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Tottenham midfielder Eric Dier believes that under Jose Mourinho, the club can finally claim the Premier League title.

Spurs have flirted with silverware in the recent past but have not won anything since a League Cup success in 2007-08. Meanwhile, they have been waiting on a league title since the 1960-61 season.

With no clear frontrunner for the Premier League title, Dier is hopeful that the Portuguese can mastermind an end to that drought.

“I'd say this team is probably more pragmatic. I think we still possess a lot of the qualities we had during that spell [under former coach Mauricio Pochettino], I think we're all a bit older, a bit more mature, we've all seen a bit more, and we're ready to do different things compared to when you're younger,” he told Sky Sports.

“I feel like it's a much more mature team, and the depth of the squad is not something I've seen during my time here, we've got an incredible depth. The amount of quality we have coming off the bench, and not even in the squad, is incredible.

“That competition is definitely driving things, and I think that's something in the past we struggled with, not having that competition to drive things. You want to have your own self-motivation, but you can't deny it's different when it's a big squad and everyone is driving each other.

“Mourinho is definitely putting his stamp on the club, on the team and the players individually. He's definitely implementing the things he wants to see. He wants us to be a representation of himself. Tough is definitely one of the words I'd use to describe him, and this team.”

Having lost the 2018-19 Champions League final to Liverpool, Spurs struggled to react but are now in a better place, Dier says.

“Last season was just a difficult time, even when the new manager came in, it definitely wasn't easy. It definitely feels like we're building something new, I feel like the foundations are there, and it's up to us to make it what we want it to be,” he said.

Mourinho’s men take on Chelsea on Sunday and can move top of the standings with a win or even a draw.

Bidco United head coach Anthony Akhukilia has revealed he would not be part of the team as they tackle Western Stima on Sunday at Moi Stadium in a Football Kenya Federation Premier League tie.

Akhulia has not specifically given the reason why he would miss the first top-tier match for Bidco United. The Thika club was promoted, alongside Nairobi City Stars, after finishing as the top two sides in the National Super League’s 2019-20 season.

The tactician believes his charges are capable of picking up a win as they face the Powermen away from home in their respective league opener.

“My people I might not be there with you physically but I am there with you spiritually. I might not be on the touchline to guide you guys but God is always with you,” Akhulia said in a Facebook post.

“In you, he put everything you need to win the game. You are more than winners. As I always tell you, the team comes first and as a team, you can beat anyone with or without so and so.”

The coach urged the players to ensure they get a positive income in order to make everyone around the club happy at the beginning of the new season.

“I pray for you guys, God helps you in our first game of the league; win the game for yourself, win the game for your colleagues who didn't travel, win the game for your families, win the game for our loyal fans, win the game me your coach,” he concluded.

“And lastly win the game for the team. All the best gentlemen. Make me proud, make us proud.”

There will be four matches to conclude the opening matchday actions in the FKF Premier League with Posta Rangers and KCB meeting at the Moi International Sports Complex, Kasarani.

Nairobi City Stars will host Nzoia Sugar at Ole Ntimama Stadium in Narok while Kariobangi Sharks will play Wazito FC in a second match at Kasarani.

The Kasarani double-header will also be broadcast live by the new league partner, StarTimes.

Gor Mahia have been exempted from the opening matchday due to the participation in the Caf Champions League. They will face Zoo FC in their bid to have another successful title-defence campaign on December 2.

Orlando Pirates coach Josef Zinnbauer has admitted that his side did not invest enough effort to claim maximum points in Saturday’s 1-1 Premier Soccer League (PSL) draw against Baroka FC at Orlando Stadium.

It was the third league draw this season for the Buccaneers who had to come from behind to salvage a draw via substitute Tshegofatso Mabasa’s injury-time equaliser after Baroka had taken the lead through Ananias Gebhardt.

Following the equaliser which showed some fighting spirit, Zinnbauer is, however, not too happy with their finishing, which denied his side to jump to second spot on the table.

“I think in the first half we had the game what we want, we dominated, we were playing in one half. I think the opponent did not have one chance in the first-half but we did not have enough chances,” Zinnbauer told SuperSport TV.

“This is what we have, on ball possession, on possibilities to score, the final pass was not too aggressive in this game, we need more solutions in the box.

“Second-half, two minutes or so, we [conceded] this easy goal but it's always so when a keeper makes a mistake then in the most of time it's a goal, we had the chance to score.

“We're not happy with the score, we're not happy with the second-half but we're happy with the fight. The belief always is okay, we have the chance we can score, we did this but it's not enough for three points.”

After conceding Gebhardt’s goal two minutes into the second half, Zinnbauer responded by introducing forwards Frank Mhango, who was coming from injury, and Mabasa, who then grabbed their crucial goal for a second successive weekend.

In seeking creativity, Zinnbauer threw in Deon Hotto and Collins Makgaka for Terrence Dzvukamanja and Nkanyiso Zungu.

“We needed goals and we needed [an offensive] player, then it's not normal in the second half, the opponent is ahead and we get counter-attacks,” said Zinnbauer.

