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Aribo scores as Balogun’s Rangers defeat St Johnstone

The Ivory Coast centre-back endured a regrettable day at Old Trafford on his first Premier League appearance of the season

Former Manchester City winger Trevor Sinclair and ex-Manchester United assistant coach Steve McClaren have criticised Eric Bailly for scoring an own goal in Saturday’s derby.

Bailly put the ball into the back of his own net in the seventh minute to give City the lead in their 2-0 victory at Old Trafford.

It was the first time an own goal was scored in the Manchester derby in the Premier League era, and it came on his first league outing for the Red Devils this season.

After the defeat, Sinclair called out the Ivorian defender for his positioning that deflected Cancelo’s cross and he described him as a ‘rash’ player.

“What is Bailly doing? That is poor defending,” Sinclair told TalkSport.

“If you can’t divert it away from goal, don’t touch the ball! See if you can let it run.

“We’re not surprised, are we? He’s a rash defender and he seems like he’s always got a mistake in him and he’s got it out the way early.

“You can’t teach an old dog new tricks and the ship has sailed for Bailly. He’ll never be the composed defender Man United need.”

McClaren who was an assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United from 1999 to 2001, also blamed Bailly for Bernardo Silva’s goal that doubled Man City’s lead in the 45th minute.

He faulted the former Villarreal defender for making mistakes while trying to do his job at the back.

The 27-year-old centre-back was later replaced before the start of the second half as United struggled to fight back from the two-goal deficit.

“Bailly on both occasions is the culprit. Mistakes, bad, bad defending,” McClaren said. “Gundogan gets in front of him for the first Walker cross and should’ve scored.

“The second? He has a chance redeem to himself and he doesn’t.

“They are wicked crosses in and very difficult to defend, yes. Those are the mistakes he keeps making and it’s costing goals.”

Manchester United have now lost back-to-back Premier League home games and they are fifth on the league table with 17 points after 11 matches, nine points behind leaders Chelsea.

(Originally posted by Taiye Taiwo)

Sources: Man Utd, Barca agree De Jong transfer

The Nigeria international has made a great start to the season in Italy with his form in front of goal

Napoli coach Luciano Spalletti has compared Victor Osimhen’s quality to former AC Milan and Paris Saint Germain striker George Weah.

Spalletti believes the Super Eagles striker is as good as Weah who is still the only African to have won the Ballon d’Or (in 1995).

Osimhen has scored nine goals in 12 matches across all competitions in this campaign and his blistering form has helped Napoli rise to the summit of the Serie A table.

The former Lille star who moved to Naples in August 2020, was also likened to Netherlands and AC Milan legend Marco van Basten but his Italian coach was able to point out a difference between him and Liberia legend Weah who is also the President of the West African nation.

“He is similar to Weah, probably not as strong technically, but with the same quality. He also reminds me of Van Basten. Osimhen is young and he can reach those levels,” Spalletti was quoted by Football Italia.

After missing his side's last two matches, Osimhen is set to return to action on Sunday when Napoli host Verona for a Serie A encounter at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

“Victor [Osimhen], Fabian, and Insigne did the entire training as a group. Kostas Manolas in the field. Malcuit did custom in the gym,” read a statement from the club.

Napoli are yet to lose a league match this season and they are level on 31 points with second-placed AC Milan after 11 games.

Meanwhile, Spalletti hopes his team can maintain their fine form, even in the absence of Senegal’s Kalidou Koulibaly who will be suspended for Sunday’s match after receiving a straight red card against Salernitana last Sunday.

“We want to stay at the top, but we can’t guarantee this result. We need consistency and I believe the team has room for improvement,” he added.

“On Sunday, his majesty Koulibaly will be suspended, but I have great professionals who can make up for his absence.

“We want to feel well with ourselves and try to win every game. Every game we don’t win is a missed chance. We’ll try to win as many matches as possible. We’ll see if there are stronger teams.”

(Originally posted by Taiye Taiwo)

Lisandro Martinez: Injury progress & potential return date for Man Utd defender

The victory was Amakhosi's fourth in 10 league games - one win more than the Sea Robbers, who have also played 10 matches this season

Orlando Pirates more than matched Kaizer Chiefs in Saturday's Soweto derby at FNB Stadium, yet they managed to end up empty handed.

After having shown great character in midweek to come from a goal down to beat Sekhukhune United 2-1, hopes would have been high that Pirates could win the derby and begin to think about turning the corner in what has been a frustratingly inconsistent season.

And overall, they played well enough.

Head coach Fadlu Davids certainly thought so.

"I think total dominance, from the first half to the end of the match. We said to the players at half time, with the dominance, you have to score and that has been a little bit our Achilles Heel at the moment," he told SuperSport TV.

"On top of that, gifting opposition goals. If you really look at it, gifting them the first goal, the second goal whether it's a penalty is questionable. But really total dominance from start to finish."

It did seem that the Buccaneers threw away the chance to claim even a point, mainly due to their own doing.

