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Swallows FC have beefed up their squad with the signing of former Chippa United winger Bantu Mzwakali. 

The attacking midfielder has joined the Beautiful Birds as a free-agent having recently parted ways with Swedish club IK Brage.

Mzwakali moved to Europe in January 2020 as he looked to rebuild his career following a short spell with National First Division (NFD) outfit Cape Umoya United. 

The 25-year-old's short-term deal with Swallows has been confirmed by his agent, Raymond Pienaar.

“Bantu Mzwakali has joined Swallows until the end of the current season," Pienaar told Daily Sun.

The Ajax Cape Town academy product played 25 matches for Brage in the second tier of Swedish football, Superettan, during the 2020 season.

Mzwakali, who had joined Brage on a one-year deal, left the Borlange-based side when his contract ended in December 2020.

The skillful player has reunited with his former teammate at the now-defunct Ajax Cape Town, Ruzaigh Gamildien, who is now on the books of Swallows. 

The duo helped Ajax (now known Cape Town Spurs) clinch the MTN8 trophy during the 2015/16 season under coach Roger de Sa.

Mzwakali attracted interest from top Gauteng clubs, Kaizer Chiefs Orlando Pirates and Bidvest Wits, but he stayed put in the Mother City. 

The diminutive player did leave Ajax prior to the start of the 2017/18 campaign as he joined Chippa.

However, Mzwakali struggled for game time and he left the club for the now-defunct Bidvest Wits in July 2018.

The former South Africa under-20 international also found game time hard to come by at Wits and he parted ways with the club at the end of the 2018/19 season.

Mzwakali then found a new home at Umoya where he worked with his former coach at Ajax, De Sa.

He has now been given an opportunity to revive his career in the PSL by Swallows. 

Bruno Fernandes has leapt to the defence of Cristiano Ronaldo following criticism of his involvement in Juventus’ Champions League exit, with the Manchester United midfielder pointing out that even “one of the greats” cannot be expected to “win alone”.

A five-time Ballon d’Or winner was taken to Turin in 2018 with the intention of delivering long-awaited European glory to a Serie A heavyweight crying out for continental inspiration.

Having previously failed to guide the Bianconeri past the quarter-final stage, another last-16 setback has been suffered against Porto this season, with questions being asked of Ronaldo’s contribution in the present and his long-term future at the Allianz Stadium.

What has been said?

Fernandes, who plays alongside the 36-year-old with Portugal, has told Gazzetta dello Sport of an illustrious countryman: “Cristiano is one of the greats in football history.

“His mentality inspires those who practice this sport.

“He has won a lot, but no-one can win alone. I understand that his presence at Juve had created enormous expectations for the Champions League, but when a team lose, the whole squad lose, not one single player.”

Can Fernandes fare any better in Europe?

While another continental campaign has come to a close for Juve and Ronaldo, Fernandes still has his sights set on major honours.

The Red Devils playmaker is readying himself for a heavyweight clash with AC Milan in the last-16 of the Europa League.

Both sides have reason to believe that they can book a quarter-final berth, with Fernandes seeing similarities between two European giants that have fallen on hard times of late.

He added: “In some respects, we and Milan are the same.

“Two clubs with a prestigious past, with 10 Champions League trophies in the cabinet, both have gone through a phase of transition, but are returning to the top.

“At the beginning of the season, no-one thought that Milan could fight for the Scudetto. We are in March and they are second. They play well, have interesting young players and the added value of [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic’s strength.”

The bigger picture

Enigmatic Swedish striker Ibrahimovic will play no part against his former club at Old Trafford on Thursday as he has suffered an untimely thigh injury.

There will, however, be plenty of quality on show, with Fernandes seeking to cement his standing as a talismanic presence for the Red Devils by guiding them to long-awaited silverware.

He has registered 23 goals and 12 assists this season, with a positive response offered in a derby date with Manchester City last time out to those who have accused him of going missing in big games.

Further reading  

Jack Grealish is set to sit out a fifth successive game for Aston Villa with a niggling leg injury, but Dean Smith expects to have his captain back for a home date with Tottenham on March 21.

The Villans have been without their talismanic skipper since seeing him laid low in training on February 18.

Smith’s side have collected just four points from a possible 12 as Grealish – who has also been nursing a bout of sickness – finds himself stuck on the sidelines.

What has been said?

Asked for an update on Grealish ahead of a Premier League trip to Newcastle on Friday, Villa boss Smith told reporters: “Jack's been making really good progress but, unfortunately, he won't make Newcastle.