“But we have to do this risk, we have to do bring the offensive player on the field and you work offensively much better than before. You get more opportunities in the box and I'm happy we scored in the end of time. A point is a point, it's not enough for us but it's a point.”

Pirates now shift focus to next weekend’s league visit to Cape Town City as they seek to stay in touch with leaders Mamelodi Sundowns who are four points better off than them.

Azam FC forward Prince Dube has left for South Africa where he will undergo extended treatment.

The Zimbabwean star injured his ulnar of the left hand during their Mainland Premier League defeat to Young Africans (Yanga SC) after just a quarter an hour of the derby played at Chamazi Stadium seven days ago.

The 23-year-old, who has been in fine form this season, had managed to score six goals and is among the top scorers in the top flight.

Azam have confirmed Dube has left for South Africa for further treatment and wished the player the best of luck.

“Our striker Prince [Dube] has today [Sunday] left Tanzania for South Africa to undergo further scans and treatment on his left hand in South Africa,” the club confirmed on their social media pages, with a picture of the player at the airport ready to travel.

“Dube will be treated at Vincent Pallotti hospital situated in Cape Town and we wish all the best as he undergoes treatment and further wish him a speedy recovery.”

After the player picked up the injury, Azam also took to their social media pages to confirm the player will be treated in South Africa.

“Our striker Prince Dube, who was injured in our game against Yanga on Wednesday, November 25, will be taken to South Africa for treatment,” stated Azam.

“Dube, who is a Zimbabwe citizen, was injured in the 15th minute after hurting his left hand's ulnar [a nerve transmitting electrical signals to muscles especially in the forearm and hand].

“[Dube] will leave for South Africa on Sunday, November 29 via Kenya Airways. He will be treated at the Vincent Pallotti Hospital in Cape Town where he will be treated by a specialist Robert Nicholas. Azam have been using this hospital to treat the players since 2011.”

The absence of Dube will surely affect the Chamazi-based giants who have already started to lose ground as far as winning the title is concerned after losing two matches against KMC and Yanga.

Azam are now second on the 18-team table with 25 points, six less than leaders Yanga, who beat JKT Tanzania 1-0 on Saturday.

The ‘Ice Cream Makers’ can, however, cut the gap if they win their match against Biashara United on Sunday.

Kaizer Chiefs coach Gavin Hunt is not happy with the grass inside Limbe Omnisport Stadium, the venue for Sunday’s Caf Champions League preliminary round, first leg match against PWD Bamenda. 

It is the first time since 2016 for Chiefs to play in the Champions League while their Cameroonian opponents’ only appearance in Africa was a second-round exit from the 2004 Caf Confederation Cup.

After a difficult run on the domestic front, Chiefs arrived in Cameroon to find searing temperatures, which Hunt said should not be as much of a worry as the state of the playing surface at the match venue.

“We trained on Saturday afternoon just to get a feel of the pitch but didn’t do much because of the heat,” Hunt told Kaizer Chiefs website.

“We just needed to get the travel out of the legs. The stadium looks really great but our only concern is that the grass is too long so it will be a different type of game for us.

“We are not so worried about the extreme heat and humid weather conditions because when you get into this competition you expect to play in such conditions. I am confident that the players will cope.”

Chiefs welcome back centre-back Eric Mathoho who returns to action after missing their last two Premier Soccer League games due to suspension.

Hunt believes that the lanky defender is the man they need to deal with Bamenda’s “big players.”

“We are happy to have ‘Tower’ back," said Hunt.

“His height will come in handy because you expect to have some big players from the opposition when in West Africa. We hope to use him to deal with their big attackers.”

While Chiefs have played eight matches in all competitions so far this season, their opponents were last involved in competitive action in March when the Cameroonian Elite ONE league was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Bamenda’s lack of game time could be an advantage for Hunt’s men although the Cameroonians played a few friendly matches recently, including travelling to Libya.

“We’ve seen some video footage, but the quality wasn’t great,” Hunt said.

“Also, March is too far back so we don’t know what they really look like at the moment. We are aware they played in Libya in a friendly, so we just have to go to the game and do our best.”

Chiefs will for the first time since March play inside a stadium with fans in the stands as 200 supporters are allowed to attend Sunday’s game.

Uganda forward Uche Ikpeazu’s Wycombe Wanderers denied Wayne Rooney a first win since he took over as Derby County interim manager after a 1-1 draw at Pride Park on Saturday.

Derby County scored for the first time in nearly eight hours but a one-all draw against Wycombe Wanderers meant they will remain at the bottom of Championship table.

In the 17th minute, the visitors were forced to make a change when Curtis Thompson looked unable to continue with the game and Alexander Pattison came on.

Duane Holmes’ clever finish in the 36th minute ended Derby’s goal drought but Ikpeazu’s teammates look re-energised in the second half and scored an equaliser courtesy of Matt Bloomfield’s close-range strike in the 46th minute.

Wycombe's Gareth Ainsworth said the 1-1 draw against Rooney’s Derby was worth celebrating.

