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Ghana's senior men's national team, the Black Stars, have made a donation to the Football Association (GFA) in support of the battle against Covid-19. 

The pandemic has caused massive disruption to major events around the world.

Ghana has taken its own fare share of blows as the 2019-20 football season, including the Ghana Premier League, had been prematurely terminated, while matches of the various national teams have had to be postponed too.

“This is a big surprise, honestly, for the FA to receive this amazing support from our own players, our gallant Black Stars players who have been thinking about not only their health but also the health of our general populace," the GFA announced on its official website on Friday.

“So, it is very, very gratifying that members of our senior national team, the Black Stars, will also make this amazing contribution of hundred thousand Ghana cedis that has been used to purchase this PPEs for the use of the general public.

“On behalf of the Executive Council, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to our players and the members of the Black Stars Management Committee for this amazing support.

“These items will be distributed across, and it will reach the homes of many. We thank you so much and may the Almighty God bless us all."

At the moment, Ghana has recorded a total of 31,057 cases of coronavirus, including 691 new cases, 3,095 active cases, 161 deaths and 27,801 recoveries and discharges.

“We make this presentation on behalf of our Black Stars players. In view of the Covid-19 pandemic, members of the team decided to make contributions towards this presentation we are making this afternoon,” said GFA Executive Council member George Amoakoh after making the presentation on behalf of Black Stars captain Andre Ayew and his teammates.

“The contributions put together came up to the tune of GH¢100,000. The Black Stars Management is presenting to the GFA for onward distribution to the general public."

The Black Stars are four-time African champions, having won the Cup of Nations (Afcon) in 1963, 1965, 1978 and 1982.

They have also participated in three World Cup tournaments, their best performance being a quarter-final berth at South Africa 2010.

Leon Balogun has revealed his desire to quickly integrate into Rangers team ahead of the kick-off of the 2020-21 Premiership season.

The 32-year-old joined the Ibrox Stadium outfit as a free agent after leaving Championship club Wigan Athletic at the end of the 2019-20 season.

The Nigeria international signed a one-year contract with the Gers on Friday with an option of an additional one-year extension after satisfactory performances.

Balogun is looking to hit the ground running, by quickly adapting to his new environment as he hopes to play a part in the Gers’ first game of the season against Aberdeen 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."   

The Super Eagles defender is looking forward to playing in front of Rangers fans and hopes the club will 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."

Balogun has spent most of his career in Germany playing for Turkiyemspor Berlin, Hannover 96, Werder Bremen, Fortuna Dusseldorf, Darmstadt 98 and Mainz.  

The centre-back moved to England in 2018, joining Premier League side Brighton and Hove Albion before teaming up with Wigan, initially on loan before the deal was made permanent.

Balogun, who was born to a Nigerian father and German mother, has 32 caps for the Super Eagles and was part of Gernot Rohr’s side that finished third at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

Roy Hodgson has admitted that Wilfried Zaha "would relish a move" away from Crystal Palace, with the former Arsenal target still eager to "find some pastures new" after being denied a transfer last year.

Zaha returned to Palace for a second spell back in 2015 following an ill-fated three-year stint at Manchester United, and has since rebuilt his damaged reputation by becoming one of the most effective attacking players outside of the top six.

The 2018-19 campaign saw the Ivorian take his game to new heights, as he posted career-high tallies of 10 goals and 10 assists to help the Eagles finish in mid-table.

The 27-year-old caught the eye of a number of top clubs with his performances, including Arsenal, whom he publicly admitted to supporting in his youth while addressing speculation over his future.

The Gunners had identified Zaha as a priority target before the opportunity to sign Nicolas Pepe presented itself, and the winger was ultimately left in limbo after they forked out a club-record fee of £72 million ($92m) to sign a fellow countryman from Lille.

Transfer rumours surrounding the Palace star have since died down significantly, but Hodgson has now revealed that an influential figure remains determined to seek a new challenge.

When asked if Zaha will still be an Eagles player next season, the 72-year-old manager told a press conference: “That’s the $64,000 question isn’t it? But it’s not just Wilf Zaha – there’s players in every club that come into that category.

“Wilf has made it clear, ever since I came to the club really, that he would relish a move and would like to move on and find some pastures new.

“But he’s a very valuable player and the club realises his value and appreciates his value and so really everything will depend I guess  – as it always does – [on] what sort of offers the club is going to receive for him and how they will equate that with the need to keep him or the need, maybe, to satisfy his wishes, and allow him to go after giving good service to the club for a period of time.

