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Three points will be the only objective for Jamshedpur when they take on FC Goa in a crucial Indian Super League (ISL) clash on Thursday.  A win against the Gaurs will help them climb back into the top-four.

The Men of Steel suffered a defeat against Kerala Blasters in their last game but coach Owen Coyle suggested that the team must focus on avoiding individual mistakes and target a win against Goa.

"We have done very well. Jamshedpur had taken five points from their first 10 games last season, we have already taken 13 from our opening 10. I know there should have been more but the improvement is there for everyone to see.

"What we have to do is continue the improvement and we didn't (win) against Kerala Blasters because we made individual mistakes and they have very good players and a very good coach in Kibu Vicuna. But we handed them the game. We have to eradicate the individual mistakes and continue to improve and we have to do that because FC Goa are a very good side," said the Jamshedpur coach.

The Men of Steel had a 12-day break between their match against Bengaluru and Kerala Blasters but Coyle felt that the break was needed as the team had played too many games without enough rest in December. 

"There is no harm in long gaps because before that we played a lot of games in a short period then we got that extensive break. 

"We want to be in the top four and everybody in the league wants to do the same. To do that we have to replicate the performances of most of the matches in the first half of the season. If we can do that we have a real chance and that is what we have to focus on."

The match between the Men of Steel and the Gaurs earlier this season produced a lot of drama as the Gaurs came back from behind in the last few minutes of the match and sealed three points. A genuine Jamshedpur goal was also cancelled despite the ball crossing the goal line.

"It is not about avenging the defeat. Everybody has seen the game, we scored the winning goal in the 89th minute that wasn't given for some bizarre reason. Even the penalty in the game, Alex Lima played the ball, it was a very soft penalty. What we can do is focus on our game.

"FC Goa have a very good coach and some terrific players and they play a style that they have been playing for many years. All credit to them. But we know their strengths and weaknesses and we have to make sure we do our best. It is a game that we can win."

Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil has shown his class off the pitch again by assisting a young Kenyan boy, Lawrence Masira, with a signed autograph and a bag full of face masks.

Ozil, who was left out of Arsenal’s Premier League and Europa League squads for the 2020/21 season, and has been linked with a move away from North London, has moved to support the Kenyan boy he supported two years ago by sending him a gift hamper.

When Kenyan schools opened on January 4, 2021, the government had put masks as mandatory for all the students attending classes in a move aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

Eric Njiru, who received the gift on behalf of Masira, has confirmed the same on his Twitter handle by stating: “Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil sent Lawrence Masira masks for the new school term and a signed autograph.

“Mans a legend!”

Ozil and Masira became ‘friends’ on March 14, 2019, when the German international assisted the young boy with his authentic club jersey and football boots.

Masira was photographed by a social media user in December 2018, while herding cattle with a makeshift Arsenal shirt that had the name and number of the former Germany international written boldly with a marker.

Fortunately, Ozil got the message on Twitter and he took action and put a smile on the boy's face with pairs of boots and newly-signed Arsenal jerseys.

On sending the gift, Ozil said on his Twitter: “I saw this kid today grazing in the streets of Nairobi – a city without real grass for cows. He told me he loves @MesutOzil1088 so much [You can see his shirt]. Maybe one day this can reach Ozil and get a real Arsenal shirt.”

On Tuesday, Ozil’s agent Erkut Sogut said the Arsenal midfielder is a “Fenerbahce fanatic” fueling speculations the player will soon seal a move to the Turkish club.

Ozil has no future at Emirates Stadium having been frozen out of the senior squad by head coach Mikel Arteta this season, and he has not featured for the London club since March, despite maintaining he is fit and available for selection.

FC Goa will look to return to winning ways when they take on Jamshedpur on Thursday evening. 

But to get the three points they have to contain an in-form Nerijus Valskis who is leading the goalscoring charts with eight strikes next to his name. However, FC Goa's coach Juan Ferrando is not thinking about individuals and is focusing on their opponents as a whole. 

"I believe in my squad. No individual plan for anyone. Be it Valskis, Lima or Jackichand. For us, it is important to play as a team and to prepare against the Jamshedpur side. Jamshedpur is a very good team. We have to improve game by game. We try to find our mistakes and in the training, we are working on it. We don't want to repeat the same mistakes. 

"They are strong in set-pieces. But we have a solution. It is important for us to control the timing and space. The last goal from Valskis was perfect. But the aim is to control the second ball," stated the manager. 

Goa have collected 15 points and are fourth on the table after 10 rounds of games. They have relied on young players like Saviour Gama and Princeton Rebello. Ferrando wants to provide such players with more opportunities and help them grow.

"My target is to help the young players get better and become important players for our squad. We have just two or three training sessions between games including recovery. This is a problem. We need more time to prepare for a team. 

"Our target is to get three points every game. In the first round, we are not completely happy. We move game by game. After Jamshedpur, we have ATK Mohun Bagan. It is difficult in football to be completely happy. We lost four easy points. We have got some exciting young players. The character of the players and personality has been a big positive."

Goa currently have six foreigners in their roster. They can add one more foreign player to their squad and the 39-year-old manager informed that his coaching staff is actively looking to fill the quota. 

"We are checking players but it is important to get players who can help the team and help the young players improve. These two points are very important. If we don't get players fulfilling these two criteria I am happy with the squad until the end of the season. "

Skipper Edu Bedia has been playing from a deeper position than his usual attacking midfield slot. But he mentioned that he has no qualms playing as a number six. He also opined that ISL has grown to be more competitive compared to when he joined three years ago. 

