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The Bundesliga was the first of Europe's major leagues to resume after play was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic, with the league having kicked off again on May 16th.

With France ending the 2019-20 season early and the Premier League, Serie A and La Liga aiming for June restarts, football fans who may not normally watch the German top flight will turn their eyes to the Bundesliga for a taste of live football.

So, if you're keen to tune into the Bundesliga during lockdown to get your football feast, Goal brings you everything you need to know

Contents

Where can I watch the Bundesliga in India?

The Star Sports network (Star Sports and Star Sports Select) have the rights to show Bundesliga matches in India.

Matches will also be available on streaming mobile application Disney+ Hotstar VIP, allowing supporters to watch multiple games simultaneously and catch the replay of matches.

Who leads the Bundesliga title race?

Ahead of the restart of the Bundesliga, Bayern Munich held a four-point lead over Borussia Dortmund, with RB Leipzig sitting third - trailing by an extra point - and Borussia Monchengladbach occupying fourth place six points behind the leaders.

Bayern have maintained their seven-point lead at the top courtesy a 5-0 win over Fortuna Dusseldorf while Borussia Dortmund defeated Paderborn 6-1 in matchday 29. RB Leipzig have kept pace at third followed by Borussia Monchengladbach and Bayer Leverkusen who also recorded victories to remain in the top five.

Click here for the full Bundesliga table

Bundesliga fixtures post Covid-19 break

Matchday 26

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Matchday 27

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Matchday 28

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Matchday 29

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Matchday 30

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Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Tiyani Mabunda says they "really needed this rest" from competitive football as he took time to reflect on his most cherished career moments, with his mind also set on "restarting the engine" if the season resumes.

Recent years have seen a busy time for Sundowns in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) and the Caf Champions League, where they have established rivalries in North Africa.

The Brazilians also hosted European giants Barcelona in a Mandela Centenary Cup in May 2018 and all these matches remain etched in Mabunda's mind as special memories.

The 32-year-old lasted until deep into injury time in the 3-1 defeat to Barca at FNB Stadium, a match he says brought the best out of him, together with battles against North African sides.

"I have played against some of the biggest teams in the world and on the continent and that’s really a great feeling to have gone up against Barcelona, Zamalek, Al Ahly, Wydad Casablanca – those are the games you cherish because they bring the best out of you because you dig deep and exhaust all the efforts that you have,” Mabunda told the Sundowns website.

“I have something to be proud of. I have special moments against each of those teams. We’ve also built such a great relationship with Wydad and their fans.

"Playing in Japan at the Fifa Club World Cup was a great blessing for me. It’s something to cherish and something I will never forget.”

Shifting attention to the domestic front, Mabunda's is now focused on the possible return of football which has been suspended due to the coronavirus.

The current halt has come as a refreshing period for Sundowns who had not enjoyed an off-season break or rested for at least a month since 2015, while participating in the Caf Champions League.

“We have been through a difficult time with the pandemic and the lockdown, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. We look forward to returning to the field of play because that is who we are and what we stand for. We want to continue where we left off, but we really needed this rest,” said Mabunda.

“So I am looking forward to restarting the engine and playing high-intensity football. We are geared up to retain our title. I believe the boys are ready and want to also celebrate the club turning 50 years.”

Sundowns are on course for a third successive league title as they trail log-leaders Kaizer Chiefs by four points although they have played a game less.

They are also gunning for the Nedbank Cup and have Bidvest Wits to worry about in the semi-finals.

Leonardo Bonucci has admitted to being in awe of Cristiano Ronaldo's physique upon his return from lockdown, insisting the Juventus forward has "presented himself in perfect condition".

Italian football has been suspended since March 9 due to the coronavirus pandemic, which has caused 402,561 deaths worldwide to date.

Players and staff members from clubs across Serie A were forced to self-isolate in accordance with new government legislation regarding social distancing for two months, but restrictions are now beginning to ease amid a significant drop in Covid-19 cases.

Juventus are now gearing up for a return to the pitch on June 12 after being cleared to resume full-contact training, with a Coppa Italia semi-final second leg tie against Milan on the cards.

Bonucci says Ronaldo reported for duty in the same exemplary shape he was in before the hiatus. He told Gazzetta dello Sport: "How did I find him? How I left him.

"He is a super athlete, a great professional. He told me what he did to keep fit during the quarantine. He presented himself in perfect condition. He cannot amaze, he is a champion, from all points of view."

Bonucci has also been a star turn in Juve's starting line up since returning to the club from Milan in the summer of 2018, playing a key role in the club's march towards an eighth successive Serie A crown last season.

His performances in defence have helped the Bianconeri fight for a domestic double and Champions League success this time around, and he is delighted to be back with his "family" after a difficult spell at San Siro.

