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Lionel Messi must be convinced that Barcelona remain the right club for him, according to former team-mate Deco.

Messi's future has been the subject of fresh speculation since last week's humiliating 8-2 Champions League quarter-final defeat to Bayern Munich.

Reports in Catalonia suggest the six-time Ballon d'Or winner is still lukewarm over the prospect of remaining at Camp Nou following a meeting with newly installed head coach Ronald Koeman.

Koeman succeeded the ill-fated Quique Setien, and Eric Abidal has also moved on from his post as sporting director.

Speaking to Mundo Deportivo, ex-Barca, Porto and Chelsea playmaker Deco urged Barca to get their house in order or face up to an unpalatable reality.

"I don't know [if Messi will leave], but he has a contract," he said. "He is a player who wants to keep winning and it will depend on what Barca does when it comes to offering him a competitive team. I haven't spoken to him, but I'm sure that's what he thinks.

"I think he has to think about his future at a sporting level. It is very difficult to make a decision because we are talking about the club of his life; it is not that he has been at Barca for three or four years. 

"We are talking about the best player in the history of the club and his family is linked to the city. It's not easy, but it is also clear that he wants to keep winning. We cannot imagine a Barca without Leo, but it can happen."

Whatever Messi decides upon for his next move, Deco does at least feel the under-fire Barcelona board have happened upon a safe pair of hands in Koeman.

"He is a coach who knows the club very well and has a lot of experience," he added. "He knows the whole Barca environment and I think he can help Barca at this time."

Another former Barcelona star, Ronaldo, doubts that the club will allow Messi to leave and will eventually be able to win him around from any doubts.

"It is very unlikely that Messi will leave Barcelona, especially with the financial crisis in Europe," he said. "Messi is the reference of the team and if I was Barcelona I would not let him leave in any case."

Lille manager Christophe Galtier believes Reinildo Mandava’s red card was justified in his side’s Ligue 1 opener with Rennes on Saturday which ended in a 1-1 draw.

The Mozambican left-back was first on the receiving end of a dangerous tackle in the 30th minute from Franco-Cameroonian right-back Sacha Boey with the 19-year-old getting his marching orders immediately.

Mandava needed to get treatment for a few minutes and was soon back on his feet, but went on to commit the same offence as Boey two minutes to the half-time break, this time on Brazilian winger Raphinha. They got a straight red card which saw both saw sides down to 10 men each.

Judging by the nature of the foul, Galtier had no complaints about the referee’s decision to send off Mandava.

"The two red cards are justified. Reinildo is caught in the back in the depth, he takes the ball but it's an unchecked tackle from behind,” Galtier was quoted saying on the Lille website after the match.

Franco-Ivorian midfielder Jonathan Bamba put Les Dogues in front in the 35th minute, but Rennes responded with 16 minutes left on the clock thanks to Damien Da Silva, the assist coming from substitute and Real Madrid-linked Franco-Angolan midfielder Eduardo Camavinga.

Galtier was pleased with Bamba’s effort and believes the game was dominated by either team in either half, his side in the first and Rennes in the second.

“Jonathan Bamba is a hard-working player, who was very frustrated with last season when his stats weren't very good compared to before,” he said.

“He is a player who is physically ready. He finished off a good goal, there was good timing from the passer, Xeka, who did well.

“In the first period, I think we scored in our strongest moment, a great goal. I found our first half interesting in what we wanted to do and what we had decided to put in place. We had the opportunity to open the scoring, to play 11 against 10.

“If we had returned to the locker room with this configuration, I think it would have been more difficult for Rennes afterwards. Unfortunately, we suffered a lot in the second half. Each team has scored in its highlight. Rennes brought a lot of density. I find that my players raised their level in the first period but lacked precision in the second."

Lille will be on the road next Sunday when they tackle Reims at Stade Auguste-Delaune II.

The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Electoral Board has continued with the process of holding elections after they published the official register for voters who will take part in the exercise.

The Electoral Board led by Kentice Tikolo has already set October 17 as the date for the national elections which will be preceded by grassroots polls held across the 47 counties on September 19.

“FKF Electoral Board has published the final list of clubs eligible to vote at both county and national level in the upcoming FKF elections,” revealed the statement obtained by Goal.

“This comes after the lapse of a disputes’ resolution window last week, by the Electoral Board. The Board will on Wednesday, August 26, 2020, publish the final register of delegates eligible to vote at both levels.”

