Looking for Soccer News?

Dinamo Zagreb’s preparations for their Europa League clash with Tottenham have been thrown into disarray as coach Zoran Mamic has resigned after being sentenced to four years and eight months in prison.

Mamic and his brother Zdravko were found guilty on corruption charges in 2018.

Croatia's supreme court upheld the initial rulings on Monday, and Mamic tendered his resignation.

What was said?

"Although I don't feel guilty, I resign as I said before I would do if the sentence was confirmed," Mamic said in a statement on the club's official website.

"I wish all the good luck to the club."

What next for Dinamo?

The club’s board accepted the resignation of their coach and acted swiftly to appoint Damir Krznar as his successor.

Krznar has a monumental task on his hands, as Dinamo face Spurs in the second leg of their Europa League last-16 tie on Thursday, trailing 2-0 from the first leg in London last week.

Further reading

Ronald Koeman has described Lionel Messi as “the most important man in the history” of Barcelona.

Messi etched himself another note in the record books when joining Xavi at the top of Barcelona’s all-time list of appearance makers.

He marked his 767th appearance for the club with two goals in the 4-1 win over Huesca to ramp up the pressure on Atletico Madrid in the title race.

What was said?

After a slow start to the season, Barcelona are picking up momentum and after inspiring the side to victory, coach Koeman lavished praise on the Argentina superstar.

“I think Messi has shown that he is the best," Koeman said. "The first goal was fantastic. He deserves to be important for this team.

"I don't know what else to say about Leo. The level he has been at for so many years, so many games.

“He has equalled Xavi and in principle he will surpass him on Sunday.

“He is the most important man in the history of this club. Luckily he is still with us."

Another record is set

Most players would be happy to settle for setting one record in a game, but Messi is not most players.

In plundering two strikes, he went past the 20-goal mark for the season. In achieving the feat, Messi was doing it for the 13th consecutive season, becoming the only player to do so in La Liga history.

Barca ramp up title pressure

Atletico Madrid’s draw against Getafe on Saturday left the door slightly ajar, and Barca powered through to cut the gap at the top of the table to four points.

There are 11 games remaining in the Liga season, and Koeman is looking for his "confident" team to keep on pushing.

“The points we lost for a few weeks ... we have reacted well,” the Dutch coach said. “The team is confident. We are in good shape and we are fighting.

“We cannot lose more points because we have already lost quite a few.

"I've always said there is a lot to play for. It's always hard for any team to hold out."

Further reading

Liverpool forward Diogo Jota reflected on what he called a "special game" after he helped Liverpool take down his former club Wolves on Monday.

The Portuguese forward scored the lone goal in the Reds' win, which marked the club's second victory in its last eight Premier League matches.

Wolves sold Jota to Liverpool last summer for a £41 million ($53m) fee, with the attacker proving effective when healthy for the Reds this campaign.

What did Jota have to say?

"We are in poor form so we need to change that. Today was a good game and we did our job," he told BBC Sport.

"It's a special game. I worked here for over three years. I know almost everyone in that dressing room. I just wish the fans could be here to make it even more special.

"The goal meant a lot and it helped the team I represent now. It was really, really important today. The break comes not in a good moment. We had two wins, two clean sheets so we could have built some momentum.

"It was really, really important [to score]. As a striker, I always want to be involved in goals. I had opportunities I didn't take in the Champions League. It's a good feeling to be back on scoresheet.

"If we play the way we have here I think we have a chance [of the top four]."

Jota's time at Liverpool

After making the move from Wolves this summer, Jota instantly asserted himself as a key part of Liverpool's attack, offering Jurgen Klopp that long-awaited attacking option to rival the trio of Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino.

He got off to a strong start at Anfield, becoming the first player since Robbie Fowler to score seven goals in his first 10 Liverpool appearances.

However, Jota suffered a leg injury in December, ruling him out for two months, with Liverpool's tailspin beginning soon after.

Jota made his return in late February, and, with Monday's goal haul, now has nine goals in his first 20 Liverpool appearances.

Further reading

Emina Ekic was robbed of a run with the USWNT Under-23s in 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic, so her rookie season with Racing Louisville will be a particularly important showcase for her long-term national team prospects.

