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Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane feels is it too early to give up on the Premier Soccer League (PSL) title following his side's failure to win their two league matches since the restart.

After resuming their season on the backdrop of four consecutive wins which boosted their title defence before football was suspended, Sundowns have returned to drop four crucial points in two matches.

They first drew 0-0 against Orlando Pirates, before a 1-1 share of the spoils with Highlands Park on Friday, leaving Mosimane lamenting the nearly five months of no competitive football.

“It is easy to speak but it is difficult to do it. You can do it if you have a good foundation but you have a foundation of not playing football for four months," said Mosimane as per Far Post.

"This is what you get, not very good performances. We know about it. We are not playing very well. We don’t play up to our standard. You can’t buy it, you’ve got to go through it and see how it goes and try. You got the final so try to win the final."

Mosimane's remarks are in stark contrast to his Orlando Pirates counterpart Josef Zinnbauer who says his players are in perfect shape despite the long break from competitive football.

The two draws have left Downs risking trailing further behind log leaders Kaizer Chiefs who are three points clear at the top.

A win for Chiefs against Polokwane City on Saturday will see Amakhosi extending their lead to six points, but Mosimane is wearing a brave face.

“Yes, we are not going to give up because you don’t know what is happening tomorrow [between Polokwane City and Chiefs]. You have just got to keep on going," Mosimane continued.

"We are an ambitious team. As always we are trying to win the three trophies. Sometimes you get and sometimes you might not. Sometimes you come out with two and sometimes you come out with one which you already have in hand.

"Maybe if you believe and you keep going, fortunes can change and you win the three trophies."

After winning the Telkom Knockout, Sundowns could end the season with a treble if they pick themselves up and claim the league title as well as being crowned Nedbank Cup champions.

They now seek to revive their campaign against Cape Town City at Loftus Versfeld on Monday as Downs are left with seven games before the season ends.

“Cape Town City likes to play a little like Sundowns. We will check the game," added Mosimane.

" At least, we have three days to check the game and we will see. They are always a difficult team that gives us tough times. A ball-playing team. I don’t know how far they are but we continue game after game.”

Lille owner Gerard Lopez has confirmed that Manchester United and Arsenal-linked Gabriel will leave the club this summer.

Gabriel has established himself as one of the top defenders in Ligue 1 since breaking into Lille's first team last season.

The 22-year-old helped Christophe Galtier's side secure another top-four finish in 2019-20, featuring in 24 games before French football authorities called off the campaign in April.

Gabriel is contracted to remain at Stade Pierre Mauroy until 2023, but he has been tipped to move onto pastures new in the coming weeks amid interest from a number of top clubs.

Goal has reported that United and Arsenal have both identified the Brazilian as a transfer target, with Lille's current valuation of a prized asset set at around £25 million ($28m).

The Gunners have a good relationship with the French club after securing Nicolas Pepe's services last year, but the Red Devils are ready to compete for Gabriel's signature as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looks to bring in a suitable partner for Harry Maguire at the back.

Lopez has now revealed that Lille have given the talented centre-half the green light to speak to potential suitors, while promising that the club will advise him on the best next step in his fledgeling career.

“The way we work is very simple,” the 48-year-old businessman told BBC World Service's World Football.

“We explain to him and his environment, his agent, what we are looking for, and once we get those offers the choice is his, like we did with Nico [Pepe] and Victor [Oshimen].

“We are there now, so we told him: ‘Eventually you have to make a decision but we’re not pressing you.’ I think he will make it this week, or next week at the latest. He is leaving, we’ve given the OK for that.

“There’s a lot of competition. He’s a young player so he’s got to make sure he makes the right decision. We help him out a little bit so we tell him: ‘We think this might be the right manager or club for you.’

“He’s got so much talent, he will succeed wherever he goes.”

Gabriel opened the door to a transfer back in June, as he expressed a desire to reach the very "highest level" of the game at both club and international level.

"I want to go as high as possible, I came to Europe for that. England or Italy? Both are good championships," he told L'Equipe.

"Wherever I go it will be to play, to be at the top, at the highest level. And above all in a team that will allow me to go to the Selecao."

Express FC have added a defender to their new arrivals after unveiling Richard Bbosa.

The Red Eagles have confirmed the signing of the centre-back on their official website by stating: “Express have continued to strengthen their squad ahead of the new season with the addition of centre-back Richard Bbosa.

“The 21-year-old has penned a four-year deal with the six-time league winners and is expected to boost the backline next season.

“Express have already strengthened the goalkeeping department but a solid backline would ensure Wasswa Bossa’s charges don’t leak in the 37 goals like was the case last season.

“A top-three finish last achieved in the 2015/16 season and an elusive seventh league title last won in 2012 are sure targets the technical team and players will have at the top of their lists when the season kicks off in October.”

On signing the deal, Bbosa revealed his main target is to avoid conceding goals.

“I have joined Express to ensure we don’t concede and also work together as a team so that we can win the league next season,” said Bbosa.

Express have been active in the transfer market as they have also unveiled goalkeeper Denis Otim, who arrived from Mbarara City to join the Red Eagles on a four-year deal ahead of the new Ugandan Premier League (UPL) season set to kick off on October 17.

Speaking after being unveiled, Otim said: “I have joined the Red Eagles because it’s a big club in the country and I expect to use it as a springboard to further my career.”

Otim, who was also being trailed by UPL champions Vipers SC and Nyamityobora FC, became the second custodian to join Wasswa Bossa’s charges after Cryspus Kusiima, who joined on Monday, August 10, 2020.

The young keeper was in the Uganda Hippos U20 squad that reached the quarter-finals of the Cecafa tournament held on home soil and his arrival means he will have to fight for a starting role alongside the first choice Matthias Muwanga, and Kusiima.

The goalkeeping department could be very competitive for Express, with Kusiima, who arrived from Tooro United on a two-year contract, already promising to keep 18 clean sheets if he gets the chance to play in the league.

Azam FC have denied reports they are in the process of parting ways with coach Aristica Cioaba.

