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West Ham have signed Said Benrahma from Brentford in a loan deal that will be made permanent next summer for a reported £25 million ($32m).

The Premier League side were initially aiming to sign the Algerian on a permanent basis but issues in the second part of the winger's medical forced a change in the deal.

The Hammers are said to be paying £5m ($6m) up front to take the 25-year-old for the rest of the season before he joins on full-time.

Benrahma will not be eligible to make his debut against Tottenham on Sunday due to his paperwork not being filed in time.

“I’m very, very happy to be a part of this team. West Ham is a historic club, which has been in the Premier League for a very long time," Benrahma told the club's website.

"It included and still includes good players. It’s a massive club in England.

“I spoke to the manager, so I know exactly what he expects from me. I’ll try to meet his expectations on the pitch because he’s put faith in me and hopefully I can give it back on the pitch.

“I like this prospect [of playing in the Premier League]! I play football to enjoy myself first and foremost, but it’s always enjoyable to know you’re joining the most-watched league in the world, so I’m definitely looking forward to showing what I can do.”

Benrahma scored 27 times in 83 Championship appearances for Brentford and West Ham manager David Moyes is confident the new signing will strengthen his side's attack.

"He is a player who has had a lot of recognition for his performances with Brentford in the Championship," he said. "There has been a lot of interest shown in him so we are very pleased that he has decided to join us.

“We have been looking to bring in players who are hungry and determined to progress and get better. Saïd is an exciting talent with a lot of ability and the right qualities, who will complement the other attacking players we have at the club. 

“We need to give Saïd some time to settle in, but the step up to the Premier League is one I am confident he will be able to make. We are really pleased to have him here and looking forward to getting the best out of him.”

Sam Nyamweya has hinted he will seek further legal redress against the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) elections planned for October 17.

The Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT) dismissed a petition against the polls that had been filed by Nyamweya, and the dissatisfied former FKF president has now made it clear he does not agree with the latest judgement.

“I have been fully briefed by our legal team with respect to SDT Petition No. 10 of 2020, where the tribunal dismissed our petition and gave the green light for the elections to proceed despite the custodian of the Sports Act 2013 in the Sports Registrar expressing herself categorically on the questions of law surrounding this election,” Nyamweya’s statement obtained by Goal read.

“From the outset, may I state in no uncertain terms that we do not agree with the decision of Mr John Ohaga and his panel for the reason that they opted to look the other way when confronted with fundamental legal questions and the paramount need for compliance with the rule of law?”

Nevertheless, Nyamweya lauded Sports Registrar Rose Wsaike’s stand on the election issue at the tribunal that twice stayed FKF’s plan to hold the exercise.

“I salute the registrar for how gallantly she has articulated her position in defence of her legal mandate as an officer of the state empowered by statute,” he continued.

“In rejecting the decision, we want to state categorically that the ruling falls short of any legal reasoning or jurisprudential philosophy but I based on rhetoric and sideshows.

“Accordingly, we wish to assure that our quest for electoral justice is undeterred and we; once we review the ruling, shall explore all possible legal and political avenues to ensure compliance to the rule of law.

“It is just the beginning of what will be a long, protracted fight for electoral justice so anybody celebrating is doing so prematurely and out of ignorance of the place of the rule of law in this country.”

The football administrator has also called for the prosecution of Nick Mwendwa over the alleged misuse of the KSh244 million that was given to Harambee Stars for the 2019 Afcon tournament.

“Finally, it is a call to the government through the Ministry of Sports to intervene and save Kenya's sovereignty from the cartel led by Mwendwa and ilk which is bent on undermining the rule of law for their selfish gains,” Nyamweya concluded.

“We renew our call for the Directorate of Criminal Investigations [DCI], the Director of Public Prosecutions [DPP] and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission [EACC] to move with speed and prosecute Mr Mwendwa and his accomplices over the millions of money pilfered during his term in office.

“We have evidence to suggest he should be charged for embezzlement of public resources from the government and Fifa.”

Mwendwa is favourite to retain the presidency on Saturday.

Just in case you missed it, Aston Villa 7-2 Liverpool really did happen. Jurgen Klopp’s ‘Mentality Monsters’ lacked the strength of character against Dean Smith’s side to fall to the German manager’s biggest defeat in any dugout before the international break.

Ask past and present footballers and their reaction to such humiliations are usually the same: to put such a heavy hammering behind them by either playing shortly after or facing off with a really good opposition in the next game.

For the Reds, the former didn’t go as intended as they’ve had to stew on the defeat for a fortnight, but Saturday lunch-time’s opponent in Everton represents the perfect opportunity to prove that what went down at Villa Park was a one-off.

In the last few years for the neutral, the Merseyside Derby has felt like a let-down in every sense of the word. You know, one of those games really hyped by pundits in England but always seems to end one way — Liverpool winning, or at least not losing.

Indeed, you’d have to go back 10 years for the last time Everton picked up a win over their fierce rivals — a 2-0 success courtesy of Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta — emphasising the one-sidedness of this rivalry.

However, the mood is different this time. Carlo Ancelotti’s team have been the Premier League’s early high-flyers going into gameweek five and ought to smell blood following Liverpool’s sketchy run of performances that culminated in that dispiriting result two weeks ago.

It’s for this reason Klopp needs Sadio Mane — absent in that embarrassing loss vs Villa — and Mohamed Salah — who’s been one of the standout individual players so far this season. Despite the strength of the Reds, any team would miss the influence of Alisson, arguably the best goalkeeper in the league and Mane, who’s one of the top wide attackers in Europe.