Two moments of self destruction

Chiefs were gifted the opener when captain Thulani Hlatshwayo badly under-hit a backpass, which was seized upon by Khama Billiat, who then played in Keagan Dolly to finish off with a goal.

Then, having fought back to level matters with Linda Mntambo's 87th minute equaliser, Nigeria-born defender Oliseh Ndah pushed the self-destruct button with a clumsy challenge - replays show him pulling Billiat round the neck inside the Bucs box - which resulted in Dolly slotting a 92nd minute penalty.

Toothless up front

With several key forwards out injured, the hope had been that Tshegofatso Mabasa would be the man to lead the Bucs line to good effect.

But despite getting himself into the Bafana Bafana squad, Mabasa's form has dipped a bit over the past month and he wasn't even in the starting XI.

New signing Kwame Peprah showed glimpses of promise but didn't do much before being subbed. And while Terrence Dzvukamanja's header was spilled by Daniel Akpeyi, which led to Linda Mntambo's goal, Pirates have not been offering much of a threat up front for some time now - most of their goals have come from midfield and even defence.

Bucs fans may well be envious of the kind of partnership that Chiefs pair Dolly and Billiat are enjoying.

Chelsea appoint Tuchel to replace Lampard

The winger was on target as The Eagles registered their second consecutive win in the Premier League

Cote d’Ivoire striker Wilfried Zaha was among the scorers as Crystal Palace handed Wolves a 2-0 defeat in the Premier League on Saturday.

The winger opened the scoring before Conor Gallagher added another goal after the break in the matchday 11 fixture at Selhurst Park.

This was their second victory in a row after a stunning 2-0 away triumph over Manchester City. The Eagles have moved to ninth on the table heading into the international break, one place and one point below Wolves, who have seen a five-match unbeaten run come to an end.

Zaha took to the pitch for Palace against The Wanderers a day after he was left out of the Cote d’Ivoire squad for their upcoming 2022 World Cup qualifiers, on his request.

After a barren first half in England, the winger broke the deadlock in the 61st minute, pouncing on a James McArthur through ball to shoot past goalkeeper Jose Sa.

Nine minutes later, Palace had their heart in their mouth when Rayan Ait Nouri appeared to have been fouled by McArthur, drawing a penalty from referee Graham Scott.

The Eagles were, however, saved by the video assistant referees who adjudged the tackle as fair.

In the 78th minute, Gallagher made it 2-0 and put the game beyond reach for the visitors when his shot took a deflection to beat the goalkeeper.

Palace will hope to make it three wins on the spin when they play as guests of Burnley on the return of league football after the international break.

Zaha, who lasted the duration of Saturday’s game, was not the only African in action on the day.

Like the Ivorian, Senegal ace Cheikhou Kouyate played the full game for Patrick Vieira’s side, while Ghana duo Jeffrey Schlupp and Jordan Ayew came on in the 80th and 89th minutes respectively.

French youngster of Algerian and Nigerian descent Michael Olise was brought on by the winners in the 80th minute, but Nigeria target Eberechi Eze was not in the matchday squad as he continues his journey from injury.

For Wolves, Morocco centre-back Romain Saiss was in full-time action, but Cote d’Ivoire defender Willy Boly watched the match from the bench.

(Originally posted by Prince Narkortu Teye)

'A new chapter begins' - Varane bids farewell to Real Madrid as Ramos predicts 'exciting' Man Utd future

Amakhosi scored first through Dolly in the 48th minute, Bucs equalised in the 87th minute and then Dolly netted a 92nd minute penalty for the 2-1 win

Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter elaborated on how the weather conditions during the Soweto derby victory against Orlando Pirates affected some of his decision-making.

While Bucs freshened their side up with a host of substitutions midway through the second half, the only change Baxter made inside the 90 minutes was replacing midfielder Cole Alexander with Anthony Akumu in the 68th minute.

As the game went into the final quarter, Chiefs had found themselves increasingly on the back foot as Pirates pressed for a way back into the contest – which they did when Linda Mntambo levelled the scores in the 87th minute.

It was somewhat surprising that Baxter waited so long to make his next substitutions - Kgaogelo Sekgota and Reeve Frosler were both introduced in the 94th minute.

"It started lashing down, just as I was going to going to make the changes," Baxter said during his post-match interview with SuperSport TV - in reference to the driving rain (as well as a slight thunderstorm) during the Soweto derby.

"And if you put players on, when the weather conditions have suddenly changed, it takes them time to get into the game.

"I didn't think we could afford that against a Pirates team who were pushing at that time.

"I wanted to get them on," he continued. "I didn't want the tired legs to collapse complete. I wanted to get them on, I waited because of the weather but then we gave away a goal and you've got to scramble."

At the end of the day, the result could well have gone either way and Baxter was therefore pleased with the three points his side picked up, especially after it seemed as if Bucs had snatched the win away with Mntambo’s late strike which followed a Daniel Akpeyi blunder as well as a loose pass from Bernard Parker.

