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Makan Winkle Chothe is a name that has cropped up regularly in the youth circuits in the recent past. The young winger made his name with the youth teams of Punjab where he was earmarked as a talent to watch out for.

Having broken into the Punjab FC first team at a very young age, he has now made the move to Indian Super League (ISL) with FC Goa. He is undaunted by the challenge and feels ready to vie for a first-team spot at FC Goa.

"It was a good opportunity for me. FC Goa is one of the best clubs in India. I have admired them ever since the ISL started and I have watched each and every game of theirs. I like how they play and I always wanted to play for them," the 20-year-old, who signed a three-year deal with FC Goa, told Goal.

After Redeem Tlang became the Gaurs' first Indian acquisition following the departure of Jackichand Singh to Jamshedpur FC, Chothe admitted to choosing Goa as his next destination despite an approach from another ISL club.

"There will be a lot of new players. So it will be hard to play (compete for a place) with them. Redeem Tlang and others are also new. Everybody will be fighting for a place and so will I," he insisted, given the likes of Brandon Fernandes, Tlang, Seiminlen Doungel as well as Romario Jesuraj who will all compete for a spot in the first team.

After his first taste of club football with Kanchenjunga FC during his time at Siliguri in West Bengal, the Manipuri lad made his senior team debut with Minerva Punjab (now Punjab FC) when the Chandigarh based outfit clinched the 2017-18 I-League, although his only appearance was as a last-minute substitute in the match against NEROCA in January 2018.

"When I got selected in the Minerva senior team, I trained well under coach Juan (Luis Perez Herrera). When Minerva would play friendly matches between junior and senior teams, the coach asked me to train with the senior team. I learned a lot and that's how I got in the senior team," Chothe recalled.

Even though the Spanish coach was shown the door before the start of the season, Minerva would go on to win the league.

"Under him (Juan), I started playing with the senior team in the Punjab league first and then I continued playing with the senior team. At the time, it was very hard for me with players like Chencho (Gyeltshen), William (Opoku) in the side who had more experience but I learnt a lot from them."

However, Chothe made a mark for himself by winning the Golden Boot with 35 goals from 13 outings that included a double hat-trick in one match as he helped Minerva Public School win the 2017-18 Reliance Foundation Youth Sports (RFYS) football tournament in the senior boys' category.

Thereon, he made 11 appearances in the 2018-19 I-League and also played in an AFC (Asian Football Confederation) Champions League play-off match. He went on to make five appearances in the AFC Cup besides winning the Hero Elite League with the U-18 side in the same season.

Chothe has 14 I-League appearances and a couple of goals to his name last season.

With FC Goa becoming the first Indian club to participate in the group stage of the AFC Champions League, Chothe is obviously excited at the opportunity. "Obviously, the AFC Champions League will be more competitive and it will be very hard but for the way FC Goa plays, I think we can be very competitive."

Francisco Bruto Da Costa, recently appointed as a coach of East Bengal, has the experience of working as an assistant manager at Indian Super League (ISL) clubs NorthEast United and Kerala Blasters. 

He has also worked with the Malaysian senior national team.

The common factor among all his aforementioned assignments is Portuguese coach Nelo Vingada who had taken him under his wing. He worked alongside Nelo Vingada for the first time at NorthEast United and then followed him to Malaysia before joining his coaching team at Kerala Blasters.

The new East Bengal coach suggested that it was an honour for him to work alongside a coach like Vingada who was associated with the Portuguese national team in the past. He had taken charge of the Seleccao between 1993 and 1994 as well.

As an assistant manager, Vingada has won the U20 World Cup with Portugal twice. He won the Asian Cup with Saudi Arabia in 1996 as the head coach apart from titles in Egypt, Jordan and South Korea,

“Working with Nelo (Vingada) was like a dream come true for me. First and foremost, he is a great human being with a great personality. God has blessed him with so much success. If you see his achievements, it is no mean feat. They are incredible. I was very fortunate to meet and work with such a person. Unfortunately, it did not work in NorthEast United. After that season, he had asked me to continue working with him as a part of his technical staff,” Da Costa told Goal.

The Goan spoke about the differences of working as a coach in a club and a national team. He also touched upon his time in Malaysia which lasted for only six months.

“It was a very good experience. There is a difference between working with a club and working with a national team. At clubs, you get to work every day. On Saturday you lose a game and fans are upset and then on Wednesday or Thursday, you win a game and fans forget the previous match’s defeat.

“But in the national team, you play matches once a month or once in two months and then you lose and then you have to wait for two more months to make the changes. It is challenging and it is a different type of work experience.”

Da Costa praised the league system in Malaysia and touched upon how ISL has improved Indian football.

“The league is very well organised in Malaysia. ISL also is very well organised. In Malaysia, all the clubs have great facilities, own grounds, training grounds. The infrastructure is very good there. India too has reached that level in recent times. I’ll say the ISL has helped Indian football in a great manner. From infrastructure to the standard of the game, everything has improved.

“It is difficult to compare the standards of Malaysia and India. Indian players are very hardworking and are willing to learn. It is nice to work with the Indian players. Malaysian players also are eager to learn, they do their best. I would say both the countries are in a similar situation. The thing is I don’t want to compare between the two countries. Each country has its pros and cons.”

