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Gor Mahia skipper Kenneth Muguna has hinted he could leave the club this transfer window.

The former Western Stima midfielder is among the players who have been linked with a move away from the Kenyan champions ahead of the new season.

Muguna, who won the 2017 Kenyan Premier League (KPL), Player of the Year Award, before joining K’Ogalo, has taken to his social media pages with a strong message indicating he may not be at the club for next season.

“A new challenge, maybe,” Muguna, who has 18 months left on his contract, wrote on his Twitter handle.

In a previous interview, Muguna admitted he will not hesitate to jump ship if the right deal arrives in the next transfer window.

“I cannot say about tomorrow because I have 18 months left on my contract with the club,” Muguna was quoted by People Sports.

“However, when something comes up and it is good enough, we will consider it as long as due process transpires.

“For now it is a wait-and-see approach as we weigh options because so far three clubs have shown interest, so we are just waiting for the right time.

“This is our job as players and so we will always be knocking on doors. As long as the pocket is right, players will get motivated to play.

“At the end of the day, the right environment will be the driving force behind a player’s performance, after all, we have mouths to feed.”

Gor Mahia coach Steven Polack is on record as stating he does not want to lose any player from his current squad ahead of next season.

“If you ask me, I know very little about contracts of my players because I never signed them,” Polack told Goal in a previous interview.

“I don’t know which player is running down a contract or which player wants to go.

“But as a coach, I want to keep all my players, I have to fight and keep my players it is not good to lose your players so I have to fight to keep the squad intact, you need all your good players available.”

Apart from Muguna, who has been linked with a move to Tanzanian giants Simba SC, Gor Mahia could also lose defender Joash Onyango.

John Makwatta and Jesse Were will seek to continue with their goalscoring exploits for Zesco United when the National Super League resumes in mid-July.

Zesco United, also home to Kenyan internationals Ian Otieno and David Owino, will face Kansanshi Dynamos on July 19 at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.

Kitwe United will host Police College on July 18 in what will be the first match for the Super League since the suspension. The match which will be hosted at the Levy Mwanawasa and will kick-off at 13:00.

Ugandan goalkeeper Mathias Kigonya and his Forest Rangers teammates will take to the pitch in the second match at the same stadium at 15:00.

After the Zesco United vs Kansanshi Dynamos Sunday’s tie, Buildcon FC will tackle Power Dynamos at the Ndola Stadium as well.

All the matches will be honoured without the attendance of fans as a measure to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

“The Football Association of Zambia [FAZ] wishes to re-affirm its message that the resumption of the Super League and National Division One will be under closed doors,” Zambia’s FA said in a statement.

FAZ general-secretary Adrian Kashala explained why the spectators will have to watch the actions on their screens at home.

“We would like to re-emphasise that the league will resume as indicated this weekend behind closed doors. The health situation in the nation, as guided by the authorities, still requires that we observe the guidelines provided,” Kashala said.

“Only people that are part of the matchday squad, stadium staff, security personnel and media are expected to be at the stadia.”

Kashala also confirmed media personnel who intend to cover the proceedings will not be allowed to carry out interviews.

“Our colleagues in the media will be allowed access to stadia subject to observing the guidelines,” the FAZ official explained.

“Media personnel will not be allowed any contact with the players. We will have the broadcast partner SuperSport and also club media officers stepping in to fill the gap.”

Zambian is the third in Africa to resume their domestic competitions Burundi and Tanzania.

The Ligue A of Burundi has since ended while the Tanzanian league is ongoing and fans have been allowed to attend with the strict observation of health guidelines. 

Toronto FC played out a 2-2 draw with DC United in their opening game of the MLS is Back Tournament played inside ESPN’s Wide World of Sports Complex

Ayo Akinola’s double powered Greg Vanney’s men to a 2-0 lead in the first half, but DC United levelled the scores in the last 45 minutes despite having one of their players sent off.

Akinola put the Reds ahead after 12 minutes with a screamer after receiving the ball from Alejandro Pozuelo, the 20-year-old unleashed a powerful shot past goalkeeper Bill Hamid.

A minute before the half-time break, he completed his brace with Pozuelo providing the assist again. Pozuelo won possession in the attacking third with a high press before racing towards the back post where Akinola was wide open for the simplest of finishes.

DC United looked to be dead and buried before the half-time whistle after Junior Moreno was sent off by referee Fotis Bazakos for a second caution.

Nevertheless, that did not deter Ben Olsen’s side as they braved the odds in the second-half to ensure that the game ended on a no winner, no vanquished note.