“He has been ill this week so he's been off for a couple of days as well, but we're hopeful for the Tottenham game now, that's for sure.”

Smith added: “He's still in and around the training ground. He takes part in the meetings. He's got a voice and an opinion, which is good.

“He was one of the ones when we did our debrief after the Sheffield United game who, having watched the game, was telling the players how well we played and deserved more out of the game. He's matured an awful lot and takes on a lot more responsibility, that's for sure.”

How have Villa fared in Grealish’s absence?

Smith’s men have taken just one win from the four games Grealish has sat out so far.

That solitary success came away at Leeds, while another point was picked up last time out in a goalless derby draw with West Midlands neighbours Wolves.

Villa have come unstuck against Leicester and Sheffield United, with struggles for consistency leaving them ninth in the table.

Any other fitness news to report?

While Grealish will be restricted to a watching brief at St James’ Park, Villa are set to welcome Matty Cash back into their plans after seeing the buccaneering right-back shake off a hamstring complaint.

Smith said: “Matt Cash is back to full training. He's travelling with us to Newcastle. He's available for selection.”

Anwar El Ghazi is also back in contention after recovering from a bruised toe that subsequently got infected and ruled him out of the stalemate with Wolves.

Further reading

Lionel Messi was on the verge of leaving Barcelona last summer but decided to stay another year.

The six-time Ballon d'Or winner will be one of the most in-demand players ever on the transfer market when or if he finally leaves Camp Nou.

Luckily, in FIFA 21 you can convince him to move on from Barcelona and see can he continue his greatness elsewhere.

How much does Messi cost and what does it take to sign him?

How much does it cost to sign Messi in FIFA 21?

Messi is still one of the most valuable players in the world and this is reflected in FIFA 21, where his value is around £95 million.

To get Barcelona to sell him, you may be able to make a lower offer as the 33-year-old is looking to move on from the club.

A bid between £85 million and £90 million is often enough to begin negotiations with the player, but clubs with lower budgets may be able to include swap players in a deal to drive the price down further.

Barcelona are in the market for a right-back, midfielders and forwards, so may be willing to do a deal if you have suitable players you can transfer in return.

When does Messi's contract expire in FIFA 21?

Just like in real life, Messi has just one season left on his contract at the start of Career Mode in FIFA 21.

This means that he will be available on a free transfer at the end of the first season if Barcelona are unable to tie him down to a new deal.

Sometimes, however, the Argentina international decides to retire at the end of the 2020-21 campaign rather than move to a new club.

His contract at Barcelona is around £500k each week and he will expect a similarly high wage at his next club.

What is Messi's potential in FIFA 21?

Once again, Messi is the highest-rated player in FIFA with an overall current ability of 93.

This is also his maximum potential as he is 33 and unlikely to get better in any of his statistics.

His attributes can even decrease after signing him as he gets closer to retirement, while injuries can also see his ratings plummet.

How much does it cost to sign Messi in FIFA Ultimate Team?

Messi's lack of pace in FIFA has always made him a relatively cheap option in Ultimate Team despite his high rating.

That is the same again in FIFA 21, where he initially cost around 1m coins, but is now less than 200k on Xbox, around 200k on PlayStation and 300k on PC.

Special editions of Messi, including Team of the Week and Champions League cards cost more than three times these amounts.

Messi's 98-rated Team of the Year card will be out of most people's price ranges as he costs more than 3m on all platforms.

AC Milan legend Franco Baresi has named “extraordinary player” Marcus Rashford as the Manchester United star he would most like to see at San Siro.

Two heavyweights of the world game are set to lock horns on Thursday in the first leg of an eagerly-anticipated Europa League last-16 encounter.

There will be plenty of talent on show at Old Trafford, with Baresi considering an England international forward to be the pick of a star-studded bunch in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s ranks.

What has been said?

Baresi has told The Times when asked to pick out a dream signing for Milan from within the Red Devils’ squad: “I like Marcus Rashford a lot, he’s an extraordinary player.

“He wouldn’t be bad for Milan. He can play in any position up front; it would be a nice advantage.

“Rashford is a modern forward who has everything required to do well. He has already shown and done great things and he has a lot of quality.”

Rashford’s record at Man Utd

A home-grown product of United’s famed academy system burst onto the scene on a Europa League stage back in 2016.

He netted two goals on his senior debut against Midtjylland, with Louis van Gaal calling upon the then 18-year-old star during an injury crisis.

Rashford enjoyed a meteoric rise from that point, with senior international recognition with England coming his way within a matter of months.