Memphis Depay says Lyon will take a fearless approach when they attempt to knock Juventus out of the Champions League on Friday.

Lyon travel to Turin with a 1-0 advantage from a first leg that was staged way back in February. 

Rudi Garcia's side were beaten on penalties by Paris Saint-Germain in a Coupe de la Ligue final last Friday that was their first competitive match since March.

While the Ligue 1 season could not be finished due to the coronavirus pandemic, Juve returned to Serie A action in June and last week sealed a ninth consecutive title.

Depay knows that will be an advantage for the Italian champions, but the Lyon captain - who made his comeback against PSG after recovering from a knee injury - believes his side can defy the odds and reach the quarter-finals.

He is quoted as saying by UEFA.com: "[The first leg] was the first match I watched [after suffering a serious knee injury], and I saw a team spirit that made me so very happy.

"Juve weren't playing well. But now, months later, the situation is totally different. They have now played more matches than we have, so many aspects are now completely different to normal.

"But that has allowed me to be able to play in the Champions League. I am ready."

He added: "With the new rules [one-off games from the last eight onwards], anyone can be favourites. Because you know there are only one-off games.

"And Juventus have some very experienced players when it comes to playing finals. We, on the contrary, have a lot of young players who don't have much experience with the pressure of playing in finals and the Champions League.

"We'll just have to see. I do know that we have a very eager team and that we are definitely not afraid."

Lyon and Juventus will be squaring off for the right to face the winner of Real Madrid and Manchester City in the quarter-finals.

In the other round-of-16 matches, the victor of the Napoli and Barcelona tie will qualify for the last eight to take on the winner of Chelsea and Bayern Munich.

Two quarter-final match-ups were already set before the coronavirus pandemic halted football, with Leipzig facing Atletico and Atalanta meeting PSG.

Cristiano Ronaldo would have made Real Madrid favourites to overturn a first-leg deficit in their Champions League tie against Manchester City, according to Emmanuel Adebayor. 

Los Blancos lost 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu in the first leg of the last-16 clash at the back end of February, with the return meeting postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

Madrid were outstanding when LaLiga resumed in June, though, winning 10 and drawing their final game en route to beating Barcelona to the title, their first since the 2016-17 season. 

Former City and Madrid striker Adebayor says Zinedine Zidane's side still have the players capable of turning the tie around but the presence of Ronaldo – who won the Champions League four times with the Spanish club before departing for Juventus in 2018 – would have significantly increased their chances. 

"If you had asked me that question two years ago, I would have said yes [Madrid can turn the tie around]," Adebayor told AS.  

"Madrid would have been favourites with Cristiano. Back then, they had Cristiano, who is a goal machine. He can make the difference at any moment and he would give the team 50 goals a season.  

"They lost the first leg at home and it's going to be very difficult without the fans, against Manchester City, the city, the weather but it's not impossible. 

"Madrid have players with a lot of experience like Marcelo, [Karim] Benzema, [Thibaut] Courtois and they are used to playing in big games like this one." 

Adebayor believes Madrid did not fully appreciate how difficult it would be to replace a player such as Ronaldo, who became the club's record goalscorer during nine prolific seasons. 

"Without Cristiano, Madrid know what they have lost, but maybe not what they could have won if he was still there," he added.  

"I think maybe they thought they would get another player like Ronaldo but players like him only come along once every 200 years." 

Karim Benzema has taken on much of the scoring burden and has surpassed 20 LaLiga goals in the past two seasons. 

Adebayor says the French striker is crucial to Madrid, saying: "When Ronaldo left, he had to take up the responsibility and I think he's done really well.  

"He's scored a lot of goals, important goals so he'll be a danger, no doubt about it." 

Adebayor's stint in the Spanish capital was a short one and game time was limited under Jose Mourinho. However, he has nothing but fond memories of the Portuguese coach, describing him as the best ever. 

"I love Mourinho, we had a great relationship and he was the one who brought me to Madrid, although it wasn't easy for him to find a place for me in the side," he said.  

"The only trophy I have ever won was at Madrid with him. Now he's at Tottenham and I wish him the best of luck. He is the best coach in the history of football." 

Bloemfontein Celtic manager John Maduka has expressed concerns ahead of his side's clash against Baroka in the Nedbank Cup semi-final, saying they have to be cautious in their approach.

Phunya Sele Sele are scheduled to face Bakgaga Ba Mphahlele at Orlando Stadium on Saturday afternoon as they look to secure a spot in the final, but the Celtic legend says he is wary of the Limpopo-based outfit.

The eagerly anticipated clash will be the first for both teams since the season was forcefully halted because of the coronavirus pandemic in March.

“Our preparations have so far been good, but it’s not easy [to prepare], it has been difficult for everyone [all the clubs], we have the same challenge [lack of fitness],” Maduka told DailySun. “When we started preparing the team we didn’t know when the league will start.

"We didn’t know whether to push players or not and we kept training trying to adjust," he added. “It has been difficult because we can’t even play friendlies due to Covid-19 to see whether players are 100 percent okay or not.” 

