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Veteran football administrator Sam Nyamweya has petitioned the High Court to suspend the KSh.9 million compensation awarded to renowned sports journalist Omulo Okoth in a five-year defamation suit.

Nyamweya, the former President of Football Kenya Federation (FKF), has already instructed his legal team to challenge the judgment pronounced on July 30.

Justice Lucy Njuguna, of the Civil Division at Milimani in Nairobi, has certified Nyamweya's application as urgent. 

The warring parties have been directed to get a hearing date from the registry on a priority basis.

Omulo Okoth had sued Nyamweya along with the FKF and its two former officials, Michael Esakwa and Robert Asembo. A local publication, The Weekly Citizen, was the third defendant.

In his sworn affidavit, Nyamweya said his lawyers had taken the necessary steps to challenge the judgment since Omulo Okoth may enforce the disputed court award. Further, the intended appeal was at risk of being rendered an academic exercise, he had argued in court papers.

"There exists special circumstances and unique requirements in the present case involving defamation by non-natural persons, public institutions, and public interest in light of the amount awarded," Nyamweya said in his affidavit as obtained by Goal.

The soccer supremo said the intended appeal had high chances of success but was likely to be short-circuited by a denial of temporary stay.

Nyamweya pleaded he and his co-defendants stood to suffer substantial financial loss if the execution was not stopped. They were apprehensive that Omulo Okoth will be unable to refund the money should the intended appeal succeed.

Nyamweya said they were willing to abide by any conditions imposed by the court to facilitate the exercise of their right of appeal. 

"Omulo Okoth will not suffer any prejudice" Nyamweya added.

The administrator is currently in the race for the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) top seat.

He will, however, receive stiff competition from incumbent Nick Mwendwa, former Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (Cecafa) Secretary-General Nicholas Musonye, former FKF Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Herbert Mwachiro, Gor Mahia CEO Omondi Aduda among others. 

The FKF Electoral Board has set September 19 and October 17 as the dates for the county and national elections respectively, but the move has been challenged in court by aspirants who insist the Board has no legal mandate to oversee the process. 

Bafana Bafana hopeful Ricardo Schutte has completed his move to Spanish club CD Mirandes.

The promising striker has joined the club nicknamed the Reds on a season-long deal from Portuguese outfit Rio Ave.

Schutte struggled for game time during the 2019/20 campaign as he made only one appearance in the Primeira Liga.

Mirandes made the announcement on their official website as they beefed up their squad ahead of the 2020/21 campaign in the Spanish second tier, Segunda Liga: 

A club statement read: "Rio Ave FC and Club Deportivo Mirandes have reached an agreement for Ricardo Schutte to play next season on loan for the Rojillo team in LaLiga Smartbank."

"The Portuguese footballer comes to the Anduva team after playing his fledgling career in Portuguese football."

"Andre Ricardo Ferreira Schutte [born in Ribeira Brava, 1998], is a forward with power and intensity, with good movement between the lines thanks to his speed and a good understanding of the game."

Schutte, who was born to a Portuguese mother and a South African father, began playing football for the local team, Ribeira Brava in 2007.

Before joining Primeira Liga giants FC Porto's academy where he spent fours years and he then moved to Rio Ave in 2012.

The lanky frontman impressed during his time with Rio Ave B side (reserve team) scoring 11 goals in 26 matches during the 2017/18 season.

Schutte was then promoted to the first team in July 2018 and he made his professional debut in the Uefa Europa League.

The gifted player came on as a late substitute for Rio Ave as they drew 4-4 against Polish club Jagiellonia Bialystok in August 2018.

Schutte then made his Primeira Liga debut in the following campaign (2019/20) as his side succumbed to a 2-0 defeat to Sporting Braga in December 2019.

His agent Joao Filipe recently revealed that Schutte is keen to play for Bafana with his South African passport having been approved.

He will have to impress Bafana head coach Molefi Ntseki during his time with Mirandes in order to get his maiden national team call up. 

Former Udinese and Ghana international Mohammed Gargo believes Atletico Madrid ace Thomas Teye Partey will be making a good decision in moving to Arsenal.

The 27-year-old remains the subject of intense transfer speculation, with Gunners coach Mikel Arteta reportedly keen on bringing the player to the Emirates Stadium.

Atletico Madrid are also believed to be trying every effort to keep their man who has become a key part of Diego Simeone's set-up.

“I think he should move [to Arsenal]” Gargo told Citi FM.

“I think it’s going to make him a quicker player than he is today.

“Who would want to move from class three to class two instead of going to class four?

“Moving to Arsenal is going to give him another opportunity to take him a step forward, it is going to build him up and make him a better player for the Black Stars [Ghana national team]

“So for me, if I were to be him, I would take this offer."

