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Aristica Cioaba: Azam FC part ways with Romanian tactician on mutual consent

The Ice-cream Makers have been struggling of late after recording back to back defeats in the league

Tanzania Mainland League giants Azam FC have parted ways with head coach Aristica Cioaba and his counterpart Costel Birsan.

The Ice-cream Makers reached the decision after recent struggles which have seen the team drop from top position. On Wednesday, the 2014 champions suffered a 1-0 loss at home to Yanga SC which greatly contributed to the club's decision.

"As Azam FC, we would like to notice our fans and football family at large that we have parted ways with head coach Aristica Cioaba on mutual consent," the Chamazi-based team announced on Thursday.

"Midfielders coach Costel Birsan has also been fired; all coaches are from Romania."

The 2014-league champions have confirmed their immediate plans as they look for replacements.

"As it stands, assistant coach Bahati Vivier, from Burundi, will now be in charge of the team on an interim basis until we announce otherwise," Azam continued.

"We take this opportunity to thank Cioaba and Costel for their contribution to the team in the entire period they were with the team and we wish them the best in their future endeavours."

Aristica Cioaba was re-appointed as Azam coach in October 2019.

The Romanian took the position of former coach Etienne Ndayiragije who was appointed Tanzania national team coach on a permanent basis. The tactician made a return to the team he parted ways with in 2018 following 'poor results'.

After starting the season on a high, the team started to drop points with the game against Mtibwa Sugar where they fell by a solitary goal. They went on to draw 1-1 with JKT Tanzania at the Azam Complex before bouncing back with a 3-0 win over Dodoma Jiji FC.

However, they once again shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw at home to Mbeya City before recording back to back defeats to KMC and Timu ya Wananchi by 1-0 scorelines.

Azam have so far managed to get eight wins, a draw and three losses in the 12 matches played and are currently on 25 points.

Original author: Seth Willis

Caf CL: Gor Mahia will not focus on Tuyisenge alone during APR tie - Muguna

K’Ogalo are set to come face to face against their former dependable striker during the continental clash in Kigali and Nairobi

Gor Mahia captain Kenneth Muguna has stated they will not focus on Jacques Tuyisenge alone during the Caf Champions League encounter against APR in Kigali on November 28.

The Kenyan champions will visit their Rwandan counterparts for a preliminary round clash and since Tuyisenge, who left Gor Mahia in 2019 has since joined APR, Muguna cautioned it would not be prudent to focus only one player even if he is the dangerous one.

“So far the preparations are good as the players and the coaches are equally doing a good job. I can only say the team is good to go,” Muguna told Final Whistle.

“We are taking the game with a positive mindset but it is not about playing against Tuyisenge because we will be playing against the whole APR, not just one player.

“There are some dangerous players in the team and that is enough reason to focus on all of them and not just one person.”

The Kenyan Premier League-winning midfielder also explained how they are ready to deal with the pressure that will come with the two-legged encounter.

“If we perform at the highest level individually and as a team, then I know we will come out with a good result,” Muguna added.

“There is always pressure in what you do and we expect it this time around. We have been dealing with it.

“To beat pressure, one must believe in what he or she is doing, believe on the teammates and the coach and his game plan and that is the only way to deal with pressure.”

Gor Mahia fans will not be in a position to offer their support for the team due to the ban on social gathering but Muguna has stated they are ready to fight for good results just for them.

“I think we will miss our fans because they have always been part of us,” he concluded.

“We are going to miss them big but I know they are always very passionate and I know they will support the team even at home just because of the love they have for us.

“We love the team also and we will make sure we fight and keep it where it belongs even if the fans are not going to be there.”

Original author: Kiplagat Sang

Kerala Blasters' Kibu Vicuna: We're upset, lost two points

Kerala Blasters were two goals ahead at the break but allowed NorthEast United to come back into the game...

Kerala Blasters dominated the proceedings in the first half of the match against NorthEast United on Thursday but failed to secure all three points from the fixture.

Sergio Cidoncha took five minutes to put Blasters in front and their lead was doubled from the spot by Gary Hooper just before half-time. 

The complexion of the match, however, changed in the second half as the Highlanders looked like a completely different side and came from behind to equalize 2-2. Kwesi Appiah cut the deficit short in the 51st minute while substitute Idrissa Sylla, who troubled the opposition defence with his quick movement, scored the equaliser for the visitors. 

Kerala Blasters head coach Kibu Vicuna was disappointed with the final result as he believes that his team lost two points in the game. He also mentioned that his team started the match well and were on top initially but the match was wide open after the first goal.   

"I think we played really well in the first half, we had the ball, we controlled the match but after the first goal the match was very open and we don't like it when the matches are open. I think we are on our way but we're of course very upset and disappointed because today we lost two points," Kibu Vicuna said in the post-match interview. 

Vicuna was also delighted with Cidoncha's performance as he thought the Spanish midfielder played really well. The 49-year-old also mentioned that Sahal Abdul Samad was not fit to play in the match.  

"Yes, I think Sergio is playing really well, he scored a goal and he participated really well during the match. Sahal was not ready physically to play this match. Hopefully, he is ready to play in the next game," Vicuna added. 

Kerala Blasters will next take on Chennaiyin in an away fixture on Sunday.

Original author: Goal

‘I don't know where the story is coming from’ – Ahmed Musa debunks Sheffield Wednesday move

The Nigeria international has distanced himself from the rumours making the rounds that he is close to make a switch to the Owls

Ahmed Musa has debunked reports of his potential transfer to Championship side Sheffield Wednesday, revealing his ambition to play in the top-flight.

The Nigeria international is currently without a club after leaving Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr in October by mutual agreement.

The fleet-footed winger has since been linked to the Hillsborough Stadium outfit but the 28-year-old has now distanced himself from the rumours.

"I don't know where the story [potential move to Sheffield] is coming from because I don't pay attention to rumours and gossip," Musa told BBC Sport Africa.

"With due respect to the club, I left Saudi Arabia to continue my career at the top level in Europe and that's the ambition.

"It's true that there is genuine interest from different clubs, but my agent Tony [Harris] is the one handling that.

"He knows what I want and I also know I want to play at the highest level at this stage of my professional career.

"I said when I left Saudi Arabia that my utmost desire is to challenge myself competitively at the top level both at the club and national team level.