The 33-year-old admits that he rushed into his decision to leave Juve following their 2017 European Cup final defeat at the hands of Real Madrid, but insists that the whole experience helped shape his character.

"It was a difficult year for me. Both on a personal and working level," said Bonucci. "There had been disagreements and I, in the end, especially after the defeat in the Champions League, made an unpolished decision - but I have to say that that choice, that it certainly influenced my career, it improved me as a man.

"Those months at Milan allowed me to look inside and understand that my place was in Juventus, in this one that I feel like my family. I met beautiful people at Milan before among these Rino Gattuso. It was a difficult year, but not in vain. At the end of which I was very happy to go home. "

Former Young Africans (Yanga SC) defender Oscar Joshua says he will be a happy man if Simba SC striker Meddie Kagere is beaten to the Mainland Premier League Golden Boot this term.

The Rwandan striker won the gong last season after notching 24 goals and he is currently leading the race to win it twice in a row having scored 19 goals already this term already.

With the league set to resume after it was halted in mid-March owing to the coronavirus pandemic, Kagere has a good chance to claim the award with only nine rounds of matches remaining to the end of the season.

Joshua has now challenged other strikers in the top-flight, led by Reliants Lusanjo, Paul Nonga, and Yusuph Mhilu, to make sure that they catch up with Kagere and beat him to the crown.

Lusajo and Mhilu, both of Kagere Sugar, have scored 11 goals while Nonga of Lipuli FC has managed 10 goals.

“First Emmanuel Okwi took the Golden Boot and then came Kagere and won the award last season, and still it seems Kagere will do it again this season,” Joshua is quoted by MwanaSpoti.

“But I have a feeling that we have Nonga, Lusanjo, and Mhilu who can also challenge for the gong and I want to urge them to make sure they don’t allow Kagere to win the award again, nine matches are enough to give them the award.

“I watch the three players before the league took a break and they were really a joy to watch, they were pushing him [Kagere] hard and I know when the league resumes, they will continue from where they had left.”

On the resumption of the league, after it was given the green light by President John Pombe Magufuli, Joshua said: “That is what every Tanzanian was waiting for, to have the action back and we are glad now we can follow the game we love again.

“I know most players are burning with ambitions to prove themselves after the break and thus we are in for an entertaining run. It will be a tough race to the end but we hope to see good football.”

Simba are chasing a third straight title as they sit top of the table on 71 points, 17 points ahead of Azam FC in second while Yanga are third, three further points behind.

Name: Ahmad Zikri Khalili
Age: 18
Siblings: Third child among five siblings
Academy: ProKids 1972 Soccer Academy (2013-2014), Project 2019 (2014), Pahang Malaysia Sports School (2015), Bukit Jalil Sports School (2016), Mokhtar Dahari Academy (2017-2019) 
Current Club: Selangor 2
National Team: Malaysia U-16 (qualified for 2018 AFC U-19 Championship finals), Malaysia U-19 (qualified for 2020 AFC U-19 Championship finals)
Position: Defender

ALSO READ: From Luqman Hakim to Arif Aiman - Meet the future of Malaysia

Early years

The defender recalled his first experience training as a young boy:

"I had been playing for my primary school back home in Kuantan since I was in Standard Four, but it was just for fun. Only in the following year I started training more seriously.

"My older brother, Ahmad Nuri wanted to join a youth training club, ProKids 1972 Soccer Academy but he didn't want to do it alone so he took me along. But overtime it was me who remained, while he focused on his studies."

Zikri with ProKids 1972 and former Pahang player Jalaluddin Jaafar in 2014

Learning the importance of education at AMD

Much like the first batch of the Mokhtar Dahari Academy (AMD) students who eventually began their training and education there in Form Three in 2017 (the academy now trains students beginning from Form One, the first year of secondary education for almost all youth in Malaysia), he was first selected for the 2019 Project team. He moved to Bukit Jalil in Standard Six to train with the team, along with boys who would go on to be his AMD classmates.

After detours through the Pahang Malaysia Sports School (2015) and the Bukit Jalil Sports School (2016), only in 2017 would they move properly into and began training at AMD.

As a youth footballer, he had expected to have to sacrifice his attention towards his formal education; a decision that was supported by his parents. But his eventual time at AMD instilled the importance of schooling.

"In Standard Six I often missed class due to my training commitment. Just before I started my Form One education, my parents sat me down and told me to decide properly between focusing on my studies, or football. They didn't think I can focus on both. But they were utterly supportive of my decision, and in the end I went with football.

"Having said that, we at AMD still tried to do well in our studies. We went to school in the morning while the evening is for training. They also provided us with evening talks on matters of football.

"The training by our coach back then, Lim Teong Kim (former AMD director and National Football Development Programme of Malaysia director) was always tough, but he was always supportive of me. He once asked me: 'What do you want to do if you were not in football?' I told him I want to study. But he explained that it was not impossible for me to do both at the same time, and that footballers can still go on to pursue other endeavours. That advice has provided me with the drive to succeed academically as well.