Maduka had replaced Lehlohonolo Seema who has since left the club to join Chippa United, and the Malawi legend added that it’s been a headache to prepare for coach Dylan Kerr’s troops.

“It’s difficult to plan because we don’t know how they will come at us,” he continued. “We watched their previous matches, but it’s more than three months since they played, so it’s tricky. .

"[However] we have a plan and we will play accordingly and at the end of the day, it’s a cup game, the one we must win. We need to be cautious [on approach] as we don’t know how long players will last [on the pitch], but having five subs gives us a chance because the game has to finish that day.”

The 49-year-old manager will be without his key defender in the form of Ronald Pfumbidzai who is locked down in his home country, Zimbabwe, and will miss the remainder of the current campaign as the borders remain closed.

In the other semi-final encounter, Bidvest Wits will lock horns with reigning Telkom Knockout Cup and Premier Soccer League champions Mamelodi Sundowns at the same venue later in the day.

With coach Gavin Hunt and Pitso Mosimane have also expressed their concerns as far as fitness is concerned, but both teams will also target a place in the final.

The 2020 South African Freestyle Championship Top-8 has been revealed.

A week after announcing the Top-16, the judges - an elite mix of local and international freestyle football legends - have managed to pick out the eight standout contestants who have continued to revolutionise the simple act of juggling a ball by creating tricks no one ever knew were possible.

Former champions Rishaad Ebrahim, Sipho “Six” Busakwe are amongst those who have progressed to the Top-8 while young duo Zenande Sineke (13) 11-year-old Shane Namuhuja have been eliminated.

Shane should find consolation though as his older brother Emilio Nahamuja remains a favourite for this year's title.

The rest of the Top-8 and who they will face on the road to the semi-finals is as follow:

- Rishaad Ebrahim vs Josias Bingo

- Adian Freestyle vs Emilio Nahamuja

- Shaker Mashudu vs Sipho Busakwe

- Jabu Mdaka vs Kyle Loogi

Goal will be publishing the winners of each round, all details and selected videos in their different platforms.

Former Bafana Bafana midfielder Stanton Fredericks believes the chopping and changing of coaches in South Africa should come to an end if senior national team is to be successful again, and has attributed the nation's slump to the decision to dismiss Clive Barker.

South Africa has had 26 coaching appointments since the re-admission in 1992, and this, according to 'Stiga', has been critical to Bafana's downfall. 

Fredericks feels national team coaches should be given at least five years to lay a solid foundation before a lot can be expected from them. 

"It's something of a culture in South Africa. If you just take it down to the PSL, the average lifespan of a coach is very low, and I am not even talking years, I am talking a couple of months," Fredericks told Goal . 

"It's a problem... it's something in our culture that needs to change."

Fredericks acknowledges that Bafana's decline came when Barker wasn't allowed to take the team to the 1998 Fifa World Cup in France despite winning the Africa Cup of Nations on home soil in 1996. 

The 42-year-old former Kaizer Chiefs man feels the generation of players at the time didn't do enough to defend the veteran mentor. 

"If you look at the very beginning, Barker had to take Bafana to the World Cup," he explained. "The players should have stood up.

"The players knew that this was the man that allowed us to conquer Africa. He qualified for the World Cup. 

"I think the beginning of the end started when they never allowed Clive Barker to coach Bafana Bafana in France 98, and that same inconsistency in the coaches is the demise of Bafana Bafana.

"I think the incosistency of the coaches is a massive factor: choose one guy and stick with him." 

Just before the 2002 Fifa World Cup finals, Carlos Queiroz was appointed as head coach of Bafana Bafana but he was fired soon after the global showpiece, and to this day, Fredericks believes the South African Football Association made the wrong decision.  

"We had Carlos Queiroz here; second to none in the world. How do you allow Carlos Queiroz not to spend at least five years at the helm and see what he produces?" he asked. "So, it's a problem that needs to be fixed."            

Mikel Arteta needs to do more in a bid to appease Arsenal fans, according to former Enyimba and Nigeria forward Victor Ezeji, who has urged the Gunners to invest heavily this summer.

The Spaniard - who was a player for the North Londoners between 2011 and 2016, lifted his first trophy just seven months into his managerial career as Arsenal got the better of Chelsea in the FA Cup final on Saturday.

Gabon international Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored a brace to give them their 14th cup crown, which is a record in the competition’s history.

However, Ezeji believes the Spaniard needs to step it up again if he's to return Arsenal to the top.

“He inherited players that might not be his wish, but I think we should give him another season to see what he can really bring to the table because he has done so well with the Arsenal team considering the position they were when he took over and where he has taken them to,” Ezeji told Goal.

“The problem is they were not consistent but I think overall he has done well."

“Now he has to bring in players he can really trust, that can work with him and give him the desired results," the former Enyimba star concluded. "Arteta needs to do more because Arsenal fans are yearning for more.”

Arteta’s managerial career began as an assistant to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, and under the former Barcelona boss, the Citizens won a total of seven titles which included two Premier League, one FA Cup and two League Cups.

Arteta then arrived as Arsenal manager after Unai Emery was sacked in late November 2019 following a string of uninspiring results.

