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Gor Mahia assistant coach Patrick Odhiambo has stated there is no conflict of interest in the team which might create division.

Goal reported the former Sony Sugar tactician fronted Gad Mathews to be signed as opposed to veteran custodian Boniface Oluoch who wants a youth goalkeeper he has been working with to be promoted.

The Green Army have already signed Levis Opiyo from Nairobi City Stars and Samuel Njau from Western Stima and their efforts to bring another goalkeeper onboard has threatened the unity of the club.  

"I am not in the goalkeeping department and on most occasions, I am not even involved when it comes to matters of who should be signed," Odhiambo told Goal on Sunday.

"The reported division between me and Oluoch does not exist; it is a fabricated thing by someone who may have a hidden agenda. As a matter of fact, Oluoch is a very good friend of mine and he is the one who called me about the reported division.

"As Gor Mahia, we are united and ready to rebuild for the new season, but once negative energy is focused on us, it will end up causing confusion which will influence the team in a bad way."

K’Ogalo lost David Mapigano to Azam FC after just a season and the goalkeeping department was left even shallower following the departure of Fredrick Odhiambo to Wazito FC.  

The said strife comes a day after Gor Mahia confirmed a reshuffle in the youth team where their legend Jerim Onyango was moved from being a team manager to a goalkeeper’s coach overseeing both the senior and the junior team.   

"In his [Onyango’s] place, Collins Kalee who was previously attached to the junior team’s technical bench will now steer the wheels as youth team manager, Kennedy Ochola takes up the kit manager position with Celestinus Otieno as his assistant," Samuel Ocholla, who is the club's Secretary-General said in an earlier statement.

"The changes have been necessitated by the need to have a seamless team working together.

"There will be combined training sessions where the juniors can learn from the senior team and the coaching staff too can work and learn from each other for the betterment of the club." 

Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho insists that he has not lost his passion for management after 20 years at the top level.

The Portuguese first managed with Benfica in 2000 then moved to Uniao de Leiria and Porto, where he won the Champions League, before switching to England.

Successful spells at Chelsea and Inter followed, but his star began to wane at Real Madrid, where he won only one league title in three years at the club.

After leaving the Bernabeu, he endured a mixed spell at Manchester United, where he won the EFL Cup and Europa League but struggled to re-establish the Old Trafford giants in the Premier League top four.

In 2019, he replaced Mauricio Pochettino at Tottenham where he remains in charge, and as he closes in on 1,000 matches in the dugout he says he retains all his appetite for the job.

“Of course, the colour of my hair is different, and some wrinkles! But I'm the same guy, the same principles, the same passion, nothing at all has changed,” he told Sky Sports ahead of Spurs’ Premier League opener against Everton.

“I am the same in my DNA, my principles, I'm the same man - but obviously a big evolution in terms of coaching, in terms of managing players and football teams, and the evolution of everything related to the game.

“I love everything related to my job. The only thing I don't enjoy is to lose - I hate to lose - but I know very well that it is part of our job. Everything related to my job is something I love, that's why I don't see myself doing another thing in my life.

“In football I just love everything. If you ask me about everything related to the job, there is nothing I don't enjoy. Even the problems, the difficulties, are things I enjoy about the job. So the challenge is to be happy, happy, happy, happy!”

Meanwhile, his target for Tottenham is simple.

“Our ambition is to win every match,” he said. “Our target is to go to every match, thinking and feeling that we go to that match to win. It doesn't' matter the competition, the opponent, I want Tottenham to have this level of confidence to go to every match to win.

“We are going to lose some, we are going to draw some too, but I want to have this feeling that it doesn't matter who the opponent is, I want Tottenham to go to try to win, not just trying to win, but feeling like they can too.

“It is good to be nice lads, but it is good also to have that competitive mentality, that aggression and ambition that you need. I was never afraid to establish with my boys some difficult targets, and not be afraid of going for it.”

Tottenham finished sixth in the Premier League table in 2019-20 and approach the new campaign as one of the sides tipped to challenge for the Champions League spots.

Tanzania's grassroots football has received a boost after betting firm Play Master announced a sponsorship worth TSh 240 million.

The deal between the firm and the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) is meant to help in developing the game in lower tiers. The Federation's president Wallace Karia stated the monies to clubs were not meant for campaigns and were meant to develop the game.

"The money we are giving you is not because of the football elections scheduled for 2021, this is meant for football," Karia told reporters during the signing and unveiling of the two-year sponsorship deal.

"Even if I wanted to use them for politics, it could have been less beneficial considering the fact that clubs in grassroots do not directly get involved in voting for the president."

The administrator has warned club officials against misusing the funds meant for the players.

"The monies should be deposited in the club's respective accounts for future use," Karia continued.

"I don't want misuse of the monies; any official who will embezzle them will not be pardoned. 

"The deal is just the beginning; we intend to continue working together, all the way to the top."

Play Master's chairman Edgar Pambukyan was delighted with the partnership and exuded confidence it will help in promoting Tanzania football.

"This is a great opportunity and privilege to work together with the TFF and we appreciate it," the administrator said.

"It is a big day for Play Master and it is our hope that we will impact football in Tanzania positively.

