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Vipers SC striker Muhammad Shaban is targeting a Ugandan Premier League (UPL) top scorers’ award as well as a good campaign in the Caf Champions League.

Shaban is yet to play for the Venoms since he signed as a knee ligament injury that he suffered in April 2019 kept him out for a considerable length of time.

As he nears a full return to action, Shaban hopes to beat his UPL rivals to the coveted award.

“I want the top scorers’ gong of the Premier League and also help my team qualify for the group stages of the Caf Champions League, InshAllah [God willing],” Shaban told the club’s portal.

The 22-year-old star spoke about his recovery journey and how he felt while he missed action in a season that saw Vipers crowned champions of the cancelled season.

“It was painful and a lonely feeling sitting at the stands for the entire season watching your teammates playing,” added Shaban.

“At times I felt like I could do something to help the team deliver victories but then again we couldn’t do much because of injury. 

“But I want to thank my teammates, the coaches and the club administration for the great work they have done, not forgetting the club doctor and the sponsors for always having our backs. 

“It was a tough season but with the help of God, we were crowned champions [May Allah’s name be praised always]. We now focus on the next stage that’s the Caf Champions League and I will not watch football from the stands.”

The forward also described his worst moment since he signed for the four-time UPL champions.

“It has got to be not being able to play when I felt I could have changed the outcome of some results,” he revealed.

“But to be honest, playing last season was always going to be a bonus for me. The injury needed to heal properly. Good thing is that the storm is almost over and I am already focused on a restart for the 2020/21 season.”

Shaban further revealed the discussions he has had with head coach Fred Kajoba.

“Yes, I have,” he answered when asked whether he has conversed with Kajoba.

“He advised me to be patient and keep working hard. His words were also full of encouragement and he told me not to drop my shoulders because I still have a full career ahead of me.

“The most important thing, to him, was my recovery and then other things would follow.”

Shaban has previously played for Onduparaka FC, KCCA FC and Raja Casablanca of Morocco.

Arsenal centre-back Sokratis Papastathopoulos' agent has branded the exit rumours surrounding his client as "fake news".

Sokratis completed an £18 million ($23m) move to Arsenal from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2018, and has since racked up 68 appearances for the club, scoring six goals.

The Greece international was a fixture in Unai Emery's starting line-up at Emirates Stadium, but has found regular playing time harder to come by under his successor Mikel Arteta.

Sokratis has only featured once for Arsenal since the Spaniard's arrival December, and was an unused substitute in the club's final eight fixtures of the 2019-20 campaign.

Arteta has reportedly deemed the 32-year-old surplus to requirements, with David Luiz and Rob Holding currently serving as his first-choice centre-back pairing.

The Gunners boss is expected to bolster his defensive ranks now that the summer transfer window is open, and it has been suggested that Sokratis will be moved on before he becomes a free agent next year.

Despite the ongoing speculation surrounding the former Dortmund star's future, his representative Konstantinos Farras has dismissed any possibility of a transfer.

The Greek agent said during an interview with British football journalist Fred Paxton: "He [Sokratis] will stay. I don’t see a reason to leave. I don’t know why everyone is writing wrong and fake news."

Sokratis admitted back in March that he would not hesitate to seek a move away from the Emirates should there ever come a time that he no longer feels wanted.

"If I’m not happy, I don’t play enough or the coach doesn’t like me, I don’t care about the contract," he told reporters.

"For me, the money is not important, it is important I feel good, I feel happy and the team is happy with me. If not, I take the road and I finish.

"I don’t think about it, I think every day to be happy and help the team and in the end, we will see but what I say is that I am not a player who sits on a contract – I don’t need it."

Arsenal wrapped up their latest Premier League campaign with a 3-2 home win over Watford on Sunday, which ensured that they finished eighth in the final standings.

Arteta is now preparing his side for a huge FA Cup final showdown against Chelsea, which will be staged behind closed doors at Wembley this weekend.

CR Belouizdad will be declared as Ligue 1 champions after the Algerian 2019-20 season was ended by the Algerian Football Federation’s announcement that the current standings will be recognised as final.

Like most leagues across the globe, Algeria's Ligue 1 was suspended in March as part of preventive measures to control the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

Almost four months after placing it on hiatus, the Algerian football ruling body conducted a ballot to determine the future of the uncompleted season.

96 out of 112 of its members voted to end the season as is, the remaining 16 not sending their votes. 

The Federation revealed that 90% of the votes called for the termination of the championship with the top team declared champions, but no relegation to be enforced.

With this, Franck Dumas’ Belouizdad will be lifting the Algeria topflight trophy while Mobilis, NC Magra, NA Hussein Dey and US Biskra will remain in the country’s elite league.

They will be joined by Olympique Medea, JSM Skikda, WA Tlemcen and RC Relizane who occupy the top four places in Ligue 2.

The consequence of this will see the 2020-21 season consisting of 20 clubs and 38 league days - which has not happened since the 1986-87 season.

For the second division, it will have two groups (Eastern and Western) which will be composed of 18 clubs each.

Former Bayern Munich defender Edson Braafheid has revealed what it is like to work under the guidance of Louis van Gaal.