Social media was awash on Friday with reports the Chamazi-based club was keen to do away with the Romanian coach, who failed to win silverware in the just-concluded season, only managing a third-place finish in the Mainland Premier League.

The club’s CEO Abdulkarim Amin has now dismissed the reports maintaining they have long term plans with the coach which he said are supported by the signings they have already done, saying he recommended for the same.

“He [Cioaba] is the one who proposed to sign all the players who are joining the team prior to the next term and if we let him go, then who will be able to use well the players we have?” Popat asked as quoted by Daily News.

“We are continuing our job to sign players as recommended by the coach and I can confidently say we have so far managed to achieve that by 95 percent.

“By next week on [Monday or Tuesday], we will be done with the signing of all the foreign-based players who are on our radars as demanded by the coach.”

The ‘Ice-Cream Makers’ have already signed Awesu Awesu from (Kagera Sugar), Ismael Aziz Kada (Tanzania Prisons), Ayoub Lyanga (Coastal Union) David Mapigano (Gor Mahia), Emmanuel Charles (Mbao FC) and Rwandan Ally Niyonzima.

Azam have also been linked with a move to Gor Mahia striker Juma Balinya, who in a recent interview told Goal that he was quitting the Kenyan champions.

The Chamazi-based club will be keen to make a good mark in the coming season after they ended the 2019-20 campaign without silverware.

Azam did not enjoy as good a season as they had anticipated at the beginning of the campaign, as they managed to finish third in the league with 70 points, 18 fewer than winners Simba SC, and two behind second-placed Yanga SC. They managed to get 20 wins, 10 draws and eight defeats.

The team also failed to retain their FA Cup title to stand a chance of representing the country in the Caf Confederation Cup.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has been named Premier League Manager of the Season for 2019-20. 

The Reds won their first top-flight title in 30 years, finishing on a club-record 99 points, 18 clear of previous champions Manchester City. 

Klopp's side went unbeaten in their first 27 games, winning 26, and set a record for earliest title win by sealing their triumph with seven rounds of matches remaining. 

The German head coach, who was named League Managers Association Manager of the Year last month, won the Premier League prize ahead of fellow nominees Frank Lampard, Brendan Rodgers and Chris Wilder. 

Meanwhile, Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold claimed the Young Player of the Season prize and is also up for the Player of the Season accolade, along with team-mates Jordan Henderson and Sadio Mane. 

The Reds won three trophies in total over the course of their latest campaign, with the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup secured towards the end of 2019 to cap a remarkable year which also included Champions League success.

Klopp could yet win the fifth trophy of his reign at Anfield when he takes his side to Wembley to face Arsenal in the Community Shield final on August 29.

The Liverpool manager vowed that his side would continue their relentless pursuit of silverware after they were officially named champions of England on June 25, as he told reporters: "We will not stop, we really have to stay focused, because we see the opportunity. I will promise we will improve. 

"We have a good situation, we use our history instead of being held back by it. We will make sure we are still good from now on.

"We have a common dream. We have big dreams. The more people dream the more important and stronger it gets. So we will not stop. 

"The boys are more experienced, more convinced. But we know other teams are there and will do a lot to improve their situation. 

"There will be hard fights, and the hard fight starts now."

Lyon's Champions League clash with Manchester City is "50/50", claims Marcelo, who says "anything can happen on neutral ground".

The two teams are scheduled to meet in the quarter-finals of this season's competition on Saturday night, with the one-off tie set to take place at the Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon.

Lyon booked their place in the last eight by beating Juventus on away goals in the round of 16, with the Italian giants exiting early despite winning 2-1 in a second leg encounter in Turin last week.

City, meanwhile, knocked out 13-time winners Real Madrid 4-2 on aggregate, and are hot favourites to reach the semi-finals and set up a heavyweight meeting with Bayern Munich.

Lyon have only played two competitive games since April due to the cancellation of the Ligue 1 season, with a heartbreaking penalty shoot-out defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Coupe de la Ligue final coming before their loss to Juve.

However, Pep Guardiola's men failed to beat the French outfit in the group stages last term, as they suffered a surprise defeat at Etihad Stadium before being held to a draw in France.

Marcelo believes Rudi Garcia's team have a great chance of claiming another famous scalp due to the revised format the Champions League has taken on post-lockdown, despite being wary of the threat the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Gabriel Jesus will pose.

The Brazilian centre-back told l'Equipe ahead of the tie: "Football is incredible, sometimes incomprehensible things happen. In Lisbon, without the supporters, on neutral ground, anything can happen. It's 50-50. 

"We know the tactical and technical quality of De Bruyne and Jesus. He is really in good shape at the moment but we too can defend well and make efforts in front.

"If we play like against PSG and Juventus, I'm sure we can pass."

Quizzed on Lyon's mentality since returning to action after the coronavirus-enforced break, Marcelo added: "From training after confinement, even in friendlies, and against Paris, it was magnificent.

"We saw it again against Juve. The atmosphere was exceptional. We were looking for this state of mind. That's what made us feel good.

“Rudi is working on that, Juninho, the sporting director, also and the more experienced in the group like me, [Anthony] Lopes, Leo [Dubois], Memphis [Depay], we insist on it.

"It is a great team, we will play like a great team. We have to think big today."

Ahead of their Premier Soccer League (PSL) clash against Kaizer Chiefs, Polokwane City coach Clinton Larsen is wary of the Soweto giants, saying they deserve to occupy the top spot on the log standings.

Rise and Shine are set to welcome Amakhosi on Saturday afternoon at Loftus Versfeld Stadium and Larsen hopes his plan will bear fruit whilst banking on the venue used by defending PSL champions, Mamelodi Sundowns, saying it will suit their style.

On the other hand, the former Bafana Bafana midfielder remains wary of their fitness levels as he explains that all the other teams are set to face challenges in their first games since the season was halted in March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“Yeah, life gets to start with this one and players don’t need motivation. Everyone is looking forward to the game and we’ve prepared well and we hope to get a positive result,” Larsen told Goal.