Still, the pair’s absence in that 7-2 hammering doesn’t quite mitigate for the obliteration that ensued. Mane’s non-appearance due to testing positive for coronavirus was felt in that the effervescent Senegal attacker’s pressing from the front was missing while his deadly prowess in the attacking third couldn’t be called upon in the West Midlands.

While Liverpool are far from a one-man team, not having the West African forward for any battle will handicap any side. What wasn’t foreseen was the degree to which the Reds will be hamstrung against the Villans. Of course, the greater issue on the day was defensively, however, the champions’ inability to press effectively was also telling on the day.

Admittedly, having Mane in the side wouldn’t have suddenly solved all of Liverpool’s issues in pressurising the opponent in possession, still, the away side would have shown a more concerted effort to win back possession or prevent the Villa man on the ball from easily picking out a teammate had the former Southampton winger played.

Per Fbref, the 28-year-old applied pressure on the opponent with the ball more times than all but three of his teammates last season — including Jordan Henderson who was an unused substitute. Being shorn of two of their top pressing components evidently affected Liverpool off the ball.

As for Salah, the events from October 4 were an anomaly and most certainly unprecedented. For someone who rarely ends on the losing side when he scores, that encounter was the first time the ex-Chelsea man will lose in a Liverpool after scoring twice.

It was uncharted territory for the two-time Golden Boot winner who’d always come away with three points after hitting braces since the 2017/18 season on Merseyside.

The halting of that run threatens to undermine what has been a brilliant start to the 2020/21 campaign in front of goal where the wide forward has been outscored by only Heung-min Son and Dominic Calvert-Lewin (six).

Having lost his top scorer’s award to Jamie Vardy last season, Salah has seemed to be on a mission this year, scoring some well-taken efforts in the first and fourth gameweeks. While the preceding match’s strikes counted for nothing, the return of Mane on Saturday certainly injects fresh energy into the side following their Villa humiliation.

Against a rival who have lived in their shadow for the last decade, Liverpool will want to prove that they remain kings of Merseyside when both sides go head to head at Goodison Park, exactly 10 years since the Toffees’ last victory over their neighbours.

Everton will reckon it's their date with destiny but Klopp, welcoming back a virus-free Mane, and in-form Salah will look to engineer a reaction to what was an unprecedented defeat for a Premier League defending champion.

Ghana defender Daniel Amartey will be out of action for "a number of weeks" following an injury picked up just before the international break, club manager Brendan Rodgers has revealed.

In his third game since making a return from a two-year fitness layoff, the 25-year-old suffered another setback as he upset his hamstring in a Premier League encounter against West Ham United.

He was forced off the field in the 55th minute in the match week four tie at King Power Stadium.

"Obviously, Daniel Amartey is out with his hamstring for a number of weeks, so the international break hasn’t been too kind for us," Rodgers said in his team news on Friday ahead of Sunday's league tie against Aston Villa, his club's official website reports.

"We think that Cags [Caglar Soyuncu] will most definitely be out with an abductor strain, so we’re waiting on the scan on that.

"We think that he is definitely out for a number of weeks, but until we get the final scans, that will determine the length of time.

"I’ve got no qualms about [new club signing] Wesley [Fofana] coming in to play. He's fit and fine. He’s been playing in the early part of the season and gone away and played for the France Under-21s as well.

"We’ve brought him in because he’s a big talent and he’s ready to come in and play now. He’s such a young player, but if I have to play Wesley, I have no qualms about that.

"We’ll see how Wes Morgan is also and then we’ll assess it over the next 24 hours. Wes has had some issues with his lower back, but we're hoping, if he's required, he'll be available to play."

In 2018, Amartey picked up an ankle injury while in action against West Ham United, a setback that would only allow him back in action in September this year, just ahead of the commencement of the season.

He featured in a pre-season draw with Blackburn Rovers and made his competitive comeback in a League Cup tie against Arsenal.

After impressing on his first league appearance of the term - against Manchester City - the defender was rewarded with a third straight appearance against West Ham.

He joined the Foxes from Danish outfit FC Copenhagen in 2016.

Tottenham have announced the signing of defender Joe Rodon from Swansea City in a deal worth a reported £11 million ($14m), which could rise to £15m ($19m) with add-ons.

The Wales international joins up with the north London outfit on a contract through 2025 and will wear the No.14 shirt with the club.

Rodon, 22, worked his way up through Swansea's youth academy and made his debut during the beginning stages of the 2018-19 season. 

The centre-back has also become a regular for Wales, starting all three of his country’s matches during the recent international break to bring his total caps to seven.

Rodon will link up with his international team-mates Ben Davies and Gareth Bale at the club, with Bale closing in on his second debut for Spurs after joining from Real Madrid last month. 

With the deadline for transfers involving English Football League clubs now having passed, Tottenham bring down the curtain on a busy transfer window that has seen the club add seven new players.

Along with Bale and Rodon, Spurs landed Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg from Southampton, Matt Doherty from Wolves, Sergio Reguilon from Real Madrid, Carlos Vinicius on an initial loan from Benfica and Joe Hart on a free transfer.

At his press conference on Friday ahead of Sunday's match against West Ham, Spurs head coach Jose Mourinho saluted the work his side has done in the transfer market.