“Thoughts immediately after you win a derby, a little bit scrambled,” the Amakhosi coach said.

“But happy, proud of the lads for getting right back at the death. We were quite comfortable at one stage but then Pirates built up a head of steam and credit to them; the goal, it was what it was, we lose the ball, we get done on the transition.”

“In a derby, things like a miss-kick or a bad tackle can lose it or win it. So delighted to win.”

Video: BetKing Arena 2020/21 Season - Episode 8

The two teams, representing the Cosafa and Cecafa regions, faced off in an encounter staged in Cairo
(Originally posted by Kiplagat Sang)

Italy show resilience, Iceland frustration as their Euros hinge on final matchday

Fiorentina make just two changes from their 3-0 win over Spezia last weekend, with Odriozola in for Venuti at right-back, and Callejon preferred to Sottil on the right wing.

Juventus make six changes from the XI that lost 2-1 to Hellas Verona last time out. A change at goalkeeper sees Perin replace Szczesny, while Bonucci makes way for De Ligt in defence. Chiellini was slated to start alongside the Holland international, but an injury in warm-ups sees Rugani start ahead of of the veteran centre-back. Two alterations in central midfield see Arthur and Bentancur dropped for McKennie and Locatelli, while Cuadrado starts the match against his former side on the bench, with Chiesa coming in to play right wing. 

FIORENTINA SUBS: Matija Nastasic, Sofyan Amrabat, Michele Cerofolini, Destiny Egharevba, Riccardo Sottil, Marco Benassi, Youssef Maleh, Lorenzo Venuti, Aleksa Terzic, Alfred Duncan, Igor Julio, Antonio Rosati.

FIORENTINA XI (4-3-3): Pietro Terracciano; Alvaro Odriozola, Nikola Milenkovic, Lucas Martinez Quarta, Cristiano Biraghi; Giacomo Bonaventura, Lucas Torreira, Gaetano Castrovilli; Jose Callejon, Dusan Vlahovic, Riccardo Saponara.

JUVENTUS SUBS: Franco Israel, Dejan Kulusevski, Carlo Pinsoglio, Aaron Ramsey, Luca Pellegrini, Federico Bernardeschi, Juan Cuadrado, Leonardo Bonucci, Rodrigo Bentancur, Arthur, Kaio Jorge.

JUVENTUS XI (4-4-2): Mattia Perin; Alex Sandro, Daniele Rugani, Matthijs De Ligt, Danilo; Adrien Rabiot, Manuel Locatelli, Weston McKennie, Federico Chiesa; Alvaro Morata, Paulo Dybala.

With 15 minutes to go before kick-off, let's take a look at how the two sides are lining up - starting with the hosts! 

Seventh place Fiorentina could go six points above their opponents in the table with a win in Turin today. The visitors won the equivalent fixture 3-0 last year with an opening goal from Dusan Vlahovic - who remains in fine form; having scored a hat-trick last week to power Vincenzo Italiano’s side past Spezia.

Old rivalries are renewed once again as the Bianconeri welcome La Viola to the Allianz Stadium, in search of their first league win in three matches. A midweek thumping of Zenit in the Champions League should buoy the hosts, who find themselves in 10th place after losing to Hellas Verona 2-1 last weekend.

Hello and welcome to our LIVE commentary of the Serie A fixture between Juventus and Fiorentina!

(Originally posted by Goal)

Luke Shaw injury adds to Man Utd fitness woes

Soweto Derby: Kaizer Chiefs 2-1 Orlando Pirates - Dolly-inspired Amakhosi edge Bucs

15:23 GMT 06/11/2021

Linda Mntambo, Orlando Pirates & Keagan Dolly, Kaizer Chiefs, November 2021

Kaizer Chiefs secured a 2-1 win over Orlando Pirates in a PSL match on Saturday afternoon

MORE TO FOLLOW...

(Originally posted by Austin Ditlhobolo)

LIVE: Chelsea vs Burnley

Chelsea have won their last four Premier League games against Burnley, scoring 12 and conceding twice in this run.

Burnley are unchanged from their win over Brentford last time out. Dyche keeps faith with a winning line-up, which sees Cornet continue to partner Wood in the final third. Gudmundsson and McNeil operate on the flanks with Brownhill and Westwood in the centre of midfield. 

Chelsea have made four changes to their side that beat Malmo during the week. Tuchel opts for the same backline, but restores James and Chilwell to the wing-back positions. Kante comes into the fold in place of Loftus-Cheek in the midfield. Barkley gets the call to replace Ziyech in the final third. Ziyech, Azpilicueta and Loftus-Cheek all drop to the bench, but there's no place for Marcos Alonso in the squad. Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner remain sidelined.

BURNLEY SUBS: Jack Cork, Ashley Barnes, Wayne Hennessey, Connor Roberts, Jay Rodriguez, Nathan Collins, Erik Pieters, Matej Vydra, Kevin Long.