“Derby definitely had the first half but second half, I thought we were the better side and for me, it's a huge point against a club that I don't believe will be in the bottom three come to the end of the season,” Ainsworth told Sky Sports.

“We celebrated a point in League One away at Sunderland two years ago like it was the best thing that this club had ever done so to come to somewhere like Derby County and get a point I think is just phenomenal for Wycombe Wanderers.”

On his part, Rooney praised his charges for the tactical improvement they showed on Saturday.

“We were a little bit more direct than we have been in recent weeks,” the former Manchester United star said. “We had to change something from the way we have been playing.

“I felt the experience coming into the team was vital, I wanted experienced players on the pitch who know the league and to try and get the ball forward quicker than we have done in recent games.

“I think that was needed. I can sit here and say we want to play football, make 600, 700 passes a game but at the minute the players aren't in that frame of mind and aren't confident enough to do that so the important thing for me was to try and simplify the game for the players and to get the ball forward.

“We created chances and went in at half-time 1-0 up and I stressed to the players how important the second goal is and we paid the price for not getting that second goal.

“But I have to remain positive, it's a point, we've stopped the run of losing games and it's a point we have to build on.”

Ikpeazu, who is sidelined by an injury since before the last international break, might be involved in the next game against Stoke City on December 2.

The Confederation of African Football (Caf) has allowed Tanzania representatives, Simba SC and Namungo FC, to have fans to cheer them on in continental home matches.

The Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) had written to the body requesting fans to be allowed to attend the continental assignments. 

"Caf has allowed fans, up to 50% of full capacity, to attend the Caf Champions League home games and Caf Confederation Cup home games for Simba and Namungo respectively," TFF said in a statement obtained by Goal.

"The decision has been reached after the Federation wrote to Caf stating there is no Covid-19 threat in Tanzania.

"As a result, Caf has accepted and the two teams will now have fans cheering them as specified above."

On Saturday, Namungo made their debut in continental competitions and managed to overcome their opponents Al-Rabita 3-0 at Azam Complex in Chamazi.

The Tanzanian side, who are taking part in the Caf competition by virtue of playing in the final of the domestic cup last season, were the better side in the contest played at Chamazi Stadium.

Namungo went into the match knowing they have to use their home ground advantage and avoid conceding and they did exactly that as they took a deserved lead through Stephen Sey in the 20th minute.

Sey was on target again 19 minutes later after rounding the Rabita keeper to stab home the second goal, and they were not done yet as Shiza Kichuya assured that they won with a convincing result as he scored the third goal in the 64th minute.

The result marked a debut win for the club on the continental scene and also the first win for new coach Hemed Morocco, who replaced fired Hitimana Thierry.

Thierry was fired on November 18 after a run of poor results in the ongoing campaign and by that time, he had helped the team register four wins, as many losses, and two draws.

He left the team in 14th position and it was an unwelcome struggle considering the team was preparing to play Al-Rabita in the first preliminary round of the Confederation Cup.

Kenya international Clarke Oduor featured in Barnsley’s 2-1 loss to Blackburn Rovers in a Championship tie on Saturday evening.

The win saw Blackburn Rovers move to within just two points of the Championship playoffs positions as they downed Oduor’s side, who have now lost on two consecutive matches.

Adam Armstrong, the league’s current top scorer, scored the opener before half-time and that is his fourth goal in the last three matches. His clinical finishing ended up contributing big in condemning Barnsley, a side he spent time on loan with in the 2016-17 season, to another loss.,

Oduor was introduced in the 68th minute for Alex Mowatt, a player who has been starting ahead of him since coach Valerien Ismael’s arrival.

Sam Gallagher's half-volley doubled Blackburn Rovers lead in the 78th minute while Romal Palmer first goal for Barnsley denied the home side a clean sheet.

Oduor’s manager Ismael, whose reign started impressively, pointed out some positive lessons from his side in the away loss.

"The performance was exactly what we wanted. Intensity, aggressiveness, win the ball first time deep and try to finish quickly,” Ismael said according to Sky Sports.

"But you lose the game with 23 attempts, 11 corners, and we scored once. It's not enough. We have to learn about the killer mentality. In such a game when you are good in shape, you have to punish your opponent, you have to score, and have more confidence for the game."

On his part, Blackburn's Tony Mowbray said Barnsley made life very difficult for them.

“It was a dangerous game, wasn't it? I said it at half-time, the game panned out as I thought,” Mowbray said.

“Their front three are a pressing machine and you can't get past them unless you decide not to play and boot it to the front. We had Armstrong, [Harvey] Elliott and [Ben] Brereton.

“None are what you'd call dominant aerially. We found it hard to get beyond their front line and their wing-backs jump out as well.

“Credit to them, they made life difficult for us. It's Championship football. You either decide you are going to scrap everything for this game and play a different way or try and move the ball quick enough to give them problems. It was a tough game as I expected.

“They have young, athletic, motivated footballers, but we found a way to win and I think ultimately we deserved to win. I was disappointed with the goal we lost at the end which made the last couple of minutes a bit chaotic.”