Debutant Federico Higuain pulled one back for the Black and Red in the 84th minute – four minutes after replacing Ulises Segura.

He wasted no time making an impression, scoring a delightful chip before Frederic Brilliant headed home the equaliser past goalkeeper Quentin Westberg in the 91st minute.

Akinola could have sealed the winner for Vanney’s team but Hamid deflected away his header – which also robbed him of the chance of completing a hat-trick.

Toronto FC come up against Montreal Impact, who bowed 1-0 to New England Revolution, in their next game on July 16.

Born to Nigerian parents in Detroit, the forward - who has represented the United States at the U15, U17 and U20level - is eligible to play for the Americans, Canada and Nigeria at senior level.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had reached out to him to switch his allegiance to his fatherland, however, Akinola’s response was that he would make his choice at a later stage.

The MLS is Back Tournament is a month-long World Cup-style championship launched by Major Soccer League to mark the league's return to action after being shut down as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Norwich City sporting director Stuart Webber assumed responsibility for the club's relegation from the Premier League, acknowledging his transfer work was comparable to sending someone to war without a gun.

The Canaries were thrashed 4-0 by West Ham at home on Saturday, condemning them to relegation after looking doomed for months.

Norwich were promoted from the Championship as title winners last season, but of the three teams to come up, they have struggled the most – though Aston Villa could yet join them back in the second tier.

But Webber, who is highly regarded for his work with the previously financially crippled Canaries, absolved Daniel Farke and the players of blame, urging supporters to point the finger at him.

"Frankly, we've not been good enough and people don't like to hear that. People want to look for reasons and delve deeper, in the end it comes down to quality," he told reporters in a wide-ranging news conference on Monday. "I said to someone the other day, it's like we've gone into a war without a gun, and guess what? We've been shot.

"Even when you have money, unless you have real money and you can spend money to get top quality, you can also go and waste a lot of money. That's one thing I'll make no apologies for, that's one thing I was refusing to do.

"I was not going to put this club in the state I found it – frankly, if people don't like that, I'm okay with it. If people above me don't like it, then I'll go, but I'm not going to leave this place in the state I found it in.

"Could we have done better? Of course we could, I'm the first to admit that. I'm sure when we go through this, people will want to look for someone to blame – blame me. Don't blame the players, don't blame Daniel, don't blame the staff or the board, blame me. I can take it because I don't read it. It doesn't affect me."

Relegation will likely increase the chances of some of Norwich's many talented young players attracting interest, with Max Aarons, Todd Cantwell, Ben Godfrey, Emiliano Buendia and Jamal Lewis all considered promising prospects.

But Webber has warned potential suitors they will still have to pay a premium, insisting Norwich will be negotiating from a position of strength.

"We are difficult to negotiate with when we are selling, and we hold all the cards on our young players," he added. "Not one of them has less than three years left on their contracts. They owe us, we owe them.

"They are homegrown, and British players cost more. That is almost a Premier League tax these days. We are fortunate we have a few of them. I am sure there will also be interest in our younger ones, but that will be on our terms.

"If it is top clubs, like when Leicester City came in for James Maddison, you have to respect they can pay him and us a lot of money, and the player has his own personal ambitions, but will we sell someone on the cheap just because they say they want to go? No chance.

"The staff here know I am fair, and it won't be deluded figures we ask for, but we also need good characters to get us back up. We got just over £20million for Maddison, after one season in the Championship, and we needed the money.

"So, what I would be saying to people is, please have a look at that before you pick up the phone to us. That has set the benchmark for our club."

Former Asante Kotoko star Frimpong Manso is delighted by the club's new policy to purely depend on their current side and youth system for first-team talent.

After constituting a new board in May, club life patron Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has ordered the Kumasi-based outfit to stay off the transfer market for the next year as part of measures to enforce a new direction for the side.

Arguably Ghana's biggest club and believed to be the nation's richest outfit, Kotoko are known for their unrivalled financial clout in the transfer market on the local scene.

“I am really excited about the directives from Manhyia [Palace] to the Board to develop Youth side for Asante Kotoko. It is surely the start of an exciting moment for the club," Manso, also a former coach of Kotoko, told Opemsuo FM.

“In developing the young players, it demands experienced hands that really have the pre-requisite skills about youth development.

"And I would want to plead with the Board to consider the old players of the club who are coaches, and understand the cultural perspectives of the club.

“This is a project that needs support from all and sundry to see it happening soon. It is a difficult project but when it fully matures, its results are nothing short of the best."