"After signing with the Selangor reserve team (along with 27 other 2019 AMD graduates), I also applied to pursue my sports science diploma studies at UiTM (Mara Institute of Technology). Studying while playing is something I've always planned on doing; as a sort of back-up plan. I'm just waiting for the application result now," noted the youngster.

Now in his first ever professional season with Selangor 2 after graduating from AMD last year, Zikri constantly utilises his academic inclination to better himself.

"I read a lot of research articles on sporting and endurance," he stated. "According to them, we athletes need to take care of our diet in order to take care of our endurance. So whenever I'm home, I have to tell my mother to go easy on the sugar and oil when she cooks for me.

"While at AMD all the information was obtained through coaches, I now take the initiative of reading up on sports science, although admittedly I'm by no means a bookworm. It's a sort of research for myself too, which is made easy by the prevalence of fitness-centred Instagram accounts." 

With the guidance and training received from his AMD stint, the teenager who can play as either a left back or a right centre back is now looking to meet two objectives.

"My target for now is to break through to the first team, to play in the Super League. There was once a rumour that they would call me up due to injuries, which got me all motivated in training, but in the end it didn't happen. Maybe next time!

"But my long-term aim is to play club football in Europe. Although I'm not at the level needed to go there yet, I'm willing to push myself. I need to work on my technique and endurance first for this to happen," he explained.

Young Africans (Yanga SC) assistant coach Boniface Mkwasa has revealed they will use the friendly against KMC to bring back a winning mentality ahead of the Mainland Premier League's resumption.

The Jangwani Street-based giants will come up against fellow top-flight side in a build-up contest at Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Sunday.

“I know it will be a tough match since [KMC] are among the good sides in the league but we are well prepared to win and bring back winning mentality to players,” Mkwasa is quoted by Daily News.

“It will give us an opportunity to see the balance of the team and where we should fix the problems before heading to the battlefield next week.”

Mkwasa further revealed his side is ready to navigate the congested fixtures when the season resumes, saying they have a huge squad to pick from and hence can rotate.

“As you know, we gave individual training sessions to be accomplished by players at their own homes when the league was suspended but that is not enough to make them fit for competitive games that is why we thought of playing friendly encounters to assess the players,” Mkwasa continued.

“We also need to get prepared with the many fixtures coming up and know how to rotate the squad, and this friendly will help us a lot.”

Mkwasa, who is standing in for head coach Luc Eymael, also confirmed most of the players in the squad had shown great improvement ahead of the league resumption.

“Our aim is to continue doing well in the league and ascend to the top positions of the table since we are preparing to win and not to lose games,” Mkwasa added.

He, however, confirmed four players - David Molinga, Yikpe Gislain, Said Makapu, and Patrick Sibomana – had gained weight while in lockdown occasioned by the coronavirus pandemic, but assured they were working on the problem.

Yanga will start their remaining league matches with an away match against Mwadui FC on July 13 at Kambarage Stadium. Yanga have already given up on the chase for the title as they lie 20 points behind table-toppers and rivals Simba SC.

However, they still have a chance to win the FA Cup where they are in the quarter-finals.

FIFA 20 has the most 99-rated cards ever, with ICON players, Team of the Year items and now Team of the Season So Far selections receiving the game's highest rating.

Despite the likes of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Diego Maradona and Pele having the top overall score, the player widely regarded as the toughest opponent to come up against has not received a 99 rating.

Monaco striker Wissam Ben Yedder has been named in the Ligue 1 Team of the Season (TOTS) after 18 goals in 26 games before the French top flight was cancelled, receiving an upgraded 97-rated card, which has already become one of the most expensive players in the game, worth more than even 99 Messi or 99 Ronaldo.

Ben Yedder's TOTS card may not have a 99 rating on the front of the card, but many of his key attributes are maxed out, including acceleration, finishing, positioning, agility, balance and jumping. He has 98 at heading accuracy, shot power and dribbling too, making him unstoppable anywhere near the penalty area.

His total in-game stats add up to 2516, making him a better all-rounder than legendary Brazilian strikers Ronaldo and Pele.

The 29-year-old has four-star skills which combine with his excellent dribbling stats, but perhaps even more importantly has a five-star weak foot, meaning he can shoot from any angle with both left and right feet.

During FIFA 20, regular and upgraded versions of Ben Yedder proved extremely popular on FUT Champions Weekend League and Divisions Rivals, but the 97-rated TOTS version is so dangerous that even Ben Yedder himself has joked "How many broken controllers with this one?"

Getting such a game-breaking card into your team will not be easy: you'll need either French or Ligue 1 players in midfield or attack to link him to in order to ensure he plays at maximum chemistry.