Oduor and Barnsley will next be up against Birmingham City on December 1.

Tusker coach Robert Matano has blamed lack of training for the team’s 2-1 defeat against AFC Leopards in the FKF Premier League opener played on Saturday.

The Brewers took a deserved lead through David Majak but goals from captain Robinson Kamura and striker Elvis Rupia, who converted from the penalty spot, was enough to hand Ingwe maximum points in the match played at Kasarani Stadium.

The veteran Matano has now said his side was not a match for Ingwe since they have not trained together for a long time owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Unlike our opponents [AFC Leopards] who have been in camp for a while now, we have not been training together, we only trained a few days for this match and so I don’t think we could have marched them,” Matano told Goal after the match.

“Leopards started their preparations for the league months ago, they have been in camp together but look at my team, we only assembled to train for this, we came knowing we can get a win but we have lost.

“However, we can have some lessons to learn from the fixture and it will help us to prepare the team for the next assignment, I now know the areas which will need to be improved.”

The match marked the return of football to Kenya after nine months in the cold, as the league was suspended prematurely in mid-March after the outbreak of the coronavirus.

With fans banned from watching matches, AFC Leopards were the first to arrive at the match venue with Tusker following, and in hand to receive the teams was FKF president Nick Mwendwa, who was happy to see the return of football.

“I am happy for the players and the teams, now they can play and do what they like doing most, playing football, and now they can earn from the sport,” Mwendwa told Goal.

It was Sudanese important Majak who grabbed the first goal of the new campaign, after he took advantage of a misunderstanding between AFC Leopards defenders, to stab home from close range.

However, the lead was short-lived as Ingwe drew level courtesy of captain Kamura, who drilled home a low foot effort before Rupia made sure they left the pitch with maximum points after sending the Tusker keeper the wrong way from the penalty spot.

In other matches played on Saturday, Kakamega Homeboyz edged out promoted side Vihiga United 1-0 while Bandari beat Sofapaka by the same margin.

Jurgen Klopp was not a happy bunny after Liverpool’s 1-1 draw at Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday lunchtime, and understandably so: two goals ruled out for offside, another functional player seemingly joining the plethora of first-team personnel on the sidelines and the late, late concession of a penalty after the intervention of the Video Assistant Referee.

After the final whistle, the passionate German manager had a lot to say about the scheduling of their fixture on the south coast, which came less than 72 hours after Wednesday night’s encounter with Atalanta.

Frankly, this wasn’t a Jose Mourinho-esque deflective tactic in the wake of a poor all-round showing, rather it continued the Liverpool boss’ persistent rebuke of the broadcasters in recent weeks.

While you get the feeling the decorated coach was still going to berate broadcast companies had his side eked out a 1-0 win at the Amex, the nature of the eventual draw put the former Borussia Dortmund trainer in a foul mood going into his post-match presser.

“You picked the 12.30 kick off, didn’t you?” an annoyed Klopp asked BT Sports’, Des Kelly. “It is really, really dangerous for the players.”

Following a tough week in which the Reds boss saw his side lose 2-0 to Atalanta on home turf, James Milner’s suspected hamstring injury and two goals ruled out for marginal offside calls soured the 53-year-old’s temper.

When you consider that Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane were the two Liverpool stars whose goals didn’t stand, it continues both players’ unwanted runs. While the Egypt superstar is their top scorer in the PL with eight goals, a larger percentage of those have been from penalties.

In truth, they all count and it’s not as easy as it looks — just ask Brighton’s Neal Maupay who missed from 12 yards on Saturday — but modern football has found a way to frown at players who mostly find the back of the net from penalties.

Half of Salah’s total haul have been from the spot and he’s also shown he can hold his own in pressure situations with the 88th-minute dispatch on the opening day win over Leeds United the notable strike of his quartet of penalties.

However, the wide attacker last scored from open play in the league over a month ago in Liverpool’s 2-2 Merseyside derby draw with Everton at Goodison Park. The strike against Atalanta in Bergamo aside, the ex-Chelsea forward has now gone four games without an in-play goal in league football, although he has netted twice in that time vs West Ham United and at Manchester City.

Indeed, it would be biased to not consider the wider context and recollect that two Salah efforts have been ruled out for the most marginal of offsides in recent gameweeks: an incredible well-taken effort against Sheffield United and Saturday, where a toe being ahead of the last defender led to what would have been a first-half opener chalked off.

As for Mane, having the header with six minutes of normal time remaining ruled out probably rankled even more. Africa’s best footballer isn’t on penalty-taking duty for the Reds and, as such, doesn’t get the free hit from 12 yards for the defending Premier League champions.

Like Salah, his last strike from open play in league football also came in that entertaining encounter at Goodison Park, although he did punish an open La Dea team in that comfortable 5-0 Champions League success.

The Senegalese forward’s scoreless run in the English top flight now stands at five games and his only goal in all competitions in that time came on the continent.