BURNLEY (4-4-2): Nick Pope; Matt Lowton, James Tarkowski, Ben Mee, Charlie Taylor; Johann Gudmundsson, Ashley Westwood, Josh Brownhill, Dwight McNeil; Maxwel Cornet, Chris Wood.

CHELSEA SUBS: Kepa Arrizabalga, Christian Pulisic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Trevor Chalobah, Saul Niguez, Mason Mount, Hakim Ziyech, Cesar Azpilicueta, Malang Sarr.

CHELSEA (3-4-3): Edouard Mendy; Thiago Silva, Andreas Christensen, Antonio Rudiger; Reece James, N'Golo Kante, Jorginho, Ben Chilwell; Ross Barkley, Kai Havertz, Callum Hudson-Odoi.

Burnley secured a massive win over Brentford in their Premier League clash last week. The Clarets earned their first victory of the campaign as goals from Chris Wood, Matt Lowton and Maxwel Cornet eased the pressure on the club after a slow start. However, Sean Dyche's men are thrown back in at the deep end at Stamford Bridge and will have to be resilient to earn a positive result today.

Chelsea enter the contest with a two-point lead over Manchester City at the top of the Premier League and have won their last seven matches on the bounce in all competitions. The Blues were clinical last week to see off Newcastle on the road and edged past Malmo during the week in their Champions League contest. Thomas Tuchel will be eyeing another three points this afternoon to regain a five-point advantage over City at the top.

Good afternoon and welcome to the live commentary of the Premier League clash between Chelsea and Burnley at Stamford Bridge.

(Originally posted by Goal)

Bailly makes unwanted Manchester Derby history

The Red Devils are down against the Citizens courtesy of an own goal scored by the defender and another by Bernardo Silva

Ivory Coast defender Eric Bailly has become the first Manchester United player to score an own goal in the Manchester derby in the Premier League era.

The home side found themselves trailing when the Ivorian tried to clear a cross into the penalty area by Joao Cancelo, who flicked a return effort in from the left edge.

Victor Lindelof had cleared the first attempt by the Manchester City man only for Bailly to put the ball into his own net in the seventh minute as he attempted to make a further clearance.

Bernardo Silva added the second for the Premier League champions in added minutes of the first half, as Pep Guardiola's men took a 2-0 lead into the half-time break.

Manchester United are now without a clean sheet in their last 14 home games in all competitions - they've only had one longer run in their entire history without a home clean sheet, a 21-game run between April 1958 and March 1959.

More to follow...

(Originally posted by Kiplagat Sang)

Revealed: Orlando Pirates XI vs Kaizer Chiefs in Soweto Derby - Makhubela, Kwame start

Bucs have named their team to start away to Amakhosi in a PSL encounter on Saturday
(Originally posted by Seth Willis)

Dominic Isaacs - 'Hlatshwayo needs to earn his respect at Pirates'

'Njabulo Ngcobo should start ahead Mathoho & Cardoso' - Isaacs | Goal.com

PSL

11:22 GMT 06/11/2021

Thulani Hlatshwayo, Orlando Pirates, August 2021

Former Kaizer Chiefs defender, Dominic Isaacs has encouraged Thulani Hlatshwayo to earn his respect from the club's fans

Messi handed two-game ban for first Barcelona red card as Argentine avoids lengthy suspension

Stay right up to date with Goal's live commentary coverage of the biggest games from around the globe
(Originally posted by Goal)

Devin Haney vs Jorge Linares: TV channel, live stream, date & fight time

The Parthenopeans reveal the return to training of the 22-year-old Super Eagle ahead of their top-flight fixture at Diego Armando Maradona Stadium

Napoli have confirmed the return to training of striker Victor Osimhen ahead of their Serie A fixture against Verona on Sunday.

The 22-year-old Nigeria international last featured for the Parthenopeans in the 3-0 win against Bologna on October 28 but he later suffered a muscle strain in training that saw him miss two matches – the 1-0 Serie A win against Salernitana and the 4-1 win against Legia Warsaw in the Europa League.

Ahead of their home game against Verona at Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, Napoli have confirmed in a statement that the Super Eagle managed the entire training session without a problem and will be in line to play this weekend.

“After the success in Poland, Napoli resumed training this morning at the SSC Napoli Konami Training Centre,” read part of the statement on their official website.

“The Azzurri prepare the match against Verona scheduled at the Maradona Stadium on Sunday at 6 pm for the 12th matchday of Serie A.

“The other men in the squad were engaged in an initial phase of dry activation and subsequently on an agility circuit.

“Following the tactical session, small games and closing with exercises on inactive balls.

“Victor [Osimhen], Fabian, and Insigne did the entire training as a group. Custom Manolas in the field. Malcuit did custom in the gym.”

Osimhen, who joined Napoli for a club-record fee of €80 million from Lille, has been the key player for the side managing five Serie A goals from nine appearances so far in this campaign.

In a recent interview, former Catania Sporting Director Pietro Lo Monaco revealed why he thinks Osimhen will play a vital role in inspiring Napoli to glory this season.