The Dutchman spent two years in charge of Bayern from 2009-11 and has enjoyed a storied managerial career that has seen him take charge of the likes of Ajax, Barcelona, Manchester United as well as the Netherlands national side, notably winning the Champions League in 1995 while in Amsterdam.

Braafheid, meanwhile, also spent two years at Bayern, with the left-back’s time at the club overlapping that of Van Gaal’s exactly.

The defender, who won 10 caps for the Netherlands, struggled to adapt to life under his countryman in Bavaria, though, with Van Gaal’s fiery temper a particular problem.

“When I went to training in the morning, I never knew what kind of person to expect there,” he told Goal and Spox.

“Van Gaal was unpredictable. Sometimes it was all funny, but then again the same things could be disrespectful and provocative. I don't want to give an example - there are things that don't belong in the media.”

Braafheid, however, gave an example of how Van Gaal completely blew up after a 3-3 draw with Borussia Monchengladbach in November 2010.

“Back then there were only three outfielders on the bench,” he remembered. “Danijel Pranjic had problems in the first half, which is why Van Gaal sent me, David Alaba and Thomas Muller to warm up.

“During the break, he told me: ‘Get ready, Pranjic won’t be able to continue'.

“So I kept warming myself up, but Pranjic stayed on the field. In the 80th minute, Van Gaal finally took him off and put Alaba on. And I thought to myself: ‘Well, I don’t need to warm up anymore'.

“I went back to the bench. Van Gaal said nothing to me, it only started in the dressing room.

“The game ended 3-3 and we lost more ground in the battle for the title with Dortmund. Van Gaal was beside himself and screaming. He came up to me and shouted: ‘Why don’t you warm up when I tell you to warm up?’

“We argued violently and I tried to make my point clear to him. He just shook his head and went to shout at someone else.

“He was a very difficult person, although in retrospect I can understand some of his actions that I could not understand at the time.”

After leaving Bayern, Braafheid turned out for Hoffenheim, Lazio, Utrecht and is currently with Austin Bold in the USL Championship.

The league has confirmed neutral venues for all PSL and NFD clubs ahead of the return to competitive football next weekend. 

With Gauteng chosen as the biologically safe environment (BSE) for the remainder of the matches due to the coronavirus pandemic, teams that are based in the province will not be using their usual stadiums for their home fixtures.  

Kaizer Chiefs, who usually play their home matches at FNB Stadium, will be based at Orlando Stadium while their arch-rivals Orlando Pirates will use the Ellis Park Stadium for their remaining home matches.

Amakhosi's title rivals Mamelodi Sundowns were allocated the Dobsonville Stadium as their new base and they will share that with Highlands Park. 

According to the PSL, in a situation where teams are based at the same venue and have home fixtures to play on the same day, then there will be a doubleheader. 

The league opted to go for eight different stadiums for PSL teams and another eight for NFD teams. 

This means two teams will share one stadium for their home matches for the remained of the season restart.     

The league has already confirmed that the fixtures will remain the same, meaning the season will resume where it ended in mid-March. 

Meanwhile, NFD log leaders Ajax Cape Town have been allocated the Rand Stadium for their home matches, while second-placed Swallows FC will be based at Makhulong Stadium. 

Uthongathi FC, another team involved in the promotion race, will play their home matches at the University of Johannesburg Soweto Campus. 

Dates and kick-off times for all the matches will be released in due course now that the issue of venues has been put to rest. 

Home venues for all 16 PSL clubs are as follows: 

Baroka FC - Bidvest Stadium 

Cape Town City - Loftus Versveld Stadium 

AmaZulu - Lucas Moripe Stadium

Mamelodi Sundowns - Dobsonville Stadium 

Orlando Pirates - Ellis Park 

Bidvest Wits - FNB Stadium 

Chippa United - Orlando Stadium 

Bloemfontein Celtic - Tuks Stadium 

SuperSport United - Bidvest Stadium 

Kaizer Chiefs - Orlando Stadium 

Highlands Park - Dobsonville Stadium 

Golden Arrows - Ellis Park Stadium 

Polokwane City - Loftus Versveld Stadium 

Stellenbosch FC - Tuks Stadium 

Black Leopards - FNB Stadium. 

Maritzburg United - Lucas Moripe Stadium  

Home venues for all 16 NFD clubs are as follows: 

TS Galaxy - Wits Rugby Stadium 

JDR Stars - Rand Stadium 

Steenberg United - Makhulong Stadium 

Mbombela United - UJ Soweto Campus 

Richards Bay FC - Tuks Rugby Stadium 

AmaTuks - Joburg Stadium

Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila - Sturrock Park Stadium 

TS Sporting - Tsakane Stadium 

Real Kings - Tsakane Stadium 

Free State Stars - Sturrock Park Stadium 

Jomo Cosmos - Wits Rugby Stadium 

Ajax Cape Town - Rand Stadium 

Swallows FC - Makhulong Stadium 

Royal Eagles - Joburg Stadium 

Cape Umoya United - Tuks Rugby Stadium 

Uthongathi FC - UJ Soweto Campus

Alisson has opened up on his drive to "achieve great things" at Liverpool, and his insatiable hunger to "be the best" goalkeeper in the world.