Partey is believed to have a £45 million release clause in his current Atletico Madrid contract, a situation which is reportedly proving a stumbling block to suitors and a potential move away.

Ghana coach CK Akonnor, on his part, has urged the midfielder to remain at Wanda Metropolitano. His sentiments are similar to those of former Aston Villa and Coventry City attacker Nii Odartey Lamptey.

“Honestly, I wouldn’t want him to move to Arsenal because with Atletico, he will always play Champions League football. His position is guaranteed and he will always play,” Akonnor told Starr FM.

“With Arsenal, I’m not too sure. Arsenal fans will kill me [for saying he should not join the Gunners].

“I hope that, and I’m sure money issues will come in, but I hope that whatever he asks for, Atletico will be able to pay."

Last season, Partey made 35 league outings for Atletico, starting in 29 of the matches and scoring on three occasions.

He has made a combined 100 La Liga appearances for the Los Rojiblancos since debuting for the club in the top-flight in 2015-16.

AmaZulu FC coach Ayanda Dlamini says Lehlohonolo Majoro has eased pressure on fellow striker Bonginkosi Ntuli in front of goal.

The KwaZulu-Natal giants have relied heavily on the exploits of Ntuli this season with the 29-year-old player having netted 12 of their 17 goals in the PSL. 

However, Ntuli is yet to score for AmaZulu since the current season resumed, but he recorded an assist as Usuthu were held to a 2-2 draw by Bloemfontein Celtic on Monday.

Ntuli set-up former Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates striker Majoro, who netted his second goal in as many league matches having also scored against Bidvest Wits on Friday. 

Dlamini was pleased to see Majoro find the back of the net against Phunya Sele Sele after the two strikers both started upfront at Lucas Moripe Stadium.

“It took away the pressure from Ntuli, you can see even the goal we scored [against Bloemfontein Celtic] there was a combination between Ntuli and Majoro," Dlamini said on Far Post.

"We managed to score the first goal. So, I think it worked very well, it is taking pressure away from Ntuli, the target."

The draw saw AmaZulu climb up to 15th place on the league standings which is the relegation play-off spot with three matches left.

Dlamini reflected on their clash with Celtic and he indicated his side will fight for maximum points in their remaining games in order avoid relegation to the National First Division (NFD).

“We move forward as we still have three more games to play, let us see what we get,” the retired striker, who has been in charge of the team since March 2020 added. 

"It's a good point to take against a team like Celtic, but to be honest we should have done better.

"We took the lead twice in the game, but we couldn't close shop and protect it. We have three games left so we need to fight for every point during those matches."

AmaZulu are set to take on fellow relegation-threatened side Black Leopards in their next league match at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday.

The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) has announced it will return to the field in September when it begins a seven-week competition. 

The fall series follows on from the Challenge Cup, which took place between June and July and featured eight of the league's nine teams in a bubble environment in Utah.

Rather than a bubble environment, the fall series will see the league's teams separated into three lots of three-team pods designed to minimize travel. Each team will play four matches. 

The full format and schedule for the fall series, which kicks off on September 5 and runs through October, are set to be released in the next week.

“Building on the success of this summer’s Challenge Cup, I am so excited to smartly and safely take this next step on the NWSL’s journey,” said NWSL Commissioner Lisa Baird in a statement.

“The women of the NWSL want to compete and we’ve certainly heard from our fans all over the world looking for more action this year. I’d like to thank the NWSL Player’s Association for their constant collaboration, as well as CBS for continuing to invest in our league’s growth and this unprecedented opportunity to showcase the NWSL to a world-wide audience, week-in, week-out.”

The three pods for the fall series will see OL Reign, Portland Thorns, and Utah Royals in the west; Chicago Red Stars, Sky Blue FC and Washington Spirit in the north-east; and Houston Dash, Orlando Pride and North Carolina Courage in the south. 

The 2020 NWSL season was originally scheduled to kick off in April, but was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. After weeks of planning, the league successfully held the Challenge Cup in Utah, with the Dash coming out victorious. 

Amid the uncertainty following the Challenge Cup, several of the league's players have sought moves abroad as they look to secure guaranteed matches. 

U.S. national team stars Rose Lavelle and Sam Mewis have left the Spirit and Courage respectively, both signing with Women's Super League club Manchester City. Other USWNT players, like Tobin Heath and Christen Press, are also rumored to be departing. 

Azam FC have confirmed the extension of contracts of head coach Aristica Cioaba and his assistants.

The Romanian coach has been given one more year to coach the Ice-Cream Makers who failed to win a single trophy in the last season. The side eventually surrendered second position to Yanga SC after holding onto it for the better part of the season.

They were also eliminated in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup tournament by eventual winners Simba SC.