The 38-year-old managed to steady the ship with the Gunners going on an eight-game unbeaten run shortly after his arrival which put them in contention for the top four. However, some uninspiring results after the league restarted saw them fall back and ultimately finish eighth.

Beyond Aubameyang who ended the campaign with 29 goals in 44 competitive matches, other key players for Arteta included Bukayo Saka and Nicolas Pepe, although he's still yet to get the best out of some of the club's most high-profile players.

Saka excelled at left-back in Kieran Tierney’s absence and had a hand in 15 goals (four goals, 11 assists) while the latter is the club’s record signing following a £72 million move from Lille last summer. He played 42 times in all competitions, scoring eight goals and providing 10 assists.

Celtic right-back Jeremie Frimpong is aiming to contribute more goals and assists this season after scoring in the Bhoys' 5-1 win over Hamilton Academical on Sunday.

The 19-year-old was among the goals at Celtic Park as the hosts began their quest for a 10th Scottish Premiership title in a row on a commanding note.

Sunday's strike was Frimpong's third goal for Neil Lennon's men since his permanent signing from Manchester City last September, and he hopes to continue his goalscoring form this term while not neglecting his defensive duties.

"It's not like me to score often, that's one of my targets this season, to get goals and assists, and I'm going to keep working on that,” Frimpong told the club website. "I saw the opposition defender was out of position and there was so much space so I thought if it comes let me get on the end of it.

"Hopefully, I can carry on getting forward as the season goes on," he added. "I enjoy getting forward a lot but sometimes when you make those runs they don't find you.

"It was a bit of a gamble for my goal because normally I wouldn't do that. If they don't pass it then it's a long way back.”

The victory shot Celtic to the summit of the Premiership table, and the Ghanaian youngster is pleased with the confidence level in the team ahead of their next league outing against Kilmarnock on Sunday.

“There's confidence in the team because everyone's looking forward to going out and playing and winning,” he said. “That makes you want to do it as well so the confidence comes naturally.

"I feel like the team's getting better and creating more chances which is good going forward. I feel like I'm improving too.

“The team is making me a better player," Frimpong concluded. "The team has come back strong and that makes you want to be even stronger yourself.”

Sergio Ramos is the best defender in the world and can keep on playing until he is 40, according to former Real Madrid team-mate Rafael van der Vaart. 

Ramos was very influential in helping Madrid end Barcelona's run of success in LaLiga, scoring 11 goals as Zinedine Zidane's squad were crowned champions for the first time since 2017. 

The Spaniard was signed from Sevilla as a teenager in 2005 and was still young when he was joined at the club by Van der Vaart, who stayed at the Santiago Bernabeu for two seasons before joining Tottenham in 2010. 

However, having watched on as his old club secured the title once again, the Dutchman is impressed by how Ramos has matured and, considering his physical condition, sees no reason why the 34-year-old should be thinking of retiring anytime soon. 

"For me, he is the best defender in the world," Van der Vaart told Stats Perform News as part of the UEFA Europa League Trophy Tour. 

"When I was at Real Madrid, he was 21 or 22 and bursting with energy. He wanted to be everywhere. Free kicks, corner kicks, everywhere. 

"Now it is different, he has so much focus now. A focus on winning and he uses all his talents for that purpose. He's aware of his skills, strength and conditioning and that helped him being so important for his team in winning already so many titles. His body is unbelievable, he is a machine. 

"When I was watching a game the other day, I thought, 'how old is he? 34?' I believe he can still be playing for another six years, I've so much respect for him."

With LaLiga won, Madrid will now focus on potential European success as they return to Champions League action. 

They need to overturn a 2-1 first-leg deficit in their last-16 tie with Manchester City if they are to progress, with the remaining knockout rounds to be staged in Portugal, though Ramos will miss the match against Pep Guardiola's team at the Etihad Stadium due to suspension. 

However, Madrid have been outstanding since the season restarted in Spain midway through June, and Van der Vaart expects a "really interesting" return clash with City, who finished second in the Premier League. 

"Real Madrid have been very, very good after the coronavirus break," he said. "They have all been very focused [on the games]. Including a 10-game winning streak. 

"Karim Benzema and Ramos have been a key part of the team for me, and Zidane for bringing calmness to the team. 

"However, I watched Manchester City against Arsenal playing the semi-final of the FA Cup, as well as other games. They have so much individual talent, so they are always dangerous, for any team, including the magnificent Real Madrid. That's what we've seen in the first leg, so it is going to be a really interesting game." 

Van der Vaart was speaking as part of a Europa League Trophy Tour that has been collecting football boots from fans for Syrian refugees based in Jordan, a cause the former Netherlands international is passionate about. 

"It's great, I remember how incredibly happy I was as a little boy with my football boots. I even put my first pair on to bed and I dreamed of playing football. I hope that all children in the world may experience that kind of childlike joy. I'm so proud that I can help a little bit," Van der Vaart said. 

"We are collecting boots, which hopefully gives a bit more hope and fun for all children. So, I'm proud that I can help a little bit and be a part of it. 

"It's really important [to be able to go out and play]. Now there are so many things, but when I was little you would just go on the street and play. 