Liverpool completed the signing of the Brazilian from Roma in the summer of 2018 for a then-world record fee for a goalkeeper of £67 million ($87m).

He has since gone on to help the Reds win trophies, serving as the reliable last line of defence in a side previously lacking a stable figure between the sticks.

The 27-year-old has already racked up 88 appearances in all competitions, winning four major trophies in the process, including the Champions League and Premier League.

Despite missing two months of the 2019-20 season through injury, Alisson was instrumental in Liverpool's run to a first top-flight crown in 30 years, as he recorded an impressive 13 shut-outs in 29 outings.

The Brazil international also picked up the highly-coveted Yachine Trophy in December, adding to the Golden Glove and the Champions League Goalkeeper of the Season awards he won last season.

Alisson insists it has always been his goal to reach the very top of his profession, and he is grateful to have been given the platform to reach his full potential at Anfield.

"I believe that I didn't become the best goalkeeper in the world last season," the Reds shot-stopper told the club's official website.

"Obviously because all of my life what I did from [when I was] 10 years old, I always tried to work hard to achieve great things. I set my goals and I go for it. 

"Obviously I grew a lot here with this club with the possibility that the club gives you to win big things and to be the best you can. 

"You have to win the big things, the big championships – as the Champions League and the Premier League now. 

"So this is something that changed coming here to Liverpool, but my mentality was always to be the best. Receiving the awards or not, I always work to be the best."

Asked how it feels to be a Premier League winner, Alisson added: "At this moment it means everything.

"The biggest part of my achievements in football I achieved for this club, through this club, individual and my team-mates, so it means a lot to me and my family. 

"Since we arrived here we could feel that it's a different club, a club who treats you as a family and can give you all the support that you need to play football, to stay focused on playing football. 

"So, we are comfortable here. We love being here. We also love the warmth that we receive from the supporters, they are part of this family as well."

Sheffield Wednesday have announced the signing of Fisayo Dele-Bashiru from Premier League giants Manchester City for an undisclosed fee.

The 19-year-old midfielder, who becomes the Owls’ first signing has been with the Citizens from the age of eight, rising through the club ranks alongside Phil Foden.

Nevertheless, he was unable to break into Pep Guardiola’s first team - and that necessitated his move to the Hillsborough Stadium where he is expected to continue with his growth in football.

“I’m honoured to sign for Sheffield Wednesday and I’m excited to be here,” Dele-Bashiru told swfc.co.uk.

“I’m at an age now where I want to be playing first-team football and I am confident it will fall into place for me here.

“I know there are other players in the same position but competition for places is a positive.

“My game is about power, strength and pace, I like to go box-to-box and I like taking on a shot too.

“The manager has shown a desire to bring me to the club and that means a lot. He has a good CV and I’m sure this is the right platform for me at this stage of my career.”

Fisayo’s elder brother Tom also came through the ranks of Manchester City, however, he is currently with Watford having joined the Hornets on a six-year-deal. He will continue life at Vicarage Road next season following their relegation on Saturday.

He was also part of the Nigeria U20 team at the 2019 Fifa U20 World Cup in Poland and he scored a goal in three games before the Flying Eagles’ exit in the Round of 16.

Yanga SC striker David Molinga has asked coach Luc Eymael to be more careful in order to avoid a situation that saw him fired.

Eymael was sacked by the Tanzanian giants for alleged demeaning statements made about the club’s management and fans, but Molinga - Yanga’s top scorer in the 2019/20 season - has pleaded with the Belgian to exercise caution in future.

“In this photo, you are not teaching me about discrimination but I can remember what you told me about ‘next season’ but be humble and be careful enough going forward before uttering a single word,” Molinga said in a post on his Instagram page.

“Let this be a lesson to you wherever you will be. Be careful enough and ensure you are not repeating the same mistake, we are just together.

“But do not go, finish what you promised us about the Champions League.”

In the audio message that landed the former Polokwane City and AFC Leopards coach in trouble, he is heard attacking the fans for not understanding his substitution during their match against Mtibwa Sugar.

“This striker [David] Molinga did not win any ball, did not make one run and did not bring any danger,” Eymael is heard as saying.

“I had put [Gnamien] Yikpe on the wing then I put Yikpe as a striker and he gave us runs and efforts and the fans were shouting at him and wanted me to take Yikpe out.

“The time when I took one holding midfielder out to put a second striker they did not understand. There is pettiness in this country.”

Eymael also claimed that the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) is a biased body that always favours Yanga’s arch-rivals Simba SC.

Those allegations saw TFF state they would report the Belgian to Fifa and request that action is taken against him.

Eymael, despite challenges, especially with key players like Bernard Morrison who had contract issues with the management, led Yanga to second place in the league.

But a 4-1 loss to Simba in the FA Cup semi-final on July 12 which ensured Yanga will not pick a trophy this season, was a major setback.

James Rodriguez "has problems" with Zinedine Zidane, according to his former team-mate Arturo Vidal, who has urged the Real Madrid outcast to secure a move away from the club this summer.