This lack of open-play goals from Liverpool’s top attacking pair has been further amplified in the last two games where their contribution will have come in handy. The fact Klopp’s team couldn’t muster a shot on target in Wednesday’s 2-0 defeat at Anfield by Gian Piero Gasperini’s team was bad enough but the visitors' last attempt of any kind against the Seagulls came in the 68th minute — a blocked Roberto Firmino shot.

Their Expected Goals against Atalanta was 0.2 in midweek. It was better vs Brighton, albeit insignificantly, with xG of 0.28. Unsurprisingly, both rank as the Reds’ lowest by far in both competitions this season but whether the pair represents a greater problem remains to be seen.

It doesn’t help that last year’s PL winners have their squad really stretched due to injuries to various key players, especially in defence with Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Trent Alexander-Arnold currently injured. It doesn’t get better in midfield with Thiago Alcantara, Naby Keita and now Milner joining a lengthy list which also includes Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Xherdan Shaqiri.

Klopp’s team had been securing results regardless and we all should remember they only just decimated Leicester City 3-0 on their turf barely a week ago which many observers considered their best showing of the season.

Still, the evidence of the performances in the last few days, a lengthening list of absences and the form of the club’s top frontmen probably justify the angst of the club’s supporters and spiky behaviour of their manager, whose side has won just one in four games in all competitions.

With the games coming thick and fast in the next month, it’ll be interesting to see how the German juggles a strained squad as they look to navigate a tricky period.

Undoubtedly, the Reds boss could do with a return to goalscoring form for Salah and Mane as it lessens the growing burden on everyone connected to the club significantly.

Wazito FC coach Francis Kimanzi has revealed he will have a number of key players missing during their FKF Premier League opener against Kariobangi Sharks owing to injuries.

Without giving names of the injured players, the former Harambee Stars tactician has, however, maintained that they have able replacements for the key players as they fight for their first win in the 2020-21 campaign.

Kimanzi was appointed three weeks ago to handle the Nairobi-based club after they fired the entire technical bench headed by Fred Ambani and Salim Babu.

The former Mathare United tactician has now said they are ready to open the season with a win, adding that he has seen some great improvement with his squad since he took over the mantle to coach the side alongside his assistant John Kamau.

“First of all I am very grateful at least the week is over, we had our last training this morning [Saturday] and we are looking better and sharper than a few days before, we are all ready for the match tomorrow [Sunday] despite the fact we have some injury worries but that is always normal in football,” Kimanzi told the club’s TV online.

“It is not an abnormal situation [to have injuries to key players] so it is also normal but we have to work with what we have because when you have some key players out with injuries we must also give them time to recover.”

Kimanzi continued: “We still have some good group to represent us and with the improvement, I have seen over the last few days in training sessions, with the technical bench that I have been working with, we are very prepared for the match.”

On his part, Wazito captain Bernard Ochieng said they are now ready to win the title for the fans after disappointing them last season.

“The team is ready, we are happy to have a new technical bench and the attitude of the players has changed, and everyone is ready for the job,” said Ochieng.

“We still believe our fans are with us, last time we did not win the title as we had wanted to but this time around we will not disappoint you, we are ready to make you happy.”

The league match will be played at Kasarani Stadium from 15:00.

Simba SC coach Sven Vandenbroeck has stated the reason he wants his team to remain tight at the back when they take on Plateau United in a Caf Champions League match on Sunday.

The Wekundu wa Msimbazi are already in Abuja in readiness for the preliminary round, first leg clash against the Nigerian outfit and the Belgian coach has revealed his desire is to see the team not concede away from home.

“To be honest, we don’t have much information about them [Plateau United], but at the beginning of the match I want us to strengthen our backline, I want it to be solid because in such matches it is not good to concede many goals,” Vandenbroeck told the club’s social media pages.

“We will make sure we remain tight at back and also study their weaknesses and then from there we can see what to do.”

Vandenbroeck, who is handling Simba for the second time in the Caf competition, has also revealed the team’s morale in camp is good and that they don’t have any injury worries heading into the match.

“Everything is okay, everyone is ready for the game and they are all happy with that,” Vandenbrock continued. “What we worked for the past few weeks we have to use it tomorrow [Sunday].

“Our plans are more connected to our side to ensure we win; it is better to win away as it will give us an easy work to finish the job when we meet again in the return leg.”

Vandenbroeck received a huge boost with two key players – striker Meddie Kagere and winger Luis Miquissone – making the 24-man squad to Nigeria for the clash that will be played in Abuja.

After the first leg at New Jos Stadium, Plateau United will travel to Dar es Salaam for the return leg which will be staged at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium on the weekend of December 4. 

Simba’s fans will be keen to see some improvement, following last year’s unimpressive display after they were knocked out in the preliminary round by UD Songo from Mozambique.

Whereas in the 2018/19 season they managed to reach the quarter-finals, it was in 1974 when Simba managed to get into the semi-finals but were knocked out by Egyptian side Ghazl El Mahalla.

Goalkeepers: Aishi Manula, Ally Salim, and Beno Kakolanya.

