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Saudi Professional League club Al Ittihad have signed Ahmed Hegazi on an initial loan deal from West Bromwich Albion, with the option to buy at the end of the season.

Goal has learned the Egypt international will earn about £70,000 weekly in the Middle East while Al Ittihad will need to pay the Baggies £3.5 million for a two-year permanent deal, at the end of the temporary stint.

Hegazi's switch to Saudi Arabia might guarantee him regular playing time after he found it difficult to play for the Baggies in the Premier League this season.

His only appearance in the English top-flight this season came in their goalless draw against Burnley on Monday where he played the entire duration.

The 29-year-old joins Ivory Coast's Wilfried Bony, Tunisia's Anice Badri, Morocco's El Ahmadi and Mali's Ahmed Eldin in Fabio Carille's team for the 2020-21 Saudi Pro League campaign.

Hegazi started his career at Egyptian Premier League club Ismaily before he secured his first move abroad to join Serie A outfit Fiorentina in 2012. During his three-year spell in Italy, the Pharaohs centre-back was sent out on loan to Perugia in the second division.

He returned to Egypt in 2015 to play for Al Ahly where he was loaned to West Brom in 2017 before his stay at the Hawthorns was made permanent a year later.

Al Ittihad are yet to win a game in the Saudi top-flight this season and they have picked up just a point from two matches so far.

Hegazi could be in contention to make his debut when the Tigers host Al Ahli for their next league fixture at the King Abdullah Sports City on October 31.

Barcelona centre-back Samuel Umtiti has revealed he did consider leaving the club in recent months but is determined to secure a departure on better terms. 

After failing to win a trophy last season, it was a summer of upheaval at Camp Nou with Ronald Koeman coming in as coach and Lionel Messi sensationally requesting to leave. 

While Messi ultimately stayed put, Umtiti himself contemplated an exit with his former club Lyon circling. 

The 26-year-old spent 14 years at Lyon before moving to Barcelona in 2016 and has found the past few seasons in Spain particularly hard as he's battled injuries and poor form. 

Yet to feature for Koeman's side this season, Umtiti revealed his brief temptation to leave the club over the summer, only to realise his desire to stay.

"Everything was possible during the transfer window. Lyon is my club and my city. They gave me the opportunity to be seen," Umtiti told Canal +.

"There were discussions, but it was quick, nothing concrete. I had to be able to speak with a club. I'll be honest: Barcelona is Barcelona. I don't want to leave Barcelona and even less like that.

"The last two years have been the most complicated of my career. Sometimes I got really sick of it. I relapsed each time, and with different injuries because I was trying to compensate. It wasn't a knee problem, it was that I had a total imbalance. I had to start over.

"I stopped eating meat, fish and milk. I feel better, I sleep better. I have never felt so good physically. My body has also changed. I have lost three kilos. I have recovered. I have never worked so hard. And I'm happy about it." 

On Messi's own request to leave Barcelona, Umtiti added: "It has been an eventful summer. For me and the club. It made me feel weird to read this: Leo wanted to leave. He has his reasons. But to imagine Barca without Messi is impossible."

Umtiti has formed a strong connection with French team-mates Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele at Camp Nou, with the trio able to find the lighter side of the criticism they have all been subject to at times.

"With Antoine and Ousmane, we are often together. We have all lived through complicated times," Umtiti said.

"Everyone puts knives behind our backs and wants to kill us. But, between us, we try to laugh to help make us smile again." 

Substitute Jamie Vardy headed home late on to earn Leicester City a 1-0 win at Arsenal in Sunday's Premier League clash at Emirates Stadium.

Mikel Arteta's side had won their previous four home league games and were unbeaten in 11 on their own patch this calendar year but that run was ended by Vardy.

The striker was not fit enough to start but was brought on with an hour played and steered in a header 10 minutes from time through City's first attempt on target of the match.

Vardy's 11th goal in 12 league games against Arsenal also ended Leicester's 28-game wait for an away win against Arsenal in all competitions as they moved up to fourth.

The game may have turned out differently had Alexandre Lacazette's fourth-minute header not been ruled out for an offside infringement by Granit Xhaka in front of goal.