"To be honest, I am comfortable playing in both positions (number six and eight). Previously, I have played as a number eight and number six. But speaking from a personal perspective I prefer playing as a six as I can control the game and have more touches on the ball. Yes, it is true that in the last few years I have been playing in a more advanced position but I am comfortable in a number six position. 

"The league is getting more competitive. I think the teams are a lot more balanced and are signing better players. (But) with the exception of a couple of teams, who have a fair bit of budget and can spend the way they like," stated Bedia. 

Ex-Kenya coach Bobby Williamson says the decision taken by Harambee Stars striker Michael Olunga to opt for Qatar instead of Europe could set him up for a good life.

The 26-year-old striker left Kashiwa Reysol of Japan after two seasons in the country to sign for Al Duhail SC of Qatar, and was handed his debut on Tuesday as his team lost 3-1 against Al Sadd.

The news of Olunga moving to Qatar came to light two weeks ago when a source close to the player confirmed to Goal he was already negotiating with Duhail.

A week later, reports emerged in Japan that Kashiwa Reysol had already accepted a transfer fee of seven million Euros (approximately Ksh890m) from the Qatari club for the services of the former Gor Mahia striker.

After making his debut on Tuesday, it was a clear indicator the striker had opted against a move to Europe and his former coach at national team level has no problem with the transfer as long as it does not affect his availability for international matches.

“People don’t know what he was offered, football is a short career if he went to Europe and picked up a career-threatening injury he could be finished,” Williamson told Goal on Wednesday when asked whether Olunga had made the right decision to move to the Qatar Stars League.

“We don’t know if he has been offered anything in Europe, most top players who go to Qatar are usually near the end of their careers and are millionaires anyway, I don’t know how much Michael [Olunga] will be paid?

“It is none of my business but I’m sure he will be pretty wealthy if he’s not already, the team in Qatar have put their money where their mouth is, and his club have accepted.

“He should go because it could set him up for life.”

Williamson has further said he would have loved to see the former Thika United, Tusker, and Gor Mahia striker play in the Premier League because he could have been a success there.

“We all would have liked to see how he would do in the English Premier League,” Williamson continued. “Personally I know he would have been a success but that option doesn’t seem to be open.

“I wish him all the best wherever he goes as long he’s assured he can make international matches when Kenya needs him.”

On his debut, Olunga played for 65 minutes and was a threat to Al Sadd’s defenders, his best chance to open the goal account coming in the 20th minute when his glancing header went just wide.

Steve Bruce has reaffirmed that he will not leave Newcastle United by his own choice, stressing that he will "never ever walk away from a challenge" as pressure continues to mount following poor form.

Bruce succeeded Rafa Benitez in July 2019 and guided them to a 13th-place finish in his first campaign in charge, notching key results against Manchester City and Chelsea.

But with just two points taken from his last six games in charge - plus Carabao Cup and FA Cup exits to Brentford and Arsenal in recent weeks - the 60-year-old has come increasingly under fire from supporters.

Tuesday's defeat to Sheffield United - who had previously only mustered two draws across the entirety of the current term - has only further enhanced calls for the ex-Birmingham City and Hull City boss to go.

But speaking afterwards at Bramall Lane, Bruce underlined that he had no intention of walking out of his own volition, while accepting that he must bear some of the burden for the club's on-field misfortunes.

"I'll never ever walk away from a challenge," he told Sky Sports. "I've been in it long enough to have that respect, but I understand - especially watching the first half - we weren't good enough and I take the responsibility for that, because I picked the team.

"We've been trying something different because over the last few weeks we've struggled going forward, so my thoughts were to get Ryan, someone fresh, and Sean higher up the pitch where he could be a goal threat. Unfortunately that didn't happen.

"I think we've had, apart from the last month which we knew would be difficult with the run of fixtures we've had, we've given ourselves a decent start to the season."

Bruce was also left fuming at the VAR-assisted decision to hand Chris Wilder's hosts a penalty for a handball against Federico Fernandez after originally electing to let play continue.

Billy Sharp subsequently converted from the spot to hand the Blades a first Premier League victory since July last year.

"I have to say the decision for the penalty is poor," Bruce added. "I thought the referee got it spot on when he didn't give it. We've spoken about it too much, we might not have got anything from the game but for it to be decided on something like that is poor."

Former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler is one of many stars of the game who are looking forward to the 2022 World Cup which will be held in Qatar. 

With stunning stadiums that feature cutting-edge technology and world-class infrastructure, Qatar have already promised a wonderful experience for visiting fans. They have inaugurated four out of the eight planned venues for the World Cup and the work is progressing on schedule for the rest. 

Interestingly, the World Cup will be held in the winter months of November and December for the first time ever. It will also be one of the major sporting events to be hosted in a post-pandemic world. As such, it is set to be a unique World Cup in many ways and Fowler feels it will be a brilliant event for fans and players alike. 

“I actually think that the World Cup in Qatar will be brilliant,” Fowler, who is currently coaching SC East Bengal in the Indian Super League (ISL), told Goal. While Qatar have had its fair share of critics over time, Fowler believes the Middle-East nation will defy all of them and put up a grand show when the World Cup rolls into town less than two years from now. 