Questions have been asked of his best position since then, as he switches between the flanks and a central striking berth, but a consistent level of performance has been maintained.

A personal-best return of 22 goals was recorded in 2019-20, with Rashford – who has 85 efforts for the Red Devils to his name in total – up to 18 in the current campaign.

The bigger picture

The 23-year-old has gone four games without finding the target and will be aware that he needs to offer more to the collective cause if ultimate targets are to be hit by United in an ongoing bid to a bring a four-year wait for major silverware to a close.

He will be hoping to come back into contention to aid that cause at some stage in the near future, with an untimely injury picked up in a derby date with Manchester City set to keep him out of the first meeting with Milan.

Further reading

Gareth Bale has claimed Heung-min Son as the fourth member of Tottenham’s “Welsh Mafia”, with the South Korean forming part of a group to rival French trio Moussa Sissoko, Serge Aurier and Tanguy Ndombele.

An on-loan forward at Spurs recently revealed that club colleagues in north London consider his ‘WM’ goal celebration to be a nod towards the bond he has formed with fellow countrymen Ben Davies and Joe Rodon.

It is all good natured fun, with Jose Mourinho’s squad pulling in the same direction as a collective, but Bale is eager to ensure that he has numbers on his side and says Son, not Lucas Moura, is the latest to join his ranks.

What has been said?

Speaking to Tottenham’s official Twitch channel, Bale has joked about Son: “He’s basically Welsh to us.

“We’re a bit disappointed because all the pictures have us three and Lucas – but really Sonny should be the fourth man.”

Bale added: “We knew the other Mafia was Moussa, Serge and Tanguy – La Mafia.

“So we decided to create a Welsh Mafia, but the original Welsh Mafia had four of us because Sonny is in it.”

Bale's record at Spurs in 2020-21

Big things were expected of the 31-year-old when he returned to British shores during the summer of 2020.

Having previously starred for Spurs, earning him a record-breaking move to Real Madrid in 2013, a fresh start in familiar surroundings was expected to rekindle a lost spark.

Niggling knocks followed Bale back to London from Madrid, with fitness setbacks preventing him from making the desired impact early on.

Form has been found of late, though, with Bale netting six goals through his last six appearances in all competitions.

He is now up to 10 efforts for the season and is seemingly coming good at just the right time.

Will a permanent transfer be put in place?

Mourinho has been giving little away when it comes to long-term plans for Bale.

There is no purchase option in his season-long loan from Madrid and there remain 12 months left to run on a lucrative contract at Santiago Bernabeu.

He is, however, playing his way into contention for a permanent transfer, either to Spurs or somewhere else, with there seemingly little future for him back in Spain under Zinedine Zidane.

Further reading

Former Manchester City defender Andy Morrison has described Riyad Mahrez as the best player in the Premier League presently after he scored two goals in City's 5-2 victory over Southampton.

Mahrez restored the Citizens' lead in the 40th minute after James Ward-Prowse cancelled out Kevin De Bruyne's opener at the Etihad Stadium.

Shortly after the restart, the Algeria captain gave the hosts a 4-1 lead with his ninth Premier League goal of the season as Pep Guardiola’s men bounced back from Sunday’s derby loss against Manchester United.

Morrison, who is currently a fan ambassador for Man City, rated Mahrez’s recent performances and he stated he is not getting much attention.

"I hope he gets the recognition, there’s still a long way to go in the season. He’s been in that patch over the last few months but you don't hear people talk about it,” Morrison told the club website.

"He has been incredible over the last few months, there’s not a better player in the Premier league at this moment in time and across Europe that's producing what he is every single week."

Guardiola, meanwhile, was pleased to see De Bruyne and Mahrez back on the scoresheet and he hopes they maintain their influential displays as they chase the league title.

"It's important for Kevin and Riyad to score goals. We need them. Now it's rest and then Fulham. It's one game at a time. There are nine games left. Games like today are so difficult and so tough,” Guardiola added.

The triumph extended Manchester City's dominance at the top of the Premier League table to 68 points after 29 matches, with a 14-point lead above second-placed Manchester United who have a game in hand.

Next up for Guardiola's men is a league trip to Fulham on Saturday and Mahrez will be focused on stretching his tally of nine goals and four assists in 23 league appearances.

Former Orlando Pirates striker James Mothibi says “tactical” ES Setif “had a defensive plan” which worked well to deny the Soweto giants maximum points in Wednesday’s Caf Confederation Cup clash in Ghana.

It was a goalless affair as both sides struggled to score the entire evening at Ohene Djan Sports Stadium in Accra.

