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Former Moroka Swallows' striker Sandile Ndlovu has questioned whether the Orlando Pirates players respect their local coaches Mandla Ncikazi and Fadlu Davids enough to compete against Mamelodi Sundowns.

Ncikazi and Davids have been acting as caretaker coaches since Josef Zinnbauer was dismissed by the Soweto giants and Ndlovu fears the duo are not respected enough.

"I'm not sure with those new signings, if they will compete against Sundowns because in South Africa we have a big challenge of not respecting local coaches. I know I was a player," Ndlovu told Soccer Laduma.

"They can have the best squad, but the big question is whether these superstars can respect coach [Mandla] Ncikazi and coach [Fadlu] Davids. That's a question we need to ask and if I'm right, then it will be hard for Pirates to do well this season."  

The new signings for Bucs include Bandile Shandu, Kwame Peprah, Olisah Ndah, Kwanda Mngonyama, and Goodman Mosele.

The former Maritzburg United star added that the squad has enough quality but it all boils down to the coaching staff to ensure good performances are registered.

"Orlando Pirates have players and, honestly, they didn't need any changes, but I'm happy for players like Bandile Shandu. I hope he will do justice to the belief in him, it is now about the coaches to succeed," Ndlovu added.

Before the international break, Pirates were faced with a deep injury crisis as Thembinkosi Lorch, Innocent Maela, Ben Motshwari and Zakhele Lepasa were battling fitness issues.

Bucs were eliminated by Swallows in the MTN8 quarter-final before they drew 2-2 against Stellenbosch and recorded a 0-0 draw against Marumo Gallants in Premier Soccer League games.

In an earlier interview, Ncikazi claimed his players desperately needed the international break specifically because of the injuries they are suffering.

"If there is one team that needs this break, it is Orlando Pirates in terms of injuries," the tactician said.

"I’m sure that when we come back, maybe one or two players will also be back to strengthen the team and have more options."

Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos felt that Al Ahly striker Percy Tau was far from his usual best during Friday’s 0-0 draw against Zimbabwe in Group G of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers in Harare.

Tau, as well as Broos, will be hoping that the forward’s reunion with Pitso Mosimane at Al Ahly will see South Africa's tasliman get back to his best quickly.

He was replaced by SuperSport United midfielder Sipho Mbule 15 minutes before the final whistle.

"Percy, I think you saw in the game, Percy is not for the moment in his best shape, this is normal,” Broos said after the game.

"You see that he miss the tempo of the game. So this is something also for him in the next weeks to work on. But again, he stays a good player and that's why he stayed so long on the pitch.

"I hope that for the next games in October and November, that we'll have a Percy Tau much better than for the moment.”

The Belgian coach was pleased with how Bafana largely managed to nullify the Zimbabwe attack, but was concerned about his own side’s lack of threat going forward.

"Defensively was alright also, we didn't give any chances to Zimbabwe,” Broos explained.

"At the other side you have to score to win games. And today it was not so good offensively.

"I think we have to work on that, in the next weeks, in the next months. Because for winning you have to score and this was for us a problem.”

The problem for Broos is that there is very little time to work on any issues, next up are Ghana on Monday, with the remaining four fixtures to be completed by November 14.

"It's the beginning and in five days you can't do everything. And that's why we have things where we still have to work,” the national team tactician conceded.

"Certainly the offensive work of our team. We have to be more dangerous, sometimes be quicker to go to the other side.

"But again we have for the moment two days to work, so it will not be okay immediately, we'll need some time to do it."

In terms of individuals performances against Zimbabwe, Broos singled out two players:
 
"[Teboho] Mokoena played a very good game. Also [Mothobi] Mvala in his role and like I said, the defence was okay today," he concluded.

Former Bayern Munich, Juventus and Atletico Madrid forward Mario Mandzukic has announced his retirement from football at the age of 35, bringing the curtain down on a glittering career.

The striker, a former all-time great Croatia international and a World Cup runner-up at Russia 2018, was most recently with AC Milan across the second half of the 2020-21 season.

But now, the prolific attacker - who won top-flight titles in four different countries, plus Champions League glory with Bayern - has confirmed that he has hung up his boots in a message to fans.

What has been said?