“Quite frankly, I’ve got no answer to that question, it will be all a matter, I guess, of seeing what transpires.”

Zaha was reportedly being valued at around £80 million ($102m) when Arsenal were pursuing him last summer, and Hodgson doesn't see any reason for his price tag to drop when the transfer window reopens.

“I think he should [be worth the same amount], because he’s a very top-quality player,” the Palace head coach added.

“But, as I say, that will be a decision and matter anyway for [chairman] Steve Parish and the other owners of the club.

“They will have to take any offers into consideration and I’m pretty certain that I will be consulted. At the end of the day the final decision will have to be a club one.”

SC Villa interim coach William Nkemba says he is keen to help the team get to the top as an example to other Ugandan Premier League (UPL) teams.

The administrator was put in place in 2018 to help the team get forward and challenge for top honours. The official insists the objective has not changed and they are determined to set the bar for other UPL teams in the country.

"Our aim is to sit at the top, to be an example to other clubs, and we are working towards reviving and regaining our glory," Nkemba told Nation Sports.

The experienced administrator has also given a positive report regarding the team's governance. He went on to laud the team for their good performances in the abandoned season.

The 16-time-champions finished the season in third position with 46 points, eight behind eventual winners Vipers SC.

"There are so many aspects in which we can rate clubs performances and one of them is the visible aspect which is the performance on the field," Nkemba added.

"We came out and competed strongly and at the time the league was ended, we still had a chance of winning the trophy and I salute the player for the great spirit they displayed in ending third though that’s not the place that Villa would desire to be."

The Jogoo also struggled financially at some point, and players went six seasons without pay. 

"At the heart of our plans is improving players’ welfare and this will involve diversifying our revenue streams.

"There are structures and models that we are working on to be able to maintain financial sustainability which will then inform and translate into a lot of welfare for players but I also don’t look at the players only but also the other staff because today in modern football the core staff are players but there are so many other staff at the club," he revealed.

"We intend to improve in that area next season. We have so many plans and strategies laid out that we would like to roll out starting with the announcement which we shall make to the Villa family first before the world out there and we are looking for a better and more improved experience next season.  
  
"But in general, I will look at so many areas in terms of governance, the general welfare of the club, financial sustainability and I will agree we had a lot of challenges in those many areas but on the field, we did very well especially in comparison with the past season where we survived relegation."  
 
The interim committee includes Norbert Kazibwe who serves as the secretary, Haruna Jjagwe who is the treasurer and Moses Matovu who is the technical chairman. So what have they achieved since 2018?

"We have tackled so many issues regarding governance and I have been reporting to directors who appointed the committee I lead and they have made good strides in this regard," Nkemba continued.

"So we are ready to engage in with our fans and the whole Villa fraternity to explain and present to them the structures proposed, approved and developed that would catapult us to the glory we want to have as Villa."  

Barcelona and Spain legend Xavi has announced he has tested positive for coronavirus.

The 40-year-old, currently manager of Qatar Stars League side Al Sadd, said on Instagram that he wasn’t experiencing symptoms but will self-isolate until he has recovered.

Al Sadd are scheduled to play Al Khor on Saturday, with the Qatari top division returning after four months of Covid-19 suspension.

Xavi said: “Today I will not be able to accompany my team in the return to official competition.

“David Prats, reserve coach, will take my place as head of the technical team.

“A few days ago, following the QSL protocol, I tested positive in my most recent Covid-19 test.

“Luckily, I feel perfectly fine, but following the protocol, I will remain isolated until I have overcome it.

“When the medical authorities allow me, I will return to my daily routine and work more eagerly than ever.

“I thank all the authorities, especially those which allowed us the means for an early detection that avoids more spreading of the virus and guarantees the normal continuation of the season.

“A hug, and see you soon on the football pitch!”

Xavi has been in charge of Al Sadd since May 2019, leading them to the semi-finals of last year's AFC Champions League.

He had previously spent the final four years of his playing career at the club. He joined in 2015, leaving Barcelona after their stunning treble-winning season in 2014-15.

Xavi signed a one-year contract extension earlier in July but he is still widely expected to take over as Barca manager at some point in the future.

Last month, he told Sport: "The biggest hope I have now is to be Barca coach and get Barca back to winning ways.

“Our technical staff are preparing for it a lot and it makes us really excited.

