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The Uganda U17 women's team has received a major financial boost as they prepare to face Cameroon in the Fifa U17 World Cup qualifiers.

According to Fufa Communications Director Ahmed Hussein, a total of 35 players will each receive USD100 as financial support from the Federation of Uganda Football Association (Fufa) ahead of the crunch two-legged fixture.

“Fufa will release funds to 35 players in the U17 Girls’ national team and each player will receive $100 to aid them in personal training as they prepare for the final stage of the Fifa U17 World cup qualifiers with Cameroon,” Hussein told the Fufa official website.

“The coaches have been in constant engagement with the players, sharing training manuals as we wait for the Government to lift the lockdown on sports activities.

“We believe this financial facilitation will help the players to continue with personal training as we work around plans to get the team to camp in preparation for the matches against Cameroon.”

The statement continued: “Fufa is ready to support the team so that we realise our target of qualifying for the 2021 Fifa U17 Women’s World Cup in India.”

Uganda will face Cameroon in the final qualifying round of the 2021 Fifa U17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers with the first leg in Kampala slated to take place between October 31 and November 2, 2020, with the return leg set for a fortnight later.

Uganda under coach Ayub Khalifan reached this stage after eliminating Ethiopia and Tanzania in the preliminary and first-rounds respectively.

“The beneficiaries of this financial support are players from the previous U17 squads plus six new faces named by head coach Khalifan,” Hussein continued.

The new faces in the squad include Gift Nasasira, Winnie Kwatira, Devine Mirembe, Aucho Kagongo, Ritah Mushimire and Kamuyati Naigaga.

The Full Squad; Goalkeepers; Daphine Nyayenga- Uganda Martyrs High School Joan Namusisi – Isra Soccer Academy, Zulaika Ngamita – Asubo Gafford Ladies and Gift Nasasira – Maroons WFC.

Defenders: Grace Aluka – Kawempe Muslim Ladies, Samalie Nakacwa – Kawempe Muslim Ladies, Sumaya Komuntale – Tooro Queens, Bira Naddunga – Olila High School, Gillian Akadinda – Olila High School, Gloria Namugerwa – Uganda Martyrs High School, Stella Musubuka – Kawemoe Muslim Ladies, Patricia Akiror – Ajax Queens FC, Winnie Kwatira – Jinja United FC, Devine Mirembe – Asubo Gafford Ladies FC, Shamira Nalugya – Kawempe Muslim Ladies, Shakira Nyinagahirwa – Kawempe Muslim Ladies, Kevin Nakacwa – Uganda Martyrs High School, Moreen Nangonzi – Ajax Queens FC, Aucho Kagongo – St. Noa, Ruth Nyakato – Tooro Queens FC, Phiona Matama- Watoto Girls, Sumaya Kyomuhendo – Isra Soccer Academy and Sumaya Tibazalika – Sumaya (Wakiso).

For the first time in a while, there is an air of optimism around Arsenal going into the season.

Some of that is to do with the afterglow of a 14th FA Cup triumph, achieved at the expense of London rivals Chelsea.

That, though, is only superficial; many are sensible enough to understand a trophy at the end of a disappointing league season only papers over cracks at best. No, the real source of excitement is the presence of Mikel Arteta at the helm and what that represents: a return to lofty standards, but also the sense of direction and deliberation he seems to exude.

Brazil international Willian was first through the door this window as far as transfers go, arriving on a free with Arteta’s express approbation.

The signing of Brazilian defender Gabriel Magalhaes, which by all accounts is imminent, means the heart of the Gunners’ defence is sorted for many years to come. There is also work being done to secure reinforcements in midfield, going by links to Thomas Partey and Houssem Aouar – if Arsenal were to force either (or both) of those deals through, they would be very pleased with their summer business. The transfers may be financially challenging to do, but the targets are clear.

The big question mark is upfront though, and ironically involves the club’s most consistent presence over the last three seasons.

Captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, whose goals saw Arsenal through the business end of their FA Cup run, has one year left on his contract with the club, and there has been no announcement of an agreement regarding an extension.

It is a delicate situation that Arteta has weighed in on, impressing on the club the necessity of retaining its best player as recently as early August. However, whether or not he does sign, there is another nagging concern to pay attention to.

Aubameyang is into his 32nd year, and it is only logical to anticipate a downturn in production at some point. While modern advancements in sports science and nutrition mean players are more and more able to extend their careers, the Gabon international is now at the age where strikers typically (and historically) begin to decline. So, while 70 goals in 109 appearances so far for Arsenal is a gargantuan contribution, it is statistically unlikely he will continue to score at that clip for the year(s) to come.

For many though, this line of thought is somewhat generalist and simplistic. Aubameyang is a physical freak: rarely injured and absolutely dedicated to his physical conditioning. Former Arsenal head of scouting Sven Mislintat described him as a “great athlete”, and his lithe frame and almost ascetically low body-fat percentage bear that out. If any player is capable to extending his peak years, it is surely him.

It is worth stressing though that it is far from an exact science. Especially if he continues to be used as he has been in Arteta’s system.