However, the bigger hurdle to having TOTS Ben Yedder start up front for you in Weekend League is his astonishing price. When he was released into packs, TOTS Ben Yedder sold for over 7 million coins on PC, over 6 million on PlayStation and over 5 million on Xbox.

For comparison, you could buy one TOTS Ben Yedder for that price or both 98-rated ICON Pele and 99-rated TOTS Messi and still have some coins to spare.

Neil Lennon has revealed that Celtic are in talks with rumoured Arsenal target Odsonne Edouard over a contract extension, while praising him as a "top-class striker".

Edouard enjoyed another superb season at Parkhead in 2019-20, hitting 22 goals in 27 appearances to help Celtic wrap up an unprecedented ninth successive Scottish Premiership crown.

The Hoops were awarded the title on a points-per-game basis after the season was cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak, with Edouard subsequently picking up the Golden Boot award.

The 22-year-old's performances have not gone unnoticed among Europe's elite clubs and the frontman has been heavily linked a summer transfer, despite the fact he still has two years left to run on his current deal.

Arsenal has been mooted as a potential landing spot for Edouard, with Leicester also reportedly among those lining up a £30 million ($38m) bid for his services.

Gunners legend Charlie Nicholas backed his old club to make a move for the Frenchman last month, telling Sky Sports: "Edouard could certainly play at Arsenal because the way they play, his style would be more than suitable for it."

However, Lennon moved to bring an and to any ongoing speculation over the Frenchman's future after being named the Scottish Football Writers Manager of the Year on Saturday.

"There are discussions at the minute with his [Edouard's] representatives," said the Celtic boss.

"Ultimately he's a player we want around. He's a fantastic player. He's really blossomed over the last couple of seasons.

"He had a magnificent season this year and we want to keep him. It's as simple as that. We're doing everything we can to keep him here for at least another season anyway.

"I think he is [happy]. I think he's got a fantastic relationship certainly with me and my backroom team and his team-mates.

"You can see how much the supporters appreciate him as well. I think that's reciprocated.

"He's grown into a top-class striker. Of course, there is going to be speculation around a player of that quality. But we're comfortable at the minute with the position we're in with him."

Yanga SC midfielder Abdulaziz Makame is optimistic his team will get past Kagera Sugar in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

The two teams were pooled together in the last eight of the domestic Cup where the eventual winner will represent Tanzania in the Caf Confederation Cup.

The 24-year-old explained why it is going to be a difficult game for either side.

"Knockout competitions are always unpredictable because it can go either way," Makame told Goal.

"This is a competition which every team gives the best to advance to the next round. We are prepared to play Kagera, but I am sure they are prepared as well which makes it tough and entertaining.

"However, we are determined to play in continental competitions next season and the best way to do it is by winning the FA Cup. It will be our motivation against Kagera."

The two teams met on January 15 in the Tanzania Mainland League and against all odds, the Sugar Millers managed to get a 3-0 win against Timu ya Wananchi.

Yanga fell behind after Yusuf Mhilu's strike early in the first half before conceding the other two in the second half, courtesy of Ahly Ramadhan and Peter Mwalyanzi.

It was Belgian Luc Eymael's first league match in charge after being appointed the coach of the 27-time champions in December 2019.

"It was a painful defeat for us because our aim was to chase the league title," Makame recalled.

"In the FA Cup quarter-finals, I understand [Kagera] will be motivated by the league win and they will want to cause an upset. But as I stated, we want to represent the nation in Caf Confederation Cup matches meaning we will push harder to get a win."

The Jangwani-based team has won the competition four times, with the last triumph coming in the 2015/16 season.

On Tuesday, June 30, the first match will be between fourth-placed Namungo against Alliance. The game will be played at Uwanja wa Majaliwa in Lindi. 

Yanga will host Kagera on the same day at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

On Wednesday, July 1, minnows Sahare All-Stars will be at Mkwakwani Stadium in Tanga against Ndanda FC. The latter come into the match as favourites owing to their undoubted quality in the squad compared to the second-tier side.

The biggest match, arguably, will be played on the same day at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam and will be between Azam FC, who are the defending champions, and league leaders Simba SC.

Wilfried Zaha has insisted he had "no idea" Sir Alex Ferguson was planning to leave Manchester United after agreeing to join the club, and admits to being "crushed" by his exit.

Zaha signed a five-and-a-half-year contract with the Red Devils after completing a £10 million ($13m) move from Crystal Palace in January 2013, before being sent back to Selhurst Park on loan for the remainder of the season.

Shortly before the Ivory Coast international was due to join up with his new team-mates at Old Trafford, Ferguson announced he was stepping down from his post at head coach after 25 years of unprecedented success. David Moyes was swiftly drafted in to replace the legendary Scot, and he immediately set about stamping his own mark on a Premier League-winning squad.