"In lockdown it was difficult, of course. You want to meet with friends, you want to go out and play games, but when I started playing it was just me and the ball."

Former Wolfsburg manager Bruno Labbadia has lauded Napoli new boy Victor Osimhen for his work rate and effort, and is confident that the attacker can work well alongside current Partenopei frontman Dries Mertens.

The 21-year-old Nigeria international sealed a move to the San Paolo from LOSC Lille last Friday for €50 million, much to the excitement of Napoli fans and supporters in his home country.

He is expected to be the main striker for the club, with Poland striker Arkadiusz Milik anticipated to leave the Campania capital.

Osimhen comes in having scored 18 goals in 38 competitive outings for Lille. He began his senior career at Wolfsburg under the tutelage of Labbadia, after impressing for Nigeria at the 2015 Under-17 World Cup in Chile where he scored 10 goals in seven matches to finish as top scorer.

Things never went well for Osimhen at Wolfsburg, as injuries limited him to just 16 appearances in two years with no goals. He however found revival at Belgian club Charleroi where he netted 20 goals in 36 appearances.

"When he has the ball on his feet, he is formidable and in one on one he is very strong,” Labbadia was quoted saying in Il Mattino as reported by TuttoMercato, "and then he is very good in running without the ball to be found free by his companions.

"He knows how to descend in every reality, he always gives 200 percent," the German coach added. “He makes a great central striker because he is the classic number 9.

"Not only that, he played outside for me in 4-2-3-1. He was young and he's fast, but it is in front of goal that he can make the difference because he has a great flair for the goal.”

There have also been questions about how Osimhen can play alongside Napoli’s all-time top scorer Mertens and Labbadia believes both men can fit in together.

“They can coexist, they have different and complementary characteristics,” he said.

This same thought was also echoed by Andrea D'Amico, an associate of Osimhen's current agent, William D’Avila.

"It is clear that when you join an important team, there is always competition,” D'Amico told Radio Marte. "Napoli have had many champions who have been able to coexist to create healthy internal competition."

Uganda Premier League side Police FC have completed the signings of Bashir Kabuye and Mubarak Nsubuga.

Kabuye, 18, played for Police Armless Brigade last season and is expected to bolster Abdalla Mubiru’s attacking midfield department.

Nsubuga, 23, featured for Express FC, Wembley FC and All-Winners FC previously, and the length of his Police contract, as well as Kabuye’s, has not been revealed.

“I feel good to be part of the club because it suits my style of play and I expect to give it my best for both the fans and the club,” Kabuye said as he was unveiled by the Cops. “I feel great for the opportunity given and I feel like I'm at home.

"I'm ready to serve the team and will give it my best,” Nsubuga added . “Expect an improved performance from me this season as we target to win trophies for the club.”

The club's Chief Executive Officer Fahad Lumu promised that they will assemble a competitive team for the upcoming season.

“We are looking at these youngsters as an asset to the club and our fans should expect a competitive squad,” Lumu said. “With a combination of experienced players and them there should be no question but a promise of great performance.”

Meanwhile, Express FC’s assistant coach James Odoch has emphasised the need of the right attitude from the players.

Odoch, a former Red Eagle, and his fellow technical bench members are expected to be tasked to help the club win their seventh title once the next season starts in October.

“Football is not about a good team there’s more to that, we need to hope for the right attitude from the players because it so important,” Odoch told the club website. “You could have the best team in the world but with zero attitudes that would be terrible.”

Express last won the UPL title in 2012 and their best finish since then was in the 2015/16 season where they were third.

In other news, Proline FC director Mujib Kasule has opposed the proposed directive by the Federation of Uganda Football Associations, which would require clubs to deduct Pay As You Earn (PAYE) taxes from their players.

In a recent consultative meeting with the club’s captains and representatives, Fufa made it clear teams will be required to pay taxes as well as the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) remittances.

“This is a good initiative,” Kasule said as was quoted by Football256, “but not practical in Ugandan football, [where] only a few clubs especially institutional ones can afford to pay the tax but not all if not none.

“Honestly for my case, I would rather quit investing in football than paying the taxes.

“This will only cause more chaos especially for privately owned clubs, I think Fufa should provide a platform where clubs and government should meet and chart the way forward.

“I am not against paying taxes and saving with NSSF, I think it is needed on a personal level. However, with the current economic situation and the plight of local football clubs, I don’t think it is really feasible.

“What I am advocating for, is let the policymakers at Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) come and do baseline research on the feasibility of the tax, because clubs are struggling to pay monthly wages consistently, with generally little to no incomes for the majority and levying more dues on them is pretty straining.”

Going into Saturday’s FA Cup final between Arsenal and Chelsea, both sides coveted the trophy, but the need was surely greater for Mikel Arteta’s team given the consequences of success or otherwise.

It was pretty common knowledge that the Gunners needed the cup to present a path into Europe next season. After ending eighth in the Premier League, the North London side desperately had to win their 14th title in the sport’s oldest domestic competition to feature in the Europa League in 2020/21.

While the Gunners aspire for more than participation in the continent’s secondary club competition, circumstances during the season meant FA Cup triumph would represent success.