“Azam are delighted to announce that we have extended the contracts of our coaches for one more year each,” the 2013/14 league winners announced.

“The coaches, who have seen their contracts extended, are head coach Aristica Cioaba, assistant coach Bahati Vivier, and physiotherapist Coastal Birsen.”

The news comes a day after the former FA Cup winners had extended the contract of their captain Agrey Moris for a further year.

The club announced they had already completed the signing of new players after the final arrival of Cameroonian star Alain Thierry Akono who joined the Chamazi club as a free agent since his contract with Du Mfou had ended.

Meanwhile, Kinondoni Municipal Council (KMC FC) have confirmed they have signed 10 players ahead of the new season.

KMC have moved to bring quite experienced players in a bid to avoid the kind of struggle witnessed in the first round of the 2019/20 season once the next campaign starts on September 6.

The latest player to be signed by the Dar es Salaam club is Raheem Sheikh from Mbao FC on a two-year deal.

KMC signed Kenneth Masumbuko from relegated Lipuli FC who was their ninth new star. Reliants Lusajo did complete a move from the FA Cup finalists Namungo FC whereas David Brayson also switched to KMC from newly-promoted outfit Gwambina FC.

Both Lusajo and Brayson, according to the club, signed one-year deals.

Lusajo Mwaikenda and defender Israel Patrick signed a season-long deal from Azam FC and Alliance FC respectively.

Masoud Abdalla, from Azam, signed a loan deal that will see him serve KMC for just one year while Martin Kigi from Alliance was unveiled on the same day as Abdalla.

David Mwasa from Lipuli signed a longer deal of two years while Andrew 'Dante' Vincent from Yanga was KMC's first signing. The defender signed a deal that will last for two years.

Ryan Giggs says he is "used to dealing with" Gareth Bale not featuring for Real Madrid after the winger was called up to the latest Wales squad.

Bale has been included despite having asked not to be involved in Madrid's game at Manchester City earlier this month.

The forward remained in Spain when Zinedine Zidane's side visited the Etihad Stadium for the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on August 7.

Zidane, whose team lost the game and were knocked out by City, claimed Bale had requested to be omitted and the 31-year-old has played just 110 minutes since February. 

The likelihood of him taking to the field for Madrid with any regularity next season appears remote – even though Bale is under contract until 2022 – while the 31-year-old's wages and hefty transfer price remain stumbling blocks for a move elsewhere.

However, he remains integral to his country's cause and will be expected to start for Wales when they play Nations League fixtures against Finland and Bulgaria next month.

"I've always said ideally you want the players playing," Wales boss Giggs told FAWTV. "You want them playing regularly so when they come into camp, they're in that match rhythm. You don't always get that and it's something I've become used to and you have to manage it right.

"Gareth played every game in the [Euro 2020] qualifiers but wasn't playing regularly for his club. I'm used to dealing with that situation."

Liverpool youngster Neco Williams has been called up to Giggs' squad for the first time, while there is also a place for Euro 2016 striker Hal Robson-Kanu for the first time in three years. The West Brom forward had previously announced his international retirement but reversed that decision earlier this year.

Wales squad: Wayne Hennessey (Crystal Palace), Danny Ward (Leicester City), Adam Davies (Stoke City); Ashley Williams (unattached), Ben Davies (Tottenham), James Lawrence (Anderlecht), Ben Cabango (Swansea City), Tom Lockyer (Charlton Athletic), Neco Williams (Liverpool), Chris Gunter (unattached); Connor Roberts (Swansea City), Ethan Ampadu (Chelsea), Will Vaulks (Cardiff City), Matthew Smith (Manchester City), Joe Morrell (Bristol City), Dylan Levitt (Manchester United), Daniel James (Manchester United), Jonny Williams (Charlton Athletic), Rabbi Matondo (Schalke), Aaron Ramsey (Juventus); Gareth Bale (Real Madrid), David Brooks (Bournemouth), Harry Wilson (Liverpool), Kieffer Moore (Cardiff City), Hal Robson-Kanu (West Brom), Tyler Roberts (Leeds United). 

Robert Lewandowski is, in the eyes of Bayern Munich legend Lothar Matthaus, unquestionably “the best footballer in the world” at present.

The prolific Polish striker has enjoyed a remarkable 2019-20 season even by his high standards.

A new personal best has been posted when it comes to goals, with the target found on 55 occasions through 47 appearances.

Those efforts have helped Bayern to another stunning treble triumph, with a first Champions League crown for the German giants in seven years added to further Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal successes.

Matthaus believes Lewandowski’s contribution has marked him out as the best player on the planet.

That standing will not be recognised with a Golden Ball in 2020, as the Ballon d’Or vote has been cancelled, but the FIFA Best prize is still up for grabs along with the respect of those around him.