Mandzukic took to Instagram on Friday afternoon to announce his decision, penning a letter to his younger self.

"Dear little Mario," he wrote. "While wearing these [...], your first in life, you can't even imagine what you will achieve in football. You will score goals on the biggest stages and win the biggest trophies in the jerseys of the biggest clubs.

"In the jersey of your greatest pride, the Croatian national team, you will write some of the most important moments of Croatian sport. You will succeed because you will have a lot of people on your way to help you.

"Teammates you will fight with, coaches you will learn from, fans who will support you and family, managers and friends who will always be with you. You will be forever grateful to all of them!

Mandzukic's career highlights

Having made his senior debut in his home country with Marsonia across the 2004-05 campaign, Mandzukic made his name initially with Dinamo Zagreb, across a three-year spell that saw him score a hat-trick of Croatian league titles.

A move to Wolfsburg followed, which proved the springboard for a subsequent swap to Bayern Munich, where he further burnished his reputation across a superb treble-winning season in 2012-13, including a goal in the club's Champions League final victory over Borussia Dortmund.

A lone season with Atletico Madrid followed before he headed to Serie A with Juventus, where he won his third different league crown as the Bianconeri walked through Serie A in four consecutive seasons.

A brief spell with Qatari side Al-Duhail followed after Maurizio Sarri sidelined him in Turin - where he won his final honour - before he concluded his career with a spell at Milan this year.

At international level, Mandzukic won 89 caps for Croatia and scored 33 goals - most famously netting the winner to send his nation through in the Russia 2018 semi-final against England, before getting himself on the scoresheet in ultimate defeat to France in the final.

Further reading

James Rodriguez is currently out of favour with club and country, with the Everton playmaker being warned by Colombia coach Reinaldo Rueda that he is going to need to reach "500%" in order to be drafted back into his plans.

That could be a struggle for the South American as he remains on the fringes of Rafa Benitez's plans at Goodison Park, with no competitive minutes taken in for the Toffees this season.

Niggling knocks have been frustrating James, leading to him being left out by Colombia, and Rueda - who saw a war of words sparked when the 30-year-old was removed from Copa America plans over the summer - says "100% is not enough" to earn favour again.

What has been said?

Rueda has told reporters of James' situation: "It is not only the healing of an injury but also the readaptation of the competition.

"I think it’s very clear, we can’t hurt James, nor the national team, when we have seen him at his best, we want him, when he is 500% because 100% is not enough for the national team.

"We always tell the players that they must be at 500%, that is what is required to be in the Colombia national team.

"We want the players to take care of themselves in all possible variables. That 500% involves a number of factors and variables."

Will James see game time at Everton?

James completed a move to Everton in the summer of 2020 as he reunited with former Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti on Merseyside

Questions were asked of his suitability to English football throughout a testing debut campaign, and a supportive coach has now moved on back to Santiago Bernabeu.

A move elsewhere was mooted during the summer transfer window, as Benitez remained coy on his plans, but no deal was done and James remains with the Toffees.

Rueda says minutes are going to be required in order for him to consider selecting a national icon, with it clear that the current situation needs to change for all concerned.

"Everything is going to happen because of what his current situation is," Rueda added.

"To the extent that James can play, have a better current situation, that is good for us, for Everton, for him and for the national team.

"You want players to play regularly, to have that continuity, that rhythm for the competition."

Further reading

Arsene Wenger has ruled out any chance of him accepting an SOS call from Arsenal, with the legendary former Gunners boss claiming to be "just a fan" of a club he dedicated 22 years of his life to between 1996 and 2018.

Change in the dugout at Emirates Stadium is being mooted on the back of a pointless start to the 2021-22 Premier League campaign from Mikel Arteta's troops.

An expensively-assembled squad continues to underperform, with similar issues stretching back to the end of Wenger's tenure, but the hope is that a £145 million ($200m) summer spend will help to deliver a reversal in fortune.

What has been said?

Quizzed by BILD Live on whether he could be tempted back to north London, Wenger - who is now FIFA's chief of global football development - said: "I'm 71. 

"I've given this club the best years of my life.

"Today the club is in good shape. They had two tough games, the team has potential and I hope they can come back. 

"At the moment I'm just a fan."

