the reason why the Ugandan Premier League side performed well in the concluded 2019/20 season.

With five rounds remaining to conclude the season, the top tier was suspended in mid-March owing to Covid-19 pandemic.

The league was eventually annulled by the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (Fufa) after the pandemic was not contained quickly.

As a result, the eight-time league champions managed to finish third on the table.

"It was teamwork despite problems within the camp such as delayed payment of wages," Kaziba said as quoted by New Vision.

"I had to bring the team together and above all, I have my own philosophy of play and I selected players who fitted the style.

"The players were committed and as a parent, I approached and talked to them and we solved problems together as a family. I listen to them, and we work hand in hand with both players and the technical bench."

The tactician has also stated his agreement with the management after joining from Uganda women's national team, where he served as the assistant coach.

"When I arrived at Villa, I told the top administration to keep me away from the pressure of the fans and not interfere with the team," Kaziba revealed.

"I came to SC Villa with an experience just having coached at Standard High school for almost 16 years and having acquired my CAF A, B, C coaching certificates.

"This helped me with a lot of knowledge and confidence. So coming to coach a club like Villa that has a lot of supporters with a lot of expectations was easy."

During his playing days, Kaziba turned out for the likes of KCC, Tobacco FC. He was also part of Jogoo Young technical team and managed to coach top talents like Godfrey Walusimbi, Emmanuel Okwi and Joseph Mpande.  

After the Ugandan Premier League cancellation, Vipers SC were declared winners after accumulating 54 points from the 25 matches played.

Former champions KCCA FC were second on 50 points with Villa finishing third with 46 points.

Call of Duty: Warzone has continued to grow since its launch in March, with more than 60 million players heading to Verdansk to fight it out in the Gulag.

The game was built with battle royale fans in mind, but the game’s Battle Royale mode is only half of the equation. Players can also see how they fare in Warzone’s much more unique Plunder mode where the key to victory lies in becoming a skilled hoarder.

Warzone pits 150 players against one another in teams of two, three, four or solo in an ever-closing map.

Download Call Of Duty: Warzone

The game features two main factions of the Operators: the Coalition and the Allegiance. Both factions include a variety of Operators to choose from. The Coalition is a multinational alliance that consists of operators from SAS, Warcom and Demon Dogs, while the Allegiance is made up of the remnants of the Russian Forces in Urzikstan, foreign mercenaries and rogue NATO soldiers.

And while the Operators are getting famous among the gamers, Goal.com has teamed up with Call of Duty to make the "Coalition vs Allegiance" ultimate team. The concept consists on choosing 11 characters from both the Coalition and Allegiance who are featuring in Warzone.

We'll then analyze the specific traits of each character and potential Footballers who fit the mould and resemble well with the character. The audience will be involved by voting for their favorite Operator-Footballer combo to make it feature in the Ultimate team.

For our new poll, we are going to be looking at Ronin from the Coalition faction and Azur from the Allegiance one.

Ronin - Heung-min : Son is a smart player with great balance. He moves gracefully with the ball and is secure in possession. He makes sure he is always aware of his surroundings and his decisions are often accurate. Like Son, Ronin is a perfectionist who pays attention to the small details. He doesn't like to take uncalculated risks. Once he takes a decision, he stands by it and does everything in his power to implement it.  

Azur - Salah :   Salah is one of the most hard working footballers in the world and that helps him to continuously improve. The Reds' star is now the complete player, with tremendous pace, great decision making and high efficiency in front of the goal. Azur is a hard worker too. On the battle field, he does his very best to help his team to win, using his pace and vast experience.

Who should feature is the Coalition vs Allegiance utlimate team? vote below

Paul Scholes has recalled being man-marked by Park Ji-sung in training, describing his former Manchester United team-mate as a "nightmare" to play against.

Park completed a £4 million move to Old Trafford from PSV in the summer of 2005, and went on to feature in 203 matches for the club in all competitions, scoring 27 goals.

The former South Korea international quickly earned a cult following among supporters for his tenacious style of play, with Sir Alex Ferguson often trusting him with key roles in big games due to his exceptional work rate.

Park picked up 13 major trophies during his time in Manchester, including four Premier League titles and the Champions League, before departing for QPR in 2012.

He was part of a squad widely revered as one of the finest in English football history, and played alongside legendary figures such as Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney.

Scholes says he was unable to get the better of Park in practice sessions at the club's Carrington training base, and remembers his Italian counterpart Andrea Pirlo having the same issues with the Korean during United's Champions League showdowns against AC Milan.

The Red Devils great told Wes Brown on MUTV: "I do remember you trying to man-mark me, but you weren't the only one, Wes!