"This round could mean an attempt to escape from the two leading teams," Lo Monaco said.

"The calendar favours Napoli because they have some commitments within their reach and places AC Milan in more difficulty as they have to play against two opponents at least of the same level. 

"We must always go there with strong feet, however, it is not the calendar that must convey a certain optimism but the performance of the team, the compactness, strength. 

"At this moment Napoli expresses all this. There are players in great shape: Osimhen had not arrived [last season], now he is in a very remarkable position."

The return of Osimhen will also be a huge boost to Nigeria’s 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifying campaign as they have two matches coming up against Liberia and Cape Verde.

(Originally posted by Dennis Mabuka)

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer provides positive injury update on Marcus Rashford

The Northern Irish manager describes the 24-year-old Super Eagle as a very important player for the Foxes after his return from injury
(Originally posted by Dennis Mabuka)

Fifa Rankings: Kenya &Tanzania stagnate as Uganda fall four places

The biggest fixture in South African football will be witnessed on Saturday as Amakhosi and the Buccaneers battle for supremacy

Kaizer Chiefs will host Orlando Pirates in a Premier Soccer League match as the Soweto Derby rolls around at FNB Stadium.

The 51-year-old rivalry between these traditional giants continues at a time they are both trying to pick up form in the league.

Chiefs and Pirates have been struggling for consistency this season and emerging from this battle with derby bragging rights could provide the winner with the needed spring to launch an improved campaign.

Two points separate these PSL heavyweights after nine games and they are sitting closer to each other on the table with the Buccaneers being sixth-placed while Amakhosi are seventh.

If Pirates win by a five-goal margin, they would jump to position four while victory for Chiefs would see them settle into fifth on the standings.

Game Kaizer Chiefs vs Orlando Pirates
Date Saturday, November 6
Time 15:30 SA Time

TV Channel, Live Score & How To Watch

Online Streaming TV Channel
DStv.com/DStv Now App SuperSport TV's PSL channel 202/SABC 1

Squads & Team News

While preparing for the derby on Thursday, Chiefs were hit by an injury setback when experienced defender Sifiso Hlanti tore his Achilles tendon.

Reeve Frosler is likely to take up the left-back position for Chiefs while Sibusiso Mabiliso and Siphosakhe Ntiya-Ntiya are the other options for coach Stuart Baxter.

Chiefs remain handicapped upfront as Samir Nurkovic and Leonardo Castro are recovering from respective surgeries.

Another attacker Lebogang Manyama is also still injured while Dumisani Zuma is a major doubt despite being involved in full training for the past few weeks.

Defender Siyabonga Ngezana will also not take part in the Soweto Derby.

Pirates captain Happy Jele is still a major doubt for Saturday’s encounter due to a knee injury that saw him miss their last game against Sekhukhune United.

There are also concerns on the fitness of defender Olisa Ndah who lasted 70 minutes in the victory over Sekhukhune.

The Buccaneers co-coach Mandla Ncikazi has been praying for the Nigerian defender to recover in time for the derby showdown.

But if he is ruled out, Kwanda Mngonyama or Ntsikelelo Nyauza will partner Thulani Hlatshwayo at the heart of the defence.

At least their goalkeeping woes are over following the return of veteran gloveman Wayne Sandilands who could be deputising Siyabonga Mpontshane.

But Ghana number one Richard Ofori remains out injured.

Also yet to beat fitness issues, are Innocent Maela, Thembinkosi Lorch, Frank Mhango and Zakhele Lepasa.

Match Preview

This will be the sixth Soweto Derby showdown to be played inside an empty stadium since 2020.

As South African fans are slowly returning to stadiums, Safa had indicated in early October that the Soweto Derby could be played before stadium spectators.

Chiefs go into this match carrying the derby bragging rights as they were the last team to win a league match between the two sides.

Amakhosi beat Pirates 1-0 in March 2021 to end their rivals’ brief spell of dominance over them.

There was also the Carling Black Label Cup penalty shootout win for Chiefs over the Buccaneers in August following a 0-0 regulation time draw.

It might have been a pre-season encounter but derby bragging rights still remain.

Baxter’s men, however, go into this derby on the backdrop of a defeat after losing their last match to Stellebosch at home on Tuesday in what ended a four-match unbeaten run.

Pirates on the other hand are smarting from beating Sekhukhune 2-1 to recover from a run of four games without tasting victory. 

Pirates have won five of their last 10 derby showdowns as compared to Chiefs’ three victories, while two clashes have ended in draws.

In those games, 27 goals have been witnessed with the Buccaneers scoring 16 to Amakhosi's 11.

(Originally posted by Michael Madyira)

'Aubameyang has brought bad-boy behaviour at Arsenal... he is not a leader' - Parker

The former Red Devil believes the Gunners skipper is not fit to lead his team and that Emile Smith Rowe has been a revelation

Ex-Manchester United defender Paul Parker has hit out at Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for not being captain material and bringing his 'bad-boy behaviour' to the club.