So far, being stationed out on the left of the attack has done Aubameyang no harm at all as concerns his goal output. However, a deeper look at his Expected Goals (xG) numbers actually suggests he is getting fewer chances, but has been able to, by virtue of his own gifts, make a similar number of bricks with less straw.

There is a bigger tactical concern though, in that playing there places a huge demand on him to defend, tracking the opposing right-back in order to keep the side defensively secure. This means more sprints, and more miles on the meter for a player well into his 30s—hardly the most efficient use of the latter years of his career.

Ideally, the responsibility to extend his peak would work both ways: the 31-year-old keeping his body in the best possible condition, but Arteta also devising a means by which his explosiveness can be harnessed in a less exhausting brief. Whether that be by playing him upfront, or by having him remain higher up the pitch while a midfield shuttler covers the right side, it would allow him focus on being an ever-present outlet in the final third. (Think Jamie Vardy and how his dotage has been managed, despite the received wisdom dictating speedsters flame out earlier).

Whether or not Aubameyang ultimately opts to stay on beyond the end of the coming season, Arsenal will look to their talismanic captain to once more supply the ammunition upfront at least over the next year. There is no doubting that he can, but in order to ensure that he does, the keyword will be efficiency.

Orlando Pirates are set to square off with their top three rivals SuperSport United in a Premier Soccer League (PSL) match on Saturday. 

This is a must-win match for Pirates, who are hoping to qualify for next season's Caf Confederation Cup, but they are struggling at the moment having failed to win their last six league matches.

Josef Zinnbauer's side will be desperate for a victory after succumbing to a disappointing 1-0 defeat to 10-man Cape Town City in their previous match.

They are placed fifth on the league standings - four points behind the third spot which guarantees a place in the Confederation Cup and it is currently occupied by SuperSport with three games left.

Pirates will face an in-form SuperSport side which is unbeaten in their last five matches in the league having recorded one draw and four wins including their recent 1-0 victory over Black Leopards. 

Matsatsantsa look destined to finish in the top three when looking at their current form and coach Kaitano Tembo knows that a victory over Pirates will see them take a giant step towards qualifying for the Confederation Cup. 

TV Channel, Live Score & How To Watch

The game will be shown live on SuperSport 4. 

Squads & Team News

Pirates have no suspension and injury issues heading into the clash with SuperSport, who thrashed them 3-0 in the first round league encounter in August 2019.

However, Zinnbauer still cannot use Justin Shonga, who remains suspended as he awaits the finalisation of the club's disciplinary proceedings against him.

The German coach will once again pin his hopes on Tshegofatso Mabasa, who has netted the Buccaneers' only goal since the current season resumed and he could be key to their win over Matsatsantsa.

SuperSport are yet to report any injuries in their camp ahead of their encounter with their Gauteng rivals and they do not have any players on this weekend's PSL suspension list.

Zimbabwean tactician Tembo will look to in-form Bradley Grobler, who has netted twice in Matsatsantsa's last four matches and he will be eager to inspire his side to a win over Bucs.

The Bafana Bafana international will be targeting goals which would boost his hopes of clinching this season's Golden Boot as he is currently one goal behind the league's joint-top scorers Frank Mhango of Pirates and Highlands Park striker Peter Shalulile. 

Match Preview

SuperSport are looking to complete a league double over Pirates for the first time since the 2013/14 season.

Matsatsantsa secured a 2-1 win over the Buccaneers away in Soweto, before recording a 2-0 victory at home in the second-round clash.

In head-to-head stats since 1990, Pirates and SuperSport have clashed in 57 league matches.

The Buccaneers have the upper hand having registered 23 wins compared to 19 for Matsatsantsa, while 15 games ended in a draw.

However, Pirates have recorded only one win in the last nine league meetings with SuperSport.

Creative midfielder Francis Kahata has welcomed the signing of defender Joash Onyango at Simba SC.

The 21-time league champions signed the Kenya defender a couple of weeks ago from Kenyan Premier League (KPL) side Gor Mahia. The 27-year-old was brought on board to help Wekundu wa Msimbazi tighten the defence of the team to have a better run, especially in continental outings.

"I was delighted when Joash Onyango was signed; he had a good season with Gor Mahia and his efforts have been rewarded," Kahata told Goal on Saturday.

"He has massive experience in domestic and international football, having played in the Caf Champions League as well as turning for the national team Harambee Stars.

"As Simba, we have set our targets as well for the new season and Onyango will play a vital role in helping us achieve them." 

Onyango, Kahata, and Rwandan Meddie Kagere played together in the KPL, and they have been reunited at the Tanzania Mainland League and, coincidentally, in one team.

How does it feel playing together again after several seasons apart?

"It is a good feeling for him joining us; a reunion in the team for me, Onyango and Kagere," Kahata added.

"However, the most important thing is to give our best in the team and ensure we are valuable. 

"We need to help Simba have a good season. We want to perform better especially in the Caf Champions League and I am confident everybody will play his role in ensuring we meet our objectives."  

Onyango is expected to make his full competitive debut on Sunday when the Msimbazi-based side plays Namungo FC in the Community Shield. 

Simba qualified after winning the league in the 2019/20 season while Namungo were losing finalists in the FA Cup final; which Wekundu wa Msimbazi won 2-1.