The statement continued: “Aspirants seeking elective positions at county level will, in the meantime, have two days, Tuesday, August 25, and Wednesday, August 26, 2020, to submit their nomination forms.

“These forms can be downloaded from the FKF Electoral Board website, elections.footballkenya.org, and submitted to the Board as per the nomination calendar.

“County elections are set to be held on September 19, 2020, while national elections shall be held on October 17, 2020.”

The statement by the Board comes just a few days after they commenced the process of listening to disputes arising on the club register ahead of the polls.

It will be the third time in a year that the FKF will be holding elections.

The previous two exercises were nullified by the Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT) last December and in March this year, with SDT chairman John Ohaga ruling the rules of engagement were flouted on both occasions.

On setting the guidelines for the exercise, Tikolo told Goal in a previous interview the FKF Electoral Code, which has been the contentious issue with most presidential candidates saying it should be changed, will remain in force.

“In consonance with the directive from Fifa and in the spirit of progression, the FKF electoral process shall be predicated upon the FKF Statutes, the FKF Electoral Code currently in force and/or the Fifa Statutes/guidelines where required or where applicable,” Tikolo told Goal.

“The electoral process shall begin at the county level in accordance with article 27 of the FKF (2017) Constitution.”

FKF presidential aspirants Sam Nyamweya, Twaha Mbarak, Herbert Mwachiro and Nicholas Musonye, have strongly opposed the decision to use the Code and have already moved to court to have the exercise stopped.

Angel Di Maria "could have been a major star at Man Utd", according to Wayne Rooney, who has described the PSG winger as a "wonderful player".

United forked out a then-British record transfer fee of £60 million ($79m) to bring Di Maria to Old Trafford from Real Madrid in the summer of 2014.

The Argentine left La Liga after helping the Blancos win their tenth Champions League crown, and also appeared in the World Cup final before joining up with his new team-mates at the Theatre of Dreams.

Di Maria thusly arrived in Manchester with a sterling reputation as one of the most effective attacking players in European football, but endured a nightmare 12-month spell in the Premier League under Louis van Gaal.

The 32-year-old only managed to score four goals in 32 outings for the Red Devils, as he struggled to replicate the form he showed on a weekly basis at Santiago Bernabeu.

United ended up accepting a £14 million ($18m) loss on their initial investment to offload Di Maria, as PSG snapped him up on a four-year contract ahead of the 2015-16 season.

The former Madrid star has since won 15 major trophies with the French outfit, and he's also played a key role in their run to the Champions League final this season.

Ahead of PSG's meeting with Bayern Munich in the showpiece event on Sunday, Rooney has offered an insight into Di Maria's ill-fated spell at United, while talking up his unique attributes in the final third of the pitch. 

"He’s a wonderful player," The Red Devils' all-time record scorer wrote in his latest column for The Sunday Times. "When he came to United I remember Louis van Gaal saying to the team: 'He is the only one who is allowed to dribble with the ball.'

"Angel works tirelessly on the pitch and his delivery, vision and awareness is brilliant. He could have been a major star at United but at the time we were going through a bit of a transition and it was tough for him to settle.

"He had young kids and lived a couple of houses down from me and someone tried to burgle him. I remember that really shook him and his family.

"From then on, really, you knew it was going to be tough for him and it was probably better for him to leave."

Rooney went on to express his belief that PSG are capable of springing an upset against Bayern in Lisbon, as he added: "Bayern have the advantage that most of their starting line-up have played in the Champions League final before.

"But I have a feeling for PSG. It will be a shoot-out and I think with Neymar, Mbappe and Di Maria, PSG will exploit the high line that Bayern play. They will get chances and take them.

“I have no doubt that press will create chances for Bayern but PSG are good enough in possession to deal with it and once they play through it there will be opportunities for their attackers.”

Orlando Pirates could move up to third on the PSL with a win over Cape Town City in a league match which is set to take place on Sunday afternoon. 

The Buccaneers were overtaken by both SuperSport United and Bidvest Wits this week after drawing their previous match. 

They are a point behind the two teams but have played a game more than Josef Zinnbauer's men.       

TV Channel, Live Score & How To Watch

The match will be screened live on SABC 1 and SuperSport TV in South Africa.

Squads & Team News 

Cape Town City have not had any of their players testing positive for Covid-19 and they head into this clash with a clean bill of health.