"I've continued to keep myself fit for the next challenge and that is the only mindset I need right now. But, like every player representing the country, I want to play at the highest level."

Musa spent two years with Premier League club Leicester City but struggled to establish himself at the King Power Stadium.

The forward, subsequently left the Foxes in 2018 to team up with Al Nassr in his quest to enjoy more playing time but has now put his disappointment at Leicester behind him.

"For some reasons, things didn't actually work out there [at Leicester], but you can't focus too much on the past," he continued.

"I'd rather try to write a better story if another opportunity to play in the Premier League presents itself."

Besides playing for Leicester City, he also starred for Russian Premier League club CSKA Moscow, where he had two stints.

Musa is currently Nigeria national team captain and has 95 caps for the Super Eagles since he made his debut in 2010.

The forward played a key role as the West Africans secured their third Africa Cup of Nations title in 2013.

Original author: Gbenga Adewoye

Andre Ayew reveals fitness target at Swansea City ahead of Nottingham Forest assignment 

The Ghana star talks about his health ahead of Swansea City's next Championship assignment

Swansea City attacker Andre Ayew reveals he is yet to regain full fitness despite making a return to action on Wednesday after a brief spell on the sidelines.

The 30-year-old was a 46th-minute substitute for the Jack Army in their 1-1 draw with Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship, capping his comeback with a sublime finish to fetch his side the equaliser.

He had been in the treatment room since sustaining a hamstring injury while on international duty with Ghana earlier this month.

"I haven't done too much in the past 10 days. We knew I wasn't 100 per cent ready to start," Ayew explained, as reported by his club's official website.

“If he could have left me out, the gaffer would have done that to prepare me for Sunday, but that's football; you need to be ready.

“As the game was going on, I was preparing to come on. It was important to warm up well and not feel any pain in my hamstring, especially as it's an injury I've had for the first time in my career.

“I had to take care of it, the physio's been doing a great job on me - hours of work trying to get me back as soon as possible.

“I was a bit doubtful for Wednesday night but after this, I'm quite happy with how it felt.

“It wasn't the best, but it'll be better over the next few days and hopefully I'll be 100 per cent on Sunday."

Swansea are set to play as guests of Nottingham Forest on matchday 14 of the Championship on Sunday.

Wednesday's strike has taken his goal tally to six for the season, having featured in 12 games.

He is unarguably the Jack Army's talisman, a status underlined last season when he netted 16 times in 46 league games to finish the term as the club's top scorer and most valuable player.

Ayew rejoined Swansea for a second spell in 2018 after an unsuccessful stay with West Ham United.

He first transferred to the Wales-based Premier League club in 2015 from French outfit Olympique Marseille.

Original author: Prince Narkortu Teye

NWSL announces new broadcast schedule for 2021 season

The man who oversees incomings and outgoings at Westfalenstadion expects the Norwegian to remain on BVB's books for the foreseeable future

Borussia Dortmund director Michael Zorc has dismissed the ongoing transfer rumours surrounding Real Madrid-linked striker Erling Haaland.

Haaland has solidified his reputation as one of the most deadly strikers in European football since joining Dortmund from Red Bull Salzburg for £18 million ($24m) in the January transfer window.

The 20-year-old has hit a staggering 33 goals in his first 31 outings for BVB across all competitions, with his latest double coming in a 3-0 home win over Club Brugge in the Champions League.

The Norwegian frontman is attracting plenty of high profile admirers after his bright start to life at Westfalenstadion, and is already being tipped to move onto an even bigger club, despite being tied to Dortmund through to 2024.

Real Madrid have been among those credited with an interest in Haaland, who reportedly has a €75 million (£67m/$89m) release clause in his current contract, which will become active in 2022.

However, Zorc is paying no attention to the speculation surrounding the ex-Salzburg star's future, as he told a press conference ahead of BVB's Bundesliga clash against Koln on Saturday: "We plan for the long term with Erling. [Rumours] do not have to be dealt with at all.

"I will see him with us for a long time."

Asked if it is important to carefully manage the weight of expectation on Haaland's shoulders at this stage of his career, the Dortmund chief responded: "You don't have to ground him at all.

"He exudes such a positive dynamic. Why should we slow it down now?

"He is leading the way, that is very good for us. I do not believe in artificially slowing positive developments."

Haaland will likely return to Lucien Favre's starting XI when Koln arrive at Westfalenstadion this weekend, with Dortmund aiming to keep the pressure on Bundesliga leaders Bayern with only a point separating the two sides.

BVB will then start preparing for another European encounter against Lazio on December 2. Favre's men will book their place in the Champions League knockout stages if they see off the Italian giants on home turf, having already picked up nine points out of a possible 12 in Group F.

Mexico institutes 5-year ban for anti-gay chant

The Safa boss talks about how the Argentina great was instrumental in spicing up the first Fifa World Cup to be held on African soil

South Africa Football Association (Safa) president Dr Danny Jordaan says a “piece of football has died” following the passing away of Diego Maradona.

The Argentina great died at the age of 60 at his home in Buenos Aires of a heart attack on Wednesday.

Jordaan’s fondest memory of Maradona was when the former Barcelona and Napoli forward was in South Africa for the 2010 Fifa World Cup which was the first time the tournament was staged on the African continent.

Arriving in South Africa as Argentina coach, Maradona was keen to prove to the world that he was the right man to lead La Albiceleste amid doubts over his pedigree to lead the team.

Argentina had almost missed out on qualification for the 2010 World Cup.

“Maradona was a football man. He put a human face on football. He was always accessible to football supporters and to the youth,” Jordaan told the Safa website.

“He would immediately take the ball, juggle with it and pose for pictures. Maradona was a supporter of the 2010 Fifa World Cup in South Africa and the entire African continent. At one stage, he told me he was worried as Argentina almost failed to qualify for the 2010 Fifa World Cup. That qualification helped him to live his dream – to be the coach of his country in an African World Cup.”

While in South Africa, global media was on Maradona’s tail wherever he went, at one time mingling with school kids in Pretoria as well as South African football greats, a show of humility Jordaan praises.

“The staff behind the delivery of the event took pictures with Maradona at the headquarters of the 2010 Fifa World Cup. He then went to FNB Stadium to meet former South African footballers and that was a rewarding experience for both parties,” said Jordaan.

