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Rivers Angels insist Evelyn Nwabuoku and Tochukwu Oluehi have 'existing contracts' with the Nigerian club and vehemently rejected reports of the duo signing for Spanish side Pozoalbense.

The Nigeria internationals are on the books of Rivers Angels for at least six years, winning several domestic titles, including the 2019 Nigeria Women's Premier League amid past moves abroad.

However, the Reto Iberdrola outfit announced the signing of Rivers Angels midfielder Nwabuoku two weeks ago before the recent announcement of goalkeeper Oluehi's acquisition on Wednesday.

Following the reported signings of the Nigerian duo, the Port Harcourt outfit has moved to refute claims of the players' transfer, noting that they have not been contacted by the Spanish club. 

"This is to inform the general public that news making the rounds about two of our players; Evelyn Nwabuoku and Tochukwu Oluehi signing for a Spanish Reto Iberdrola club Pozoalbense is misleading and inaccurate," the club's spokesperson Jessica Amadi told media.

"As of Thursday, July 9, 2020, Nwabuoku and Oluehi remain bonafide players of Rivers Angels FC with existing contracts with us.

"Neither the said club nor its representatives have contacted anyone from here and hearing that they have announced the signing of our players is highly disrespectful and unethical."

"If and when both players secure any deals from teams in Europe, Rivers Angels FC will most definitely communicate it to the world via our various platforms but for now, neither has signed anything with anyone.

"We urge everyone to take note of this statement intended to set things right as they should be."

Goal understands the Super Falcons duo are yet to move out of the country due to the coronavirus lockdown as they are currently at their base in Port Harcourt.

Chelsea have been advised that using Timo Werner in a wide attacking role may be their best option when the German forward joins their ranks, with Jesse Marsch talking up the qualities of the versatile 24-year-old.

The Blues won the race for a prized signature, with the decision to trigger Werner's £54 million ($68m) release clause allowing them to acquire one of Europe’s most prolific frontmen.

Frank Lampard is still waiting on clearance to be given for Werner to head for Stamford Bridge, with quarantine procedures during the coronavirus pandemic delaying matters.

Werner is, however, readying himself for a new challenge and is being backed by many to become a Premier League superstar in 2020-21.

Marsch forms part of that fan club, with the American coach having spent time working with the Germany international at Leipzig.

For him, Werner is at his most destructive when given freedom to drift rather than being locked into a central striking role, with Chelsea needing to find a way of fitting those qualities into their tactical blueprint.

"He likes to drift to the left and then come in with his right," Marsch, who is now in charge of Red Bull Salzburg, told Bleacher Report’s Football Ranks podcast. "He can drag the ball [out wide] and cross it or come across the goal as well. 

"He's also good at finishing crosses from the right side when he's attacking in the box, but he's also good in the middle and he's good on the right, too.

"I think if you're playing with two strikers, which is what we did often at Leipzig, we gave them freedom to move to the left.

"We built that in tactically so he could find ways to be on the move but dangerous, but he could play as a second striker, he could play on the right, he can play in a front three, he can play any of those positions.

"Again, he will work against the ball, he will defend, he'll work for the team, and the other thing that's so special about Timo is that for a guy who sprints so much in a game, he's always healthy.

"That's unusual, those sprinters that are so aggressive, they pick up a lot of soft-tissue muscle injuries. Timo has been incredibly fit and hopefully he can stay that way."

It remains to be seen where Lampard chooses to deploy Werner, with Chelsea having seen Christian Pulisic star on the left of their attack this season, while Hakim Ziyech is about to join the ranks and Callum Hudson-Odoi is another wing option of considerable promise.

Kai Havertz is ready to play for Real Madrid, according to former Germany striker Oliver Bierhoff.

The 52-year-old, now a director at the German Football Association (DFB), thinks the Bayer Leverkusen star would benefit from broadening his horizons by moving overseas.

Goal has learned that Chelsea are currently leading the race to sign Havertz, completing a double swoop on the Bundesliga following their £47.5 million ($59m) signing of Timo Werner.

With Leverkusen demanding €100 million (£90m/$112m) for Havertz, clubs like Madrid and Bayern Munich aren’t willing to move until next summer, but speculation persists that the 21-year-old will seek a move away this summer.

“He is a player for Real Madrid,” Bierhoff told Marca.

“He is a young player who has everything: great talent, technique, good physique. He is a very complete player and he will be very important for us [the German national team].”

Whether a move is in the offing, however, remains another question.

“I don't know,” Bierhoff replied when asked where he thought Havertz would end up.

“But I want him to be in perfect shape for us.”

With Joachim Low’s senior German side generally dominated by Bayern Munich players, some are concerned that by moving abroad, Havertz could stunt his progression in the national team.

Mesut Ozil has been Germany’s Player of the Year five times since leaving the Bundesliga in 2010, but it is thought that international ambitions formed part of the motivation for Leroy Sane’s return to his home country.