Thamsanqa Mkhize was rested for precautionary reasons in the previous match against Mamelodi Sundowns but was introduced in the second half.

He's expected to start against the Buccaneers with Jan Olde Riekerink set to keep the same starting line-up that did the job since the return of football.  

Kermit Erasmus is one player everyone will be keeping an eye on after netting twice in his last three competitive matches. 

He has scored 10 league goals so far this season and with Gabandinho Mhango struggling for form, the striker would fancy his chances of catching him up. 

Peter Leeuwenburgh is another player expected to play a huge role in keeping Bucs at bay on the day after doing ever so well for himself since arriving in South Africa.

The Buccaneers have seen the return of Thembinkosi Lorch after his suspension two weeks ago.

The attacker returned in Pirates' midweek match but didn't have much of an impact after coming on as a second-half substitute. 

After struggling to score since the return of football, Zinnbauer had to make changes to his striking department against Baroka with Tshegofatso Mabasa finding the back of the net in the 1-1 draw in midweek. 

Now, it remains to be seen if Mabasa will start for this encounter with Mhango playing a much deeper role to ease the pressure on him. 

And Lorch's return is seen a massive boost to the Soweto giants' chances of returning to Africa. 

While they are still mathematically in the race, chances of them winning the league are very slim as Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns are considered strong contenders. 

Match Preview

In head-to-head stats, Cape Town City have not been as dominant as the majority have thought. 

There have been three draws while City won just twice against the Buccaneers while Zinnbauer's men have won three times in the two teams' all-time meetings. 

The last time these two teams met, Pirates and City played to a thrilling 3-3 draw at Orlando Stadium. 

That was soon after two consecutive 2-2 draws against each other, meaning both teams don't have goalscoring problems and attack each other every time they clash. 

The novelty of single-leg Champions League knockout matches this summer has prompted a lot of discussion among fans about the structure of Europe's premier club competition.

While single-leg knockout games were a feature of the old European Cup, they have made way for a group stage and knockout stage - with two legs each round except for the final - format.

The two-legged knockout tie as we know it, which allows each team the advantage of a partisan crowd, has been in place since the early 2000s, but could UEFA go back to the winner-takes-all approach?

Goal takes a look at why the changes were brought in for 2019-20 and whether they are here to stay.

Will Champions League 2020-21 knockout games be single-leg or two-legged?

Champions League knockout-stage ties will revert to two legs in 2020-21, which will no doubt come as a disappointment to single-leg tie proponents.

Ahead of the 2020-21 tournament, UEFA indicated that Champions League qualifying matches from the first qualifying round to the third qualifying round would be single-leg affairs.

However, the European football governing body confirmed that two-legged ties would return from the play-off round, which was scheduled to get under way on August 22-23.

The round of 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals of the 2020-21 Champions League are all scheduled to be two-legged ties.

Why were the Champions League 2019-20 knockout games single-legged?

UEFA made the decision to change the format of the Champions League knockout stage in 2019-20 due to the extraordinary circumstances of the coronavirus pandemic, which had forced a three-month delay.

In order to complete the 2019-20 tournament in full and in timely fashion, all fixtures from the quarter-final stage on were to be single-leg matches.

The Champions League 'final eight' tournament was thus conceived of, with knockout matches coming thick and fast over a 12-day period in the neutral ground of Lisbon.

The first quarter-final match was played on Wednesday August 12, with the final taking place on Sunday August 23.

Why do some supporters want single-leg knockout rounds?

A number of arguments have been advanced in favour of keeping the single-leg knockout match approach to the Champions League.

Chief among them is the excitement factor, given that each game is a winner-takes-all encounter, which depends on teams being on top form on the day.

Playing a tie over two legs - particularly with the away goals rule - allows teams to adopt different gameplans and can often produce attritional games. 

For example, a team could opt to defend resolutely at home in order to avoid conceding an away goal, which would then allow them to play with significantly less pressure in the away tie. 

When progression to the next stage relies on a performance and result over the regulation time of one game, teams have little choice but to attack.

Another argument for the long-term introduction of single-leg knockout games is that it can favour ostensibly weaker teams, who may be able to capitalise on strong opponents having an off night.

An example of this came in the Lyon versus Manchester City quarter-final tie in 2019-20, with the French side dumping out a team that had widely been considered favourites to win the trophy.