Lacazette then missed a couple of good opportunities in a first half dominated by Arsenal and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was also wayward with a header as his scoreless streak stretched to a fifth league game.

Arsenal lost David Luiz to injury early in the second half and had to contend with a different type of threat when Leicester turned to Vardy.

That led to a slight shift in momentum, but Arsenal initially continued to look the livelier side in the final third, with Hector Bellerin's cleanly-struck first-time shot forcing Kasper Schmeichel into a rare save.

However, it took just once chance for Vardy to prove the difference between the sides as he headed into the gaping net after being picked out by fellow substitute Cengiz Under.

Bernd Leno denied Vardy in a one-on-one during added time but it did not matter from Leicester's perspective as they held on for the rarest of victories in this fixture.

What does it mean? Vardy the difference

Not for the first time in a Premier League match between Arsenal and Leicester, Vardy had the final say with his header inside the box following a nice Leicester move.

That was one of only two attempts on target for the visitors - the other coming from Vardy in stoppage time - whereas Arsenal managed 12 shots and tested Schmeichel four times.

City had previously been without a point and a goal in two league games, but this win should help revive their campaign. As for Arsenal, they are proving as inconsistent as ever.

Lacazette lacks finishing touch

The forward was perhaps a little unfortunate to have his early header ruled out through no fault of his own, but he should have taken one of his other chances.

He failed to make proper contact with Kieran Tierney's cross when picked out in the six-yard box and ended the match with fewer touches (31) than any other outfield starter for Arsenal.

Subs combine for Leicester

Harvey Barnes was used through the middle for Leicester in a tactical tweak that did not pay off for Brendan Rodgers, the attacking midfielder managing just one touch of the ball in the opposition box during his 75 minutes on the field.

The introduction of Vardy and Under from the bench gave the visitors a completely different approach and so it proved late on when the latter made a run in behind, collected the ball and spotted his team-mate in the middle to win the game.

Key Opta stats:

- Leicester picked up their first away win at Arsenal since September 1973, ending a run of 27 games without an away victory against them in all competitions.
- Arsenal suffered their first Premier League home defeat of 2020, with this their first loss at Emirates Stadium in the competition since Mikel Arteta's first home game in charge (2-1 v Chelsea in December 2019).
- This was Leicester's fourth victory in the Premier League this season; their joint-most after six games of a top-flight campaign, having also won four of their opening six in 2000-01.
- Arsenal have scored just eight goals in six Premier League games this season - they have only netted fewer at this stage in one of the previous 20 top-flight campaigns (five goals in 2015-16).
- Jamie Vardy has scored five goals at Emirates Stadium in the Premier League - the most of any visiting player (overtaking Harry Kane on four).

What's next?

Arsenal and Leicester are back in Europa League action on Thursday, taking on Dundalk and AEK Athens, respectively.

Brian Idowu scored his second goal in the Russian Premier League on Sunday to secure Khimki a 2-0 triumph over Rostov.

The 28-year-old who was in action from start to finish, and sealed a late win for the visitors at Rostov Arena. His strike came three minutes after Reziuan Mirzov opened the scoring in stoppage time.

The Nigeria international has now scored back-to-back goals for Igor Cherevchenko's side, after he opened his goal account for Khimki against Victor Moses' Spartak Moscow last Saturday.

Idowu is currently enjoying his best goalscoring season in his professional career after playing just 11 league matches for the Red-Blacks, whom he joined on a season-long loan from Lokomotiv Moscow in August.

Apart from his defensive contributions as a left-back, the former Amkar Perm and Sochi defender has also proved his qualities in front of goal and he stands as the second-highest goalscorer for Khimki so far this season with two goals, after Arshak Koryan (3).

After losing their last two league matches, Sunday's result brought the Red-Blacks back to winning ways. They rose to 14th in the Russian Premier League table with nine points after 12 matches.

Khimki welcome second-placed Zenit St Petersburg to Khimki Arena for their next league outing on November 1.

Kylian Mbappe plans on winning the Champions League at Paris Saint-Germain before moving on to a “big club”, according to former PSG midfielder and current club ambassador Youri Djorkaeff.

The 21-year-old has been the subject of frenzied speculation in recent months, with rumours suggesting some of the game’s biggest clubs are readying a sizeable offer to lure him away from the Parc des Princes.