"The game in the country has a bright future and by both parties entering the deal, there will be mutual benefit. We have been in the country for the last seven years and we have come to love it including the culture, and now we want to be more involved."

The 2020/21 top tier league commenced on September 6.

However, the Division One league will kick off on October 3, 2020, while the last division will start on November 7, 2020.

The domestic Cup, which is referred to as the Azam Cup, will start on November 28, 2020, while the mid-season transfer window will open on December 12, 2020, and will close on January 15, 2021.

Juventus have elected to put attacker Douglas Costa up for sale due to the Brazilian’s persistent problems with injury, Goal can confirm.

Manchester United are set to have their ears pricked by this news, as they have been closely linked with the 29-year-old wideman in the past, but the more persistent interest has come from clubs in the UAE.

The player, however, is not keen on departing Juve as he wishes to prove himself at a club he joined in 2017, initially on loan, following a two-year stint in the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich.

This is in part driven by a lack of interest from elsewhere. Although his agents have tried to stir up interest from Premier League clubs, there is too much doubt over his physical capacity to play on a regular basis. 

During the 2019-20 campaign, he managed 29 outings for Juve and impressed when he was available, scoring three goals in all competitions while laying on a further seven assists.

However, his season was blighted with injury issues, missing 21 fixtures in total, and it was only after the suspension of play because of the coronavirus pandemic that he was able to put together a lengthy series of appearances, and even then these typically came from the bench.

His season ended prematurely as he suffered a tear in an abductor muscle, and that same issue is set to prevent him featuring at the beginning of the 2020-21 campaign for the Turin giants, who are aiming for their 10th Serie A crown in succession having appointed Andrea Pirlo to head coach over the summer.

Similarly, he spent a good deal of time during the previous term out. He featured 18 times in Serie A during the 2018-19 term but missed four matches due to a suspension and another 16 because of injuries.

These were overwhelmingly muscular, with a hamstring problem keeping him out for two months only to be struck by a calf injury sustained after only 30 competitive minutes.

During his time in Turin, he has won three Scudetti, while he is also a two-time Bundesliga champion.

Yassin Mzamiru scored to help his team get a point against Mtibwa Sugar in the Tanzania Mainland League match played at Jamhuri Stadium, Morogoro on Saturday.

His 45th-minute strike gave the visitors a deserved lead but he did not celebrate, only to raise his hands signifying he was sorry for his former team. The 24-year-old has further clarified why he did not celebrate the goal.

"I could not celebrate after scoring [in the stroke of half-time]," the midfielder told the club's official portal.

"I have had a good relationship with Mtibwa since my time as their player to date."

Muzamiru was signed by Simba in 2017 alongside Shiza Kichuya and Mohammed Ibrahim, who have since left the 21-time league champions.

In Saturday's match, the hosts came back stronger after the break and managed to get an equalizing goal courtesy of Ugandan Boban Zirintusa.

Despite coach Sven Vandenbroeck bringing in Meddie Kagere and Francis Kahata in place of Bernard Morrison and Muzamiru, the champions were unable to score another goal.

As a result, Wekundu wa Msimbazi have four points from the two games played this season, after starting the campaign with a 2-1 win against newbies Ihefu FC.

In other league matches played on Saturday, Dodoma Jiji FC once again showed they mean business after humbling JKT Tanzania 2-0 to get their second win in their debut season in the league.

After a goalless first half, the Dodoma-based charges needed just five minutes in the second to hit the back of the net. Jamal Sudi Mtegeta was fed in the danger zone, the goalkeeper made wrong calculations and the forward rounded him before scoring from a tight angle.

The second goal came from former Gor Mahia and Alliance FC striker Dickson Ambundo, who capitalized on a defensive mistake to loop the ball past the helpless custodian who remained glued to the ground.

Meanwhile, KMC maintained their spot on top of the table after a 2-1 win against Tanzania Prisons.

The hosts opened the scoring in the 21st minute courtesy of Hassan Kabunda. However, Tanzania Prisons equalized in the 39th minute through Kassimu Mdoe before Kenneth Masumbuko hit the winner with five minutes to go.

Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs has heaped praise upon Mason Greenwood, who is a player so good he looks like “he’s going to score two every game”.

The 18-year-old has already made more than 50 senior appearances for the Old Trafford side, scoring 17 goals and creating five more assists in the process.

He has inherited the No 11 shirt that Giggs wore for the club during his time as a player, which ran from 1990 to 2014, and the Wales boss does not believe that he will buckle under the pressure of wearing such a storied number.

“He’s nearly already scored more goals than I did, so there’s no pressure in that respect. I don’t think he’ll feel the pressure of the number,” he told The Sun.

“He’s a brilliant player, who I don’t think he even looks like scoring every game - I think he’s going to score two every game, he’s  that much of a threat.

“He’s been playing off the right - eventually, I think he will go as a centre-forward - but he needs to go again. Opposition will be aware of him and they’ll be trying to stop him.

“He’s got to find a way to keep improving, which I’m sure he will do because he’s very hard to stop - left or right foot, his movement’s good - and he’s in an attacking team with the likes of Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes, who can find him.”