Had Pep Guardiola's team had the luxury of a second game against Lyon they would have had a second chance where they may have been able to turn things around.

Clubs have discussed the possibility of keeping single-leg knockout matches, according to The Athletic, but the response has reportedly been conservative, with reduced commercial opportunities seen as an issue.

Young Africans (Yanga SC) chairman Mshindo Msolla has confirmed Cedric Kaze will be the club’s next head coach.

Yanga have been in the market looking for Luc Eymael’s successor and during the launch of Mwananchi Day celebrations in Dodoma, Msolla confirmed the Burundian has accepted their offer for the top job.

Yanga have been without a coach since the latter part of July when they sacked Eymael for disparaging comments about the club, the fans and the Tanzanian Football Federation (TFF).

“Those who are enquiring about the coach, we have already got [Cedric] Kaze who is from Burundi and was initially working in Canada,” Msolla said as per Mwanaspoti.

“We are in the process of ensuring his travel arrangements are in order so that he can join us soon and start his job.”

Kaze has reportedly made a demand that Yanga appoint former Azam goalkeeper Vladimir Niyonkuru as the new goalkeeping coach.

That position fell vacant when Timu Ya Wananchi did not renew Peter Manyika’s contract at the end of last season.

Yanga will also need to get a new assistant coach after Boniface Mkwasa left and joined rivals Ruvu Shooting as head coach.

Kaze will take charge of Yanga who are looking to end Simba SC’s latest dominance. Simba won a treble last season and their league success means they have kept the title in three consecutive campaigns after taking it from their archrivals.

Kaze is an experienced African coach who holds a Caf A License. He started his coaching job as an assistant to Armas Niyamugambo at Prince Louis Rwagasore FC.

He was confirmed as the head coach for the 2005/06 season and his team finished second to Vital’O.

He left and joined Atletico FC for the 2006/07 season and he helped the club remain among the top four sides in four seasons in charge.

Kaze was named Burundi’s coach of the season twice; in 2008/09 and in 2011/12 seasons although his side finished second.

He lifted the Ligue A title in the 2010/11 campaign.

According to reports, Yanga were persuaded to settle on the Burundian by Tanzania head coach Etienne Ndayiragije who was also targeted for the position.

Yanga have strengthened their playing unit with the signings of former Coastal Union defender Bakari Mwamnyeto, Yassin Mustapha from Polisi Tanzania, ex-Kagera Sugar’s Zawadi Mauya, and Abdallah Shaibu from LA Galaxy II.

Waziri Junior from Mbao FC, Kibwana Shomari from Mtibwa Sugar, Farid Mussa from CD Tenerife, Tuisila Kisinda and Mukoko Tonombe, both from AS Vita, are also other new players who were brought in to fill the gaps left by 14 players who were released.

Newly crowned 2020 Freestyle Football Champion Sipho Busakwe has called for the recognition of freestyle football.

Busakwe defeated Emilio Nahamuja in the grand finale of the 2020 South African Freestyle Football Championships to defend the title he won in 2019.

The virtual event has been ongoing for the past four weeks and has now concluded with the Vanderbijlpark native crowned champion.

"I am very happy with the way I have been performing, despite carrying an injury," Busakwe told Goal.

"I couldn't do hand-stalls but am grateful to have pulled through.

"I will also try to play my part to make sure this sport is recognised; I feel it does not get the recognition it deserves and that is why I have been trying to introduce the young girls in my community to the sport."

Final Rankings

1. Sipho Busakwe

2. Emilio Nahamuja

3. Rishaad Ibrahim

4. Kyle Rinquest

The 2020 event was proudly sponsored by Hi-Teach South Africa and organised by the South African Freestyle Football Association the World Freestyle Football Association.

Darren Bent has backed Tottenham to bring in Bournemouth forward Callum Wilson as an "'adequate backup" for Harry Kane.

Wilson has spent the last six years of his career on Bournemouth's books, having joined the club from Coventry City in 2014.

The 28-year-old has racked up 126 Premier League appearances for the Cherries during that period, scoring a respectable 41 goals in the process.

However, he was only able to find the net on eight occasions last season, as Bournemouth's five-year stay in the top-flight came to an end.

A number of key players are expected to leave Vitality Stadium this summer, with Wilson among those being tipped to remain in the Premier League.