Bayern great Matthaus told Sky Deutschland of Lewandowski: “Top scorer in the Bundesliga, the DFB-Pokal and the Champions League. The best footballer in the world is Lewandowski. Period. 

“When you see what this trophy means for this wonderful centre-forward, how happy he was, what he gave and sacrificed for it, you know what it means to him. 

“He has worked towards this for many years. He deserved this and the title of best footballer in the world.”

While Lewandowski has been a leading light for Bayern, he is far from being the only star turn in their ranks.

Collective effort has delivered another impressive trophy haul, with those on the field being guided in the right direction by Hansi Flick – who has impressed many since inheriting the reins from Niko Kovac midway through the 2019-20 campaign.

Matthaus added: “Bayern have won every Champions League game this season and have also played the last 30 games without defeat. That has never been done. 

“What else can I say? What praise can I come up with? What is there to say about that combination of coach, top players and good leadership in the club?

“Today, FC Bayern Munich is a perfect soccer club. And that is despite the fact that a few months ago it was thought that it would be a difficult year. 

“Will Rummenigge and Kahn get along? How about Brazzo and Oliver? Can [Herbert] Hainer replace [Uli] Hoeness? Who will follow [Franck] Ribery and [Arjen] Robben? There is no alternative and so on.

“The answers are all extremely positive. 

“Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and his successor Oliver Kahn obviously get along really well. Just like Olli and Hasan [Salihamidzic]. 

“Of course, Hainer is not a Hoeness, but he does a good job as president and represents the club wonderfully. 

“The wonderful Serge Gnabry, the winning goalscorer Kingsley Coman, the team player Ivan Perisic and soon Leroy Sane to join the wings. Poor opponents will soon have to play on one side against [Alphonso] Davies and Sane!”

Arsenal will lose out if they end up facing Barcelona in a transfer battle for Atletico Madrid midfielder Thomas Partey, claims Nigel Winterburn.

The Ghana international has been a long-standing target for those at Emirates Stadium.

Interest in the 27-year-old was expected to be stepped up in the current window, with Mikel Arteta eager to put his own stamp on a squad inherited from Unai Emery.

Arsenal may, however, face competition from Camp Nou for Partey, with La Liga giants Barca looking to oversee a summer refresh of their own.

If the Blaugrana were to join the bidding, then Winterburn fears the Gunners will be left frustrated.

He told Bookmakers.co.uk: “I’m always a little bit worried when the likes of Barcelona are also interested in your target – even when they’re in disarray – because they’re a huge club and you don’t want to be fighting them for a player, because most clubs would lose out in that situation.

“From my point of view, I’ve always said the structure right through the centre of the team is so pivotal to how a team plays.

“You need strong players straight through the middle – centre-halves, central midfielders and your centre-forwards – they really need to be of a very high standard at this level.

“Arsenal need to look at those areas and Thomas Partey has been linked with a host of clubs, including Arsenal. If Barcelona’s interest is genuine, then I think it’s going to be very difficult for Arsenal to sign him.”

While waiting on movement into Emirates Stadium, Winterburn believes that Arteta needs to be pushing a number of players out.

The Gunners are well-stocked for centre-halves at present, with William Saliba now fully on board and a deal close for Gabriel Magalhaes, and exits are expected in that department.

Former Arsenal left-back Winterburn added, with Rob Holding, Calum Chambers, Shkodran Mustafi and Sokratis seemingly all on the chopping block: “I think there’ll be more than one of them going, because Arsenal have got a host of centre-halves and it may come down to which players are going to be limited in appearances going forward.

“Age may come into it too – all of those players will be looking at the situation and wondering how often they’re going to be playing and what their chances of being first choice are.

“And if not, are they happy to sit on the bench and wait for opportunities? The one player out of the four that I think might be worth holding on to is Rob Holding.

“Up until his injury I would have said he was Arsenal’s most consistent defender, but he’s struggled to get back to full fitness and get that consistency back.

"It would be a bit of a surprise if Holding was to leave, but then you have to consider Arsenal’s financial situation. They might feel as though he’s the one they might be able to get the most money for, so in terms of the club trying to balance the books it might be a good option for them to sell.

“But with the amount of games Arsenal are going to be playing next season it makes sense to retain at least two of them.”

Ligue 1 side Metz have announced the signing of Boubakar Kouyate from French second division club Troyes.

The Mali international signed a four-year deal with the Maroons after undergoing a successful medical with the club.

Kouyate teamed up with Troyes in January 2019 and delivered impressive performances, helping them to finish fourth on the Ligue 2 table.

The centre-back scored five goals for the Stade de l'Aube outfit to emerge as the club’s top-scorer of the campaign and earned a spot in L'Equipe's Ligue 2 team of the season.