Bierhoff played in Austria, Italy and France, and had been away from Germany for six years before his first international appearance, and he doesn’t think Havertz has anything to worry about in that regard.

“I played almost my entire career outside of Germany and I think it’s a good thing to leave,” he said.

“You grow as a person. You become stronger, more mature, develop further.

“When you leave your comfort zone, you usually take a step forward.”

Former Bayer Leverkusen CEO Reiner Calmund recently told Goal that Havertz’s preference was a move to Spain, but Leverkusen left-back Wendell says he thinks his team-mate dreams of playing in the Premier League.

Mohamed Salah is “hungry” for goals and will always “fight” for opportunities in the final third, says Alisson, with Liverpool’s goalkeeper having no issue with the approach of a supposedly selfish team-mate.

An Egyptian frontman has faced accusations of being single-minded throughout a productive spell on Merseyside.

He can, however, point to a return of 94 goals through 148 appearances as justification of his methods.

Salah has also weighed in with 40 assists across his time at Anfield, with the 28-year-old happy to tee up others if his own route to goal is blocked.

Some are refusing to recognise those qualities, with Liverpool legend Graeme Souness branding a Golden Boot-chasing frontman “super selfish” on the back of a two-goal showing at Brighton.

Nobody inside the Anfield camp is pointing such fingers at Salah, with Alisson merely seeing a prolific colleague doing all he can to offer as much to the collective cause as possible.

The Brazilian goalkeeper told Liverpool’s official website: “This is Mo Salah, he is hungry.

“He is always there fighting for a goal, helping the team on the defence phase as well. He is always there to help win some games for us and ready to fight always for the goal. It’s his job and he loves to do that.”

Salah’s efforts against Brighton, which came in a 3-1 win, have taken him to 19 Premier League goals for the season – three behind Leicester striker Jamie Vardy on the top-flight scoring charts.

He will hope that there are more to come in what has been a memorable campaign for all concerned at Anfield.

The Merseyside outfit have sent records tumbling on their way to claiming a first league title in 30 years, with victory over the Seagulls seeing them to another – with 30 wins now taken from 34 top-flight fixtures.

Alisson added on the Reds’ efforts: “We just want to keep doing what we love, what we have passion to do, play football, really good football and enjoying the games that we have now. We just want to be focused on the next match, fighting for the three points. 

“Sometimes we don’t even know that we are breaking records and we only know when you tell us! It’s nice of course but it’s not what we are looking for. 

“We are looking to give our best on the pitch and then the victories come, the records come - and the most important thing is we are champions.”

Liverpool still have Manchester City’s record haul of 100 points in their sights, with a further nine required from four games in order to raise that bar.

They are also yet to drop a single point on home soil this season, with Burnley next up at Anfield on Saturday.

When Liverpool’s Premier League title win was confirmed, the immediate aftermath focused on just how Jurgen Klopp’s side would approach the rest of the campaign.

Despite Manchester City’s 100-point haul being within reach, some observers suggested the German tactician could ease off for the rest of the campaign, try out players on the periphery and use the rest of the competition as a mini preseason.

Others defiantly stated the Reds’ main aim had to be surpassing Pep Guardiola’s Centurions. On the evidence of Sunday’s 2-0 win over Aston Villa and 3-1 success over Brighton & Hove Albion, the newly-crowed champions are doing both.

Case in point is Naby Keita, who was one player tipped to benefit from the Merseyside giants’ early title success. He’s provided two assists in both games, setting up Sadio Mane at Anfield before playing in Mohamed Salah at the Amex on Wednesday night.

Incidentally, both forwards have individual achievements in their sights and were never expected to let up despite the team’s collective feat.

Having won the Golden Boot last season, jointly with Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, the duo have been in and around the Prem’s leading scorers this year again.

The willingness of their teammates to help either or both of them achieve the feat was clear against Villa at the weekend and especially vs Brighton in midweek. Against the Seagulls, Roberto Firmino’s altruism in letting Keita’s ball run on to Salah for the champions’ opener was noteworthy while Andrew Robertson’s attempts to feed both frontmen late on caught the eye.

In the 93rd-minute on Wednesday, despite being 3-1 up at the time, the Egypt star made an exerted effort to get into the box hoping for a Robertson cross. The left-back cut-back to Mane, whose curling effort narrowly missed. Salah wasn’t best pleased.

A minute later, he was thwarted by Matt Ryan as he sought his third Liverpool hat-trick. The 2018 Golden Boot winner should’ve claimed his third treble in the final minute of stoppage time when he headed the Scot’s pin-point cross just over.

When everyone else seemed to be taking it easy in the final moments, the two-time African Footballer of the Year was thinking of edging closer to the pair of Jamie Vardy (22) and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (21).

His brace on Tuesday puts him in third on 19 goals, one above Southampton’s Danny Ings and three ahead of Mane. With only four games remaining, the Senegalese retaining the award may be a bridge too far.