After watching James finish as the top scorer in the 2014 World Cup for Colombia, Madrid forked out €75 million (£68m/$85m) to bring him to Santiago Bernabeu from Monaco.

The 29-year-old has since scored 37 goals in 125 appearances for the Blancos, but only 14 of those outings have come during the current campaign.

James returned to Madrid last summer following a two-year loan spell at Bayern Munich, with a view to forcing his way back into Zidane's plans.

Unfortunately, he has just slipped further down the squad pecking order in 2019-20, with the likes of Isco, Fede Valverde and Eden Hazard all now regular starters ahead of the Colombian.

Zidane hinted at issues behind the scenes when revealing that James "wanted to be left out" of a 1-0 win over Athletic Club on July 5.

The former Monaco star picked up a La Liga winners' medal later in the month, but is expected to seek a transfer at the first available opportunity amid rumoured interested from the Premier League.

Vidal, who played alongside James at Bayern, admits he has found James's current situation at the Bernabeu difficult to stomach.

"James and I are brothers, we forged an incredible friendship in Munich," the Barcelona star told Win Sports .

"We talk all the time, on holiday we did and it's annoying that he has problems with the coach.

"James has a high level to play as a starter for that team and I don't know why they didn't give him a chance this year."

Vidal went on to advise James to try and rediscover his best form elsewhere, while insisting he still has plenty to offer at the highest level.

"I hope he takes the best decision and begins to play," the Chile international added.

"I think people, football admirers, love to see quality players and James is one of them.

"He has to grow, search for his future and find a place to play and enjoy football."

If you ask Kenyan football fans they will tell you that data bundles are a precious commodity, It is always a pain receiving that infamous "Your bundle balance is below 5MB" message.

Kenya's leading sports betting firm Betika is well aware of this problem as their customers rely on the availability of an internet connection to place their bets.

In order to overcome this issue, Betika have partnered with the leading Kenya telco Safaricom to offer their customers free access to the Betika website.

That's right, Betika customers on Safaricom will no longer require to have data bundles to place a bet or view and analyse games on the Betika website. The #TurudiUwanjani campaign will save Betika customers' money on mobile data and increase their chances of winning their bets by allowing them to spend as much time as they need analysing the games and odds before placing their bets.

With Betika Bila Bundles the betting company's punters are in for a pleasant surprise as they can now enjoy free browsing on Betika.com and with sporting activities still on the comeback trail after Covid-19 there are plenty of alternative betting options on the Betika site.

Customers can now enjoy the live football feel of the English Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga and other top football leagues with Betika's Simulated Reality League and enjoy almost-real matches being simulated based on real team statistics, rankings and historical performances.

As well as the Simulated Reality Leagues, Betika also offers a virtual Super League and casino games, giving punters the freedom to vary their play from the comfort of their homes.

Some of the most exciting casino games on the Betika platform include slots, roulette, card games and much, much more. Customers can literally win in seconds and receive their winnings immediately. This allows them to re-use the winnings and to keep enjoying the experience.

To make it even better for their customers, Betika have also launched a virtual Jackpot for their virtual football Super League, where customers do not have to place an actual Jackpot bet to win! By playing the available virtual football games, customers automatically stand a chance to win up to 1 Million Shillings!

This means that whenever you win a bet in the Betika Super League on the virtual EPL or La Liga, that is not the end of it, Betika could surprise you with an additional win of up to 1 Million Shillings!

More than 100 years ago, Mohun Bagan created history by beating British regimental side East Yorkshire to become the first Indian club to clinch the IFA Shield. The barefooted Indian unit fought fearlessly against the British side to etch themselves into the Indian football history books.

Thus, every year, Mohun Bagan celebrate July 29 to remember the heroics of their club legends.

When is 'Mohun Bagan Day'?

‘Mohun Bagan Day’ is celebrated by Mohun Bagan Athletic Club every year on July 29 which is the anniversary of the historic triumph in 1911.

What is Mohun Bagan Day and what does it signify?

It was a glorious moment in the history of Bengal as well as Indian football as the Green and Maroons became the first ever Indian club to win the prestigious shield by beating British clubs.

The victory not only enriched Mohun Bagan’s history but it also invoked a great sense nationalism among the native Indians against the British regime at that time.

The Kolkata club started their campaign in the IFA Shield by beating St. Xavier’s 3-0 and followed it up by going past Rangers and Rifle Brigade 2-1 and 1-0 in the pre-quarter and quarter-final respectively.

The semifinal tie against Middlesex ended initially ended in a 1-1 draw but Bagan managed to beat them 3-0 in the replay.

The final generated a lot of attention, given that an Indian side was vying for the title. Locals irrespective of their caste and religion and flocked the stadium in the hope of history being made. According to historians nearly 100,000 people had turned up in the Maidan on July 29 to cheer for the local club.

The East Yorkshire side turned up in their Black and White jersey while Mohun Bagan had donned their iconic Green and Maroon shirt. The match started in an anticlimactic manner for the local team as the regimental side took the lead in the first half.