“I can’t make it public knowledge [how we plan to exploit Chiefs’ weaknesses] on what we want to try and do.

"They are a good team and they’re not at the top of the log for no reason. So, it’s going to be a difficult game but we believe we have got enough quality in our attacking players to cause problems for them.

“Hopefully we will be on top of our attacking game and really pose a threat for Chiefs.”

On playing at the iconic venue in Tshwane, the former Golden Arrows and Bloemfontein Celtic coach says the pitch will perfectly suit their philosophy.

“Yeah, it’s going to suit the way we play and because we are a ball-playing team. I think we have to try to keep the ball, try and create scoring opportunities,” he added.

“I hope the pitch will allow us to do that. It’s been a challenge for every team [to restart the games], we’ve seen the games so far [Nedbank Cup and the league].

“It hasn’t looked pretty at all and we knew the players will need a game or two to adjust and have some match fitness behind them.

“Yeah, I think it’s going to be a tough game, tough physically but I believe, from a conditioning point of view, we have prepared well and we have no injuries going into this one.”

The Polokwane-based club is placed 14th on the log table with 23 points and they desperately need three points for them to ease their relegation concerns.

Looking at the previous encounter at FNB Stadium in the first round, the Soweto giants succumbed to a 1-0 defeat and Larsen will be chasing another victory in the current campaign.

Former Gor Mahia treasurer Sally Bolo has described Joash Onyango as a brilliant and astute leader.

The defender joined Simba SC of Tanzania from Gor Mahia and Bolo believes the Dar es Salaam team will greatly benefit from his attitude and character.

Onyango, 27, became the third player the Tanzanian 2020 treble winners signed in the ongoing August transfer window after he signed a two-year deal.

He is also the latest player to leave the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) side for regional rivals Simba.

Dan Sserunkuma, Meddie Kagere, and Francis Kahata are the other players to cross the border and join Wekundu wa Msimbazi in the recent past.

“Joash, I am very proud of your accomplishments, and the hard work you have always shown time and time again during your stay at the club and at national level,” Bolo said in his farewell message for the Harambee Stars defender.

“You are a brilliant player with a keen eye for teamwork and astute leadership.

“As you join Simba SC, we sincerely wish you all the best, may you continue to play with passion, display great wisdom on and off the pitch.

“You always accorded me immense support, and for that, I am very grateful. Your exemplary attitude and character will definitely be an asset.”

Meanwhile, former Tusker attacking midfielder Boniface Muchiri has described Onyango as the toughest opponent he ever encountered.

The two faced off majorly in the KPL matches with Tusker and Gor Mahia becoming the latest big rivals for the league title.

“Much respect man. Your hard work and dedication are amazing, toughest opponent I have ever played against,” Muchiri said in a post on his Facebook page.

“Sky is the limit Joash and all the best big man.”

Onyango is the third signing Simba have so far acquired. Bernard Morrison, whose move remains a controversial transaction since it is being contested by Yanga SC, was the first player to be confirmed by Wekundu wa Msimbazi.

Charles Ilamfia from Kinondoni Municipal Council (KMC FC) was the second player as he was brought on board to give more of a challenge to captain John Bocco and the Golden Boot winner Meddie Kagere in the striking department.

Simba are strengthening in a bid to be ready for continental football next season as well as defending the FA Cup and the league title.

Bayern Munich's Joshua Kimmich has admitted to being "almost ashamed" after scoring from Alphonso Davies' incredible assist in the Champions League semi-finals.

Hansi Flick's side booked their place in the last four of this season's competition by beating Barcelona 8-2 in a thrilling encounter in Lisbon on Friday night.

Bayern found themselves 4-1 up with only 31 minutes on the clock at Estadio da Luz, as a Thomas Muller brace and goals from Ivan Perisic and Serge Gnabry left Barca, who scored an early equaliser via David Alaba's unfortunate own goal, on the brink of elimination.

A superb Luis Suarez effort ten minutes into the second half gave the Blaugrana hope, which was cruelly dashed moments later when Kimmich tapped in from close range following a scintillating Davies run down the left-wing.

The Canadian full-back skipped past Arturo Vidal before easily beating Nelson Semedo with a combination of pace and guile, and laid the ball on a platter for his colleague to restore Bayern's three-goal advantage.

A Robert Lewandowski header and a late double from Barca loanee Philippe Coutinho against his parent club rounded off the scoring, as the German champions set up a last-four showdown against either Manchester City or Lyon.

When asked to discuss Davies' contribution to Bayern's fifth goal, Kimmich told reporters post-match: "Unbelievable. I was almost ashamed of how happy I was after the goal because it was 99 per cent, of course, his goal.

"In the end, I just had to push it in. World-class."

Flick added on the 19-year-old defender's remarkable surge into the box: "Simply beautiful. He has the quality. If he does it more often, it would be all the more beautiful."

Bayern have now won 19 games on the bounce in all competitions, and are on course to emulate Jupp Heynckes' 2012-13 treble-winning squad by securing the club's sixth European Cup later this month.

The showpiece event could yet be an all-German affair on August 23, with RB Leipzig and Paris Saint-Germain set to meet in the first semi-final tie next Tuesday, before Flick's men take centre-stage a day later.

Lille new signing Jonathan David believes it will be difficult to replace ‘exceptional’ Napoli striker Victor Osimhen at the club.

The Canadian young striker joined the Stade Pierre-Mauroy outfit from Belgian First Division A side Gent this summer for a reported fee of €32 million as a direct replacement for the Nigeria international.

Osimhen made a significant impact during his one-year stay with the French side, having teamed up with the club from Sporting Charleroi.

The forward scored 18 goals and provided six assists in 38 appearances across all competitions which saw him win a number of individual accolades including the club’s Player of the Season award.

His performances became a talking point and generated interest from many European clubs including Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Napoli.

Osimhen eventually settled for the Serie A side in a club-record deal of €70 million which could rise to €80 million, to become the most expensive Nigerian player.

David, who scored 23 goals in 40 games last season, is, however, looking to make his own name with the Stade Pierre-Mauroy outfit.

