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Diogo Jota is another example of Jurgen Klopp buying players “that fit into his system”, says John Barnes, with a Liverpool legend claiming the Portuguese would not have made the same kind of impact at Barcelona or Real Madrid.

A summer signing from Wolves has slotted seamlessly into the fold at Anfield.

Jota had been tipped by many to thrive on Merseyside, with the 23-year-old’s game tailor-made for the reigning Premier League champions.

His tireless running and keen eye for goal have allowed him to star across the minutes he has been given, with an impressive run of form seeing him find the target on six occasions across his last four appearances – including a Champions League hat-trick against Atalanta.

Plenty are now calling for him to be handed a starting role ahead of Roberto Firmino, with Klopp facing some big selection calls.

Barnes admits that Jota is staking a serious claim for a No.9 role, but is eager to point out that none of the attackers available to Liverpool – including Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane – would be as productive elsewhere.

The Reds legend told BonusCodeBets: “Klopp buys players that fit into his system. If Diogo Jota went to another club he won’t be able to do what he’s doing at Liverpool, neither would Sadio Mane, neither would Mohamed Salah.

“Klopp is not turning them into good players, they are good players, Liverpool’s system and style suits them.

“If Jota goes to Barcelona, for example, he won’t go there and score loads of goals or play as well. I don’t think any of the Liverpool players would and that’s what the club wants, to find players who can suit their system to be successful.

“It doesn’t matter whether they’re doing it at other clubs or not, look at Fabinho, he might have been wanted by Manchester City or Barcelona but he does well at Liverpool because Klopp knows how he wants his team to play.

“Jota is a fantastic player, but there’s no way that Jota would be able to go to Real Madrid and do the same thing, it’s all down to Jurgen Klopp and finding those players that suits his style.”

Barnes, who admits to being pleasantly surprised at how quickly Jota has settled at Liverpool, still believes that Brazil international Firmino will be favoured by Klopp in big games – such as Sunday’s trip to Manchester City.

He added: “Mane, Salah and Firmino are still the front three, I don’t think Jota is all of a sudden going to 100% start all of the games.

“But of course, Liverpool now have competition for places and they know that whenever he is needed Jota can come into the team and play a part.

“The other players they have had, [Xherdan] Shaqiri or [Divock] Origi, would not be able to come in and maintain the same quality over a long period of time, but with Jota you can.

“There’s Thiago in midfield too, so those two signings have helped Liverpool get strength in depth. They don’t have to play all the time, Klopp can maintain consistency.”

Anyone who has played a FIFA game in recent years probably has gotten to grips with the basic controls by now, but even long-term fans of the game might not know every single move in FIFA 21.

Additionally, new controls such as Player Lock and improved off-the-ball movement have been added to FIFA 21, giving you greater control over your players.

People who move over to FIFA 21 from Pro Evolution Soccer might also take a while to get to grips with the controls, but you can change the button assignments from "Classic" to "Alternate" in the settings to make the shoot button the same on both games.

If you have a PlayStation or Xbox controller, you can use this to play FIFA 21 on PC and the controls will be the same as on the console.

To use your PlayStation controller on PC, you will need to install a small program called DS4Windows, while all you need to do to use your Xbox controller is to plug it into your PC USB port and it will install automatically.

FIFA 21: Movement Controls

FIFA 21 uses the same movement controls as previous versions but has added Agile Dribbling as one of the main gameplay improvements from last season.

FIFA 21: Attacking Controls

Player Lock and new player run options have been added in FIFA 21, giving you greater control over your team-mates when in possession.

FIFA 21: Defending Controls

Defending has not really changed in FIFA 21, but the new Natural Collisions improvements mean that defensive controls are more responsive this year, with a well-timed standing tackle more effective in this year's game.

FIFA 21: Goalkeeping Controls

Most people use automatic goalkeeping and let the AI control the goalkeeper, but you can switch to the goalkeeper using the touchpad to allow you to pull off saves and charge at the ball.

Ahead of the resumption of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, the Confederation of African Football (Caf) has released guidelines to its member associations which would help boost safety and security protocols before and during matches.

A video-conference chaired by the head of Caf Safety and Security Department, Dr Christian Emeruwa, was held on Wednesday and it had 60 security officers including National Safety and Security Officers (NSSO) of member associations, and Caf safety and security officers in attendance.