It wasn’t an easy task for the Kolkata club as 10 out of 11 Bagan players were playing barefoot. Only Reverend Sudhir Chatterjee wore a pair of boots.

Nonetheless, Mohun Bagan came back in style in the second half when skipper Shibdas Bhaduri restored parity. Centre forward Avilash Ghosh scored the winning goal in the dying moments of the match to script history in favour of Mohun Bagan.

What happens on this day every year?

1911 IFA Shield winning Mohun Bagan team, the ‘Amor Ekadosh’ or the ‘Immortal Eleven’ will forever remain etched in the history books of Indian football as well as Mohun Bagan. Every year Mohun Bagan club celebrate this day in a grand manner. They organise cultural programmes and also conduct their annual awards night were the best performers from all sports are felicitated.

The Mohun Bagan Ratna awards are also handed out on this day.

What is Mohun Bagan Ratna and when was it awarded for the first time?

The 'Mohun Bagan Ratna' is the club's highest honour, an award which was started by the club in 2001 to honour their yesteryear legends. The very first recipient of the honour was legendary Indian footballer and former Mohun Bagan skipper Sailen Manna.

How are Mohun Bagan celebrating 'Mohun Bagan Day' this year?

The 109th anniversary of Mohun Bagan Day will be celebrated in a slightly different manner. Unlike previous years when thousands of fans used to attend the grand function, due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the club has decided to conduct all celebrations virtually. The celebrations will be streamed on various social media platforms related to Mohun Bagan.

The function starts at 9 AM with an opening message from club president Swapan Sadhan Bose. Throughout the day several programs including talk shows with former players, current players and eminent Bengal personalities from other spheres of the society will be held.

List of awardees in 2020

Mohun Bagan Ratna: Gurbux Singh (Hockey), Palash Nandi (Cricket)

Lifetime Achievement: Ashok Kumar (Hockey), Pranab Ganguly (Football), Monoranjan Porel (Athletics)

Best Football Player (Senior): Joseba Beitia

Best Youth Player: Sajal Bag (U18 team)

Anjan Mitra Memorial Best Administrator Award (Inaugural): Joydeep Mukherjee

Mamelodi Sundowns have been busy refreshing their squad and preparing for the future amidst the coronavirus pandemic.

The Brazilians have brought in some young players into their squad and also extended contracts belong to their experienced players.

This has been done to ensure that there is no mismatch of players in the squad whereby there are too many ageing players or too many young players.

Much is expected from highly-rated Mkhuma

The current season has seen coach Pitso Mosimane unleash promising right-back Nicholas Lukhubeni, 24, who netted a brilliant solo goal against Chippa United in a PSL match in February 2020.

Exciting prospects Promise Mkhuma, 20, and Malebogo Modise, 21, have also been promoted to the first team from the club's academy in the last few months.

Furthermore, Sundowns are expected to officially announce the signing of Ajax Cape Town youngsters Jody February, 24, and Grant Margeman, 22, as they build for the future.

While new signing Lesedi Kapinga has his best years ahead of him at the age of 25, having joined Masandawana from Black Leopards last week.

The Brazilians have been tying down their older players to long term deals as their experience will prove valuable in the future.

Ageless Kekana remains Sundowns' pillar of strength

Team captain Hlompho Kekana signed a new four-year deal in March 2020 despite being 35-year-old, but the club was rewarding him for his consistent displays on the pitch.

The midfielder was followed by 32-year-old Anele Ngcongca, who extended his stay with the Brazilians by another year two months ago.

This week, Sundowns announced that their first-choice penalty taker and central defender Ricardo Nascimento, 33, has signed a new three-year deal.

While Thapelo Morena and Gaston Sirino have also been tied down to long-term deals by the Tshwane giants as keeping such influential players will be key to the Sundowns' success.

Tau benefitted from Downs' perfect blend of youth & experience

Mosimane, who has proved that he is not afraid to give youngsters a chance, is blending older and youthful players in order to lead the reigning PSL champions to new heights.

The man nicknamed Jingles showed his faith in Morena, Percy Tau, Bongani Zungu and Keagan Dolly and they flourished at Sundowns as youngsters.

The quartet was competing and learning from experienced players such as Ngcongca, Teko Modise, Anthony Laffor, Suprise Moriri as well as Kekana.

Mosimane is looking to ensure that the 2016 Caf Champions League winners continue their habit of winning and challenging for trophies.

Having a good blend of youth and experience to add to a gifted Sundowns squad will surely continue to propel the team in the right direction.

From an average of playing around 20 matches during his three years at Sporting Clube de Goa where Pratesh Shirodkar started his senior career, it came down to merely six matches over a span of three seasons at FC Goa until 2019. In the 2017-18 and 2018-19, he played just 21 minutes in the Indian Super League (ISL) cumulatively.

The 36-year-old spoke about his recent struggles that literally left him without a club to play first team football last season before he looks to ressurect his career having agreed to sign for I-League club Real Kashmir.

"Last year, I couldn't play anywhere because I went to Hyderabad FC and was there for trials for around a month. The coach (Phil Brown) said that he will sign me. I played so many practice matches and did well also," he narrated.