From a financial perspective, in a pandemic-hit universe, European involvement in whatever form at least brings in some money for the club. For potential signings, Saturday’s victory, the club’s first trophy since 2017, gives possible arrivals a reason to move to North London.

Perhaps importantly, Arsenal’s conquest helps to convince star players that staying at the Emirates Stadium is good in the short and long term.

None other falls into the latter category than captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, the star of the final and semi-final vs Chelsea and Manchester City respectively. If there were doubts as to his prowess in the big games, the affable striker has dispelled that notion in the Gunners’ cup run, which culminated with two incredible performances at Wembley against two of the country’s finest clubs.

Both games were decided by the prolific frontman, whose standing among supporters of the club has grown exponentially in what was a very strange season in North London.

Unai Emery, the head coach tipped to take the club into a new era after the Arsene Wenger years, toiled remarkably in the last few months in the job, winning just two of his final 10 games before getting the sack at the end of November.

The performances of record signing Nicolas Pepe were inconsistent in his maiden campaign as he understandably struggled to get to grips with English football. Alexander Lacazette battled for form after an early-season ankle injury while playmaking genius Mesut Ozil was mostly out of the side in the first third of their season and crucially after the lockdown.

The most significant moment, however, came in October when then-captain Granit Xhaka sarcastically responded in kind as Gooners cheered his substitution in a 2-2 draw with cross-town rivals Crystal Palace. It seemed like Arsenal’s season would unravel after that astonishing moment at the Emirates.

Despite this, Auba still managed to score 22 Premier League goals in 36 appearances, matching his haul from 18/19. Only Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy prevented him from retaining the Golden Boot he claimed along with Liverpool pair Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane the previous year.

Understanding the nuances of both campaigns means this year’s tally is probably more appreciated. His return this season accounted for 39 percent of the team’s 56 goals, notably higher than last year which was 30 percent of the club’s 73 strikes. With the club in dire straits after Emery’s sacking and Freddie Ljungberg struggling in an interim capacity, it was the Gabon star who lifted the struggling side with his goals as many of the side’s heavy hitters toiled.

In January, when reports swirled about his future, the striker committed to the club till the end of the season, instantly stemming the negativity that was starting to build. Indeed, that moment sent a calming effect around the club and allowed Arteta room to focus on slowly influencing his group of players.

The greater efficiency of the Arsenal talisman this year deserves commendation, owing to how they struggled to fashion out chances.

Statistics show that the Gunners created 67 big chances in 19/20, putting them in the bottom half, and specifically 14th, for top creators. For even better understanding, relegated Watford (68) fashioned out more, as did West Ham United (68), Sheffield United (71), Southampton (74), Everton (76) and Burnley (78). Four of these sides ended in the bottom half of the Prem, emphasizing how harder it was to hit the same number as his first full campaign.

Under Emery last term, the three-time Premier League champions created 89 clear-cut chances, sixth-highest in the league, which further strengthens the argument that their top striker had a better campaign this year in an otherwise struggling side.

Furthermore, in a deviation from the norm, Aubameyang shed the perception that despite being a prolific goalscorer he also tended to miss really easy opportunities. Even though the 31-year-old has in the last few years regularly been one of the leading marksmen in the English top flight and previously the Bundesliga, he’s also tended to either top the charts for most clear-cut chances missed or be close to the top...not this year.

Surprisingly, Arsenal’s talisman failed to put away only 10 opportunities that fell into the ‘big chances’ column this season, which sits him 17th in the league. Last term he missed 23, higher than anyone else, and was second to Robert Lewandowski (21 to 19) in 17/18 even though he left Borussia Dortmund in mid-season.

It was the same in 15/16 and 16/17 where only the Bayern Munich forward failed to convert more. With fewer chances coming the Gabon striker’s way this term, he was even more effective in front of goal and very nearly retained the Golden Boot.

This new-found efficiency was notable in their FA Cup semi and on Saturday, where the club captain scored twice each from three and four shots respectively, underlining his recently discovered killer instinct in the big matches.

He’s not going to be a vocal, charismatic leader like Tony Adams was previously at the club or John Terry in Chelsea's best years, but what the 2015 African Footballer of the Year guarantees is to lead by example by scoring goals regardless of the quality around him.

This is what the Gunners realised this season, as their captain carried the side for large parts of a torturous campaign while others flailed. This ultimately culminated in cup success, thus taking the desperate North Londoners into Europe next season.

If Aubameyang leaves now, Gooners should show no antipathy toward the Gabon star. If he stays, Arsenal will want no other captain leading them as they strive to retake their place among the nation's biggest clubs under the hugely promising Arteta.

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane has warned his players against underestimating Bidvest Wits in Saturday’s Nedbank Cup semi-final match at Orlando Stadium.

Wits will be winding up their PSL business when football resumes in South Africa after their top flight league status was acquired by GladAfrica Championship side Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila.

However, coach Gavin Hunt and his charges have vowed that they will bow out on a high as they chase Nedbank Cup glory, a stance which appears to worry Mosimane.

“We have a big game against Wits of course and if you listen to their statements‚ they’re saying that they want to go out in style‚” Mosimane told Times Live. “Obviously there are a lot of incentives for the [Wits] players and the coaches [to win the cup]‚ so that’s why they’ve prioritised the Nedbank Cup.