"Do you know who the worst one was? Park Ji-sung. He was a nightmare! He was unbelievable.

"Do you remember when he did it against [Andrea] Pirlo? Ah, he was unreal! He had energy all day and discipline. The discipline was unreal.

"He just used to come up to me, look at me and not say a word, stand right next to me... 'Oh Jesus, here we go!' 'Come on, ginge!' - Just say something to me, have a laugh with me!

"But he was unbelievable at it. He just used to come and stare right into my face, stare right into my eyes, 'You're not getting a kick today'."

Scholes also revealed that he initially rose through United's academy ranks as a centre-forward, before being encouraged to transition into midfield by ex-youth team coach Eric Harrison.

He added: "I grew up as a centre-forward. I was just a goalscorer which you find hard to believe to where my position went on but I always liked playing in midfield.

"Eric Harrison always said I’d be a central midfield player and possession was everything we did when you’re 11-12 years of age in the academy, it was just always about possession so over the years you’re just watching players and you learn how to do it."

Mason Mount says Chelsea are raring to go for the resumption of Premier League football, with any rustiness shaken off after what felt like “an age” stuck in a coronavirus-enforced lockdown.

The Blues are due to return to action on June 21 with a trip to relegation-threatened Aston Villa.

That contest will take place behind closed doors, but it will see Frank Lampard’s side return to a competitive arena for the first time since March 8.

Mount, who has seen training stepped up over recent weeks, is looking forward to getting back onto the pitch, with Chelsea ready to play their top-four challenge through to a finish.

The England international midfielder told the club’s official website: “It’s very exciting.

“It’s something we’ve all been waiting for a long time, to get back playing when the time was right, so we are all excited.

“To get the games back is great and it’s something we all wanted if it was possible. We all love playing games and representing Chelsea in the Premier League and we are all looking forward to getting started again.

“It’s been a long time since we played and the two months we had away in lockdown certainly seemed like such an age! So it’s been great to be able to get back out on the pitch at Cobham and do what we love.

“I think I speak on behalf of all the boys when I say we had to ensure we stayed fit during the lockdown, ready for when we could go back to work. It was important to remain active and to be honest, I think most footballers find it difficult to stay too far away from a football. I know I’ve been kicking one around my house all the time!

“Training has been great, and the boys are looking sharp. I think at the start, having been away for so long, there was a little rustiness to shake off but we are back to normal now and raring to go again.”

Chelsea will be returning to action sat fourth in the Premier League, three points clear of a chasing pack headed by Manchester United with nine games left to take in.

Martin Braithwaite says he started baking bread to fight off boredom during the coronavirus lockdown.

The 29-year-old forward joined Barcelona from Leganes in February in an emergency transfer after Luis Suarez suffered a knee injury. The Denmark international made just three appearances for the Catalan side before the campaign was suspended because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

With the country in lockdown, Braithwaite was able to spend more time with his family and found some new hobbies to keep his mind occupied.

"It is a special scenario. I had the feeling it was some kind of movie because we have never experienced anything like this, so it has been a really special situation for me,” he told Goal. “I try to be positive in the face of negative situations. For me it was important that I could be with my family during this time.

“My wife was pregnant and I was there for my son's birth so there are a lot of positive things to me at the moment. If I have to try to look to the positive things as I always do I can only be grateful.

"I think my wife saw another side of me. I began baking bread and doing stuff I had never done before. Now we are beginning to get back to normal, so I can’t do it anymore!"

La Liga has been cleared to resume this month and Barca will begin with a game against Mallorca on June 13. Quique Setien's team are two points ahead of Real Madrid at the top of the Spanish league with 11 games to go.

Braithwaite is happy to be back in training after such a long hiatus and is eager to start playing for the Spanish champions again.

"I feel good. I have been waiting for this moment for such a long time," he said. "I'm fine working with the team again, it makes me really happy. It makes me wake up every day to do better in football.

"I feel everybody in the team is eager and hungry. I see a lot of players hungry as I am."

Express FC coach Wasswa Bbosa has revealed his immediate task is to help the side to avoid playing in relegation battles every season.

Express finished ninth in the 2019-20 Uganda Premier League campaign after Federation of Uganda Football Association (Fufa) moved to end the season owing to the coronavirus pandemic with Vipers SC being declared the champions.

Bbosa, who has returned to Express after signing a new three-year contract, now says he wants to come up with a competitive squad, able to challenge their rivals in the top-flight among them KCCA FC, Vipers and SC Villa.

“We want to bring the team to the level where it will be competing for trophies,” Bbosa is quoted by New Vision.