After almost a year since the last round of the Afcon qualifiers, the qualification stage for Cameroon 2021 will resume on November 9 through to November 17 but fans will not be allowed in the stadiums due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The talking points of Wednesday’s meeting were the organisation of matches behind closed doors and without spectators, the new accreditation control mechanism and new accreditation zone, the differences between upcoming matches and previous ones, and the need for each member association to have a good safety and security plan before official games.

"Our goal is to ensure that there is uniformity in safety and security operations across Africa with an emphasis on making sure that the matches are played under a safe and secured environment,” Emeruwa said.

“We are mindful of the enormous task ahead, especially how to keep spectators and supporters away from the stadium. Hence, we felt the need to guide all National safety and security officers and appointed Caf safety and security officers on best practices under these conditions.

“The protection of the players and officials before, during, and after the match is of great importance in our operations.

"We need to ensure effective coordination between safety and security officers and all other health officers that will be involved in delivering each match.”

Simba SC midfielder Jonas Mkude has revealed the back-to-back defeats the team suffered in the Mainland Premier League affected the morale of the players in camp.

The Wekundu wa Msimbazi suffered two consecutive defeats – 1-0 against Tanzania Prisons and then by the same scoreline against Ruvu Shooting – but recovered to beat Mwadui FC 5-0.

The two defeats saw Simba become the first team among the top three to lose back-to-back games in the current season.

Mkude has now claimed to lose the two matches left the team's players affected and even their morale dropped because they were not expecting to lose twice in succession.

“To be honest, we did not anticipate to lose two matches in a row, it was not in our plans because we knew we have a strong squad, but losing the way we did somehow affected most of the players,” Mkude is quoted by Sokaletu.

“We really asked ourselves questions, we really felt hurt because we knew we had planned to win the matches but instead we lost, we got a very different result from what we had expected to get but now we have to forget about the past and plan for the future.

“We have the derby coming up against Yanga and we want to win, we want to do it for the fans, we must make sure that they are happy, we are ready to make them happy.”

Simba are now third on the 18-team league table after amassing 19 points, while Azam FC, who are topping the chart, have 25 points and second-placed Yanga have 23 points.

Meanwhile, the Tanzania Premier League Board (TPLB) have confirmed the names of the officials who will be in charge of the derby at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium on Saturday.

The officials will be led by Elly Sasii, Mohamed Mkono, Abdallah Mwinyimkuu, Abubakar Mturo, Ramadhan Kayoko, Philipo Alando and Paschal Chiganga.

On Wednesday, TPLB CEO Almas Kasongo confirmed the derby will have two extra referees to make sure that all the teams and both sets of fans are satisfied with the outcome at the end of the whistle.

“We have added two extra referees for the derby, so we will have six referees in total to officiate the match on Saturday,” Kasongo told Goal on Wednesday.

“The two extra referees will be at the end of both sides of the goal-posts like it happens in Europe, and they will assist the centre referee and also the two assistants, plus the match commissioner making it six officials for the match.

“We have also made sure that security will be provided during and after the derby so we want to urge as many fans as possible to come for the match, it is the first derby of the season and we hope to see a good match.”

Last season, the two giants met three times, with the first round ending in a 2-2 draw before Yanga turned on the screw to win the second round fixture 1-0, but they again faced off in the semi-finals of the FA Cup where Simba won 4-1.

Brandon Fernandes will most certainly have a senior role to play in the FC Goa midfield along with Edu Bedia in the upcoming season of Indian Super League (ISL).

He was in fine form for Goa as well as for the Indian national team in the previous season which has seen his stock rise. He scored twice and notched seven assists (most by an Indian) for the Gaurs in his 17 appearances in 2019-20. He made more than two key passes in each match which further substantiates his influence in the attacking third.

But Fernandes has made it clear that he is not looking for individual glory but his target will be to build on the performances from the previous year for his team which has new look about it under coach Juan Ferrando. 

"This year, the ultimate goal is to do better than last season. I would like to better my numbers from last season. I don't have aspirations for personal awards. Most important thing is to do the best and give the best for the team. Last year was good for us and I had good understanding with my teammates. This season, it is not going to be different. As we train more we connect with the new players, and we still have a good understanding with the previous players. There will be a lot of positive things that we will see on the pitch," stated the India international. 