Indeed, with Vardy seemingly finding his scoring boots again (he’s scored three times in two games) after a barren run that saw him hit the back of the net a miserly twice in 11 matches, and Auba unrelenting, Mane may have run out of games to supplant the four prolific forwards in front of him.

Unless the forward suddenly goes on a streak, he may have to throw his weight behind his North African teammate, too. In truth, chances of the continent’s best player scoring bucket-loads in the final four gameweeks are difficult given the nature of Liverpool’s fixtures.

They host Sean Dyche’s organised Burnley this weekend, travel to Aubameyang’s Arsenal a week on Wednesday, welcome Chelsea in their final game at Anfield this season before travelling to Newcastle United on the final day. On paper, none of these fixtures are games you’d predict Mane to rack up enough goals to put himself in contention for the award, even if the Magpies were trounced 5-0 by City on Wednesday.

Leicester’s run-in, barring this weekend’s fixture at Bournemouth isn’t easy in theory. Vardy faces Sheffield United, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United, two of whom have the best rearguards in the division.

Aubameyang faces two tough tests in Spurs, this weekend’s North London Derby, and Liverpool who visit the Emirates Stadium next week. Thereafter, though, Mikel Arteta’s troops face Aston Villa and Watford, teams that have conceded 62 and 53 goals respectively, statistically two of the worst six defences in the Prem.

In truth, Mane may be realistically out of the race, but there’s a feeling he won’t be giving up so easily. Thus, it’ll be interesting to see the XI Klopp sends out against the Clarets on Saturday, with his top forwards chasing achievements they claimed last season.

Salah, a two-time winner, is looking to match feats by Alan Shearer (1995-1997) and Thierry Henry (2004-2006) as the third player in the competition’s history to win three Golden Boots in a row, while Mane is looking to win his second award.

The reverse fixture with Burnley at Turf Moor was somewhat marred by the ex-Southampton man’s annoyance at the North African’s unwillingness to pass to him or better-placed colleagues on several occasions.

Given what’s now at stake, don’t be surprised if either forward is accused of being concerned chiefly with his interest in claiming individual glory to match the club’s historic Premier League success.

Thomas Partey is “the sort of player that Arsenal need”, says Martin Keown, with Mikel Arteta urged to snap up the Atletico Madrid midfielder and pair him with Lucas Torreira.

The Gunners are still looking for a talismanic figure to fill their engine room and follow in the footsteps of former heroes such as Patrick Vieira and Gilberto Silva.

Finding and acquiring such talent is never easy, but Ghana international Partey is considered by many to be a good fit for the Emirates Stadium.

He is seeing talk of an imminent move to England start to build, with Keown claiming that the 27-year-old could be a shrewd addition alongside Torreira – once the combative Uruguayan returns to fitness and favour after injury.

The former Arsenal defender told Stadium Astro: "I think Partey from Atletico Madrid, the midfield player that sits, very strong, tough player.

"He's the sort of type of player that Arsenal need in that midfield.

"I think Torreira is a player who doesn't get used enough, I know he's been injured.

"[Granit] Xhaka has come in and done better but I'm not sure that is the right answer."

Arsenal have rediscovered their spark of late, with a late charge being made for European qualification in 2019-20.

The current campaign has, however, been another blighted by inconsistency, with Mikel Arteta returned to familiar surroundings once the decision was taken to part with Unai Emery.

The Gunners boss is offering cause for optimism and, despite there still being issues to address at the back, Keown believes only minor tweaks are now required in order to get a fallen giant back on its feet.

He added: "We have an array of central defenders there at Arsenal.

"[Rob] Holding, Sokratis, [Shkodran] Mustafi, David Luiz - who's the leader? Who's the strong man?

"I think some work needs to be done there, maybe move a few out and bring some in. They're the areas I'd target.

"The front three is there, we've already seen it, [Nicolas] Pepe doesn't play but we have [Bukayo] Saka now, [Alexandre] Lacazette and [Pierre-Emerick] Aubameyang.

"Aubameyang is as good as anything in Europe. It's just adding one or two players.”

Lionel Messi has spent his entire professional career at Barcelona, having joined the club as a 14-year-old, and the Argentine's glorious exploits have seen him become an honorary Catalan.

He has helped the club to 10 league titles and four Champions Leagues, scooping a record six Ballons d'Or for his personal contributions along the way.

His love for Barcelona is clear in his near lifelong commitment to the Spanish giants, but speculation persists nevertheless that La Pulga will ultimately join another club before he hangs up his boots for good.

So is Messi about to bid farewell to Camp Nou? Goal breaks down the current situation.

Is Lionel Messi going to leave Barcelona?

Messi does not want to leave Barcelona, but the Argentina international has spoken in the past of potentially joining another club. 

Barca president Josep Bartomeu insists that the club will "enjoy [Messi] for much longer" after stressing that their star player is not interested in a departure.

"I am not going to give details but Messi has said many times that he will end his football life in Barcelona," Bartomeu said.

He added: "Messi wants to continue and wants to end [his career] here. He has many years left and we are going to enjoy him for much longer."