“Express is a well-known traditional club. She is a big brand that does not need to be in relegation dogfights. I promise the fans that we are ready to do anything that will make this club great again.

“Before I left Express it was performing well and in good positions and I hope and believe that it's where we are going. We are working on so many things to ensure that we revamp Express. This is a big club with a rich history so it should aim for big things.”

Express moved to extend Bbosa’s contract after he moved the club from relegation after he came in to replace sacked George Ssimwogerere.

In a recent interview, Bbosa, who last won the UPL title with Express in 2012 serving as Sam Ssimbwa's assistant coach, revealed specific duties his backroom members will be handling.

“I’m going to work with [James] Odoch, [Sam] Kawalya, [Ayub] Balyejusa, and [Hassan] Mubiru; who like me, all played for the club and love it at heart,” Bbosa told reporters.

“Kawalya will work with the goalkeepers, Mubiru with the strikers, Balyejusa and Odoch with midfielders and me with the defenders on top of conducting the entire training sessions.”

The tactician believes the objectives of the club 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.”

Mikel Arteta has not “put a foot wrong” since taking charge of Arsenal, says David O’Leary, but the Spaniard has been warned that he has a “hard job” on his hands and will ultimately be judged on transfer business.

The Gunners have delivered a mixed bag on the recruitment front over recent years.

Purse strings at Emirates Stadium were relaxed during the summer of 2019, but club-record signing Nicolas Pepe and experienced Brazilian defender David Luiz are yet to convince.

Teenage frontman Gabriel Martinelli has impressed, but Arsenal have flopped as a collective to sit eighth in the Premier League table ahead of the resumption in 2019-20 competition.

Arteta is considered to have offered cause for optimism since being handed the reins in December, but his side remains a work in progress.

O’Leary believes pieces are being put in place for long-term success off the field, but concedes that any manager will ultimately be judged by performances on it.

The Gunners legend told talkSPORT of Arteta: “I don’t think he’s put a foot wrong off the field.

“There are things that he’s done that nobody knows about. But what you can say, what he’s come in behind the scenes and done has just been absolutely fantastic.

“The way he’s handled himself, the way he’s handled himself through this crisis and the things he’s done without seeking publicity, the things he’s implemented structurally at the club, I don’t think he’s put a foot wrong.

“I think he has a hard task, without a doubt, he’s come in and taken a hard job on. He needs players.

“The squad he has he will make better. Will that push them towards being a top-four club? No, I don’t see that.

“I think where he is going to be judged is on recruitment. It’s easier said than done, but you’ve got to get players out.

“That’s hard to do and he’ll be judged on that, but he’ll also be certainly judged on the personnel he brings in.”

Arsenal are yet to give up on their top-four ambitions in the current campaign, but will likely need a faultless run through their remaining 10 fixtures in order to surge up the standings and book themselves a place in next season’s Champions League.

Jose Mourinho must manage Harry Kane's return to the pitch carefully, according to Paul Robinson, who says the Tottenham striker can't be expected to play three games a week.

Kane has not featured for Spurs since suffering a hamstring injury during a 1-0 defeat against Southampton at St Mary's on January 1.

The 26-year-old was forced to undergo surgery on the issue, and had to watch on from the sidelines as Tottenham embarked on a miserable run of form before the coronavirus-enforced break in the season.

Mourinho's men failed to win any of their final six matches, exiting both the Champions League and FA Cup along the way, but they do still have an outside chance of finishing in the Premier League's top four when the campaign resumes.

Kane has benefitted from the extra recovery time while in quarantine, and is now back in training with the rest of his team-mates ahead of a huge meeting with Manchester United on June 19.

However, Robinson has warned Mourinho against rushing a prized asset back into the fold, with a congested fixture list likely to increase the risk of injuries.

The ex-Spurs goalkeeper told Sky Sports: "You have to worry whether Harry Kane can play two or three games a week, whether he can play 90 minutes on a Saturday and then have to wait again for the following Saturday to play another 90 minutes.

"It will be all about how Jose (Mourinho) manages the situation because you can't expect a player whose been out after that length of time to be able to come back and play three games a week with all the demands Premier League football puts on you.

"Managers are going to have to be very aware and conscious as to how they man-manage their players fitness, injuries and squad rotation.

"Squad rotation, in particular, is going to be huge in the next three or four weeks with the amount of games - training is going to be minimal so it's going to be all about preparation and recovery."

Tottenham find themselves down in eighth in the top-flight standings, seven points behind Chelsea in the race for the final Champions League spot. Mourinho could see his side make up significant ground on their rivals if they secure all three points against United, before focus shifts to a London derby against West Ham on June 23.