Meanwhile, Giggs is looking forward to an international clash with England next month in a friendly encounter.

“Wales against England in football, rugby, or whatever, is huge. And every player will want to be part of that” he said. “So it’s up to me to get the team selection right because then after that we’ve got two tough away Nations League games and we’re top of the group and  want to stay there.

“The lads all want to be involved in the England game. It’s a huge test for us because England are a top team. The players they can draw upon, they’re playing Champions League regularly and are top players, and they prove that.

"So it’s a real big test for us and it’s one we have to have to rise to at Wembley, but we’re a good team as well and we’ve got everyone available, so we’ll give England a good test.

“It means so much to the players and the fans and the country as a whole when we do play the likes of England, so it’ll be an emotional game, but one that obviously we need to use our emotions in the right way.”

Young Africans (Yanga SC) striker Michael Sarpong has explained why he celebrates his goals by placing one hand on the eye and another on the chest.

Sarpong has scored two goals for Yanga now after signing from Rayon Sports of Rwanda, where he had scored 30 goals across two seasons.

His two goals for Timu ya Wananchi came against Aigle Noir of Burundi - in a pre-season encounter - before getting the second against Tanzania Prisons in the season opener where they drew 1-1.

The Ghanaian is expected to fill the void left by David Molinga as Yanga are fighting to win the league title once more since surrendering it to their Kariakoo rivals Simba SC in the last three seasons.

“I am happy I have got chances to score but what is important to note is that the goals are coming courtesy of the unity I have experienced with my teammates,” Sarpong told Soka Letu.

“I always celebrate my goals in the fashion that I do because I believe the goals are coming not because of my personal ability but it is because of God's blessings.”

Meanwhile, Mbeya City head coach Amri Said has explained how he has planned to face and beat Yanga in the second match of the 2020/21 season at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.

Mbeya City were defeated in their opening match by KMC FC by a 4-0 margin and have a rather tough task of facing the record champions in Dar es Salaam as they look for their maiden points of the campaign.

“This is a game that is going to be won by how teams deploy themselves tactically and how they implement those tactics,” Said told Soka Letu.

“You know both sides are coming to fight for wins given what they registered in the previous matches and for that reason, it is going to be a very tough match.

“I believe my players will be in the right frame of mind to fight and win because that is what we really need.

“Our opener [vs KMC] was a game that acted like a class for us where we picked areas we committed mistakes. I know Yanga are a big side and we will face them on the pitch with the utmost respect.

“What we will also need is support from our fans.”

The match will start at 17:00 EAT.

Kaizer Chiefs is expected to announce the appointment of Gavin Hunt as their head coach in the near future with Doctor Khumalo and Kwanele Kopo set to join him on the technical team. 

According to Sunday Times, Hunt's move to Amakhosi is as good as done with both parties in the final stages of concluding the deal. 

The publication reports that the only thing that's delaying the deal is for Hunt to agree to the length of the contract and his salary package. 

Contact for comment, Hunt, however, gave nothing away as he unsurprisingly denied to the story. 

"Is it? Geez, you've got very good sources. What? Geez, your sources are unbelievable," Hunt told Sunday Times. 

"I'm in Cape Town right now and I haven't spoken to anybody. So, I don't know where you are getting your stories.

"Unbelievable, unbelievable! I've got nothing to say. All I can say is that I'm in Cape Town with my family."

Furthermore, Sunday Times reports that Hunt will be assisted by Chiefs legend Khumalo and former SuperSport United assistant coach Kwanele Kopo. 

Khumalo was the assistant to Stuart Baxter when Amakhosi dominated the domestic league between 2012 and 2015. 

He also worked closely with Steve Komphela for a year before deciding to leave the Naturena-based side for Baroka FC. 

The South African football legend hasn't been attached to any team since leaving Baroka in 2018. 

On the other hand, Kopo is an assistant to David Notoane at the South African U23 national team.

His relationship with Hunt stretches back to over a decade when the pair worked together at SuperSport United alongside the late Thomas Madigage. 

Amakhosi are currently without a coach after parting ways with both Ernst Middendorp and Shaun Bartlett in midweek. 

The duo failed to secure the league title for the club on the final day of the season despite guiding Chiefs to the summit of the PSL for 13 months. 

And the club saw the need to sack them and start a new project with a new coach and a new technical team for the upcoming season.  

N'Golo Kante can bounce back for Chelsea this season, with former team-mate Mark Schwarzer believing the midfielder has been in desperate need of a break from football. 

The 29-year-old was restricted to 28 appearances for the Blues last season with minor injuries keeping him sidelined after playing 53 matches the campaign before. 

Kante was criticised in some quarters for his performances over the past year, with Inter currently exploring the possibility of a transfer and the Blues reportedly open to cashing in on the Frenchman. 

Manager Frank Lampard however has declared Kante 'fundamental' to his squad, with Schwarzer, who crossed paths with Kante at Leicester City, adamant he can step up again for the Blues having previously pushed his body too far. 

"I’m a massive fan of Kante, I think he’s a phenomenal player," Schwarzer told Goal. "His rise to stardom has been well documented and having been with him for that one season at Leicester, it was a joy to be there, watching and playing with him.