Manhyia Palace chief of staff Manhyia Palace Kofi Badu confirmed this development after the club's board meeting last month.

The Manhyia Palace is the seat of Otumfuo.

"Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has directed that the club should not recruit any new player for at least a season,"  Badu said as was announced by the club.

"The reason is to temporarily stop the player attrition rate and enable us to work with the current crop of players, who the Asantehene thinks have the quality to push the club to the top."

With 23 titles, Kotoko are the most successful club in the history of the Ghana Premier League (GPL).

In May, the club was almost handed a transfer ban by Fifa over the transfer Ghana forward Emmanuel Clottey from Tunisian side Esperance in 2015.

The transfer breach resulted in a $240,000 [€218,915] loss for the club.

Former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Kabelo Mahlasela says parting ways with the current Premier Soccer League (PSL) log leaders will not mentally affect him because that is part of football.

The nippy midfielder is currently on loan at Polokwane City from Amakhosi and even though the Soweto giants recently decided not to renew his contract, he suggested can play anywhere as long as he is enjoying regular game time.

Mahlasela could remain with Rise and Shine as coach Clinton Larsen recently expressed to Goal of his desire to keep him in Polokwane.

“Leaving Kaizer Chiefs won’t affect me mentally. Such things do happen in football. It doesn’t only happen in South Africa but across the world. Good players do leave top clubs,” Mahlasela told IOL.

“That’s why I say it won’t affect me. My job is to play football. The politics of football are not for me. What’s important for me is to play the game that I love.”

With his future a subject of speculation, the creative midfielder is open to joining any team, and said he learned a lot at Naturena, whilst adding it felt good to be back training.

“If God needs me somewhere, I’ll be there. But if he doesn’t need me there, then I won’t be there. That’s the reality of life,” he added.

“As a footballer, everywhere you go you learn. You don’t just play football for the sake of just going on to the pitch. I’ve also learned a lot during my time with Chiefs.

“It feels good to be back on the field of play. We were inactive for a long period of time. Football is our lives. The last four months have not been easy. It is good to be back at training.”

Meanwhile, the 2019/20 PSL season remains suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic but chairman Dr. Irvin Khoza announced the matches will resume in Gauteng.

Although the dates are not yet confirmed, Amakhosi and reigning champions Mamelodi Sundowns were chasing the league title while the likes of Rise and Shine, AmaZulu, Baroka FC and Black Leopards were all fighting for survival at the bottom of the league table.

Manchester City's two-year ban from European football being overturned is good because it ensures one of the Premier League's best teams will not be broken up, says Micah Richards. 

The Premier League club challenged UEFA's decision to prohibit them from continental competitions, as well as a €30 million (£25m/$33m) fine, for alleged breaches of Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations and failing to cooperate with its investigation. 

City appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which on Monday removed their European exclusion and reduced the fine to €10m (£9m/$11m). 

Former City defender Richards is pleased the verdict now gives the players and Pep Guardiola some clarity as they plan for the future. 

"It's good news. I don't want to be biased but with Man City they always pleaded their innocence from day one and it's good to see it come to a conclusion after it hanging over them for so long," Richards told the BBC. 

"It has made it difficult to plan for the future but, finally, it has come to a conclusion which is good for everyone. 

"Two years would have been so damaging. Pep Guardiola's contract is up at the end of next season, Kevin De Bruyne is in the form of his life – the players in that side want to play Champions League football. 

"It's good it's over with. From a players' point of view, it’s difficult not knowing if you would be in it so to put it to bed is brilliant."

City this season surrendered their Premier League crown to Liverpool, who will surpass the record 100-point haul Guardiola's side accumulated during the 2017-18 campaign if they win their remaining three games. 

Richards said: "When you look at Liverpool this season, they've been brilliant. The gap [in the table] this season is astonishing but before that City have been the go-to team. 

"We should enjoy this manager and this team because they are record holders and record breakers and no one wants to see this team broken up. 

"For Liverpool, their victory this season must be sweeter knowing the team they have beaten. To see this City team stay together is great for Man City and the Premier League in general." 

Kaizer Chiefs football manager Bobby Motaung is not worried about the one-year transfer ban imposed on the club by world football governing body Fifa.

Amakhosi will not be able to participate in the transfer market for the next two registration periods after being found guilty by Fifa for a transfer offence.

This emanated from their acquisition of Andriamirado ‘Dax’ Andrianarimanana from Madagascan club Fosa Juniors in 2018.

Although they have lodged an appeal with Fifa, Chiefs say they have a plan to cope with the ban, as they await the outcome of their petition to Zurich.