The Portuguese manager was especially full of praise for Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy, whom he called a "genius" in how he managed to make signings happen.

"It is a great opportunity to publicly thank my boss, my board, Mr. Levy, the structure, [head of recruitment] Steve [Hitchen] because what they did for the team was amazing," Mourinho said. 

"In such a difficult period where I always believed we were not able to reach some of the targets, the club did an incredible effort.

"Mr. Levy showed once more that when he wants, when he is really involved, he is a genius in the way he makes deals happen and I can only publicly thank them for what they gave to the team."

The new 2020/21 season gets underway this weekend with the MTN8 quarter-final matches scheduled to take place across South Africa. 

Eight Premier Soccer League (PSL) clubs will battle it out once again with the first piece of silverware of the campaign firmly in their sights. 

These are the teams which finished in the top eight on the PSL standings last season and qualified for the lucrative MTN8 competition.  

The impact of the coronavirus pandemic will see a delayed start of the new campaign after the late completion of the previous term in a bio-bubble in Gauteng. 

However, the new season will be played at the home venues of the clubs, after the government opened up inter-provincial travel, but fans are still not allowed to come to the stadiums.

What's At Stake

While the runner-up and other six clubs get the same participation fee of R800 000 hence the tournament has become well known as 'Wafa Wafa', the winner takes all.

SuperSport United are the defending champions and they will start their title defence against tournament debutants, Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila (TTM), who will be at home in Thohoyandou on Saturday afternoon.

Orlando Pirates will then host their hoodoo team Cape Town City in Soweto on Saturday evening, while record-15 time MTN8 champions Kaizer Chiefs are set to welcome Maritzburg United in Nasrec, Johannesburg on Sunday afternoon.

Reigning PSL champions Mamelodi Sundowns will square off with Bloemfontein Celtic in Tshwane on Sunday afternoon in a repeat of last month's Nedbank Cup final. 

This winning teams are expected to advance to the two-legged semi-finals where the winners on aggregate will progress to the final. 

Bogey Teams 

Chiefs had a frustrating record against Maritzburg last season, failing to defeat coach Eric Tinkler's side in their three meetings across all competitions.

Maritzburg secured two wins over Amakhosi, including the Telkom Knockout semi-final victory, while the other game ended in a draw with Daylon Claalsen missing a penalty which could have handed Tinkler's side the win. 

On the other hand, Cape Town City have proved to be Pirates' hoodoo team and they are enjoying a six-match unbeaten run against the Buccaneers.

The Citizens have recorded two wins and four draws in their last six meetings with Bucs, including a 1-0 win in their most recent clash which was a league game two months ago.

Furthermore, City have lost just once against Pirates across all competitions since the club's inception in 2016 with the two teams having met nine times in the last four years. 

New Coaches & Players 

Mamelodi Sundowns have been very active in the transfer market having brought in some exciting new players such as Kermit Erasmus, Aubrey Modiba and Peter Shalulile - making them one of the favourites to win the MTN8.

However, the sudden departure of coach Pitso Mosimane has seen the club appoint Manqoba Mngqithi and Rhulani Mokwena as co-coaches and they will be assisted by Steve Komphela.

The decision to bring in an experienced coach like Komphela to work under Mngqithi and Mokwena has surprised many and it will be interesting to see how the trio will work together.

Sundowns' Gauteng rivals, Chiefs, are banned from signing and registering players, but they are awaiting an outcome from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) following their transfer ban appeal hearing.

Amakhosi parted ways with Ernst Middendorp last month after he failed to win the PSL title and the club's decision to replace the German tactician with Gavin Hunt has been hailed as a masterstroke.

Hunt is one of the most successful coaches in the PSL era and he will be hoping to lead Amakhosi to a MTN8 title triumph in order to ease the pressure on himself and also end the club's five-trophy drought.

Do Pirates Have The Edge?

However, Pirates' stability gives them the edge over their rivals with the club having kept their faith in Josef Zinnbauer, who revived the team after taking charge in December 2019.

The German tactician guided the Buccaneers to a third-place finish in the league and they seemed to have finally found the winning formula as the team ended the recent season with a three-match winning run.

Pirates' top performers from last season, Wayne Sandilands, Happy Jele and Frank Mhango, remain part of the team as the Soweto giants look to end their six-year trophy drought. 

The club's shrewd transfer business has improved Zinnbauer's squad with Thulani Hlatshwayo, Thabang Monare, Deon Hotto and Terrence Dzvukamanja having arrived at the Houghton-based giants as new signings.

The former Bidvest Wits players have brought some needed experience in key areas like defence and attack and their winning mentality could help propel the Soweto giants to a MTN8 triumph.

Milan boss Stefano Pioli says Zlatan Ibrahimovic is raring to go after recovering from coronavirus ahead of what he believes will be a "spectacular" derby against city rivals Inter.

Ibrahimovic tested positive for Covid-19 on September 24, three days after he had scored a Serie A double in the 3-0 win over Bologna.

Milan confirmed last week the striker was clear of the virus after having two negative tests, allowing him to leave a period of self-isolation that had caused him to miss four matches.

That put the 39-year-old in contention to play at least some part in Saturday's crunch Serie A clash, with the two Milan clubs looking as good as they have for many years.

"Zlatan has been smiling and is in a positive and determined frame of mind," Pioli told reporters as Milan look to win their opening four league games for the first time since 1995 under Fabio Capello.