“So with Maradona’s death, a piece of football has died, the human face of football. He is clearly one of the greatest footballers ever to walk the earth. We will miss him, all those who worked in the 2010 Fifa World Cup, football will miss him.”

Argentina’s participation at the quadrennial tournament in South Africa ended at the quarter-final stage after they were drubbed 4-0 by Germany.

Original author: Michael Madyira

Diego Maradona was the godfather of football - Kaizer Chiefs legend Khumalo remembers Argentina stint

The Amakhosi great experienced up close and personal how the former La Albiceleste captain was treated as a star in his home country

Former Kaizer Chiefs and Bafana Bafana midfielder Doctor Khumalo says he closely witnessed how Diego Maradona enjoyed a high status in Argentina during the South African’s brief spell in Buenos Aires with Ferro Carril Oeste in 1995.

Maradona passed away aged 60 on Wednesday of a heart attack, plunging the football world into mourning.

During his stint at Ferro Carril Oeste, on loan from Chiefs, Khumalo revisits the day at Boca Juniors’ home of La Bombonera where his team had visited for a league match.

Khumalo remembers how Argentina’s most iconic football ground reverberated when Maradona entered the stadium with his family.

“I remember the game we played against Boca Juniors on a Sunday‚ and we were warming up and I was wondering what all the hullabaloo was about,” Khumalo told Times Live.

“Because the stadium gets full at about 11 am. And‚ you must understand‚ that man is seen as a godfather of football‚ because football in Argentina is a sort of religion.

“In Argentina even the smaller teams get crowds. But when we played Boca‚ that was when I felt‚ ‘I am in Argentina’. I think there was five‚ 10 minutes left of the warm-up and I heard the crowd chanting‚ ‘Ma-ra-donna’. And I thought‚ ‘But this guy’s not playing’.

“Only to find that at the Boca Juniors' stadium he’s got his own private suite. So he just walked in with his family. And when I looked up I saw [Claudio] Caniggia‚ Maradona‚ the likes of [Gabriel] Batistuta‚ and I was like‚ ‘Wow.’”

Maradona was a La Bombonera hero after two stints as a player at Boca Juniors, punctuated by a spell in Europe where he turned out for Barcelona, Napoli and Sevilla.

Khumalo explains how fans reacted at the sight of Maradona while inside La Bombonera as if they were on pilgrimage at a sacred place.

“And then what he [Maradona] does is he walks up to the front of his private suite‚ where there’s like a glass‚ and he’ll bow east‚ bow south‚ and bow west,” said Khumalo.

“And when he bows the crowd [in that stand] acknowledge him by raising their hands and say something in Spanish – and the stand at the other side does the same. So it’s sort of a synchronised way of greeting. So I was trying to figure out if Maradona is the one who invites those guys [Canigga, Batistuta and Diego Simeone] to his private suite.

"But I must say that guy is something else‚ not just in Argentina but the whole of South America.”

Ferro Carril Oeste lost 2-1 to Boca Juniors that day, with Khumalo playing the entire match and he was to return to La Bombonera in May 1998 for Bafana’s international friendly match against Argentina.

South Africans will also have memories of Maradona when he graced the 2010 Fifa World Cup as the Argentina coach.

Even though La Albiceleste’s campaign ended at the quarter-final stage after being thrashed 4-0 by Germany in Cape Town, the Maradona effect was felt.

“I did say that without Maradona the World Cup in South Africa would never be the same,” said Khumalo. “And Maradona‚ even as a coach‚ was one of the stars of the World Cup.”

Original author: Michael Madyira

LIVE: Lille vs AC Milan

44' Rebic makes a good diagonal run towards the right and he looks to be in behind, but Dalot under-hits his attempted through ball and it's cut out by Botman.

43' Good save Donnarumma! Araujo is finding his range now, and he latches onto another loose ball at the edge of the area. This time, he curls a left-footed effort towards the top-left corner, and the Milan keeper flies across to tip it around the post.

42' Dalot crosses from the right and his team-mates appeal for handball as it's blocked just inside the area. It was at point-blank range, so it would have been a harsh penalty to give if it had struck the defender's hand.

41' This game does seem to be opening up a little now, which is good news. Both sides clearly want to attack, so one goal might just open the floodgates.

40' Yazici gets around Kjaer at the left side of the area, leaving the defender tumbling backwards as he bursts into the box. With Gabbia approaching he goes for goal, but it's a fairly simple save for Donnarumma to tip it away.

39' Hernandez looks to fizz the ball down the left and Hauge dummies it in behind, so the defender is left to chase down his own pass. He puts on the afterburners but Fonte has a big head-start on him and wanders over to pick up the loose ball.

37' A shot on target! Dalot's pass in the Milan half is cut out and it comes to Araujo on the right, just outside the area. His curling effort is too central to really trouble Donnarumma but it does loop up awkwardly, so the keeper tips it over his crossbar for a corner.

36' Castillejo throws himself to the ground after a slight touch from behind by Reinildo - just as he had complained about Xeca doing five minutes ago. He wins a free-kick in midfield.

35' Kjaer gets across to his right to shut down a run in behind from Bamba, but the offside flag is up anyway.

34' Araujo siezes on a loose ball by the right corner flag and fires in a cross to David, but it comes to the forward at an awkward height and he can't control it. 

32' Castillejo vents his frustration as Xeca goes down in his own area and wins a free-kick. He leaped up to contest a high ball and clattered to the ground after the slightest touch in the back from the Milan winger.

30' David runs at the Milan defence with the ball for the first time, coming infield from the left. The back four retreat away from him, inviting a shot from range with deflects clear off the ankle of Dalot.

28' Plenty of huffing and puffing from both sides in the first half an hour, but they've only managed one shot each - and neither was on target. Niggly fouls are starting to disrupt the flow of things, too.

26' Calhanoglu is starting to drop deeper for Milan, with that chance for Hauge a good example of why that might be their best bet. Most of the game has happened in the central third so far, with the visitors not really able to find their playmaker in attacking areas.

24' A great chance goes begging for Milan. Calhanoglu sets Hauge free with a perfectly weighted ball in behind down the right channel. He gets into the area and cuts onto his left foot but, with two team-mates wide open for a tap-in, seems to stumble slightly and Fonte is able to get over and intercept his pass. It's good defending from the Portuguese veteran, but that should be 1-0.

23' Milan have had most of the ball, but it has been a very even contest so far. Neither side has quite showed the guile to break down the other just yet, with most moves breaking down in midfield.