His performances saw him linked to Championship side Nottingham Forest before he settled for the Maroons.

“It is with great pleasure that I join FC Metz. They are really a good Ligue 1 club and I am convinced that my arrival in Moselle will allow me to continue to improve,“ Kouyate told the club website . 

Kouyate also revealed how his compatriot Mamadou Fofana influenced his decision to team up with the Stade de l'Aube outfit.  

“Before coming here, I spoke with Mamadou [Fofana] and I had only good feedback," he added.

Kouyate started his career with Malian side EFC Medine Bamako in 2013, where he spent two seasons before joining Moroccan club Kawkab Marrakech.

The centre-back then moved to Europe to continue his development, joining Portuguese giants Sporting CP in the summer of 2016.

Kouyate made 45 league appearances for Sporting B team before he signed for Troyes in 2019 to end his three-year stay with the club.

The 23-year-old was part of Mali side that reached the semi-final of the 2015 U-20 World Cup and made his debut for the senior national team against Morocco in September 2017.

Kouyate has five caps for the Eagles and was part of the West African team that featured at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

The defender will hope to continue his impressive performances at club level, this time with Metz, to boost his regular call-up to the national team.

Alphonso Davies’ rise to becoming a Champions League winner at Bayern Munich once saw him take in training sessions with first team and U14 squads while at the Vancouver Whitecaps, Robert Earnshaw has revealed.

The jet-heeled left-back saw his potential spotted early while in Canada, with his ability being fast-tracked through an MLS youth system.

A senior bow was made for the Whitecaps at just 15 years of age, making him the competition’s second-youngest debutant after former teen sensation Freddy Adu.

It did not take long for European football’s leading lights to take note, with Bayern moving to put a record-setting transfer in place during the summer of 2018.

Davies’ meteoric rise to prominence has continued in Germany and he now has a European Cup winners’ medal to his name after helping to edge out Paris Saint-Germain in the 2020 final.

He has come a long way in a short space of time, but Earnshaw claims to have never been in any doubt that the youngster was destined for top.

Davies’ drive and ambition was obvious from a young age, with a man who spent time working in the Vancouver Whitecaps’ academy system after hanging up his boots telling BBC Radio 5 Live: “He was 14 when I first met him, just as I started coaching.

“Somebody didn’t tell me his age and halfway through coaching someone said ‘he’s 14’ and it was like ‘what, what do you mean 14?!’

“You could see that he was very childlike in his manners, in his ways, and as soon as someone said that it was like, ‘ok’.

“The funny thing was, he started training with the first team. He would train with the first team and I’m training the U14s and 15s in the afternoon and he finishes with the first team and later on he used to come to my training session in the afternoon and wanted to join in. That is just how he was, he loved football.

“He’s very humble, he doesn’t care that he’s been with the first team, he wants to go and play with the 14s and 15s and join in there. It’s just who he is.

“He’s very fearless but he’s just so pure. He doesn’t care where he is and what’s happening around him, he’s just the same. It’s beautiful.”

Earnshaw added on the Whitecaps’ efforts to prevent Davies from doing too much: “The first few times I let him, I was like ‘yeah, no problem, come and join in’.

“After a little while I had to say to him ‘listen, you can’t train with us anymore, it’s time’.

“It was one of those, but he’s just improving all the time. With his speed and who he is and his ability, it started to show very, very quickly.”

Anthony Martial has “come alive” as a central striker for Manchester United and could end up being a “world class” solution to the Red Devils’ problems in a number nine berth, says Gary Pallister.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer showed considerable faith in the France international when handing him a notable squad number in the wake of Romelu Lukaku’s departure.

Martial has never shied away from the fact that, despite operating in a wide role for much of his senior career to date, he has always seen himself as being at his best down the middle.

A 23-goal return in 2019-20 has helped to support those claims, although suggestions that United still require a more proven performer to lead the line refuse to go away.

Pallister admits to having bought into that way of thinking at one stage, but the former Red Devils defender now believes that Martial could prove to be a “sensational” asset at Old Trafford.

He told Compare.bet of the 24-year-old frontman: “Yeah, he’s wanted to play there ever since he came to the club.

“To be quite honest with you, up until this season, he hasn’t looked like a striker, he’s been more of a threat coming from the wing. He’s not looked happy on occasion.

“Again, I’d put it down to being allowed freedom. We’re a team that looks forward now, a team that’s not scared anymore. He [Martial] looks a different player now.

“Maybe before, I would have said we were desperate for an out and out centre-forward – we brought [Odion] Ighalo in to do a short-term job and he did really well before the lockdown.

“If he [Martial] was still playing the way he did in previous seasons when he did play up front, I would have said we still need a centre-forward, but he’s come alive.