FC Goa will be playing quite a few of their home matches at their usual stomping ground i.e. the Fatorda stadium. Tilak Stadium in Vasco, GMC stadium in Bambolim and Fatorda are the three venues for the centralised tournament in Goa this time around. 

Fernandes feels that playing at Fatorda will give FC Goa an edge over other teams who will have to find their feet in their adopted home. 

"We (FC Goa) have been playing our matches at Fatorda in the past six seasons. We are familiar with the ground. It is going to be a bit of advantage but it is going to be tough as all the teams want to compete and it is going to be all about the given day - if you perform well, you will get the results."

The 26-year-old revealed that he has been in touch with India coach Igor Stimac during the lockdown and is looking at ISL as a platform to keep himself fit for international matches that will resume later in 2021. 

FC Goa is set to represent India in the AFC Champions League group stage courtesy of winning the ISL shield in the 2019-20 season. This presents a unique opportunity for Fernandes to rub shoulders with the best in Asia and he believes that under coach Juan Ferrando's guidance Goa can do well both in ISL and in AFC. 

"This year is going to be a challenge. We have two important competitions in ISL and AFC. We will try to do our best. We don't know about results. But we have to work as a team and get (positive) results. Every coach is different. Coach Juan has introduced a lot of tactical elements. In terms of style, we have not changed a lot. So we will be looking strong this season," signed off the former Churchill Brothers player. 

South Africa women's team head coach Desiree Ellis is wary of Eswatini ahead of their clash in the Cosafa Women's Cup on Friday.

The two teams are set to meet in a Group A encounter at Wolfson Stadium in what will be their second game of the tournament.

Banyana Banyana enjoyed a winning start to their title defence, with a 2-0 win over Angola as they will be playing for the first time, against the Super Falcons in the competition's history.

However, the Banyana legend is expecting a tough Super Falcons side, who had recorded a bright start, with a 4-2 win over Comoros.

“We had a good start against Angola and now we are on to the next match which is Eswatini," Ellis told Safa.net.

"They also had a very good comeback against Comoros and they showed that they have the resilience and staying power. 

"They love to shoot from afar and with their long-distance shooting, they proved that they can be a threat. 

"We have to, once again, be on top of our game and make sure that we execute our plans really well and if we do that we should get a positive result."

Ellis will be eyeing another group stage win to claim the top spot in Group A in the encounter scheduled to kick-off at 15:30 CAT.

Arsenal should be rekindling their interest in Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard, says Kevin Campbell, with Alexandre Lacazette now “the wrong side of 30” and open to a possible upgrade.

Mikel Arteta does have plenty of firepower at his disposal in 2020-21, with France international Lacazette a proven performer at the highest level and having already scored three Premier League goals this season.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is very much the main man for Arsenal in the final third of the field, and the Gabonese has been tied to a lucrative new contract.

Eddie Nketiah is then one for the present and future, with England’s all-time leading scorer at U21 level having shown that he can mix it on a senior stage.

The Gunners have, however, seen market moves mooted in recent windows.

Celtic star Edouard was said to be a top target for Arteta over the summer, as rumours suggested that Lacazette could be heading for the exits at Emirates Stadium.

No deal was done, but further opportunities are about to present themselves.

Campbell believes Arsenal need to be exploring the option of acquiring Edouard, who has once again seen Celtic miss out on a place in the Champions League group stage, with the 22-year-old having shown in Scotland that he is ready for another step up the footballing ladder.

“There was talk of a move to Arsenal,” former Gunners striker Campbell told Football Insider of Edouard, who has netted 68 times through 137 appearances for Celtic.

“They have been utilising Aubameyang from the left and Lacazette is the one that Edouard could come in for.

“Lacazette is the wrong side of 30 now. That move may still happen because Edouard is a really talented player.

“He is a natural goalscorer who is very cute around the box. A player that would be a great addition to anybody but for now he is at a huge club in Celtic.

“He is the top man there and I see him staying there at least until next summer.

"If Celtic get 10 [titles in a row] they might move and shake a little bit.”

Atletico Madrid and Juventus were both linked with Lacazette in the last window, but they ended up acquiring Luis Suarez and Alvaro Morata respectively and interest in the France international may have to come from elsewhere if Arsenal are to seek out a buyer.

Ahead of Friday's Cosafa Women's Cup game against South Africa, Eswatini head coach Bongumusa Mdluli has set his sights on guiding his side to an upset against the champions.