While Namungo are playing the Community Shield final for the first time in their history, this will be the third time in a row for Simba to raise the curtain on the league.

They have been boosted by the arrival of two of their key players, newlywed duo Luis Miquissone and Pascal Wawa.

The two players had returned to their countries, Mozambique and Ivory Coast respectively, to tie the knot before rejoining their teammates in preparation for the new season.

Young Africans (Yanga SC) fans can now breathe a sigh of relief after their new coach Zlatko Krmpotic arrived ready to take over reigns at the club.

The Jangwani giants had thought they had secured the services of a new coach to replace Luc Eymael when they appointed Burundian Cedric Kaze, who later turned down the offer to attend to family matters back home.

With Kaze opting out, Yanga were left scratching their heads again as time was already running out to have a coach in place ahead of the new season which kicks-off on September 6.

However, on Friday, the club confirmed they had hired the services of the much-travelled Serbian coach, though many fans felt they will only believe the appointment when they see him arrive in Tanzania.

The Serbian coach has now landed in Dar es Salaam ready for the task ahead only promising fans he will do his best to help the team win silverware in the coming campaign.

“I have just arrived and will have to meet the team and see what kind of players we have in the squad but I can promise a good campaign in the coming season,” the coach told reporters after arriving on Saturday.

The 62-year-old has vast experience in coaching in Africa, having handled APR of Rwanda, Zesco United (Zambia), Tout Puissant Mazembe (the Democratic Republic of the Congo) and Polokwane City in South Africa.

It was in DR Congo when he was named the best coach of the championship in the 2016-2017 season and was also named the best coach of the Zambian Super League in 2017-2018, the best coach of the Botswana Premier League in 2018 and the best coach of Africa 2017-2018.

During his playing career, between 1977 and 1986, Krmpotic spent nine seasons with Red Star Belgrade, making over 200 appearances in all competitions and winning five major trophies.

At international level, Krmpotic represented Yugoslavia at the 1982 Fifa World Cup, making two appearances in the process, as the team finished third in Group 5. He previously won the Uefa European Under-21 Championship in 1978.

Timu Ya Wananchi have been without a coach since July 27 when they sacked Eymael for derogatory comments towards the club, the fans, and the Tanzanian Football Federation (TFF).

The Belgian coach was appointed early in the year and took the reins of the team from Boniface Mkwasa, who was acting as an interim coach.

Eymael’s comments saw him sacked even after leading Yanga to second spot; a position they fought to the end with Azam FC.

His first match in charge will be against Tanzania Prisons on September 6.

Bidvest Wits central defender Lorenzo Gordinho says he is looking forward to their clash with Kaizer Chiefs in their next PSL clash on Sunday afternoon.

Chiefs will be gunning for their second win since the restart of the current season, while the Clever Boys will also be looking to secure their second victory this month. 

Bafana Bafana defender Gordinho expects a tough game against a wounded Chiefs side, who lost to Mamelodi Sundowns on Thursday evening.

“It’s a game I’m looking forward to,” Gordinho told the media.

“I’m looking forward to playing against my former teammates. I’m going to give my best so we can get a good result.

“I think it’s going to be a tough game. We’ve been watching [Bloemfontein] Celtic and they’ve been playing some good football," he continued. 

“Their confidence is high having reached the final of the Nedbank Cup. I think it’s gonna be a good game, it’s gonna be another fight to get points.”

After completing his switch from Chiefs to Wits in January, the 26-year-old shares his experience in the Biologically Safe Environment (BSE) so far, suggesting he is content with their progress so far.

“I think it’s been a decent time for us in the bubble,” he added.

“We have only lost once to Sundowns. We are working hard to start winning games. There are not many games left and we want to finish the season on a strong note.

“I just feel like sometimes we concede goals that are not directly in our control like set-pieces and things like that, which we have been working on," he explained. 

“I think we’re doing much better now to keep those clean sheets.”

Wits sit fourth on the log table with 46 points whilst leaders Chiefs are level on points (53) with second-placed Mamelodi Sundowns, but they are separated by goal difference.

Meanwhile, the clash is seen as a make or break for Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp especially following their 1-0 loss to Sundowns at Orlando Stadium.

Young Indian midfielder Amarjit Singh Kiyam's international career was dealt a massive blow when he picked up an injury just before the Indian team's World Cup qualifiers in September 2019.

The Jamshedpur midfielder had fractured his arm in training and missed out on a chance to show the world why head coach Igor Stimac had placed immense trust on a 19-year-old to take control of his team's midfield. 

He recovered in a few months and returned to action at the turn of the year to play for his club in the Indian Super League (ISL). Looking back, the midfielder feels the support he received from the head coach of the national team was crucial for his mental recovery. 

"It was a very unfortunate moment for me. It was my dream to play in the first XI in the World Cup qualification rounds but because of my injury, I got very sad that I would not be able to participate," the player spoke during an Instagram live conversation with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Friday.

He continued. "When the coach (Stimac) came to the ground and said to me 'Amarjit, be strong. You will come back stronger', all my fears vanished. He even gave me his number and told me to call him if I needed anything. That gave me more of a belief to make a comeback in the team."

Amarjit reserved special praise for Stimac's approach behind the scenes. The youngster feels that coach does not discriminate between players and values effort and commitment to the cause more than anything.