Algerian side Setif were the home side and Mothibi says a point on the road is commendable for Pirates who met a team with a well-organised defence.

“I played in the Caf tournaments and I know how difficult it is to play in countries like West or East Africa,” said Mothobi as per Phakaaathi.

“They were playing in Accra on Wednesday. Accra is very hot, and maybe the heat might have played a part in their play and also, Algerian teams are very tactical. So, if you look at that game, Setif was very defensive because if you can also check shots at goals Pirates did not have shots on target which means Setif’s defence was spot on. Like I said, Algerian teams are very tactical.

“The moment we have less shots on goals means that our [Pirates] attack was more on the wings, hence we didn’t get enough shots on target. But it’s difficult in Africa. So, that alone tells you that Setif had a defensive plan. But getting a point away from home is good for them. Maybe they will have a better performance in the second leg.”

It was a match in which Pirates coach Josef Zinnbauer started without a natural striker and Tshegofatso Mabasa came on with 10 minutes to go, while Frank Mhango was on the bench for the entire match.

The Buccaneers' bid to breach the Setif defence was spearheaded by Linda Mntambo who played as a number nine.

After the goalless draw Pirates sit second on the Group A table with two points behind leaders Enyimba who edged Al Ahli Benghazi on the same day at home.

Up next for the Buccaneers is the hosting of Enyimba on March 17 in a match that provides them with a chance of claiming top spot.

After that, they visit traditional foes Kaizer Chiefs for a Premier Soccer League Soweto derby clash four days later.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka has named Paris Saint-Germain superstar Neymar as his toughest opponent, with the Manchester United full-back admitting that facing the Brazilian forward can be “quite challenging”.

Since securing a £50 million ($70m) move to Old Trafford in the summer of 2019, a highly-rated 23-year-old defender has lined up against some of the finest talent that English and European football has to offer.

Premier League challenges are faced head on week in, week out while continental glory has been chased down on Champions League and Europa League stages.

What has been said?

Asked by United’s official website to pick out his most testing opponent, Wan-Bissaka said: “I’d say Neymar.

“That was a player that was quite challenging, but I was always up for it, and I enjoyed it, the experience, to be playing against him. That meant a lot.”

When did Wan-Bissaka face Neymar?

United were paired with PSG in the group stage of the 2020-21 Champions League.

They fared admirably against the Ligue 1 title holders at Parc des Princes, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side securing a notable 2-1 win.

They found the going a little tougher at Old Trafford, with a 3-1 defeat contributing to the Red Devils slipping out of elite continental competition and into the Europa League.

Wan-Bissaka lined up against Neymar in both of those fixtures and has added on the approach he took when trying to contain one of the very best in the business: “He’s a player that likes to draw fouls, and so for me, if I’m up against him, it’s [the task is] just not to give him any fouls because that’s what he wants.

“Defenders are most likely [to be] targeted on the pitch, to be taken on. That comes down to concentration, awareness, and it’s something you have to be prepared for the whole 90 minutes.

“For me, I mainly look at what foot they are. That will be the main information that I’ll need, and it’s just about timing, showing them onto their weaker side and then taking it from there.

“Concentration [is key]. It’s not always about diving in; it’s to wait for their move rather than me making the first move.

“For me, [defending] is exciting, especially with the fans [and] the fans’ reaction. That keeps me going, and it just [makes me want] to make more tackles.”

The bigger picture

While Neymar watched on from the stands on Wednesday as PSG edged out his former club Barcelona to book a place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, United are readying themselves for a return to Europa League duty.

They are set to take in the first leg of a heavyweight last-16 showdown with Serie A giants AC Milan on Thursday, with Wan-Bissaka set to see more questions asked of his defensive qualities during a two-legged clash with the Rossoneri.

Further reading

Marcos Alonso admits to having endured a “frustrating” time at Chelsea under Frank Lampard, with the Spanish defender missing out on a place in 16 successive Premier League matchday squads at one stage.

The versatile 30-year-old opened the 2020-21 campaign in the thoughts of a now-departed Blues boss, but saw no game time at all between September 26 and January 31 as Ben Chilwell nailed down a left-back berth.

A recall was earned once managerial reins were passed to Thomas Tuchel, with eight outings in all competitions taken in now that a German tactician is calling the shots.

What has been said?

Alonso, who saw a move away from Stamford Bridge mooted during the winter window, has told the club’s official website: “Was it frustrating not playing? Yes, of course. I was not getting many chances. It was tough.