Zaha - who returned to Palace in 2015 - ultimately failed to force his way into Moyes' starting XI, but has now conceded that missing out on the chance to play under Ferguson came as a huge blow to his confidence.

The 27-year-old told former United team-mate Rio Ferdinand on his Youtube channel: "It crushed me a little bit because it was like, after speaking to him, it was a no-brainer that I wanted to go there. I had no idea he was leaving."

Zaha added on the initial discussions he had with Ferguson over his potential role in the squad: "He didn’t tell me exactly how he wanted me to play.

"He just told me straightforward stuff like obviously you know ‘you’re going to have to fight for your position you’re not going to play all the time, there’s a lot of youngsters in the team so you’ll be able to go in with the likes of Welbeck and Cleverley'.

"I was like ‘that is more than fine all I want is my opportunity just to show what I can do’. It was a straightforward conversation."

Moyes only lasted nine months at the helm before Louis van Gaal was appointed as his successor, but Zaha was also unable to get a look in under the eccentric Dutchman. He ended up being sent on loan to Cardiff and Palace before leaving United with just four first-team appearances to his name.

Asked if he regrets how his spell at Old Trafford played out, Zaha responded: "There’s never regrets Rio. I met so many amazing players that I watched from when I was young. You (Rio) were there, Giggsy was there, Rooney was there, Van Persie was there.

"So many players I’ve managed to learn from so it’s never regrets.  I’m sitting in the same changing room as the players I’ve seen win titles after titles after titles that’s what I want in my career and it’s like I’m finally here with this lot. It’s different when you watch them first-hand."

Former Barcelona defender Dani Alves has compared the club's performance in the 2015 Champions League final to Muhammad Ali after recalling their hard-fought victory against Juventus. 

Luis Enrique's side clenched the second treble in their club history after downing their Serie A opposition 3-1 in Berlin. 

Goals from Ivan Rakitic, Luis Suarez and Neymar wrapped up the win for Barcelona against a Juve side that had knocked out Real Madrid in the semi-finals. 

Looking back on the victory, Alves felt his side channelled the world's most famous boxer as they made the most of possession and knocked out their opponent. 

“We were up against very physical opponents and we knew we had to win by having the ball. It does not matter how strong your opponents is if you have them chasing after the ball so that they get tired," Alves told Barcelona's official website.

"The moment they let their guard down is the moment to attack. We were like Muhammad Ali: we floated like a butterfly and stung like a bee.

"I think we were deserving winners of the final and we celebrated a lot as we had repeated the treble.

“I remember pretty much everything about the final. It's very recent and not a lot of time has passed since then. I remember it was a very special moment but also a tough one on a personal and collective level.

"People thought we couldn't win another treble and were supporting our opponents to stop us doing it. We were aware that people thought we could not do it. When you are prepared to face that, it's unlikely negative things happen. That is Barca's secret in finals: they are always prepared." 

The 2014-15 season was one to remember for Barcelona as they also claimed La Liga and the Copa del Rey - losing just six games in all competitions.

It hasn't been such smooth sailing since however with the Catalans failing to reach the Champions League final since that memorable night in Berlin. 

In the years after, fierce rivals Real Madrid would win the competition for three years running before Liverpool claimed the title in 2019 after defeating Tottenham in the final. 

With the arrival of Givson Singh from Indian Arrows, Kerala Blasters have made their intentions in the transfer market clear. 

The Kochi-based Indian Super League (ISL) club, who were once famous for bringing experienced veterans or high profile footballers to India, are currently going through a structural revamp on and off the field. As a result, there has been a change in transfer policy as well. 

Only three years ago did Blasters rope in former Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov only to see the reputed player, who was already well past his prime, struggle to make a mark in Indian football. Much was expected from that season with Rene Meulensteen at the helm and two of his former proteges - Berbatov and Wes Brown - in the Blasters squad. The 2017-18 season saw the team finish sixth, outside the playoff spots and excluding Bartholomew Ogbeche, the club has stayed away from splashing the cash on big names since then. 

The next two seasons saw the team opt for bankable foreign players with the experience of playing in India. While the results failed to improve, the shift in approach was notable.

Fast forward to 2020 - With the club's financials, which was already struggling to register good numbers, taking a hit due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the transfer policy in place right now has arrived at the right time. 

Several Indian clubs have been forced to shut up shop due to financial problems and while Blasters are safe from such a nightmarish scenario at the moment, given the history of football clubs in India and in particular Kerala, it is better to be safe than sorry. 

Indian clubs are still a long way from registering profits at the end of every season. Instead of going for numerous high-profile players, Kerala Blasters are focusing on signing several talented young players who will form the core of the team in the years to come.