He said, "He sees senior and junior players equally. He likes anyone who gives their 100 per cent. The transition of play - from attack to defence and defence to attack - is a very important factor for him. As I play as a defensive midfielder, I have to be quick to supply the ball to the nearest player and I try my best to apply whatever the coach likes."

The former Indian Arrows midfielder played only eight matches last season in the ISL and will be looking to get minutes under his belt when the Coronavirus-hit season starts rolling later this year.  
 

Percy Tau ensured Anderlecht took something out of their Jupiler League game with Oostende on Friday, netting an equaliser with the match ending 2-2.

The South African forward - on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion, was making his first start for Purple and Whites having started the last two from the bench.

It was the home team that took the lead with Robbie D'Haese and Senegal forward Makhtar Gueye (from the penalty spot) doing the goalscoring honours before Adrien Trebel halved the deficit in the 35th minute.

With the game at 2-1 heading into the break, there was hope that Anderlecht – under the watch of former Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany, would maintain their unbeaten start to the season and they did thanks to Tau in the 54th minute.

The former Mamelodi Sundowns player latched on to Trebel’s pass inside the box before coolly slotting home a left-footed shot into the bottom right corner of the net.

It was Tau’s second goal in three games for his new employers having netted in the 3-1 win over Sint-Truiden on August 16. He was taken off for Landry Dimata in the 89th minute.

The South Africa international is now one goal short of reaching his Jupiler League tally from last season which he achieved in 18 games with Club Brugge, providing four assists as they lifted the league title. Overall, Tau scored four goals in all competitions and provided eight assists, one of them coming in a famous 2-2 draw with Real Madrid in Group A of the Champions League.

Tau joined Brighton from Sundowns in 2018 but has been unable to feature for the Seagulls and was first loaned to Royale Union Saint-Gilloise and had a hand in 26 goals (13 goals, 13 assists) in 35 competitive appearances, before joining Club Brugge and now Anderlecht.

Tau spent five years with Sundowns, scoring 24 goals and providing 27 assists in 102 outings, winning six titles that included two Premier Soccer League titles and the Caf Champions League in 2016.

He will hope to find the back of the net once again when Anderlecht host Cercle Brugge on September 13.

Barcelona-linked forward Memphis Depay has opened the door to a potential transfer, admitting that he doesn't know if he "will do the full season at Lyon".

Depay has been a talismanic figure in Lyon's squad since arriving at the Groupama Stadium from Manchester United in 2017.

The 26-year-old has hit 57 goals in 139 outings for the French outfit, including his latest treble which came in a 4-1 victory over Dijon on Friday night.

Lyon picked up all three points in their first game of the Ligue 1 campaign thanks to Depay's hat-trick, with a Wesley Lautoa own goal compounding a miserable night for the visitors, who took the lead early on through Aurelien Scheidler.

Rudi Garcia's side could only secure a seventh-place finish in the league last term, which meant that they missed out on European qualification for the first time in 24 years.

They did manage to reach the 2019-20 Champions League semi-finals by knocking out Juventus and Manchester City in the earlier rounds, but ultimately failed to set up an all-French final against Paris Saint-Germain after losing to Bayern Munich in the last four.

Although Lyon will be aiming to push PSG all the way in the Ligue 1 title race in 2020-21, Depay is refusing to confirm that he will see their latest bid for silverware all the way through to its conclusion.

Former Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman is reportedly keen on bringing his countryman to Barca after being appointed at Camp Nou, and the midfielder has admitted that playing in Europe's elite competition is important to him at this stage of his career.

When quizzed on speculation surrounding his future after the win against Dijon, Depay told reporters: "I do not see the future, I do not know if I will do the full season here. I have been here for four years, I became captain.

"After you have to look at your career, there is no Champions League. At the moment I don't know."

Depay added on his latest performance and the need for Lyon to be more consistent in order to start fighting at the top of the table again: "I'm really happy to have scored three goals today.

"It wasn't the best game I've played but we start the season with three points, and that's the most important thing.

"We have shown we can fight against the big teams, but we have to stay focused and win against the so-called 'smaller' teams. We have a lot of good players. We have to give our best to aim for the top."

Samuel Chukwueze found the back of the net but was on the losing end of a 2-1 friendly defeat by Valencia on Friday.

The game was the Yellow Submarines third during pre-season game, the first ending in a 3-1 win over Cartagena before losing 3-2 to Tenerife in their last encounter.

There was hope of improved form when Chukwueze gave Villarreal the lead in the ninth minute with a left-footed finish from the edge of the box. It remained that way heading into half-time.

Valencia then staged a comeback in within 10 minutes thanks to a brace from Uruguayan forward Maximiliano Gomez.

Chukwueze has been involved in all of Villarreal’s pre-season games so far with their next ties coming up against Real Sociedad and Levante as they continue preparations for the new La Liga season.

The Yellow Submarines, now under the watch of former Arsenal boss Unai Emery, finished the campaign in fifth place which guaranteed them an automatic spot in the group phase of the Europa League. They finished with 60 points, 10 adrift of Sevilla for the final Champions League spot. They won 18 of their 38 league games, drawing six and losing 14, scoring a total of 63 goals and conceding 49.