“All eyes will be on them. People will probably want them to fail but I don't think they will. I think they will put up a great show and make it an unbelievably great spectacle and they will want to prove lots of people wrong,” Fowler mentioned.

The Liverpool great, who has 26 international caps for England, is no stranger to the thrills and frills of a World Cup. He was part of the England side which reached the quarter-finals of the first-ever World Cup to be held in Asia, back in 2002.

He feels that England have now improved and are certainly among the best European footballing nations. As Asia’s second World Cup comes along, the 45-year-old believes the Three Lions will put up a good show in Doha. 

“On paper, England always have had good teams. But it was always a bit worrying not because of England, but there were other good teams. Sometimes you look up and say that other European teams are slightly better. I think that's always been the case. England now have got back a bit of parity because they have a few good quality players,” he said. 

He also pointed out England’s brilliant performance in the 2017 U17 World Cup, which was also incidentally held in Asia (India), with several stars from that title-winning team making it to the English national team including Phil Foden, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Jadon Sancho.

“You go back as far as 2017, England won the U17 World Cup, and actually, it was in India, so their progressions have been good. Some of them have gone on to the U21 side, some of them into great Premier League sides and some even into the England national team. So there is scope for England to do well. We always have that belief that we would do well in tournaments.”

Fowler believes that the semi finalists from the 2018 World Cup will have the desire to perform in Qatar as well. With talented players like Marcus Rashford, Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane leading the team, 2022 Qatar World Cup will be an exciting tournament for English fans.

“Fundamentally, there are other teams as well who believe that they are as good as anyone else. So football is crazy at times. We all want our team to win but there will be one winner. You run that little bit harder, work that little bit harder. All national teams have unbelievably talented players and it's a case of who wants that little bit more. And it is up to England to show the world that they want it more than anyone. 

“It will be tough as all the other nations will be doing exactly the same.”

Kenya international Michael Olunga has wished Kashiwa Reysol success and is hopeful he will join them in future after completing a move to Al Duhail SC.

After three years with Kashiwa Reysol in Japan, Olunga joined the Qatari club but as he recalls the moments he shared with the J1-League club, he did not rule out the possibility of signing for them again.

“Hallo Kashiwa Reysol fans, I just want to thank you for all the support that you showed me and the club throughout my time here in Reysol,” Olunga said in a video posted on Kashiwa Reysol’s Twitter handle.

“It has been fantastic to play for this beautiful club and I really enjoyed every moment of it.

“I can just hope that you continue to perform more and more and I wish the club success in all the assignments. I hope one day I can still come back and play for this beautiful team.

“So, cheers and I wish you more success in the year 2021.”

The former Tusker and Gor Mahia centre-forward made his name while with Kashiwa Reysol as he emerged their top scorer in the 2019 J2 League season with 27 goals.

He did not look back as he – after helping Kashiwa Reysol win the title in the second division – was key again in the top-tier, where he scored 28 goals in 32 games.

He emerged as the top scorer in the J1 League and was additionally voted as the Most Valuable Player of the completion, a feat no African has achieved before.

Although a section of Kenyans showed reservations on Olunga’s latest move, Football Kenya Federation president Nick Mwendwa welcomed the deal for the Harambee Star.

“The choice Olunga made is personal and we don’t have a problem with it,” Mwendwa told Goal.

“Our job as a federation is to make sure we give him the support he needs and we will provide the same.

“He has moved to a very good club, it is a big team with big-name players and we pray that many Kenyan players can follow Olunga's footsteps.

“He did not talk to me but he knows his life well, our job is just to support him and we wish him well at his new station.”

Olunga made his Al Duhail debut as they were beaten 3-1 by Al Sadd on Tuesday.

Nemanja Matic is confident Manchester United are ready to challenge for the Premier League title and wants his side to prove it against Liverpool on Sunday.

United moved to the top of the table with a 1-0 victory over Burnley on Tuesday thanks to Paul Pogba’s deflected second-half volley.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men next head to Anfield at the weekend to take on their biggest rivals and Matic is relishing the opportunity to face the reigning champions.

What's been said

“I think this kind of win shows that we are ready to compete for the title,” Matic told MUTV.  

“I’m happy for the team performance and spirit and let’s see Sunday against Liverpool. It’s the biggest derby in England and we go there to compete with them and see where we are against one of the best teams in the league. I think we are ready.

“We played 17 games [and] we are top of the table. That shows something. We didn’t play five or six games and you can say maybe it’s lucky. But, after 17 games, definitely it is not lucky, definitely there is quality.

“But we cannot relax, we need to be concentrated until the end – to go game by game. In football, the next one is always important; the next one is the biggest final, and we will see.”

Why does it matter & what's the bigger picture?

The Goal view

Charlotte Duncker | Man Utd correspondent

If United are to attain a positive result, the resurgent Paul Pogba will again be key. Like Solskjaer, he has been constantly questioned and ridiculed by pundits and fans but the 27-year-old oozes class both on and off the ball, and his performances in recent weeks have shown glimpses of the level of excellence that we all know he is capable of producing.

His movement, range of passing and, perhaps most importantly, vision set him apart from every other player on the pitch at Turf Moor.

Whether the critics like it or not, United, Solskjaer and their much-maligned midfielder are very much in the Premier League title race.

A win against Liverpool on Sunday would send them six points clear of the reigning champions and, on current form, you wouldn’t bet against them.

Further reading

Fabinho has insisted that Mohamed Salah is "very happy" at Liverpool amid speculation over the Liverpool star's future.

The likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona have been linked with the Egypt international after comments made in December where he left the door open to a possible Anfield exit.

His Reds team-mate Fabinho, however, believes that it's "normal" to see Salah linked with some of Europe's top clubs and does not think that the speculation has affected his performances.

What's been said?

"Big players will always have their names involved in rumours. Salah plays for Liverpool, one of the biggest teams in the world. I think it's normal to see his name linked to other teams, especially from different leagues," Fabinho told ESPN Brasil.

"Anyway, I see him very happy here and pleased with his performances this season. He's very demanding with himself, he wants to be the best, he wants to help the team and works hard for it.

"It's always been the case and it hasn't changed at all. He keeps scoring goals, which everyone is used to seeing. In the changing room he's always talking to everyone and making jokes.

"I don't see anything affecting him. Overall, I am not following the news so I'm not sure about any rumours. As I said, top quality players will always be linked to big clubs."

The Goal view

Neil Jones | Liverpool correspondent

Salah's contract, worth £200,000 per week, still has two-and-a-half years to run, and so there is no huge concern at Liverpool at this stage - though obviously it is something that they will need to address over the next 12 months.

The aim has always been, and remains, to offer the Egyptian an extension, which would make him the club's highest-paid player. That would be both recognition for his incredible performances for the club in the past, and a means of ensuring the Reds maintain his value.

Despite his age, Salah's condition and professionalism mean he should still have many years at the highest level.

It's fair to say that the recent stories which emerged following Salah's interview with AS raised a few eyebrows within the club. It was seen as an unnecessary, and poorly-timed, distraction at a time when Liverpool were top of the Premier League and flying.

Since then, of course, things have changed in that regard.

From the player's perspective, there has always been a single-mindedness and a desire to achieve just about everything there is to achieve, collectively and personally.

Money is unlikely to be a big player in that, the question will more be one of relationship and opportunity - and at present Liverpool remain the club which satisfies in all regards.

Further reading

Manchester City have been accused of creating a “fake” role at the club for the father of former academy prospect Gabriel Fernando Almeida as a way to circumvent Premier League rules and funnel thousands of pounds to the player's family.

Having joined City as a 14-year-old in 2011, Almeida was too young to be given a professional contract by the club and – as a highly-rated playmaker at the time – would have been free to negotiate with other sides after his 16th birthday.

Premier League rules for that season stated: "No club shall induce or attempt to induce a player to become registered as a student by that club by offering him, or any person connected with him, either directly or indirectly, a benefit or payment of any description whether in cash or in kind."

In essence, any money paid to an underage player's family in order to influence a decision on the individual's career is a contravention of the law, though clubs have in the past hired family members of youngsters in order to circumvent those rules.

Almeida Snr's case differs, however, as the Brazilian claims that he never actually did any work for the club despite receiving monthly expense payments of around £1,000 between September 2011 and June 2012.

He did admit to sitting through two separate scouting training sessions at City, but added that those sessions were exclusively in English – a language he does not understand.

Speaking to The Athletic, in Portuguese, Almeida said: “The truth is that they paid me but I did not work. In truth, they tricked us because I do not speak English. They did arrange for me to take a course in scouting. I went to the classroom on two occasions, to appear there at the course. It was inside Manchester City.”

City deny the allegations levelled against them, with a club spokesperson stating: “The limited records that exist given the nature of the work involved and the significant passage of time of almost a decade, suggest that Mr Almeida (Snr) was a casual scout for a period within Gabriel’s time with the club, for which he was reimbursed expenses.”

Almeida insists there was no 'casual scouting', however. 

“I didn’t do anything. It was a lie. I didn’t go and do anything,” he said, adding: “They know. They know everything. They put me down as a worker. There’s no way that the club would not know.”

The report further states that it is unclear whether the Premier League will investigate the matter, or what the punishment would be if wrongdoing is found to have taken place.

However, similar offences involving illegal approaches for young players have in the past resulted in fines and transfer bans.

Manchester United and their supporters have no reason not to believe that they can win the Premier League, assures Gary Neville, after the Red Devils hit the summit following Tuesday's win over Burnley.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side went top for the first time since 2017 thanks to Paul Pogba's spectacular second-half volley, moving them three points ahead of champions Liverpool.

Victory over the Clarets has set up a mouthwatering north-west derby encounter at Anfield this Sunday, presenting United with the opportunity to open up a six-point gap over their bitter rivals.

In a notably open Premier League campaign marked by wildly fluctuating form and results, Solskjaer's oft-maligned side have emerged as genuine contenders, having now gone 11 games unbeaten in the top-flight.

Former United defender Neville, a cornerstone of the club's success under Sir Alex Ferguson, has admitted that he has been blindsided by their run to the top over the past few months - and that while he is reluctant to say they are headed for the title, they have no reason not to dream big.

"I don't think anyone is saying Manchester United will win the league but the fact that they are in a title fight…wow. I never would have imagined it," the ex-England man told Sky Sports.

"It's a strange season. Why shouldn't Manchester United fans believe? Why shouldn't this side believe? Look at the front three, look at that midfield four, look at Bruno Fernandes - they have some fantastic players.

"The other teams aren't in great form. Man City are sitting there cool and calm, nobody is really talking about them, but they are hitting very good form and that is a real danger. But in the next few days it is time to have a little bit of fun. It won't be a comfortable few days for Liverpool.