Turning to their youth teams for players is one of the options Chiefs say they have in place as a matter of their transfer policy.

“Obviously, we had plans for the future in terms of every season,” said Motaung as per Times Live.

“Because of the challenge from Fifa, the ruling and everything obviously, the league is now going to September, our appeal is on the ninth. So it depends on the ruling [if] we can then register and sign new players.

“But the plan that we had, fortunately, two years ago, even when [coach] Ernst Middendorp came, we had a plan for two and three years. That's why we had new players coming in and looking at the youth and everything. We always plan for the long term.”

Amid the transfer ban, Chiefs recently lost three midfielders in George Maluleka, Joseph Malongoane and Kabelo Mahlasela, none of who had their contracts revealed.

But they have extended the contracts of linkmen Philani Zulu and Siphelele Ntshangase as well as goalkeeper Brylon Petersen.

It was a move considered as a means to make up for the club’s transfer ban as the trio was expected to be released after failing to command regular playing minutes this season.

The Fifa sanctions have seen Chiefs helplessly watching a clearance sale happening at Bidvest Wits where Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns are reportedly signing players.

Amakhosi are bidding for a first league title since 2015 and lead the Premier Soccer League (PSL) standings, four points ahead of second-placed Sundowns, who have played a game less.

PSL chairman Dr Irvin Khoza has confirmed there will only be two compulsory Covid-19 testings for all the players and officials across the 32 teams. 

The two testings will be done prior to teams going into a bio-bubble venue in Gauteng where the matches will be played, according to the league's resolution. 

Khoza said the final testing will take place 48 hours before teams are allowed to enter the bio-bubble - and only those who are negative will be given access while those who test positive will be turned away. 

"There is no continuous testing. There are two testings; there is a first testing [which has been completed already] and a second testing 48 hours before going to the bio-bubble," Khoza told the media. 

"We are trying to debunk this myth that when you're playing football, you are a special case for Covid-19. So, when you into the Covid-19 bio-bubble, you shall be tested for the last time to make sure that whoever goes in there is negative."

According to Khoza, there will be no continuous screening of players and officials for high temperatures - saying it's only normal for temperatures to fluctuate. 

"That's why there will not be continuous screening because of players with temperatures and other things... it's normal - first testing and second testing 48 hours before you to the bubble - those are the two testings that are compulsory," he emphasised.   

Asked what happens if five or more players from the same team test positive for the virus, Khoza revealed clubs will be allowed to use players from their MultiChoice Diski Challenge (MDC) teams.   

He further insisted the season has to be concluded at all cost.  

"There is a score-sign that's been allocated to every team but also there is a dispensation that has been provided for that you can use your MDC players because here we've got to finish the season or players that are free agents," he confirmed. 

"What we've done, we have emphasised that whatever happens, we've got to finish the season. If it means finishing the season with MDC players, so be it but the season must be finished because we are in the 'new normal'.

"We are in a state of war." 

Former Young Africans (Yanga SC) player Bakari Malima has revealed the reason he believes the team suffered a humiliating 4-1 defeat against rivals Simba SC in the FA Cup semi-final on Sunday.

Goals from Gerson Fraga, Clatous Chama, Luis Miquissone and Muzamiru Yassin were enough to make Simba fans smile wide at a half-packed National Stadium, and kept alive their hopes of sealing a double this season.

On the other hand, the defeat dashed Yanga’s hopes of earning a direct ticket to the Caf Confederation Cup next season.

Malima has now explained the move by coach Luc Eymael to start fit-again skipper Papy Tshishimbi, unsettled Ghanaian forward Bernard Morrison and Jaffary Mohamed, played a huge role in the team’s thumping defeat and exit from the competition.

“[Morrison], [Tshishimbi] and [Mohamed] did not deserve to play in the fixture because they were not fit enough to play and they got lost and did not do the job as expected,” Malima is quoted by Sokaletu.

“The three players have been out on various reasons and to rush them back because of the derby was a huge mistake by the coach, in my own opinion the coach should have stuck with the team which has been playing in their absence.”

Malima further hit out at Morrison’s act to walk straight to the dressing room after being substituted during the derby, claiming the players’ mind was not at Yanga.

“The move by [Morrison] to walk straight the tunnel and into the dressing room after he was pulled out also shows you the player was not ready to play in the match," he continued.

"It was a very bad act from a professional player like him, I did not like his behaviour because it shows he doesn’t have the discipline for the team and coach.”