Defenders: Shomari Kapombe, Gadiel Michael, Mohamed Hussein, Erasto Nyoni, Ibrahim Ame, Joash Onyango, Pascal Wawa, Kennedy Juma.

Midfielders: Jonas Mkude, Mzamiru Yassin, Said Ndemla, Rally Bwalya, Hassan Dilunga, Francis Kahata, and Clatous Chama.

Strikers: John Bocco, Meddie Kagere, Miraji Athumani, Bernard Morrison, Luis Miquissone and Ibrahim Ajibu.

Vipers SC coach Fred Kajoba is still confident they will make it to the next stage of the Caf Champions League despite losing their first leg match 1-0 against Al-Hilal of Sudan on Saturday.

The Venoms, who were making a return to the continental competition after being crowned Ugandan Premier League (UPL) when the season was prematurely ended last season owing to coronavirus pandemic, failed to utilise home ground advantage as the Sudanese outfit scored through Bakhiet Hamid’s scorcher in the 25th minute to carry the day.

Despite the disappointing result at St. Mary’s Kitende, coach Kajoba believes it is not over yet and insists if they can rectify some of the mistakes he noticed in the first leg contest, then they can still win comfortably away to make it to the next round.

“It is disappointing that we couldn’t get the result we wanted,” Kajoba said as quoted by the club’s official website. “We shall go back and reflect on where we didn’t do well.

“We still have the return leg next week and there’s a chance we can go there and look for a better result.”

On Saturday, Kajoba handed debuts to three players - defender Disan Galiwango, midfielder Jamil Kalisa, and striker Cesar Manzoki - while goalkeeper Fabien Mutombora started in goal with Bashir Asiku at right-back, Galiwango on the left while skipper Halid Lwaliwa and Geoffrey Wasswa completed the backline.

Siraje Ssentamu was tasked to provide cover to the backline, playing alongside Kalisa and Karim Watambala in the midfield, with Manzoki leading the line, Abraham Ndugwa and Milton Karisa also offered support in the three-man attack.

However, the team should blame themselves for not getting even a goal from the match as they squandered many scoring chances, especially in the first half of the match.

Both Kalisa and Manzoki missed the target by a few inches as Vipers kept pushing for the equalizer after they had gone behind, and they also had a shout for a penalty when Galiwango’s cross seemed to have come off the hand of one of Al Hilal’s defenders, but it was ruled as a goal-kick.

The return leg is slated for December 6 in Khartoum and the winner on aggregate will face either Ghana’s Asante Kotoko or FC Noudhibou from Mauritania.

Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Denis Onyango says they were playing for their former teammate Anele Ngcongca in their clash against Stellenbosch FC on Saturday evening.

The Brazilians secured a comfortable 3-0 PSL win over Stellies in what was their first game since Ngcongca tragically passed away in a car accident in KwaZulu-Natal on Monday morning.

Onyango, who played with Ngcongca at Sundowns for four years before he was loaned out to AmaZulu FC last week, dedicated the victory to the former Bafana Bafana international.

"Definitely we were playing for our late brother, Anele. May his soul rest in peace," Onyango told the club's YouTube channel. 

"We had to give our best because he as part of us, he was part of this team. His fighting spirit is what we showed today. It was a fantastic [[performance] from the guys.

"It was a very difficult game against a high pressing team. I think the team played very well."

The Uganda international was recalled to the starting line-up after he missed Masandawana's 4-3 win over AmaZulu in a league match last weekend.

Onyango had missed the clash against Usuthu due to an injury and back-up keeper Kennedy Mweene conceded three goals.

"We were composed and we kept a clean sheet because the last time we conceded three goals which is not good for a team of our calibre," he continued. 

"But big ups to the team, they fought hard and they showed that they are bigger than anyone else. So, compliments go to the players who did well."

The 35-year-old admitted that he had very little to do in their clash against Stellenbosch as Sundowns dominated the match from start to finish at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Tshwane. 

"There was nothing much which I did on the pitch. But I think my presence helped a little bit and the noise I make," he said.

"The team kept fighting and there was no shot on target which was very important.

"Yes of course it is good to be back. I was welcomed back by the guys, Kennedy, Reyaad [Pieterse], Jody [February], [Ismail] Watenga and [Ricardo] Goss," he added.

"I had to keep the momentum going, I had to give what the team was asking which was a clean sheet."

Sundowns' next match is against Maritzburg United on December 5 in a league game which is scheduled to take place at Harry Gwala Stadium in Pietermaritzburg. 

Guangzhou Evergrande forward Ai Kesen was massively impressed after playing at 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar venue Al Janoub Stadium in the ongoing AFC Champions League. He now aims to return to the venue in two years with the Chinese national team to once again set foot in this stadium.

After putting in a man-of-the-match performance against Japanese club Vissel Kobe in Group G of the 2020 AFC Champions League, Ai Kesen admitted that a lot of hard work lay ahead for Li Tie’s team to realize the dream.

“The stadium is amazing and as a player every chance to get to play in such good facilities is welcome,” said Ai Kesen, who scored a sublime free-kick during his side’s 2-0 win. The strike takes his AFC Champions League career tally to 31, six shy of the tournament record held by the recently retired South Korean veteran forward Lee Dong-gook.