Jose Mourinho has reportedly expressed his interest in signing the English frontman, as he looks to build a squad capable of returning to the Champions League in 2020-21.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has already been snapped up from Southampton, and Joe Hart has arrived at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on a free transfer, but no new attacking players have been added to Mourinho's ranks as of yet.

Spurs have been heavily reliant on the talents of Kane in the final third over the past six years, with his injury-enforced absence leading to a shocking dip in form for the team before the coronavirus-enforced break came into effect last season.

Bent believes Wilson is the ideal man to come in and provide cover for a prized performer, and can even see him challenging for a regular spot in Mourinho's starting XI.

“They need someone who’s an adequate backup to Harry Kane and Callum Wilson’s smart enough to understand to know he’s not going to go down there and play straight away," the ex-Tottenham striker told Football Insider.

“If Harry Kane’s fit, Harry Kane plays, but we’ve seen Harry Kane get injured every single season for the last couple of years and they’ve never really had anyone come in and be an adequate backup.

“You’ve had people kind of carry the load, Son stepped up a bit and scored goals but I think if you’ve got another genuine number nine who can come in and score goals, you never know, if Harry Kane gets injured and Wilson goes and starts smashing the goals in, we’ve got a fight on our hands.

“I like what Mourinho’s doing there.” 

Police FC have confirmed defender Reuben Kimera has extended his contract for another two years.

Kimera’s contract had expired in June but following on and off negotiations, the two parties have now agreed on a two-year deal.

Although Kimera has been unable to get regular playtime as a first-teamer under coach Abdalla Mubiru, he can play both at left-back and at right-back.

He engaged in 15 matches last season as the cops finally managed to keep their Premier League status after on-pitch struggles.

“I feel so good for renewing my contract. I’m ready to work hard for the team and I’m hoping for the best this coming season,” Kimera told the club’s website after signing the new contract.

“I hope to score and create more goals compared to the previous seasons.”

The fullback is the ninth player Mubiru has agreed to extend his contract as he strengthens the team for the 2020/21 season that is tentatively set to start on October 17.

Musa Matovu, Mubarak Nsubuga, Yusuf Ssozi, Dennis Rukundo, Joseph Ssentume, Edward Kiryowa, Joseph Odong, and Bashir Kabuye have also agreed to renew their contracts with the club.

Police have signed experienced Tony Mawejje, Tom Ikara, Arnold Ssembuya, Sammon Oloka, Eric Ssenjobe, Hassan Mohamood, Derrick Ochan and Muwadda Mawejje.

On the other hand, Onduparaka FC have signed three new players to bring the total number of signings to six.

Augustine Akoch a defender, midfielder Jasper Okello and winger Nelson Opio are the new members of the Caterpillars family.

Akoch has signed a two-year contract while Okello agreed to a one-year deal. Opio is the player who was handed a longer contract as his will run for three seasons.

“We have had players from the central region and within West Nile but our fan base has been all over the country,” Onduparaka FC head of marketing and Public Relations Mercy Munduru said as was quoted by Football256. 

“Therefore, it is a good thing for us to extend to these regions and how best to do this besides identifying players from them?

“Our scouts have done well and obtained for us players from these regions and we believe these players will add a lot to the team.

“We are continuing to scout players and we will unveil more in the coming days. We want to build a new team that will be here to last.”

Kennedy Atibuni, Jerry Jakisa and Bony Musema are the previous signings confirmed by Onduparaka.

Stan Collymore says that Kevin De Bruyne "would be the perfect fit for Liverpool", with it his belief that the Manchester City star could turn the Reds into a "truly great side".

De Bruyne was the standout player for City throughout their 2019-20 campaign, as he hit 13 goals while also recording a staggering 20 assists in 35 top-flight outings.

The 29-year-old picked up the Premier League Player of the Season award for his efforts, and also added a fourth League Cup winners' medal to his collection of domestic honours.

He was, however, unable to inspire City towards a third successive title or Champions League glory, with Liverpool emerging as the new dominant force in England and Lyon humbling Pep Guardiola's men in Europe.

Collymore thinks it is about time that De Bruyne moved onto a new challenge, and that Anfield could be the ideal next destination for a player "at the height of his powers".

The former Liverpool striker says the Belgium international is capable of elevating Jurgen Klopp's side to an even higher level, and he wants to see his old club test City's resolve with an audacious approach.

"Kevin De Bruyne fully ­deserves to have been named PFA Player of the Year – he has been Mr Consistency at such a high level," Collymore wrote in his latest column for The Mirror.