The 21-year-old scored her first preseason goal for Racing in a 4-0 win over West Virginia this past weekend, finishing across the goalkeeper after fellow first-round pick Emily Fox found her in space. She said her chemistry with veteran team-mates vital to her development has improved in recent weeks, even as she's been asked to take on several different attacking positions and coached intensely.

Ekic, selected fifth-overall in this year's NWSL draft, played with the U23 team at the Thorns Springs Invitational in 2019 and is excited to join the pro ranks where she can accelerate her growth after losing valuable high-level game time last year.

What has been said?

"I'm being coached [hard] and being really open to criticism," Ekic told reporters. "Obviously I have a lot of the older players playing around me on the forward line. Talking to me, coaching me as the weeks have gone by. And I think our chemistry has gotten better, so the interchange, when to pull wide and just understanding each other."

Head coach Christy Holly added: "We're asking a lot of our attacking players both physically and psychologically, to move through different positions."

Where did Ekic come from?

The forward is a local star who grew up in Louisville and attended the University of Louisville, where she earned ACC Offensive Player of the Year honors.

She will be expected to become a focal point for Racing's attack as Fox heads the back-line in the coming years.

Further reading

Wolves boss Nunto Santo has said goalkeeper Rui Patricio escaped serious injury after being stretchered off during the defeat to Liverpool following a sickening collision with his team-mate Conor Coady.

The Portuguese was stretchered off with what looked like a serious head injury.

However, following the game, Wolves boss Nuno said his player was conscious and doctors had given him a clean bill of health.

What was said?

“We have just had an update and he is okay,” Nuno told Sky Sports. “He is conscious, he remembers what happened and he is aware. The doctors tell me he is okay.

“We spoke already and he is okay.

“All these situations when it is a concussion in the head has all of us worried. 

“He is going to recover so he is okay.”

What happened to Rui Patricio?

Towards the end of the match at Molineux on Monday, Liverpool broke forward and Mo Salah was played through on goal

As he drove towards goal, Rui Patricio came out to narrow the angle, while Coady attempted to get back to make a tackle.

Salah lifted the ball over Rui Patricio and into the net, while Coady’s momentum took him into his team-mate.

The goalkeeper lay motionless, and medical attention was quickly on the field to treat the 33-year-old.

Play was stopped for some eight minutes before Rui Patricio was stretched off and replaced by John Ruddy.

The lack of a flag

Salah’s effort did not count, as he was flagged for offside - only after clipping the ball into the net.

Officials are now being encouraged to let play continue on offsides, as the technology allows goals to be looked at retrospectively and ruled out if necessary.

The issue with that, as in the case with Rui Patricio, is with play continuing there is the prospect of an injury occurring.

There is no guarantee that had the flag gone up immediately, Coady would not have collided with Rui Patricio - but it would have increased the chances of play being brought to an immediate halt.

Further reading

Arsenal star Emile Smith Rowe’s dramatic rise to prominence this season is just the beginning, according to England Under-21s boss Aidy Boothroyd.

The 20-year-old has become an integral part of Gunners boss Mikel Arteta’s side this season and has been one of the key reasons behind Arsenal’s upturn in form since Christmas.

After making his first Premier League appearance of the season against Chelsea on Boxing Day, Smith Rowe has gone on to start 11 of Arsenal’s last 13 games in the league. He has contributed four assists during that time and on Sunday he was hugely influential again as the Gunners came from behind to beat Spurs 2-1 in the north London derby.

What’s been said?

His excellent form has now seen him rewarded with a first call up for the England Under-21s, with Boothroyd naming him alongside Arsenal team-mate Eddie Nketiah in the squad for next week’s Uefa U21 Euro finals group stage, which runs from March 24 to March 31.

And Boothroyd has explained his reasons for turning to Smith Rowe, praising the Gunners’ academy product for his rapid progress and suggesting that only injuries can now prevent him going on to achieve great things for club and country.

“He has been outstanding for his club,” said the England Under-21s boss.

Boothroyd highlighted Smith Rowe’s vision when discussing what had impressed him most about the Arsenal youngster this season, but was also keen to point out willingness to put his manager’s plans into practise.

“Honesty is the word that jumps out to me," the coach said. "We can talk about all the technical qualities that he’s got, his willingness to work for the team. But he is so honest in what he does.