I’m saying what they’re saying in the media," he added. “They haven’t said anything about the league.

They have only spoken about the Cup‚ so that gives me an indication that the league is not the priority to them. I’m not talking on their behalf‚ but I’m talking about what they’ve said.

“They want to win it and I know the character of the coach [Hunt] and the character of the team. So I know how difficult it will be and this is how I’m preparing my team.”

While Wits’ realistic chances of ending the season with silverware lie in the Nedbank Cup, they could also seal a respectable finish in the Premier Soccer League table this term.

Currently placed sixth on the standings, they are 10 points behind leaders Kaizer Chiefs who have played a game more than Hunt’s side.

Mosimane is aware of Wits’ competitiveness and is refusing to dismiss them as a team wrapping up their PSL business after the Students held Sundowns 1-1 in a league match in December, before a 0-0 draw in the return fixture at Loftus Versfeld in January.

“I hope the message sinks in the systems of my players to know what they have and what they don’t… they must not say they’re playing a team that [has been] sold,” said Mosimane. “They’re playing a team with the same players and same technical staff.

"In fact‚ we’re facing a wounded lion and when you’re facing a wounded animal you know you will be in trouble if you are complacent and not being careful of how you step.

“First, we’re going to give them the respect that they deserve‚ second it’s a semi-final it can go either way. It’s a big game‚ it’s a semi-final and it’s an emotional game."

After close to five months of inactivity, the Downs tactician has also expressed concerns about his players’ fitness which he says does not match their emotions.

Harvey Elliott has revealed the team-mates that have helped him most since the young winger made the move to Liverpool.

Elliott joined Liverpool in July 2019, having broken through with Fulham by becoming the club's youngest ever first-team player and the youngest to ever feature in Carabao Cup.

The then-16-year-old made his competitive debut for Liverpool in September as he became the youngest-ever player to start a match for the club and the second youngest to ever play for the Reds, behind only Jerome Sinclair.

He was rewarded with a professional contract at the end of the season, with Elliott signing on after turning 17 on April 4.

Widely tipped to be a key figure for the Reds in the coming years, Elliott says that players like James Milner, Jordan Henderson, Adam Lallana, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah have been vital to helping him adjust to life with the Premier League champions.

“Millie has helped me a lot throughout the season. He’s someone I want to be like. I want to have a long career like him,” Elliott told the Athletic.

“All us youngsters can learn so much from the likes of Millie and Hendo, two experienced pros who always give 100 per cent every single day. They don’t drink and they’re always professional with how they lead their lives. You can see that in the great shape they’re in.

“They don’t just want to be the best they possibly can be themselves but they also want to get the best out of everyone around them. Every day, I learn something new.

“Adam Lallana helped me a lot and it was a shame to see him go. I’m usually in the gym at the same time as Sadio and Mo, and they give me a lot of advice.

“If I’m doing a particular weight and it’s looking too easy, then Sadio or Mo will be over to push me with a different weight to make it harder. If I’m doing exercises with the band, they’ll be over to make sure my body is in the right position.”

Elliott, who is also the youngest player to ever start a match at Anfield, made eight total appearances for Liverpool in his debut campaign.

Alfred Duncan has expressed satisfaction at scoring his first goal for Fiorentina in Sunday’s 3-1 Serie A win at relegated SPAL, describing it as a 'personal satisfaction'.

The Viola headed into this game without any fears of relegation and took charge as the 27-year-old – who is on loan from Sampdoria, opened his account in the 30th minute.

The home side equalised via Marco D’Alessandro nine minutes later and it remained 1-1 until the closing stages of the game when Christian Kouame and Eric Pulgar (penalty) both found the back of the net.

The result means Giuseppe Iachini’s side finish in 10th position, with 49 points, 14 clear of the relegation zone. It was an improvement from the previous campaign where they ended in 16th place, three points shy of the drop.

"I've been looking for him for a while, a personal satisfaction that makes me very happy. I hope to start at the best next year, scoring.” Duncan told the club website. "It was important to close in the best way possible a season that has stretches has been difficult.

"We took three fundamental points because closing on the left is a very important milestone to start again next year.”

Duncan went on to stress how important it was for Fiorentina to start next season better and stronger.

"We can and must do more, Fiorentina must aim for a better ranking than this,” he continued. “Even if seen how it went this season, the 10th-place finish was very important.

"Also, thanks to the support of the club," the midfielder concluded. “It must be a point starting point, we have room for improvement. We also talk about it, and we will try to make ourselves ready to start strong again next year, without the errors of this season.”

Another on-loan player in Kouame (from Genoa) also netted his first goal for the club after recently coming to back to fitness from an anterior cruciate ligament injury that kept him out since November last year.

The Ivorian forward played a total of seven games, including 90 minutes of action in a 1-1 draw at home to Hellas Verona. He also provided assists in victories over Torino and Bologna.

Brentford star Said Benrahma said he is focused on helping his team win the Championship play-off final and not thinking about reported interest from Premier League clubs.