"I think it’s all just caught up with him physically because he’s a player that’s very mobile, does a lot of work all over the pitch, it's taken its toll.

"He’s played a lot of the time with little niggling injuries and he’s played through the pain barrier and I think last season it caught up with him a lot. He struggled to get any real consistency in terms of game time because of his injuries.

"I hope this season after the coronavirus break he has hopefully given his body time to recover and hopefully get things right physically. If he can do that he’ll be a massive asset for Chelsea. I hope they keep hold of him."

Along with Kante, Schwarzer also played briefly with Lampard at Chelsea and he isn't surprised by Blues coach's smooth transition to coaching, noting that the club legend will be given time to deliver silverware. 

"I always felt whatever he did he’d be a success. Post-football he was a pundit and I thought he was exceptional," Schwarzer said.

"So often we’ve seen in the past world-class players don’t make top-class managers and so far Frank’s the one anomaly. He’s showing that he’s got the potential. His first season at Chelsea I felt he did a tremendous job all things considered and now it’s a different challenge. They’ve got to start well.

"Frank is a legend there, the fans adore him and he will get that extra bit of leeway to deliver. He’s shown all the right attributes to be a success."

It has been a busy summer for Chelsea with the club securing deals for Timo Werner, Kai Havertz and Ben Chilwell among others. Werner has hit the ground running with a goal in pre-season and Schwarzer believes he won't struggle adapting to life at Stamford Bridge.

"You’ve already seen with Werner it’s been a pretty easy transition for him so far. Add to the mix the no crowds and I think it will be a bit easier to make that transition," he said. "The way he plays is very much suited to the game Chelsea want to play. He’s slotted in very well." 

Every match of the Premier League is exclusively live to Optus Sport in Australia. If you’re not with Optus Sport, you can celebrate the return of Premier League with a new annual pass for just $99* for 12 months. 

Saint-Etienne head coach Claude Puel has warned there is a great deal of “fake news” surrounding centre-back Wesley Fofana's proposed move to Leicester.

Speaking on Thursday, Fofana told L'Equipe he would be "crazy" to turn down the opportunity of a switch to the Premier League club and said he had accepted a contract offer from them.

Saint-Etienne, though, have not accepted any offer, despite reports of a £27m million (€29m/$34m) deal.

Former Foxes and Southampton boss Puel deployed the 19-year-old at the heart of his defence on Saturday as Saint-Etienne continued their positive start to the Ligue 1 campaign with a 2-0 win over Strasbourg.

After the encounter, he was questioned on the future of his young charge and was positive about the future of a player who will not turn 20 until December.

“There’s been no meeting in relation to his situation,” Puel told Canal+. “The subject has not been discussed at board level. It’s been made into a soap opera with a lot of fake news, and I’d prefer not to make a comment.”

Meanwhile, the coach was full of praise for the manner in which the defender has conducted himself on the field after a difficult period.

“Wesley has been going through some difficult things like any kid of his age,” he said. “He gave his answer tonight, though, and it was a very good answer.”

Saint-Etienne picked up the victory thanks to goals from Denis Bouanga and Mahdi Camara, but impressed defensively in the face of pressure.

The Loire side recently produced another top centre-back prospect in the form of William Saliba, who moved to Arsenal in 2018 for £27m before switching back to the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard side last season on loan.

Leicester, whose decision to leave the No 3 shirt vacant when they released their squad numbers for the new campaign sparked more talk that they might sign Fofana, begin their Premier League campaign on Sunday away to WBA.

Brendan Rodgers side have made only one major addition over the course of the summer to date, snapping up Belgium international right-back Timothy Castagne from Atalanta. 

Rodgers, meanwhile, has previously intimated that he would like several new additions to strengthen the depth of his squad as they chase Champions League football.

Kenyan heavyweights AFC Leopards are reportedly eyeing Ugandan star Muzamir Mutyaba, who recently left Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA FC).

Ingwe are understood to be in dire need of an attacker since the departure of John Makwatta in January to Zesco United left a big hole in the striking department.

Coach Anthony Kimani is said to have listed the need to strengthen the area by bringing one who can help Elvis Rupia in the upcoming season.

The 13-time league winners are yet to confirm any new players up to this point.

Three Kenyan Premier League (KPL) clubs are reportedly interested in Onduparaka FC striker Julius Malingumu.

According to reports, former KPL champions Tusker are in advanced talks with the Ugandan attacker even though Sofapaka and another unnamed KPL side have approached him.

Tusker will need to find a replacement for their previous top scorer Timothy Otieno, who has joined Zambian Super League side Napsa Stars.

Sofapaka have also been looking for a proper replacement for Umaru Kasumba who left in 2019 after scoring 17 goals for them. Ronald Okoth’s retirement is also thought to have jolted the 2009 KPL champions into quick action to find another attacker.

With reports linking the Brewers to Malingumu, rumours have it that coach Robert Matano has identified Western Stima right-back Kevin Monyi as his primary transfer target.

Matano has already signed defender Christopher Oruchum from AFC Leopards as he aims to strengthen the defensive area.

Newly-promoted KPL side Bidco United have reportedly released seven players. Among the released are goalkeepers Franklin Mwendwa, Elix Otieno and former Thika United’s Eliud Emase.