“He’s been sensational since the season has resumed. He’s scoring goals, he’s on the shoulder of defenders, making great runs, he’s got good ability on the ball to beat a man in the penalty box.

“If he continues that, all of a sudden we’re saying we’ve got a world-class centre-forward and that’s got to be a fantastic feeling for Ole.

“Whether it’s just the arrival of Bruno [Fernandes] that’s given him that belief that he can make that kind of run and be found in the box? Possibly. His body language is a lot better now.

“We’re seeing the end product of Ole working with the strikers – Marcus [Rashford], [Mason] Greenwood, Martial.

“Ole was a fantastic striker and these lads must be eating up any knowledge he can impart. I think Martial has been our most consistent performer since lockdown ended.”

Martial’s efforts in 2019-20 helped to fire United to a third-place finish in the Premier League and the semi-finals of Carabao Cup, FA Cup and Europa League competition, but everyone at Old Trafford is determined to deliver more tangible success heading forward.

Jiangsu Suning striker Tabitha Chawinga has confirmed that she has received concrete offers from some of the top women's clubs in Europe.

Chawinga has consistently scored goals since her first move abroad from Malawian side DD Sunshine in 2014, starting with 39 goals in 17 games at Swedish side Krokom/Dvarsatts IF.

On joining Kvarnsvedens in 2015, she scored 85 goals in 71 outings, including winning top scorer twice in Sweden before her 2018 move to Jiangsu, where she scored 69 goals in two seasons.

Chawinga reached an agreement over an extension with the Chinese Women's Super League champions after her impressive two-seasons, with her contract extension due to expire in mid-2021.

Paris Saint Germain are among the top sides rumoured to be interested following a knee injury to star Ada Hegerberg in January. 

However, the 24-year-old says she is focused on helping her Chinese club to success this season after the coronavirus hiatus but will be ready to listen to offers at the end of the season.

“We have just started the new season; my mind is now to concentrate on the new season at my team here, Chawinga told Malawian radio, MIJ FM. 

"Right now, I have told my agents that I should not be disturbed on such matters because I have a running contract with Jiangsu and I believe in doing one thing at a time. 

"So, this season is all about my team here until next year. I have had a good time here. I am doing my best to put my country on the map. 

"I am still determined to continue doing my country proud for more years like ten or eleven ahead. 

"Malawians should always remember me in their prayers so that when I am fighting the physical battle, he should take care of the spiritual side."

True to form, Chawinga scored the winner in Jiangsu Suning's 3-2 win over Hebei China Fortune in a Chinese Women's Super League opener in Kunming on Sunday.

She will hope to continue her goal-scoring form when they face Henan Jianye in their next league fixture on Wednesday.

Liverpool star Alisson is “a big-moment goalkeeper” and the world’s best in his chosen position, says former Brazil international Taffarel.

The battle to be considered the finest shot-stopper on the planet is a well-contested one at present.

Any number of performers can lay claim to that title, with the likes of Ederson, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Thibaut Courtois, Jan Oblak and Manuel Neuer all in contention.

Alisson is, however, the current holder of the prestigious Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper award, having landed that prize in 2019.

He is also a Champions League and Premier League title winner with Liverpool, while his debut campaign at Anfield in 2018-19 also delivered a well-earned Golden Glove.

Taffarel believes his fellow countryman is the obvious pick as the world’s top keeper, with the commanding 27-year-old having few faults in his game.

“It’s Alisson,” 1994 World Cup winner Taffarel told FIFA’s official website when asked to make his selection.

“FIFA themselves gave him the award. And it was fully deserved.

“He has immaculate technique, he’s a big-moment goalkeeper, he’s been playing really well and helping his team get results. It’s his time.

“After Alisson, I think there are a lot of great goalkeepers – Ederson, Ter Stegen, Courtois, who I rate very highly, Oblak.”

Taffarel is far from being the first to put Alisson at the top of a goalkeeping pile, with Liverpool legend Bruce Grobbelaar another of those to have suggested that the record books could be re-written by the affable South American.

He has told The Mirror: “If he wants to stay at Anfield for a long time he will break all the records for sure and I would love him to do that.

“Alisson is undoubtedly one of the best goalkeepers in the world and he deserves to be put on that pedestal.

“Him and Manuel Neuer are probably the best two when it comes to angles — those two are the very best in the world at getting their angles right, they don’t have to dive because they aren’t out of position.

“They are in the right place at the right time and they move their feet very, very well.”

Indian Super League (ISL) club NorthEast United have signed 35-year-old Spaniard Gerard Nus as their head coach for the 2020-21 season.

Nus, who is a UEFA Pro License holder, will be the successor to Croatian Robert Jarni who left the club in February following a poor run of results. Khalid Jamil, the assistant coach and head of the academy, acted as the caretaker manager until the end of the season and will now return to his previous role. 