The Algeria playmaker is said to be on Chelsea and Arsenal transfer radars, thanks to his standout performances in the second division this campaign.

He is on the verge of helping Brentford gain promotion to the Premier League with his contribution of 17 goals and nine assists in 45 league appearances.

The Bees battle Fulham in the play-off final on Tuesday night at Wembley Stadium and the 24-year-old has disclosed that his mind is on helping the Bees earn the last qualification ticket to the English top flight not the rumours around his future,

"I'm not thinking about that at all at the moment,” Benrahma told Sky Sports News ahead of the final showdown. "I'm trying to put that to one side because I have a mission here, with a season to finish and a final to play.

"I'm on a mission for Brentford and I'm trying to do everything to help the club clinch promotion."

Benrahma moved to Griffin Park from Ligue 1 club OFC Nice in 2018, and his current deal at the club expires in June 2022. He has proved himself in the second division this term, and credited coach Thomas Frank for the club’s dominant performances and their rise in the Championship.

Brentford last played in the English top-flight in the 1946–47 season and the North African has claimed that Frank's motivation has played a big role for them.

"Thomas Frank has been important for us throughout the season," he continued. "He managed to motivate us and he communicates with us so much.

"That really helped us and he was able to find the right words for us to give 100 per cent. I think that was a big factor for us."

Real Madrid star Karim Benzema had a simple answer when asked if he fancies a crack at mixed martial arts after his football career comes to an end: “No problem for me, I'm up for it!”

Benzema, 32, enjoyed a brilliant campaign for Madrid, scoring 21 goals and providing eight assists as Los Blancos beat Barcelona to the Liga title.

Such form suggests Benzema still has plenty of legs left in football yet, even though he may be approaching the twilight years of his career.

But there are other challenges that appeal to the French striker, including it seems having a go at the fight game.

Benzema took questions from several friends for a YouTube video, one of which came from French kickboxer Fouad Ezbiri, who he has trained with in the past.

Ezbiri asked if Benzema - a fan of fight sports - ever had plans to step in the ring at least once.

“Well, Fouad, my broski, in any case I hope you're doing good, and it's true that I love fighting sports,” Benzema said. 

“I love training, as you say we already trained, after the soccer why not train with you for six months and if you think I can be ready for a fight, no problem for me, I'm up for it!”

Benzema also responded to a separate question about how much longer he feels he has left in football.

“I'm working a lot. I pay attention to everything I do, I take care of myself and I'm trying to get the best out of me as possible,” Benzema added. 

“I know this is not the beginning of my career but in any case, for me, age does not mean anything and we're going to do everything.”

Benzema also revealed three major sporting influences of his, saying: “It depends. there are many people who have inspired me but we'll take soccer for example. It's Ronaldo, the Brazilian, so he's the one who made me love football, simply. It's thanks to what he did but everyone knows it. 

“Then athletic, although I'm not a big fan of basketball, but I would say Michael Jordan for what he did, what he has been with the Chicago Bulls. And then another athlete I would say Mike Tyson, there you go, Mike Tyson, because it's the power.”

Real Madrid team-mate James Rodriguez pondered whether Benzema prefers scoring or assisting a team-mate.

“I'll answer you sincerely. Making assists or scoring goals are two different things but not that different and I like to do both,” he said. 

“To choose, I choose to score. On the other hand if my partner is good and sure to score I'll pass him the ball and offer him the goal. So, I choose both, my brother.”

All India Football Federation (AIFF) general secretary Kushal Das cited infrastructure and a lack of long-term vision as the major factors hampering the growth of football in Delhi. 

On Monday, in an E-Summit organized by Football Delhi, the governing body of football in India's capital city, Das said that the Indian FA and Football Delhi can work together to improve the city's output in Indian football. 

"Infrastructure is a problem in Delhi. After the U-17 World Cup, we have stadiums so much superior to the Ambedkar Stadium. The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium is not a football stadium. The experience (there) was so bad (during ISL games)," the AIFF official said. 

He further added, "The capital is very important, so are the other cities. The AIFF has the structure and the knowledge base to help the state association. We can create a structure that is necessary for football to thrive again in Delhi. It will take some time but if you come to us, we are very willing to help."

Das also said that in order to attract sponsors and sell the idea of a Delhi-based club, Football Delhi has to come up with a strategic plan. 

"The football culture is sporadic in our country. Delhi had some sort of a culture, not anymore. There are people who are interested in football but you have to give them a strategic vision that this is what we want to achieve. Without that plan, it is very difficult. There are people who are interested and have money but you have to give them confidence.

"That is why it is very important that Football Delhi comes and works with the AIFF. If we work together, we can come up with a vision document. With that, you approach someone who has passion and money."

Towards the end of the virtual conference, Das was asked whether the AIFF could consider giving special exemptions or grants to the parties who are ready to run a club in the capital. He responded, "I don't think that would be fair at all. (It would be) Absolutely unfair. The AIFF has the technical know-how to support Football Delhi in terms of competitions, creating vision document, youth development and grassroots.

"AIFF conducts 1500 plus games in the leagues and about 32000 baby leagues (done by the operators, controlled by the AIFF). We have a very efficient I-League department, we can help them understand and learn what needs to be done."