"He has only been training for a week but is feeling fine. He had a problem, but I have found him to be the same as always.

"He is ready to play, but we still need to assess how many minutes he has got in his legs.

"Our start to the season with three league wins and going through in Europe was important and what I hoped for - now Zlatan's return is an additional boost going into the derby."

Milan are unbeaten since March – a run of 19 games in all competitions – while Inter are two points behind them after finishing second and reaching the Europa League final in Antonio Conte's first season.

Except for Atalanta (56), Milan (54) and Inter (47) are the two teams who have gained the most points in Serie A in 2020. 

Pioli added: "I am expecting a spectacular game. We will be facing a side with a system that sees players occupy precise positions on the pitch. 

"Inter are very strong, but, like all teams, also have weaknesses. We need to remain composed and understand when it is necessary to press and when we need to bide our time. 

"We will be intense and will not hold off. This will also apply to them but we have our own identity and way of playing out on the pitch.

"For us, the tests never stop: we know that this will be an important and difficult test, but we have prepared well in the little time we had available and feel ready."

Inter only finished one point behind champions Juventus last season, with Conte now looking to become the first Inter coach ever to win their first three Milan derbies.

Pioli added: "Unfortunately, there won’t be a crowd, but we’ll take to the pitch aware of the importance of this match and what it means. We feel the rivalry and it will be a heartfelt match.

"Our journey began a year ago, but I can also say that we’re still in the early stages. We still have plenty of room for improvement and will be facing the side everyone is tipping to win the title.

"But we are going to take to the pitch with the objective to be better than them. They are doing well, so beating such a strong side would give us enthusiasm and even more confidence in the qualities we have."

Former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong has swat aside reports of an imminent move to Ghanaian giants Asante Kotoko but fails to rule out the possibility completely

Local reports say the ex-Ghana international is considering making a return to active football, over a year after prematurely retiring from the beautiful game due to persistent injury challenges.

He last played for Ermis Aradippou in Cyprus, after which he hanged up his boots at the age of 27 in March last year

“At the moment if I’m being honest, it's far from the truth and there is nothing concrete," Frimpong told TV3.

"You are never ready unless you are tested. At the moment obviously I have been away from the game for so many years and it is going to take me couple of months to get back to the fitness I think is required to play.

“The football brain is always going to be there but at the moment, if that was the case then I would have to work on my fitness.

"That’s the most important thing but I do go to the gym and do run a lot and don't feel any pain in my knee, so if the opportunity comes and I feel like I was good I will take the opportunity to play.

“I do support Kotoko and if I had the opportunity it would be one of the biggest days of my life."

Born in the Ghanaian city of Kumasi - the same town where Kotoko are based - Frimpong moved to the United Kingdom at the age of four where he joined Arsenal's academy at the age of nine.

He progressed to represent the Gunners at senior level, moving on to play for the likes of Wolverhampton Wanderers, Charlton Athletic and Fulham, all on loan.

In 2014, he permanently cut ties with Arsenal to join English lower-tier outfit Barnsley and subsequently moved to Russia to play for Ufa and Arsenal Tula.

Swedish side Elkilstuna signed the midfielder in 2016 for a short spell before he transferred to Ermis Aradippou in Cyprus.

The 28-year-old represented England at U16 and U17 level before switching international allegiance to make his Ghana debut in a 2014 World Cup qualifier against Sudan in 2013.

Kotoko, arguably Ghana's biggest club and the most successful side in the history of the Premier League, have been active in the transfer market ahead of the 2020-21 domestic football season which commences in November. 

Express FC have finally confirmed the signing of defender Murushid Juuko.

The Uganda left-back has been on the radar of the Red Eagles for the most part of the ongoing transfer window and he was officially unveiled on Friday after putting pen to paper a one-year contract.

Express have confirmed his acquisition by stating on their official website “The wait is over, experienced Uganda Cranes centre-back Murushid Juuko has joined the Red Eagles.

“Juuko brings a lot of experience having featured for Tanzanian giants Simba SC and African giants Wydad Casablanca.”

The 26-year-old has revealed the club’s rich history and current progress lured him to the Wankulukuku.

“Firstly I want to appreciate the CEO [Isaac Mwesigwa] and the head coach [Wasswa Bbosa] for making this happen, am happy to be here, Express is a big club and its current progress speaks for itself and I am sure we going to win silverware this season," he said.

Coach Bbosa was delighted about securing the services of the player saying he was a good addition to the squad, who are keen to wrestle the Ugandan Premier League (UPL) title from Vipers SC.

“We’re glad to have Murushid [Juuko] on the team, his experience speaks for itself without a doubt, his discipline will help the youngsters in the team to become better," the coach noted.

Juuko becomes the 16th signing for the six-time league champions ahead of the new season set to kick off on November 20, 2020.

The news of Juuko signing for the Red Eagles started after he returned from Morocco, where he ended his contract with Botola Pro side Wydad Casablanca after they disagreed over payment.

After returning home, Juuko became a transfer target for both Express, Vipers SC, and KCCA FC but he opted to sign for Express on a one-year deal, but he was yet to be unveiled as he was waiting for the green light after petitioning Fifa over his former side.

The arrival of the player will be a great boost to coach Wasswa Bbosa, who is expecting a competitive 2020/21 UPL season.

Many teams are buffing up their squads in preparations for the new campaign and the tactician stated he is already aware of what to expect from opposing teams.