"I'm a club man. I would like to return at the right moment to start a project from zero.

"I've said it a lot of times but I want to take footballing decisions at Barcelona.

"It's clear that after the elections the stage would be set, of course. I'm not ruling anything out.

"They came for me in January, we spoke about it. I told them the circumstances and timing weren't right."

Manchester United are now more "robust" after a slow start to the 2019-20 campaign, says Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who thinks the Red Devils have been been the "third best team" in the Premier League for a "long spell".

United kicked off their latest season with a thrilling 4-0 home win over Chelsea, following a summer overhaul which saw a number of ins and outs at Old Trafford.

The performance served to raise levels of optimism among supporters expecting Solskjaer to bring back the glory days of Sir Alex Ferguson's reign, but it proved to be a false dawn.

The Red Devils failed to put together a significant run of wins between September and January, and slipped way behind pacesetters Liverpool as a consequence.

They were also in danger of missing out on Champions League qualification for a second successive year, until the winter arrival of Bruno Fernandes gave the entire squad a much-needed lift.

Solskjaer's men have won eight of their last 13 top-flight matches with the Portuguese pulling the strings in midfield, and are now sitting in third heading into the final weekend of the season.

A win or a draw against fellow top-four hopefuls Leicester will see United return to Europe's elite competition, and the Norwegian boss is pleased with the progress his side have made.

"It would be a good boost and a nice boost for the team to finish third," Solskjaer told Sky Sports. "I know since October, after that international break, we've had the third-most points in the league.

"For a long, long spell now we've been the third-best team, we just, in the start of the season, we were too inconsistent. Now we have got more consistency, more fitness levels, we're more robust.

"And of course we want to be in amongst the elite in Europe and play in the Champions League but the old Winston Churchill quote is, 'success isn't final, failure isn't fatal - then what you need is the courage to continue'.

"That's what we're going to do with this team, we continue. We carry on developing the team, improving and knowing that this is not the end of the journey for the team, this is just one other stepping stone in our development."

Although United have been one of the top-performing teams in the country since returning from lockdown, they have only won once in their last four, while exiting the FA Cup in disappointing fashion at the hands of Chelsea.

It has been suggested that fatigue has crept into the squad at the worst possible time, but Solskjaer insists his players will be in peak condition when they arrive at the King Power Stadium on Sunday.

"We hoped to arrive at the last game of the season needing to beat Leicester to go past them - I think I said that quite early, maybe in January," The United manager added. "That was the aim and we're here now.

"We feel good going into the game. We had to catch a few teams with both points and goals, and the boys have done exactly what's been required. We've kept on chasing them and now we're in the last game, 90 minutes to go.

"We'll be in the same position as every other team in the league, feeling the effects of a long season but we're ready to go, ready to play again. Every team will feel a long season coming towards the end.

"We have proven over the last five or six weeks that we are one of the fittest teams and one of the strongest teams. But all the other teams you'd feel a little bit of wear and tear, aches and bruises. I wouldn't worry about my players at all in that respect. They'll be sharp, fresh and ready."

Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune has paid tribute to Egypt great and captain Essam El-Hadary who retired at the age of 47.

El-Hadary retired from professional football on Thursday to close the curtains on a successful 27-year career. 

According to the 47-year-old, there is no better goalkeeper in Egypt than him, and he said there was nothing more to add to his football history.  

"Football is my second wife and I have divorced it. I am not returning to play football again, the entire system has errors and club heads attacking each other, and may God be in the help of the players," El-Hadary said in a statement.

"There is nothing to add to my footballing history. There is no goalkeeper in Egypt better than me. I only sat on the bench in 1998 for goalkeeper Nader El-Sayed."  

Khune admitted El-Hadary was a living legend who proved age is nothing but a number. 

The 33-year-old Amakhosi shot-stopper said he now wants to beat El-Hadary's record and play until he's 50 years old. 

"Retiring at the age of 47. You are a living legend that shows that age is just a number. You ran a great race El-Hadary, you inspired a lot of goalkeepers to continue playing at the highest level. Happy retirement. I wanna play until I'm 50," wrote Khune on his Twitter account. 

In 2018, Khune revealed he wanted to play until he was 40 but he appears to be motivated by El-Hadary.    

Khune has been a professional football player for 16 years since his promotion from the Amakhosi development ranks in 2004. 

However, he only made his debut in 2007 against Jomo Cosmos under the stewardship of Muhsin Ertugral. 