“I know this [Al Janoub Stadium] is going to be a stadium for the World Cup. As a member of the Chinese national team, of course it is my dream to come back with my team here in two years for the World Cup.”

Ai Kesen had become the first-ever player without Chinese ancestry to play for the national team when he was called up for the national team in 2019 for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifiers after having completed his naturalization process.

He has scored three goals after playing in all four qualifiers played till November 2019 with the outbreak of the COVID pandemic postponing the remaining fixtures which will resume in March 2021. 

However, Ai Kesen has been a prolific presence in Chinese football from 2013 when he first joined Guangzhou Evergrande. He has won five Chinese Super League titles since then – a total of four of them with his current club in two separate spells and one with Shanghai SIPG.

The 31-year-old was also a member of the Guangzhou Evergrande side which won the AFC Champions League in 2013 and 2015 respectively.

Despite being a high-flyer in club football, the Brazilian-born forward realizes that international football is a different challenge altogether and qualifying for Asia’s second FIFA World Cup is still a long way.

“We know we have a tough road ahead,” said Ai Kesen. “It is going to be very difficult but we don’t want to give up and we still want to continue to dream.”

China are currently placed second in Group A of the second round of Asian qualifiers with seven points from four matches – third-placed Philippines have an equal number of points but have played an extra game. Ai Kesen and his teammates will also have the advantage of playing on home soil in a potentially winner-takes-all game against the ‘Azkals’ in June 2021.

Al Janoub Stadium is one of the three fully completed 2022 FIFA World Cup venues which are being used in the 2020 AFC Champions League, of which Qatar are the centralized hosting venue following the disruption of the original home and away format due to the outbreak of the global COVID pandemic in March this year.

The 40,000-capacity stadium, designed by the late Zaha Hadid, will host 2022 FIFA World Cup matches till the quarterfinal and was formally inaugurated in May 2019. Al Janoub Stadium, located in the southern coastal city of Al Wakrah, has hosted 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers and 2019 Gulf Cup games prior to being chosen as a venue for the centralized AFC Champions League.

Only in their second season of the Indian Super League (ISL), Hyderabad FC continues to look like a rejuvenated side, under their new head coach Manuel Marquez.

The club from south finished with a wooden spoon in their debut season with just 10 points but early signs in the 2020-21 edition of the ISL suggest that their fortunes might be much better this time around. 

Marquez instilled confidence in Hyderabad FC and it has resulted in two positive results for his side. Hyderabad FC opened the campaign with their first-ever clean sheet in the ISL over a less-threatening Odisha FC side. They continued to grow in confidence as they held Bengaluru FC to a goalless draw at the Fatorda Stadium on Saturday. And in both the matches, left-back Akash Mishra impressed to the fore. So much so that Marquez even said that he can be the best left-back in the country. 

Mishra is inexperienced, he is all of 19, but his ability on the field doesn't reflect the same. The teenager from the footballing backwaters of Balrampur in Uttar Pradesh is making a name for himself through his passes and brilliant positioning. Mishra also likes to switch flanks, build up attacks, and provide width on the left-wing. And his statistics are a testament to that. 

It did not take time for Mishra to make his presence felt against Bengaluru with his long balls and short passes. He, however, was more effective in the first half than the final 45 minutes. 

Playing the entire match, Mishra had 68 touches on the ball and completed 39 passes, with an accuracy of 78 per cent, which is a remarkable figure for a youngster, in the early days of his club career. 

However, Mishra has some shortcomings. He occasionally mistimes his passes and in the process loses possession. Though his quick runs down the flank have proven to be a handful for Hyderabad FC, he occasionally fails to time it to perfection. 

But for his age, Mishra has already proved to be a bright spark in the Hyderabad FC squad, and as Marquez pointed out - hard work will only do him good. 

Hyderabad, meanwhile, have a lot of positives to take from their start to the season. They have four points from two games and look to be a competitive side this time around.

However, injuries to three of their six foreigners in Lluis Sastre, Joel Chianese and Francisco Sandaza will have Manuel Marquez sweating a bit. Sastre and Chianese suffered injuries in the first half against Bengaluru. It leaves them with just three fit foreigners currently. 

It's a slight worry in what has been a decent start to the season for Hyderabad. 

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has deflected questions about his long-term future at the club, instead insisting that "this team is going places". 

The Norwegian club legend is contracted at Old Trafford until 2022 with the Red Devils yet to give any indication of whether they intend to stick with Solskjaer beyond that. 

United's results so far this season have been mixed with Solskjaer's side winning just four of their first eight Premier League games to currently sit 13th. 

With question marks lingering over Solskjaer's future at the helm, the former Molde and Cardiff City boss was quick to focus instead on the bright future he believes lies ahead for the club. 

"We live in a results business and all I want is for Man United to improve as a team and as a club," Solskjaer said on Saturday. 