Juuko was part of the Johnathan McKinstry-led side that defeated Malawi 2-0 in the 2021 African Cup of Nations qualifying match played at Namboole.

The six-time league champions finished the abandoned league in the ninth position with 31 points, after managing nine wins, four draws, and 12 defeats.

Hoffenheim winger Jacob Bruun Larsen says he had an "extreme experience" when he had a trial at Liverpool at the age of 13.

The 22-year-old was invited to train at several top European teams as a teenager, including Liverpool, Borussia Dortmund and PSV.

The Denmark international says he found his time with the Reds daunting initially and feels he made the right choice in signing for Dortmund.  

"I was 13 years old and invited to each club twice. The first trip was to Liverpool. I was there for a week and also took part in a few test matches," he told Goal.

"It was an extreme experience for me at first. Everything felt very big, also later in Eindhoven and Dortmund. I got to know a small part of great European football there.

"In the end, I was free to choose where to go. My gut feeling said Dortmund. I hadn't played a test match there, but it was absolutely the right decision."

Bruun Larsen made the move to Germany months before Jurgen Klopp's departure at the end of the 2014-15 campaign and the winger has pleasant memories of the coach.

"I got to know him during my trial because I was still watching the professionals," he added.

"Kloppo came over to us because he knew my advisor. He immediately made some funny comments that I didn't understand at the time.

"My first impression was that he is very friendly and a very respectful, empathic person - and that has been fully confirmed in the years that have followed."

Bruun Larsen made his competitive debut for Dortmund as part of the starting XI in a 4-1 win against Union Berlin in the DFB-Pokal in October 2016.

And the winger says he is indebted to then-coach Thomas Tuchel for what he taught him.

"I was 16 and only three months in Dortmund at the time, when Tuchel took a couple of young players and me to a friendly against St. Pauli. I was very surprised," he said. 

"We were then also allowed to go to the training camp. So the idea was there early on that one day we would reach the top. 

"The time under Tuchel was ultimately my first step towards the professional level. I owe him a lot, I learned a lot under him. 

"I still remember exactly what he said to us before my debut in the cup against Union Berlin.

"He predicted exactly what ultimately happened. He recommended that we play over the two central playmakers because there will be a lot of space and we will then move forward quickly. The same thing happened at 1-0, in which I had a small part. 

"I felt very well prepared by Tuchel and knew exactly what to do on the field. That was really fascinating."

The winger, who earned his first cap for Denmark last season, joined Hoffenheim in January and made 12 appearances for the club last season.

Jurgen Klopp insisted concern for football was at the heart of the Project Big Picture proposals rejected by Premier League clubs this week. 

The Liverpool boss is glad reform was discussed after the Reds and Manchester United led wide-ranging suggestions that were unanimously rejected , though a bailout for League One and League Two teams was agreed at a virtual meeting. 

Changes to Premier League voting rights, a reduction of the top flight to 18 teams, the abolition of the Carabao Cup and alterations to existing funding models for lower league clubs and the Football Association (FA) were all up for debate. 

"It is really important we speak about it because I can't remember the last time we did – the space for improvement in football," Klopp said ahead of Liverpool's derby with Everton on Saturday. 

"A lot of times in life there must be a crisis to start talking. I'm happy people are talking. Yes, competitive [football is] positive, no one wants to change that. 

"I am not really involved. I was informed. What I can say, all the people involved are concerned about football. If you want to understand the idea behind it, you listen, if you do not, you just knock it down.  

"There are things to improve in football and that is what these people tried. The process keeps going and the people are talking and that is positive."

The subject was also raised at a host of other managerial news conferences ahead of the weekend's Premier League action. 

United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said: "It's a definite that we, as one of the bigger clubs, have a responsibility to protect the football pyramid or smaller clubs.  

"We have seen lately the impact this pandemic has had on many smaller clubs. For me, a key thing is that we want to get the fans back into the stadiums, which will help the other clubs.  

"I'm very glad we're looking into trying to help and the talks have started - let's make the powers that be decide how we're going to do that." 

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola and Chelsea's Frank Lampard also had their say on the topic. 

"I want the best for football," said Guardiola. "I didn't listen to the hypothetical suggestions, I'm a big fan of the low categories, but honestly I don't know what the situation is.  

"I remember being with Barcelona and here in England arrived the Premier League. There was an incredible amount of criticism about the Premier League, that it wouldn't be good and what was before should've stayed.  

"And after look what happened with the Premier League, it's now maybe the best league in the world.  

"I just want the best for football, making the Premier League as strong as possible – now it's not possible in this pandemic - but also for the low categories, because the old towns and little villages love their teams and that is the point."  

Lampard, who was asked if it is was a mess at the top of football, said: "I won't use the word 'mess' but I think if you look across society and what Covid has done to the world, we're all in difficult, difficult times, so I don't want to be too critical of that.  

"People are trying to find solutions all the time. With the actual football picture, I haven't paid enough attention to give you details but Chelsea have remained - I think since the lockdown - [doing] some of the great work we did. 

"We're certainly intent on making sure we're involved in conversations around protecting the football pyramid, and grassroots all the way up through the EFL and to the Premier League. 

"We'll be very involved in those conversations when needed, as we always are, and try to do the best."

New Tooro United signing Kenneth Kiyegga believes Luis Nani is more talented than Cristiano Ronaldo despite being overshadowed by his Portuguese countryman at Manchester United.