Since then, the South Africa international has featured for the Glamour Boys for 13 consecutive seasons - this is despite suffering long-term injuries along the way. 

Last season's long-term injury saw Khune lose his No.1 spot to Nigeria international and goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi.  

In South Africa, only Moeeneb Josephs is the longest-serving goalkeeper who has been playing at the highest level for 23 years since making his debut for Cape Town Spurs in 1997. 

Another goalkeeping record is held by Andre Arendse who is the oldest to play in the PSL at 45 years of age, 10 months and four days in a league encounter away to AmaTuks in May 2013.

Tanzania Premier League Board (TPLB) could reschedule the matches lined up to conclude the 2019/20 season due to the death of former President Benjamin Mkapa.

Mkapa, 81, who served as Tanzania's third President from 1995 to 2005, died on Tuesday and his demise could affect the already programmed matches.

On July 26, the 20 teams were expected to engage in their final matches but the national tragedy may end up pushing them to a later date.

TPLB chairman Steven Mguto said there is a great possibility the matches will be given different dates but called for patience.

“It is a great tragedy for the nation and considering that July 26 is one of the days he [Mkapa] will be given his last respect, for sure we have to come up with a different programme,” Mguto told Soka Letu.

“But for now we have to wait for the board to meet, discuss and give an update.”

Although Simba SC have been declared champions for the 21st time in their history, Yanga SC and Azam FC are entangled in a fierce fight to secure second place.

Azam are second, above Yanga, by virtue of their superior goal difference after they have played 37 matches and have 69 points.

The second spot remains an important position for either side as Tanzania await the decision of Caf on whether to strip Libya of its Champions League position. Should that happen, the slot will be given to Tanzania.

The relegation fight is far from over as Lipuli FC, Mwadui, Mtibwa Sugar, Ndanda SC, Mbeya City, Mbao FC, and Alliance FC are still in the danger zone. Singida United have already been relegated after amassing just 18 points from 37 encounters in a season that has proved very tough for them. 

The conclusion of the matches was also set to give Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) a chance to plan for play-offs.

The Tanzanian government declared July 26 to 28 as national mourning days before the former head of state is laid to rest on July 29 in his home at Mtwara.

The match between Mbeya City and Kinondoni Municipal Council (KMC FC) has already been transferred from the national stadium to Chamazi Complex, just outside Dar es Salaam.

Yanga’s coach Luc Eymael also responded to reports there might be a change in the league’s programme.

“I have also heard the same rumours and if it is the case then we will not stay in this hotel and wait for the match, I cannot stay in this hotel anymore,” Eymael told Goal.

Young Africans (Yanga SC) chairman Mshindo Msholla has come out to state he has no intention to leave the club’s post in the near future.

There were reports last week Msolla had quit his position following a series of poor results that saw the team eliminated from the FA Cup and also struggle to win the league which was won by Simba SC.

Yanga are currently fighting to finish second on the 20-team table alongside Azam FC as both sides are tied on 69 points, with one match remaining at the end of the season.

Despite the club fans asking Msolla to step down, he has now stated he does not intend to leave the post and will work with other officials to make Yanga great again.

“Those were just rumours [that I have resigned], there is nothing like that, I have not resigned and I am still the chairman of Yanga,” Msolla is quoted by Sokaletu.

“I still have a lot that I need to offer this great club and I am happy everything is going on well, we only missed a trophy this season and we are still fighting to make sure we finish second and then plan accordingly for the new season.”

On Tuesday, Yanga moved to issue a statement dismissing claims Msolla had resigned from his top position.

“Yanga would like to dismiss online reports chairman Dr Mshindo Msolla has resigned,” Yanga’s statement obtained by Goal stated.

“Msolla is still a Yanga official and is still willing to serve and undertake the responsibilities the club asked him to. 

“He is undertaking his duties as usual and the office would like to call upon all members and supporters alike to dismiss such reports pointing to Msolla's resignation.”

The poor results have left Yanga fans calling for the resignation of the club official and also they have asked the team to release some players owing to their poor display during league matches.

Goal understands, coach Luc Eymael has already handed in a list of players he wants released by the club and this also included the new targets.

“I gave the club my wish list, and the changes I want to be done to the playing unit and I hope they will respond positively so that we can get ready for the new season,” Eymael told Goal.

Some of the players who could leave the club include strikers David Molinga and Ivorian Gnamien Yikpe.