“But this is football. Sometimes it is like this. All you can do is keep working hard, keep training and try to be ready for when the chance comes.

“When I am on the pitch it is easier. When I used to stay home it was not easy to help the team.

“But I’m very happy to get involved and to be able to help the team and I’m looking forward to more of this.”

Why has Alonso come back into favour?

Tuchel has tweaked Chelsea’s tactical approach and favoured a three-man defensive unit that looks for wing-backs to provide width on the flanks.

That system has always suited Alonso, who has never been shy about getting into the final third, and he is flourishing again after seeing serious questions asked of his future in west London.

“He gives me the freedom to go forward. Yes. When you are controlling the game it gives you a little bit more freedom,” Alonso added on working with Tuchel.

“And I am always happy to help the team. If we control the game like we did against Everton, it is not easy to go through the middle. So I like to do these runs from wide to inside.”

The bigger picture

Tuchel has gone unbeaten through 11 games as Chelsea boss, with positive progress being made in domestic and continental competition.

A trip to Leeds on Saturday presents the Blues with an opportunity to cement a standing inside the Premier League’s top four, before a return date with Atletico Madrid in the Champions League offers them a shot at the Champions League quarter-finals.

Further reading

Ivory Coast forward Maxwel Cornet has urged his Lyon teammates to remain serious and redouble their efforts for the Ligue 1 title as they enter the last few weeks of the 2020-21 season.

Lyon are third in the league table with 10 games remaining, and they trail leaders Lille by three points followed by a point behind second-placed Paris Saint-Germain.

They travel to Reims on Friday for their next league fixture before a crucial home game against PSG at the Groupama Stadium on March 21.

Cornet is conscious of how pivotal the next few matches could be for the Kids and he wants their sights set on winning silverware in this campaign.

"We know that this is a period that will be decisive for us. We must not put negative pressure on ourselves," Cornet said in a press conference. "We have this experience of sprints at the end of the season. We have seen in previous years, it is not bad when it is necessary to accelerate. It's up to us to string together the matches, starting with Reims.

“All the matches will be important until the end of the season. If the president had been here, he would have said that you have to win everything to be champion.

"The goal is to be happy at the end of the season. We know what it is like. I think it's a natural awareness. We know that there are few games left to reach our goals. We redouble our efforts, it's like in the Champions League we find additional motivation.

"I think this year, we have a great team to do something at the end of the season. It's up to us to give ourselves the means to remain as serious as possible. The best way to go is looking for a title."

The 24-year-old Ivorian has contributed three goals and four assists in all competitions for Lyon in this campaign.

Simba SC head coach Didier Gomez Da Rosa has shouldered the blame after their Mainland Premier League 1-1 draw against Tanzania Prisons on Wednesday.

Wekundu wa Msimbazi failed to pick maximum points and narrow the gap with archrivals Yanga SC at the top. The French coach has now said there must be no excuses as he accepted to take full responsibility.

"We are responsible and I am the coach of the team so I take responsibility for this bad draw. We could have won easily but we did not make things clear," the coach said as per the club's Online TV. "But I know it will help us to react and to recover for the rhythm that we had played with Al Ahly.  

"I am sure together we will react and we will be more aggressive in future. Of course, we can say we have played a lot of matches in one month but that is not a reason to make a draw against this team. Like I said we are very disappointed especially after dominating the game towards the end and failed to make something out of it."

Although Da Rosa said they should not find excuses for failing to dismantle Tanzania Prisons, he defended his players from individual blame. 

"We missed many things, we missed the penalty, and so many opportunities to score so we can accept but we cannot be satisfied. We are disappointed and we are a top team and that is the reason I will not find excuses because we must be ready to play in three or four days," he said.

"I have always said that I will not blame my players when we lose a goal. Even when we work on set pieces, penalty and corners during training we are not efficient offensively.

"Defensively we are better now, especially during corner kicks. We had a lot of opportunities and it is not only the penalty that we lost. But I have trust in my players that we will recover mentally before the Al-Merrikh game."

After the midweek clash Wekundu wa Msimbazi are set to shift focus on the Caf Champions League games as they are set to face Al-Merrikh, AS Vita and Al Ahly respectively in March and early April.

Mohamed Salah is looking for Liverpool to ignore the “big picture” at Anfield and focus on the present, with the Egyptian admitting that the reigning Premier League champions have been finding the going “tough” domestically this season.

Jurgen Klopp’s side were expected to put up a strong defence of their English top-flight crown in 2020-21, with talk of a new dynasty being established on Merseyside doing the rounds.