The Gunners are currently on a seven-match unbeaten run in the Premier League after a disastrous start to the campaign where they lost all their opening three matches. Ahead of the Sunday game at home to Watford, the 57-year-old has blatantly stated the Gabon international is not a leader.

"Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang struggled for the last 18 months at Borussia Dortmund with his bad-boy behaviour and he’s brought a bit of that to Arsenal," Parker said as quoted by Metro.

"Since they signed him, he’s been very inconsistent. They gave him the armband to pacify him. But the difference is, he’s not a leader of men and he got the armband maybe because of how much he cost, how much they’re paying him, and just trying to keep him sweet but he’s definitely not a leader of men.

"He’s not captain material but when you score the odd goal, people will go with it."

The former Red Devil believes it is Emile Smith Rowe who has made a massive impact on the Mikel Arteta charges.

"Emile Smith Rowe has been the revelation and Bukayo Saka has done okay but he does not have the presence of Smith Rowe. It’s a sheer embarrassment that they rely on a young boy grabbing a ball in deep areas and conducting how they play all over the park.

"[Smith-Rowe] is another midfield player, who wouldn’t be satisfied being called a holding player or central attacking player or anything like that. He wants to be everywhere and all over the park with the ball at his feet. He wants to make runs off the ball to go and score goals or get back to defend if need be."

Arsenal will host Watford on Sunday at the Emirates Stadium in a league assignment aiming at extending their unbeaten run.

(Originally posted by Seth Willis)

Kaizer Chiefs vs Orlando Pirates: Unpicking the origins of the mysterious Soweto derby

Why is the meeting between the Soweto giants like no other rivalry in African football?

This weekend, South Africa will be brought to a standstill on Saturday, as Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates collide in the latest edition of the Soweto derby—the biggest match in the national football calendar.

Despite being one of the most intense rivalries in African football, the collision between the two old foes is a match not quite like any other, as supporters sit side by side and approach the contest with a sense of fraternity and fellowship.

It’s the kind of unity and camaraderie that would be completely alien to supporters of Al-Ahly and SC Zamelek, for example, Egypt’s big two, who contested a fearsome derby of their own on Friday evening.

Similarly, fancy suggesting to fans of Boca Juniors or River Plate, or Glasgow duo Rangers and Celtic that they ought to sit next to one another when derby day rolls around!

Yet despite the violent scenes and mutual animosity that all too regularly accompany these fixtures, the Soweto Derby bears none of this hostility among supporters, and the occasion in fact represents a day of great unity rather than division.

You’ll see plenty of makarapa—the miner’s helmet, adorned with eye-catching decorations—that both fans will wear, there will be vuvuzelas, Pirates’ skull and crossbones, and the black and gold of Chiefs, but there won’t be any of the bitter footballing tribalism that typically characterises derbies across the world.

“As a player, this derby carries the hopes of a nation, we carry the responsibility of the masses” Chiefs legend and Leeds United great Lucas Radebe told Goal back in 2020. “It’s two giants fighting for bragging rights, to determine who stands at the pinnacle of Soweto clubs.

“It goes from the townships to the players and creates a fantastic atmosphere. In some families, there is a lot of division on the day, people sleep without eating and go to bed very sad; that's how deep and rife the rivalry is between the two teams.

“However, the game is turning into an event more than a match itself,” he added. “People go there to enjoy the atmosphere, or to network, they sit together and it’s not as tenacious as it used to be.”

Certainly, the Soweto derby hasn’t always been as ‘friendly’ as it is today.

Early tensions

During the earlier days of the derby, which began with the creation of Kaizer Chiefs in 1970, meetings between the two clubs were too often marred by clashes between rival fans, and battles between supporters before and after games were commonplace until the mid-1980s.

An infamous—if apocryphal—story still does the rounds of one man from Umlazi who killed his sibling when things didn’t go his way in the biennial bout.

“We used to have fights between the supporters in the 1970s,” said Chiefs ‘super fan’ Freddy ‘Saddam’ Maake last year. “Many people lost their lives, some are [still] sitting in wheelchairs.

“In the past, you would sometimes see draws between the two clubs just to avoid the fights and save lives of supporters."

The early tensions can be traced back directly to the formation of Chiefs, which was created by Pirates legend Kaizer Motaung, who created his own breakaway club upon his return from playing in the United States.

His new team included some other former Pirates players who had become disgruntled with and/or had been expelled from the Sea Robbers.

Not only had Bucs lost an icon, but they’d also seen him create a rival side—contenders for Pirates’ supremacy—right on their doorstep.

“When I first joined Pirates in 1989, I was told about the history of the club, the Soweto Derby, the rivalry, and how Kaizer Chiefs were formed,” Bucs legend Ronnie Zondi told Goal in 2020.

“There is no way you'd play for Orlando Pirates and you don't that story. If you are a player and you don't know that story then there's something wrong with you.”

To add salt to the wound, the ambitious Chiefs swiftly generated a passionate and committed fanbase, and the upstarts were league champions as early as 1974.