Wenger's record at Arsenal

The iconic Frenchman was a relative unknown when appointed by Arsenal as successor to Bruce Rioch in the autumn of 1996.

He quickly endeared himself to a global football audience, with a star-studded side assembled in north London.

Wenger would oversee three Premier League title triumphs during his reign, including the fabled 'Invincibles' success of 2003-04, while also savouring seven FA Cup triumphs.

He walked away as the Gunners slipped out of top-four contention, with the path cleared for Unai Emery and eventually Arteta to fill the most demanding of roles.

Wenger took in 1,235 games as Arsenal manager, winning 707 of those and suffering just 248 defeats.

Further reading

Eduardo Camavinga has made his childhood dream a reality by joining Real Madrid.

The midfielder joined the Spanish side in a €40 million (£34m/$47m) move from Rennes on the final day of the transfer window.

Camavinga, 18, is reported to have turned down the chance to join Paris Saint-Germain in order to sign a six-year-contract at Santiago Bernabeu.

What has been said?

The France international was surprised by how quickly the deal materialised but is happy to have joined his dream club.

“My signing for Real Madrid happened so fast," he said after his goalscoring display for France U21s against North Macedonia on Thursday.

"I’m very happy and proud but I don’t want this announcement to change my work for the Under 21 team.

"I will keep giving my very best and of course I dream of playing for the French national team, but I want to go step by step. Now I will go to Rennes to prepare for the move to Madrid. 

"I dreamed of it since I was a little kid. I want to discover the stadium, it must be impressive. I hope to take my first steps there as soon as the works and construction end."

Camavinga's record at Rennes

Camavinga came through the Rennes youth academy to make his senior debut in April 2019.

His performances in Ligue 1 saw him touted as one of Europe's most promising players and caught the attention of Madrid, PSG and Manchester United, among others.

Camavinga became a regular starter for the French side in the 2019-20 campaign and ended up with 88 appearances in all competitions to his name before making the switch to La Liga.

Further reading

Jamie Carragher has warned Liverpool that they may live to regret not signing "someone better" than Divock Origi and Takumi Minamino during the summer transfer window.

There was little movement of any kind at Anfield before the latest deadline passed, with French centre-half Ibrahima Konate the only notable addition to Jurgen Klopp's ranks.

Plenty suggested that another forward was required in an ambitious squad, especially with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane set to depart on Africa Cup of Nations duty in January, but no added firepower has been acquired and Carragher fears the wrong call has been made.

What has been said?

The Reds legend has told PA Sport: "I’m disappointed Liverpool haven’t got an attacker in, I must say.

"I do think Liverpool are short in the attack and they will have to keep everybody fit, which is nigh on impossible really. I do think they will struggle but they’re very robust, Liverpool’s front three.

"Mane and maybe Salah away for the Africa Cup of Nations at some stage, I’m not sure how many games they’ll miss but I do think that was something to miss for Liverpool.

"They’ve got Origi there and Minamino but I basically wanted someone who was better than them to come into the club.

"[Diogo] Jota is there as well and he was a big miss for Liverpool last season, he missed about four months with a knee injury.

"You know whether it’s the owners, if it’s something to do with the pandemic, finances are tight and you know with no-one going out, we couldn’t bring anyone in."

Do Liverpool need another forward?

The Reds have made a positive start to the 2021-22 campaign, taking seven points from their opening three games.

Salah, Mane, Jota and Roberto Firmino have all been among the goals, with nobody outside of that unit chipping in as yet.

Liverpool have relied heavily on a fearsome front three in recent times, with Champions League and Premier League title triumphs inspired by talismanic figures in that area of the field.

Klopp still has depth in that department, but lacks quality cover for his favoured starters.

It may be that the German addresses that issue in the winter window, with there time for business to be done in January before Salah and Mane leave for international duty.

Further reading

Lionel Messi was lucky to escape a serious injury as he went down after a harsh tackle against Venezuela in a 2022 World Cup qualifier.

Argentina secured the three points with a 3-1 win against the home side in the qualiying match on Thursday.

Lionel Scaloni's side suffered a nervy moment in the first half of the match, as Messi felt the full force of Luis Martinez's challenge.

What happened?

The 34-year-old was charging towards the Venezuela box when Martinez stepped up to tackle him.