"When Adil (Khan) told him (Brown) about me, he called me for trials and told me on the first day itself, 'If I like you, I will sign you in three days'. I was there for a month waiting for him to sign me and missed an offer from East Bengal also who wanted to sign me for two years because I had thought that it is better to play in the ISL than the I-League.

"Then I had to wait for the next transfer window but it did not work out and I only got to join Dempo for a training stint," Shirodkar admitted.

Pratesh had his share of good times right from the age of 13 when he joined Calangute-based Goa United Sports Academy before being selected to hone his skills as a midfielder at the Sesa Football Academy in 2007.

"I started playing for Goa United Sports Academy from U-14 till U-20 when I was at school. At that time, Goa United wanted to put all the players who played for them at St. Joseph's school but I played for them from my own school (Little Flower of Jesus High School, Calangute). From there, I played nationals for Goa and then got selected for the Sesa Football Academy."

After five years at Sesa, which included three seasons playing in the Goa Professional League, Shirodkar joined Sporting Clube de Goa in 2012 and won the local top division twice that helped him gain the favour of then Flaming Oranje coach Oscar Bruzon. The Spaniard was on his way to the Indian Super League (ISL) as Nicolas Anelka's assistant at Mumbai City FC in 2015.

"Because of Oscar, I came to Mumbai City," the Goan acknowledged. "It (the ISL) is on another level if you compare it to the I-League. I think ISL is the best platform for all the players who are coming up because you get to learn a lot of things. In I-League also you get to learn something new but in ISL, you get better facilities and even when the new coaches come, you get to learn a lot more."

After a season with the Islanders, he returned to the coastal state on-loan to Sporting Goa before being signed by FC Goa in 2016. However, after just three appearances, in the January 2017 transfer window, he was loaned out to I-League outfit Mumbai FC where he clocked nearly four times the minutes (994) he would garner with the Gaurs (256) in three seasons combined.

"The journey was good but I couldn't play much (at FC Goa) because of injuries. I didn't get much time on the pitch," Shirodkar explained.

"Even the coach (Sergio Lobera, former FC Goa coach), when we had gone for the pre-season in Spain (2018), he used to play me as a right back or some other position but never in midfield. Even the few minutes that I played, I played in the right back or right half positions. I don't have anything against the coach, he was very good and he had his own strategies.

"I think the biggest competition I faced was my own height. I think the coach didn't prefer me to play in the midfield because of my height. Otherwise, there was no other issue. That (5.1 metres height) was the problem," he felt.

Former Sporting Goa coach Oscar Bruzon was extremely complimentary when talking about Shirodkar, explaining how the midfielder provided balance to his team.

"He (Shirodkar) was a player that was always giving consistency to my defensive stage, positioning himself ahead of the center backs. [Shirodkar was] energetic and winning balls from that area and also keeps balance when full backs go high in the attack," he told Goal.

"I used him a couple of games as a right full back (at Sporting Goa) but his natural habitat is in the midfield where he is well surrounded as he gives good first passes. He is obviously not an attacking player and this is why he has to be well surrounded. I think right back is also a suitable position for him."

Now that he's signed for Real Kashmir, Shirodkar is looking forward to clocking some much-needed playing time.

"I need to play now because now if I go to any ISL club, the first thing they will ask you is 'how many minutes did you play last year?' Last year, I don't know what happened.

"Last season also actually, after Hyderabad (trials), I was supposed to go there (Real Kashmir) but that is the time they signed Robin Singh on loan (from Hyderabad FC). At the end of the season then, coach (Dave Robertson) messaged me so I said okay.

"Now I want to start from Kashmir, give my best and show that I can still play. Most of the players who signed for I-League clubs after playing in the ISL never made a come-back in the ISL. Adil made a big come-back and it was really good for him."

109 years ago, on 29th July 1911, Mohun Bagan was immortalised in the history books of Indian football after they defeated East Yorkshire Regiment to lift the IFA Shield. The Green and Maroon were 2-1 winners in the final as they went on to become the first Indian side to win the competition.

Tens of thousands of fans had flocked the “maidan” to cheer for Mohun Bagan who promised a good show, having gotten the better of the likes of St. Xavier’s, Rangers, Rifle Brigade and Middlesex on their path to the final.

The Immortals conceded first but scored twice in the second half to send the state into a frenzy and hence a festive mood for weeks to come. Some of the best media houses at that time – London Times, Daily Mail and Manchester Guardian – covered the tournament in great detail.

The 11 players who featured in the game were henceforth known as the “Amor Ekadosh” which translated to “The Immortal 11”. All players were posthumously awarded the prestigious Mohun Bagan Ratna.

Here is a profile of the members of the Amor Ekadosh.

Shibdas Bhaduri – The captain of the Immortals who led from the front, Shibdas Bhaduri scored the equaliser and assisted the winner in the historic match. He played on the left flank alongside elder brother Bijaydas Bhaduri and tormented the opposition with his speed and dribbling. This earned him the nickname “Pichol babu” or “Mr Slippery”.