Injuries have, however, conspired against the Reds and Salah admits that, with a spot secured in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, a recovery mission needs to be taken in one game at a time.

What has been said?

Salah told BT Sport after helping Liverpool to a 2-0 victory over RB Leipzig in Budapest: “We have had a few injuries this season. We have been unlucky but the most important thing is we have to keep fighting.

“We just have to take each game at a time and not look to the big picture, because if you look to the big picture there can be too much pressure.

“It has been tough in the Premier League, we don't want it to be tough. It is part of the game.

“The last couple of years we were winning and flying, this year we have had injuries, it is hard.

“Hopefully, now we have two or three or four centre-backs, we can keep winning.”

Why are Liverpool under pressure?

Victory over Leipzig in midweek was technically a home game for Liverpool, but they are still searching for a spark at Anfield.

Six successive defeats have been suffered in their own backyard on a Premier League stage, with those history-making struggles contributing to a humbling slide down the table.

Questions have been asked of Klopp’s ongoing presence amid an alarming wobble, with the Germany national side about to see a prominent coaching post open up, but he has vowed to stay put.

What's next for Liverpool?

Liverpool will be hoping that progress in Europe acts as a springboard heading into the business end of a testing campaign, with major silverware and a top-four finish still there to be shot at.

Salah, who has hit 25 goals across all competitions this season, has added: "It is a big result for us. We came here after losing a few games in the Premier League.

“The team is not in the best shape but we want to fight in the Champions League and also fight in the Premier League and see what can happen.

“I would love to score more. I am happy I scored and the team won, that is the most important thing.”

The Reds will be back in action on Monday when, after hitting eighth place in the Premier League standings, they take in a trip to Wolves.

Further reading

Former Bafana Bafana midfielder Teko Modise says it's understandable Kaizer Chiefs went the more direct route in the second half of their 1-1 league draw with Maritzburg United at the Harry Gwala Stadium on Wednesday evening.

Maritzburg were the better side in the first half and were 1-0 up at the interval thanks to Thabiso Kutumela's 15th-minute goal.

Amakhosi coach Gavin Hunt made three changes at the break as Siyabonga Ngezana replaced left-back Philani Zulu while Njabulo Blom came on for Willard Katsande and up front, Samir Nurkovic swapped with Lazarous Kambole.

With the physical presence of Nurkovic available to them, Chiefs were more effective than when attacking midfielder Lebogang Manyama had been playing up front in the opening stanza.

"I think Hunt wasn't happy, especially with how things turned out in the first half. I think he realised the overload on the [Chiefs] left-hand side where [Philani] Zulu was having problems dealing with the [Maritzburg] right-hand side," Modise revealed in his role as a SuperSport TV presenter.

"And so he changed the system in the second half, changed the personnel. And that forced Maritzburg to defend deeper, so there was no more threat, the distance [Thabiso] Kutumela had running into the box was much bigger, so Maritzburg wasn't that threatening at all and therefore Kaizer Chiefs starting gaining momentum," the former Orlando Pirates and SuperSport United playmaker added.

Modise says that he understands Hunt's preference at playing more direct, sometimes less eye-pleasing football, as Amakhosi are currently on six points above Maritzburg, who are languishing in the relegation zone in 15th position. In the end, Manyama’s 88th-minute strike earned the Glamour Boys a vital point.

"It was a game of two halves," Modise said. "Chiefs second half started playing direct football, they became more effective because the balls were more inside the box and they forced Maritzburg to react.

"But for me to say this is the type of system you need to play, especially when you are not [in a good] position on the log, it would be very unfair.

"All you need now is to get points and you need to survive. It's like when you are swimming, it doesn't matter how you swim, you want to survive, you don't want to drown.

"And I think Kaizer Chiefs and Maritzburg are in that situation where they just want to survive."

Sofapaka defender Isaac Mitima has revealed what helped him settle at the Football Kenya Federation Premier League side despite a frustrating beginning.

Mitima was signed before the season began and has gone on to become one of the regular players of Batoto ba Mungu but he admits he faced a rough starting point at the club.

“My early days were rough and frustrating to an extent but I am glad I have been able to settle down quite well," Mitima told the club's website. "I am a friendly person and I love making new friends and fans too. This has helped me big time in settling at the club."

The Rwandan also spoke about his first FKF Premier League game before suffering an injury that ruled him out for a while thereafter.

“Honestly, I felt so good on my debut against Western Stima in our second game of the season. Unfortunately, my happiness would be cut short going out injured," he added.