Messi knocked the ball past the defender, but Martinez followed through and his studs were planted into Messi's shin.

The Paris Saint-Germain attacker's leg bent backwards and he fell to the ground, leaving his team-mates and fans nervous about his condition.

Did Messi play the full match?

Despite the grim tackle, Messi was able to carry on for the rest of the game.

It was the first match he had started since leading Argentina to Copa America success in July, while he had just 24 minutes of competitive action under his belt this season after coming off the bench to make his PSG debut on Sunday.

However  the ex-Barcelona hero did not manage to find the net against Venezuela, as Lautaro Martinez, Joaquin Correa and Angel Correa got the goals for the Albiceleste.

What happened to Martinez?

Martinez had just come off the bench to replace Jose Velazquez two minutes before he made the tackle on Messi. The 28-year-old was initially shown a yellow card for the foul but was soon dismissed after a VAR review.

The result leaves his side bottom of the World Cup qualifying group while Argentina are second, six points behind Brazil.

Further reading

Thomas Tuchel has claimed three successive victories over Pep Guardiola during his time as Chelsea manager, including in the Champions League final, but Christian Heidel claims success against his coaching idol "probably almost hurts" the German tactician.

Heidel can claim some credit for having put Tuchel on the path to the very top of the game, having handed him his big break at Mainz.

It was during that stint that Tuchel first crossed paths with Guardiola and sought to pick the brains of a managerial master who has enjoyed trophy-laden spells at Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City.

What has been said?

Tuchel has come back into direct competition with Guardiola since taking the reins at Stamford Bridge in January 2021, and has enjoyed a purple patch in meetings with the Catalan.

Mainz sporting director Heidel told Goal and Spox of Tuchel's exploits: "I'm assuming that he feels no satisfaction or sense of triumph when he wins against Pep. For all the joy he feels about his own success, it probably almost hurts him because he appreciates him so much. 

"Pep was his foundation, he completely absorbed everything at that time and incorporated a lot of his work. So I'm very sure he still thinks he's the best on the planet and is infinitely grateful to him because he learned so much from him."

Has Tuchel exceeded expectations?

Tuchel saw his stock soar across five years at Mainz, allowing him to land a prominent role at Borussia Dortmund in 2015.

He has since spent time at Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain, guiding them to a Champions League final, before arriving in the Premier League.

At 48 years of age Tuchel is now one of the best in the business, with his success coming as no surprise to Heidel.

He said: "I was really happy for him [when Chelsea won the Champions League], but I always predicted that Thomas would be one of the best coaches in the world. It was not a big surprise for me that he has arrived where he belongs."

Does Heidel take any credit?

It is not only Tuchel that Heidel has helped to scale trophy-winning heights, with Jurgen Klopp another of those that used Mainz as a springboard.

He is a Champions League and Premier League title winner at Liverpool having previously enjoyed considerable success at Dortmund, but Heidel is eager to point out that he played a very minor role in the rise of two men who have made the most of their individual ability.

"I am proud of Jurgen and Thomas, not of me," Heidel said. "I'm just happy about the path they've taken and that it started in Mainz. 

"I do believe that Mainz played a big part in their development. We let them become Klopp and Tuchel, that's the secret of their success. 

"I sensed very quickly that these are two exceptional guys who will become exceptional coaches one day. It helped them a lot that we had their backs and allowed them to make mistakes and suffer failures."

Further reading

Cristiano Ronaldo has been criticised by Juventus legends Sergio Brio and Alessio Tacchinardi for forcing his way out of Turin, with the Portuguese superstar told he has left former employers in an "impossible" situation.

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner, after entering the final year of his contract, is now back in England after completing an emotional return to Manchester United.

Ronaldo, who has become the all-time leading goalscorer in men's international football, has left a sizeable void at Allianz Stadium, with Juve given no time in which to find a suitable replacement.

What has been said?

Juve great Tacchinardi feels things could have been handled differently, telling Tuttosport: "Ronaldo should have left in a different way, not on his private jet while [Massimiliano] Allegri was talking to the team before the game against Empoli. I expected a press conference to say goodbye to the fans. They deserved something different.