Mohamed Salah has admitted to being unsure of his Liverpool future after the Reds' Premier League title triumph.

As the 2019-20 campaign edges towards its conclusion, Liverpool are currently sitting pretty as holders of the Premier League, Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup.

The Reds conquered Europe for the sixth time in their history last season, and built on that platform to win a first league crown in 30 years this term, wrestling the trophy away from Manchester City with seven games to spare.

Salah has contributed 19 goals to their top-flight cause, taking his overall tally for the club to 94 in 151 appearances since his arrival on Merseyside from Roma in the summer of 2017.

The Egypt international still has three years left to run on his current contract at Anfield, but he has long been linked with a big-money move to Real Madrid.

Although the 28-year-old is refusing to give anything away when it comes to his future plans, he has done little to squash ongoing speculation during an interview with LA FM Colombia.

Asked to discuss his ambitions as he enters the next phase of his career, Salah responded: "I just want to enjoy today and enjoy the moment!

"No-one knows the future and what will happen. Let's see what will happen.

"But at the moment we win the Champions League, we win the Premier League, I'm happy. Let's see what will happen in the future, but I'm very happy to win and achieve those trophies."

The former Roma winger went on to credit Jurgen Klopp for transforming Liverpool from also-rans into genuine trophy contenders, while insisting it was an easy decision for him to get on board with the German's project at Anfield three years ago.

"There is no secret. I don't believe in secrets in football. I just believe in hard work, your mentality has to change sometimes," said Salah.

"Since [Klopp] came here, the first thing he tried to do is change the mentality of the players to a winning mentality.

"He did well in that. I came here and he was telling me the plan about everything and I was excited to come. We are doing good."

Salah added on how he has performed on an individual level this season: "I still play in the same position as a wing. I didn't play as a striker before. But the number of goals between this season and last season is not that far.

"Last season in the Premier League I scored 22. This season [so far] I scored 19. One game I could score a hat-trick and it would be 22! I don't see it as different.

"Maybe you have a challenge in your head and mind to keep pushing yourself forward because you already won the Premier League.

"It's always when the people ask you what trophy would you choose: individual or collective ones? Everyone would choose the team ones. This season we won the most important one!"

"It's difficult to be like before because you won the title. That could be one of the reasons why we didn't score much [since the restart]."

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has insisted that his doubters make him a better player, and that he looks for "criticism as fuel" to improve.

Henderson was named the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year on Saturday, as a reward for leading the Reds to a first league title in 30 years.

The 30-year-old lifted the Premier League trophy following Liverpool's 5-3 win over Chelsea at Anfield on Thursday, capping a superb individual campaign which also saw him add the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup to his silverware collection.

The England international's role in Liverpool's starting XI hasn't always been appreciated by supporters or experts, and eyebrows were raised initially when he was handed the captain's armband following Steven Gerrard's departure in 2015.

Henderson has only recorded a modest four goals and five assists for Jurgen Klopp's side in 40 outings this term, but his overall contribution as a leader in the middle of the pitch has been priceless.

The midfielder admits that he hasn't always been able to ignore his critics, but says he has learned the art of turning negatives into positives while developing his all-round game.

"I think at times criticism can hurt," Henderson told the Daily Mail. "You understand criticism is part and parcel of football, but when you are a young player it is harder to deal with when you are not used to it.

"At a big club like Liverpool, the expectation level can affect you. It is about learning and dealing with it as best you can.

"I have found ways to deal with it through experience. Now I look more for criticism as fuel to drive me forward.

"I will never stop trying to get better. It is something I will always do until I finish playing football. That is a big part of life.

"You are going to have setbacks and criticism but it is how you react to those situations. Use it as energy and fuel and motivation to come back stronger and improve. That is all I have ever tried to do."

Klopp's men are currently preparing for a final day clash with Newcastle at St James' Park, before they take in a well-earned two-month break ahead of the 2020-21 campaign.

Henderson is already focused on retaining the Premier League crown, and he is adamant that motivation levels among the Liverpool squad will be as a high as ever when the top-flight returns on September 12.

He added: "I am ready now. The day I woke up after lifting the trophy it was about the next challenge.

"I have listened to people who have won in the past and they say it is hard to win the Premier League trophy but even harder to retain it, so the challenge starts now.

"It will be a huge challenge but one myself and the team are ready for.

"I love what the gaffer said. He said that we will not defend the trophy, we will attack it.