Due to the financial crisis brought upon the world by the pandemic, Blasters have asked several players to take a pay-cut. There have also been re-negotiations of newly signed contracts. However, the young players seem to be the one group that seems unaffected as of now.

Aside from Givson, 23-year-old Ritwik Das and 19-year-old Prabshsukhan Gill have joined from Real Kashmir and Bengaluru FC respectively. Nishu Kumar, who has been signed on a bumper deal, is only 22.

The club already has the likes of Jeakson Singh, who played a prominent first-team role last season, and Nongdamba Naorem, who will return to the club after a title-winning loan spell at Mohun Bagan. The club is also home to one of the country's most exciting midfield prospects in Sahal Abdul Samad whose contract runs for two more years apart from the exciting 20-year-old winger Rahul KP.

Young Indian Arrows attacking midfielder Ayush Adhikari is also tied down to the club. 22-year-old Lalthathanga Khawlhring (Puitea) has joined the club from NorthEast United. This is apart from the likes of Prasanth Karuthadathkuni (22) who featured in the first team last season.

It is safe to say that all Indian clubs, including Blasters, will be extremely cautious in the transfer market this season. Blasters have opted to focus on building a core of young footballers and while on-field results may still not be guaranteed, it may give them breathing space in the football business for now. 

Sporting Clube de Goa midfielder Shanon Viegas will look to live his European dream following his one-year deal with Portuguese side Clube Desportivo dos Olivais e Moscavide.

The 18-year-old had two stints at the International Football Academy de Portugal (IFAPT) after which the move to the 2nd division club in the Associaco Futbol de Lisboa (AFL) got materialised.

Interestingly, the youngster's first visit to IFAPT in November 2018 after he had turned up for the India U-16 team at the 2018 AFC (Asian Football Confederation) U-16 Championship in Malaysia had also garnered interest from another team but Shanon was not of age to sign a contract then.

"Two years ago, he was 16 and going on 17 when he was referred by Mr. Peter Vaz of Sporting Clube de Goa. We handed him try-outs with Associação Desportiva Oeiras (ADO). The juniors' coach Nuno Vincent loved Shanon's game and wanted to sign him but because of legality issues of foreigners playing in the EU (European Union) below the age of 18 without a guardian, we were not able to sign him till he reached the age of 18," IFAPT President Elvis Goes informed Goal.

"His name was recommended by Nuno to Joao Correia who was the head coach of the first team," the former Vasco SC coach added, as Shanon returned to India to represent Sporting Clube de Goa in the AIFF (All India Football Federation) U-18 Elite League and the Goa Pro League in the 2019-20 season.

Shanon's father Michael Viegas was pleased with the opportunity his son got. He told Goal, "This is a very good platform for him. I did not want to make a hype of it. Even when he was selected for the India (junior) team, I didn't make a noise of it because he is still young. He is very different from the other footballers, very calm and with good ability.",

A confident Shanon, who is one of the tallest youngsters in India at 6'2", feels that it was just reward for his hardwork. "It was a move which I wasn't surprised of. I know how I play and what I can offer to the club. It is a historical club which is situated right in the middle of the beautiful city of Lisbon," he told Goal.

"This is just the start of a long journey. I have just turned 18 and I can't let my focus go astray. I have got this opportunity with the help of my father and Mr. Elvis. I'm grateful and I will try my best to make the best of it."

Shanon is a product of the Sporting Goa’s youth development program, right from the time the club began their academy in 2010 and has been part of the U-12 to U-16 teams before joining the AIFF Academy in 2017. He won the 2013-14 GFA (Goa Football Association) U-14 League with Sporting Goa besides helping Don Bosco lift the Sporting U-12 trophy and emerge champions at the St Dominic Savio all-Goa inter-school football tournament in his formative years.

Having had Shanon in his squad from the 2017 SAFF (South Asian Football Federation) U-15 Championships in Nepal, India U-16 coach Bibiano Fernandes had earlier told Goal in a conversation, "I had seen him (Shanon) at Sporting youth teams. He was technically very good and he had improved a lot with us. His height and tackling abilities in the midfield were good, as also his vision and passes."

During Shanon's second visit to Portugal, after turning 18 in January, he trained with Oeiras seniors before Correia took over as the first team coach of Olivais e Moscavide in May and took the Goan along with him.

"Correia decided that Shanon fits a role of a central midfielder in this team by playing number 6 in a 4-3-3 formation. ADO wanted him at that time but Covid-19 (pandemic situation) took that option away," Goes confirmed.

Whereas Olivais e Moscavide coach Joao Correia asserted to Goal, "I am very happy to have Shanon in my squad. He is now in a historic Portuguese club. Shanon is a very smart midfielder who can relate his physical power to the quality of his technique. He has all the potential to reach the highest level in football and to become one of the best (football) players in India."

Paul Scholes has backed Manchester United to secure a top-four finish, insisting their remaining "fixtures look quite favourable".