Speaking about the two league winners who graced the Premier League giants under Sir Alex Ferguson, Kiyegga also revealed his earlier interaction with Uganda international Farouk Miya.

“I loved Nani’s trickery, and I believe that he is a more talented player than [Cristiano] Ronaldo but he just overshadowed him at Manchester United,” Kiyegga told Sports Nation.

“For [Farouk] Miya, I remember I got a chance to be in the same team with him back then.

“It was during the Arcades tournament playing for Ham Shopping and we were the young boys in the team

"Then, Miya was the star of the team and he was also a player at Vipers SC. He is a good player, can score from everywhere.”

Apart from his Premier League dream, Kiyegga revealed hopes of good career progression and getting a professional European club in future.

“I want to play in Europe one day. I am a believer and I want to work hard as I have always been doing each passing day,” the youngster added.

“When we [will] join UPL, I believe many people will be able to recognise my ability. I am still going and I hope to play for the Uganda U20 team.”

The youngster also revealed how former Vipers SC head coach Edward Golola spotted as a potential signing for Tooro United.

Kiyegga impressed the renowned Ugandan tactician during a local tournament featuring for Kawempe in Nansan and has narrated how he ended up signing for the Fufa Big League side.

“I impressed him [Golola] while playing against Tooro United so after the game, he sent a kid to call me for a talk and a few days later, I signed for Tooro United,” Kiyegga added.

“This will be a big opportunity for me to showcase my ability and I commend coach Golola for having trust in me. I am not going to disappoint him.

“I want to help the club return to the Uganda Premier League, that’s is my first target.”

Gor Mahia midfielder Lawrence Juma has officially left and joined Kenyan Premier League (KPL) side Sofapaka.

The midfielder has been a long-term target for the 2009 KPL champions and they have now managed to secure his services for the next two seasons.

The former Nzoia Sugar star agreed on every aspect of the latest contract - after prolonged negotiations - that Batoto ba Mungu dangled in front of him.

“We are pleased to have completed the signing of Harambee Stars midfielder Lawrence Juma. Juma has put pen to paper to a two-year deal ahead of the new season,” Sofapaka confirmed on Friday .

“The midfielder joins us from Gor Mahia Football Club for the next two seasons.”

“I am pleased to be here, this a new chapter, a new environment and I am looking forward to a good time with the club. I can’t wait to get started.”

Juma becomes the club’s eighth signing after Michael Kibwage, Isaac Mitima, Michael Karamor, Michael Bodo, Kevin Omondi, Roy Okal, and Paul Kiongera were signed before him.

He has established himself as one of the key midfielders in the league, went ahead to earn a national call up to Harambee Stars, and coach Francis Kimanzi has maintained him for the few past international assignments since he debuted.

The 2008 National Super League (NSL) champions will be up against Gor Mahia on December 9 and it would be an opportunity for them to halt what has become a poor record against the champions.

In 2019, Sofapaka wasted a clear opportunity that would have propelled them to a second league trophy when they went down 2-0 in Kisumu. They were second and a win would have delayed Gor Mahia’s charge towards the title thereby increasing their chances of becoming champions once more.

Batoto ba Mungu president Elly Kalekwa had said he is building a formidable side that would assure their fans of more success .

“The squad we have managed to assemble is a quality one which will challenge for top honours in the 2020/21 Kenyan Premier League campaign,” Kalekwa told Goal in an earlier interview.

“This is a team that has a high chance of winning the league title and get a chance to play in the continental competitions. We have the resources we need to be successful and I am confident we will.”

The Nairobi-based club will start their campaign in the new season against KCB on November 21.

Jose Mourinho believes Arsene Wenger failed to mention him in his new autobiography because the ex-Arsenal boss did not beat him much during his career.

Wenger released his book "My Life in Red & White" this week but did not mention the current Tottenham manager, against whom he had an oftentimes turbulent rivalry.

In one particularly infamous moment, Mourinho called the Frenchman a "specialist in failure" in 2014 during his second spell in charge of Chelsea.

Mourinho did often get the better of Wenger, with the Portuguese boss winning nine of the duo's 19 encounters and Wenger only winning twice. 

On Friday, Mourinho was quizzed at a press conference why he believed he wasn't mentioned in Wenger's book, to which he replied: "Because he never beat me.

"You are not going to do a chapter about 12 or 14 matches and never win one so why should he speak about me in his book? A book is a thing to make you happy, to make you proud so I understand perfectly the situation."

While he was in charge of Manchester United in 2018, Mourinho expressed some regret at the number of bust-ups he had with Wenger.

"There were little things it would obviously be better without - some gestures, some words," Mourinho said.

"It's obviously better without. I feel better now without [insults]. When I arrived in England in 2004, they were champions, and famous champions - the 'Invincibles'.

"Then I arrive [at Chelsea], the next few years it was with them [battles for the title].

"It was an amazing team. So thank you very much for that. They pushed us to the limits. The two matches we played at Highbury, that amazing old stadium, were unforgettable. So thank you, thank you so much for that."

Mourinho's current side Tottenham are set to face West Ham on Sunday, a game in which Gareth Bale could be set to make his second debut for Spurs after returning from Real Madrid.

"He's working so well, just evolution in every data, in every aspect of his condition," Mourinho said of the Welshman. "He's there. Probably he plays Sunday, if he doesn't he will on Thursday [in the Europa League versus LASK]. He's there. He's very, very close."