The Super Falcons impressed in their outing at last year's edition in South Africa, beating against Angola and Mozambique before eventually losing 7-0 to Zimbabwe in their final group match.

This time, they made a fantastic start to the campaign, coming back from two goals down to defeat Comoros 4-2 and will face Desiree Ellis' team in their second match of Group A at Wolfson Stadium.

And the tactician expects a tough game for both teams but remains hopeful about his side's chances of coping against regional giants Banyana Banyana.

"It's a very big game against the champions and the tournament's favourites," Mdluli told Cosafa TV.

"We are taking it seriously and we're going for it. Comoros surprised us and we had to push extra harder.

"It's everything at stake but not so much pressure. It's just a game and we are taking it like any other game. Although, it's a big game."

The match will be the first competitive meeting between both teams in the tournament's history and the visitors are aiming to build on their winning start in Nelson Mandela Bay.

FC Goa have a relatively tough start to their ISL (Indian Super League) campaign, playing a couple of strong teams in the first two games. They will lock horns against former champions Bengaluru FC in their first game followed by an encounter with former manager Sergio Lobera's Mumbai City FC. 

Bengaluru have been a bogey team for Goa as they have won only once against the Blues so far. Whereas the presence of former manager Lobera in the Mumbai dugout adds more spice to their second fixture. 

But Ferrando is not concerned about the schedule and he wants to take one step at a time. 

"I'm happy that now we are working on the pitch. That is the most important thing. The time is very short. We didn't have a lot of time in pre-season but I have been telling our coaching staff to prepare the team and our medical team has been working hard on recovery training. I hope we will have a good idea in the training games as the boys have not been in action for many months.

"Our target is to prepare the team for the first game. After Bengaluru first, it is Mumbai. The target is to progress week by week and day by day. Of course, we want to win the championship but right now it is about taking small steps. The new players have to get accustomed to the ideology of the team. Every game is important. Our mentality all the time is the same - to win three points. We don't lose sleep that we play Bengaluru and Mumbai first," stated the Spaniard during an online interaction. 

Ferrando is focussing on the tactical nuances as he searches for the best system that will suit his team and his own principles. At the same time, he is concerned about the challenges the players face while staying in a bio-bubble for such a long period.

"We are working a lot on the tactical part followed by physical conditioning. We have to try to find the best system. Tactically it is important to know how to respond to what happens during the course of a game. Of course, set -pieces are very important. Our focus is to find out what happens with the ball and without the ball and in other situations as well. 

"I am happy that the coaching staff is helping a lot and the players have a very positive mentality. But in two weeks, it is very difficult to say how the players will control stress. But we are a professional team. It is necessary to talk to players. It is very important to believe in the team and the staff. We are in the hotel for 24 hours, but we can play and train, and these details are very important for us."

The 39-year-old manager is looking forward to their upcoming friendly against ATK Mohun Bagan to gauge the preparations of his team. 

Ferrando has a lot of young blood in the squad in the likes of Saviour Gama, Makan Chote and Phrangki Buam and he is ready to gamble on these youngsters. He also feels that it is necessary to rotate and have an alternative plan as games are set to arrive thick and fast.

"I'm not thinking about the new or inexperienced played. I am trying to find the best first XI. If a player understands the tactical part, he is good to play. If players like Phrangki and Chote are ready, they play in the first XI. It's a new chapter. We decided to find the best players who can help the team. It is very important to prepare a plan B with the medical staff because I don't know if all the players will be ready for every game."

FC Goa have not filled their overseas contingent as they have only signed six foreigners. But the coach asserts that he is happy with his squad.

"I think I have the best squad. I am not afraid about foreign players and substitutions (if the league allows five substitutions). The moment of substitution is very important. It's not necessary to use all the places for foreign players. In future, we could change a few players," signed off the former Volos FC manager. 

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League side Nairobi City Stars have appointed Brian Otieno Odongo as their new physiotherapist ahead of the 2020/21 campaign.

The Nairobi-based charges sealed their promotion to the top tier after finishing top of the table in the abandoned 2019/20 season. They have been aligning their team to ensure they offer stiff competition and after finishing signing players, they have strengthened their medical department.

"Brian Otieno Odongo, 26, has joined Nairobi City Stars to serve as a physiotherapist," Simba wa Nairobi confirmed on their website on Friday, November 6.