21' Tonali almost wins possession for Milan just outside the Lille area, but Fonte races out to hammer the ball away. He absolutely spanks it straight into Bennacer's face. Ouch.

20' Reinildo shepherds the ball out of play for a Lille touchline after Dalot looked to pick out Castillejo with a long ball. 

18' Yazici has had Lille’s only sight of goal so far, and he is the man they will want the chances to fall to. He has two hat-tricks in the Europa League already this season. Diogo Jota got two last season for Wolves, while Radamel Falcao is the only man to have notched three in a single campaign, a decade ago during his time leading the line for Porto.

16' Araujo holds off the challenge of three Milan players by the right touchline in his own half, before looking to open play up with a chipped pass forward to Yazici. Milan are wise to his tricks by now, and Bennacer is on hand to intercept.

14' Tonali does well to keep hold of possession with Andre and Bamba pressing him in midfield, and he finds Castillejo out on the right. He can't find space to cross so passes backwards to Rebic, who gives the ball away with a loose touch.

13' Despite being top of the group at kick-off, Lille haven’t won any of their last 14 matches at home in major European competition. Their last such victory came against Belgian side Gent in a Europa League match way back in December 2010.

11' Yazici gets the first half-chance for Lille as Andre robs Tonali just outside the Milan area. It comes to Yazici at the right corner of the area and he bends a first-time left-footed effort past the far post, before Donnarumma admonishes his defence.

10' Hernandez finds space on the left flank and picks out Rebic with a low cross from the byline, but the forward can't connect with his half-volley on the penalty spot and it bounces harmlessly through to Maignan.

8' Castillejo's corner is in towards Kjaer but Maignan does well to come out and punch it clear with one fist. There's a foul in the penalty area anyway, and Lille get a free-kick.

7' Milan get the first corner of the match on the right. Castillejo finds Rebic and his shot from the edge of the area is blocked behind by Botman.

6' It has been a fairly nondescript start to the game, with no chances created in the opening minutes. The intent to get the ball forwards has been evident from both sides, though, which is promising.

4' Tonali is told off by referee Craig Pawson for a high foot, but he gets away without a yellow card. The player he collided with, Araujo, had his boot up high as well, which may have saved him.

3' Milan boss Pioli isn't on the touchline tonight after he recently tested positive for Covid-19. Former defender Daniele Bonera has taken his place.

1' We're off!

The teams are on their way out onto the pitch and we're nearly ready for kick-off. 

Milan’s 3-0 defeat to Lille at the start of November was their worst ever home defeat in European competition. Lille have scored six goals in their two games since then and Milan have netted five, so we could be in for a high-scoring affair.

Renato Sanches misses out for Lille after picking up a muscle injury on international duty but Reinildo, Fonte and Yilmaz all return after missing their most recent match through suspension. Zlatan Ibrahimovic is ruled out with a thigh problem and Rafaeo Leao is also injured, so it looks to be Rebic leading the line for Milan.

SUBS: Lorenzo Colombo, Daniel Maldini, Franck Kessie, Andrea Conti, Rade Krunic, Leo Duarte, Brahim Diaz, Ciprian Tatarusanu, Alessio Romagnoli, Pierre Kalulu Kyatengwa, Davide Calabria, Antonio Donnarumma.

AC MILAN (4-2-3-1): Gianluigi Donnarumma; Theo Hernandez, Simon Kjaer, Matteo Gabbia, Diogo Dalot; Ismael Bennacer, Sandro Tonali; Jens Petter Hauge; Hakan Calhanoglu, Samu Castillejo; Ante Rebic.

SUBS: Burak Yilmaz, Isaac Lihadji, Tiago Djalo, Timothy Weah, Jonathan Ikone, Boubakary Soumare, Domagoj Bradaric, Adama Soumaoro, Orestis Karnezis, Cheikh Niasse, Lucas Chevalier.

LILLE (4-4-2): Mike Maignan; Reinildo, Sven Botman, Jose Fonte, Jeremy Pied; Jonathan Bamba, Benjamin Andre, Xeka, Luiz Araujo; Yusuf Yazici, Jonathan David.

Yusuf Yazici scored a hat-trick as Lille ran out 3-0 winners in the reverse fixture at San Siro, leaving the Ligue 1 side one point clear at the top of the group. Lille have seven points to Milan’s six after three games, with Sparta Prague on three and Celtic on one.

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of this Europa League group stage fixture. Christophe Galtier’s Lille are looking to hold on to top spot in Group H, as they host Stefano Pioli’s AC Milan at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy.

LIVE: Molde vs Arsenal

43' CHANCE! Fantastic defensive header from Sinyan as Nelson storms down the left, does a few stepovers to work a yard and cuts back onto his right before crossing into the middle for Nketiah, but the Molde centre-back gets it away!

42' BLOCK! Eikrem smacks a fierce effort at goal from the edge of the box, but Xhaka throws himself in the way to block!

41' OVER! Wingo finds himself in the box on the right and goes for goal, but he gets under the effort and floats it over the bar!

40' WIDE! Nelson cuts in from the left and fires a sweetly-struck effort towards the top-right corner, but it's just the wrong side of the post!

38' Molde press really high as Mustafi plays it back to Runarsson, but Arsenal just manage to work it out from the back and Cedric draws a foul.

36' Nelson gets into the box and is fed by Lacazette. He's completely surrounded by defenders and does well to keep the ball before going down, but a free-kick is given Molde's way, presumably for a stray arm from the winger as he sought to hold off his markers.

34' Hestad puts a fantastic ball in from the left, but James doesn't attack it with any conviction and the ball sails harmlessly through the danger zone.

32' Pepe charges down the right and looks up, but has to wait for support. He and Lacazette play the ball between themselves on the edge of the box before Nketiah takes over and ties to curl one in from distance, but it's a comfortable save for Linde.

30' There's a clash of heads in the area between Sinyan and David Luiz, forcing the game to be stopped briefly. Thankfully, both players appear to be fine and will carry on.

28' WIDE! A lovely cross from the left reaches the back post where Hestad tries to prod it home, but Maitland-Niles gets in the way to turn it just past the post!

27' Arsenal miss a good chance to break as Pepe's run in behind is ignored by Lacazette in favour of Nketiah, who had strayed into an offside position. 