“It will not be easy to succeed Victor Osimhen and his 13 goals last season in the league,” David was quoted as saying by Francebleu.

“We have a somewhat similar course. Victor came from Belgium when he joined Lille and this is also my case.

“He is an exceptional player. He proved it last season, but we are players with very different profiles. So everyone will have their own path.”

Osimhen started his European career with Wolfsburg, teaming up with the German side following his eye-catching performances at the 2015 U17 World Cup in Chile.

The 21-year-old striker helped Nigeria to win the title and won the Golden Boot and Silver Ball awards of the tournament.

Osimhen struggled to make much of an impact with the Bundesliga side but rediscovered his form after moving to Belgium to join Charleroi.

The forward is currently a key member of the Super Eagles and was part of Gernot Rohr’s side that finished third at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

Osimhen will hope to continue his sparkling performances, this time with his new club Napoli in the 2020-21 season.

Thomas Muller says Bayern Munich had more control over Barcelona than Germany had in their 7-1 thrashing of Brazil at the 2014 World Cup.

Bayern recorded a famous 8-2 victory over Barca in the quarter-finals of the Champions League on Friday night, extending their winning run across all competitions to 19 games in the process.

Hansi Flick's side became the first team to hit eight goals in a knockout fixture, while the Blaugrana suffered their heaviest loss since 1951 after an extraordinary 90 minutes in Lisbon.

Muller and substitute Philippe Coutinho grabbed doubles for Bayern, with Ivan Perisic, Serge Gnabry, Joshua Kimmich and Robert Lewandowski also getting in on the act, with a David Alaba own goal and a Luis Suarez strike proving to be nothing more than consolation efforts for Barca.

The match bore some resemblance to Germany's demolition of Brazil at the World Cup finals in South America six years ago, during which Muller was also among the scorers.

However, the 30-year-old claims Bayern were far more dominant against Barca, who were ultimately fortunate to escape with only a six-goal margin of defeat after being exposed defensively.

"In 2014 against Brazil we never had the same control of the game," Muller said post-match.

"It was something that happened but let's not talk about it, let's talk about today. It was a special night, the result and the way we played was special.

"The best thing was to see that the players who came from the substitutes' bench had the same attitude and the same joy. 

"The important thing is to do what we want on the pitch and for everyone to go to the limit."

The Bayern attacker added on how it feels to have been involved in another historic game and the prospect of a semi-final showdown against either Manchester City or Lyon: "This is good, you can imagine how it feels, it was very special for us after this match.

"But we have to recover. It's a big statement but the next game, it starts 0-0. It doesn't matter.

"I know the other teams watch our games and we have to win the next game to reach the final. We have to be quiet, calm, relaxed and very happy."

The excitement brought about by the Champions League’s shortened format this year has thrown several curveballs, with RB Leipzig’s win over Atletico Madrid on Thursday night the perfect example.

On Wednesday, Atalanta were minutes away from an unexpected win over one of the favourites Paris-Saint Germain before the Ligue 1 giants turned the game on its head late on to secure a 2-1 success.

While Olympique Lyonnais’ elimination of Juventus on away goals doesn’t quite count, given it was the reverse fixture of the Round of 16 tie, it’s set up a potentially fascinating clash with another of the competition’s favourites Manchester City.

In truth, Pep Guardiola’s side are in better shape than the Old Lady were going into their clash with Lyon last week, defeating La Liga champions Real Madrid comfortably. While Maurizio Sarri’s side hadn’t pulled up trees in their Serie A run-in, which undoubtedly gave the French club the necessary self-belief, City have largely been unplayable since the Premier League’s restart in June.

Indeed, the post-lockdown form proves this, with Pep’s team atop that mini-table with eight wins from 10 after the restart, scoring a staggering 34 times and conceding just four. Still, as evidenced by their defeats by Chelsea and Southampton, the Citizens can always be got at defensively.

This is what Karl Toko Ekambi and his Lyon teammates will be out to exploit on Saturday, seeking to prevent the former Barcelona boss from making his first semi-final appearance as Man City boss. The Cameroon forward, now signed permanently from Villarreal, was involved in both legs against Juventus and only the woodwork prevented the African striker scoring in the first meeting at the Groupama Stadium.

Despite cutting a peripheral figure in Turin last Friday until his 67th-minute substitution, the striker is expected to play a part in Rudi Garcia’s game plan in Lisbon this weekend. The former Roma boss values the Cameroon star’s influence, demonstrated by how keen he was for the striker to join for keeps from the Yellow Submarine.

“We still have to build the team. We corrected the situation during the winter window, bringing in Bruno Guimaraes and Toko Ekambi,” Garcia told OLTV, per the Ligue 1 website. “Here at the club, we're all in agreement that we want to keep Karl.”

Even though he only returned to France in January, the Indomitable Lion has slowly become one of Garcia’s most influential players. According to Fbref, the striker is third behind Moussa Dembele and Memphis Depay for Expected Goals per 90 and is only behind the Dutchman for Expected Assists per 90. Interestingly, when penalties are excluded, only Depay outdoes the 27-year-old in the side.

Whether the pair can exploit the weaknesses in this City side, however, remains to be seen. Another reason this game has generated so much interest and has the added edge is the fact Pep’s team struggled against Lyon in both encounters last season.

Les Gones not only got four points from a possible six in their group meetings, including a 2-1 success in Manchester, then-coach Bruno Genesio was able to limit the four-time Prem champions to just one clear-cut chance over 180 minutes of football.

While the coach, tactics and personnel (only six starters from those games in 2018 started the last game vs Juventus) have changed since, the plucky French side will certainly look to keep things tight at the back, deny Pep’s side space in the attacking third and hope to catch them on a rare bad day at both ends of the pitch.

This is easier said than done, but it isn’t impossible.

As Chelsea, Southampton and especially Arsenal proved after the lockdown, this City side have a soft underbelly and tend to gift opponents a chance from bizarre mistakes or lapses in concentration in their defensive third.

Even against Real Madrid, despite their dominance for large periods, the Cityzens’ rearguard strangely allowed Karim Benzema rise unchallenged to head home the equalizer on the half-hour.