NorthEast's head coach used to be a member of Liverpool's backroom staff before he got into mainstream coaching. He had stints at Brighton and Melbourne Heart before becoming the assistant coach of the Ghana national team led by Avram Grant. 

He has since gone on to work as the technical director at Rayo Vallecano and was the manager of Swedish club Eskilstuna during the 2018-19 season. Nus will look to guide the Highlanders into the play-offs again after poor results last season in which they finished ninth on the table. 

The Highlanders have made interesting moves in the transfer market for Indian players including Ponif Vaz, Gurjinder Kumar, Lalkhawpuimawia, Rochharzela, PM Britto, Sanjiban Ghosh, VP Suhair and Mashoor Shereef.

Ronald Koeman is the perfect manager for Barcelona as, along with his strong ties to the club from his playing days, he “likes to play beautifully but also wants to win”, says Roy Makaay.

The Blaugrana have turned to a familiar face for inspiration after enduring a humbling end to their 2019-20 campaign.

Quique Setien was unable to deliver a third successive La Liga title at Camp Nou, while an 8-2 defeat to eventual winners Bayern Munich saw the Catalan giants crash out of the Champions League in spectacular fashion.

Koeman has been drafted in to right those wrongs, with the legendary Dutchman well aware of the expectation that exists at one of world football’s biggest clubs.

He helped to deliver success as part of Johan Cruyff’s ‘Dream Team’ in the 1990s and is now looking to replicate those achievements as a coach.

Makaay believes his fellow countryman can deliver on the most demanding of remits, with Koeman’s philosophies matching those of the institution that he is now part of.

“Koeman's dream has always been to coach Barcelona,” Makaay, who represented the Netherlands while Koeman was their assistant coach and later worked alongside the 57-year-old at Feyenoord, told Radio Marca.

“It doesn't surprise me that a club like this has thought about him because he is a great coach.

“We will see what style of play he imparts. He is a coach who likes to play beautifully, but who also wants to win.”

Koeman has the desire and tactical nous to succeed at Camp Nou, but he needs an underperforming team to raise its game.

He has already set about trying to put his own stamp on things, with certain players reportedly informed that they no longer figure in Barca’s long-term plans.

Further additions to the ranks are also expected to be made in the current transfer window, while working hard to retain the services of talismanic captain Lionel Messi, and Makaay admits that a serious refresh is required to an ageing squad.

He added: “I think that Barcelona need younger players.”

The Blaugrana are trying to make that happen, as they are linked with the likes of Inter striker Lautaro Martinez and Manchester City defender Eric Garcia, but funds are in short supply and restoring former glories will not be easy for Koeman.

Paris Saint-Germain have been granted an extended break before starting their 2020-21 Ligue 1 campaign after their trip to Lens was postponed.

The reigning champions had been due to begin their title defence at Stade Bollaert-Delelis on Saturday, six days after their 1-0 Champions League final defeat to Bayern Munich in Lisbon.

Thomas Tuchel's men played three Champions League games in 12 days in Portugal - where the competition was concluded having been halted in March due to the coronavirus pandemic - and PSG wanted to give their players more time to recover before beginning the new season.

The Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) confirmed that PSG's request has been approved by both Lens and local broadcaster Canal +, with the fixture rearranged to Thursday, September 10.

In addition, this weekend's clash between Strasbourg and Nice has been brought forward a day, to the Saturday evening timeslot originally occupied by Lens' home game against PSG.

The Lens fixture, which now comes after the international break, will still be PSG's first match of the new season, and they are due to host rivals Marseille three days later.

Marseille had been set to begin their campaign last Friday but their trip to Saint-Etienne was postponed after OM confirmed they had four positive COVID-19 cases in their squad.

On Tuesday, Marseille revealed "three new suspected cases of COVID-19 were detected" and said the LFP had been informed.

Given the LFP's directive that more than three positive cases would likely lead to a postponement, Marseille's trip to Brest this weekend would also appear to now be in doubt.

Andre Villas-Boas' side were named Ligue 1 runners-up when the 2019-20 campaign was abandoned in April, with PSG picking up their third successive crown having been 11 points clear at the summit with a game in hand when play was stopped.

The Parisians also won the Trophee des Champions, Coupe de la Ligue and Coupe de France last season to complete a domestic quadruple, while their clash with Bayern last weekend marked the club's first-ever appearance in a European Cup final. 

Neymar is “a superstar” and future winner of the FIFA Best award, according to Taffarel, with the former Brazil international expecting a fellow countryman to be recognised as the world’s best at some stage.

A talented forward who is currently on the books of Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain has occupied a standing alongside the global elite for several years now.

The unworldly exploits of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have kept him off top spot when it comes to prestigious individual prizes, but Neymar is always among the leading contenders.