"There are no more legends such as [Alessandro] Del Piero, [Francesco] Totti, [Paolo] Maldini or [Javier] Zanetti, but it wasn’t nice to hear from Ronaldo that he was going back to a place he feels like home.

"He put Juventus in a difficult situation, leaving a few days before the end of the transfer window, it is impossible to replace a goal machine like him."

Did Ronaldo disrespect Juventus?

A move for the 36-year-old had been mooted long before he agreed a second spell at Old Trafford. It did, however, come as a surprise when a late deal was pushed through.

Brio is another Juve icon that believes Ronaldo should have given the Serie A giants more notice and bid a proper farewell to fans that idolised him for three years.

He added: "Juventus deserve more respect, I didn’t expect Ronaldo to snub the club like this. It was not nice of him.

"I always speak highly of the three clubs where I played: Juventus, Lecce and Pistoiese because they signed me and believed in me. Cristiano is a great professional, but his farewell should have been different.

"Perhaps they didn’t break up gracefully, but I am convinced it was the right thing for the player and the club. If a player is forced to stay, he could cause damage to his team-mates and the club."

Ronaldo scored 101 goals for Juve in 134 appearances, helping them to two Serie A titles, but failed to land another Champions League crown during his time in Italy and is now tied to a two-year contract with United.

Further reading

SuperSport United coach Kaitano Tembo is concerned some of his key players will return from international assignments with injuries.

The 51-year-old tactician is happy to see some of his players selected to play for South Africa national team Bafana Bafana and Zimbabwe but what concerns him most is the condition they will return with to their respective clubs after the international break.

Ahead of the qualifiers, Tembo is keeping his fingers crossed that the players will return without injuries to continue with their league assignments.

What did Tembo say?

“What they are doing for us is what makes them to the national team and I am happy for them,” Tembo said as quoted by Phakaaathi.

“It is just unfortunate we have about six players who will be going away and that is a huge setback. These are our starters, so when they come back, we have to start again and we don’t know what condition they will be in when they come back. We just cross our fingers that they will be in good condition.”

With some players staying behind, Tembo said is the focus is to organise friendly matches so they can maintain their level of fitness.

“We still have to continue working hard because the season has just started and there are some players who still need game time and we will try and arrange friendly games to try and help those players to catch up with the rest of the other guys,” Tembo continued.

“This break will give us that opportunity and to also make sure that we nurse injuries that players picked up in the last three matches. The Fifa break comes at the right time.”

Some of the SuperSport players who are on international duty include Sipho Mbule, Teboho Mokoena, Ronwen Williams all named in Bafana Bafana’s squad, while Kudakwashe Mahachi, Onismor Bhasera, and Moses Waiswa are representing Zimbabwe and Uganda respectively.

Bafana Bafana under coach Hugo Broos will start their campaign with an away fixture against Zimbabwe at National Sports Stadium in Harare on Friday.

On the other hand, Uganda played their opener against Kenya on Thursday in a game that ended 0-0 at Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi.

The Hungarian football association (MLSZ) has promised to issue two-year suspensions to the supporters who disrupted the World Cup qualifying defeat against England on Thursday, but made no mention of the alleged racist abuse directed at some of the visiting players.

England's 4-0 win at Puskas Arena was overshadowed by the behaviour of sections of the home crowd.

The Hungary fans jeered as the England team kneeled before kick-off in a protest against racism, allegedly aimed racist chants towards Raheem Sterling and Jude Bellingham and launched missiles at players during the match. 

What has been said?

Hungary has reacted to the controversy by vowing to take action against those who threw paper cups and flares onto the field, but did not confirm if there would be any consequences for those guilty of racist abuse.

A statement read: "The vast majority of the 60,000 fans present in the Puskas Arena supported the teams in a sporting manner, cheering on the Hungarian national team even when the team was already losing. It is in their defence that the minority of disruptive ticket-holders need to be identified and severely punished.

"Fans entering the field of play, throwing flares and plastic cups are in the process of being identified. The MLSZ has already filed or will file police reports against them and will pass on any financial penalties to the perpetrators through civil litigation.

"Furthermore, at the end of proceedings, those found guilty can expect a two-year ban from all sporting events."