Tanzania coach Etienne Ndayiragije has revealed he does not have problems when fans criticise him in a positive manner.

The Burundian tactician received some criticism last week when the Taifa Stars lost by a solitary goal to Burundi in a friendly played at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium during the international break.

As Tanzania prepares to face Tunisia in an Africa Cup of Nations double-header, Ndayiragije has now revealed that positive criticism gives him a platform to learn what people want and thereby make constructive changes where necessary.

“I like people who openly express their feelings for you to work on them and I have a big room to receive opinions and criticisms,” Ndayiragije is quoted by Daily News. “I thank the supporters of Taifa Stars a lot because they always give us the energy to continue working hard for them.”

Asked on what goes on in his mind wherever the Taifa Stars plays against his home country, Ndayiragije revealed that he will always remain loyal to the country that employed him.

"When I am doing the work which I get paid for, my focus remains to the team I represent which is Taifa Stars regardless of which team I am facing,” Ndayiragije continued.

“Football is a fair play game as such, whether you win or lose, it is part of the competition without taking into consideration where one comes from," he narrated.”

Ndayiragije also revealed the support he gets from his family and friends whenever the two sides come face to face by stating: “Even in Burundi, there are many Burundians who support Taifa Stars just because I am coaching the country's national team like during the recent friendly match we played, some people from Burundi were supporting Stars.”

Against Burundi, the Swallows put up a brave fight in front of the home fans and were eventually rewarded with a late goal when burly striker Saidi Ntibazonkiza found space outside the 18-yard area and unleashed a fierce shot which goalkeeper David Mapigano could not keep out.

Tanzania are in Group J of the Afcon qualifiers which Tunisia are topping with six points, while both the Taifa Stars and Libya have three points each and Equatorial Guinea are sitting at the bottom without a point.

Former Everton and Manchester United striker Louis Saha has been impressed with Dominic Calvert-Lewin and thinks he could soon be playing for a club in the Champions League.

The 23-year-old has scored nine goals in his first six games in all competitions this season, and is the joint-top scorer in the Premier League.

He also made his England debut over the past week, picking up his first three caps, and next up for the striker is a game against Everton's local rivals Liverpool on Saturday.

Calvert-Lewin has been linked with United in recent weeks and, given his current form, Saha is not surprised by the speculation.

"There's a lot of players who get linked with Man United," Saha told Goal. "This club wants the best players, all the top scorers, so, of course, he is going to be linked. What I know from the club's perspective of Man United, they want to sign guarantees.

"The more goals you get, the closer you are to those types of clubs. For Dominic, the national team is a step to prove he can do this at international level. I do think that he has got the potential and I think the next move could be there but it isn't something I would like to see from an Everton point of view.

"But, I think that one day he will look to play in the Champions League for a big club."

Calvert-Lewin has been Carlo Ancelotti's main striker since the Italian's appointment as manager towards the end of last year, but has taken his form to a new level this season.

Saha has long been tracking the development of Calvert-Lewin and feels the forward has now simply found his identity.

"He is a player who has a big tank and a lot of energy," Saha continued. "With that, he can improve a lot. He is working hard, he has a clear vision of where he needs to be and what people expect of him. The runs he does either for himself or his team-mates are more precise.

"I saw it with [Marcus] Rashford. When he started, he was instinctive. Running and doing what he wants. Now, he thinks more about how he can make things more difficult, that was the case with Calvert-Lewin. When I watched him, I felt he would overthink things, try too hard.

"Now, he knows who he is and he knows what to do. He has become more clinical in front of goal because he doesn't overthink. He knows exactly what he is doing, relying on his training and knows he can score again and again. It is a confidence thing."

Calvert-Lewin's stellar start to the season comes on the back of an impressive summer of recruitment which saw the club sign James Rodriguez, Allan, Ben Godfrey and Abdoulaye Doucoure.

James' £20 million ($26m) arrival was seen as a coup for Everton after coming from Real Madrid to rebuild his career. Having left a big club for Everton himself, Saha believes it is a move that makes sense for a player who wants to enjoy football again and he thinks the door to silverware remains open for the Colombian.

"When you go from Real Madrid from anywhere at a certain age, the next club is going to be a step down," he added. "Real Madrid, without a doubt, is one of the biggest clubs in the world. Maybe only two or three can compete with them.

"As a player, you know that step, then as an individual what you want is to play, enjoy, score goals if you can, maybe win trophies. It isn't about showing anyone that they made a mistake; he just wanted to enjoy his football again.

"Everton is a great platform for that. I felt it when I went from Manchester United to Everton. They have the same desire to do well, they are a big club and they may have had fewer opportunities to win trophies but the infrastructure is here.

"There's no doubt James Rodriguez is a really big player, he has been competing with big players for many years. He has great experiences, many trophies and he can say 'who cares about people's opinions, I am a top player'."

Everton have the unusual privilege of looking down on Liverpool in the Premier League table after the champions' shocking 7-2 defeat to Aston Villa ahead of the international break.

"I am impressed but not surprised by Everton," Saha concluded. "They are starting to show signs of consistency and a definite plan. I like to say plan because it seems to be way more organised in the way they go forward and defend.

"They just need to reduce the number of errors. They are well balanced as a team and they can upset a lot of teams. They have always been ambitious; they had some doubts in the last two seasons.

"They have great players, young players and I am a really big fan of Richarlison, for example. It is a big club with good fans so to be an Everton player is an amazing feeling.