Why is there speculation about a Lionel Messi Barcelona exit?

Transfer speculation is very much part of football and Messi's status as arguably the best player in the world has long marked him out at a desirable recruit for a host of top clubs.

As such, he is periodically linked with other clubs, though in most cases the speculation is simply not credible.

The rumour mill was cranked into action on this occasion after Cadena SER reported that the 33-year-old was ready to bring down the curtain on his illustrious Barcelona career, with his contract expiring in 2021.

With the clocking ticking, a contributing factor in the speculation was the suggestion that contract talks between the club and Messi had been put on hold.

It's understood that these issues - the reticence about signing a new deal and a possible exit - are related to Messi's reported dissatisfaction with off-field, internal machinations at the club.

The first major example of this bubbling discontent came in February, when the captain publicly hit back at Barca technical secretary Eric Abidal over his criticisms of the players.

"Those in charge of sporting direction should also face up to their responsibilities and above all take charge of their own decisions," shot the Argentine in a caustic Instagram post.

Then, when confirming the players' 70 per cent pay cut during the coronavirus lockdown, Messi directed a barb at figures within the club "who tried to put us under pressure to do something we always knew we would do."

Having kept his own counsel on internal political issues within the club over the years, Messi's recent outspokenness indicates that he is now willing to exert his influence.

Indeed, it has been suggested that the contract impasse could potentially precipitate a premature end to Bartomeu's presidency, with club elections set to take place in June 2021.

Which clubs could Lionel Messi sign for?

Given his status as one of the best footballers who has ever lived, Messi would have no shortage of options if he ever did decide to leave Barcelona.

He has notably been touted for a reunion with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City in the past and the Premier League club are certainly among the few who would be well placed to afford him.

Those links have been made again in light of recent rumblings, but Guardiola played down the suggestion that Messi could soon grace the Etihad Stadium, expressing a wish for the Argentine to remain at Barca.

A return to Argentina is a very credible possibility, with his compatriot and friend Javier Mascherano emphasising that "anything could happen".

Mascherano himself returned home in 2020 to join Estudiantes and club chairman Juan Sebastian Veron joked that the No. 10 would be reserved for Messi if he wanted to sign for them.

“If you want to come here [Estudiantes], you have the '10' ensured," said Veron. 

“Beyond that, I don't really imagine him outside Barcelona, but these are things that we say today and tomorrow we see him out there going to another club. 

“The reality is that he is the only one who has the decision and desire; no one else knows.”

As well as Estudiantes, Messi's boyhood club Newell's Old Boys would surely be in the equation should he consider a return to his native land, while the likes of Boca Juniors and River Plate could possibly appeal.

Former Barcelona star Rivaldo has spoken of the financial incentive for all involved if Messi were to link up with his eternal rival Cristiano Ronaldo at Juventus, though such an eventuality seems highly unlikely.

“With all this speculation, I believe that some agents are already dreaming about a Messi-Ronaldo double at Juventus and how big it will be around the globe,” Rivaldo said.

“If that happened there would be a world ‘boom', and I believe Juventus would quickly recover any investment on the Argentinian thanks to the boost they would get from visibility and marketing.

“It would be historical to see both playing together and I’m sure many Juve sponsors would love to help financially, so, it’s also a possibility for Messi."

While a dream team with Ronaldo at Juventus may be beyond contemplation for the Bianconeri, one Italian club that have been heavily linked are Inter.

Having previously gone "all out" to lure the Argentine to San Siro in 2008, recent speculation prompted the head of Pirelli - Inter's chief shirt sponsor - to hint that his company could help finance a move.

The idea of Pirelli making a contribution has precedent in Fiat's assistance to Juve when Ronaldo joined from Real Madrid in 2018. 

Old Trafford is another rumoured destination, with reports in Argentina suggesting Manchester United were readying a €120 million (£108m/$136m) part-exchange offer.

In truth, any club in the world would be keen to sign Messi, such is his status, but in the event that he does leave, whoever does sign him will need deep pockets.

Christian Pulisic may be enjoying a stunning run of form at Chelsea but he cannot be compared to Blues legend Eden Hazard because the Belgian "carried one of the biggest teams in the Premier League for a few seasons", says Craig Burley.

Inevitable links are being made between two star turns to have filled a left-sided attacking berth at Stamford Bridge.

When the decision was reluctantly taken to offload Hazard to Real Madrid in the summer of 2019, suitable cover was required to fill sizeable boots in west London.

Chelsea always hoped that Pulisic would be the man to step up, with the United States international having been lured away from Borussia Dortmund at just 21 years of age.

Time is very much on the American’s side when it comes to following in Hazard’s footsteps, with a flurry of goals since the Premier League restart suggesting that he is ready to become a talisman.

Frank Lampard has, however, been reluctant to start comparing Pulisic and Hazard, with piling such pressure on a player who still has much to learn considered to be both premature and unnecessary.