“Back in the day, supporters didn’t want to sit together in the Soweto Derby,” added Pirates ‘super fan’ Mandla ‘Mgijimi’ Sindane, speaking ahead of a recent derby. “In fact, they would fight, and when you saw someone wearing a [Chiefs] yellow shirt next to you, it was a different situation, we saw fans separated.

“That wasn’t a healthy environment for the kids,” he remembered. “When the two clubs face one another, everyone wants to go to the stadium, but it wasn’t safe for kids, for old people, for anyone at the stadium to watch the Soweto derby.”

Over the years, five derbies have been abandoned for various reasons, while the 1972 Champion of Champions final was overshadowed by skirmishes between supporters, as police dogs were brought onto the pitch to chase fans away.

Later that year, a supported was stabbed to death and English referee Norman Burtenshaw was hit by a beer can thrown from the fans during a league game between the two, and there were pitch invasions and riots which disrupted matches between the two until the mid-1980s.

Despite this, the Soweto derby—illuminated by vibrant characters such as Patrick Ntsoelengoe, Jomo Sono and Ewert ‘The Lip’ Nene—was the centrepiece of South African football’s Golden Years during the 1970s.

A common cause

In 1985, the pair were—together—key drivers in the transition from the dual apartheid-legacy National Soccer League and National Professional Soccer Leagues to the present-day Premier Soccer League as the country shifted from the amateur game to professional football.

For both Pirates and Chiefs, and for the broader South African football community, it was mutually beneficial—if not imperative—that the two giants were on the same page in order to maximise the commercial opportunity and ensure the best sponsorship and broadcast deals for the rest of the league.

During these early discussions, when the terms of the modern PSL were being decided, the Soweto duo acted as ‘big brothers’ for the rest of the division, to ensure that the new league worked for the majority and not exclusively for the privileged pair.

“Our late president Nelson Mandela told us that sport is a unifier,” continued Maake. “I remember [the fans] had to intervene because modern football doesn’t need violence.

“If you don’t want to sit with the supporters of both teams, you must know that you’re a hooligan. We don’t need crime or fights at the stadiums.”

Similarly, the creation of the Vodacom Challenge—a joint venture by Pirates and Chiefs—in the late 1990s played a part in ensuring the derby became a vehicle for unity rather than division.

The exhibition tournament was created as a response to the violence in the strife-torn KwaZulu-Natal province ahead of the 1999 general elections, and the two Soweto rivals decided to take the tournament to the region to compete against other sides from the country and ensure that people came together for a common purpose.

They did, and a show of unity from various national leaders at the event served to soothe the tensions that had embattled the region.

“[Now] there’s that bit of friendship in terms of fans sitting together, enjoying a football match and drinking together,” says Radebe. “This never happened before, where you'd see the stadium going up the flames after a game like this.

“Now it's more of an event than a grudge game." 

United in tragedy

Then there were the Orkney Disaster (or Oppenheimer Stadium stampede) of 1991 and the Ellis Park disaster of 2001, two tragedies in which over 80 supporters lost their lives in crushes as they tried to force their way into the stadium to watch the Soweto Derby.

In 2017, history repeated itself, as two people were killed and a further 19 were injured as they tried to get into the stadium ahead of a Carling Black Label Champion Cup clash between the two sides.

Three tragedies—decades apart—have cost 86 lives and united these two fanbases in heartache and, in the second case, a quest for justice following the alleged actions of the South African Police Services.

“It’s not good to count the bodies when we want to count the points,” Maake remembered. “[We knew] we must bridge the gap between the two clubs.”

For Zondi, the Orkney incident was directly responsible for the transformation in the culture of the derby through the 1990s.

“I remember the Orkney incident very well,” he continued. "You’d never find Chiefs and Pirates fans sitting together at any stadium, but what happened in Orkney was that people were encouraged to sit together to try and ease the rivalry and fights.

“However, the fans from either side fought that day, and as others were trying to run away from that corner to another that's when others got hurt and lost their lives and it was discouraged from thereon. It was bad.

"One day, we were playing Chiefs in Atteridgeville, the stadium was packed and we could foresee another stampede because the rivalry was fierce. The game was nearly cancelled but fans were already inside the stadium and it was decided to make it a friendly game.

“The game went ahead, and we were not as competitive in terms of tackles and going forward to want to score, so the fans realised that it was indeed a friendly game.

“The rivalry and fights started getting better, and fans started understanding better.”

In a country as fractured as South Africa, the Soweto Derby has represented a rare show of unity and a positive event and occasion around which fans can unite.

“We had to put the supporters together, and I don’t want to hear anyone saying we must separate,” Maake noted. "We travel together with Pirates supporters to the games, [and there are] no more fights and war between us.

"The people watching at home enjoy the game, and people at the stands must not fight.”

Of course, there is still the pride and disappointment that accompanies any sporting event where passions run high, but the animosity that can forge further divisions and distance among fans in sporting cities across the world does not plague this fixture. 