"Upon my recovery, I found it hard to break into the first team, a fact that left me frustrated but since my return against Nzoia Sugar, the story has been different. I have played in all competitions and I feel so happy, my confidence level is high and so is my performance.”

The star is hopeful his move to Sofapaka will help him build his career and finally become a regular star for the national side, Amavubi.

"I joined the club so that I can further my career, Sofapaka is a big club that will add value to my curriculum vitae as a player. The urge to have regular playing time in a competitive league made it easier for me to join the club," Mitima stated.

"It’s every player's dream to don the yellow and blue colours of the national team and so I am not an exemption. I am working hard towards the senior team though and proud to have turned out for the U20 side on five occasions.

Mitima also narrated his achievement while playing for the junior sides in his native country Rwanda before he was signed by Batoto ba Mungu.

“I joined APR academy where I was named the team’s captain," he concluded. "It’s during the one-year stint that I was able to lead my side to win the second division trophy, a feat that earned me a promotion to the senior team. 

"After six months with the senior team, I joined Police FC on loan before finally finding my way to Sofapaka Football Club.”

The defender also revealed he received a lot of offers while he was still a student in high school given his abilities.

Brighton & Hove Albion forward Percy Tau as well as Rangers attacking midfielder Bongani Zungu are both in doubt for Bafana Bafana’s crucial upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifying games against Ghana and Sudan, a source inside the national team has revealed to Goal.

South Africa national team coach Molefi Ntseki last week named Tau and Zungu in the squad which is scheduled to play Ghana at FNB Stadium on March 25, before travelling to Sudan for the match at the Al Hilal Stadium just three days later.

The two UK clubs are reluctant to let the two players leave at what is a crucial time in the season, with the issue further exasperated by the Covid-19 quarantine which the players would potentially be placed under.

Should the two players join the Bafana Bafana camp, they would face difficulties returning to their clubs, due to the UK’s current travel ban on South Africans, regarding fears over the Covid-19 pandemic.

The UK is currently not allowing South Africans into the country, nor are they allowing their citizens to travel to South Africa

According to the Goal source, the UK clubs have told the South African national team to ‘wait’ for confirmation as to whether or not the players will be released, which has caused a measure of ‘panic’ in the Bafana camp due to the uncertainty of the situation.

Tau’s Brighton side is currently locked in a relegation battle in the Premier League – the Seagulls are above Fulham in the drop zone only on goal difference and have picked up just two points in their last five matches since beating Liverpool.

Tau has however been used sparingly by Brighton and has featured in just two league matches, as well as three FA Cup ties since he was recalled from his loan spell at Anderlecht in January.

In fact he has not played in the Premier League since the 2-1 defeat to Manchester City on January 16 and has been on the bench as an unused substitute for the past eight league matches.

He is however key to the South African team and scored three goals in his last two appearances for Bafana – in the two Afcon qualifiers against Sao Tome and Principe in November last year.

Zungu’s Rangers side were meanwhile confirmed as Scottish champions for the first time in 10 years last week when they opened up an unassailable lead on their nearest rivals and old foes, Celtic.

Coached by former Liverpool player Steven Gerrard, Rangers are also still campaigning in the Europa League, which is why they would be reluctant to let Zungu go.

The 28-year-old former Mamelodi Sundowns star has featured in three Europa matches for Rangers this season and has made 12 appearances in the Scottish Premier League.

Rangers are scheduled to play Czech Republic side Slavia Praha on the 11th and 18th of March with a place in the quarter-finals up for grabs.

FC Goa are set to play their first-ever AFC Champions League campaign at home after the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), on Thursday, confirmed that India will host the Group E matches of the tournament later this year. 

FC Goa had earned to right to represent India at the AFC Champions League after they won the Indian Super League (ISL) League Winners Shield in the 2019-20 season. 

Due to the prevailing Covid situation across the continent, the AFC had decided to host each group at a centralised venue so as to minimise travel and risk to the players and staff. As such, bids were invited from all interested countries and the All India Football Federation (AIFF) had put forward their interest in hosting the Group E matches.

Factors like minimum travel and quarantine restrictions for away clubs, the convenience of flight connections and the medical situation in the host country were all considered before the group was awarded to India to host. The matches are set to be held in Goa, which has also recently hosted the entire season of the 2020-21 ISL. 

During the matches, mandatory Covid-19 test will be organised for all players and officials, the costs of which will be borne by the AFC. 

FC Goa are in a strong group that involves Iran's Persepolis and Qatar's Al Rayyan. The fourth team will be a winner of the West region play-offs. The matches are scheduled to be held in the second half of April and early May. 