Burley is another of that mindset, with the former Chelsea midfielder eager to point out that there is a long way to go before a star of the present can claim to have emulated one of the recent past.

He told ESPN FC of the Pulisic praise: "They should take their heads out of the sand.

"Eden Hazard carried Chelsea for a long time, and got his move to Real Madrid.

"He's a multiple league winner, and a hugely talented Belgian international. In the end, he was coveted by arguably the biggest club in the world - Real Madrid.

"It's typical of the rationale - trying to compare people too early. Christian Pulisic is a huge talent, but he's a young man.

"There's no guarantee that come next season with all the new players coming in that he'll get all the game time he needs.

"All he needs is two or three quiet games, and any manager worth his salt will have [Callum] Hudson-Odoi in, or he'll have [Timo] Werner on the left, or Mason Mount.

"I think we need to go slowly with Christian Pulisic, it's a learning curve for him, he's doing great at the moment, but you can't compare him to a player who literally carried one of the biggest teams in the Premier League for a few seasons."

Hazard took in 352 appearances for Chelsea over the course of a seven-year stay, with 110 goals and 92 assists recorded while helping the Blues to two Premier League titles and a couple of Europa League crowns.

Pulisic has nine goals and eight assists to his name this season, with it still possible for him to end his debut campaign in England with an FA Cup winners’ medal.

Liverpool full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold admits his teammate Mohamed Salah is targeting retaining the Premier League Goal Boot.

The Egyptian forward scored a brace in Wednesday’s 3-1 win at Brighton and Hove Albion which took him closer to the feat.

It takes him to 19 goals for the season, three behind leading marksman Jamie Vardy who netted in Leicester City’s 1-1 draw with Arsenal on Tuesday.

Salah has been the recipient of the Premier League Golden Boot for the past two seasons, first scoring 32 goals in his first season (2017-18) which was a record in a 38-game campaign before netting 22 goals in 2018-19 but this time sharing the gong with his Liverpool teammate Sadio Mane and Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

"He has his targets, he's around the Golden Boot [race] and it's something he wants to retain," Alexander-Arnold told BBC Sport as reported by the Express.

"He's a world-class player who scores so many goals for us and we try to get him on the board as much as possible."

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp also echoed these same thoughts, insisting Salah winning the Golden Boot is motivation for him.

"He's a striker, how can it not be a motivation for him? That's clear," Klopp told the press after the Brighton game.

"In the last two years he won the golden boot, last year he shared it with Sadio and with Auba. That's always important, it's important for Sadio and all that stuff is normal.

"In the end, you can only score goals when you perform well and he did that so that was really good and apart from that, it's all fine.”

Salah not only scored but also assisted Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson for his goal. It saw the 28-year-old reach a new milestone of becoming the fastest player to have a hand in 100 goals for the Reds.

He achieved this (73 goals, 27 assists) in 104 outings, surpassing club legends Michael Owen (148 appearances), Robbie Fowler (158 appearances) and Steven Gerrard (212 appearances).

Overall, Salah has 75 goals and 32 assists in 117 appearances in all competitions since his move from Roma in the summer of 2017.

Liverpool are 23 points clear at the top of the table with games against Burnley, Arsenal, Chelsea and Newcastle United left to play.

Goalkeeper Said Keni has stated why it did not take too long to extend his contract at SC Villa.

Keni lengthened his stay by a further two seasons and said the love for the club influenced his decision to remain longer with the Uganda Premier League (UPL) 16-time champions.

“Honestly from a young age, I’ve always wanted to play for Villa,” Keni told Football256.

“So, when the opportunity came, I jumped at it, so my love for this badge is up there that’s why I didn’t think twice to renew my contract.” 

The custodian added they have to pull up their socks more in order to help the Jogoos register success in the upcoming season.

“I want to go professional as soon as possible, last season we finished third which was fair compared to the previous seasons and we all know we have to double our efforts to achieve more,” he continued.

Keni became the second Villa player to extend his contract after Joseph Nsubuga did so a few days ago.

Meanwhile, Hassan Muhamood has revealed why he chose Police FC over UPL rivals Express FC, Kyetume FC and Wakiso Giants.

Muhamood joined Police on a two-year contract as a free agent after his contract at Onduparaka FC ended.

The defender is expected to make the Police backline as impervious as possible after conceding 37 goals and kept four clean sheets in 25 leagues games before the season was abandoned.

“I am so happy to join Police FC as a player,” Muhamood told Football256.

“I love the club’s style of play and I think I will seamlessly fit in too. But more importantly, I believe this move will help me take the next step in my career.

“Like any player, I want to win trophies and according to the club chairman [Asan Kasingye], he told me the club’s ambitions which include the will to rebuild the club back to its old status.

“I won’t say I am going to definitely give them trophies, but what I can promise is I am going to do my best to see that the team achieves its goals.”

Muhamood is the second signing by coach Abdalla Mubiru after the arrival of Tony Mawejje.

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has been dealt a massive blow after a Mombasa court ruled the Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT) has jurisdiction to determine sports matters and cases against the federation.