La Liga giants Real Madrid and Premier League champions Liverpool are among those to be linked with a blockbuster move for the World Cup winner, who is out of contract in Paris at the end of the 2021-22 season.

Now in his fourth season at PSG, Mbappe has won every domestic club trophy in France, though the Champions League continues to elude him.

He came agonisingly close to lifting the famous trophy last summer, but saw his side fall at the final hurdle courtesy of a 1-0 defeat to Bayern Munich in Lisbon.

Former France international Djorkaeff believes Mbappe plans on lifting the Champions League before moving on in a quest to win silverware in other major leagues across the globe.

"I think that Mbappe will always have the right opportunity," he told Parisfans. “Now he's on a project. He is entering his fourth year in Paris, he's a young player. I don't see him staying at PSG for 10 years.

"His future is to win titles on all continents, something few French people have done.

“Last year he had a great opportunity to win the Champions League. Unfortunately, he didn't. This year he will still have the opportunity. The ideal [scenario] is that he wins it and then after he signs in a big club. Everyone will be happy.”

Djorkaeff also foresees a scenario in which Mbappe leaves PSG without capturing European football’s greatest prize.

He says it would be “tough” if that proved to be the case, but would not blame the striker if he did move on before lifting the Champions League with PSG.

“It will be a regret for him, but you can't blame the failure of a club on a single player,” added the former Monaco and Inter midfielder.

“Mbappe represents the club, but there are too many things that come into play. But it would be a regret for him."

Richarlison and Lucas Digne have equalled an unwanted Everton record held by Joseph Yobo and David Unsworth in the Premier League.

Brazil’s Richarlison was given his marching orders in the 90th minute as the Toffees played out a 2-2 against Liverpool their last time out.

However, Digne’s dismissal in Sunday’s 2-0 loss to Southampton at St Mary's Stadium ensured that the pair matched an 18-year feat attained by the retired centre-backs who starred for the Goodison Park giants last decade.

It was the first time since December 2002 that Everton have received straight red cards in back-to-back English elite division games.

On December 1, 2002, Yobo was shown the way out in the 21st minute by referee Mark Halsey as David Moyes’ Toffees bowed 2-1 to a Newcastle United side inspired by Shola Ameobi and Alan Shearer at St. James’ Park.

The Nigerian legend tugged Craig Bellamy’s back after the Welsh forward scampered in front of him. Although it was far from violent, Yobo was the last defender so Halsey did not hesitate before showing him a red card.

In the following game against Chelsea, it was Unsworth’s turn to see red for violent conduct after tangling with Jesper Gronkjaer in the 3-1 defeat.

Sunday’s defeat to the Saints saw Carlo Ancelotti’s men surrender their unbeaten run in the 2020-21 Premier League campaign.

This is the first English top-flight season since 1967-68 in which no sides are unbeaten through the first six matches.

Even at that, they remain at the summit of the log with 13 points, albeit, on superior goals difference ahead of reigning champions Liverpool.

Everton would be hoping to return to winning ways when they travel to Newcastle United on November 1.

Before heading to Fenerbahce where he won two Turkish Cups as well as one Super Lig title, Yobo became the second player in the Toffees’ history to feature in all 38 Premier League games without missing a single minute, during the 2006-07 season under manager Moyes.

He is currently the assistant coach of Nigeria’s senior national team.

Princella Adubea made her first Reto Iberdrola appearance for Racing Santander in Sunday's 0-0 draw with Friol at Reigosa Municipal Stadium.

The Ghanaian striker joined Pablo Bolado's team in August after she parted ways with Spanish Primera Iberdrola side Sporting Huelva.

She was, however, unable to inspire her ambitious side to an away victory against Abraham Garcia's team in Lugo, playing for the entire 90 minutes for the visitors.

Both sides had created several chances to score as they were desperate to earn a winning start but none converted, with the two teams eventually settling for a stalemate.

Adubea will be hoping to have a new lease on life with the Cantabrians, having fallen out of favour at Sporting, since arriving from Ghanaian club Ampem Darkoa in June 2019.