25' Cedric swings a high cross in from the right towards Nketiah, but Linde comes out to claim the ball in the air. He fumbles it the first time, but eventually gathers the loose ball.

23' Arsenal have looked bright, particularly down their left side, and are enjoying a positive spell. Molde still pose a threat on the counter, however.

21' CLOSE! Arsenal counter quickly and Xhaka finds Pepe on the right. The Ivorian cuts inside onto his favoured left foot and goes for the top-left corner, but it's just too high! 

19' OVER! Arsenal win another corner which Pepe swings into the box where Luiz meets it, but the Brazilian sends his header high and wide.

17' SAVE! Pepe cuts in from the right and goes for goal from just outside the box, but it's a little too central and Linde saves and holds on. He needed to make that stick as Nketiah and Lacazette were lurking.

15' WHAT A CHANCE! How are Molde not ahead?! Eikrem plays the ball down the left for Hestad, who fizzes the ball across goal for Sinyan to tap it in from a couple of yards out, but somehow he sends it back across goal where Runarsson keeps it out!

13' SAVE! Nelson and Lacazette play a neat one-two on the left side of the box, with the latter slipping the former into the area. Nelson goes for the near post, but Linde makes the save! The build-up was sharp there.

12' OVER! Maitland-Niles slips the ball out to the right and the cross is floated to the back post where Pepe attempts an audacious outside-of-the-boot volley, but he sends it high over the bar.

11' Maitland-Niles and Nelson link up smoothly down the left as they progress the ball forward and win a corner. The pair have started brightly.

9' A quick pass down the line gives Pepe the chance to run at his man and cut inside, but a slightly loose touch allows his marker to nip in and clear the ball away.

7' Eikrem whips a dangerous ball into the middle from a deeper position, but nobody is able to latch onto it and the danger is seen away by the Gunners.

5' Arteta appears to be experimenting with Lacazette as a number 10 tonight. The Frenchman is dropping off the front and looking to link play between the lines in the early stages, but he does push back up alongside Nketiah to press when Arsenal don't have the ball.

3' SAVE! Nelson drives positively down the left and gets to the byline in the box before laying it back to Maitland-Niles, who dinks a cross towards the back post that Linde has to turn over the bar! It looked like it was heading in!

1' We're underway in Norway!

However, Arsenal have only been beaten once in their last 14 away games in the group stages of a major European competition (W10 D3), against FC Koln in November 2017 in the only game they’ve failed to score in during this run.

Molde had won three Europa League matches in a row before Arsenal beat them 4-1 in the reverse fixture earlier this month – they haven’t lost consecutive matches in the competition since a run of a three games in October/November 2012.

Meanwhile, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta makes sweeping changes following the 0-0 draw against Leeds United in their last outing. Only Willock, Xhaka and Pepe keep their places, with the latter given an immediate shot at redemption following his straight red card in that game.

Molde manager Erling Moe makes two changes from his side's 3-0 win over Stabaek in their last league game. Bynhildsen drops to the bench, but defender Martin Bjornbak misses out through injury. Hestad and Gregersen take their places in the starting line-up.

Arsenal substitutes: Rob Holding, Hector Bellerin, Folarin Balogun, Dani Ceballos, Matt Macey, Miguel Azeez, Ben Cottrell, Kieran Tierney, Emile Smith Rowe, Karl Hein.

Arsenal XI (4-4-2): Runar Alex Runarsson; Cedric Soares, Shkodran Mustafi, David Luiz, Ainsley Maitland-Niles; Nicolas Pepe, Joe Willock, Granit Xhaka, Reiss Nelson; Eddie Nketiah, Alexandre Lacazette.

Molde substitutes: Ola Brynhildsen, Mattias Mostrom, Tobias Christensen, Alex Craninx, Mathias Eriksen Ranmark, Marcus Holmgren Pedersen, Ohikhuaeme Omoijuanfo, Erling Knudtzon, Mathis Bolly.

Molde XI (4-2-3-1): Andreas Linde; Henry Wingo, Sheriff Sinyan, Stian Gregersen, Birk Risa; Fredrik Aursnes, Etzaz Hussain; Eirik Hestad, Magnus Wolff Eikrem, Martin Ellingsen; Leke James.

Arsenal have the opportunity to put themselves in pole position in their Europa League group if they can secure victory over nearest challengers Molde tonight, having won all three of their games so far.

Hello and welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Europa League fixture between Molde and Arsenal at the Aker Stadion.

Original author: Goal

'Maradona was a hero for all of us' - Former Napoli star Jorginho thanks Argentina legend for his impact on Italian city

The Chelsea midfielder has paid tribute one of the greatest players of all time following his death at the age of 60

What is the ePremier League and how do I qualify in FIFA 21?

The 2020-21 ePremier League kicks off in February but registration opens in December on both PlayStation and Xbox

The ePremier League is back for another season, with all 20 Premier League clubs taking part once again.

Each club will have an entrant on both PlayStation and Xbox and entry is open to all United Kingdom residents over the age of 16.

The overall prize pool is £40,000 this season and the winners will also be able to qualify for the EA Sports FIFA 21 Global Series (FGS) European Playoffs.

The ePremier League is set to kick off on February 15, 2021 but registration and qualification begin in December and January ahead of the new season.

What is the ePremier League?

The ePremier League is the esports version of the Premier League, where all 20 current English top-flight teams compete in FIFA 21 to be crowned champion.

All 20 teams compete with the highest-ranking teams advancing to the ePremier League Finals which are scheduled to take place in spring 2021.

The ePremier League is part of the FIFA 21 Global Series and is open to gamers from the United Kingdom, who can register to represent their favourite team.

The first ePremier League was held in 2018 for FIFA players on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

Despite the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X arriving in stores in 2020, the 2020-21 ePremier League season will remain on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

There is a prize pool of £40,000 available to the best-performing players in this season's ePremier League.

Who has won the ePremier League in the past?

The first ePremier League took place in 2018-19 and was won by Donovan ‘Tekkz’ Hunt who represented Liverpool's esports team.

The coronavirus pandemic meant that the 2019-20 ePremier League playoff finals could not be held as a live event, but was completed online where Thomas ‘Hashtag Tom’ Leese emerged victorious for Watford.

Leese defeated Bournemouth's Marc "MarcMarleyyy" Marley 2-1 on aggregate in the cross-console Grand Final, with one game taking place on each console.