Defender John Oginga, midfielder Collins Marita, winger Peter Mwangi and forward Anthony Kamei are the players who are said to have left the Thika-based club.

Nzoia Sugar are in advanced talks to sign Moses Mudavadi. The Kenya U23 star is said to have been listed by the Sugar Millers as the main transfer target after he was released by coastal side Bandari.

Finally, National Super League (NSL) side Ushuru are reportedly in advanced talks with Levin Ochieng, Joseph Shikokoti and Shela Mandela of Nairobi Stima.

Nairobi Stima – just like their KPL counterparts Western Stima – are in a battle to keep their key playing assets after they lost the parent sponsor Kenya Power and Lighting Company.

James Rodriguez hopes other "big names" will join him at Everton as they target a strong 2020-21 season.

James joined the Premier League club from Real Madrid for £22 million (€24m/$29m) earlier this month in a huge coup for Everton.

The playmaker is reunited with Carlo Ancelotti, who coached him at Madrid and Bayern Munich, as Everton look to improve on last season's 12th-place finish.

James, 29, hopes there is further growth to come at Goodison Park.

"We can't afford to be up and down in our performances. It helps obviously when you've got a great and hugely knowledgeable manager that we have," he said. "The club has proved its intent with the three signings it's made in this window and let's hope that, in the next few months, we can show that optimism.

"Let's hope over the period of seasons and the next few years, other big names will come in to join us."

James is one of four arrivals at Everton, with Allan, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Niels Nkounkou also signed. The Colombia international hopes Ancelotti's side can push for a top-four finish, something they last managed in 2004-05.

"There are some serious-minded people at this club who mean business about getting this club into those Champions League places and that's very important, I think," James said. "Obviously you have to fight hard to get in those places and what you have to do is show consistency.

"In a Premier League season you're talking about a game every three or four days a lot of the season, so you have to show a high standard and display a high standard of football not just every other game, but every game.

"We need to be consistent and perform at our highest level if we want to be up there fighting for those top places."

James moves to Goodison Park having made just eight appearances in La Liga for Real last season as Zinedine Zidane's men lifted the title, and had less than a year left on his contract with the Santiago Bernabeu side.  

Everton begin their Premier League season against Tottenham on Sunday.

Gor Mahia captain Kenneth Muguna hopes the team will get a chance of winning the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) title on the pitch next season.

The 2019/20 was annulled, owing to the Covid-19 outbreak, with K'ogalo being crowned by the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) and as a result, got a chance to play in the Caf Champions League in the 2020/21 season.

"Any player or team would love to win and be crowned on the pitch," Muguna told NTV.

"However, in this case, we had no option but to accept the outcome because of the pandemic.

"Next season, I hope we can have a chance of winning the league the right way, on the pitch."

The 24-year-old has also advised on how K'ogalo should prepare for the Caf Champions League after failing to get into the group stage on a number of occasions in the past few seasons.

"We have to prepare well because we have been in the competition more than three times and experience the same outcome," Muguna continued.

"At least now, we have experience and know what is required at that level. We must have good preparations; the players have to give their all, knowing this is a different competition and not the league.

"The management also should try and work together with the players and the technical bench."

The soft-speaking Muguna has also spoken about the character of coach Steven Polack and went on to reveal he hopes to win the KPL Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award after doing so in 2016 at Western Stima.

"Polack is a good coach who loves football, and spends most of his time on the pitch," Muguna added.

"One thing about him is that he loves what is doing and demands discipline from his players.

"Winning the MVP was special, a special feeling for me and I would love to do it again. However, my main aim is to help the team perform well because I do not want to win and the team does not."

Gor Mahia lost assistant captain Joash Onyango to Tanzania Mainland League champions Simba SC, and the midfielder has opined on the transfer.

"When a day comes, there is no option, it was Onyango's turn to leave because one cannot work in the same place forever. We wish him all the best," Muguna concluded.

Aster Vranckx has produced an early and very strong candidate for miss of the season after his failed effort in Mechelen's 1-0 loss to KV Oostende in Belgium's first division on Saturday. 

With the game goalless in the 67th minute, the 17-year-old found himself gifted an open goal after a shot from his team-mate struck the crossbar. 

After chesting the ball down, Vranckx was left with the simplest of finishes but ended up tripping over, colliding with the post and seeing the ball ultimately cleared by a scrambling defender. 

It's a miss that must be seen to be believed and is reminiscent of an effort from Paris-Saint Germain forward Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting not long ago.

Vranckx's blunder would prove costly too, with Oostende going on to score an injury-time winner courtesy of Celtic loanee Jack Hendry. 

Remarkably, the teenager kept his cool when asked about his miss post-match, suggesting he has the mentality to recover from the embarrassing incident. 

“I think I just had to kick the ball in. I took it wrong, and then I missed it," Vranckx told Eleven Sports. "It's a shame that I missed, but I'm just going to look to the next match and not let my head go crazy."

Vranckx, generally deployed as a central midfielder, has already scored this season and established himself as a key part of Mechelen's side after breaking through last year. 