Despite scoring once for Sporting, she enjoyed a fine spell with Antonio Toledo's team, featuring in 21 matches before the Spanish league cancellation due to the coronavirus pandemic in May. 

With the result, Racing now has one point from their opening match of the season and will next tackle Madrid II on November 1.

Juventus are in talks to renew Paulo Dybala's contract, but managing director Fabio Paratici revealed the club's coronavirus scare made negotiations difficult.

Dybala has two years remaining on his existing deal in Turin but an extension has long been mooted, with the Bianconeri said to be discussing an agreement until 2025.

But no clarity has been forthcoming in the opening weeks of the 2020-21 season.

Paratici is not overly concerned, though, explaining the reason for the delay.

"We're in talks to extend Paulo's contract," he told Sky Sport Italia . "He wants to stay and we want to keep him - he's part of our future.

"It has been a tricky period because we were locked in the hotel for two weeks due to the Covid scare and not allowed to meet anyone.

"But we'll continue the negotiations to find an agreement."

Juve were forced into "fiduciary isolation" earlier this month after two staff members tested positive for Covid-19.

Cristiano Ronaldo has also been missing in recent weeks having contracted the virus on international duty.

The absence of the Juve number seven allowed Dybala to come into the team against Hellas Verona on Sunday for his first start and just second overall appearance of the new campaign.

Dybala made his return off the bench against Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League, and Paratici said ahead of Sunday's game: "Paulo is in better shape physically now.

"Let's not forget he was out for two months with a muscular injury, then had a gastrointestinal infection in Argentina.

"It's right that he now has the opportunity to start after a few run-outs."

As for Ronaldo, Juve head coach Andrea Pirlo has said Saturday that the club is still awaiting results from the Portugal star's most recent tests.

“As far as Cristiano Ronaldo is concerned, there has been no news. We await the results of the swabs,” Pirlo told reporters on Saturday.

“We did them this morning. He underwent the test at his home and if there is new news it will be communicated.”

There is still hope Ronaldo may return for Juventus in time to play against Barcelona and Lionel Messi in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Kaizer Chiefs head coach Gavin Hunt has set his sights on their upcoming match against Chippa United which will be played on Tuesday.

Amakhosi are wounded after being thrashed 3-0 by Mamelodi Sundowns at FNB Stadium in their opening match of the 2020/21 PSL season on Saturday afternoon.

It was Hunt's first defeat as Amakhosi coach having started his tenure at the Naturena-based giants with a 2-1 win over Maritzburg United in the MTN8 quarter-final match last weekend. 

Hunt is confident that his side will improve as the season progresses with the four-time PSL champions set to travel to Port Elizabeth where they will face the Chilli Boys. 

“We committed crucial mistakes against a quality side. They were a stronger opposition," Hunt told the club's official website on Sunday.

“Obviously with more games intelligence, we will improve. It is not the results we were looking for but now we have to focus on the next opposition."

The Chilli Boys started their league campaign with a 1-1 draw against Cape Town City in a match which was played in the Mother City on Saturday.

Hunt expects a different challenge against Chippa after losing to the best team in the league, Sundowns, who are the reigning PSL champions. 

“I watched Chippa, in their match on Saturday night. Chippa is totally a different side compared to Sundowns. They will be a different challenge," he added. 

"To me, there is no first game. I read a lot from any game. We have lots of work to do going forward. But don’t forget we played against the best team in the league in Sundowns.”

Peter Shalulile, Kermit Erasmus and Themba Zwane all scored for Sundowns as they embarrassed Chiefs, who are now licking their wounds.  

Amakhosi will be looking to continue their dominance against Chippa, having secured back-to-back victories over the Eastern Cape-based side in the league last season.

They secured a 2-0 win over the Chilli Boys in the first round clash in Port Elizabeth, before emerging 1-0 winners in the second round encounter in Johannesburg.

The Chilli Boys will play host to Chiefs at the 2010 Fifa World Cup quarter-final venue, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. 

A big Soweto Derby encounter against Kaizer Chiefs is looming for Orlando Pirates which will be their first real test in the new 2020/21 season. 

Bucs players' confidence took a knock as they were frustrated by AmaZulu FC in their opening PSL match of the campaign which ended in a 1-1 draw on Saturday night. 