"That is the perfect way for our football team. That is the mentality we have shown over the past year. Improve, give everything on the football pitch and in training. Give everything.

"The time off is the same for everyone. That will not be an excuse. The lads would be ready to start the new Premier League tomorrow and do everything to retain the title."

Former Bidvest Wits striker Coxwell Ratshivhadelo doubts Black Leopards will survive relegation when the 2019/20 season resumes.

Lidoda Duvha are rooted at the bottom of the Premier Soccer League (PSL) standings on 16th spot with six league matches left to end the campaign which has been suspended since March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Leopards will be without midfielder Lesedi Kapinga and striker Joseph Mhlongo, who have both left the club after their contracts expired at the end of last month.

The Limpopo-based side's management decided against keeping them until the suspended season is completed in a Biologically Safe Environment (BSE) in Gauteng soon.

Ratshivhadelo, who is a former Leopards striker and fans’ favourite, believes this decision will backfire as the duo was key for the team's hopes of surviving relegation to the National First Division (NFD).

“I’m also surprised by the decision the club management took because I thought they will hold onto all their important players until the end of the season,” Ratshivhadelo told Daily Sun.

“Kapinga and Mhlongo are some of the best players in the team and will be needed during this tough time.

“At least this [decision by the club] will benefit the players in terms of their future. In my opinion, it is a good move for them [Kapinga and Mhlongo] financially.”

Mhlongo, who is a free agent, has been linked with Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates in the past, but Chippa United and Highlands Park are known to be keen admirers of the 29-year-old player.

His former Leopards teammate, Lesedi Kapinga completed his move to Mamelodi Sundowns this week having also been linked with Pirates and SuperSport United.

Now working as a prison warder, Ratshivhadelo also believes Lidoda Duvha lack depth in their squad with the club having also parted ways with attacking midfielders Karabo Tshepe and Thuso Phala since the season was halted due to Covid-19.

“But as for Leopards, it was not a good decision. I am a big fan of Leopards as I enjoyed playing for them," the former Pietersburg City Pillars player explained.

"But honestly, it will be very difficult for them without those two players to survive relegation. I am looking at the depth of their squad and how they have been struggling throughout the season. I doubt Leopards will survive.”

Young Africans (Yanga SC) have revealed they are planning to hold a special programme to honour late President Benjamin Mkapa.

Terming the third Tanzanian president as their number one fan, the club’s interim Secretary-General Simon Patrick said the ceremony is to pay their last respects for Mkapa and this will possibly be done after their match against Lipuli FC.

Yanga will face their opponents on Sunday, July 26.

“Yanga have lost one of their big fans, in fact, our number one fan. Many may remain unaware that Mkapa made a great contribution to the team when he was still the president of the republic and even when he retired,” Patrick told Mwanaspoti.

“Whatever he did for the club cannot be explained easily and in a simple way.

“One of the iconic structures he left for us is the national stadium in Dar es Salaam which was named after him. He wanted it to help the growth of sports in the country so it is our duty to ensure we preserve and use it diligently.

“The officials of Yanga will call for an urgent meeting and see how we can honour our number one fan in a special way.

“Although we are now focused on our last Premier League tie in Iringa, we will surely meet later on and see how we can give our last respect to our number one fan.”

Meanwhile, Yanga defender Andrew ‘Dante’ Vincent has explained why he has been missing from the team’s camp.

“Since I returned to the team after the friction that was there between me and the club's officials, I have only played in one match against Simba SC when I was introduced in the second half. What else would I have done?” Vincent asked during an interview with Mwanaspoti.

“I have not been in his [Luc Eymael’s] plans all through and I am surprised that he has the audacity to question my discipline especially saying I do not attend training sessions. 

“What should I do in order for my discipline to be described as good?

“I would really want someone to wear my shoes and feel what I am feeling. But for now, I will leave alone what has been said about me. Let people continue talking about it.”

The defender was signed three years ago from Mtibwa Sugar and his contract is expected to end this year.

Young Africans (Yanga SC) coach Luc Eymael has hit out at club management for booking the team in “a substandard hotel” ahead of their final Mainland Premier League match on Sunday.

The Jangwani Street-based giants will take on Lipuli FC in a must-win match hoping their closest challengers Azam FC will lose to stand a chance of finishing second behind Simba SC in the 20-team league table.