In the West region, Groups A and D are set to be hosted in Saudi Arabia's Riyadh and while Jeddah will host Group B. Group C will be hosted by United Arab Emirates in Dubai. 

AFC have also postponed the East Zone matches to June/July. Groups F, G and J will be hosted in Thailand while venues for I and H will be revealed later. 

Dato’ Windsor John, the AFC General Secretary, said: “On behalf of the Asian football family, I would like to thank all our Member Associations for their interest in hosting our club competitions and commitment towards ensuring we continue to place the safety and wellbeing of our players, teams, and officials at the forefront of all our priorities."

Not every neutral would have taken a second look at Crotone vs Torino when considering the possible standout fixture before gameweek 26 kicked off in Serie A.

While it was a relegation six-pointer, the encounter between the league’s bottom side and the third-bottom outfit was probably not going to be top of the average observer’s list of must-watch fixtures at the weekend. As it turned out, the encounter at Stadio Ezio Scida produced six goals, a joint-high in the Italian top flight last week with the hosts claiming a 4-2 success.

In a round of games that produced several amazing goals, Crotone vs Torino served up its fair share with Arkadiusz Reca and Adam Ounas netting brilliant efforts for the Pythagoreans, while Antonio Sanabria found the back of the net out of nothing.

Only the woodwork prevented a stunning Federico Bonazzoli effort from hitting the roof of the net, just as it denied Amer Gojak’s curled effort from finding the far corner of Alex Cordaz’s net.

Amid all the rasping long-range efforts in Calabria, Simy was doing what all good strikers do: finishing easy chances from close range. The towering frontman is now up to 10 Serie A goals this season, three higher than his previous best return in 2017/18 when Crotone failed to beat the drop.

While four of the 28-year-old’s strikes have been from 12 yards, the fact five of his other six goals have been one-touch finishes demonstrates what every top goalscorer has going for them by being in the right place at the right time.

He’s a poacher in every sense of the word, and that tag is underscored by a solitary assist this season and his 0.7 key passes per game. Simy may not be involved in the team’s build-up, but there’s a high probability chances will be converted given his tendency to take up very good positions in the opponent’s box.

That proclivity is probably what new Crotone boss Serse Cosmi values in the frontman, despite his other obvious deficiencies in possession. Sunday’s victory over Torino was the new manager’s first Serie A win in nine years and he was effusive in his praise of the Nigeria striker.

“Simy scored two goals, he has his very own special physicality and way of holding the ball,” the 62-year-old remarked after the thrilling victory. “He’s got these very long legs and large feet, so at times he can look uncoordinated, but he’s scored 10 goals and that means he’s got some skills.”

Having lost his place in the last few games under Cosmi’s predecessor Giovanni Stroppa, Simy’s done his chances of regaining his place as Crotone’s principal frontman no harm with three goals in two games under the new regime.

He got the equalizer against Atalanta in gameweek 25 but La Dea found an extra gear and netted four second-half goals to thrash the Pythagoreans 5-1 in Bergamo in the new head coach’s bow.

The Nigerian sits 23rd in the entire league for expected goals per 90, although he falls to 39th when penalties are excluded. Be that as it may, it was a surprise Stroppa dropped his most effective attacker in his final weeks in charge of the club, leaving the gigantic forward out of the starting line-up in four successive games before he got the chop.

While Simy’s place in the XI has to be assured for what’s left of the campaign, there’s a sense the new trainer has to find solutions to their extremely leaky rearguard that has conceded a staggering 64 times from 26 games. Even though the expected goals against of 50.1 reveals an absence of luck in their defensive third, that xGA is still the worst in Serie A this season which is a portent for the rest of the campaign.

Their xG betters only Genoa in the league, which highlights how the experienced man in charge has his work cut out keeping the bottom side in the top tier. They are seven points adrift of Cagliari in 18th and will need to pick up points consistently than they have so far to maintain their top flight status when the season concludes.

Cosmi understands the situation at the troubled club who have suffered at both ends of the pitch all season. They have fashioned out the lowest volume of clear-cut chances and are conceding the highest shots on target against per 90 in the league.

Be that as it may, Simy has produced decent numbers in front of goal with only 10 players outscoring him on his return to the big time. Crotone’s run-in will be fraught especially as it seems they seem up against it in their attempts to survive.

Stroppa may have ditched the leading frontman in the last days of his reign, but Cosmi ought to lean on the West African who may not be easy on the eye but guarantees goals and could be the difference between staying up or dropping to Serie B at the end of the season.