Manager Wouter Vrancken was in a forgiving mood post-match, declaring luck simply wasn't on his team's side and was quick to point out Vranckx's otherwise strong performance. 

“If those balls don't even go in, you get the feeling that it's not going to be," he said. "I don't blame Aster. When you see how that 17-year-old boy stood out above everyone else today, you shouldn't blame him.

"Above all, we must not enter a downward spiral after this defeat. Until now we have always been able to deliver quality and we will continue to do so." 

Mechelen currently sit 14th in the Belgian Pro League with one win, two draws and two losses to show from their first five matches of the new season. The club will be hoping to improve upon their strong showing last season that saw them finish sixth and get within touching distance of a spot in the Europa League qualifiers. 

It has lately been a period of good news for East Bengal fans after a relatively frustrating 2019-20 season on and off the field.

The Red and Golds struggled in the I-League and were nowhere near the eventual champions Mohun Bagan. They were reportedly in a tiff with former investors Quess Corp over the transfer of sporting right required to continue operations in the upcoming season.

It took some time to sort out, with the Bengaluru-based company pulling out of East Bengal once and for all. However, that cast a huge shadow of doubt over the financial health of the club. And at one point, it seemed they might have to continue in the I-League and not play in the Indian Super League (ISL) unlike Mohun Bagan who merged with ATK.

But thanks to the intervention of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the club were able to rope in Shree Cement Limited as their new investors - a development that also paved a way to their eventual inclusion in the ISL. In fact, Shree Cement Limited, who now own around 76 per cent stakes in the club, have already picked up the bid documents needed to enter ISL.

The fans, obviously, are overjoyed at this development. More importantly, they should rest easy knowing that their club's future lies in the hands of an entrepreneur many consider to be an industry leader.

The Managing Director of Shree Cement Limited is none other than Hari Mohan Bangur who has played a key role in shaping the destiny of his firm in the last 20-odd years.

After almost 19 years of work experience at several firms, Hari Mohan Bangur joined his father Benu Gopal Bangur in 1991 after the Bangur Group underwent a three-way split. It was in 1997 that Benu and his son would get the cement business. Hari Mohan would slowly assume control of the firm, turning it into the behemoth it is currently.

To put it in context, in 1997, Shree Cement was a $56 million business. Today, its revenues exceed $1 billion, ie a growth ofabout 20x in around 25 years. The market capitalization has reached $8.7 billion and Hari Mohan and his father hold almost 65 per cent stakes in the company.

Though headquartered in Kolkata, Shree Cement empire currently stretches across Central and North India. They are India's second largest cement manufacturers. They do not have any plants in West Bengal, however. And that is one of the reasons behind Hari Mohan's decision to invest in East Bengal - a club which is also a source of pride for a lot of Bengalis.

Mamata Banerjee's work in finalising the deal was also well appreciated by the cement tycoon.

“Shree Cement does not have any plants in West Bengal. We were thinking of doing something in West Bengal for a long time. So when Didi (Mamata Banerjee) approached us for supporting East Bengal we readily agreed. The credit for bringing the company and East Bengal together fully goes to our beloved Didi," Hari Mohan told Goal.

"She was fully involved in the deal since day one. The deal was materialized only due to her untiring efforts. At several points during the discussions when it appeared that there was a deadlock, it was Didi who sorted things out for both of us.”

The success did not come easy for Hari Mohan though. By the late 1990s, Shree Cement was struggling on the face of a global economic slowdown and Hari Mohan almost sold the company to French cement firm Vicat. It was agreed in Paris in July of 2000 that Vicat would pay about $65 million for the entire business.

However, Hari Mohan did not want to let go of his and his family's legacy and backed out of the deal in the eleventh hour.

The fact that his company was still attracting buyers gave him confidence and he brought about several changes in operation that turned the fortunes around. In the last 15 years, Shree Cements' share prices have risen from ₹50 to ₹18500, at a compounded growth rate of 48.3 per cent, making it the best performing cement stock in India.

Behind the turnaround was a decision to utilise research and technology to cut costs. He found out that Petroleum Coke, a waste by-product sold cheap by Reliance Industries, could be a fuel for cement manufacturing. It was such a success that Bangurs kept it a trade secret for almost eight years. Even now, according to experts, Shree Cement enjoys an average 25 per cent cost edge on most of their Indian rivals.

In short, Hari Mohan is someone who has survived tough times, has displayed innovation to grow his firm and takes bold decisions, Clearly, he is somone who values legacy and fights to the utmost end to honour it. 

These are qualities that should gladden the hearts of East Bengal fans, for here is a man who knows how to revive a struggling entity, innovating and adapting to the ever-changing world while respecting its legacy.

"East Bengal and Mohun Bagan are two iconic football clubs of the country. These clubs are the pride of Bengal. The love and passion for football and these clubs, in particular, is in the blood of every Bengali," he said.

Hari Mohan Bangur is not just a successful entrepreneur, he is also an avid sports lover. Before entering the world of Indian football, Shree Cement was associated with the Indian National Hockey team.

Back in 2010 during the Hockey World Cup, they had entered into a sponsorship deal with the Indian hockey players which would see the hockey sticks of each and every player carrying the company logo.