Alisson is capable of breaking “all the records” at Liverpool if he sticks around at Anfield for a “long time”, says legendary former Reds goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar.

A Brazil international was added to Jurgen Klopp’s star-studded squad during the summer of 2018.

He was briefly the most expensive keeper on the planet, with a £65 million ($82m) transfer fee required to prise him away from Serie A giants Roma.

An immediate return has been offered on that investment, with Alisson’s debut campaign ending with him collecting a Premier League Golden Glove and Champions League crown.

He has since gone on to help Liverpool close in on the Premier League title, while also earning a billing as one of the finest shot-stoppers in the world game.

Grobbelaar believes the 27-year-old is capable of re-writing the history books on Merseyside, with a man who has 40 clean sheets to his name from 79 appearances in a position where he could chase down Ray Clemence’s club record of 323 shut outs.

“If Alisson stays at Liverpool long enough he could break all the records that myself and Ray Clemence achieved,” Grobbelaar, who spent 13 years at Anfield between 1981 and 1994, told The Mirror.

“If he wants to stay at Anfield for a long time he will break all the records for sure and I would love him to do that.

“Alisson is undoubtedly one of the best goalkeepers in the world and he deserves to be put on that pedestal.

“Him and Manuel Neuer are probably the best two when it comes to angles — those two are the very best in the world at getting their angles right, they don’t have to dive because they aren’t out of position.

“They are in the right place at the right time and they move their feet very, very well.”

Alisson is not the only talismanic presence to have emerged at Liverpool under Klopp, with Grobbelaar also quick to sing the praises of commanding Dutch centre-half Virgil van Dijk.

He added on a defensive colossus: “I played behind Phil Thompson and Alan Hansen, and they were both brilliant centre-halves.

“With Thommo, Jockey had to work a little bit harder because when Thommo made a mistake, he had to cover up quite a lot.

“When Thommo left, Jockey took up his role and we had Mark Lawrenson, who was quick, he had brilliant speed.

“Now with Van Dijk, you have a cool head like a Hansen but he’s that quick like Lawrenson — he is both rolled into one.

“But what he does with his other centre-halves and other defenders is make them much better, and that’s the quality of Virgil van Dijk.”

AFC Leopards attacking midfielder Musa Saad has picked the players who must be kept if the club wants to fight and win the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) title.

AFC Leopards last won the title in 1998 and Saad says should the nine players he identified remain for the foreseeable future, victory can be achieved.

Saad named young players who were mostly signed last year by Ingwe as the ones capable of delivering the title back at the Den.

“AFC Leopards have incredible talents. There are very talented players at the club and if the club can keep them, we are bound to be successful,” Saad told the club's Online TV. 

“Collins Shichenje, Vincent Oburu, Austin Odhiambo, Marvin Nabwire, Omar Somobwana, Said Tsuma, Maurice Sunguti, Daniel Msamali and Boniface Mukhekhe are the players with huge potential for AFC Leopards.

“That is the crop of players if they are maintained together for two to three seasons, we can lift the league title easily. I can assure that.”

The attacking midfielder also said the fans need to play their part as the players fight to ensure the league title is won so as to earn a Caf Champions League slot in the coming seasons.

“It has also been a long time since AFC Leopards took part in the Champions League but with that kind of players that is achievable,” he added.

“We have got the squad, we have a good technical bench and an office that has shown their willingness to help players.

“We only need fans to push us as we try to achieve our targets.

“We will have a deadly squad especially if the other external factors are settled. I believe everyone there is capable and have great potential.”

Meanwhile, the former Thika United star picked Paul Were as the best ever player to don the blue jersey of AFC Leopards. Saad further stated his respect for Tom Juma, the current cub official, for what he did during his playing time.

"[Paul] Were is my all-time best player for AFC Leopards. I met him at AFC Leopards and after little interaction, I was satisfied by his abilities and talent," he concluded.

“It could have been great if I had played alongside our team manager [Tom] Juma. At times when we train together, you can just see how good he was during his time.”

Saad joined AFC Leopards on July 2018 from Thika United, who had suffered relegation.

Arsenal have been warned that their long-standing issues away from home are likely to scupper any top-four ambitions when Premier League football returns, with Martin Keown considering form on the road to still be the Gunners’ “Achilles heel”.

Top-flight action in England has been given a green light to resume amid the coronavirus pandemic from June 17.

Arsenal will be among the first back out onto the field, as they prepare to take in a meeting with Manchester City.

A positive result in that contest could set Mikel Arteta’s side up for a late surge up the standings and into contention for Champions League qualification.

There is an eight-point gap for them to bridge in that quest at present, with the Gunners sat some way behind London rivals Chelsea in fourth spot.