Chukwueze featured in all but one of the league games, however only 20 of his 37 appearances saw him make the starting XI while the remaining 17 were off the bench. The only game he failed to play was in a 3-0 win at Leganes where he was an unused substitute.

The highly-rated Nigerian winger had a hand in a total of eight league goals (three goals, five assists). His most impactful was in a 5-1 win over Real Betis where he scored a goal and provided an assist. His other goals came in a season-opening 4-4 draw with Granada and a 3-1 loss at Celta Vigo.

Chukwueze’s other assists meanwhile were against Valladolid, Mallorca and Sociedad (both legs).

The 21-year-old has been with the Yellow Submarines since 2017, first as a youth player before making his senior debut in 2018 and has gone on to make 79 competitive apperances, scoring 12 goals and providing nine assists.

It’s been so long since the Community Shield was a fixture in the women’s game that even the most established names in England haven’t won it.

Lionesses captain Steph Houghton, who will lead out Manchester City on Saturday as they take on Chelsea, has never even played in the fixture, which last took place in 2008 when Arsenal beat Everton 1-0.

For Blues boss Emma Hayes, so much has happened since her participation in that game as an assistant with the Gunners, that it is “testing [her] memory”, as she puts it, to recall.

“To think of the number of games that have actually taken place in my career from then until now,” she said, thinking back over the last 12 years.

She’s now a manager in her own right and has spent the last eight years bringing unprecedented success to Chelsea, in the form of seven trophies and two European semi-finals.

Last season, Hayes got her hands on the Continental Cup that has eluded her for so long, while also bringing home another league title, which puts Chelsea in the Community Shield on Saturday.

It gives her team an opportunity to start the campaign as they ended the last, by winning silverware, and a chance to make a statement ahead of the new Women’s Super League season, which begins next weekend.

“When you get to play the biggest games against the biggest opponents, everybody wants to be involved in that,” she said.

“Of course, it’s an opportunity. Of course, it’s a marker. It’s signalling the start of the season and it’s important the players understand that there’s a trophy to compete for. This isn’t a pre-season game.”

Chelsea will come up against a Man City team that will be one of their biggest rivals for silverware this season, one that has strengthened massively over the summer.

“They’ve spent a tremendous amount of money bringing in some unbelievable players and they’ve already been a top team,” Hayes said.

“The way they’ve strengthened off the pitch, I’m sure their fan base will expect really big things from them.

“That’s understandable because they’re already a very good team that have now improved what they’re doing to an even higher level.

“I expect that the competition between us will not change, it’s always neck-and-neck with everything.”

The pair, as well as Arsenal, are the front-runners for the trophies on offer this season in England, but for all the talk of how well Chelsea could do this season, Hayes is not looking beyond Saturday.

“I think the first thing is that I have to think about the Community Shield this weekend, and then after that it’ll be an FA Cup, after that it’ll be a Continental Cup, and then after that probably the league, and then after that the Champions League,” she said.

“I think we have to take one step at a time and put everything into the trophy that you’re competing for.

“A club of our size, we’re always going to be competing for all trophies, not just one and not one over the other.”

The challenge this season is replicating the levels of last season that saw Chelsea storm to a league title, beating both Man City and Arsenal twice on their way.

“Being in this environment, it’s not okay to ease off,” Hayes added.

“You’ve got to be at your very best every day if you want to keep progressing and keep playing for the club.

“You’ve got to have standards that are adhered to and everyone is driving towards that. That’s in place, but I think I have a great group of people who are growing together.

“Because of that, the expectations they have for each other are so high that it’s the reason why we are in the position we are in.

“I’m always proud to represent fantastic people and a club that’s been so good to me, that has given me the platform to produce a team that everybody is proud of.

“I think Saturday is another opportunity to do that and I know that everybody within our club is so proud of our section.”

Mikel Arteta says Arsenal have yet to decide how the club will operate following the shock exit of Raul Sanllehi earlier in the month, and that discussions with the hierarchy over a new structure are ongoing.

Arsenal announced the departure of Sanllehi, who had been head of football, on August 15 with managing director Vinai Venkatesham given the task of leading the club going forward.

Sanllehi, who left following a review carried out by newly appointed board member and chartered lawyer Tim Lewis, had been in charge of the technical side of the club and was the key figure in transfer negotiations.

Technical director Edu and Arteta are now working in tandem overseeing squad planning and the pair were key to getting the deal done for Brazilian centre-back Gabriel, who is set to join from Lille for £25 million (€28m/$30m).

However there is still much to be sorted out behind the scenes and Arteta admits there is still some uncertainty over exactly how the restructure will work going forward.

“It’s something we’re discussing at the moment,” said the Spaniard. “First of all I want to wish Raul all the best, all my respect and admiration. I worked alongside him and I enjoyed that.

“The club made a very difficult decision, but the way he left, he honoured the club. Everyone had nice words towards him and now we have to figure out the best way to run our club on the sporting side. That’s what we are trying to do while trying to achieve all the targets that we have for this transfer market.”