However, the Belgian coach has blasted the club for booking the team in a hotel he referred to “as built in the 1980s”, saying even their rivals Simba will not accept to stay in such an environment.

“We travelled from Morogoro via road to Iringa covering 300km, a six-hour drive and then we find ourselves booked in a substandard hotel,” Eymael told Goal on Saturday ahead of Sunday's match against Lipuli FC."

Eymael went further to share the video of the hotel, rooms, and beds, and said: “that is shot number one, can you imagine, there were other hotels but they decided to put us here, where there are supporters.

“I don’t know why they have decided to do that, I wonder whether we have moved to rewind the years and now we are living in the 1980s or what? I don’t know but that is the situation.”

Asked whether the players were coping in the new environment, Eymael said: “No…not at all, we were in a good hotel back in Morogoro but here [in Iringa] this is the 16th century.

“Players were complaining yesterday [Friday] but the guy who is with us said one of the hotels is owned by a guy of Lipuli and the other one...they did not have more rooms to accommodate us but I replied to him, you knew about the fixture so things could have been booked a long time ago…look in Morogoro the hotel was good...and here completely opposite.

“I have to go out of my room...walk outside to go in the physio room because mine does not have a geyser nor hot water while some players have hot water while others don’t have, it is tough for the players but we will be at the match venue today [Saturday] at 4 pm.”

Both Yanga and Azam are tied on 69 points with one match remaining to end the season.

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane says it has been difficult to conduct training in small groups and also practice social distancing amidst the coronavirus outbreak.

The 2019/20 season has been suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic since March 2020, but the campaign is expected to resume soon and PSL teams are busy with their preparations.

Mosimane explained he still manages to find ways around the strict Covid-19 measures put in place as they have no option but to adjust to the situation.

“We were never trained to do social distancing when we trained and qualified to be coaches, many of us have never had that, it is a new life and we have to adjust and be innovative. It is a totally different thing, frustrating," Mosimane said on The Citizen.

“Training has been good, it has got its own challenges and positives. Our challenge is the new training programs. We are in a situation where training is in small groups and with social distancing."

The defending PSL champions have left their base in Chloorkop, Gauteng and they are currently camping at the Royal Marang Hotel in Rustenburg, North West.

“These are the challenges, but we make a plan because when you are training within Covid-19, it is about being clever and finding alternatives and thinking about what you can do," he added.

"But we are not complaining, we have got the conditioning up, but the tactical awareness is not very good because instead of doing 11 versus 11 to get the shape and movements … we don’t train the whole team."

Mosimane revealed they conducted their first video match analysis this week as they look to clinch their third successive league title when the season resumes.

“We did the first video match analysis and we could not all go into the conference room and all sit there, we do them outside on the balcony with good social distancing with the projector and the open spaces," explained.

“We are struggling to hear what the players are saying, because they have got the mask on and you cannot hear the guy at the back because we use a big space.

"We can only do it at a certain time and that is between 5 pm to 6 pm because if we do it earlier there is the reflection of the sun and you cannot go indoors because the doctors said they do not want anyone in the conference room where there is little ventilation, it is too dangerous."

Sundowns recently confirmed that they had five positive cases of coronavirus, but the quintet has since recovered and returned to the team’s training camp.

Fred has insisted that Manchester United will "look to win the Champions League next season" ahead of their final day showdown against Leicester.

United are currently sitting third in the Premier League standings on goal difference ahead of Chelsea, with Leicester a point further back in fifth.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men will be guaranteed a place in the Champions League if they can secure at least a draw at the King Power Stadium on Sunday.

However, if Leicester win and Chelsea beat Wolves at Stamford Bridge, the Red Devils could drop out of the top-four completely - a scenario which Fred is refusing to contemplate.

The Brazil international says United "deserve" a place among Europe's elite next season, and he even believes they are capable of mounting a realistic challenge for the famous trophy.

“As a club, we should be in the Champions League every year as we’re a massive club,“ Fred told the United's official website.

“So to be back in the Champions League is really important for us players, it's also important for the club.

“It’s what the players and the club deserve. It will be great to be back in the Champions League next season and we will look to win.”

One man likely to start against Leicester is Harry Maguire, who completed a switch to Old Trafford from the King Power for a record fee of £80 million (£102m) last summer.

The England international helped United beat his old club 1-0 in this season's reverse fixture, and Fred expects his team-mate to put in another solid showing at the heart of the defence.