A faultless run through to the end of the current campaign may be required in order to give Arsenal a shot at staging the most miraculous of recoveries.

Keown cannot see that happening, with it likely that struggles on their travels will end up undermining the efforts of those from Emirates Stadium.

Away form has been a problem for some time, with the rot first setting in as Arsene Wenger was edging towards the exits and a managerial baton was passed to Unai Emery.

There have been signs of progress since Arteta took the reins, with Arsenal plugging some of their defensive leaks, but they are considered to be a work in progress and a side that is unlikely to trouble many of those currently sat above them in the table.

Keown told the Daily Mail when asked if a top-four finish remains a realistic target for the Gunners: “Arsenal’s problem, for the last two-and-a-half seasons, has been their away form. It’s their Achilles heel.

“In 2019-20, they’ve won twice on the road in 13 attempts, and their next three games are all away from home — against Manchester City, Brighton and Southampton.

“Then later in the campaign, they face Wolves and Tottenham away, too, before travelling to Aston Villa.

“If you’re a Manchester United player looking at those Arsenal fixtures, you’d be saying: ‘Good luck with that.’ United have a slight head start and a more favourable run-in.

“Something affects this Arsenal group when they’re competing away from home, and I doubt they’ll make it into the Champions League because of that.”

Failure to climb into the top four would mean that Arsenal are left facing up to a fourth successive season without elite European competition, with 2016-17 representing the last time they graced a Champions League stage.

Former Kaizer Chiefs captain Siphiwe Tshabalala has explained why he is still clubless almost a year after leaving BB Erzurumspor. 

In an online press conference with the South African Football Journalists Association, 'Shabba' revealed he had planned to get back onto the field sooner but he picked up an injury which made it impossible for him to sign with any of the clubs he was in talks with.

After recovering from the injury he was about to leave the country, then the coronavirus hit the world which was another blow in his hopes of securing a new home, according to the Phiri-born midfielder.   

"The plan was to be back on the field sooner, and I picked up an injury late last year as we were about to embark on another journey, so that was a blow for me," Shabba told the South African Football Journalists Association.

"I recovered from the injury and, as I was about to leave, the situation that we're currently facing happened, so I had to put everything on hold and understand that it can't happen at that particular time." 

"There was no movement or anything. So, in a way, I shifted my focus to matters that have been affecting us from that particular period until now."

The 35-year-old is still hopeful of returning to the pitch after the lockdown and revealed he had offers from China, Italy and Turkey before the pandemic brought the world to a standstill.  

"I still hope that, when this is all over, I'll get an opportunity to be back on the field again. I had offers – before lockdown – to play overseas, there was interest in China, Italy and also in Turkey," confirmed the veteran. 

Tshabalala further stated that he will need time to think about what to do next after the coronavirus lockdown - whether he wants to go abroad or remain in South Africa and end his career. 

This is a decision he will take together with his family and for the benefit of his family.  

"Obviously after this, one has to sit down and think, do I still want to go abroad or do I want to play here at home and end my career as well?" he asked.

"But the decision that I'll take will be a collective decision with my family. It will be a decision that will favour my family as well, so we'll see about that."

Liverpool kept their focus on winning the Premier League title before 'Project Restart' was announced, according to Dejan Lovren.

The Reds were on the verge of securing a first top-flight crown in 30 years when the coronavirus outbreak called a temporary halt to the 2019-20 campaign on March 13.

Jurgen Klopp's men won 27 of their opening 29 fixtures to storm 25 points clear of reigning champions Manchester City, who have played a game less.

Only two more wins will be needed for Liverpool's coronation to be confirmed, with the Premier League set to resume on June 17 following a three-month hiatus.

There were strong calls for the season to be voided as Covid-19 cases began to rise across England, but the number of people testing positive for the virus has dropped in recent weeks, leading to an easing of lockdown restrictions.

Lovren insists that he and his Liverpool team-mates took all the necessary steps to maintain their fitness levels while in quarantine, with a view to being at the peak of their powers when football was finally cleared to return.

The Croatian centre-back told the club's official website: "To be honest, even without a date at the beginning, our main focus and goal was, 'Guys, let's finish the season. There will, of course, be a date back, but just stay in shape, be in shape when we come back. We will do it and then we can say well done.' 

"That was our main focus from the beginning. All the time we have been working in the gym, we know what is our focus. Of course we still have two games [to win until] we can say, 'Yeah, we are the champions' but our main focus is to win all the games. That's the main target." 

Lovren is delighted to have seen the squad's discipline pay off, but admits that he found his final few weeks in self-isolation frustrating due to the lack of certainty over the resumption of top-level sport.