On what Yanga should do next after the Cup exit, Malima said: “Yanga is a good team and they still have the best chance to finish second behind Simba on the log, however, they should sign quality players when the transfer window opens and this will help them to compete with the best.”

Yanga will now fight for the second position in the 20-team table alongside Azam FC while Simba will come up against Namungo FC in the final of the domestic cup.

Simba SC striker and captain John Bocco has bagged the June Mainland Premier League Player of the Month award.

Bocco has been instrumental for the Tanzanian champions since the league resumed in mid-June and his brace against Mbeya City on June 24 took them closer to retaining the title.

Bocco, 32, overcame competition from Atupele Green of Biashara United and Martin Kigi of Alliance.

Bocco led Simba to two victories against Mbeya and Mwadui FC, while one encounter ended in a 1-1 draw against Ruvu Shooting.

Alliance FC head coach Kessy Mziray, meanwhile, has been selected as the Coach of the Month for June.

Mziray saw off competition from Sven Vandenbroeck of Simba SC and Yanga SC's Luc Eymael. 

The Mwanza-based side played three matches in June and won two of them while the other ended in a draw. They defeated both Mbeya and Coastal Union 1-0 on June 20 and June 27, respectively.

The only time they dropped points was in the June 24 encounter against Polisi Tanzania from a 1-1 draw.

KMC FC coach Hererimana Haruna has been elected as the March coach of the Month while Meddie Kagere has belatedly been named the best player of the same month. Kagere is leading the scorers' chart with 19 goals.

Kagere was pitted against Paul Nonga of Lipuli FC and Azam FC's Never Tigere while Hererimana beat coach Khalid Adam of Mwadui and Vandenbroeck.

Meanwhile, Yanga SC captain Papy Tshishimbi has claimed Bernard Morrison was not at the required level of fitness to face Simba in the FA Cup at the weekend.

Morrison was lined up by Eymael to play against the Kariakoo rivals in the semi-final tie on Sunday and Tshishimbi feels the Ghanaian should not have featured.

“[Bernard] Morrison is not fit as at now, if you look at the game against Kagera Sugar the only thing he did was to score but if you look at him closely you will notice he is not fit,” Tshishimbi told Mwanaspoti after the side's 2-0 loss.

“Against Simba, he was totally unfit and the coaches must pick lessons for making him play.

“Discipline wise, Morrison also erred and when playing in such a big game like yesterday's one must show a certain level of respect.

“The management must learn how to live with such players and also find out where they might have committed their own mistakes.”

Morrison has not been involved a lot for Yanga since football activities resumed in the country owing to a controversy regarding his contract.

Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has completed his move to Eredivisie side Sparta Rotterdam from the reserve team of Germany’s Fortuna Dusseldorf.

The young stopper, who began his career at Bayer Leverkusen, penned a two-year contract with the Castle Lords with the option for another two years.

In the just-concluded season as Dusseldorf 2's first-choice goalkeeper, Okoye featured in 14 games, conceded 26 goals, and kept a clean sheet twice in the Regionalliga West.

He was given his marching orders in his last game for the Rheinlander after 31 minutes on February 29, 2020, albeit his team silenced Homberg 2-0 courtesy of goals from Japan’s Shinta Appelkamp and Timo Bornemann.

At Sparta, the youngster will be hoping to continue his growth under manager Henk Fraser.

“The twenty-year-old goalkeeper comes over from Fortuna Dusseldorf on a free transfer and signs for two seasons, with an option for another two years,” a club statement announcing his arrival read.

“Okoye, who holds both a German and Nigerian passport, made his debut for the Nigerian national team in November 2019, in a friendly match against Brazil.”

Reacting to the move, former Sparta Rotterdam midfielder Henk van Stee, who is now the team’s Director of Football, claimed Okoye can add value to the club.

“With Maduka we bring in a great talent who has a lot of potentials,” Van Stee said.

“He attracted the interest of several clubs from different countries, but he believes he can take the next step at Sparta.

“We believe he can be of value to this club and are happy that he signed here.”

Meanwhile, the youngster has expressed his delight with the move while revealing his readiness for the "big stage".

“I am very happy to join this club, Sparta Rotterdam,” he told Omasports.

“It’s a good opportunity to take my career to the next level. Now I am ready for the big stage.”

Born in Germany to a Nigerian father and a German mother, Okoye pledged his international allegiance to Nigeria.

He made his international bow in the Super Eagles’ 1-1 draw against Brazil on October 13, 2019 – coming in for Francis Uzoho in the 63rd minute.

Harambee Stars coach Francis Kimanzi has revealed how he is keeping tabs on the Kenya international players amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.