"But that makes me wonder: Isn’t it time he tested himself at Real Madrid, a rejuvenated Barcelona or – here’s one to put the cat among the pigeons – Liverpool?

"De Bruyne hasn’t yet played for a massive club because Chelsea and Manchester City come with B-grade expectations. At Wolfsburg, it’s a C and Belgium are more of a dark horse than front-runner.

"The only way he can really stamp his greatness on the game is by joining a club at which he’d have A* ­expectations and, at the height of his powers, there isn’t a better time for him to do that. De Bruyne would be the perfect fit for Liverpool.

"He could go in and run a midfield which already has all the attributes to get the best out of him. He could make them a truly great side, one which wins multiple Premier League and Champions League titles.

"I can hear City fans screaming: ‘Nonsense, Stan’. But it’s only ­nonsense if Liverpool don’t have the brass neck or finances to go for it."

Collymore added on the extra dimension De Bruyne could bring to the current Liverpool squad: "Having a nibble at De Bruyne ought to be a no-brainer for Liverpool ­because he would make a midfield that was excellent last season even better.

"Most Liverpool fans would tell you their midfield is 8/10 as things stand, compared to rearguard and forward lines that are 9/10. To go on and truly dominate at home and in Europe, Liverpool are going to need more goals and assists from midfield.

'And in De Bruyne they would have a player who is always going to find a forward with a pass and is always ­going to weigh in with goals and ­free-kicks, too."

Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA FC) have confirmed the departure of goalkeeper Jamil Malyamungu.

Malyamungu, who joined the 13-time Ugandan Premier League (UPL) champions in 2017, becomes the latest player to leave the 2019 league winners.

He joined KCCA as a free agent and signed a three-year deal which has now ended without renewal especially after failing to stamp authority on the first team.

He and Ali Mwirusi played secondary roles at the club last season as coach Mike Mutebi preferred Charles Lukwago as his first-choice goalkeeper.

The experienced goalkeeper has previously played for the Ugandan People’s Defence Force (UPDF FC), Water FC and Bugerere FC in the Masaza Cup tournament.

He was key when Maroons won the Fufa Big League title in the 2016/17 season and consequently were promoted to the Premier League alongside Masavu FC and Mbarara City.

Mustapha Kizza is the other player who has left the Kassasiro Boys but will remain at the club on loan from Major League Soccer (MLS) side Montreal Impact until December.

Eric Ssenjobe left for league rivals Police FC while goalkeeper Tom Ikara, who spent a loan stint at Mbarara City last season, has left and joined Police too.

Jackson Nunda exited and has so far been confirmed at top side Uganda Revenue Authority FC (URA FC).

Mike Mutyaba ended his career after he was released by KCCA. Other players who are reportedly set to be released are Nicholas Kasozi, Erisa Ssekisambu, Saddam Juma and Muzamir Mutyaba.

In the ongoing transfer window, the 2019 Caf Champions League participants have already made seven signings. Brian Aheebwa, Samson Kigozi, Charles Lwanga, Ashraf Mugume, Denis Iguma, Bright Anukani and Stefano Mazengo Loro have been confirmed.

Lately, the Kampala-based outfit has not made any new announcement on whether more new players are coming.

Meanwhile, BUL FC have confirmed the signing of five players.

Davis Mutebi, Kenneth Kibaale, Peter Onzima, Paul Mbaziira and Douglas Bithum are the stars who have joined the Jinja club that is coached by Arthur Kyesmira.

Mutebi and Mbaziira have been signed with two-year deals each whereas Onzima, Bithum and Kibaale have been handed one-year contracts each.

He has been brought on board to compete with Sanon Mulabi and Abdul Kimera. The goalkeeping department is under a former Uganda international James Magala.

“I am very happy to join BUL FC family, I have come to win trophies and push harder as a player,” Mutebi said as was quoted by Kawowo Sports.

“As I aim for a place on the national team, I will do what it takes to help the club achieve their goals so the fans should expect a lot from me.

“I thank the management of the club for trusting me.”

Mbaziira, Bithum and Kibaale have been signed from Edgar’s Youth Academy.

ATK Mohun Bagan defender Pritam Kotal has learnt the importance of self-belief from his side's victory against Bengaluru FC in the 2019-20 Indian Super League (ISL) play-offs.