“He is desperate to please. You can see the little techniques in his game, particularly without the ball, people wouldn’t really associate him without the ball, but his willingness to work, to get into position, to check his shoulders, to make sure he is doing what the coach wants him to do.

“I think probably the key thing for him, what I like so much about him, is his football brain.

“He is one of those players who sees things happening before they actually occur. Sees a pass, runs into a space where he thinks the ball is going to be. We are only seeing the start of him.

“If he can stay fit we have got a real player on our hands there.

“When I spoke to Keith Downing about him, who he was with with the U19s and through other teams in the pathway, all that comes out is what a good character he is, and that’s very important for us as a group as well.”

Who will England's U21s face in the group stages?

Boothroyd's men have been drawn in Group D for the European Championship, which will be staged behind closed doors in Slovenia.

The Three Lions will be vying for a spot in the knockout stages alongside Portugal, Croatia and Switzerland, but have failed to make it beyond the group in three of their last eight appearances in the tournament.

“History tells us that this competition is about as competitive as it gets and we know we will have to be at our best," Boothroyd said. 

"Because we are in the middle of the domestic season, everyone will have to hit the ground running as soon as they come together but we are ready for the challenge. We can’t wait to get started.”

Further reading 

Hudson-Odoi and Greenwood named in England squad for U21 European Championships

England World Cup 2022 qualifying: All you need to know

Lacazette: I was lucky to win a penalty against Spurs

England Under-21s manager Aidy Boothroyd has admitted that Callum Hudson-Odoi is unlucky to not make Gareth Southgate's senior squad after a good run of form under Thomas Tuchel in recent weeks.

The 20-year-old is among the star players for the Young Lions ahead of their U21 European Championship campaign that begins in March.

Having been a fringe player under Frank Lampard, Hudson-Odoi has been involved in 11 of Tuchel's first 12 games in charge. It has coincided with a 12-game unbeaten run for the Blues and Boothroyd admits that the forward could have made the senior squad.

What Boothroyd said?

“I think so (that he is unlucky),” Boothroyd told reporters ahead of the international break. “Not only that, but one or two players on our standby list for this particular squad can consider themselves unlucky.

“That’s good for me because the quality of the players is so high. But that’s all part of sport and life. You get an opportunity; you take it, things don’t work out, you come back down, you’ve got to get back on your bike and go again.

“Callum has certainly done that; we’re expecting Mason [Greenwood] to do that and anybody else who goes up to the senior team and comes back to us.

“There’s an expectation from us that is exactly the same as the senior team and all the pathways. We want you to be the best you can be and dealing with disappointment is part of that.

“There are ups and downs for these young guys and that is part of what we do, to offer them an environment where they can relax a little bit and show what they’ve got.

“But if they’re not with us in terms of how we want to do that and what’s expected, then they don’t last very long. But those that do tend to get back into the seniors and do very well.”

Who else is in Boothroyd's squad?

Arsenal duo Eddie Nketiah and Emile Smith Rowe will compete with Hudson-Odoi and Greenwood for the forward spots in an exciting squad.

Tottenham duo Ryan Sessegnon, who is on loan at Hoffenheim, and Japhet Tanganga are amongst the group. There are also two Chelsea loanees amongst the group, with Conor Gallagher and Marc Guehi called up from West Brom and Swansea City respectively.

The senior squad will be announced on Thursday afternoon with Dortmund's Jude Bellingham and Chelsea's Reece James likely to be among the group, even though they are eligible for the U21s.

Further reading

Marcos Rojo has said he has been in contact with Edinson Cavani, amid reports the Manchester United forward could be on his way to Boca Juniors.

Cavani has made a positive impression at Manchester United since moving to the club from Paris Saint-Germain last year, but his father muddied the waters by saying the striker is unhappy at the club and would like to play for Boca.

Rojo is now a Boca player after leaving United for Argentina in January, and it would appear he has been doing his bit for his new club.

What was said?

"I spoke with him,” the Manchester Evening News quote Rojo as saying. “I played a little with him. We were together for four or five months.

"He is a great professional and if he reaches Argentine football, he would be a great star that would do Argentine football good."

What does the future hold for Cavani?