The high court had temporarily barred the tribunal from entertaining any proceedings against the FKF until a petition before it is mentioned and determined.  

The petition was filed by FKF Coast National Executive Committee Members Gabriel Mghendi and Lilian Nadundu as the first and second petitioners respectively.

The petitioners were to file their submissions on June 19 with the first interested party (Football Kenya Federation) ordered to file their submissions by June 25. 

On Thursday, July 9, judge Mugure Thandi ruled the SDT has the mandate to determine sports cases including those regarding FKF.

Initially, the ruling regarded the federation was under stay orders, but from Thursday's ruling, the stay orders have been vacated with the Mombasa case now transferred to Nairobi.

The SDT was forced to postpone the KPL vs FKF ruling regarding the annulment of the Kenyan Premier League (KPL).

The Federation had cancelled the top-tier on April 30, crowning Gor Mahia in the process. However, the league managers were not happy with the move and after trying to engage the federation in vain, they raised the matter with the tribunal in conjunction with Chemelil Sugar.

Submissions were made on Friday, June 12, with chairman John Ohaga setting the end of June as the day for the ruling.
The SDT had twice cancelled the FKF elections citing a failure to meet set standards.

A couple of weeks ago, the incumbent Nick Mwendwa hit at Tribunal Chairman Ohaga stating he should stop interfering with federation business.

"The tribunal has now been turned into a consultancy firm asking stakeholders to give the way forward since when did a court ask stakeholders to speak on matters of FKF?" Mwendwa told Goal.

"Ohaga should simply stay away, keep off anything to do with football in the country, I have never seen a judge meddling into football matters the way Ohaga is doing, he is even telling stakeholders he will do away with the FKF constitution, to bring another constitution which is not possible."

Both Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal have hopes of making it into the lucrative Premier League top four that guarantees Champions League football, and victory in what has always been a highly-entertaining north London derby, will be crucial to that reality.

Tottenham Hotspur vs Arsenal Latest Odds

Spurs’ last derby victory in the league came on February 10, 2018, and they are (2.50) with BetKing to bag all three points again.

The Gunners responded with their own victory, a 4-2 win over their noisy neighbours in the following encounter, with Gabon forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang netting a brace. They are tipped to win at a close (2.80).

The subsequent two league fixtures between these two sides have all ended in draws and it’s (3.45) for a third straight one.

Tottenham Hotspur vs Arsenal Team News

Juan Foyth and Japhet Tanganga are doubtful for Spurs while for the Gunners, Eddie Nketiah faces a possible three-game suspension which is subject to appeal after his red card against Leicester City. Callum Chambers, Matteo Guendouzi, Gabriel Martinelli and Mesut Ozil are not certain of playing while Pablo Mari and Bernd Leno are certain absentees.

Tottenham Hotspur vs Arsenal Preview

Tottenham are unbeaten in their three home league matches since the resumption of the Premier League. (W2, D1), while Arsenal have won two of their four away league games (L2).

Tottenham Hotspur vs Arsenal Tips and Predictions

Nine of the previous 13 competitive meetings between Tottenham and Arsenal have seen both teams find the back of the net including three of the previous four.

It’s offered at a valuable (1.60) to happen once again.

Both teams to score at (1.60) with BetKing.

Odds correct at the time of writing. Please gamble responsibly.

Simba SC goalkeeper Bena Kakolanya has revealed they took every match as a final on their journey to the 21st Tanzania Mainland League title.

Wekundu wa Msimbazi secured their third crown in a row with six games to spare after a goalless draw 11 days ago away to Tanzania Prisons. It is an open secret that the newly crowned champions have been way better than their competitors in the top-tier.

"I thank God, we have managed to secure the league title and I am happy to have played a role in our success," Kakolanya, who is winning the league for the first time, told reporters.

"It is a theme of joy generally to the whole team. It was not an easy journey because every team we played against wanted to get a good result. 

"However, we had anticipated a rough journey and it is the reason why we had adequate preparations to counter it. Every game we played was like a final and it is one of the reasons why we have managed to successfully defend our title."

The league champions have a chance of completing a double this season by winning the FA Cup. However, they will have to go past Yanga SC in the semi-final before playing either Namungo or Sahare All-Stars in the final.

"The management, technical bench and the players are prepared for Sunday's game with nothing in mind apart from a win," Kakolanya added.

"Our eyes are set on the finals where we are optimistic of winning another silverware."

Belgian coach Sven Vandenboeck has revealed in a separate interview that no plans have been made regarding Sunday's FA Cup semi-final match against Yanga SC at the National Stadium.
The two sworn rivals are set to meet for the third time this season in all competitions. The last two Kariakoo Derbies were in the league and they ended 2-2 and 1-0 in favour of the Jangwani based side respectively.

"Somewhere in the back of your heads, you all, already have the semi-final on Sunday," Vandenbroeck told reporters after a ceremony to hand his team the league trophy.