"In the past year, Brian served Gor Mahia Youth in the same capacity while at the same time acting as an apprentice with the senior team."

City Star CEO Patrick Korir exuded confidence the new physio will be a valuable asset to the team.

"Brian has shown good professionalism since coming to City Stars and we are happy to engage his services for the upcoming season," the administrator said.

"Since his arrival, a long list of players have since been attended to and have fully recovered from various concerns. We are happy at how they were attended to and are confident he will deliver from his corner."  

The new staff is delighted with getting the opportunity stating he has what it takes to help the team move forward.

"I take this time to thank Nairobi City Stars for giving me this opportunity to serve as the club physiotherapist," Otieno stated after being confirmed at the club.

"I have seen them play in the past and liked how the club is organized. I, therefore, bring with me my vast knowledge and experience in assessment, diagnosis, and treatment [rehabilitation] of various sports injuries that players pick from the game.

"I am an inspiring clinician with a committed and passionate approach to my work."

On Friday, Simba wa Nairobi concluded their business by signing defender Heritier Mungai Atariza and winger Rodgers Okumu.

City Stars have also signed midfielders Ronney Kola Oyaro from Kenya School of Government, Timothy Ouma of Laiser Hill and, Vapor Sports' Rowland Makati.

They also raided Wazito FC for goalkeeper Steve Ngunge Ndungu alongside Elvis Ochoro, formerly with Hakati Sportif.

Others who have been signed by the team include Yusuf Mukisa Lubowa, who was playing for Ugandan outfit Proline FC, and Kennedy Onyango of Kakamega Homeboyz.

Former Orlando Pirates coach Kosta Papic says he would be very surprised if Kaizer Chiefs manage to overcome the Buccaneers and earn a spot in the MTN8 final.

Chiefs meet with Pirates on Sunday at the FNB Stadium and will need to turn around a three-goal deficit, having lost 3-0 last weekend in the first leg semi-final encounter, at the Orlando Stadium.

It would seem that Bucs have all but booked their spot in the final, which will be against either Bloemfontein Celtic or SuperSport United.

But with that said, football has a knack of surprising, and Chiefs can draw inspiration from several great comebacks in world football - for example, Liverpool's 4-3 aggregate win over Barcelona in the Champions League in 2019, the Reds having won the second leg 4-0 after losing 3-0 in Spain.

Key for Amakhosi will be to keep a clean sheet, as Papic has pointed out.

“You know in football everything is possible. They [Pirates] scored three, and Chiefs can score three as well,” the Serbian, who coached at Pirates and also had a short stint at Chiefs, told the Sowetan.

“But if Pirates score a goal, that’s it, and it will be difficult for Chiefs to score five goals.

"I don’t remember in the last 20 years when anyone scored four goals in one derby. In my opinion, Pirates are through to the final.”

Papic warned the Buccaneers not to take anything for granted, although he remains confident that it will be the black and white side of the Soweto divide which will be celebrating on Sunday evening.
 
“Complacency is a major problem for everybody around the world," he said. "When you win the match 3-0, you think you are already gone. I don’t think Pirates will fail to score the goal on Sunday.”

While Chiefs are looking to end a five-year-long wait for a trophy, the Buccaneers have not won silverware in six seasons, since they claimed the Nedbank Cup in 2014.

Pirates last won the top eight competition in 2011.

If Manchester United were to part with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer then Wolves boss Nuno would be a leading contender for the managerial post at Old Trafford, claims Kevin Doyle.

Pressure is building on the man currently filling that role.

An inconsistent start to the 2020-21 campaign from an expensively-assembled Red Devils squad is seeing their coach face plenty of uncomfortable questions.

Speculation has suggested that change could be in the air, with United said to be mulling over their options at a crucial stage of the season.

Former Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino is said to head the list of possible Solskjaer replacements, but Doyle believes a man impressing at Molineux will come into the mix.

The ex-Wolves striker told Ladbrokes: “I think I'd be a bit worried if I was a Wolves fan at the moment about Nuno.

“He's a contender for the Manchester United job, of course he is. Why wouldn't he be?

“Mauricio Pochettino is probably their number one choice but Nuno, definitely, would be up there as well for me.

“His link with [Jorge] Mendes and their ability to sign players, he would be a contender. I'm a Man United fan and I'd have no problem with him being the manager.

“He'd definitely be inspirational. You watch him on the side of the pitch and he's the total opposite to Solskjaer.