It came against the run of play but that has often been the case with Pep’s side this season.

Their volatility means the average observer really can’t tell which side you’re going to witness: the team that put eight past Watford in October, the one that put in arguably their best league showing vs Leicester City in December or the version that failed to breakdown Arsenal in the FA Cup semi-final regardless of their lion’s share of possession.

Whenever Man City are on their game – dominating the ball, creating chances and giving little away to the opposition – they are nearly unplayable. However, standards have slipped in the last 12 months, leading to a plethora of strange results.

Toko Ekambi and his teammates will hope to catch City on one of those rare bad days, where they seem out of sorts at both ends of the pitch and nothing seems to click.

If they do, the Kids could claim another huge continental scalp after eliminating Cristiano Ronaldo’s Juventus. Otherwise, Lyon will say goodbye to the Champions League having been denied a first semi-final appearance since 2009/10.

Young Africans (Yanga SC) have explained why they will move to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to appeal the decision taken by Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) on the transfer of Bernard Morrison.

On Wednesday, TFF ruled in favour of the Ghanaian forward and thus allowed him to play for rivals Simba SC. Yanga had lodged a complaint with TFF after the player signed for Simba, insisting he still had a running contract with them until 2022.

Yanga chairman Mshindo Msholla has maintained they are not satisfied with the ruling by the Legal, Ethics, and Players’ Status Committee of the TFF and will still proceed to file a case with the international court in Zurich.

“There are many irregularities made during the case of which we vehemently believe there was foul play by the concerned Committee which deliberately chose to consume three days deliberating on a case which could have lasted even 10 minutes,” Msolla is quoted by Daily News.

“By taking such time, it means they [members of the committee] do not have the capacity to handle such type of cases or they were getting pressure from outside to rule in their favour.

“I understand it is impossible to get committee members who do not support these two big teams [Simba and Yanga] but we have people who are clean and can make decisions which are fair regardless of the side they support otherwise; football development will highly be affected in the country.

“As a club, we have presented many complaints at the federation but most of them have not been replied like the issue of [Morrison] who spoke via audio that some people from Simba gave him money to sign for them. “We delivered that complaint on June 15, 2020, but until now, we have not been replied to which clearly indicates they take sides when dealing with complaints brought to them.”

Msolla believes the move by Simba to sign the player during that period unsettled him and he could not play his usual game for Yanga and it was the reason they lost 4-1 to the same team in the FA Cup.

Morrison became the first signing for the Wekundu wa Msimbazi, who have gone ahead to add former Gor Mahia defender Joash Onyango to their ranks.

Kaizer Chiefs will travel to Tshwane to visit Polokwane City for their 24th league game of the season with one thing in mind - stretching their lead at the top of the PSL log and moving away from second-placed Mamelodi Sundowns. 

Highlands Park made things easier for the Glamour Boys by holding Sundowns to a draw on Friday night and Ernst Middendorp knows his side cannot afford to drop more points. 

However, Rise and Shine are certainly not going to be a walk in the park for Middendorp's men after giving them problems in the past. 

This means he needs better planning and proper structure to dismantle their defence while he also needs to organise his defence to avoid a repeat of the mistake that happened in midweek where they conceded in the 89th minute of the game against Bidvest Wits.  

TV Channel, Live Score & How To Watch

The game will be shown live on and SABC 1 and SuperSport 4. 

Squads & Team News

Amakhosi have not reported any injuries ahead of the clash against Polokwane City.

While there were concerns Leonardo Castro may be injured, Middendorp said he expected the lanky striker to be fit for Saturday's clash as he was just cramping against Wits. 

This means the German mentor has a large squad to choose his best XI from but all eyes will be on whether or not club captain Itumeleng Khune is back in the camp.

The veteran goalkeeper was left out of the matchday squad for the Wits game - and Middendorp said it's because Khune missed a few training sessions with the team. 

Nonetheless, Daniel Akpeyi is the club's No.1 goalkeeper this season, and he is again expected to keep his place in the starting line-up after pulling off some stunning saves in midweek. 

Middendorp is likely to call on to the more experienced players such as Kearyn Baccus and Siphelele Ntshangase to help Willard Katsande in midfield after experimenting with Nkosingiphile Ngcobo in the previous game. 

While the 20-year-old Ngcobo did extremely well as an attacking midfielder, he offered very little in terms of assisting the team to defend. 

Furthermore, Reeve Frosler returns from a one-match suspension - and his versatility gives Middendorp more options in defence and attack. 

With Peter Shalulile closing in on Gabadinho Mhango after scoring his 13th goal against Sundowns, it will be interesting to see if Samir Nurkovic can also score his 13th of the season as he's currently sitting on 12 league goals.  

Polokwane City have struggled for positive results this season and Clinton Larsen is likely to rely on more experienced players to move them up the log. 

Kabelo Mahlasela was recently told by Chiefs that his contract will not be renewed but he's highly rated by Larsen. 

He will now get the chance to face his former club and show them what they have lost in him. 

Captain Jabulani Maluleke is another player Larsen is likely to call upon to stabilise his midfield after doing brilliantly in the past. 

Their problem has been in the goalkeeping department where the technical team has had to make several changes before the suspension of the season, but George Chigova could be the man tasked with keeping Amakhosi at bay due to his experience.

Match Preview

In head-to-head stats, both Kaizer Chiefs and Polokwane City have met 17 times across all competitions since 2013. 

Chiefs have dominated this fixture with eight wins to City's three while the other six matches ended in draws.

The Glamour Boys have scored 28 goals in those 17 matches, while Rise and Shine have scored just 14. 

Polokwane City beat Chiefs 1-0 in the first round of the season, thanks to Jabulani Maluleke's penalty goal. 

Middendorp's men are currently top of the standings with 49 points from 23 games while Rise and Shine find themselves in 14th place with 23 points from 24 points. 

Kenya international Ian Otieno has said winning titles at Super League side Zesco United is like a ritual.