United sat fifth in the Premier League standings when play was stopped due to the coronavirus outbreak in March.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side had enjoyed an 11-match unbeaten run in all competitions before the three-month hiatus, closing the gap on fourth-placed Chelsea to just three points while also negotiating their way through to the latter stages of both the Europa League and FA Cup.

The Red Devils will be hoping to pick up from where they left off on June 19, as they reopen their schedule with a crucial clash against Tottenham.

Club legend Scholes is optimistic that his former employers will finish the season strongly, especially with Marcus Rashford and Paul Pogba back in the fold after long-term injury layoffs.

Asked if he is confident of United's chances of making the top-four, the ex-midfielder told MUTV: "Yes I am. I think if we didn’t have this break, I think we were certainties to get it. There’s just no knowing how we’ll come out of it.

"I think we’ll be fine. We’ve got big players coming back into the team, which we didn’t have in Marcus and Paul coming back into the squad.

"If they can come back, hit the ground running I think they’ve got every chance. It’d be great to get to an FA Cup final as well, although it’ll probably be a little bit strange with no fans there - but still, it’s a trophy and you’d like to win it.

"You just have to wait and see but I think they’ve got a great chance. What is it, three points behind Chelsea? Our fixtures do look quite favourable. Fingers crossed we’ll come back in the same vein of form and hopefully get that Champions League spot at the end of the year."

After their meeting with Spurs, United will start preparing for a showdown against Sheffield United on June 24, with Chris Wilder's high-flying Blades also chasing down a seat at Europe's top table.

The Red Devils are due to take on Norwich three days later, before turning their attention to a meeting with Brighton on the final day of the month.

Kakamega Homeboyz chairman Cleophas Shimanyula claims they now own the best team bus in the Kenyan Premier League (KPL).

On Friday, the Kakamega-based club joined the big league in the Kenyan top-flight by becoming the latest team to own a bus, alongside Wazito FC, Tusker FC, and AFC Leopards, who have branded vehicles.

Shimanyula has now bragged Homeboyz purchased "a huge machine" that cannot be compared to what other teams have in the KPL.

“We bought a very serious machine, even Wazito, who used to brag they have the best bus in the league, cannot match our bus,” Shimanyula told Goal on Sunday.

“It is a state-of-the-art machine and will accommodate 42 people, I used over Sh18million to get the bus, and remember that amount is more than four times more than what a winner in KPL league gets as prize money.

“KPL gives league winners Sh4million, which sometimes they don’t even give out but we managed to purchase a bus at Sh18million.

"It means the club is now becoming a force to reckon with in KPL, we are coming up slowly and soon things will be very different in the league.”

Shimanyula further says his team was on course to win the KPL title had the season not been suspended owing to the coronavirus pandemic.

“I was 100 percent sure we were going to lift the title this season, my players were psyched and kept pushing hard, we are the only team to have beaten top giants home and away and it shows you we were on the right track to wrestle Gor Mahia to the title,” Shimanyula continued.

“By the time they suspended the league, we were sitting second on the table, seven points behind Gor Mahia and we still had a game in hand, and that shows you how serious my team was, it was just a matter of winning our matches and we could have topped the table.

“Whatever happens to the current campaign, we are ready for next season, we now have a team bus and my players will not suffer anymore, we also have the financial support from the Kakamega County which will keep the players on toes, teams should be warned that Homeboyz is coming up quickly and our target is to win the title next season.”

Before the league was halted, Homeboyz were second on the 17-team league table, seven points behind Gor Mahia, who were eventually declared winners by the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, Homeboyz have protested the decision to award K’Ogalo the title and are keen to play the remaining nine rounds of matches.

Bayern Munich coach Hansi Flick has expressed his frustration after Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Muller earned yellow cards in the win over Bayer Leverkusen which will rule them out of their next Bundesliga match.

Despite falling behind early on, Bayern rallied and ultimately ran out comfortable 4-2 winners, with Kingsley Coman, Leon Goretzka, Serge Gnabry and Lewandowski on target. 

For Lewandowski, his effort took him on to 44 for the season across all competitions, a personal best, while Muller claimed a pair of assists to move him to 20 for the 2019-20 Bundesliga campaign, tying Kevin De Bruyne's record.

However, both of Bayern's key men were booked, meaning they will miss next weekend's visit of Borussia Monchengladbach. Although Bayern have a commanding lead at the summit, Flick did not hide his irritation at having the pair ruled out.

"It's annoying but we cannot change it and have to accept the situation," he said. "You are emotional on the pitch, but I spoke to the referee Manuel Grafe. He said that Lewandowski was hitting the opponent and that's why he saw the yellow card. I didn't see it so I cannot really comment.

"Thomas was blocking the ball when they had free-kick, so the yellow card was okay. It is what it is. We accept it.