He added: "The last two weeks before we came back together, to be honest, I was a little bit struggling with not knowing when we will start and when we will be back together.

"You put so many questions in your mind, 'When will everything be back to normal?', but this is a great challenge for yourself and to show to everyone that you care about yourself, you care about your team. 

"So we did it and we did an amazing job. We came back in great shape. We did some physical tests and I think it says a lot about the team. 

"Everyone respected all the planning and programmes that we got. This is what's important for this team."

Chelsea are getting a “Michael Owen-like” frontman in Timo Werner, says Tony Cascarino, with the Germany international expected to be a “real danger player” for the Blues.

Those at Stamford Bridge have agreed to trigger the £54 million (€60m/$68m) release clause that will free the 24-year-old striker from his contract at RB Leipzig.

No deal has been completed as yet, but there is a belief in west London that a top target will be acquired.

It had appeared as though Werner was destined to head for Liverpool if a big-money move was to be made in the next transfer window.

Fierce competition for places at Anfield and reluctance from Jurgen Klopp to splash the cash has, however, led the prolific presence towards an alternative Premier League destination.

Cascarino believes Frank Lampard has got himself quite the coup, with there similarities to be drawn between Werner’s game and that of an ex-England international who once starred for Liverpool and landed the 2001 Ballon d’Or.

“He predominantly likes to play on the left, but he’s quite versatile,” Cascarino told talkSPORT of Werner.

“His outstanding feature is his pace; his pace over 10 yards is extraordinary, lightning quick… Michael Owen-like.

“He tries to get on the back of defenders all the time and comes in off the left to try and get the goals in.

“He gets a lot of one-on-ones and he’s a real handful.

“But there is a lot of improvement to be made; I don’t think he’s the most technically gifted. When I’ve watched him I’ve always thought his touch is a bit off for someone who has so many goals.

“But there is a real danger player in there, and I think Lampard wants goals from more areas in his team.”

Cascarino added on Werner edging away from long-standing links to Liverpool: “Most players want to be guaranteed a starting place and Timo Werner probably got that guarantee from Frank Lampard where he is going to play, and he’s going to play a lot of games.

“I think that’s very important for Werner because I’m not sure he’d get in front of [Sadio] Mane, [Mohamed] Salah or [Roberto] Firmino [at Liverpool].

“We don’t know if one of those will be sold, but obviously Klopp wouldn’t want that to happen; he’d want to keep all three.

“And I think it’s a case he’d have to fight for a place just to get in that team.”

Orlando Pirates have confirmed that midfielder Ben Motshwari has fully recovered from the coronavirus.

Motshwari tested positive for the virus in May without showing any symptoms and he had been self-isolating at home. 

Now, the Buccaneers are pleased that their hard-working midfielder is back after the scare. 

"Orlando Pirates Football Club is pleased to announce that Ben Motshwari has fully recovered from Covid-19," said the club through their App. 

Motshwari thanked everyone who wished him well soon after the news of him testing positive of the coronavirus broke in May.  

"Hi Mabhakaniya, this is Ben Motshwari. I just want to thank each and everyone one of you guys who have been texting me, calling me or wishing me well during this difficult time that I was facing," said Motshwari in a short video clip posted on the App. 

The 29-year-old former Bidvest Wits midfield kingpin also thanked the Bucs medical team and staff for their continued support.  

"To the medical team, the staff of Orlando Pirates, I just want to thank you," he said. 

Motshwari urged the country to continue adhering to government's calls to curb the spread of the virus by practising social distancing, sanitising and wearing masks in public places. 

"Guys, let us keep on sanitising, let's keep on practising social distancing, let's wear our masks in public players so that we curb the spread of this coronavirus," concluded Motshwari.     

Motshwari was the first professional player to test positive of the coronavirus in South Africa - and this happened when the PSL was trying hard to convince the government to allow the return of football in the country. 

His recovery comes at the right time when both the PSL and Safa appears to be edging closer to winning the battle to complete the 2019-20 season. 

However, before that could happen, expectations are that all the players, coaches and team officials will be tested, just like this has been the case in England over the past few weeks.

With contact sport in South Africa now allowed, Motshwari will certainly return to the pitch as soon as Pirates give their players the go-ahead to report back to the training grounds.

Pius Obuya has revealed his imminent move to KCCA FC and hopes to fill the void left by Allan Okello.

Obuya served Maroons FC, who were relegated to the Fufa Big League for the 2020/21 season, and that seems to have given him the opportunity to seek greener pastures.

Although the news concerning his KCCA move has not been confirmed, Obuya is keen to replace his former Uganda U17 teammate at Lugogo.