"I would recommend the competition to FIFA players as ePL is a massive tournament with a lot of people watching," Leese told the ePremier League's official website.

"It also gives you the unique chance to try and represent your favourite Premier League team. And if you're looking to break into professional FIFA then this is the perfect opportunity for UK gamers to showcase their talent."

How do I register for the ePremier League?

Registration for the ePremier League opens on December 3 and will remain open until December 15.

You can register at https://e.premierleague.com from 5pm GMT on December 3.

Registration is open to anyone in the United Kingdom who plays FIFA 21 on PlayStation 4 or Xbox One and is over 16.

Each player who registers will be able to compete to represent their chosen Premier League club, with a representative for both PlayStation and Xbox being chosen for all 20 English top-flight clubs.

How do I qualify for the ePremier League?

Once you have registered for the ePremier League, you can qualify by playing online in FIFA 21 in January.

The qualification process opens on January 4 and ends on January 31.

Many of the players who qualify are professional esports players but the open nature of the competition means anyone can qualify to represent their club if their results are good enough.

"ePremier League is a great platform for players of all abilities and a real mix of competitors have progressed to the final stages of both tournaments so far," Premier League commercial director Will Brass said. 

"This includes some of the highest-ranked professional FIFA-gamers in the world and relatively inexperienced players who have proved they can take on the very best."

This season's qualifying tournament requires players to play in 90-rated Online Friendlies mode using their favoured Premier League club.

How do I watch the ePremier League?

This season's ePremier League Finals are set to take place in March or April 2021.

The ePremier League Finals will be broadcast on Sky Sports in the UK as well as on EA Sports' social media channels and on Twitch.

Over the past two seasons, over 22 million fans watched the ePremier League Finals on television or through streams.

What rewards do I get for watching the ePremier League?

If you fail to qualify for the ePremier League or are not eligible to enter, you can still benefit from keeping track of the competition.

Anyone who watches the ePremier League Finals on Twitch will be eligible to receive various rewards as the tournament progresses.

These include random drops of player packs or special Ultimate Team cards if you have linked your EA Sports account with your Twitch account.

As well as the random drops, FIFA Global Series Swap cards will also be awarded, which can be used in Squad Building Challenges to trade for various reward packs.

Original author: Ronan Murphy

Atlanta United 2-2 NE Revolution: Player ratings as Adam Buksa cancels out efforts by Almada and Araujo

The relationship between the Argentine sensation and the Catalan club has disintegrated but the presidential hopeful wants to honour their star player

Barcelona presidential candidate Emili Rousaud has promised to hold a referendum on renaming the club's stadium after star player Lionel Messi.

The Catalan side will elect a new president in January to replace Josep Maria Bartomeu, who resigned from his post last month as the entire board - including Rousaud - stepped down.

Pressure on Bartomeu increased over the summer after Messi announced his desire to leave the club. The Argentina international criticised the president when he announced in an exclusive interview with Goal he would be staying at Camp Nou for another season.

While Messi has given no indication that he wants to remain at Barca beyond the end of the current campaign, Rousaud has promised to honour the icon by naming Camp Nou after him.

"We will hold a referendum to change the name of the stadium to Camp Nou - Leo Messi," he told reporters.

Rousaud has also pledged to add more star quality to the Blaugrana squad if he is elected, promising to bring Neymar back from Paris Saint-Germain

"We're going to sign two top players, one of them is Neymar," he added. "We are working to bring him back to Barcelona if he withdraws the lawsuit he has against the club.

"We hope to be able to announce soon the name of the other big-name player we want to bring. It will not leave anyone indifferent. We have a direct line to the player."

The entrepreneur hopes to incorporate former Barca stars into the organisation to bring the club back to help recreate their glory days.

"If we win, we want to count on Xavi [Hernandez], [Andres] Iniesta and [Carles] Puyol and give them a strong link with the club, the team and La Masia," he added. "I do this out of enthusiasm, commitment and experience. I want to rebuild the team, the club and the economy. I will leave my skin to make Barca, once again, the best team in the world.

"I have known the house for five years and have business experience."

He has also picked out a potential replacement for coach Ronald Koeman as well as a new technical director.

"We respect Koeman a lot, but if he doesn't continue, we have closed one who is active and is training one of the best teams in Europe," he said. "We have the best technical director in place, but we cannot announce him yet because he is active [at another club]."

More complete, more versatile: Sadio Mane is Africa's best player in 2020

The Argentina icon, who won two Serie A titles with the Naples club, was a "unique, inimitable champion", according to the Italian team's boss

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis says it would be "right" to rename the club's stadium in honour of club legend Diego Maradona following his death on Wednesday. 

Maradona – widely considered to be one of football's greatest ever players – died at the age of 60 after a suspected heart attack. 

A World Cup winner with Argentina, Maradona enjoyed stunning success in Naples, where he guided Napoli to unprecedented Serie A glory in 1986-87 and 1989-90 – the Italian team are yet to add to their only two Scudetto honours.

As Napoli fans and Naples natives mourn the death of Maradona, De Laurentiis confirmed the Stadio San Paolo is likely to be named after the football icon.

In a letter written to Maradona on Napoli's official website, De Laurentiis said: "You leave us with a great testament of what it means to be a man of fragility, strength and absolute love for life and one's neighbour. A unique, inimitable champion.

"Your weaknesses, your imperfections, your mistakes are tantamount to your immense greatness, though none of that compares to your legend.

"Many have said you represent the synthesis of genius and unruliness. An artist of the beautiful game, your unique brushstrokes are to be remembered in the pantheon of the greatest exponents. Like a restless work of Caravaggio, whose indomitable and unruly nature is forgiven for its immense greatness.

"I believe it is right to name the San Paolo after you, so we can keep you with us as a witness of the excellent path this team has taken.

"Your years here remain indelible in the memories of the people of Naples – symbolic of a coveted redemption and yearned-for resurrection. Thank you, Diego. You are, and will always be, with all of us."

Maradona won 91 caps for Argentina between 1977 and 1994, scoring 34 goals at international level.

He started his career with Argentinos Juniors before joining Boca Juniors and went on to play for BarcelonaSevilla and Newell's Old Boys, as well as Napoli, before returning to Boca in 1995.