Coach Josef Zinnbauer felt that his charges were too casual and also lacked confidence in a game which the Buccaneers struggled to create clear-cut chances.

Unlike their Soweto rivals, Chiefs, who succumbed to an embarrassing 3-0 defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns in their league opener on Saturday, Pirates remain undefeated this season.

Bucs started the new term with a 1-0 victory over Cape Town City in the MTN8 quarter-final match courtesy Terrence Dzvukamanja's first-half goal last weekend.

This was before Buccaneers' frailties were exposed by AmaZulu as they failed to hold on to their lead and they could have easily lost the game.

Pirates will now return home to Soweto where they are scheduled to take on coach Steve Barker's Stellenbosch FC on Wednesday night in another league encounter. 

Stellies had to come from behind to hold newly-promoted Swallows FC to a 1-1 draw at home in their opening league match of the new season on Sunday afternoon. 

The 2018/19 National First Division (NFD) champions will now travel to the Mecca of South African football, Orlando Stadium, where they will meet a strong Pirates side. 

The Buccaneers have turned the 2010 Fifa World Cup training ground into a slaughterhouse as they are undefeated in their last 23 league matches at the venue. 

This excludes games which were played in the bio bubble as clubs were not allowed to host matches at their normal home grounds. 

This will be a chance for Zinnbauer's side to build momentum ahead of their eagerly anticipated clash with Chiefs in the MTN8 semi-final first-leg encounter on October 31.

Pirates have a psychological edge against Stellenbosch, who are in their second campaign in the elite league. 

The Buccaneers secured a 1-0 win over the Western Cape-based side in the last meeting between the two teams at Pirates' temporary home ground, Ellis Park Stadium just a month ago. 

A first-half goal by Frank Mhango inspired the Soweto giants to a victory in a league encounter which Bucs dominated as they clinched a top-three finish on the day of the 2019/20 season.

Furthermore, Stellies are among the worst travellers in the PSL having won just three of their 15 away league matches and recorded four draws and eight defeats in the process. 

Pirates will be considered the underdogs against Chiefs heading into the first Soweto Derby game of the campaign. 

Amakhosi are enjoying a three-match unbeaten run against their arch-rivals having recorded three successive wins over Bucs.

This includes the Telkom Knockout Cup clash which Chiefs won on penalties following a draw between the two heavyweights of South African football. 

A win over Stellenbosch would do Pirates a world of good as they need a winning mentality, confidence and belief that they can end Chiefs' recent dominance over them.

Raheem Sterling has said he wants to be a “helping hand” by setting up a charity foundation that will offer support to disadvantaged young people across the UK.

The 25-year-old has gone from humble beginnings to become a worldwide star in the Premier League for Manchester City and on the international stage with England.

With that has come great financial reward, though Sterling said he takes no satisfaction from the millions he earns and would rather use some of his wealth to help others, particularly those from poorer backgrounds, citing his own experiences from growing up in London.

The winger wants his foundation to give support to disadvantaged young people, including providing university scholarships and work placements, to promote social mobility and give them a second chance in life they may otherwise have been denied.

His announcement follows on from the efforts of England team-mate Marcus Rashford, whose campaign to try and eradicate child poverty in the UK has drawn widespread acclaim and saw him awarded an MBE by the UK Government over the summer.

Sterling says his foundation would also seek to help those who have benefited from Rashford’s efforts.

“That's me finished with the 'what can happen, what should happen'. Now I'm trying to put into place stuff I can do myself,” Sterling told The Sunday Times.

"Stuff to give young people in the same circumstances I was in another shot. If there is a university they want to go to, football equipment they need, other things. I want to be a helping hand.

"I'm not really fussed about having this million and that million. What will make me happy is seeing I am able to help. Even if it's five people, even if it's one, at least I have helped someone come out of their bubble and experienced that there is something better to England.

"It comes down to, OK, I come from northwest London, I move out of my area - what good is it if I take all I have made in life, my success and just build a big house somewhere? I'm happy, cool, but that's not who I am."

Zambia will be mentally fit to challenge for glory at the 2020 Cosafa Women's U17 Cup, according to coach Kaluba Kangwa.