“I respect [Allan] Okello, he is a big player, has done a lot for KCCA and I respect whatever he has done for the club,” Obuya told Sports256.

“Many people think I am his replacement, I must say 'yes' because we play the same style of football, we both can play in the central midfield and on the flanks, so, it is a very big challenge for me, because they need a special player who is creative and can make a difference when the club needs to win certain games.”

Although Obuya has set his eyes on the potential move, he has revealed other clubs have approached him too.

“A move to KCCA is likely, though, other clubs had also shown interest,” added the star.

“Joining KCCA is a great pleasure because it is a big club in Uganda and for them to show interest in me is a great honour.

“So, I know what it means going to Lugogo, going for a new challenge and make a difference because they have reasons why they want me.

“For now, what comes into my mind is; how to adapt to a new environment and to the club’s philosophy, which showcases a lot of professionalism, meeting new friends, a new technical team which I believe will help me.”

The 22-year-old wants to win the Uganda Premier League (UPL) title with the Mike Mutebi-led side after they lost out to Vipers SC when the season was cancelled.

“KCCA are a team that want success, so I also think of winning trophies for the team. And I think my, and some other players' arrival will boost the morale of the fans that could have been demoralised by the departure of some players,” he continued.

“I will continue developing as a player at Lugogo, then within two-three years, I see myself playing in Europe. I am thinking of giving my best at a big club KCCA where other clubs on the continent can easily pick you up.”

Celtic may be able to hold onto Arsenal target Odsonne Edouard amid the Covid-19 crisis, according to ex-Hoops manager John Barnes.

Edouard was enjoying his best season yet in a Celtic shirt before the coronavirus outbreak stopped play in March. The 22-year-old had hit 27 goals in 45 games in all competitions, helping Neil Lennon's side maintain their dominance of the Scottish football landscape.

Celtic were awarded the title for a ninth successive year in May after authorities decided to scrap all remaining fixtures due to the continued threat of Covid-19.

Speculation is now mounting over Edouard's future ahead of the summer transfer window, with Arsenal reportedly lining up an approach for the French forward.

However, Barnes is confident that Celtic will be able to retain a prized asset due to the financial implications of the coronavirus crisis, with top clubs across Europe likely to tighten the purse strings after an extended period without any matchday revenue coming in.

The former Hoops boss told BonusCodeBets: "Celtic is a fantastic club. We know that money plays a big part in this, but we don’t know what is happening this summer because after Covid-19, I don’t think you’re necessarily going to see £100m and £50m signings. 

"It’s up to the player to decide if he wants to stay in Scotland or not. If he is happy there and he’s in the Champions League and happy with his football then yes they may be able to keep him, but if he wants to go and play in a bigger league with more exposure then it is hard for any Scottish team to keep their better players."

Lennon revealed on Saturday that Celtic have already opened talks with Edouard over a new contract, with his existing deal set to expire in the summer of 2022.

Despite Celtic's attempts to tie the striker down to fresh terms, Barnes says his former club will be used to losing their top players, given the fact that the Scottish Premier League is unable to compete with Europe's top divisions in the transfer market.

He added: "Celtic have no more frustration than if you’re a top club in any league where you can’t compete financially with England, Italy, Spain, France and Germany.

"Celtic are slightly different in that they are as big as some clubs in England or the world, but the financial implications of football in Scotland means they can’t always keep these players and I suspect it will be a frustration. 

"They’ll be understanding that they’re no different to other clubs that lose players, look at Belgium, one of the best teams in the world but you don’t see any players playing in Belgium.

"This has always been a factor of Scottish football, except maybe in the 70s and 80s because from a financial point of view they were able to compete, but now the financial differences between Scotland and England and the rest of the European nations means it is hard for the Scottish teams to compete in keeping their best players."

Martin Braithwaite says that people look at him differently now that he plays for Barcelona as the Danish forward admitted his life has changed off the field significantly since joining La Liga's leaders.

Braithwaite joined Barcelona from Leganes in February via an emergency transfer, with the Catalan club in desperate need of a forward due to several injuries.

The forward made three appearances for Barca before La Liga was suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak, having scored eight goals in 24 matches for Leganes prior to making the move.

It was a transfer that Braithwaite sees as the defining moment of his career so far, and one that he says has had a massive impact on his life off the field.

"I felt really proud and patted myself on the back," Braithwaite told Goal. "I said to myself that the hard work was paying off and it gave me even more motivation to push the limits on what I can do in my career."

He added: "A lot of things changed because now I am in the biggest club in the world so people look at you differently and recognise you more because my face is now more familiar. Beyond football, it changed a little bit but, in the end, football is still football."