The Kolkata based club, then ATK, went on to win their third ISL title in a final played behind closed doors in Goa after beating Chennaiyin FC 3-1. However, they needed to a stunning turnaroudn after suffering a 1-0 defeat in the first leg of their semifinal play-off against Bengaluru FC. 

In the reverse leg in Kolkata, Kotal and his teammates knocked Bengaluru out after scripting a drmatic 3-1 win with David Williams scoring a late winner.

Bengaluru FC had scored early through a fifth minute strike by Ashique Kuriniyan but goals from Roy Krishna (30') and David Williams (63', 79') ensured that ATK won the double-legged semi-final 3-2 on aggregate.

"Self-belief is very important and this is what sport teaches us. For example in the semi-finals against Bengaluru FC, in the away match we lost 1-0. When they came to Kolkata (for the second leg) also, they scored first. So we had to score three to qualify for the final," Kotal said in a Live instagram chat with Apollo X Sports.

"When we entered the dressing room at half-time, there was not a single player who thought that we would lose this match. Everyone believed that we will score three goals and go to the final. This is what self belief is all about," he insisted.

Kotal, one of the leading Indian defenders at the moment, feels that the privilege of playing the game itself is a huge motivation for him.

"My motivation itself is football. I chose football to play and become something. The moment I see football I get motivated. Everyday, the thought comes to mind that I can improve further," he said.

Kotal, who runs an academy in Kolkata, feels that not everybody makes it into the top levels of professional football. As such, Kotal puts across the point that aspiring footballers should never ignore their education.

"Whoever plays football but is not as good in it, we encourage them to get educated further. So I tell them to keep playing football but don't neglect education. If not a player, one can become a physio (physiotherapist), fitness trainer, manager or anything else in the sport as well," he added.

Kotal also paid tribute to his national team partner Sandesh Jhingan who has been recently conferred the Arjuna Award.

"I want to congratulate Sandesh Jhingan for winning the Arjuna Award. We have been playing together from the India U-19 team and I feel very proud to have played alongside him," Kotal expounded.

Jack Grealish is "better off" staying at Aston Villa if he's called up to the England squad, according to Tony Daley, who says a rumoured target for Manchester United needs to be playing regularly.

United are reportedly weighing up a summer bid for Grealish after his outstanding 2019-20 campaign at Villa.

The 24-year-old helped Dean Smith's side retain their Premier League status by scoring eight goals and laying on six assists in 36 appearances, and he is now being tipped to take the next step forward in his fledgeling career.

Grealish is also being touted for a spot in Gareth Southgate's latest England squad ahead of upcoming UEFA Nation's League matches, with international football finally set to resume after the postponement of the European Championships.

The tournament has been rescheduled to take place in 2021, and Daley believes the Villa talisman will have a better chance of featuring if he snubs a big-money move to Old Trafford.

Grealish has also been linked with Spurs, but a former Villa star has urged him to stay put due to the fact he is guaranteed a starting berth under Smith.

“If Jack goes, he’ll have everyone’s blessing here at Villa because of what he’s just done for the club,” Daley told the Daily Star.

“But if he’s been picked for England already, he might think he’s better off staying with Villa, where he’s settled and plays every week.

“The Euros are coming up next summer – and Jack needs to be playing to stay in Southgate’s plans.”

The ex-Villa winger added on Grealish deserving an opportunity on the international stage: “I agree Jack now warrants a place in the England squad. He gave consistently good performances last season.

“When he was in the Championship, there were doubts if he could do it in the Premier League. Fair enough. But he’s now proved he can.

“Yes, there were ups and downs last season but people need to understand the immense pressure on his shoulders to keep Villa up. Everyone looked to Jack to deliver every game.

“But, when it mattered in the final few games, there was this new maturity about Jack, which really came to the fore.

“He didn’t try to do everything on his own. He realised Villa had to play as a team – and you could see how others around him responded to that.

“It seems England will have a bigger squad than normal next week. That means Jack must get in, surely? I believe he’s done enough to be picked in this squad.

“He’s shown what a talent he is at Villa - and he’ll go up another level with the national team, with even better players alongside him."

Kerala Blasters midfielder Sahal Abdul Samad believes that there should be a healthy competition between the Indian and foreign footballers playing in the Indian Super League (ISL) clubs. 

The foreign player quota in Indian football has been a hot topic up for debate this year. The ISL has been gradually decreasing the number of foreign players each club can sign every year and it will once again follow that process for the 2020-21 season which will see a maximum of four foreigners on the field at a time. 