“I don't think he's going to go anywhere just yet, and I think Pochettino is probably the more suitable option - he's had more success and has more experience in the Premier League at a top club so he's rightly the favourite.

“Wolves fans are probably safe for now but there's no reason at all that I can see why he wouldn't be considered for the Man United job.”

Nuno has been in charge at Wolves since 2017, with the former Porto goalkeeper enjoying considerable success during his time in England.

He oversaw a successful promotion push in his debut campaign, before going on to cement a standing among the Premier League elite.

Wolves have also forced their way into continental competition, with a productive run through to the quarter-finals of the Europa League enjoyed in 2019-20.

Zoo FC coach Herman Iswekha has pointed out his side's defence needs more training ahead of the forthcoming campaign.

On Thursday, the Rift Valley-based side welcomed Wazito FC at the Kericho Green Stadium and came from a goal down to win 2-1 in a pre-season friendly game.

Boniface Omondi scored the lone goal for the visitors with Collins Neto and Anami Derrick scoring for the tea farmers. 

"I am happy with the spirit we showed especially after conceding the first goal," Iswekha told Goal on Friday.

"The spirit was there despite being a friendly match; you could see the players wanted to win the game and they eventually did.

"My problem was at the back, we have not had enough time to create an understanding especially in central defence. Pascal [Ogweno] is new and has not trained with others, so before the league starts, we need several sessions with my defenders."

The 2020/21 Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League is scheduled to start on November 20 with the Kericho-based side playing a day later away to Bandari FC. 

"It is definitely going to be a tough game for us, but we want to give our best and start on a high," Iswekha added.

"Last season, we struggled to get off the bottom, but this time around we want to avoid such. It is all about having good preparations and by the time the league starts, we will be ready."

The top-tier teams have until Friday, November 6 to conclude their transfer deals as confirmed by the FKF.

"Due to the impact of Covid-19 that has seen a delay in the resumption of footballing activities and in particular, the end of season play-off matches between Kisumu All-Stars and Vihiga United ... we wish to inform the primary registration and transfer period initially slated to close on November 2, 2020, has been extended to close on Friday, November 6., 2020," the Federation said in a statement.

Eventually, Vihiga United were promoted to the top-tier after a 5-3 post-match penalty win in the playoffs against Kisumu All-Stars.

The two teams had played to an aggregate 3-3 scoreline over the two legs.

Barcelona and Real Madrid are institutions of Spanish football, with the reverberations of their bitter rivalry felt across the world each year in El Clasico.

Between them they have won over 50 league titles, dominating the domestic landscape, and each year on the continent they are inevitably in the mix in the fight for European supremacy.

Success is second nature to these clubs, but even the biggest teams endure peaks and troughs over the course of time.

So, have Barca and Real ever experienced relegation? Goal brings you everything you need to know.

No. Barcelona and Real Madrid have never been relegated from La Liga.

The Clasico rivals have been permanent fixtures in the competition for nearly a century, having been a part of the competition since its foundation in 1929.

A total of just three teams have not suffered relegation from Spain's Primera Division, with only Athletic Club joining Barca and Real in the exclusive club.

The three sides were among the 10 original founding members of the league, which also included: Real Sociedad, Atletico Madrid, Espanyol, Europa, Racing Santander, Getxo and Real Union.

Atletico Madrid follow Barca and Real as the third most successful club in the country in terms of league titles and they have been a fixture of La Liga for most of its history.

However, the Rojiblancos were relegated in the league's second season in 1929-30.

Atletico returned to the Primera Division in 1939-40 after the Spanish Civil War (winning the first two editions after the conflict) and remained there until the year 2000, when they were relegated for the second time.

They were promoted again after just two terms in the Segunda and have been part of the top division since.

Valencia are another long-standing institution of Spanish football and they were only ever relegated from La Liga once.

That moment occurred in 1985-86, but they immediately bounced back, winning the Segunda in 1986-87.

Other popular Spanish clubs, such as Real Sociedad, Deportivo La Coruna, Sevilla and Real Betis have all endured multiple relegations.

Maintaining status in the top national league of a country is an impressive feat and not one that is easily achieved, with even the biggest clubs enduring relegation over time.

For example, just one Italian club (Inter) has never been relegated from Serie A and none of England's top clubs can claim an unblemished league record (though Arsenal have not been relegated since 1919).