"l believe these players feel they can have a really special season. It's odd, it's changing every single week, you don't know what is going to happen and there's an element of unpredictability and Manchester United could exploit that."

Pogba - often a lightning rod for criticism within the United set-up - capped arguably his best performance for the club in several months with an exquisite finish to earn the three points, and was mobbed by his ecstatic team-mates in celebration.

Neville pointed to the reaction of the Red Devils players as further signs of a shared belief in each other, adding that it only serves to enhance the team's communal spirit.

"It's a big win," he noted. "To go top of the league before Sunday feels like a big moment in the sense that six to eight weeks ago you wouldn't have thought Manchester United would have been anywhere near this position.

"Yet, now, they find themselves with something building, the spirit is growing as you could see with the way they celebrated with each other, there's a resilience built off some performances which haven't been great all the time away from home but they have won when they haven't been at their best.

"You get confidence from that and now United are starting to play better. The players they have who are really top quality are starting to show those moments in a more consistent fashion."

The Malaysian FA (FAM) status committee which met on January 7 has issued 12 decisions regarding player pay disputes with two football associations.

In the announcement made on Wednesday, January 13, FAM has instructed the Kelantan FA to pay 11 of their former players' unpaid wages, a total of around RM187,700 (around USD46,000).

The players are believed to have turned out for the Red Warriors until the 2019 season. They are Fauzi Rozlan (RM63,628.18), Zulfahmi Awang (RM50,000.00), Afiq Azuan (RM32,141.99), Wan Mohammed Afiq (RM21,000.00), Azzrie Aripin (RM4,075.00), Syafiq Syahmi Husin (RM2,681.00), Ahmad Fathi Irfan Azlan (RM3,279.00), Fikri Hakim Kama (RM1,289.50), Ahmad Hamzalah Zulkiflee (RM2,681.00), Fazliera Ezlan Rosli (RM3,126.25) and Fahmi Izzuddin Ab Rahman (RM2,681.00).

It is yet to be known whether the debts will have to be settled by the Kelantan FA, the previous operator of the Kelantan professional team, or the team's new owner Norizam Tukiman, who has spent a lot of his time and money paying off their numerous debts since acquiring the team in 2020.

In the same announcement, the Melaka FA, who used to run Malaysia Super League side Melaka United, was also ordered to pay former player Curran Ferns a staggering RM97,500.00 (around USD24,100).

The Australian-Malaysian midfielder was on the books for the Mousedeer in 2020, before he revealed towards the end of the year that the club has failed to pay his wages.

Curran Ferns

Jermaine Seoposenwe hit a brace as Sporting Braga beat SL Benfica 3-1 to win the Portuguese Women's Cup title for the first time.

Before the 2019-20 final match, the South Africa international had played 84 minutes but could not help Gverreiras avoid a 3-0 loss to SL Benfica in the Women's League Cup final last Wednesday.

On Tuesday, Seoposenwe earned a starting spot in coach Miguel Santos' squad, while Nigeria's Christy Ucheibe and Cape Verde's Jolina Amani were left on the bench by SL Benfica.

Hannah Keane, who replaced Cindy Konig on the starting list, opened the scoring with her superb strike three minutes after Andreia Norton's came close in the fifth minute for Braga.

Benfica, however, gained more possession of the ball and almost levelled matters through Andreia Faria after a Matilde Fidalgo-led build-up, but her effort sailed inches wide in the 19th minute.

After the half-time break, Filipa Patao's side exerted more pressure on their opponents and found the crucial equaliser when Nycole headed in Ana Seica's accurate cross in the 50th minute.

Braga stepped up to regain the lead when Seopensowe received a pass from Dolores Silva and went on to fire her side in front, with a powerful strike from outside the box in the 64th minute.

Despite their slim lead, Braga did not rest on their laurels as Andreia Norton sent a pass-through to Myra Delgadillo, whose cross was headed in by Seoposenwe in the 78th minute to guarantee the win.

The result means Sporting Braga are the 2019-20 winners of the Portuguese Women's Cup following the triumph over the holders.

Besides being first-time champions, they are also the ninth different winner in the women's tournament since 2003. 

Seoposenwe, who celebrated her first major title in the colours of Braga, lasted the duration of the encounter and has now scored three goals in all competitions this season.

On the other hand, Ucheibe could not taste a minute of the match for Braga, while Amani was a 68th-minute replacement for Fidalgo.

In their next encounters, Braga will welcome Clube Condeixa on January 24, while SL Benfica will visit Albergaria on the same day.

Josh Onomah has revealed his desire to play regularly for Fulham after recovering from injuries which have sidelined him for a major part of the current campaign.

The Anglo-Nigerian suffered a knee injury at the start of the season which ruled him out for more than three weeks, and also suffered a knock in October. 

The 23-year-old returned to action for the Craven Cottage outfit on Saturday, in their 2-0 FA Cup third-round victory against Queens Park Rangers, playing for the duration of the game to help his side progress to the next round of the tournament.

Onomah has only made five appearances for Scott Parker’s men across all competitions this season due to his injury problems and provided two assists.

The midfielder is delighted with his return for Fulham and has set a target of helping the club secure impressive results.

“I’ve been working hard for the last two months trying to recover from my injury,” Onomah told the club website.

“I want to thank all the staff involved with that, and my teammates, for helping me through that. It was good to get back, especially to do it with a win in the FA Cup, so I was buzzing all around.