The company has also patronized volleyball in India in the past and the man himself is a national level Bridge player.

“Shree Cement has been active in sports for a long time. We have been patronizing volleyball, hockey, etc. in the past. I myself am a national level Bridge player and a sports lover,” he added.

The company would not just promote football but other sports too at East Bengal and would like to participate in every national and international competition, according to their Managing Director.

“Shree would work together with the club for the promotion of various sports not limited to football alone. We would like the club to participate in various local, national and international level tournaments. The modalities or structure of investing is still being worked on,” he opined.

What is clear is one fact - Hari Mohan Bangur and his son Prashant are entrepreneurs with a vision. And judging by how they have turned Shree Cement into cement royalty, East Bengal also can expect that level of commitment from their new patrons.

East Bengal are a club with a lot of heritage and history who have struggled on the field of late. Under Hari Mohan Bangur and Shree Cement's leadership, the fans will be hoping their fortunes will change for the better in a new era, in a new surrounding.

Terengganu FC 0-1 Johor Darul Ta'zim

JDT increased their lead at the top of the table from six points to eight points thanks to a solitary goal from Safawi Rasid, who made his first start for the reigning champions in this MSL resumption.

Perak 1-0 UiTM FC

Mehmet Durakovic's boys bounced back from that crushing defeat last week and had Shahrel Fikri to thank for returning to winning ways.

It was a display of efficiency from the leading striker on each team as points were shared at UiTM Stadium with Brendan Gan receiving his marching orders.

Felda United 1-2 Kedah

Three in a row now for Kedah as this away win pushed them up behind JDT in the standings.

Beleaguered Pahang had Ivan Carlos back in the team and he produced a stunning free kick to help the Elephants back on the right track. 

PJ City FC 1-1 Sabah

A draw that does neither any good in their battle to stave off relegation but PJ City will rue the misses right at the end.

The Coronavirus pandemic has resulted in sporting activities without fans inside stadiums in most parts of the world. The seventh season of Indian Super League (ISL) is also set to be played behind closed doors in Goa later this year. But what if it wasn't? 

Since the Indian Super League started in 2014, there has always been one clear winner in the category of 'the biggest crowd-puller'.

Kerala Blasters started their journey by managing to attract more than 50000 spectators per game at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi. After the FIFA U-17 World Cup for which the JLN stadium was also a venue, the capacity was reduced and the team also struggled on the field, resulting in smaller turnouts in recent years. But both in the stands on social media, Blasters remained ISL's crowd-puller. 

But their status will now be tested with the entry of two of the biggest Indian football clubs into the scene. Mohun Bagan have merged with ATK to form ATK Mohun Bagan and East Bengal's entry into the ISL has been confirmed by the Chief Minister of West Bengal.

The two clubs, known as the Kolkata giants, and from a region famously known as the 'Mecca of Indian Football' will surely change the look and feel of the whole league. 

There will be space for social media campaigns because the upcoming season will be played without fans inside the stadium but if it ever a battle for supremacy in terms of the atmosphere inside the stadium, the league would have had a mouth-watering contest on its hands.

A fixture involving any two of Kerala Blasters, ATK Mohun Bagan and East Bengal would have witnessed a sell-out crowd but unfortunately, the Indian football aficionados will be kept waiting for such an experience. 

Last season, in terms of average attendance figures, Blasters were ranked third in the list behind toppers ATK and runners-up Jamshedpur. But with the focus now on TV and OTT (over the top) viewers and strength on social media, Kerala Blasters fanbase have lately become unmatched (if in doubt, do check out the engagement for Kerala Blasters-related posts on social media).

But this was also because fans of East Bengal and Mohun Bagan couldn't care less about the Indian Super League until recently when the doors were opened. At least next season, neutrals could witness a different winner in polls wherein Kerala Blasters are featured. 

Marcelinho Leite Pereira became an instant success in his maiden season in the Indian Super League (ISL) in 2016 when he was part of Delhi Dynamos.

The Brazilian forward had bagged the Golden Shoe award in the league scoring 10 goals in 15 appearances and had assisted five times.

Since then, he has been a regular in the ISL, plying his trade with FC Pune City for two years and Hyderabad FC for a year and has been amongst the top players in the league.

Last season, even though, Hyderabad finished at the bottom of the ISL table, the Brazilian still managed to score seven goals and provide two assists in 17 matches and was arguably the club’s best performer.

Marcelinho has now once again decided to rejoin his former employers. It has to be noted that Delhi Dynamos were rechristened as Odisha FC after the owners had decided to change their base last season.

The talismanic striker revealed that the new challenge in Odisha is what prompted him to jump ship this season.

“After a hard season with Hyderabad FC, the new team (Odisha FC) made me feel motivated. The club management and the coach (Stuart Baxter) showed a lot of interest in me and that is what prompted me to join the club,” Marcelinho told Goal.

The 2020-21 season will be the fifth consecutive season for the Brazilian in India and the forward suggested that he has seen Indian players grow massively in the past five years.

“Each season has been crucial for them (Indian players). We always see new faces and new talents. I am sure we will get to see more young stars this year.

“The Indian players are improving every year thanks to the way the ISL is organised and with experience from foreign players and coach, for the future, we will see Indian players moving and going to other countries,” the experienced player explained.