The Copper Princesses missed out on a place in the final but settled for the bronze after defeating Botswana 3-0 in the third-place match in the inaugural edition held last year in South Africa.

In the build-up, they have since begun camp preparations three weeks ago ahead of battle with hosts South Africa, Comoros, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Tanzania in this year's edition.

While discussing his side's readiness, the tactician is confident his players will be ready in time for the competition scheduled to be held from November 4-14 in Nelson Mandela Bay.

“Mental strength is what we want them to have but definitely we know that the days are very little, especially dealing with young ones," Kangwa told ZamFoot.  

“Our key focus now is to make sure that we strengthen specific departments of the team, from the goalkeeping to defence, midfield and attack, and perhaps the general coordination of the entire team. 

“There is that difference [in terms of fitness] between those who have been with us because they know what it takes and they still have those elements of fitness around them. The fitness levels will continue improving and improving."

Zambia are the second Southern Africa side to compete at the Fifa U17 Women’s World Cup after South Africa following their appearance at the 2014 edition in Costa Rica.

Despite being poised to guide his side to success, insists his priority remains the development of the players. 

“We are going to be ready for the challenges ahead. Remember that our first priority as U17s at every event is to make sure that we make the progression for the players," he continued. 

They have to grow in the mind, they have to grow on how they are going to play the game. 

"They have to grow in the management of the game itself and besides that our key element is also to make sure that we achieve the goals from the Football Association of Zambia. 

"This goal is to make sure that we mould a team that is going to bring trophies because we want to create a great champion in the hearts of the girls in such a way that we want to make sure that when they graduate to U20 and senior team, they would have been strong champions at heart here.”

Zambia will open their campaign against South Africa at The Oval on November 4 and take on Tanzania two days later before squaring up against Comoros and Zimbabwe. 

Samuel Chukwueze was in action as Villarreal played out a 0-0 draw against Cadiz in Sunday’s La Liga game.

The 21-year-old has featured consistently for Unai Emery’s men in the 2020-21 campaign and against Alvaro Cervera’s charges, the winger was handed his seventh league appearance.

The Nigeria international gave a good account of himself during the time he spent on the pitch to help the Yellow Submarine extend their unbeaten run to five games across all competitions.

The game started with both sides aiming to outwit each other but despite their efforts, they failed to find the back of the net.

The best chance of the game fell to Alvaro Negredo in the seventh minute of the encounter and he hit the back of the net, but the strike was ruled out for offside by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).

In an effort to ensure his side secures all three points, manager Emery made some tactical changes, including introducing Chukwueze for Takefusa Kubo in the 62nd minute. 

The Super Eagles forward had 25 touches on the ball, completed one dribble and had a 90% successful pass rate in the encounter.

Chukwueze has made eight appearances across all competitions for the Yellow Submarine in the current campaign and has one assist.

The draw ensured Estadio de la Ceramica outfit are third on the league table after gathering 12 points from seven games.

Chukwueze was promoted to Villarreal’s first team in 2018 and has continued to turn heads with his sizzling displays.

The 21-year-old will hope to feature prominently when his side squares off against Qarabag a Europa League game on October 29.

Young Africans (Yanga SC) administrative and technical advisor Senzo Mazingisa has revealed he wanted Cedric Kaze to coach Simba SC.

Mazingisa served as Simba’s CEO before he joined Yanga in August and has now revealed his prime target to succeed Patrick Aussems was the Burundian coach.

Kaze was appointed as Yanga coach a week ago to replace Zlatko Krmporic, who was sacked before he served for even two months.

“When we were looking for a coach to take over from [Patrick] Aussems, Kaze was one who looked attractive to me,” Mazingisa told Mwanaspoti.

“I would have actually liked to see him land then at Simba but in the end, I was overwhelmed by the majority decision. To me, he was the best coach to take over since he is a man who knows his job well.

“I saw his kind of football philosophy and the club he was working for and you know it would not be easy for Barcelona to give anyone a job but in the end, he was trusted with the job.”

Kaze’s reign has been marked by two successive wins which pushed Yanga to the second place, above Simba, after seven matches.

“I am happy we are together at Yanga now and whatever he has done is just proof enough I was right to champion for his services at Simba,” he added.