Otieno failed to lift the league title in his maiden season at the Zambian side and has expressed disappointment.

Team Ya Ziko finished fifth and also missed a chance to feature in the Caf Champions League after qualifying for the competition in the past eight years.

“This is a big football club where winning is part of the business. Winning titles is a ritual here so failure to do so is a huge disappointment,” Otieno told the club’s portal.

“Everyone at the club is not happy with what has happened this season.”

The former AFC Leopards goalkeeper also blamed the coronavirus pandemic which he said interrupted their campaign.

The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) had to cancel the season after its resumption owing to the increasing number of Covid-19 cases.

“It is a difficult situation for everyone, especially that we didn’t have control over certain things that led us to fail to defend the title,” said the Harambee Star.

“We wanted to win the title and qualify for Caf but the league ended at a very premature stage making it difficult for us to compete and get the necessary points.

“I know the football governing body was overwhelmed by the Covid-19 situation. However, this could have been managed much better especially on the part of communication to restart and end the league.”

The Kenyan also challenged his teammates on what they must do in the 2020/21 season and register positive results.

“Everyone here knows what will be expected of them when the new season starts,” he added.

“We will need to learn to put away games at any crucial moment. This is something that affected us so much.

“There were games we drew that we could have won. I think it is a lesson to us all and fans should expect a much better performance next season.”

Otieno was signed from Red Arrows and became an instant first choice for coach George Lwnadamina and he has explained how his rival Jacob Banda was key.

“There is pressure here to perform and win titles,” he concluded

“I am constantly evaluating myself, especially after every game. I believe in self-criticism because it helps a lot and I am also learning new things every day.

“The environment here is also good for anyone to develop. People have been very supportive to me especially veteran goalkeeper, Jacob Banda.

“He has made life very easy for me especially during my early days at the club.”

Otieno is turning out for the Ndola club alongside other Kenya internationals including David Owino, John Makwatta and Jesse Were.

Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer said he was saddened to see German rival and Barcelona counterpart Marc-Andre ter Stegen concede eight goals in Friday's Champions League quarter-final humiliation.

Bayern embarrassed La Liga giants Barca 8-2 in Lisbon, where Neuer's team-mates became the first team in Champions League history to score eight goals in a knockout match.

Thomas Muller and Philippe Coutinho braces, and goals from Robert Lewandowski, Ivan Perisic, Serge Gnabry and Joshua Kimmich saw Barca concede eight goals in a game for the first time since 1946.

Neuer – Germany's number one keeper – expressed sympathy towards his compatriot Ter Stegen post-match.

"I'm a little sorry for Marc-Andre Ter Stegen that he conceded so many goals," said Neuer.

"It's good for us, of course, but you wouldn't wish that to any team-mate from the national team."

On the match itself, Neuer said: "You could see that we didn't let up [for even] a minute and that we always wanted to keep playing forward. Of course, Barca are also strong offensively.

"We know that goals can come. We tried to play [towards] Barca's goal until the very end. Accordingly, we were successful."

Bayern star Thiago Alcantara, who began his career at Camp Nou, produced an impressive performance against his former side in the middle of the park.

Thiago – tipped to join Premier League champions Liverpool – won two La Liga titles and the Champions League among other honours before leaving Barca for Bayern in 2013.

"For respect for my friends, the club I've been to and my colleagues, I think they are a great club and that they will turn around any situation that comes their way," the Spaniard said.

Manchester City or Lyon await Bayern in the semis and Thiago added: "This result gives us more confidence, especially against a team like Barca, but we know that it was only to go to the next round and we have not won anything. 

"We have played as if it were a final only to go to semi, nothing more."

Gor Mahia fans have accused Simba SC of turning their club into a feeder team after they sealed the signing of defender Joash Onyango on Friday.

The burly player, who also features for the national team Harambee Stars, completed his transfer switch to the Wekundu wa Msimbazi for an undisclosed fee and thus became the fourth player to leave the Kenyan champions for Simba.

Other players who have left Gor Mahia for Simba include Ugandan striker Dan Sserunkuma, Rwandan striker Meddie Kagere, and Kenyan midfielder Francis Kahata.

Below is how Twitter reacted following the transfer of the former Western Stima defender.

The effusion with which the end of David Silva’s time at Manchester City was greeted left a bit of a bad taste in the mouth.

Not because the Spaniard was any less than spectacularly great for the Citizens. Far from it. Silva’s silky movements and wand of a left foot conducted many a Premier League game. He will also be held up as a living, breathing “proving the haters wrong” meme: able, despite his slight frame, to thrive in a league that has made physicality its calling card.

However, there was another who had an even more transformative influence on the club. Yaya Toure, unsavoury though his latter end was, did not so much subvert the Premier League notions of toughness as beat a path through it. There was very little stealth to it. Toure did not come to play the game, but to be the game.

A lot of the time, it felt like the only limit to his influence on a game was the brief the manager entrusted to him.

Signed as a defensive midfielder from Barcelona, the Ivorian continued to inch forward until he was pretty much playing off the striker, then decided it would be a good idea to start whipping free-kicks into the top corner. Capable in the air, and also able, even on an off day (he did not have many of them), of scoring out of nothing – witness his nonchalant side-foot finish in a 2-1 defeat at the hands on Arsenal in 2015/16 – Toure was frighteningly complete.

His legacy suffered in his final days at City – cake-gate and the arrival of Pep Guardiola ensuring a far-from-ideal departure. However, it would have been impossible to countenance anything at all damaging his overall perception if, as he had done in the league, he had dragged the club over the line in the Champions League as well.

It is the fascination for a club with all the money in the world; the quest, the Holy Grail. It is why they forked out for Guardiola to begin with. It is why, despite amassing 198 points over the course of two seasons to win two titles, there remains a sense of underachievement in the eyes of the punditry, as well as an air of irritation about the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager.

In Riyad Mahrez, City have another African playmaker who will seek to succeed where Toure arguably failed. The Algeria international already occupies a hallowed position in Leicester hearts, but leading City to the Champions League would make his legacy would be even more complete, and would immediately be the most meaningful achievement of what has been a splendid career.