There have been suggestions that the changes currently taking place at Arsenal will see Arteta’s role move more towards a classic manager’s position, rather than just a head coach, which is how he has been operating since he replaced Unai Emery in December.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen,” he said, when quizzed on whether he would take on more duties. “There are things we’re discussing internally. We want to find the best way to be as efficient as possible, maximise the people we have to make things the right way. We’ll finalise those talks then communicate to you guys how we will do that.”

Meanwhile, Arteta says he understands the criticism that has come Arsenal’s way following the news that 55 staff would be made redundant as a result of the financial implications brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.

Many have hit out at the proposed plan, especially as the north London club are still making big-money signings and handing out big new contracts to Willian and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

“I understand,” said Arteta. “If you are only looking at the financial point of view you can get some contradictory messages, but what is very clear is that the club had a very thorough plan of how they needed to restructure to function better and be more stable for the future.

"They were very convincing with every argument they gave to all of us that it was the right thing to do.

“Obviously it’s really sad and it was during the Covid period that we had to make the decision to get our players to contribute to the pay cuts. One of the reasons was to maintain some of them. We have been trying to do the right thing and the club is trying to protect the future as much as possible.”

The majority of Arsenal’s squad agreed to take a 12.5 per cent pay cut in April to help the club during the pandemic, however that number has now been reduced to 7.5% for the coming season due to the club's FA Cup win.

A big part of the reasoning behind the players’ decision was to protect the jobs of regular staff members at the club, so there has understandably been some surprise that such a high number or redundancies are still planned.

Arteta, however, says his players cannot expect to have a say on major decisions just because they agreed to take a reduction in their salaries.

“The players were happy to contribute and help the club in this difficult financial position,” he said. “That doesn’t mean that afterwards you are going to have a say in every decision made by the club. It can’t work like that.

“At the end of the day it wasn’t an obligation, it was a choice whether you wanted to do it or not. We tried to do the right things as human beings to help a club that has been supporting us, in my case for many years, and in others cases here as well, whether you were injured, sick, performing or not performing.

“We believe it was the right thing to do and then the club has to be free to try to fight for the future in the most positive and stable way. That’s how we do it.”

Victor Osimhen began his time at Napoli on a very positive note as he scored a hat-trick and also provided an assist in an 11-0 mauling of L'Aquila at the Abruzzo training camp in Castel di Sangro on Friday.

The training camp marked the beginning of the Partenopei’s preparations for pre-season with Osimhen able to finally join his teammates following his €50 million move form Ligue 1 club Lille.

L'Aquila plays three divisions beneath Napoli hence it was going to be a one-sided affair and it lived up to that billing with Osimhen giving the Campania capital outfit the lead in the first minute of the 45-minute match. He made it 2-0 minutes later before the club’s all-time top scorer Dries Mertens added the third.

Osimhen completed his hat-trick in just the seventh minute of play before Hirving Lozano netted the game’s fifth goal a minute later. Algeria international Faouzi Ghoulam made it 6-0 followed by Lorenzo Insigne. Lozano bagged his brace for 8-0 with the assist coming from Osimhen.
Insigne would go ahead to complete his hat-trick as well with the ninth and 11th goals, while Mertens scored his brace with the 10th strike of the match.

Lots of multiple scorers but the loudest buzz came from Osimhen who is expected to play the number nine role for Napoli in the coming season.

Partenopei coach Gennaro Gattuso after the game said he was satisfied with the former Wolfsburg player’s performance and believes he can have great impact on the pitch as he continues to integrate into the team.

"I'm satisfied with Victor, but let's let him work in peace,” Gattuso said on the club website.

"What we have seen tonight is relative, what makes me positive is the work we are doing these days, with application and dedication. It is a first step and we must continue.

"Osimhen is integrating well, he has quality, means, he knows what he can do and if he continues to commit himself he can have a great impact on the pitch."

Napoli had played Italian sixth-tier side Castel di Sangro Calcio earlier in the day and overpowered them in like manner 10-0, Senegal centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly getting one of the goals while Matteo Politano (hat-trick), Arkadiusz Milik (brace), Amin Younes (brace), Gianluca Gaetano and Giovanni Di Lorenzo did the rest.

Ben Chilwell and Christian Pulisic could form an "extraordinary partnership" at Chelsea, according to Pat Nevin.

Chilwell committed to a five-year contract with the Blues after completing a £50 million ($66m) move from Leicester City on Wednesday.

The England international became the third major signing of Frank Lampard's reign at Stamford Bridge, with Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner arriving in west London from Ajax and RB Leipzig respectively earlier in the year.

Chelsea have gone on to announce deals for Malang Sarr and Thiago Silva to complete an excellent week of business, and anticipation around the club is building steadily ahead of next month's 2020-21 opener against Brighton.

Lampard will now seek to integrate the new recruits with the rest of his squad, with a view to creating a team capable of challenging for honours across all competitions.

Nevin thinks the addition of Chilwell will increase the Blues' threat substantially in the final third, as he sees the 23-year-old linking up with USMNT star Pulisic to great effect on the left.

"At Chelsea will Ben Chilwell have an intelligent, skilful, pacy winger to work with who has a superb football brain?" the former Chelsea winger told the club's official website.

"One who has vision, can see a pass and crucially knows when to vacate the space for his mate hammering down the line on that left-hand side?