Braithwaite says that his time at Barcelona hs been made easier by several of his team-mates, with the forward saying his ability to speak French has helped him connect with players like Antoine Griezmann, Ousmane Dembele and Clement Lenglet. In addition, he says he has become close to Frenkie de Jong, who joined the club last summer from Ajax.

However, while Braithwaite has found pleasure with life at Barca, his former club, Leganes, will be in a fight for survival when La Liga resumes. 

Leganes currently sit 19th in the table, three points behind 17th-place Celta Vigo.

"I've been looking at their games and results, hoping they win games because I don't like leaving a club in that kind of way," Braithwaite said, "but now I am focused on Barcelona. I want the best for my former team-mates and former club.

"Everyone was really nice to me in Leganes. I met a lot of good people and they told me they were happy for me. They said I deserved it and, honestly, it was a special moment.

"It was difficult because I made a lot of good friends at Leganes and so many good relationships. It is always difficult when you have to leave a club. I have to thank them for everything they gave to me."

Barcelona are set to face Leganes on June 16 in the club's second match after returning from the coronavirus suspension, and Braithwaite says there will be no personal sentiment either way and no hard feelings regardless of what the result is.

"Of course," he said when asked if he would celebrate against his former club. "That would be a special scenario but I don't really think about this. When we play against them I will only be thinking about winning. I have a commitment for winning and will try to keep it against Leganes."

Simba SC midfielder Francis Kahata says he is not worried by his chances of making the first XI once the league restarts and his main job is to continue giving his best in training.

Before the games were stopped owing to the Covid-19 outbreak, the Kenya international was among the few players whose position in the first team was not guaranteed.

With the Tanzania Mainland League resuming on June 13, most players are giving their best to stand a chance of getting a starting berth.

"I have to admit the competition in the team is currently stiff in all departments," Kahata told Goal on Monday.

"Every player wants to get into the first team and as we all know, the quality in the team is good. So everyone has a fair chance of getting in the first 11.

"Well, I am not worried [about starting matches or not]. My job is to convince the technical bench I am ready through the training sessions we have. Then the coach will choose his first XI; Simba have good players, competition has to be there."

The Kenya international has also stated his condition after joining the team late.

"I am 70% fit because of my late arrival, however before our league match I will be fully fit," Kahata revealed.

"The team is also doing well, and I believe by next week every player will be 100% fit and ready to play."

In addition, the 28-year-old also shed some light on his personal target as well as those of the team.

"So far I have managed to get five goals and six assists meaning I have been involved in 11 goals for the team, but I want to do more.

"We are also in the race for the league title as well as the FA Cup, I will be satisfied if we win both. Many claim the league is ours because of the healthy lead we command, but until we are crowned, other teams have a chance.

"So we have to seal it by winning the required number of games before saying we are champions.

"All top four teams are in the FA Cup and are hungry to win it just like us, and it makes it a little tougher. But we are determined to go all the way."

Bristol City legend Louis Carey said Benik Afobe’s return from injury will be the biggest boost for the Robins ahead of the resumption of the 2019-20 Championship season.

Afobe, who joined Lee Johnson's side on a season-long loan from Stoke City last June, suffered an ACL injury during a training session earlier this season with his last competitive match in August.

Before the setback, the 27-year-old scored three goals in his first five games for the Robins which include a brace against Hull City on August 24.

Bristol City are seventh on the league table just a point adrift of the promotion playoff zone, and Carey believes Afobe's presence in the team will be crucial in the final nine games of the season.

"Any striker who has got a proven track record within the Championship and within the Premier League, to have that type of signing coming back when you've got nine games to go is the biggest boost the players could ask for,” Carey was quoted as saying on BBC Radio Bristol.

"When there's proven goals in a player that can step into your team, that is a gift.

"That is something that this time off has helped with and hopefully he can come in and start how he started when he originally signed and it would be great for the whole club."

The English second division will resume on June 20, more than three months after it was suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Carey, who spent 18 years at Ashton Gate across two stints, is positive that the Robins have the quality to qualify for the play-offs.  

"Whatever you say, they've got a top squad and I think after they've had this time off I think the majority of people will be back fit so they've got as much a chance as anybody and I know we've spoken about this over the years, the Championship is crazy," he said.

"You can quite easily go on a six-game winning run or six-game losing run. We are going to see that. There will be somebody that will fall like a stone with these nine games and hopefully it won't be Bristol City and hopefully they can push.

"They've certainly got the players, they're in a great position and if there is an understanding in what the manager wants, once you get back fit hopefully, they can hit the ground running. If they can put together performances like I saw at times in the Fulham game, then they've got every chance of making the play-offs."