“I can see that a lot of players have shown improvement and are slowly getting back to their best levels. This has made me happy and remember the coach has been working for just a few days now.”

The administrator also revealed why Yanga had to let go of Krmpotic, who had not lost in five matches.

“Many players were dropping their performance levels and that pained me a lot but now they are on the rise again,” he concluded.

“You know the club and the sponsors signed good players but they did not have the right coach. The players were just performing at an individual level, that was not right and that is the reason we made the quick decision and get a better coach.

“Kaze is the coach who we believe is capable of taking the club to the next level and make Yanga better as they were back in the days.”

Yanga and Simba will clash on November 7 for the first 2020/21 Kariakoo Derby at Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

Brazil and Barcelona legend Ronaldinho has confirmed he has tested positive for coronavirus. 

Ronaldinho, who won 97 caps for Brazil between 1999 and 2013, posted a video to his Instagram story revealing his diagnosis. 

The 40-year-old said he is asymptomatic and is self-isolating in Belo Horizonte, having arrived in the city on Saturday. 

"I've been here in BH since yesterday, I came to participate in an event," Ronaldinho said on Instagram on Sunday. 

"I took the test and tested positive for Covid. I'm fine, asymptomatic, but we'll have to leave the event for later. Soon we will be there together. Big hug!" 

It has been a turbulent year for Ronaldinho who, along with his brother Roberto Assis, was jailed in Paraguay in March after entering the country with fake passports . 

The pair were moved to house arrest in a Paraguayan hotel in April after serving 32 days in prison, with their sentences ending in August. 

“It was a hard blow, I never imagined that I would go through such a situation," Ronaldinho said at the time.

"All my life I have sought to reach the highest professional level and bring joy to people with my football."

The Brazilian became one of the most iconic figures in football history over the course of a playing career which lasted 17 years.

As well as Brazil and Barca, he represented Gremio, Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan, Flamengo, Atletico Mineiro, Queretaro and Fluminense.

Ronaldinho won titles in Spain and Italy as well as the 2005-06 Champions League. At international level, he lifted the World Cup, Copa America, Confederations Cup and won Olympic bronze in 2008.

He won the Ballon d'Or in 2005 and was twice named FIFA World Player of the Year.

Former Barcelona winger Gerard Deulofeu recently said he thought Ronaldinho was the greatest player ever - ahead of Lionel Messi.

He told Serie A’s official website: “For me, Ronaldinho is the best player in history. I met him, I went to see a match at the Camp Nou and he was sitting next to me. It was a wonderful experience.

“Messi is incredible too, I like him very much. I played with him for six months and he is a nice person, a great player. The whole world knows about Messi.”

BBC Match of the Day commentator Guy Mowbray has been forced to delete his Twitter account after an angry reaction to his comments about Marcus Rashford.

Rashford has been widely praised for his campaign to fight child hunger in the UK, with his efforts sparking a country-wide effort to ensure children will have access to free food during the upcoming school holidays.

The Red Devils striker was critical of the UK Government earlier this week as a vote to extend free school meals over the holidays until Easter 2021 was defeated.

Though the motion failed, a number of businesses vowed on Friday to step up and provide free meals over the holidays – with Rashford retweeting many of the offers and including the location of the businesses.

Rashford was equally successful with his efforts on the pitch in midweek, with the 22-year-old scoring a late winner against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Mowbray reflected on the events of the previous seven days during his commentary of United’s goalless draw against Chelsea on Saturday.

"He didn't get a win in parliament, but he got the winner in Paris,” Mowbray said. "And whether you agree with Marcus Rashford's causes or not, there's surely only admiration for his continued commitment.”

Mowbray’s comments were perceived by some as questioning whether fighting child hunger was a worthy cause.

After a significant backlash, Mowbray attempted to clarify his comments, saying he was referring to the political elements of Rashford’s cause, given he was commentating for a state broadcaster and needed to comply with impartiality rules.

With the angry reaction failing to subside, Mowabray opted to release a statement before deleting his account.

"I really think it is time to go now,” he said.

"Disturbing getting hounded by people whose view of a situation is in reality the same as mine.

"Impartiality broadcast rules mean things have to be phrased a certain way.

“I tried to do that, having checked my original words in the morning with the programme editors.