"A player who on top of that is selfless and keen to build a partnership out there with one-twos, dummies and the ability to draw defenders to make space?

"I may well have given something close to a perfect description of Christian Pulisic just there. That could be one extraordinary partnership if they click.

"We have others who can play out there of course and a Callum Hudson-Odoi, Hakim Ziyech or Mason Mount linking up with Chilwell would be also be a chilling concept for most Premier League defences."

Nevin went on to express his belief that Chilwell could fill a coveted spot in Chelsea's squad for the next decade, while talking up the intelligent moves Lampard has been making in the transfer market.

"There is the possibility of a good seven to 10 years of service ahead at Stamford Bridge for our latest signing," he added.

"I am delighted Ben Chilwell is now finally here but probably not as delighted as Olivier Giroud, Tammy Abraham and of course Timo Werner, who have all had their scoring chances noticeably increased by his arrival.

"Chelsea fans the world over can now doubtless see what Frank’s signing strategy is and the club’s willingness to back him.

"There may be no one in the stadium but the buzz is still palpable. These are exciting times to be a Blue."

The Chinese Women's Super League will set up a duel between two sisters considered to be Africa's best strikers as Jiangsu Suning's Tabitha Chawinga faces Wuhan's Temwa Chawinga on Saturday. 

Tabitha, 24 and Temwa, 21 are sisters from Malawi and enjoyed playing together for most of their careers from Malawian club DD Sunshine to Sweden side Kvarnsveden and the national team.

Tabitha is currently in her third season with Jiangsu and has made a huge breakthrough in the Asian nation after being named back-to-back Player of the Year, with 68 goals in two seasons.

The 24-year-old's sterling goalscoring form helped Jiangsu secure all the Chinese titles in 2019, including a first domestic league diadem since 2009.

However, she will face huge competition in her dream for retaining the title and top scorer award from her younger sister Temwa, who is in her debut season after joining Wuhan in January 2020.

Temwa, on her part, boasts of an incredible goalscoring record as she netted 59 goals in 57 outings for Kvarnsveden before completing her move to Wuhan, who finished fourth last term.

This weekend will be the first time the sisters go head to head when their teams play against each other competitively in China.

After two games, they have made an impactful start to their sides campaign this season, scoring two goals each to fire their teams to back-to-back opening victories respectively with six points.

Ahead of the build-up, Temwa, who is eager to outshine her senior sister Tabitha, told BBC Sports: "Both of us will do our best to see who the best player is." 

On her part, Tabitha, who is full of praise for her sister ahead of the duel, said: "she's a very good player, and the thing is everyone will be working hard to make her team and fans happy."

Both women will be targeting another win on the bounce in Kunming to maintain their race for the league diadem at the end of the season.

Former Queens Park Rangers defender Nedum Onuoha has narrated how he had to be on his guard because of the trickery of Eberechi Eze who secured a move to Crystal Palace on Friday.

The 22-year-old Anglo-Nigerian began his senior career with the Rs in 2016 and featured 112 times, scoring 20 goals and providing 13 assists. His goals were often breath-taking thanks to his technical abilities which are often problematic for defenders.

Onuoha was one of the defenders who fell victim of Eze’s tricks during training sessions while the former Manchester City man was with the London outfit between 2012 and 2018.

“The kids would break your back the way they played… such free-flowing and exciting football,” Onuoha told The Athletic

“It’d be respectful — we’d jab them, they’d jab us back — but that’s when I knew the young guys coming through at QPR were an exciting new generation. I could see their shining ability.

“They were always up for trying to take something away from us. If we won, we’d often be scraping a result, whereas they’d deserve to win every time they did. They had the work ethic and mentality. And Eze was always the main man.

“I’d played a long time by the time I came across him and seen lots of talented players, but I always had to be on my guard with him in training because he’s so good at manipulating the ball. He’s quick, but not rapid. He’s quite strong, but not the strongest. And yet he could find a way past anybody.

“It’s the way he moves. The defender would move as well, find himself off balance, and then Ebs would be away. It’s a skill that not many people have. Others have the stepovers, the skills, but he’s quite flexible to be able to move in whichever way the moment brings.”

Onuoha – who now plays for Major League Soccer side Real Salt Lake City, went on to describe how best Eze can be utilised in attack, saying he is someone who is ready to listen to instructions and also someone with positive comments regarding his attitude.

“He’s got the potential to play anywhere across a front three. But, with some players, unless you find a team with the right formation or approach, talents like his can go wasted,” Onuoha continued.

“He is not one to stay wide. If he can play in a team that uses three forwards — where those widest come inside, to try and link the play — as opposed to two wingers and a striker, he’ll do well. Or as a No 10.

“He already reads the game so well, but just needs a better understanding about how to play that position. You just need to coach him the right way because he is someone who will listen. A really nice kid. An infectious smile. I don’t know anyone with a bad word to say about him.”

Eze will hope to make his Premier League debut when Crystal Palace host Southampton at Selhurst Park on September 12.

The incident in Greece which saw Harry Maguire found guilty of aggravated assault could increase team spirit at Manchester United, according to Gary Neville.

Maguire was arrested last week while on holiday with friends and family on the Greek island of Mykonos after an alleged altercation.