Red Devils boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has spoken in glowing terms of the Uruguayan forward, and said the club would sit down and talk about extending the 34-year-old’s contract.

There is an option to extend Cavani’s deal by one year, but is not a unilateral clause - meaning Cavani could walk away should he wish.

Cavani has said he is enjoying life at United, being happy to work with the younger strikers in the squad, but the pull of a return to South America is strong for a player who has already held talks with Boca’s second vice-president Juan Roman Riquelme.

Further reading

Hapoel Ra’anana were held to a 2-2 draw by MS Kafr Qasim in Monday’s Israeli Liga Leumit clash as Peter Olawale got his second league goal of the season.

Having ended his wait for a maiden senior goal in his team’s 3-1 defeat of Hapoel Iksal their last time out, the Nigeria youth international was rewarded with a place in the starting line-up against Salah Hasarma’s men.

Nonetheless, he did not disappoint after finding the net in his second consecutive game for the Ra'anana based outfit.

In the four-goal thriller at the Lod Municipal Stadium, Guyana international Emery Welshman gave the visitors a second minute lead from the penalty spot after Olawale was brought down in the goal area by one of Qasim’s defenders.

The lead lasted for just eight minutes as Mohammed Khatib levelled matters for Aviram Matmon’s side thanks to an assist from midfielder Roy Dayan.

Despite impressive attacking moves from both teams, the first-half ended one goal apiece.

Like a house on fire, the hosts commenced the second-half on a lively note but they were unable to get past goalkeeper Niv Antman who put up a commendable showing.

In the 68th minute, the former Tripple 44 Academy star restored Hapoel Ra’anana’s lead after skipping past two defenders before unbridling a beauty past goalkeeper Tzlil Hatuka.

With seven minutes to full time, Hisham Layous ensured that the fixture ended on a no winner, no vanquished note with a well-taken goal.

While the 18-year-old Nigerian was on parade from start to finish, his compatriot Bede Osuji was an unused substitute. For the hosts, Cote d’Ivoire defender Doueugui Mala saw every minute of action.

Despite this result, Hapoel Ra’anana remain 10th in the log after garnering 31 points from 26 matches. MS Kafr Qasim are 14th in the Israeli second tier log after amassing 26 points from the same number of outings.

Olawale, who could leave the Israeli side at the end of the 2020-21 campaign to join an undisclosed Champions League-bound side, would be hoping to make it three goals at a stretch when his team welcomes Hapoel Kfar Shalem to the Karnei Oren Memorial Field on Friday, March 19.

Lionel Messi set yet another La Liga record on Monday as the Barcelona star continued his assault on Spanish football's goalscoring record books.

Messi scored Barcelona's first goal in Monday's clash with Huesca, a match that also marked yet another record for the Argentine.

With his appearance, Messi made his 767th appearance for the Catalans, equalling his legendary team-mate Xavi for the most appearances in a Barcelona shirt.

Messi's latest record

With his goal on Monday, Messi notched his 20th finish of the 2020-21 La Liga campaign.

And, in the process, he reached that 20-goal total for the 13th consecutive season, becoming the only player to do so in the competition’s history.

Messi has scored 659 total goals for Barcelona, putting him 427 clear of second-placed Cesar Rodriguez in the club's goalscoring record book.

Additionally, Messi has a grand total of 34 trophies to his name during his time starring for the Catalan club.

Fighting atop La Liga

While Barcelona's Champions League run ended prematurely at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain last week, they do remain in La Liga's title race.

Entering Monday's game, Barca had gone 16 games without losing in La Liga, the longest active streak in Europe's top five leagues.

That run has them sitting third in La Liga entering the match, one point behind Real Madrid and seven behind league-leaders Atletico Madrid.

Further reading

Thierry Henry feels Arsenal have a team capable of beating anyone in the Premier League, but believes the Gunners must find consistency if they are to become contenders for honours.

The Gunners beat north London rivals Tottenham on Sunday to put a spring in the step of their fans, but they still find themselves behind Spurs in the table.

Henry feels Gunners boss Mikel Arteta has the club trending in the right direction, but wants to see consistency brought to their play.

What was said?

Henry was asked to appraise his former club during an appearance on Sky Sports, and believes Arteta secured some breathing space by beating Chelsea in the FA Cup final last season.