Maradona also had stints in charge of Textil Mandiyu, Racing Club, Al-Wasl, Fujairah and Dorados de Sinaloa in Mexico before being appointed head coach by Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata last year.

U.S. had talks with Balogun over switch - Hudson

Tanzania 8-1 Somalia: Kelvin John on hat-trick as his team enter Cecafa U20 semis

Ngorongoro Heroes join the Hippos of Uganda in the last four of the annual competition

Tanzania have sealed their place in the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (Cecafa) U20 Championship semis after defeating Somalia 8-1 on Thursday afternoon.

The unstoppable hosts scored their goals courtesy of Kelvin John who scored a hat-trick, Abdulhassan Suleiman, Ben Starkie, Kassim Shaaban, Frank George, and Anuary Jabir. Sahel scored the consolation for Somalia.

Ngorongoro Heroes started the game on a high and it took them just three minutes to open the scoring. Abdulhassan Suleiman controlled the ball from the right well before going past several defenders and finding the back of the net.

Three minutes later, Somalia were on level terms; Tanzania lost the ball from the attacking position and Sahel was fed on the left. He did well to go past his marker before firing past the goalkeeper.

Germany-based Ben Starkie put the Heroes back in front in the 15th minute when the defenders failed to clear a dangerous ball in their 18-yard area. The defender headed the ball and it fell on the path of the forward who had an easy time beating the goalkeeper from less than 12-yards.

Kelvin John fired from close range in the 28th minute to make it 3-1 in favour of his team before scoring his second of the game six minutes later after the opponents left him free in the danger zone.

After the break, Ngorongoro Heroes showed no signs of slowing down as they pushed for the fifth. A good solo run from Kassim Shaaban delivered the goal in the 47th minute with the defenders failing to stop him.

On the hour mark, Kelvin John completed his hat-trick after racing clear and rounding the goalkeeper before putting the goal in an empty net.

Somalia looked lost and confused, with their opponents having a walk in the park. There was no surprise when Frank George added the seventh five minutes later after beating his marker on pace.

The final goal came in the 87th minute when a good cross by David Kameta was converted by Anuary Jabir.

The Hippos of Uganda also sealed their place in the last four after defeating Burundi 6-1 on Wednesday.

Original author: Seth Willis

Tanzania Cup: Simba SC handed Dodoma Jiji as Yanga SC to face Mwadui FC

The Argentine football icon died at his home on Wednesday November 25 after a period of ill health, and mourners are queuing to pay their respects
Original author: Goal

How to trade in FIFA 21 Ultimate Team: Best coin-making tips and tricks

Goal's complete guide on the best ways of making money on the transfer market in FUT

FIFA Ultimate Team is all about building your dream squad. However, unless you can afford the players, that squad will only stay in your dreams.

You can spend real money to buy packs in the FIFA Store but many gamers trade on the transfer market to make coins and if done correctly, can earn you thousands or millions of in-game currency.

Trading may seem daunting at first, but there are some easy ways to get into it like the Bronze Pack Method or investing in Team of the Week players.

The simpler trading methods will make small profits, but follow Goal's expert guide to trading to make even more coins in FIFA 21.

Contents

What is the Bronze Pack Method? What is sniping? Which players are best to trade in FIFA Ultimate Team? Which players are good short-term investments? Which players are good long-term investments? Which SBCs give the best pack rewards?

The 'Bronze Pack Method' has long been the most effective way of making a small profit in FIFA.

It's a low risk, low reward strategy, but is quite simple to do if you have the time to invest into listing and re-listing players on the market.

The steps are straightforward: buy the cheapest packs in the store and sell their contents.

Each basic Bronze Pack contains 12 items, including one rare item for 400 coins. They usually have around three or four players in them and you will use these players to make a profit.

Previous editions of FIFA sometimes had rare fitness cards which could be sold for around 1,000 coins, but fitness cards have been removed in FIFA 21.

Rare bronze players are now the most valuable commodity in bronze packs, particularly special players like Copa Sudamericana and Copa Libertadores players.

Usually, you can quick sell everything in the pack except players for around 30 coins and then if even two players sell for the lowest Buy It Now (BIN) price of 200, you will have made a profit.

Higher-rated players or players who have good links to leagues and nations can be worth more than 200, so use the Compare Price option or a site like FUTbin to check prices before listing your players.

You may have to keep listing your players over and over to get them to sell, but most players will sell eventually.

Many people list their players at a lower price than they are worth, either to sell them quickly as they need coins or else because of mistakes or not knowing the proper value of players.

As a result, you can sometimes pick up some bargains to add to your squad or to instantly flip at a higher price on the transfer market.

The best way of finding underpriced players is to use specific filters to repeatedly search the transfer market and buy them as soon as they are listed. This process is known as sniping.

You need to set a Buy It Now (BIN) price in the filter at the maximum price you are willing to pay and then search. If your search shows no results, search again and again until it does.

However, each time you search, you should change at least one of the filters (the minimum Bid Price is usually easiest) to make sure the search shows new results rather than the same ones as your previous search.

When your player finally appears as a search result, you need to be quick as someone else might be searching as well and could snipe before you!

Most traders make their profits on the transfer market from investing in a small number of players and selling them at the right times.

Trading the same few players over and over again allows you to get to know when are the best times to buy and sell and how much you should pay for each card.

The market fluctuates during the week and prices are usually highest in the evenings and at weekends when more people are online and are looking to improve their teams.

Prices are usually lowest overnight and early in the morning when people are sleeping and thus not playing FIFA 21.

When starting out, look at players in leagues you are familiar with already. This way, you know what players are popular, e.g. full-backs from the Premier League or forwards with high pace.

Some players with lower ratings are more popular than their higher-rated counterparts as their attributes, weak foot or skills are better suited to FIFA 21. As a result, these players can sometimes be listed cheaper than usual by people who only look at the overall rating and do not use the Compare Price function before selling.

Correctly predicting upcoming Squad Building Challenges (SBCs) is a good way to make a profit.

The easiest SBCs to predict are usually Marquee Matchups and Champions League Marquee Matchups. These require players from upcoming clashes in top leagues and the Champions League. The FIFA community on reddit, Twitter and the EA Forums often have discussions about which matches are most likely to be included.

For example, a Marquee Matchup SBC requiring a Manchester United player can increase the price of all Manchester United's players, particularly the lower-rated ones.