“I have very good dialogue with the club all of the time. You have to think long-term and short-term – and I would never ever think that this is my chance to prove a point and that it's all about me. That's not what it's about here. Every decision I make is for the good of Manchester United.

“For me, it's about results and if we keep improving we have a very good opportunity because this team and this squad is going places."

Despite their current Premier League position, the Red Devils have won three of their last five games in the competition, with Solskjaer confident they have turned a corner after a slow start.  

"Teams that win the league put good runs together, consistent ones. I know this season is more uncertain, but if you look at the last 40 games with this team, we win two draw one, win two lose one. So we are getting consistent," he said. 

"Look at the stats since we got the latest transfers and since Bruno came in. Since the Burnley game, only Liverpool have taken more points, so we are getting there. We are getting better and better.

"We did not start the League campaign on a par with everyone else because of Europe and a pre-season we didn’t have. Now we are showing what we’re capable of. If we carry on improving and keep the mindset, I am very sure we will move up.

"This season is very unpredictable and the main thing is to keep right mindset. You can forgive any mistake as long as you have the right mindset and approach - and I feel we are getting there."

Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata won their first match since the death of head coach and football legend Diego Maradona.

Argentina and Napoli great Maradona – arguably football's greatest ever player – died of natural causes at the age of 60 on Wednesday.

Maradona was buried in a private funeral at the Jardines de Bella Vista cemetery on the outskirts of Buenos Aires after thousands gathered on the streets of the capital to mourn the 1986 World Cup winner on Thursday.

Gimnasia were the first team Maradona had led in his homeland since the mid-1990s after taking charge of the Liga Profesional club last year.

On Saturday, Gimnasia defeated Velez Sarsfield 1-0 away from home on an emotional night. Maximiliano Coronel's 22nd-minute goal settled the contest in Buenos Aires, where Gimnasia ended a three-match winless streak.

With the victory, Gimnasia surpassed Velez atop Group Six on goal difference through five matchdays.

The win came after Maradona's coaching staff resigned following his death. Sebastian Mendez – Maradona's assistant coach – had taken over on an interim basis after the former Barcelona attacker was hospitalised earlier this month.

Maradona was discharged from hospital a fortnight ago following brain surgery, having undergone a routine operation for a subdural haematoma after being admitted to hospital due to concerns over anaemia and dehydration.

The captain and inspiration behind Argentina's World Cup success in 1986 before going on to coach his country at the 2010 showpiece, Maradona had been hospitalised just days after turning 60.

Maradona – who also had stints in charge of Textil Mandiyu, Racing Club, Al-Wasl, Fujairah and Dorados de Sinaloa in Mexico – appeared in a fragile state when he briefly made an appearance as his Gimnasia side played a match on the evening of his birthday last month.

"Club Esgrima y La Plata announces with great regret that the coaching staff that accompanied Diego Armando Maradona has decided to resign from their respective positions, irrevocably," a statement read.

"This is a decision that our club understands and one that demonstrates the human quality of the entire work group that Diego Maradona had formed, and that had been developing their work so well.

"The 'Tripero' people thanks you with all their hearts for the work done, the effort and the commitment shown.

"Diego Maradona's era and his work team are already an important part of the history of our club. Diego left as one more 'Tripero', as did all of you."

Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta has admitted that "something is missing" with his side, who have gone five straight Premier League games without a goal from open play.

The Gunners have only scored once in those five matches - a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang penalty against Manchester United on November 1 in a 1-0 win for the Gunners. 

It has been a struggle offensively for the Gunners, who enter Sunday's match against Wolves in 14th place in the league table.

Arteta believes that his side aren't too far off what he would have expected, but said the Gunners' failure to make up small margins is proving costly.

“The position probably that I believe we should have been in and where we are at the moment, it’s two games [difference],” Arteta said.

“That’s four to six points and it makes the whole difference and the small margins where we lose the game or win the game, it’s incredibly narrow.

“But this is the reality of this league and where we are at the moment. We don’t have big margins at the moment so we have to be really good at everything we do because at the moment, something is missing.

“We are on the edge of winning or losing a football match and we again are humble and conscious of that and at the moment we don’t have to steal those margins and any game is going to be really difficult.”

The Gunners have not won a Premier League title since 2003-04 and appear no closer to ending that drought this season. Arteta has admitted that it will take some time – and some successful transfer dealings – before Arsenal can challenge again. 

“I don’t know the answer to that question,” he replied when asked how long it would take for Arsenal to challenge for the title. 

“If you’re asking, ‘How do you rebuild the squad?' It takes a few windows at least to do that and to establish yourself to compete at the level of certain clubs in this league, which is near 100 points, again it takes time.

“In football time is very precious and people are very impatient but if you don’t respect the processes and you ask certain people to do certain things when the foundations are not there, it’s a really dangerous thing to do as well.

“Again I know that we all want to see that and I am the first one who wants to see Arsenal at the top of the league.

“There are still a lot of things that are going to happen and we have to prepare for difficult moments and we knew that right from the start.

“We are ready and we know that the challenge and the responsibility is to turn it around as quick as possible and get the club fighting where it belongs.”