The idea behind such a move is to ensure is that the clubs recruit quality foreigners from their budget, among other factors.

While some believe that foreigners are eating into the minutes of Indian players, the argument against the notion is about how their experience may be helpful to the local talents in the team. 

"I can proudly say that quality foreign players are important for the development of Indian players," Sahal told Goal. "The experience they bring helps us cope with the challenges on the pitch. Reducing the number of foreigners has its own advantages as well as disadvantages. There will be more opportunities to play for Indian players. Such a healthy competition will be helpful for Indian football in the long run," he weighed in.

Sahal was part of a Kerala Blasters squad that had the likes of Bartholomew Ogbeche, Sergio Cidoncha and Mario Arques but struggled for regular first-team minutes under Dutch head coach Eelco Schattorie who was replaced at the end of the season. 

Despite the diminished role after a 'Player Of The Year' award-winning season, the Malayali midfielder feels he learnt a lot from the Dutchman and is keen on putting the learnings into practice next season. 

"It (first-team role) is up to the coach and the tactics for each game. I am happy with my performances last season. If I did not start regularly, it was for the team. I followed my coach's instructions and I am pleased with everything I learnt under Eelco Schattorie," the 23-year-old said.

Inter's blistering Europa League campaign last season, in which they reached the final and lost the exhilarating contest to Sevilla, is yet another proof of the change in football philosophy in Italy. 

Vincenzo Alberto Annese, Gokulam Kerala's new head coach and one of the few Italians to take up a coaching role at an Indian club (the last notable name being Marco Materazzi at Chennaiyin), believes Italy's fascination with defending is now nothing more than a myth that has been busted.  

"The concept of Italian teams being known for their strong defence is 10 years old. Right now, Italian teams have an international style of play. Inter is playing 'international' football under Antonio Conte and reached the final. We don't focus on defences alone. I like my teams to attack and dominate games," the 35-year-old coach told Goal, a day after his move to the Kozhikode-based club was revealed. 

A series of injuries at the age of 22 brought Vincenzo's professional playing career to a disappointing end. However, being a man with a keen interest in the technicalities of the beautiful game, he decided to embark on a challenging journey. He has so far coached clubs in Italy, Ghana, Indonesia, Latvia and Palestine.  He has also coached the national teams of Armenia U-19 and Belize. 

He started out in the third division of Italy in 2010 and 10 years later, he has earned a ticket to the southern part of India. Not only is he looking forward to the trip but the man is not bothered about I-League not being the country's top division anymore. 

He said, "​Gokulam are a big club with a lot of supporters. India was always an attraction. ​It was always my focus. There were many good football players who coached in India like Roberto Carlos and Marco Materazzi. It is a dream to start coaching in India. 

"Each team I sign for is at a high level. Everything is possible in life. Gokulam Kerala are also at a high level. Next year, we will see (what happens). I am not thinking about the difference between the leagues. 

"I heard positives things about Indian football. Stephen Constantine (former India national team head coach) helped me think more about (coaching in) India."

Gokulam made a mark as giant-killers soon after they were launched three years ago and has since come to be known as an ambitious bunch. They won the Durand Cup, reached the semi-final of the Sheikh Jamal Cup in Bangladesh and were involved in a tightly-contested top-four race last season in the I-League before the Coronavirus pandemic abruptly ended the season. 

"The teams are competitive. Gokulam were sixth when the Coronavirus stopped the I-League last season. They would have gained positions (with matches left to play). I want to do what's best for my players and I want to help them get into the national team," Vincenzo set up his objectives for the season. 

Nothing short of a title victory will please Vincenzo and Gokulam, especially given how the Malabarians have harboured title ambitions in the past and fallen just short of the finish line on every single occasion. Perhaps, under a new coach, fourth time is the charm.

The new head coach is not too bothered about changes in personnel in the squad and is fully focused on implementing his methods in training. 

"In many countries right now, it is difficult to sign players on long term deals. They try to sign one or two-year contracts and teams change completely every season. I don't care so much about this. I am focused on my team right now.

"I don't think we will make wholesale changes at Gokulam, we have limited time and the squad is already competitive. We will change the way we train, that is for sure, to push the team to win trophies. We will try to win the title."

Who else cannot wait to watch Malabarians with an Italian twist?