Vipers Sports Club forward Milton Kariisa has revealed what inclusion in Uganda's final squad will mean for him.

Kariisa is among the 22 local players head coach Johnathan McKinstry picked for the African Cup of Nations qualifiers against South Sudan on November 12 and 16.

From the 22 players, only six would be finally picked to join their foreign-based counterparts.

“The competition is very high at the moment because everyone is working hard to be included,” Kariisa said as per Football256.

“But just like in any other team, there’s always competition for places, you just need to be focused and pray that things work your way.

“If at all I get the chance and the coaches select me among the six players, obviously I will be glad to receive such a big opportunity and I will use it efficiently."

The 27-year-old signed for the Venoms again in January after a failed stint in Morocco with Mouloudia Club of Oujda.

He was part of the squad that would have participated in African Nations Championship (Chan) tournament which was to take place in Cameroon but it was later postponed due to the emergence of the coronavirus.

Kariisa’s teammate at Vipers Karim Watambala also expressed his wish to make into the final squad that will face the Bright Stars at St Mary’s Kitende before travelling to Nairobi for the return leg.

"I pray that if I make it to the final squad, I just wish to have a goal for the senior team or at least make an assist and am not scared of the competition because it happens everywhere and I am prepared,” Watambala said on Thursday.

"I am looking forward to making it to the senior team because I want to make it to any professional team outside Uganda at an early age and that is why I am working harder because this team contains a number of professional players which prepares for professional football and am using every opportunity available on Cranes to see that I achieve my goals."

The 22-man local-based players' squad;

Goalkeepers: Alionzi Nafian (URA FC), Charles Lukwago (KCCA FC), Joel Mutakubwa (Kyetume FC)

Defenders: Derrick Ndahiro (SC Villa), Disan Galiwango (Vipers SC), Paul Willa (Vipers SC), Ashraf Mandela (URA), Denis Iguma (KCCA FC), Samuel Kato (KCCA FC), Murushid Juuko (Express FC), Halid Lwaliwa (Vipers SC), Patrick Mbowa (URA FC)

Midfielders: Tony Mawejje (Police FC), Saidi Kyeyune (URA FC), Shafiq Kagimu (URA FC), Karim Watambala (Vipers SC), David Owori (SC Villa), Bright Anukani (KCCA FC)

Forwards: Ibrahim Oriti (Vipers SC), Milton Kariisa (Vipers SC), Steven Mukwala (URA FC), Brian Aheebwa (KCCA FC).

Young Africans (Yanga SC) have confirmed winger Carlos Carlinhos will not be fit to play against Simba SC in the Mainland Premier League derby on Saturday.

The Kariakoo Derby, which is the first meeting between the two giants in the 2020-21 campaign, was originally set for October 18 but it was moved to November 7 and will be played at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.

And Yanga, who are keen to end Simba's dominance in the league this campaign, have confirmed their new signing from Angola, who injured his leg while in training, will not be fit enough to play against their rivals.

The injury has seen Carlinhos miss matches against Polis Tanzania, KMC, Biashara United, and Gwambina FC.

“We don’t have any further injuries apart from [Carlinhos] who will miss the derby,” Yanga doctor Shecky Mngazija told the Championi as quoted by Sokaletu.

He has recovered and started light training sessions but he lacks match fitness so we don’t want to risk him, we don’t want to throw him back immediately.”

Meanwhile, Yanga have confirmed the availability of winger Haruna Niyonzima ahead of the clash against Simba.

“Niyonzima is back, he has trained with the team and he is fit to play, so it will be upon the coach to decide whether to start him or not, but he is fit and available to play in the derby,” added Mngazija.

Last season, the two giants met three times, with the first round ending in a 2-2 draw before Yanga turned on the screw to win the second round fixture 1-0. They again faced off in the semi-finals of the FA Cup where Simba won 4-1.

The Wekundu wa Msimbazi then went ahead to seal a season double – winning the Community Shield, the league, and the domestic cup – after beating Namungo FC 2-1 in the final played in Sumbawanga, Rukwa.

The Kariakoo Derby is considered to be one of the biggest rivalries in football in Africa along with the Soweto Derby in South Africa (Kaizer Chief vs Orlando Pirates), Cairo Derby in Egypt (Al Ahly vs Zamalek) and is considered the most famous fixture in Tanzanian football.