“I think Mikel bought himself some time by winning the FA Cup last year,” Henry said. “The way they won it, and the team they won against, bought him some time with the fans and with the club because you have something to show at the end of the season.

“What is lacking now is consistency. I sometimes watch the first halves of Arsenal and it seems like they don’t believe they can win.

“Then when they are in a situation when they need to come back and have a go, it looks like ‘wow, why didn't they start like that?’

“You could see [on Sunday] they wanted to win the game. Tottenham made it a tiny bit easier for them on the day.

"But I can see progress and now Mikel needs to move on to consistency.”

'They can beat any team in the league'

Henry was impressed with how Arteta set his side up to take the game to Tottenham on Sunday.

“I think Mikel has a good squad, you saw it yesterday,” Henry said. 

“I like the way he set up the team. If you look at the positions of the three strikers, he played almost 2-3-5 on the ball.

“People were going forward; the intensity was there, the desire to win the game was there. When they play like that on the front foot and go forward, they can beat any team in the league.”

Room for improvement despite Spurs win

While Henry feels progress has been made, he offered up a sobering point for Arsenal fans.

He added: “I think the squad is good. Can it be better? Yes. Was there progress? Yes.

"[But] the table does not lie. They are still behind Tottenham. They are still behind a lot of teams.

“It is a process. Hopefully it will explode soon, but consistency has to happen quickly.”

Further reading

Felix Nmecha scored a brace as Manchester City U23 silenced Southampton U23 7-1 in Monday’s Premier League Two encounter.

Unbeaten in their last 11 games in the league, Enzo Maresca’s side came into the game with the ambition of extending their fine form as well as avenging their 5-2 defeat in the reverse fixture.

After a strong start from both teams, Liam Delap put the Citizens ahead in the 29th minute, the English youngster headed a well-taken corner by Tommy Doyle past goalkeeper Jack Bycroft for his 11th goal in his last six league games.

Four minutes into the second half, Callum Doyle doubled the lead for the hosts before Delap scored his second of the evening in the 56th minute.

A minute later, the harvest of goals continued as Adrian Bernabe put City four goals up at the Academy Stadium. Caleb Watts pulled one back for the visitors in the 65th minute but Delap restored Manchester City’s four-goal advantage by completing his hat-trick 14 minutes later.

Before the game was restarted, Nmecha was introduced for the 18-year-old Englishman of Nigerian background Samuel Edozie.

Four minutes after his introduction, they German-born English footballer of Nigerian descent found the net as he scored a quickfire double inside five minutes from close range to finish off a goal-scoring masterclass from Maresca's youths in the eight-goal thriller.

Senegalese defender Alpha Dionkou was in fine form as he halted the Saints’ attacking forays. Thanks to this result, Manchester City remain at the top of the Premier League 2 table, five points ahead of second-placed Blackburn Rovers.

Nmecha joined the City academy at the age of nine in 2007 and spent a decade within the club’s youth system before making his senior debut in an EFL Cup quarter-final against Leicester in December 2017.

He made his Premier League debut as a late substitute against West Ham at the London Stadium in April 2018 before making another appearance off the bench against Brighton at the Etihad Stadium the following month.

The Nigeria prospect then spent last season on loan at Championship side Preston where he made 44 appearances, scoring four goals.

The forward, who was born in Germany before moving to England as a child, has represented the Three Lions from under-16 through to under-21 level.

Nonetheless, the youngster opted to switch his allegiance back to the country of his birth, making his Germany Under-21 debut against England later that month.

Lebogang Ramalepe was on target for Dinamo-BSUPC as Rhoda Mulaudzi, Nagede Cisse and Claudia Dabda starred in their side's 4-0 victory over nine-player Minsk on Monday evening.

Ramalepe and Rhoda Mulaudzi had scored for Dinamo-BSUPC in a 6-0 win over Dnepr Mogilev to win the Belarusian Cup last month, continuing from where they left off last season, when they won a domestic double.

Dinamo made a fine start to the encounter but failed to find a breakthrough before the half-time break, even though Minsk were reduced to 10 players after Viktoria Marchik's 34th-minute red card.

After the recess, Ramalepe intercepted a loose ball before firing from the edge of the box to break the deadlock in the 64th minute before Darya Stezhko doubled the lead one minute later.