"I had to change them - it’s in the political arena so balance (however strange that may seem with some topics) is paramount.

"The first things I said were purely factual.

"The latter was wholesome praise of someone fighting a noble cause. That’s it. Couldn’t have done anymore. Shouldn’t have done any less.”

Joe Aribo scored on his full return from injury in Rangers’ 2-0 victory over Efe Ambrose’s Livingston in Sunday’s Scottish Premiership game.

The 24-year-old was out of action for more than eight weeks after he suffered a muscle injury against St. Johnstone in August.

He made a cameo appearance against Celtic after replacing Scott Arfield in the 89th minute and came off the bench in the Gers’ Europa League win over Standard Liege.

The Nigeria international was then handed a starting role at Ibrox Stadium against Gary Holt’s men and delivered a fine performance to help his side clinch all three points.

The midfielder wasted no time to announce his full return from injury when he put Steven Gerrard’s men in front with a well-taken effort after he was set up by Ianis Hagi in the ninth minute. 

Former Tottenham Hotspur star Jermain Defoe then doubled Rangers lead in the 16th minute after receiving a timely pass from James Tavernier.

The second half saw less goal-mouth action as the Gers could not add to their first-half lead with Livingston, who paraded Nigeria international Ambrose for 46 minutes, managing to keep the scoreline at 2-0.

Aribo featured for 75 minutes before he was replaced by Arfield while his compatriot Leon Balogun was an unused substitute in the encounter.

The victory ensured Rangers consolidated their lead at the top of the Premiership table after securing 32 points from 12 games.

Aribo has now featured in five games across all competitions for Rangers in the 2020-21 campaign and will hope to continue his impressive form when his side takes on Lech Poznan in a Europa League game on October 29.

The midfielder has been at the Ibrox Stadium since the summer of 2019 and delivered eye-catching performances in his debut season to win the Gers’ Young Player of the Season award.

Aribo has four caps for the Super Eagles since he made his international debut for the West Africans in 2019.

The midfielder will be expected to replicate his fine club form for the Super Eagles in their Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Habibou Diallo and Ludovic Ajorque found the net as Strasbourg silenced Brest 3-0 in Sunday’s French top-flight outing.

The Racers went to Stade Francis-Le Ble having lost 3-2 at home to Olympique Lyon, however, they bounced back to secure their first away win of the 2020-21 Ligue 1 campaign.

Three minutes before the half-hour mark, Diallo put Thierry Laurey’s men ahead, heading past goalkeeper Gautier Larsonneur a cross from Anthony Caci.

Kenny Lala doubled the lead for Strasbourg on the dot of 40 minutes from the penalty spot after one of the hosts’ defenders had handled a goal-bound effort. The French defender made no mistakes by stroking home the ensuing kick.

In the 67th minute, Ajorque wrapped up the game after he was played by in Diallo as the Pirates’ defenders were caught flatfooted.

Senegalese forward Diallo was in action from start to finish for Strasbourg alongside Ghana’s Alexander Djiku.

Nine minutes to the end of the game, Sanjin Prcic came on for impressive Ajorque, Mali’s Kevin Zohi was a 90th-minute replacement for Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, while Mali prospect Ibrahima Sissoko came off for Adrien Thomasson.

Tunisia's Moataz Zemzemi, South Africa's Lebo Mothiba, Algeria's Idriss Saadi and Senegal's Bingourou Kamara were not dressed for the encounter.

For Brest, Algeria’s Haris Belkebla featured for the duration as Benin Republic’s Steve Mounie was replaced for Irvin Cardona after 70 minutes of unproductivity. Comoro Island’s Rafiki Said was not listed for the game by manager Olivier Dall'Oglio.

Despite this result, Strasbourg remain in the relegation zone - staying in the 18th position with six points from eight games. They are guests of Reims in their next outing on November 1.

On the other hand, Brest occupy the 14th spot after accruing nine points from the same number of outings. They would be eyeing redemption when they travel to the Roazhon Park on October 31 for a date with Rennes.

Born in Saint-Denis, Reunion, 26-year-old Ajorque is of Malagasy descent and was approached to join the Madagascar national football team in March 2018. He declined the request, insisting he wants to concentrate on club football.