Football was suspended in March as a result of the outbreak, and four months down the line, players have been training on their own.

The 44-year-old has now shed some light on how he ensures players are maintaining their fitness levels.

"It is a difficult situation now but we have been engaging with the players at a personal level," Kimanzi told the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) website.

"We have also been doing a lot of planning and following up on our scouting database. Player selection is never easy, but what counts is the current form.

"Take for instance, when [Gor Mahia midfielder] Lawrence Juma was in top form, we picked him into the starting team ahead of other foreign players. Playing abroad is secondary to the player’s current form when it comes to selection."

Kimanzi was serving as the assistant coach to former Kenya coach Sebastien Migne when the team participated in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations held in Egypt.

The Stars finished third in their group after defeating Tanzania 3-2 but lost the other two matches 2-0 and 3-0, against Algeria and Senegal, respectively.

"The tournament itself was a magnificent experience, but it is the run-up to the tourney that drew a lot of lessons," Kimanzi continued.

"Being together for a month, and working under a top coach was such a learning experience."  

One thing the current regime has managed to do better is to ensure the Harambee Stars are involved in the international window. The former Mathare United coach has explained the importance of keeping the players and teams active.

"It is important for the team to remain active since these players are from diverse backgrounds. Building a team takes time and it is for this reason that we need to utilize every opportunity to squeeze in a match," he added.

"Our logistics team has also done a good job: booking flights, hotels, and training sessions on time. We always need to have the players in proper mental shape if we are to produce results."  

Kimanzi has also urged the players to keep safe amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Keep safe. We need you healthy, hopefully, when things get back to normal," he concluded.  

Manchester United attacker Anthony Martial can develop into “one of the best strikers” in the world, according to team-mate Nemanja Matic.

Signed from Monaco in the summer of 2015, the Frenchman initially started his career at Old Trafford in fine form but hit a difficult spell for the Old Trafford side, returning a relatively disappointing 31 goals over the course of three seasons.

Under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, though, the 24-year-old has been resurgent, with his performances increasing in strength over the the last 18 months.

He has been instrumental in United’s push for a top-four finish, scoring seven goals and creating another in their last nine games, including a hat-trick against Sheffield United.

Matic says that it is reward for the work he has been putting in on the training ground over a long period of time.

“A good game for one football player doesn't come like that. It's hard work,” Matic, who also talked up teenage prospect Mason Greenwood, told Stats Perform News.

“Anthony, in the last year or year and a half, I have seen him working a lot, trying to improve in every part of the game.

“Of course, then on the pitch that gives you more and you deserve it. Anthony is going great. In training sessions he is fighting for every ball, trying to help his team-mates.

“Even when we don't have the ball he is trying to defend. He's doing fantastic. I think if he continues like this he will be one of the best strikers or attacking players in the world.

“He is still young, I have to say, still a lot to improve and time works for him, so he just needs to continue to work like this.”

Martial will hope to continue his recent run of success when Solskjaer’s side welcome Southampton to Old Trafford on Monday, with the home side having the opportunity to jump to third in the standings with a victory.

The decision to overturn Manchester City’s two-year European ban means that they will need to finish in the top four in order to play in the Champions League next season – unless Pep Guardiola’s side go on and lift the title this term.

Former Ghana international Laryea Kingston believes Inter Milan star and compatriot Kwadwo Asamoah still has a lot to offer despite his limited opportunities at the Italian outfit.

Asamoah has struggled to break into Antonio Conte’s set-up since hurting his knee last year and has since been in and out of training.

He has made just eight appearances in Serie A this season, prompting rumours about a likely transfer away this summer. His last outing was in a 0-0 draw with AS Roma in December last year.

“For me, I think he still has years ahead of him. So far, he’s done very well for himself but he still has some years in him if he makes up his mind,” Kingston told Goal.

“My only problem is he’s not playing regular football now. That’s my only worry. But if he finds himself a club where he can play week in week out, trust me he still possesses a lot of qualities.

“He plays wing-back or left full-back but sometimes he goes up and you can see he has the eye for assists and sometimes he can also strike.

“It would be good for him to move to a team where he would be able to play in his comfortable position – No.10 or around the box. He can be great and get to the peak that he wants to be.”

Reportedly likely to join Turkish side Fenerbahce at the end of the season, former Udinese ace Asamoah has over the past years shifted from playing as an attacking midfielder to being largely deployed on the left side of defence as a left-back or wing-back.