Sure, he won the title with Leicester. However, whereas the Foxes’ title in 2016 was a rapturous surprise (it was not sought after, even by the most enthusiastic of fans), for City to triumph in Europe has been a goal long-denied.

It would make him a true African great, and complete a gauntlet not many can boast of: league title, domestic cups, Africa Cup of Nations and Champions League. Not even Toure managed that in his pomp; it would place Mahrez in extremely exalted company.

This is, after all, the one piece of silverware Toure was never able to deliver for the club.

He crashed home against Stoke in the 2011 FA Cup final to kickstart the cycle, and set eye-watering records in 2011/12 as City won a first league title in 44 years. In Europe, however, there was not the same level of accomplishment or dominance. On the whole, he only scored seven times for the club in the Champions League – fine for a midfielder, but only one more than Ilkay Gundogan has managed.

It took three tries for the Citizens to even get past the Group Stage in the competition, and a further three before they went past the Round of 16.

In 2015/16, a run to the semi-final was halted by eventual winners Real Madrid. Toure struggled with knee and thigh injuries for much of the run-in, missing the first leg of the semi-final tie, a goalless draw that meant City would have to score in the return. He only lasted 61 minutes in the return at the Bernabeu, a drab match that was settled by Gareth Bale’s freak goal.

That has always been the great “what could have been” moment for Manchester City. Might things have been different if their midfield talisman had been fit?

Saturday presents them with an opportunity to once again reach that stage and forever banish that regret.

There is no strapping midfield colossus anymore; under Guardiola, the team is more unstoppable force than immovable object, built around quick feet that flit about rather than thud.

This side is dependent on smaller technical talent: Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling, Phil Foden. Mahrez. Going one better this time around, and ultimately winning it, would not only be the culmination of a decade-long project, but would validate this different approach.

It would also immediately catapult this current crop into legend status at a club that has not been able to boast of a proud history in European competition.

In much the same way that Chelsea reached their Promised Land in 2012 and the likes of John Obi Mikel, Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou instantly passed into folklore, Mahrez could become the next African son to ascend to the pantheon of greats by virtue of being a part of City’s history.

Adil Ahmed Khan has had a remarkable career in football. He has been laid low by multiple injuries throughout but the 32-year-old has made a full recovery each time and is probably enjoying his best spell currently.

Adil is currently a first choice in the national team and is an integral part of the Hyderabad FC lineup in the Indian Super League (ISL).

Recognition has come late for the sturdy and versatile defender but it is just reward for his hardwork and persistence.

"Nobody should go through what I underwent. I always pray to God to keep everyone safe for Indian football to come up. If good footballers get injured and don't get to play games, then it's a problem for the country and for the players themselves," he remarked in a chat with Goal .

"Injuries are always a struggle although it's part and parcel of any sport. Even if you get injured, just work on yourself, don't give up. Believe in yourself and you will be back stronger," the Goan added.

Khan's first steps in football were at his hometown local club Verna Sports Club from where he donned the Vasco SC shirt at junior level before getting enrolled into the Sesa Football Academy in 2003.

"It began with inter-ward and inter-village football for me. We used to place bets with other wards and organise awards. Once, one of my neighbours (Jack Dourado) introduced me to the coach (Jose Sousa) of the Verna Sports Club U-15 team when I was 12. Then when I was 13, Jude Barreto called me to join the Vasco U-15," he recalled.

"From there, I got a call for the U-16 Goa Nationals. Augustin Dias was the coach. That's when I met a boy from Sesa Football Academy and got to know about them."

Among Adil's batch-mates that had the likes of Gabriel Fernandes, Pratesh Shirodkar, Augustin Fernandes, Anthony D'Souza and Sidroy Afonso, Khan is the only one currently plying his trade in the Indian Super League (ISL) - the current top tier of Indian football.

In his five years at Sesa, he explained, "We were in the third division when I started [playing for the first team]. We qualified in every year - second division, first division, played for two years in the first division and then in my last year there (2007-08), we qualified for the Goa Professional League."

The curse of injuries begins

Adil went under the knife for the first time in 2007 but made a successful return to help Sesa FA reach the elite league in Goa. However, he opted to move up a notch to the I-League with Sporting Clube de Goa while fate had something else in store for him.

"Although Sesa had qualified for the Goa Professional League, I didn't stay because I wanted to play in the I-League. They (Sesa) were giving me a good offer and also offered to make me the captain but I was thinking of the I-League instead of playing in the Goa League for another two-to-three years," he explained.

"When I was injured (recurrence of knee injury post surgery), Sporting Goa manager (Angelo Albuqureque) told me to look for another club. But when I played with (then Sporting junior team coach Levino) Anthony Pereira for the U-16 nationals and did well there, that's when he (Pereira) spoke to the boss (Peter Vaz) and my contract was renewed [in 2010]."

After a couple of seasons in the Goa league and in tournaments like Durand Cup, Adil went on to make his I-League debut in the 2010-11 season and earned himself another two years with the Flaming Oranje before a big money move to Mohun Bagan in 2013.

"When I moved to Mohun Bagan, it didn't work for me. The weather in Kolkata didn't agree with me and I left mid-season (December 2013) and I was without a club for the next eight months. I had a bad ankle injury and played with the same injury for two matches and worsened it. I should have taken rest but I forced myself to play, spoiled it and couldn't make it again. It was difficult for me to come back," he lamented.

Back in Goa, Dempo offered him trials.

"They wanted to sign me but there were very few matches left in the season. They told me to come for the next season but it was too far for me to travel without an income at the time. I told (then) coach Arthur Papas that I would do my own training."

The 'worst' decision

"Bengaluru FC was offering to sign me, Mumbai FC wanted me. Actually, it was the time when I was on trials at Dempo and by then the transfer window got over. When I was in talks with Dempo, I thought it would be good to play in Goa as Dempo was a top team that time. 