"No plans yet against Yanga; we first have to go home in Dar es Salaam and that is when we can make plans and prepare as good as we can for the Sunday game."

Riyad Mahrez has proclaimed that every Manchester City player has to quality to score after they ran out 5-0 winners over Newcastle United at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday evening.

The Citizens headed into the tie on the back of a disappointing 1-0 loss at Southampton having previously seen off newly-crowned league champions Liverpool 4-0.

The rout started in the 10th minute with Gabriel Jesus followed by Mahrez who was assisted by Kevin De Bruyne, the Belgian providing his 18th assist of the season which is the most of any player in Premier League history and also equalling the same tally he set in 2016-17.

Newcastle’s Federico Fernandez put the ball into his own net to make it 3-0 in the 58th minute before Silva netted his brace seven minutes later and Raheem Sterling sealed the deal in the injury time.

Mahrez’s goal was his 10th in the Premier League this season, making him the fifth City player to score double-digit league goals after Sergio Aguero (16), Sterling (13), De Bruyne and Jesus (both 11).

It is also the first time since Everton in 1984-85 that five players in the same team have scored at least 10 goals in a season.

“That's our team – [we know] that everyone can score - everyone has the quality to score,” Mahrez said on the club website.

“For me, I want to try to help the team and score the most goals that I can.

“It’s not easy but we made it easy by scoring early in the game. And after we had more control and could try to score more goals.

“I think we played good [at Southampton but] we missed a lot of chances, today we scored - that's the difference.

“We need to keep it up and to keep working and helping the team to improve so we arrive in the best form in the important games for us.”

Mahrez now has 12 goals and 15 assists in 44 competitive matches this season.

City meanwhile have all but guaranteed second place on the log, with nine points separating them and third-placed Chelsea with four games left to play.

Pep Guardiola’s men have Brighton and Hove Albion, Bournemouth, Watford and Norwich City in their remaining league fixtures. In between is an FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal at Wembley on July 18.

Thiago Alcantara has been warned that he may not fit “the Premier League and the Jurgen Klopp style of playing”, with Christian Ziege suggesting an extended stay at Bayern Munich should be favoured over a switch to Liverpool.

A move to Anfield for the Spain international continues to be mooted ahead of the next transfer window.

Bayern have been unable to tie Thiago down to fresh terms, with his current contract due to expire in the summer of 2021.

That has the Bundesliga champions reluctantly accepting that sales may have to be sanctioned, with David Alaba – who has been linked with Manchester City and Chelsea – another to have slipped into that category.

Ziege can appreciate why Liverpool would have their eyes on Thiago, as the Premier League title winners seek to bring more graft and guile into their midfield.

The former Reds star is, however, not convinced that accepting a new challenge on Merseyside would be the best career call for the talented 29-year-old.

“I have to say I love this player,” Ziege told CaughtOffside.

“He is a fantastic player but I’m not sure he fits into the Premier League and the Klopp style of playing.

“I think where he is, Bayern Munich, is a good place for him. Or maybe a Spanish team.

“I’m not 100% sure [about him joining Liverpool], although he is a fantastic player so he will handle it somehow.

“I’m just not 100% sure it’s right for him.”

Liverpool have already passed on one Bundesliga raid in 2020, with Germany international striker Timo Werner allowed to leave RB Leipzig for Chelsea.

Ziege was slightly puzzled by that call from Klopp, given the need for greater attacking depth at Anfield, but can appreciate why the Reds may be exploring other options.

He added: “In the first place I was thinking ‘why is he going to Chelsea? And why is Liverpool not trying harder to get him?'

“But I think Chelsea is working through big changes and making progress through (Frank) Lampard … bringing in good new players, good young players, having success at the moment in the Premier League.

“So it might be the right decision for him. If you come to Liverpool you have (Roberto) Firmino, (Sadio) Mane, (Mohamed) Salah, and it might be really difficult to get a place.

“Liverpool obviously have good forwards, fantastic forwards, (but) at some stage it has to be changed, get another good player to push those guys who are there.

“Every story ends at some point. The bigger the success you have, the more you have to think about the next step.”

Simba SC head coach Sven Vandenboeck has revealed no plans have been made regarding Sunday's FA Cup semi-final match against Yanga SC at the National Stadium.

The two sworn rivals are set to meet for the third time this season in all competitions. The last two Kariakoo Derbies were in the league and they ended 2-2 and 1-0 in favour of the Jangwani based side respectively.

While Wekundu wa Msimbazi are targeting a double this season, Timu ya Wananchi are aiming for the domestic Cup to represent the nation in the Caf Confederation Cup.

"Somewhere in the back of your heads, you all, already have the semi-final on Sunday," Vandenbroeck told reporters after a ceremony to hand his team the Tanzania Mainland League trophy.

"No plans yet against Yanga; we first have to go home in Dar es Salaam and that is when we can make plans and prepare as good as we can for the Sunday game."

The 40-year-old Belgian has also revealed how it felt by guiding his charges to the league title.