That was expected to be the case again in 2020, although events have conspired against the South American.

France Football have decided against handing out the Ballon d’Or, while PSG suffered Champions League final heartache when slipping to a 1-0 defeat to Bayern Munich in Lisbon.

Taffarel was pained to see Neymar left in tears at the end of that contest, but the 1994 World Cup winner believes the 28-year-old will come back into contention for the grandest of prizes.

The legendary former goalkeeper told FIFA’s official website of Neymar: “A great player. He plays the game in a beautiful way. He’s an incredible dribbler, sets up goals, scores fantastic goals.

“He’s very important for us. We really hope he can be at his best and help Brazil win another World Cup. He’s a superstar.”

Taffarel added on Neymar’s Champions League disappointment in the present and cause for optimism in the future: “I think the two best teams got to the final.

“Paris came very well prepared, but I think Bayern had something extra in terms of their play and their set-up.

“I cheered a lot for Paris because of the Brazilians who play there. I really wanted Neymar to win this Champions League and, consequently, The Best FIFA [Men’s Player] award.

“But it’s just one day. I really hope in the future he can win this award and be considered the best player in the world.

“But I thought it was a good football game, well thought out and well played. It wasn’t easy for anyone, but Bayern capitalised upon their chance. I think Bayern were deserved winners.”

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has urged fans to be ‘patient’ with Victor Osimhen as he gradually settles with the Serie A side.

The Super Eagles striker joined the Parthenopeans from Lille in a club-record fee of €70 million which could rise to €80 million to become Nigeria's most expensive player in history.

The forward has already hit the ground running, scoring in his first pre-season game for the Stadio San Paolo outfit on Monday.

De Laurentiis, who was one of the spectators during the game, reminded the club supporters that the striker has been inactive since Ligue 1 was abruptly concluded due to the outbreak of coronavirus in March as such should be tolerant with the 21-year-old.  

“The fans ought to be patient with him because Osimhen hasn’t played in seven months and still needs to get to know Italian football,” De Laurentiis told Radio Kiss Kiss.

“I urge the fans to give him time and space, so he can help the team. Rino Gattuso won’t give anyone an easy time.

“I see every now and then the media say I paid €47m! Evidently I ought to start publishing the contracts. In Germany, where they are very reliable, they always talk about gross wages and not net.”

Osimhen was snapped up by the Parthenopeans following his eye-catching performances for Lille, where he spent a single season.

The forward bagged 18 goals and provided six assists across all competitions and scooped the club’s Player of the Season award for his efforts.

The Super Eagles star joined Lille from Sporting Charleroi in the summer of 2019 as a direct replacement for Ivory Coast international Nicolas Pepe, who teamed up with Premier League club Arsenal.

The Ultimate Strikers Academy graduate started his European career with Bundesliga side Wolfsburg after impressing for Nigeria at the 2015 U17 World Cup in Chile. 

The forward scooped the Golden Boot and Silver Ball awards as he helped the Golden Eaglets win the title for a record fifth time and was named 2015 African Youth Player of the Year.

Osimhen is currently a key member of the national team after making his debut against Togo in a friendly in June 2017.

He has scored four goals in nine appearances for the Super Eagles and was part of the side that finished third at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

Kakamega Homeboyz coach Nicholas Muyoti says it is 'sad and discouraging' to lose a player like Peter Thiong'o who is heading to AFC Leopards.

The winger was a vital player for the Western-based side and managed to score eight goals as they finished second in the abandoned 2019/20 Kenyan Premier League (KPL) season. However, his contract with the team will expire in October and the player has a two-year pre-contract agreement with Leopards.

"As a coach, you need all your best players when planning for the new season," Muyoti told Goal on Tuesday.

"It is sad and discouraging to lose Thiong'o who has been a very important player for the team. He played a great role for us last season, and his presence in the new campaign would have been vital for us.

"It is disappointing to lose him, but again we have nothing to do but accept and see how to fill his void."

The tactician has also conceded Homeboyz made a mistake by not initiating talks to extend his stay early.

"We slept on our job; with six or so months remaining on his contract, we could have started re-negotiating a new deal," Muyoti continued.

"It would have given us time to plan life with him or without him. We did not do our homework early and we have paid the price. It is a lesson and next time around, we will have to ensure it does not happen.

"We will now have to go into the market and get his replacement and hope he is effective to the team."

The former Kenya international has wished his former player all the best hoping he will be successful in his new team.

"Thiong'o has been with us for two seasons, he is a great player and I wish him the best.

"Sometimes, you cannot judge a player for the decisions he makes since there are many factors involved. He has served us well during his time with us and has been a dedicated member of the team.

"It is painful seeing him leave, but I hope he will continue developing and hit greater heights."