The United captain was subsequently charged with aggravated assault, resisting arrest, and repeated attempts of bribery. He was found guilty on all three counts on Tuesday.

The judge passed down a 21-month suspended prison sentence, but Maguire has launched an appeal against the verdict and publicly maintained his innocence.

The 27-year-old gave his account of the events during an interview with the BBC on Thursday, saying he feared for his life and thought he was being kidnapped.

Maguire was removed from Gareth Southgate's latest England squad after his conviction but United have backed their player, and Neville believes the episode could end up having a positive effect on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's squad.

"Over many years I witnessed incidents, ones which I was involved in, at Christmas parties and the like where people make mistakes and do things that let other people down," the former Red Devils full-back told Sky Sports.

"You have to own up to those things and stand up to them because there is nothing you can do about it.

"Harry doesn't feel like he did a lot wrong this week, he felt like he was exposed, but in moments like this, you have to ask yourself if you, or the people around you, did everything possible to get away from it and whether you would put yourself in the situation again in the future.

"The only thing Harry can do is make sure it doesn't happen again.

"I always take myself back to being sat in the dressing room where either myself, my colleagues or team-mates made a mistake. Would we stand by each other and stick up for each other? We absolutely would, 100 per cent.

"Those Manchester United players in the dressing room and the club will stand by Harry Maguire, and myself as a fan in the media will not judge him in any way, shape or form because of the reality is that these things happen in life.

"Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will think this situation is part and parcel of managing a football club and managing characters and personalities in situations that occur.

"I don't think he will see it as an issue that would drive a wedge between him and his team, I would say it could potentially increase the bond and the spirit that exists."

Chippa United have promoted youngster Xabiso Soldaat to the first team as they look to save their Premier Soccer League (PSL) status.

The Chilli Boys released a statement that the midfielder has been a crucial member of the MultiChoice Diski Challenge squad and has impressed coach Lehlohonolo Seema’s senior side.

Also known as ‘Messi’, Soldaat joins the Eastern cape-based PSL club in challenging times as the club look to bag wins in their remaining three league games.

“The club is delighted to announce that youngster Xabiso "Messi" Soldaat has been promoted from our MDC to the 1st team,” read the statement from Chippa.

“Messi, as he is affectionately known by his peers, hails from Greenbushes in Port Elizabeth.

“He has been an integral part of our MultiChoice Diski Challenge team showing a great display of maturity beyond his years. We wish him well Blue heart.

“The Chilli Boys of tomorrow belongs to the young.”

The player’s promotion comes on the back of an announcement that the Chilli Boys have opted to play their top-flight matches in East London as they move from the iconic nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth.

“The club had to submit Absa Stadium in East London as their main home venue and Sisa Dukashe Stadium as an alternative venue for the start of the 2020/21 season,” read the club statement.

“The club is also currently engaging with all relevant stakeholders to make the move permanent.”

Meanwhile, since taking charge of the technical team, Seema has managed to lead the club to a victory over Baroka, a loss to Cape Town City and a draw against Highlands Park and Stellenbosch on Friday night.

As they occupy the 12th spot on the log with 31 points from 28 matches so far, they look like they have secured their top-flight status having amassed over 30 points,but their mission is far from over.

Chippa are scheduled to face log leaders Kaizer Chiefs on Wednesday evening at Orlando Stadium before wrapping up their 2019/20 campaign against Golden Arrows at Ellis Park Stadium next weekend.

The former Bloemfontein Celtic manager will hope to at least secure a victory out of the remaining games for them to avoid a spot in the play-offs.

Morocco international Hanane Ait El-Haj is excited after training with her new Zaragoza teammates for the first time on Thursday.

The 25-year-old joined the Spanish side on a one-year contract with an option of an extension after leaving the Moroccan side ASFAR, where she celebrated league triumphs in four years.

The move to the Reto Iberdrola club saw the Raja d'Agadir-born former Najah de Souss and Nadi Baladi de Laayoune defender achieve her dreams of playing professional abroad for the first time.

El-Haj is one of the four Africans to join this summer after Nigeria's Peace Efih from Sporting Huelva, and Zambia's Racheal Nachula and Hellen Mubanga, from Green Buffaloes and Red Arrows.

Following her arrival in Zaragoza early this week, the Atlas Lioness swiftly underwent a successful coronavirus test before she was allowed to train with the team at Ebro Sports Park.

On Wednesday, upon her arrival in Spain, El-Haj. penned her emotional farewell message to her former Moroccan side.

"The past four years have been amazing, winning the Throne Cup and the Championship four years in a row is not easy," she wrote on her Instagram page.

"I want to thank everyone at Asfar. For this, you have all played a part in my progression over the last years. 

"I hope you are proud of that. at least I am proud to have worn the jersey of the best team in Morocco. It is time for me to take up new challenges.

"I continue my journey but I will always keep a part of you within me until we meet again."

As the second African to arrive at the Spanish club after Nigeria's Peace Efih, she took to social media to share her excitement.

"I am very happy about my new signing for Zaragoza where I wish and look forward to achieving great success," she said.

"Grateful at heart for this great opportunity and can’t wait to start this new adventure."