"After the [Tanzania] Prisons game, we felt very nice, very good and happy," the youthful tactician recalled.

"It was a long trip to the league, now it is already [11 days] ago. Now it is nice to take pictures, put it in our albums for later, but we are happy to have [won the league]."

It was Simba's third consecutive league title, and their 21st in history; Yanga hold the record having won the league 27 times.

On Wednesday, July 8, the Msimbazi-based charges drew 0-0 with fourth-placed Namungo.

Meddie Kagere, who is on course to defend the Golden Boot, should have scored his 20th goal of the season but his 31st-minute strike went off the target from a vantage point.

John Kelvin would have scored for the hosts in the 42nd minute but his final shot, from inside the penalty area, went out after a clear pass from Abeid Athuman.

The Wekundu wa Msimbazi’s forward line have to blame themselves for a failure to utilise a few chances that would have made their day even more joyful.  

Stiliyan Petrov suggested Graeme Souness' criticism of Jack Grealish might be motivated by "bitterness" as he defended Aston Villa's captain.

Grealish has been linked with both Manchester City and Manchester United after a fine Premier League campaign in which he has scored seven times and created six assists for a Villa side fighting relegation.

However, the 24-year-old's suitability for a leading top-flight side was questioned by ex-Liverpool skipper Souness, who accused him of being a "passenger" when his team do not have the ball .

"Everyone rolls their sleeves up to be the first, second or third one to press. That is something that is not in his game right now," Souness said in his role as a Sky Sports pundit.

"I'm not denying he has talent - but for me there's a big question mark."

The Scot went on to suggest Grealish is the Premier League's most fouled player because he holds onto the ball too long, with the midfielder biting back on Twitter when he retweeted the statistic that showed he has created the second-most chances in the division.

Former Villa skipper Petrov has no doubt that Grealish could cut it with a bigger club.

"Everybody has a view or an opinion about certain players. I have a completely different view of Jack," he told Stats Perform News .

"I believe he has enormous potential to be a great player. At the moment, Jack believes that everything depends on him. He tries to do everything on his own. He tries to create, he tries to assist, he wants to score. So literally he tries to do everything.

"If Jack moves to a bigger team, there will be certain elements of his game that are going to improve. Jack has everything to be a top player. At the moment, with the current situation at Aston Villa, he is the one everyone looks up to. He wants to be everything for Aston Villa, which is great.

"We forget he's only 24. I don't agree. Yeah, he holds the ball longer because he has to, he needs to do it, and he knows that. But if he moves on to play with better players he knows how to play, he knows how to adapt. Good players do that and he's certainly a good player.

"So I wouldn't really agree with what Graeme is saying. I think sometimes it can be a little bit bitterness, could be a challenge from Souness – he may believe that he's a good player and he's challenging him with what he's saying.

"I can see his point of view is very different to what I think. I believe Jack would be a big asset for a big club."

Petrov, who spent 13 years with Villa, then highlighted Pep Guardiola's praise of Grealish, who the Manchester City boss called "one of the best players in the league" earlier this season.

"That compliment comes from one of the best managers in the world," Petrov added.

"Those managers don't waste their words saying these things. That's why Pep comes out and said he's one of the best and said his performances have attracted attention. It's completely normal."

Matteo Guendouzi has seen his attitude questioned on a regular basis of late, with the Arsenal midfielder’s former boss at Lorient, Bernard Casoni, the latest to suggest that the 21-year-old needs to change his ways.

The Gunners knew they were getting a spiky character when luring a player of considerable promise away from his homeland in 2018.

The hope was that Guendouzi would mature and mellow as part of a star-studded squad in north London, allowing him to unlock his full potential and become a long-serving star at Emirates Stadium.

Questions are now being asked of whether the youngster will see out another transfer window, with Mikel Arteta having taken to dropping a divisive figure from his plans over recent weeks.

That decision has been made after Guendouzi sparked controversy again with his actions in a 2-1 defeat at Brighton, overstepping the line of acceptable behaviour.

It is not the first time that the Frenchman has found himself under the microscope, with Casoni revealing that the Lorient academy graduate has always been difficult to handle.

He told reporter Freddie Paxton: "Guendouzi's problem is not physical and is not technical. It's his attitude, it's not good for the team or the coach.

“My relationship with him wasn't very good. I picked him for a cup game against Nice but he got booked early on. The ref told me at half time to warn Guendouzi: one more foul and you're off, but in the second half nothing changed.

“I was left with no choice but to sub him off. When I did, he refused to shake my hand.”

Casoni added: “He took his job seriously, his training was no problem, and his character is to always want to win.

“Sometimes when he talks it's good. But sometimes he talks badly. He talks too much.

“His talent isn't in question, that's not the issue. He can be a top, top player and I think he can still succeed abroad. It's up to him to change his attitude.”

It may be that Guendouzi has to go and prove his worth away from Arsenal, with Arteta now favouring other options and showing that he is not afraid to make big decisions for the benefit of the greater good.