“It must be a great feeling for him [Maguire] because he’ll be going back to see his old team-mates,” said the 27-year-old. “He was there for a long time, so he must have some strong friendships there and so it must be good feeling.

”But today he’s representing Manchester United and, as we’ve said, he will be doing his everything to avoid us conceding and come away with the win."

Fred went onto to discuss the potential "threat" of Leicester striker Jamie Vardy, who is currently leading the race for this season's Golden Boot on 23 goals.

“He’s not the top scorer just by chance,“ the Brazilian added. ”So we need to nullify his threat. He’s a top player and he’s having a great season.

“We need to take a lot of care with him. He’s a very good player, we need to think about his goal threat, but we have very good players in defence who are capable of nullifying him.”

Young Africans (Yanga SC) coach Luc Eymael has revealed one of his defenders, whom he wishes not to name, was moved to tears after his mistake denied the team a chance to beat Mtibwa Sugar.

The Jangwani Street-giants are fighting to finish the season in second position and are now battling for the spot with Azam FC as they are tied on 69 points with only one match remaining to the end of the season.

Yanga had the best chance to go a point ahead of Azam against the Sugar Millers on Thursday but they squandered the chance after drawing 1-1, going down in the 28th minute when Haruna Charongo scored for Mtibwa before Adeyum Ahmed equalised for them in the 83rd minute.

Eymael has now revealed to Goal it will be their fault if they don’t end the season in position two and also confirmed one of his defenders was pained for the goal they conceded in Morogoro.

“I know about yesterday [Thursday]…you know when God gives you the opportunity to finish second three times and you don't stay at that place ...it is your mistake,” Eymael told Goal on Friday.

“Look again the stupid goal we conceded on Wednesday...a big gift from my defender...he was crying after the game...but it was too late.

“In life you don t have to live with regrets when you have the chance you have to take it. Okay there were certainly two clear penalties for us [big handball of their defenders in their box] but we know how officiating is here..so....it is very sad for the fans, but okay at least Yanga will be in the Caf Confederation Cup next year.”

Eymael further admitted he was not satisfied with the team’s position insisting though he joined them when Simba SC had opened a huge gap, they deserve to finish second on the log.

“With or without me ...no problem, it is sure I m a not satisfied because I m a competitor and that I should have preferred to finish second and got a spot in Champions League...and win one more trophy but when I arrived the gap was very big between Simba and Yanga. [We were] in number six.”

Yanga will end the season with an away clash against Lipuli FC on Sunday.

Carlo Ancelotti has challenged Richarlison to improve his goals output next season, insisting 30 should be the "minimum target" for the Everton striker.

Richarlison completed a £50 million ($64m) move to Everton from Watford in July 2018, and has since established himself as a firm favourite among the Goodison Park faithful.

The 23-year-old has scored 29 goals in his first 73 appearances for the Toffees, 13 of which have come during the 2019-20 campaign.

Ancelotti won the Premier League title with Chelsea during his only previous spell in England, with Didier Drogba scoring 29 goals to fire the Blues to a third top-flight crown while also picking up the Golden Boot.

The Italian head coach says Richarlison should be aiming to beat Drogba's 2009-10 tally rather than trying to join the 20-goals-per-season club, as he looks to guide Everton back into Europe.

"I think Richarlison is wrong to say that the target will be 20," Ancelotti told Sky Sports. "The target doesn't have to be 20 for him. It should as a minimum be 30.

"I've had strikers that were able to score 60 goals in a season - it doesn't matter the name [Cristiano Ronaldo scored 61 goals in all competitions for Real Madrid in 2014/15].

"But even in England, Didier Drogba scored 29 goals in one Premier League season alone. So the target for Richarlison will be 30 - not 20."

Everton are now destined to finish outside of the top 10 for only the third time in the last 14 seasons, despite a 1-0 victory at Sheffield United last time out.

Ancelotti has overseen gradual improvement at Goodison since replacing Marco Silva in the hotseat back in December, but is well aware that the Toffees' away form remains a real cause for concern.

Speaking ahead of Everton's final day clash against Bournemouth this weekend, the former Chelsea boss added: "At home, we've done well since I've been here.

"Where we need to improve, and the players know, is away from Goodison.

"We were not good enough and this is the step we need to take next season. We need to show better knowledge and have a better identity.

"The key factor will be the continuity in the sense that we cannot be allowed to play one good game and then two that aren't good enough. It shouldn't matter if it's a home or an away game."