“For me, I think Kwadwo Asamoah is a No.10 player, behind the striker because that was where I saw him play from the beginning and he did very well,” Kingston, a team-mate of Asamoah for Ghana at the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, opined.

“Even when he was with Udinese, he was playing in that position and was doing very well. But sometimes, as a player, if you go to a team and a coach puts you in another position, you have to be a little bit professional.

“No.10 is where he feels comfortable and when you ask him today, he will say the same thing.”

Asamoah, who has also been linked to Galatasaray, joined Inter from Udinese in summer 2018.

With the South African Freestyle Championship kicking off on July 20, Goal South Africa took the opportunity to throw some quick-fire questions to the three-time South African Freestyle Champion and the World Football Freestyle Association’s Head of Freestyle for Southern Africa, Ashley “Floorise” Mkhize.

Working and playing in the Freestyle space for 11 years, Mkhize has built up quite the CV. His most recent victory came representing Kaizer Chiefs in the Carling Black Label Champion Skills tournament in May 2020.

Ranked third in Africa and the Africa Panna Champion for 2019, the Barcelona and Chiefs supporter was the Champion freestyle in South Africa for three straight years (2013- 2015).

Mkhize has also been the 2016 5fives pop up freestyle champion, 2014 Back to the City freestyle football champion, 2012 Urban sessions freestyle champion, and 2011 Champion (Kicka ball Tapping competitions). 

Can do better than MKhize?  Then enter the South African Freestyle Championship from July 20-24 2020 by loading your 40s-60 second freestyle videos on your Facebook or Instagram profiles using  #ZAFreestyle #HitecSA and #GoalZA and join in the fun. Cash prizes and vouchers are up for grabs for the winners, and a few treats for Goal readers are available too, courtesy of Hi-tec. Check out how to enter here. Terms and Conditions Apply. U18 require the permission of their parents or guardians. 

Inter Milan manager Antonio Conte revealed Victor Moses is raring to return to action after recovering from an injury.

The 29-year-old forward last featured for the Black and Blues in their 6-0 victory over Brescia, where he played for 69 minutes before his replacement.

The versatile player has now missed his side’s last two games, against Bologna and Hellas Verona, owing to a thigh problem.  

Conte has provided an update on the injury of the former Nigeria international ahead of their Serie A game against Torino on Monday evening.

“Moses is doing well: he’s fully recovered and raring to go, and we'll make sure to make the right call together with the player and the medical staff,” Conte told the club website.

The former Nigeria international joined Inter temporarily in January from Premier League side Chelsea after cutting short his 18-month loan with Turkish Super Lig club Fenerbahce.

His move to the San Siro outfit saw him reunite with his former coach Conte, under whom he enjoyed success at Stamford Bridge.

Since teaming up with Inter, the former Crystal Palace player has made 12 appearances across all competitions, including seven in Serie A.

Moses has now featured for five different clubs on loan since joining Chelsea from Championship side Wigan Athletic in 2012.

Besides Inter Milan, the former Super Eagles winger has played for Liverpool, Stoke City, West Ham United and Fenerbahce.

The Black and Blues are winless in their last two games which have seen them drop to the fourth spot on the table with 65 points from 31 games, behind Juventus, Lazio and Atalanta.

Should he get to play against Ola Aina’s Torino, Moses, who had 38 caps for the Super Eagles before his retirement from international duty, will hope to help his side bounce back to winning ways in the encounter.

Mohun Bagan have named Spanish midfielder Joseba Beitia as their Player of The Year for the 2019-20 season.

The Spaniard was in excellent form throughout last season and played a crucial role in guiding the club to their second I-League title. Beitia played 16 matches during the campaign, scored three goals and provided three assists.

Sajal Bag, a member of the Mohun Bagan U-18 team has been named as the Best Youth Player of the season.

Every year, Mohun Bagan celebrate July 29 as ‘Mohun Bagan Day’ in a grand manner to commemorate the famous IFA Shield triumph over British regimental side East Yorkshire in 1911. Unfortunately, due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the club has decided against organizing a grand celebration.

The club’s highest honour, the ‘Mohun Bagan Ratna’, will be awarded to former Indian Hockey legend Gurbux Singh and former Bengal and Mohun Bagan Cricketer Palash Nandi.

The awards would be presented in person to the people who are in Kolkata. Those who are presently unavailable in Kolkata will be given the award later. 