“It was crazy playing 120 minutes for my first game back. I loved every minute, it just felt so good to be back out there playing with the lads and helping us get the win.

“As I said, full credit goes to the staff who’ve helped me over the last couple of months. They’ve kept me in good nick, and I felt really strong out there.

“My main is to prove to the manager that I’m fit enough to make the 25-man squad. When the opportunity arrives I’ve got to make sure I take it.

“We’ve got two games in four days coming up so I’m just looking to be available and up for selection. I’ll be ready whenever the gaffer needs me to try and do my part and help the team get some points.”

Onomah started his career with Tottenham Hotspur and played 13 league games for the club before leaving the side to team up with Fulham permanently in the summer of 2019.

The Craven Cottage outfit will take on the Lilywhites in their next Premier League game on Wednesday night and the forward is eagerly looking forward to the outing.

“When the fixtures first came out, that was the first team I was looking for. It would be good to play against them, a team that I had been with basically my whole life,” he continued.

“It would be quite weird because Tottenham is all I’d known for a long time, but now that Fulham is my home I can’t wait to go back there and hopefully come away with a win.

“Both teams have got positive momentum. Spurs have won a few recently but we’ve been doing well, too.

“Speaking to the lads, everyone is up for it, especially after not playing for a couple of weeks with everything that’s happened, so the lads can’t wait to get back playing Premier League football.”

Kakamega Homeboyz striker Allan Wanga has explained why they have struggled in the opening stages of the Football Kenya Federation Premier League season.

The former league top scorer pointed out the coronavirus-enforced break as one of the main reasons which have affected the new season and their results.

“We are yet to gel completely as a team. There was also a long break during the coronavirus pandemic and that also slowed us in a big way,” Wanga said as he was quoted by the club’s Facebook page.

“The way we have been training and playing, you could see there is a slight improvement and it is a matter of time before we start getting results. And when I talk of results, it means winning games.”

Initially, the club’s owner Cleophas Shimanyula stated they have had poor results primarily because some six players returned positive Covid-19 tests and were consequently ruled out of the opening games.

Wanga too stated they were affected by the absence of the infected players.

“Some of the key players were injured just as the season began but now we have almost all players available,” the Premier League-winning star added.

“Bai, Shami Kibwana, Moses Mudavadi and me were not available then.”

On his part, goalkeeper David Juma said they have been undone by the inability to create chances and score goals.

“In terms of scoring that is where we struggle because we only have two goals in the last six games,” the experienced custodian said earlier.

“Scoring remains our biggest undoing and we must try and find a scoring touch and things will be better.

“We need not take time but we must start immediately. Against Tusker we tried to get an early goal but we were not successful but that is how we must fight in each and every game that is coming.”

Ali Bhai, who was among the missing players when the season started, said their return is positive news.

“According to our new seasons' projections, we have already lost like 10 points and that is where we must begin now. But now we are back and I believe things will be better,” Bhai said.

Kakamega Homeboyz will be up against Bandari on Saturday, January 16 at Mbaraki Stadium.

Orlando Pirates would be keen to breathe life into their seemingly waning Premier Soccer League (PSL) fortunes when they travel to Venda for Wednesday's clash against Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila.

Having started the year 2021 on the back foot by losing to Mamelodi Sundowns and drawing 1-1 with Swallows FC, Pirates risk losing track of the log leaders.

They are now trailing Downs by 10 points, a situation that makes them desperate for a win, although they have played a game fewer than Masandawana.

The trip to equally struggling TTM provides an opportunity to get back on track and cover some ground in their chase of the leaders.

Currently sitting in sixth spot, victory would see Pirates climb two rungs up the standings to fourth position.

But it could be a tricky assignment given that their hosts are also eager to correct their difficult run of form.

Making it more tricky for Josef Zinnabauer's Pirates is that they can be unpredictable after being held by AmaZulu and Baroka in two of five matches they have shared spoils.

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Squads & Team News

Tshakhuma's bid to improve their fortunes has been dealt a big blow following the departure of striker Justin Shonga.

The Zambia international ended his three-month stay in Limpopo by joining Cape Town City on Tuesday.

Tshakhuma coach Joel Masutha will have to find an immediate solution within the group of players he is working with ahead of Pirates' visit.

This leaves more weight for goals falling on the shoulders of Rhulani Manzini, who is the club’s top goalscorer with two goals.

Some Tshakhuma players, like forward Lerato Lamola, as well as midfielders Thabo Rakhale, Mogakolodi Ngele, Thabo Mnyamane and Edgar Manaka, will be expected to provide the much-needed experience to match the Buccaneers if selected to play.

Alfred Ndengane will be coming up against his former paymasters after being released by Pirates at the end of last season.

Pirates will be without co-captain Thulani Hlatshwayo who is suspended for this match after accumulating his fourth yellow card of the season in the draw against Swallows last weekend.

Fellow skipper Happy Jele is expected to step in at the heart of the defence.

While Hlatshwayo is out, the Buccaneers have received a major boost following the return to full fitness of goalkeeper Richard Ofori.

The Ghana number one missed the Soweto giants' last two league matches and a Caf Confederation assignment due to injury.

In his absence, Wayne Sandilands guarded goal but was breached in their last two games in which they failed to win.

Zinnabauer also welcomes back attacker Vincent Pule, who missed the hosting of Swallows due to suspension.