"Ashley Westwood and Pradhyum Reddy (former Bengaluru coach and assistant, respectively) were interested in signing me but I didn't feel like going out of Goa. It was my worst decision. If I had to sign for Bengaluru, I would have won so many trophies by now and I was feeling so bad that they had offered me. They (Bengaluru) told me to come and that they will take care of my injury and play whenever you are fit. 

"I wasted my year at that time but it also gave me some time towards recovery and get my own fitness back on track, and luckily ISL started. There was a draft but my name was not on the draft because they thought I was still contracted with Mohun Bagan. I would thank Lenny (Rodrigues) for that (getting my name being included in Indian players draft)."

Thanks to Lenny Rodrigues

"Once, when I had met Lenny, he told me that his name is the draft and asked me if mine was. I said no, as I didn't know anything about the draft. That time (before the inaugural edition of the ISL), only free agents were included in the draft and they (the league) thought I was contracted with Mohun Bagan. So Lenny spoke to an official and told him about me after which I was included in the draft," Khan revealed. 

"I started with a very meager amount, even lesser than what Bengaluru FC was offering, but I was lucky to make my come-back with Delhi Dynamos (now Odisha FC) in the ISL."

After managing to muster seven appearances under Dutch manager Harm van Veldhoven in the inaugural edition of the ISL, he was struck by another season-ending injury just as he was about to play on loan with Bharat FC (now disbanded) in the I-League.

"They (Bharat FC) had a good plan. They were thinking of building a team like Bengaluru FC and all but it didn't work. I got injured right in the beginning of the season when we were playing a practice match. January 4th, 2015 - my left ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) got torn - I still remember the date," Khan brought to mind.

"When I had my first surgery in 2007, I was with Sesa football academy and they took care of me and I made a comeback in one year. When I got injured at Bharat FC, my contract got over and they wanted to extend my contract but the club shut down. That's why I struggled a lot during that injury - because I had no club."

The 'best' decision

"By the time I got fit, the (2015-16) season was already getting over and that's when I started training with Salgaocar. I am very thankful that they gave me an opportunity to train with them. Actually, the coach (Malcolm Thompson) wanted to sign me there but he also got sacked. So I couldn't make it to the Salgaocar squad and there was no more option to go anywhere because the season was getting over.

"That's when I decided to go and play for a second division club at Lonestar Kashmir (on a three-month deal). That was the best decision of my career. And that's when it (the comeback) started. Dempo was playing in the second division and they called me even though they were doubtful whether they will be playing in the I-League or not back then. Salgaocar and Churchill (Brothers) were also offering me to play in the Goa Professional League.

'Nearly joined FC Goa'

"I played for Dempo for five months and from there, luckily Churchill got their team back (re-instated) in the I-League and I got a chance to play," Khan explained. 

He garnered consistent game time with both Dempo and Churchill during his time with the clubs and that opened the door for his comeback to the ISL with FC Pune City (now Hyderabad FC).

He further disclosed, "If FC Pune City hadn't to pick me, I think FC Goa was ready to pick me because coach Derrick (Pereira) had already told me that he would sign me there but I was already picked by FC Pune City. I started playing for FC Pune City and from there, Hyderabad FC now."

Having made his India senior team debut in an international friendly during the reign of Savio Medeira in 2012, Adil battled through his injuries and attended a national team camp under former coach Wim Koevermans in 2015 before another injury kept him out of the national team set-up. Seven years later he made a comeback in the 2019 King's Cup in Thailand under current India coach Igor Stimac.

"I just hope I don't get any more injuries now. I just want to play as many matches and seasons as I can. Being an a senior player now, I have to always be on my toes as there is a lot of competition in every position you play - may it be in the ISL, (Indian) national team or even in the I-League. One more injury and you're out again," Khan said.

Gor Mahia coach Steven Polack has conceded the club will lose more players after defender Joash Onyango left on Friday.

The 27-year-old former Western Stima star became the latest player to leave the Kenyan champions after he signed for Tanzanian Mainland Premier League champion Simba SC for an undisclosed fee.

The exit of Onyango means Gor Mahia have now lost four key players in a span of three weeks – keeper David Mapigano who left to sign for Azam FC, winger Boniface Omondi who joined Wazito FC and winger Dickson Ambundo, who signed for promoted side Dodoma Jiji in Tanzania.

On top of that, Ugandan striker Juma Balinya, Ghanaian midfielder Jackson Owusu, and defender Charles Momanyi have all revealed they will leave the club, same as captain Kenneth Muguna, who Goal understands is already negotiating with Petro Atletico of Angola.

The British coach has now bemoaned the latest exit, terming Onyango as one of the best defenders who was leading the club through his heart and said he was sure more players would follow the exit door because of the financial situation at the club.

“I am saddened to lose Joash [Onyango], he was one of my best defenders in the team’s set up, he was good in the field and off the pitch and it is a blow that we won’t have him for next season,” Polack told Goal.

“I talked to him [Onyango] on two occasions, in fact, the last time he came to me was last week and I told him to stay, but he had already handed in a transfer request because of the financial situation the club is facing, they owe him money and he could not listen.

“It is beyond me, the situation at this club is beyond me, I can do nothing, I don’t have anything to say, the players are looking after money, we play football to get money but it is not the case here, so how can you ask the players to stay?

“I have said it and I will say it again, it will be difficult to keep our key players with the financial situation we find ourselves in, we have not paid salaries for the last five or six months and the players have families to take care of, it is not easy and many could likely follow.”

Onyango, who earned his maiden Harambee Stars call-up under coach Sebastien Migne, made his debut against Ghana at Kasarani during an Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier in 2018.

He was part of the 2019 Afcon squad in Egypt that was eliminated in the group stage after losing two matches and winning against Tanzania in Group C’s last encounter.

Onyango, nicknamed 'Berlin Wall' due to his defensive performances, had established himself as one of the outstanding defenders in the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) while serving the Green Army.

He never looked back since he became a regular first-team member for Gor Mahia when Musa Mohamed left for KF Tirana of Albania in 2018 as his outstanding partnership with Harun Shakava and later on Charles Momanyi saw him consequently appointed the K’Ogalo’s assistant captain.