Additionally, predicting which players are in Team of the Week can be profitable. When a player is included in Team of the Week, their regular version is no longer in packs and this makes those cards rarer for the week while their In-Form card is in packs.

Similarly, Ones to Watch (OTW) card trading is very popular as people invest ahead of a player's games in the hope they have a good performance and they can sell during the initial hype period before the card gets automatically upgraded due to Team of the Week.

The best time to buy OTW cards is when they are left on the bench for their team's games or during a bad performance when it is obvious they will not be upgraded by the next Team of the Week release.

Most players will not rise in price as the FIFA 21 season progresses. Each Team of the Week, Player of the Month SBC and promotional event such as FUTmas sees more and more high-rated players added to the game.

Therefore, people move on from their existing players and sell them on the transfer market, driving prices down across the board.

However, some players can prove to be good long-term investments in FIFA 21, especially if you are willing to tie your coins up in assets to make a small-to-medium profit weeks or months down the line.

Many of the lower-rated players in each Team of the Week (TOTW) can make you a profit in the future. Each player has a discard or quick sell price and often, the TOTW players with ratings 82 or lower will be available on the transfer market for just above their quick sell value.

This means that you can always quick sell the player for nearly 10,000 coins even if you only bought them for around that value initially. However, if you keep them in your club, their values will likely rise when they are no longer in packs, especially if a popular SBC requires people to submit a TOTW player.

Road to the Final (RTTF) cards may also see their price increase during the season as teams progress further in the Champions League and Europa League. Each time a player's team progresses to the next round, their RTTF card will be given an upgrade, which can make their value rise. Similarly, their value can also rise when the draw for each round is made as people look to predict the outcomes.

The best Squad Building Challenges (SBCs) for traders to complete are the ones which offer tradeable packs as rewards.

The various League SBCs used to very good for trading, but in FIFA 21 give untradeable packs, which cannot be turned into profit.

Now, the most useful SBCs to complete are Marquee Matchups and then any promotion-based SBC which is available for a limited time.

It is always worth checking the SBC solutions on FUTbin to see which challenges are affordable and which offer the best pack rewards. Each SBC also has a user rating where the website's members can give a thumbs up or thumbs down to indicate whether the challenge is worth doing or not.

Original author: Ronan Murphy

Why Stellenbosch FC don't fear unbeaten Mamelodi Sundowns - Mthethwa

The towering centre back is confident that they will secure a win over Masandawana in Tshwane following their victory over the Chilli Boys

Stellenbosch FC defender Sibusiso Mthethwa says their ability to defend as a team and attack as a team makes them a difficult side to break down. 

Mthethwa and his Stellies teammates are set to take on the reigning Premier Soccer League (PSL) champions Mamelodi Sundowns at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Saturday.

Stellies returned to winning ways when they secured a 2-0 win over Chippa United in a league match at Danie Craven Stadium last weekend.

Mthethwa is banking on their solid defence after he helped the team keep a clean sheet in their victory over the Chilli Boys. 

“We want to compete with the best and this is an opportunity to show that we are not just here to make up the numbers,” said Mthethwa on Daily Sun.

“We are well aware that we will have our hands full against a quality attack that Sundowns possess but we are confident that we can manage.

“We defend as a team and attack as a team. We are not easy to break down because we understand our roles very well on the pitch"

Sundowns have started the current campaign very well as they are undefeated in the league having recorded one draw and three wins including the recent 4-3 win over AmaZulu FC in their last game last weekend.

Mthethwa made it clear that they do not fear any team as they look to make it two wins in a row by securing their first-ever victory over Sundowns.

“If you concede fewer goals then you win the game and that’s what we try to do in every match. It will be no different against Sundowns," he added. 

“They are a dangerous team but we believe In ourselves. We always fight for each other and the badge. We believe we can win, we fear no one. We are ready.”

Saturday's clash between Stellenbosch and Sundowns will be the third meeting between the two teams.

Last season, Masandawana collected six points from Stellies, who were in their debut campaign in the elite league.

A 3-1 victory over Stellenbosch in Tshwane in December 2019 was followed by a narrow 1-0 win in Cape Town in March 2020. 

 

 

Original author: Austin Ditlhobolo

Leicester set to win race to sign Celtic's Odsonne Edouard

The Premier League manager has added his voice to those saluting the exploits of the all-time great who has passed away at the age of 60

Marcelo Bielsa has described Diego Maradona as an artist whose “beauty cannot be matched”, with the Leeds boss adding his voice to the tributes which have poured in for the Argentine “idol”.

Maradona passed away on Wednesday at the age of 60. Three days of national mourning are being held in his homeland, while millions around the world have been rocked by the tragic news.

Bielsa is among those to have always held Maradona in the highest regard, with no doubt in his mind as who the greatest player of all time is.

A man currently plying his trade in the Premier League is deeply saddened to learn of Maradona’s death, but says the legacy of the 1986 World Cup winner will live on and be embraced by generations to come.

“He could not be better. He was for us and will continue to be an idol,” Bielsa said. “Given the fact he is not here with us anymore, it brings us great sadness. To lose an idol for us is something that makes us feel weak.

“Everything he did as a footballer was a beauty which cannot be matched.

“Maradona was an artist. The dimensions of the repercussions of his art has infinite recognitions. To give one example, that stands out, the songs that have been written about him are extraordinary.

“I have read texts after his death that have been emotional and it is a recognition of what he gave the spectators in beauty.

“In terms of what he signifies to us (Argentines) in particular, Diego made us feel like it was a fantasy; like an idol makes you feel.”

While saluting the remarkable career and life of Maradona, Bielsa continues to enhance his own reputation in England.

He guided Leeds to promotion last season, ending a 16-year absence for the club from the Premier League, and has seen his efforts recognised with a nomination for the Coach of the Year award at the FIFA Best ceremony.

“To be nominated is always a distinction. I appreciate it,” said the 65-year-old. “Every time a manager is singled out, the players are involved.

“The coach is always an appendix of the players and also the technical staff for the construction of a football team. It is not solely the responsibility of the one in charge. This nomination is also for the technical staff and this happening in a sphere of a club like Leeds also recognises the result of this.”

Original author: Chris Burton

Lebese: Ex-Kaizer Chiefs winger terminates Colorado Springs Switchbacks contract

The Reds’ current captain admits those at Anfield made a serious error of judgement when choosing to back the controversial striker
Original author: Chris Burton

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