FIFA to take action against Hungary

FIFA has pledged to take "adequate" action against Hungary as a a result of the incidents that marred the clash in Budapest, a statement confirmed on Friday.

The nation has been the subject of disciplinary action already this year as UEFA issued a three-match ban for all supporters because of homophobic and racist abuse during Euro 2020, but the suspension did not apply to the World Cup qualifying match because it falls under FIFA's remit.

Further reading

Arsenal have completed the signing of U.S. women's national team winger (USWNT) Tobin Heath.

The two-time World Cup winner and Olympic gold medallist left Manchester United at the end of last season, having been out injured since January.

She made her return to the pitch with the USWNT in the summer, helping them win bronze at Tokyo 2020, and will now return to England for the new Women's Super League season.

What has been said?

Speaking upon the announcement of Heath's deal, Arsenal head coach Jonas Eidevall said: "Tobin’s record speaks for itself. She’s an incredibly talented player who will bring so much experience to our squad.

"This is an exciting time for the club, and I’m delighted we could secure Tobin’s signing as we prepare to kick off the new season at Emirates Stadium on Sunday.”

The Gunners take on reigning WSL champions Chelsea this weekend in their first game of the new league campaign.

How long is Heath's contract?

There is no mention from Arsenal about how long Heath will be at the club, which adds a further twist to the rumours in recent months about her future in the NWSL, the top league in the United States.

Racing Louisville own the rights to the winger, having secured them from the Portland Thorns in last year's expansion draft. However, there has been no indication that Heath wants to play in Kentucky.

Reports have instead linked her with a move to San Diego's expansion team, set to enter the NWSL at the beginning of 2022. Casey Stoney, the former Man Utd head coach who Heath spoke so highly of when she joined the club last summer, is in charge of the California side.

How does Heath help Arsenal's title chances?

After a disappointing season last year, Arsenal look capable of challenging for the top prize in the WSL again.

The team has depth at every position as they look to challenge on several fronts, set to progress to the group stages of the UEFA Women's Champions League after a 3-0 win over Slavia Prague in the first leg of their second round qualifying tie.

Heath adds firepower to an attack that already features several international stars in Caitlin Foord, Nikita Parris, Vivianne Miedema and Beth Mead.

She is a player that can single-handedly change a game with her world-class ability, but she also brings the team a huge personality, being someone who knows what it takes to win the biggest prizes in the game. During her time at Manchester United, the massive impact that had in the dressing room was regularly picked out by team-mates and pundits.

Further reading

Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo admits Antoine Griezmann is likely to be whistled by certain sections of the club's support following his return from Barcelona, with the Frenchman needing to build bridges following a "strange" exit in 2019.

After seeing a move to Camp Nou mooted for some time, the World Cup winner headed to Catalunya in a €120 million (£103m/$142m) deal.

The 30-year-old is now back in the Spanish capital on a two-year loan agreement that includes a mandatory €40m (£34m/$47m) purchase option, with the France international hoping to win over sceptics in Madrid and pick up where he left off with the reigning La Liga champions.

What has been said?

Cerezo is delighted to have a proven performer back, but accepts some supporters will need to be won over by a man who went chasing a dream in Catalunya that turned into something of a nightmare.

The Atletico president told Cadena SER: "I would understand, but what I want to say is that we are not going to gain anything with this. 

"When he left, all I said was that in Barcelona they wouldn't love him the same as they do here. He left in a strange way, but he has shown that he was eager to return to Atletico Madrid.

"There are fans who will not like it, but there are others who were delighted with his return and in the end the important thing is performance and having the best squad."

How did the Griezmann deal happen?

Griezmann had seen his future at Barcelona speculated over after struggling to make the desired impact at Camp Nou, with 35 goals in 102 appearances.

Efforts to find a buyer were stepped up over the summer when financial struggles in Catalunya required a serious trimming of the Barca wage bill.

Atletico left it late with their deal pushed through minutes before the deadline passed, but Cerezo is pleased to have completed a transfer that came as a welcome surprise.

He added: "We are lucky to have Griezmann for the next two years. We did not count on Griezmann, but we did not know if Saul [who has joined Chelsea] was going to leave."

Griezmann previously scored 133 goals for Atletico in 257 appearances, helping them to Europa League glory and a Champions League final across five seasons.

Further reading