Minsk were further reduced to nine players when Natalia Asmykovich was sent off in the 75th minute as Anastasia Linnik extended Dinamo to a three-goal lead a minute later.

Four minutes from full-time, Stezhko bagged her second of the match and the fourth to wrap the big triumph at the Minsk Stadium.

South Africa's Ramalepe was in action for the duration, along with Ivorian Cisse, while Mulaudzi featured in the final six minutes and Cameroon's Dabda saw 84 minutes of the contest for Dinamo.

The result saw Dinamo emerge champions of the Belarusian Women's Super Cup, extending their dominance over Minsk.

Following a curtain-raiser win, Dinamo will look to enjoy a brilliant second top-flight campaign when they begin their Belarusian title defence against Bobruichanka on March 20.

On the other hand, Minsk will seek to reclaim the crown when they lunch their 2021 season against Zorka-BDU on the same day.

Lionel Messi wrote himself another piece of history when moving level with Xavi at the top of Barcelona’s list of appearance makers.

When taking the field against Huesca on Monday, Messi racked up his 767th appearance for the Catalans - moving him alongside fellow club legend Xavi.

If Messi does not sign a new deal in the summer, his Barcelona career will come a close - but he would depart with a series of records that are never likely to be challenged.

Messi’s haul of records

The 33-year-old Argentine surpassed Xavi earlier in the season on Barca’s list of Liga appearance-makers , but the match against Huesca took him to the top of matches played in all competitions.

Of the previous 766 games, Messi’s record stands at won 535, drawn 140 and lost 91.

Unsurprisingly, he has played more games in La Liga than any other competition. His appearance against Huesca took his domestic league total to 510 - with 149 Champions League games, 79 in the Copa Del Rey, 20 in the Spanish Super Cup, five in the Club World Cup and four in the European Super Cup.

Messi, who made his debut for the club in 2005, stands above all Barca players in terms of goals scored, as he has 658 to his name - some 426 clear of second-placed Cesar Rodriguez.

As well as goals and appearances, it is no surprise that Messi tops the list of players to have won the most trophies for the club. He has 34 to his name, with Barca pushing to increase the tally in La Liga and Copa Del Rey this term.

Xavi on Messi

The pair forged a close bond during the glory years that saw Barca plunder Champions Leagues and Liga titles.

Messi is a six-time Ballon d’Or winner, and Xavi rates him higher than anyone else who has played the game.

“Ronaldinho is at the level of the best, perhaps what he lacked was consistency," Xavi said. "Perhaps he lacked consistency in being at his peak. For me, only Messi is above Ronaldinho because of the consistency of the last few years.

“Messi is the best in history.”

Messi on Xavi

Messi is not known for long speeches in front of the media, but what he said about Xavi was telling - given the talent in Spanish football.

“He is the best player in the history of Spanish football,” Messi said of his former team-mate.

Further Reading

Pep Guardiola has played down talk of a rift with Raheem Sterling, with the Manchester City manager insisting it is normal for players to be unhappy when they are not in the team.

Sterling was a surprise absentee from City’s matchday squad for the win over Fulham at the weekend, having been an unused substitute for the 5-2 victory against Southampton three days earlier.

The England international has travelled with the squad for the Champions League clash with Borussia Monchengladbach in Budapest on Tuesday, and Guardiola says there are no issues between him and the player.

What was said?

“He travels with the team,” Guardiola said on Sky Sports when asked if there were any issues with Sterling. “All the squad travels to Budapest for the Champions League.

“Always Raheem and all the players react really well.”

When pressed on whether the forward was unhappy about being left out against Fulham, Guardiola said: “I do not expect they are happy, the guys who do not play and who are not selected, so it is normal. That has always happened since football was created.

“Raheem in this case is so important for the team and for all of us.

“All the players respect my decisions. 

“I never found in my career in 40 years one player who was happy when they are not playing, never, ever. But they react really well and behave very well.”

City’s competition for places

Sterling has made 36 appearances across all competitions for City this term, with 14 goals to his name.

He had a run of five goals in six games through January and February, but went three matches without finding the target before missing out against the Saints and Fulham.