"We will have two other players. This is also good sometimes, but it's important that both can play 90 minutes against Eintracht Frankfurt [in the DFB-Pokal] on Wednesday. Then we try to prepare ourselves well for the game against Gladbach."

Goretzka was a standout performer once again and that was not lost on Flick, who is desperate for the Germany midfielder to remain injury-free.

"We are knocking on wood [hoping Goretzka remains fit] and hope he continues like that," Flick said. "Of course, how we fought back was also due to the intensive pressing – we were more aggressive and had good ball possessions.

"Leon was directly involved in those moments and had a big influence on the first two goals. He showed exactly what you need as a team when you still have to find your way to the game. He did that great.

"Regarding his physical condition, he has a very strong role on the pitch and this helps us a lot."

Ligue 1 could resume with play-offs before August 2 despite the fact the top-flight season has been voided, UEFA have said.

French prime minister Edouard Philippe announced the cancellation of all sporting events across the country on April 28, amid the ongoing fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

Football authorities subsequently voided the 2019-20 campaign, with final positions in both Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 decided on a points-per-game basis.

Paris Saint-Germain were crowned French champions for a third successive year, having already established a 12 point lead at the top of the table when the action was initially stopped in March.

Marseille and Rennes both earned a place in the Champions League after finishing second and third respectively, but seventh-placed Lyon missed out on European football completely for the first time since 1996.

The cancellation of proceedings also saw Amiens and Toulouse relegated, and Lyon have joined the two clubs in vowing to fight the final decision in the courts.

Lyon president Jean Michel Aulas has publicly voiced his intention to sue the French state in order to get the season restarted, and UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has now responded by clearing the path for such a scenario. 

Ceferin wrote in an official UEFA communication on Friday: "We would first of all like to clarify that it is the competence of national associations to decide on the format of their domestic competitions, in particular by taking into account the circumstances and restrictive measures specific to the country.

"As mentioned by UEFA a few weeks ago, the French authorities' decision to cancel the season was taken relatively early.

“Nevertheless, and provided that the national associations are able to coordinate with the competent national authorities a potential restart of domestic competition, August 2, 2020, would be an appropriate date to end the domestic competitions."

A number of players and experts have criticised the decision to end the Ligue 1 season prematurely, with PSG winger Angel Di Maria the latest to insist that greater patience should have been shown.

An easing of lockdown measures allowed the German Bundesliga resumed on May 18, with the Premier League and La Liga set to follow suit in England and Spain later this month.

Di Maria doesn't understand why France didn't take the same approach, as he told L'Equipe: "Like many, I think we rushed to make such a decision. From what we can see, France is today one of the countries where the health situation is the most favourable, and yet everything has been totally stopped for good."

Nigeria football legend Joseph Yobo has posted an emotional tribute to Stephen Keshi, who passed away on June 7, 2016.

Keshi - the only man after Mahmoud El-Gohary to win the Africa Cup of Nations as a player and coach - passed away after suffering a heart attack at the age of 54 on this day four years ago - six months after losing his wife Kate to cancer.

Yobo developed an incredible bond with the ‘Big Boss’ during his time as Super Eagles coach, having captained his team to winning the 2013 Afcon staged in South Africa.

Also, he played a key role in his side’s 2014 Fifa World Cup outing where the three-time African champions bowed out to France in the Round of 16.

Sunday marks the anniversary of Keshi’s passing and the ex-Everton defender, who is now Nigeria’s assistant coach, took to social media to share a moving tribute to his former international coach and one of his football role models.

“Dear coach, it’s been four years today since you left us to rest with the Lord. You are deeply missed but your legacy lives on! Rest on the Big Boss,” Yobo wrote on Instagram.

Keshi made his Nigeria bow in 1981 at the age 20 and only drew the curtain on his international career after garnering 64 caps and nine goals.

He led Clemens Westerhof’s Eagles to a triumphant Afcon 1994 outing as well as their maiden Fifa World Cup appearance in the United States of America in the same year.

After his playing career which saw him represent ACB Lagos, Africa Sports, Lokeren, Anderlecht, RC Strasbourg and Sacramento Scorpions, he went into administration and helped Togo qualify for the 2006 World Cup, although he was replaced by Otto Pfister a few months prior to the championship.

He also led Mali to the 2010 Afcon in Angola. There, they crashed out of a group that had Angola, Algeria and Malawi.

Keshi replaced Nigeria caretaker coach Augustine Eguavoen in 2011 and led them to Afcon success after 19 years.

He managed the side to the Fifa Confederation Cup 2013 and 2014 Fifa World Cup and became the first African coach to reach the knockout stage, where they fell to France in the Round of 16.

His side’s failure to qualify for the 2015 Afcon led to his third and final disengagement by the Nigeria Football Federation after a long and fractious relationship with the governing body.