Last week, Pirates confirmed that forwards Zakhele Lepasa and Tshegofatso Mabasa, as well as defender Abel Mabaso, are not yet near returning from injury.

But Zinnabauer might not be worrying himself much as he has Frank Mhango to play upfront together with Jean-Marc Makusu.

The two are still bit-part players so far this season and yet to start together, but there is an anticipation of a strong combination between them.

In the last two league games, Zinnbauer has started Terrence Dzvukamanja as a centre-striker but after that move failed to yield any positive results, the German could be forced to change.

Match Preview

A defeat for Pirates will see them making it a tall order for themselves to catch up with Sundowns.

They would be eager to avoid dropping points, especially since they are a limping side that has won just once in their last five matches.

A defeat or even a draw would invite more pressure on the Buccaneers who have won three league games, drawn five and lost just once so far this season.

It would be the first time ever for them to play Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila, who are in their debut PSL season after purchasing the top-flight league status of Bidvest Wits.

Tshakhuma currently sit in position 11 on the log and have not tasted victory in their last five league matches, where they registered four draws and a defeat.

Overall, they have played six draws, a record they share with Golden Arrows in the league so far this season.

The Venda side has won just once in nine games and have lost twice.

Ex-coach Hassan Oktay has claimed Gor Mahia were very lucky to return from Algeria with a 6-0 defeat against CR Belouizdad.

The Kenyan champions came up against the North African giants in the Caf Champions League playoffs, and the first leg they suffered a 6-0 defeat before they lost 2-1 at home in the return leg to exit on an 8-1 aggregate scoreline.

The Cypriot-Turkish tactician, who helped the team reach the quarter-finals of the Confederation Cup for the first time in history in 2019, has now told Goal K'Ogalo should be thankful because they only lost by a 6-0 margin, insisting the level of the game displayed by their opponents meant they deserved to lose 10-0.

“They should thank their God because the game was supposed to end 10-0 or even more,” Oktay told Goal while pointing at the number of chances CR Belouizdad squandered at home.

“It was a gift to Gor Mahia because the embarrassment was not as huge as it was supposed to be.

“They were very lucky but in the return leg, at least they [Gor Mahia] showed some improvement and played very well, it was a tight game and it was better football from them but the problem was, the damage had already been done from the first leg.”

Asked to explain what the problem could be at the club, Oktay said: “Gor Mahia are simply suffering because they don’t keep their key players in every transfer window. If you want to compete at the highest level, you must keep your best players and your technical bench intact, and also move to sign potential players to make your team stronger and better.

“But that is not the case at Gor Mahia, they are losing key players every window and in return sign more than 15, spoiling consistency in the process.

"Somebody told me they signed players from Western Stima [during the last window], and then allowed their good players to go, they should strive to keep their best players, someone like Harun [Shakava], Francis [Kahata], Lawrence Juma, and Boniface [Omondi] did not deserve to leave the club.

“Why do you sell your best players and then go sign from Western Stima, a team which is not at the level of Gor Mahia?

On who should take the blame for the current mess at the club, Oktay, who won the league title with K’Ogalo in the 2018-19 season, said: “I am not blaming the chairman or anyone because sometimes if players want to go you cannot keep them.

“But you should need to find the reason why they want to go, why they are not happy at the club, and then solve the problems before you lose them.”

Oktay has also maintained a club of Gor Mahia's status needs to have their own training facility, saying it will go a long way to help them in getting good results.

“For me, Gor Mahia needs to focus and build their own stadium and training facility and even have one for the youth team,” the 47-year-old continued.

 “For a team to do well in Caf competitions, you need such facilities, and also for a team to go out there and bring money from Champions League, you have to keep your best players.”

After losing their Champions League clash, Gor Mahia dropped to the Confederation Cup, where they have been pitted against Napsa Stars of Zambia in the playoff for a spot in the group stage.

Gor Mahia have also struggled in the league, as they have lost two matches from their opening three, managing to win one against Tusker.

'All great players do not make great coaches'. This is a very common notion which persists in the world of football and this phrase was bandied about at East Bengal as soon as the club lost their first three matches in their maiden Indian Super League (ISL) season.

The Red and Golds had appointed Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler at the helm ahead of their journey in the ISL and there was a lot of hype at the beginning of the season. But as soon as the season began, the positivity gave way to criticism and negativity. 

Fowler was heavily criticised from all corners for East Bengal's initial bad results but what the critics conveniently ignored was how East Bengal entered the country's top league. Until September, East Bengal did not have an investor and it was almost confirmed they were going to take part in the I-League. 

The club's ISL participation was confirmed only when Shree Cement Limited came on board as the club's investor. Everything happened in the eleventh hour including finalising the squad. Most importantly, head coach Robbie Fowler had hardly any time to prepare the team before the season started. 

It must also be noted that the club did not have the pick of the Indian players since most prominent Indians had already signed for other ISL clubs before East Bengal's participation was confirmed. 

"I have said this before, how difficult it was at the start. Pre-season was for two weeks," Robbie Fowler told Goal. "Two weeks for any club in the world, whether you are Manchester City, Manchester United or Liverpool if you have two weeks of preparation for the season then you will not hit the ground running. What we did is we used the first games as pre-season games. I know that is not what people want to hear but that is what we had to do and it is the situation we found ourselves in.

"This is a great traditionalist club with ideas and values we all love but it was tough because this season the squad was built for I-League and we can't hide that fact. It was a club that was going into the I-League and all of a sudden we are put in the ISL. We had to change our values as coaching staff and players. You are going from one league into the other and the ISL is a much tougher league. I am not being disrespectful to the I-League but it is me being a realist."