Sterling’s form has been a notch below what he produced in the previous two seasons, and Guardiola is spoilt for choice on the attacking front.

With Riyad Mahrez in sizzling form and the emergence of Phil Foden, competition has increased this term.

Bernardo was sensational two seasons ago, but he has struggled for regular minutes this term and is in a similar situation to Sterling.

With City still fighting on four fronts, there will be opportunities in the weeks ahead for Sterling and the team's other attacking superstars.

Further reading

Orlando Pirates coach Josef Zinnbauer says “it does not look good” for goalkeeper Richard Ofori, who has an undisclosed muscle injury ahead of Wednesday’s Caf Confederation Cup group A match against Enyimba at Orlando Stadium.

Ofori was taken off 15 minutes into the 0-0 draw against ES Setif last week in their group opener in neutral Accra, and was replaced by Siyabonga Mpontshane.

The Ghana vice-captain is now racing against time to be fit for the Enyimba match, but his coach is not painting an encouraging picture.

“I don’t have 100 per cent information but it’s a muscle problem. I think it was bad, but we will get more information in the next few days, but it does not look good,” said Zinnbauer as per Phakaaathi.

The German tactician might, however, not be too worried about the goalkeeper’s possible absence as he has apt cover in experienced the Wayne Sandilands and Mpontshane.

Apart from Ofori, Zinnbauer is also facing the grim prospect of missing some infield players he did not name.

The coach has given an impression of an injury-hit camp affected by the Setif match.

“We have injured players and we get some players back, you saw Tshegofatso Mabasa came in, but we don’t have muscle problems, we have broken legs and swollen ankles,” Zinnbauer continued.

“The ankles are a problem at the moment. We have a lot of players who have broken toes. It’s not a muscle problem or an intensity problem or even a conditioning problem. The problem is always in the duel.”

It is not yet clear if striker Zakhele Lepasa has returned from injury to boost Zinnbauer’s attacking options.

With Jean-Marc Makusu injured, Frank Mhango and Mabasa are the preferred choices to play up front.

The two, however, were on the bench against Setif with midfielder Linda Mntambo starting as a number nine before he was replaced by Mabasa, while Mhango sat out the match.

The status of star midfielder Thembinkosi Lorch is yet to be updated.

Pirates are looking for their first win of this group.

Cedric Kaze has explained the biggest problem that caused him to falter in Yanga SC was the interference from unknown quarters in his performance.

The Burundian tactician was fired by the Jangwani giants on March 7 just after the team had settled for a 1-1 draw against Polisi Tanzania and had lost 2-1 to Coastal Union three days earlier  – their first defeat of the 2020-21 campaign.

Kaze, who was fired alongside his entire technical, is still in Dar es Salaam and is yet to travel to his native country.

On Monday, he claimed "two fathers" at Yanga - without giving their real names - brought about his downfall because they were pulling the team in a different direction, for their own interests.

"You know I have to be very clear, one family cannot have two fathers it must be shaky, there will be no compromise as everyone will be giving their instructions and it will disrupt things,” Kaze explained as quoted by Sokalabongo.

“In Yanga there are two fathers, intelligent people will understand me. The coach stays with the players and you plan everything but another father comes and tells them to do the same thing the other way, and another father calls the players and talks about the weird things that disrupt unity and form groups here and there.

“But the good thing is the players were coming and telling me everything they were told, you are sitting in your planning session while someone else is coming to the side and he has different ideas to tell the players.

“I was very patient and I became aware my players and were understanding me, although sometimes humans understand who they are. With this state of interaction with people interfering in technical matters then Yanga cannot go far.”

Kaze continued: “It got to the point where someone called to say don’t play him because he belongs to our rivals Simba. The most amazing things in this world I have found in Yanga. I sit and talk to my players, but someone is calling to find out what that thing is about? And when he finds out, he starts packing his things.

"I want to tell the fans and members of Yanga that I Kaze loved their team and I have done everything possible to give them comfort that is why I am not tied with Simba, I have given Mapinduzi Cup, I have left the team leading the league, do not hurt, don’t be sad, but they should not be disappointed with the way their team is run. No coach can succeed if he is not given the opportunity to be free of his plans and his players.”

Yanga have already named Juma Mwambusi as the interim coach, with Hubert Velud set to take over next season.