"I still think Liverpool are up there again to win the title again because they have shown massive consistency. They have had a big setback but it is about how you react. I am sure a club with a manager like Jurgen Klopp, as you have seen on the bench, will be absolutely fuming about that 7-2 defeat.

"They have conceded goals they shouldn't have but all this should be taken as a lesson. People need to be careful of Liverpool because a reaction will come. People's jaws dropped to the floor after the last game. It will be a very close game on Saturday."

The BT Sport Monthly Pass lets you watch BT Sport for a simple monthly fee of £25 with no contract. Customers can watch all BT Sport Premier League fixtures for the next 30 days including Everton vs Liverpool from 11.30am on Saturday 17th October. For more info visit  bt.com/monthlypass

The Old Firm derby between Celtic and Rangers is one of the most historic, and most heated, rivalries in world football.

With more than 100 Scottish league titles between them, the Glasgow giants are among the world’s most successful clubs and their rivalry reflects historic divides of identity, politics and religion in Scotland.

In recent years, the rivalry has taken on a new dimension. Many Celtic fans now claim there is no Old Firm match any more, and their games with Rangers are simply the ‘Glasgow derby’.

The practice even extends to the clubs’ official channels. For example, while Rangers’ Twitter account and most media outlets refer to their matches as Old Firm clashes, Celtic’s official Twitter handle has only ever used the phrase ‘Old Firm’ once, when relaying a direct quote from coach Neil Lennon in 2014. When the two teams meet, Celtic’s channels refer to the game as the Glasgow Derby.

Goal explains exactly why this is the case.

The explanation can be seen when some Celtic fans antagonise their rivals by referring to Rangers and their fans as ‘zombies’. Hoops fans are adamant that the club which plays at Ibrox now is not the same Rangers which was first formed in 1872 – and which they claim died in 2012.

In 2010-11, Rangers won their 54th Scottish title and drew with Manchester United and Valencia in the Champions League group stage, but the club was in dire financial straits.

Rangers regularly posted financial losses during the 2000s and by 2009, it was reported the club owed as much as £30 million ($49m) to the Lloyds Banking Group.

To compound Rangers’ troubles, they also entered a legal dispute with Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC), which hampered owner David Murray’s efforts to sell the club.

Murray eventually sold his 85.3 per cent controlling stake in Rangers to Craig Whyte in May 2011 for just £1.

In February 2012, Rangers went into administration and were docked 10 points after failing to pay around £9m ($14m) in VAT and PAYE tax. In May, it was estimated the club’s debts may have totalled more than £134m ($211m).

In June 2012, The Rangers Football Club plc was liquidated. The business and assets were sold to a company called Sevco Scotland Ltd, which was later renamed The Rangers Football Club Ltd. This is the root of the issue, with different interpretations of whether Rangers at this point were a new club, or the same club owned by a new company.

The new ownership was unable to secure the transfer of Rangers’ place in the Scottish Premier League and the club eventually began the 2012-13 season in the Third Division, the fourth tier of Scottish football. Manager Ally McCoist remained but most first-team players did not transfer their contracts to the new owners and became free agents.

Rangers rose through the divisions and returned to the Scottish Premiership for the 2016-17 season. Rangers were beaten 5-1 at Celtic Park and 2-1 at Ibrox by their rivals that season but eventually finished third, 39 points behind champions Celtic.

In 2015, some Celtic fans highlighted the issue when they paid for an advert in a newspaper asserting that the Rangers playing at Ibrox were a new club, and that the Old Firm derby would no longer be contested as a result.

Complaints were made to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) over claims from Rangers to being ‘Scotland’s most successful club’. In a boost for Rangers fans, the complaints were dismissed after consultation with UEFA and the European Club Association.

UEFA said its rules permitted the “sporting continuity” of a club’s on-field history. Rangers lost their membership to the European Club Association after their liquidation but, after reapplying, were granted associate membership on the basis they had been founding members of the Association.

Manchester United triggered a clause to extend Paul Pogba’s contract a week before the midfielder talked up a move to Real Madrid.

The France international’s deal was set to end in June 2021 and Goal can confirm that the club utilised their option to extend it for a further year a few weeks ago, meaning he is under contract until the summer of 2022.

Pogba said last summer that "it could be a good time to have a new challenge somewhere else'" and has repeatedly talked up the possibility of moving to Real Madrid.

Last week while on international duty, he said: “Many things have been said. Of course, every footballer would love to play for Real Madrid and would dream about that. It’s a dream of mine, so why not one day?

“But I’m at Manchester United and I love my club. I play for Manchester United I want to perform well for them and do everything to get them back to where they deserve to be.”

Solskjaer responded to Pogba’s comments in his pre-match press conference on Friday morning where he seemed to allude to the fact the club had triggered the option on Pogba’s deal.

“Paul's our player, he's going to be here for another two years,” Solskjaer said. “I’m sure Paul is focused on doing his best for us and we want to see the best of Paul and I'm sure in the next couple of years we'll get the best out of him.”

Pogba returned to United in 2016 for a then-world record fee of £89million but has struggled to find consistent form since his return while missing a large portion of last season with a couple of different injuries.

The World Cup winner has flirted with the possibility of moving to Real Madrid a number of times and United would have been willing to sell the midfielder to the La Liga giants in the 2019 summer transfer but they never made an offer anywhere near the fee United would have been after.

It is common practice for the club to extend the contracts of players and all deals come with that one-year option.