Former South African national team coach Stuart Baxter has taken over at Odisha FC as their manager this season and Marcelinho suggested that he is looking forward to working with such an experienced manager.

“I have a lot of expectations. I want to see how he will manage the Indian youngsters and foreign players, that's the balance that makes a team good. But I also know that he has experience in Asia as well as worldwide and he will successfully manage the team.

Marcelinho revealed that the affection he gets from the Indian fans convinced him to continue his stint in India for the fifth consecutive season.

“The love and affection from fans, respect developed from all the parties involved, staff, media and players make me feel beloved and continue my life in India. The organization and lifestyle are different from my country but it is a nice experience for me, I love it all.”

The ISL this season will be conducted in a centralised venue (Goa) without the presence of fans due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. The Brazilian suggested that while the lack of travelling will benefit the teams, the players will miss playing in front of the enthusiastic Indian fans.

“It will be something strange for me to play without the fans, to be honest. I hope for a better world after this season and a normal life. There will be an advantage of playing without any travelling but the disadvantage is that I will miss the fans screaming,” said the former Atletico Madrid ‘B’ striker.

Barcelona began Ronald Koeman's tenure as manager with a 3-1 friendly win over Gimnastic de Tarragona on Saturday. 

After Ousmane Dembele opened the scoring in the fifth minute, penalties from Antoine Griezmann and Philippe Coutinho guided Koeman's side to a comfortable victory.

Barcelona lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, a system rarely used at the club in the past, with the entire starting side switched out at half-time.

Sergio Busquets and Carles Alena began the match as the holding midfielders before being replaced by Frenkie de Jong and Riqui Puig, with Koeman stressing afterwards that having two players occupy such a role will allow the team to attack with more versatility. 

"It may be different and somewhat more defensive than what has been seen in recent years, but the objective is to move the ball, hold on to it and find the spaces to play between the lines, and behind rival midfielders," Koeman said post-match. 

"I think this team can do it because we have midfielders to play like that.

"The most important thing is that fortunately there have been no injuries. Everyone has played 45 minutes. There were moments of good intensity. There are always things to improve on but we're happy. We have been here for two weeks and we have two more to go.

"It is important that they already play because it is not a normal pre-season. We only have four weeks, not six. It is complicated. What we want to do now is physical work and in the next two weeks work on the tactical side more."

After his failed attempt to leave Camp Nou, Messi started the match as captain and seemed happy to be back on the pitch following so much off-field drama. 

While Messi featured in the friendly played at Johan Cruyff Stadium, Luis Suarez and Arturo Vidal were notable omissions with both players linked with a possible Barcelona departure in recent weeks. 

Suarez was believed to be close to joining Juventus, while Vidal may also be heading to Serie A with Inter reportedly keen to bring the midfielder to Milan. 

Barcelona will play another pre-season friendly on Wednesday against Girona before kicking off their La Liga season against Villarreal on September 26. 

David Okereke has scored his first goal of 2020 in Club Brugge’s 4-1 triumph over Waasland-Beveren in Saturday’s Belgian First Division A encounter.

Since netting a brace against Zulte-Waregem on December 26, 2019, the former Nigeria U23 star has gone on a run of nine months without finding the net.

Against Wase Wolven, however, the former Spezia man returned to scoring ways inside Jan Breydel Stadium that accommodated over 9,000 fans.

Hans Vanaken gave the Blue-Black a 16th minute lead from the penalty mark after Morocco’s Amine Khammas had brought down Nigeria’s Emmanuel Dennis. Referee Erik Lambrechts pointed to the spot before the Belgian slotted the ball past goalkeeper Nordin Jackers.

Daan Heymans equalised for the visitors on the half hour mark with VAR upholding the goal despite Aleksandar Vukotic’s tackle on Clinton Mata before the goal was scored.

Nine minutes later, Vanaken restored the hosts’ lead after heading home Ruud Vormer’s corner kick to hand Philippe Clement’s men a 2-1 lead going into the half-time break.

Five minutes into the second-half, Okereke found the net after Eduard Sobol’s cross touched his shin before sailing into the net. In the 84th minute, substitute Michael Krmencik wrapped up the win as Nicky Hayen’s men returned home with heads bowed low.

After an impressive evening, Okereke was replaced in the 78th minute by Senegal international Krepin Diatta. His compatriot, Dennis, who was cautioned in the 52nd minute, came off after 72 minutes for Belgium’s Charles De Ketelaere. Cote d'Ivoire's duo of Simon Deli and Odilon Kossounou including Angola's Mata were in action from start to finish.

For the visitors, Belgium-born striker of Senegalese descent Aboubakary Koita and Khammas lasted for the whole duration.

Thanks to this result, Club Brugge are third in the Jupiler League log having garnered nine points from five matches, with Waregem sitting in seventh position with six points.

Okereke would be hoping to find the net again when his club travel to Regenboogstadion for Sunday's clash with Zulte Waregem that parade Ghana’s Daniel Opare and Burundi international Saido Berahino. On Saturday, Waasland-Beveren welcome Anderlecht to the Freethiel Stadion.