Abhilash Ghosh – There was nothing to separate Mohun Bagan and East Yorkshire Regiment after 86 minutes of football in the finals of the IFA Shield. Centre forward Abhilash Ghosh latched on to a pass from his captain to slot home the decider and earn his side an important win. He was also the player to score their first goal of the tournament – the opener in a 3-0 win over St. Xavier’s.

Bhuti Sukul – The right-back joined the club when he was just 16. He was famous for his strong tackles and incredible ability in the air.

Bijaydas Bhaduri – The oldest of the Immortals, Bhaduri played as a left midfielder and often swapped positions with his younger brother Shibdas. He was a great dribbler of the ball, easing past oppositions with shoulder drops and body feints.

Hiralal Mukherjee – He played in multiple positions throughout his career but stood firm between the sticks in the all-important tournament. The trusty custodian saved three penalties in the opener against St. Xavier’s. Good anticipation and the ability to stay resilient against physical strikers were other quivers in his arrow.

Manmohan Mukherjee – There were very few who could pass through Mohun Bagan’s midfield with the ball still at their feet and Manmohan Mukherjee was one of the biggest reasons why. The right-half was nicknamed “Terrier” for his ability to snatch the ball in midfield.

Rajendra Sengupta – It was Rajendra Sengupta who conceded the free-kick that led to East Yorkshire Regiment’s goal in the final. But what proved to be a harmless mistake should not discount the stellar performances displayed by the youngest player in the squad. Playing in central defence in an attack-minded team was not easy but Rajendra ensured Hiralal was well-protected.

Sudhir Chatterjee – It was not hard to spot Sudhir Chatterjee in the Mohun Bagan line-up that started the final. In fact, the defender was the only Indian to wear boots in that match. Sudhir was not among the fastest on the pitch but his intelligent reading of the game made him an asset to the team.

Srishchandra ‘Habul’ Sarkar – The right inside Habul was versatile and could also play in midfield. His moment of glory arrived in the replay semi-final game against Middlesex Regiment when he scored a goal in the dying moments to ensure a place in the final.

Jatindranath ‘Kanu’ Roy – When he was not tormenting defenders with his incredible pace on the right flank, Kanu was busy scoring important goals to keep his side in the tournament. He scored a brilliant long-range goal against Middlesex Regiment in the semis to equalise and force a replay.

Nilmadhab Bhattacharya – One of the most skilful players in the team, Nilmadhab Bhattacharya operated on the left flank. He had a brilliant passing range to go with and was an absolute delight to watch.

The 2019-20 season has been phenomenal for Mohun Bagan faithful. They won their second I-League title with four matches to spare and also ensured their participation in the top tier of Indian football, i.e. the Indian Super League (ISL), by joining hands with ATK.

Both the tasks had its fair share of challenges. As far as the sporting project is concerned, the officials chose to put their trust in a new manager in KIbu Vicuna and a host of players were signed. The start of the campaign was not great but the way the team was playing showed promise. In the Durand Cup and the Calcutta Football League (CFL), they finished as runners-up and got ousted in the semi-finals of the Sheikh Kamal Cup in Bangladesh. They even had a bumpy start to their I-League campaign with a draw and a 4-2 humiliation to Churchill Brothers at home. Yet, the management backed Vicuna and the Spaniard proved his worth at the end of the season. 

But, the Coronavirus pandemic played spoilsport and prevented the Mariners from lifting the trophy or celebrating the title with the million fans just as they did after bagging their maiden I-League championship in 2014-15. 

"Mohun Bagan winning I-League and we are not being able to celebrate with the fans with the trophy is the biggest regret. It is a huge disappointment. Some things you propose and God disposes. But we are hopeful that someday we will get the trophy and celebrate but it is too early to say," stated Srinjoy Bose, general secretary of Mohun Bagan, to Goal on the eve of Mohun Bagan day. 

Due to the pandemic, even the Mohun Bagan day celebrations will be held online, a first for the century-old club. 

"We have been adjusting to a new reality. For the past four months, we have been doing a lot of things in a way that we haven't done before. Now we are living in a virtual world. If meetings and classes can happen online then why not celebrations," said Bose, who believes that given the current circumstances the safety of the fans is of paramount importance."

Mohun Bagan is set to participate in the ISL and the official hopes that the synergy between the I-League and ISL champions will usher in an era of success.

"It is good that we will be playing the ISL (even in these difficult circumstances) for the first time as well as in the AFC Cup. These are testing times for us and for everyone. ISL is a different ball game for our supporters and the members. So hopefully, the blending of the two champions will yield a positive result. But it is really disappointing that fans will not be present in our first season in ISL. Again, this is the new normal. You have to accept it. All over the world fans are being prohibited."

Bose also shared that even though it was difficult to make a breakthrough into ISL, the management was firm to keep their promise that they made to the club members and fans. 

"The more difficult the task, the sweeter is the success. Winning the I-League with four matches to spare and in the royal manner that we won is hugely satisfying. It is the same thing with how we made our way into ISL. It was a difficult task but we did it after getting a new partner. There were sacrifices made as it was a corporate affair. You see that our rivals (East Bengal) are yet to come up (in ISL). Our President (Tutu Bose) had said that Mohun Bagan will always play in the top league of the country (although last season they played in the I-League). ISL is the top league and we are in it.