Along with an average squad, another thing that most critics do not take into consideration is the abnormality of the pandemic-affected ongoing season. The teams are staying in a bubble for more nearly six months where except for playing matches and attending training sessions, no one is allowed to step out of their hotels.

"From outside people might have thought that we were bad but we knew we weren't. We all knew how difficult it was and I can't stress enough how difficult it is to be in this environment. It is probably the toughest thing anyone would have to do. It is an environment where you cant leave or can't do something that you want to do freely. We leave the hotel to train and play games. That is the only thing you can do. We are in a lovely hotel no doubt but we can't do anything other than that," said the East Bengal coach.

Fowler also spoke about the challenges he faced at the beginning of the season including changing the mentality of the players. He feels the efforts are slowly bearing fruit now. 

"We had to change the mentality of the players. We had our ideas and we knew what we needed to do and it really tough at the start. But thankfully now people may start to see the fruits whereas at the start people were quick to get on our backs and say you can't be doing this, can't be doing that.

"Everything we have done is not because we are egotistical people. It is because we want this club to be a successful club and we were not after quick fixes. We wanted to gradually grow and be better. Everyone can see we are progressing, we are competing against all the teams in the ISL and we will continue to do that."

The Liverpool great suggested that he had come prepared for a tough challenge in India and he also drew the example of his previous coaching stint with A-League's Brisbane Roar and how he and his coaching staff took a lowly placed side on the league table and made them qualify for the AFC Champions League (ACL).

"I knew that things won't be all rosy. Nothing comes easy. We need to work hard if we want to achieve great things. That is what we have always tried to do regardless of people giving us the stick, we knew we have to build something here. If you see last year, we took a team (Brisbane Roar) that struggled the year before and we were competitive and we ended up getting into the AFC Champions League.

"We changed the squad, we changed their beliefs, ideas and mentality and we became robust. That has been the plan this year as well. We knew how tough it was at the start."

Fowler stressed on the importance of staying realistic and developing long-term fixes rather than short term ones.

"We knew it was never going to be easy and there was a chance to try and build again. Regardless of what people have said about me, nobody can deny that last year we took a club that had struggled the year before and made them competitive. This club, they are huge but they haven't won the league in 17 years (the I-League), of course.

"When you are a club of the size of East Bengal with a huge fan base, people demand things. But as much as we demand things from players we have to be realistic. This is something that is not going to happen overnight. We know we have to develop and we are not after quick fixes, we are after developing," said the former England star.

Neither Bengaluru FC nor NorthEast United FC would've been the happier team after a listless 0-0 draw that saw the Highlanders coach Gerard Nus part ways with the club. 

Both teams were struggling going into this game with Bengaluru looking for a sort of mini-revival under interim coach Naushad Moosa. After four losses on the bounce, a run that saw Carles Cuadrat leave the club, Moosa was desperate for a three points against NorthEast United. But that was not to be. 

The Bengaluru attack continued to struggle and whatever little they created was wasted by the forwards. NorthEast, on the other hand, were more profligate than Bengaluru and on the balance of play, should have won the game. 

When NorthEast United made a bright start this season, many labelled them as the surprise package and one of the ‘dark horses’. They started their campaign with a surprise 1-0 win over Mumbai City FC, a team who occupy the pole position on the Indian Super League (ISL) table currently.

They made a brilliant comeback against Kerala Blasters where they were 2-0 down before scoring twice in the second half to pick a point. They followed it up with another point against FC Goa after equalising through an Idrssa Sylla spot-kick.

In their fourth game of the season, they eased past East Bengal to register a comfortable 2-0 win. Eight points from four matches and the Highlanders looked like they would stake a claim in the top four at the end of the league stage.

However, what followed has been nothing short of a disaster. In seven matches, they have only amassed four points. A similar trend was seen last season when they had 10 points from the opening five matches and would go on to pick a mere eight points more from the remaining 13 games.

"There are more players now who were not here last year. I see the opportunity to use those statistics (from last year) to prove to ourselves that we can do better,” said Nus ahead of their sixth game of the campaign when he was questioned on NorthEast United’s slump last season.

Kwesi Appiah’s injury hasn’t helped Nus’ cause which has further reduced the goalscoring options for the Highlanders.

Bengaluru FC have struggled throughout the season and it wasn’t much different against NorthEast. They would thank their stars for picking a point thanks to a gift from goalkeeper Gurmeet Singh, who failed to collect a feeble shot, or cross, from Rahul Bheke.

What would continue to haunt Naushad Moosa and his players is the ease with which the opposition are able to create openings. If not for V.P.Suhair being wasteful on a couple of occasions, Bengaluru could have found themselves staring at yet another defeat.

The goals aren’t coming and the creativity from set-pieces, along with Carles Cuadrat, seems to have deserted them. They struggle to get behind the opposition defence and when they do, there aren’t enough bodies inside the box. 

Not much has changed for Bengaluru since Cuadrat's departure in terms of fashioning chances from open play and Moosa needs to address this as soon as possible.

NorthEast have opted to get rid of Nus and hand over the reins to Khalid Jamil. Whether it was the right decision or not, only time will tell. However, the onus is now on Jamil to ensure that the team do much better in the second half of the campaign, keeping in mind the limitations he has.