Here is the list of awardees in 2020:

Mohun Bagan Ratna

Shri Gurbux Singh (Hockey)

Shri Palash Nandi (Cricket)

Lifetime Achievement

1. Shri Ashok Kumar (Hockey)

2. Shri Pranab Ganguly (Football)

3. Shri Monoranjan Porel (Athletics)

Best Football Player (Senior)

Joseba Beitia

Best Youth Player

Sajal Bag (U18 team)

La Liga president Javier Tebas has responded angrily to Manchester City’s successful appeal against their two-year European ban.

City had been banned from participating in UEFA competitions for two years and fined €30 million (£25m/$33m) for breaching Financial Fair Play rules.

However, the Premier League side appealed the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and on Monday, their appeal was found successful.

City’s UEFA ban was lifted, meaning they will play in next season’s Champions League, and their fine reduced to €10m (£9m/$11m).

"Manchester City FC did not disguise equity funding as sponsorship contributions but did fail to cooperate with the UEFA authorities," read the CAS statement.

"The CAS award emphasized that most of the alleged breaches reported by the Adjudicatory Chamber of the CFCB were either not established or time-barred," added CAS, which will publish its full written reasons over the coming days.

La Liga chief Tebas was supportive of City’s ban, and is clearly unhappy to see it repealed.

“We have to reassess whether the CAS is the appropriate body to which to appeal institutional decisions in football,” he said.

“Switzerland is a country with a great history of arbitration, the CAS is not up to standard.”

After City were originally banned in February, Tebas said on Twitter: “UEFA is finally taking decisive action.

“Enforcing Financial Fair Play rules and punishing financial doping is essential to the future of football.

“Years ago, we called for severe action against Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain. Better late than never.”

City had maintained their innocence throughout the process, and there will surely be a sense of relief for Pep Guardiola and his players.

A statement from the club said: "Whilst Manchester City and its legal advisors are yet to review the full ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the club welcomes the implications of today’s ruling as a validation of the club’s position and the body of evidence that it was able to present.

"The club wishes to thank the panel members for their diligence and the due process that they administered."

Manchester City have already qualified for next season’s Champions League and are still in with a chance of lifting this season’s trophy.

They hold a 2-1 lead over Real Madrid ahead of the home leg of their as yet unfinished last-16 tie.

Arsenal are being held back by basic errors and certain players placing too much emphasis on statistics, says Paul Merson, with the Gunners warned that the combined forces of Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho, Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger could not help them if players “can’t pass the ball five yards”.

Sead Kolasinac struggled on that front during a north London derby clash with Tottenham on Sunday, with the Bosnian defender teeing up Heung-min Son to cancel out Alexandre Lacazette’s opener.

He had been looking to pick out David Luiz, but a wayward pass slipped past his Brazilian colleague and into the path of the clinical Korean forward.

Questionable marking from a set-piece then allowed Toby Alderweireld to grab what would prove to be the winner for Spurs, with Mikel Arteta once again left cursing his luck after seeing individual mistakes undermine the collective effort.

Merson admits that is proving to be a regular occurrence for an inconsistent outfit, with the former Gunners star telling Sky Sports: “Against Spurs, I don't care if you've got Pep Guardiola sitting on Jose Mourinho's lap, on top of Sir Alex Ferguson's lap, on top of Arsene Wenger's lap and all four of them are one manager: if you've got a defender who can't pass the ball five yards to another defender, you are in trouble.

“When the manager puts on a training session and you're doing five-yard passes to start off with, everybody is moaning: ‘What the hell are we doing this for? Who can't pass the ball five yards?’ But that is why. It's concentration, so you can keep on doing it without even thinking about it, like you're brushing your teeth in the morning.

“It's just a really, really poor pass. But that's Arsenal, they have that ability to shoot themselves in the foot. He could play that in his sleep, he didn't even have to turn around.

“But this raises another question, and I don't know why footballers do this. All Kolasinac has to do is dink that down the line, but if he sticks it down the line and a defender comes across and clears for a throw in, that doesn't count as a completed pass in the stats. Footballers are so obsessed with pass percentages. Defenders want 88, 89, 90 per cent pass completion, but they're all five-yard passes to each other! Who cares? Honestly?

“There are so many stats now, and players are scared of them, so try to play the easy ball! If that ball reaches David Luiz, what is he going to do with it? I'll tell you: he'll roll it back to the goalkeeper, the goalkeeper will get closed down, and he will clear it up to halfway, which is where Arsenal were to begin with! It's just common sense. These are international players!

“All these players should care about is keeping clean sheets: that should be like scoring a hat-trick for a defender. You want defenders who think that way.”

Arsenal, who have slipped to ninth in the Premier League table, will seek to get their bid for European qualification back on track when they play host to champions Liverpool on Wednesday.