"So, to keep up with promise and the expectations was a huge task but we have done it successfully. It was a huge responsibility as it involved the emotions of millions of fans," concluded the board member of ATK Mohun Bagan FC, 

Jordan Ayew has expressed his gratitude after winning three Crystal Palace awards following an impressive 2019-20 season.

Accruing 37 percent of the total votes, the Ghana international dismissed competition from Vicente Guaita (28.2%) and Gary Cahill (16.7%) to clinch the Player of the Season prize.

Apart from that, he was named club’s Players' Player of the Season while his 87th-minute effort against West Ham United in October was named as the Goal of the Season.

“Last season was very tough for me but I was determined to work hard and repay the faith shown in me by the club.

“Thank you to our supporters for the amazing support once again and for the love they have shown me. We have missed you alot since the restart but we will see you again soon when it’s safe and it will be a very special feeling.

“As a team, we have worked so hard collectively and I want to thank my teammates for all their efforts on the pitch. A big thank you also to the boss [Roy Hodgson], the coaching staff, the board, and all the club staff for everything they have done for us this season.

“Whilst it’s always special to receive personal awards, the most important thing is that we work even harder and come back stronger next season. I would also like to thank my amazing family for their unconditional love and support every day.”

The Ghana international also paid tribute to former Olympique Marseille boss, Pape Diouf who died in March after battling with coronavirus.

“These awards are dedicated to the late Pape Diouf, who we sadly lost during the quarantine period. He was a very special man, who helped me and my family so much. I will miss him greatly,” he continued.

“It’s time for a short break now before the hard work starts again. See you all very soon and stay safe.”

Bukayo Saka and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are in the running to be crowned 2019-20 Arsenal Player of the Season.

The Anglo-Nigerian and Gabon star were named in the final three-man shortlist for the annual award alongside goalkeeper Bernd Leno.

18-year-old Saka - who was promoted to the first team in 2018 -  has enjoyed a breakthrough season with the Gunners and has become a key figure in Mikel Arteta’s squad. He underlined his importance to the Emirates Stadium giants by featuring in a variety of different positions, while scoring four times and claiming 12 assists across all competitions.

In the season under review, captain Aubameyang produced an awe-inspiring performance by recording 27 goals across all tournaments.

The Gabon international ended the English Premier League with 22 strikes in 36 outings, the same number of goals he scored for Arsenal in his first full campaign in England following a move from Borussia Dortmund.

He narrowly missed the chance to retain the Golden Boot he shared with Liverpool duo Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane in 2018-19, as Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy clinched it with 23 goals this season.

For former Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper Leno, he was consistently one of the Gunners’ finest performers - making a string of great saves throughout the campaign until his season was ended prematurely against Brighton and Hove Albion after landing heavily on his right leg under pressure from Neal Maupay.

Winner will be decided by votes from Arsenal faithfuls. Frenchman Alexandre Lacazette was named winner of the 2018-19 season.

Nigeria prospect Saka had expressed his delight playing alongside marksman Aubameyang, whom he was watching as a teenager at the academy.

"In the academy we got tickets to watch [the first team] and I used to see him scoring goals. To now be playing with him is just amazing,” Saka told Sky Sports.

"You know he's going to score a goal for us. He's such a good guy who helps all the young players with advice and he's also funny as well!"

Having finished eighth in the just concluded English topflight season after garnering 56 points from 38 games, Arterta’s side would be hoping to end the season on a high by beating Chelsea to the FA Cup title on August 1 at Wembley.

Nigeria international Leon Balogun trained with his new Rangers teammates for the first time on Tuesday.

The 32-year-old joined the Scottish Premiership side on a one year contract with an option of an extension after leaving Championship side Wigan Athletic and becoming a free agent at the end the 2019-20 season.

Having been unveiled by Steven Gerrard’s men, the Super Eagles defender moved swiftly into action by training with the team at the Rangers Training Centre.

At the Ibrox Stadium, the former Mainz man would be seeking a new adventure while hoping to adapt quickly to his new environment as Rangers face Aberdeen in their first game of the season on August 1.

"I think it is an advantage for me not to be coming off 14 days or a 21-day break so I can come straight to fit into it, work with the team and get to know the team,” Balogun told the club website.

"The league starts next week, so I am looking forward to joining the squad and integrating as quickly as possible.

"It's amazing. I'm coming to a club which has an incredible history and an incredible fan culture. I, unfortunately, haven't witnessed it yet, but I am looking forward to it.

“On a personal note, my best friend, my oldest friend, was a huge Jorg Albertz supporter. That's how I first got in touch with Rangers because of my best friend and the Hammer, so it is a proud moment for both of us - we never really saw it coming but it's immense."

Apart from this, he wants the club to achieve success during his time.

"Obviously, to have this kind of crowd behind you in every game at home is amazing. I've been lucky enough to experience it, or something similar before in my career at some stage,” he continued.

“I just want to experience it as everyone has been telling me you have no idea just how big it is, and I am looking forward to getting started and getting in touch with them. Hopefully, we can have some success together."