 

(Originally posted by Ed Dove)

Jamshedpur FC: ISL 2021-22 fixtures, squad, strengths, weaknesses and star players

Owen Coyle has a monumental task at hand of helping Jamshedpur reach their first ever ISL play-offs this season.

Jamshedpur FC are yet to make a mark in the Indian Super League (ISL) as they continue to wait for their first play-off appearance. They have had their moments but have lacked the consistency which would see them finish in the top-four after the league stage. 

However, the current squad looks good on paper and has the potential to turn heads. Owen Coyle proved his credentials when he helped a whimpering Chennaiyin side get back on their feet and reach the finals. And after an underwhelming previous campaign with Jamshedpur, the Scottish tactician would look for a response from his players.

Let us have a look at Jamshedpur FC's squad. 

Jamshedpur FC Squad

Goalkeepers:  Pawan Kumar, Rehenesh TP, Vishal Yadav. 

Defenders:   Jitendra Singh, Laldinpuia, Narender Gahlot, Ricky Lallawmawia, Eli Sabia, Sandip Mandi, Laldinliana Renthlei, Karan Amin, Peter Hartley, Anas Edathodika, Boris Singh. 

Midfielders:  Pronay Halder, Alex Lima, Mobashir Rahman, Ritwik Das, Greg Stewart, Len Doungel. 

Forwards:   Nerijus Valskis, Jordan Murray, Farukh Choudhary, Ishan Pandita. 

What are the strengths of Jamshedpur FC? 

It seems that the Jamshedpur FC firmly believe in 'a good defence wins you titles'. Peter Hartley will once again marshall the back four and he will have an experienced campaigner in Eli Sabia for company. Even if Coyle wants to go with one overseas defender in his line-up, he has a couple of reliable Indian centre-back options at his disposal in Narender Gahlot and a veteran in Anas Edathodika, who would be keen to prove a point or two after having had fitness issues in the last few seasons.

Meanwhile, the team can boast of having two most prolific strikers in Nerijus Valskis, who will look to improve his performance after an injury-ladden campaign last time around, and Jordan Murray, who scored seven goals for Kerala Blasters last season. And if you need some firepower from the bench, Ishan Pandita will be the one that Coyle will count on. If the trio get going then there will be no shortage of goals for Jamshedpur FC. Pandita has a knack of scoring important goals and this season could see the Indian striker strengthen his case of being included into the Indian national team set-up.

What are the weaknesses of Jamshedpur FC? 

The  Red Miners have a glaring weakness in their squad, i.e. they lack a creative midfielder. They have several players who can fill in at the back and also boast a formidable attack. However, what they do not have in their squad is a player who can spilt open a rigid opposition backline. At Chennaiyin, Coyle had the luxury of deploying Anirudh Thapa or Rafael Crvillaro however, at Jamshedpur, the midfield options are more defensive and box-to-box.

Greg Stewart has played as an attacking midfielder previously in his career but he usually operates from the wide areas or as a centre-forward. 

They will have to be heavily reliant on their wingers as they have Komal Thatal, Len Doungel and Boris Singh in their ranks. However, in Coyle, they have an astute tactician and it remains to be seen how he sets his team up to make up for this.

Who are the key players of Jamshedpur FC? 

The three key players of Jamshedpur FC who might be the difference-makers are Peter Hartley, Nerijus Valskis, and Ishan Pandita.

What are the fixtures of Jamshedpur FC? 

Date Fixture Time Venue
November 21 SC East Bengal vs Jamshedpur FC 19:30 Tilak Maidan Stadium
November 26 FC Goa vs Jamshedpur FC 19:30 Athletic Stadium, Bambolim
December 02 Jamshedpur FC vs Hyderabad FC 19:30 Athletic Stadium, Bambolim
December 06 Jamshedpur FC vs ATK Mohun Bagan 19:30 Athletic Stadium, Bambolim
December 09 Mumbai City FC vs Jamshedpur FC 19:30 PJN Stadium, Fatorda
December 14 Odisha FC vs Jamshedpur FC 19:30 Tilak Maidan Stadium
December 20 Jamshedpur FC vs Bengaluru FC 19:30 Athletic Stadium, Bambolim
December 26 Kerala Blasters vs Jamshedpur FC 19:30 Tilak Maidan Stadium
January 2 Jamshedpur FC vs Chennaiyin 21:30 Athletic Stadium, Bambolim
January 6 Jamshedpur FC vs NorthEast United 19:30 Athletic Stadium, Bambolim
(Originally posted by Soham Mukherjee)

ATK Mohun Bagan: ISL 2021-22 fixtures, squad, strengths, weaknesses and star players

ATK Mohun Bagan fans will pin their hopes on Roy Krishna and Hugo Boumous to lead them to glory this season.

ATK Mohun Bagan will be keen to prove a point in the upcoming edition of the Indian Super League (ISL) after missing out on both the league shield and the championship to Mumbai City FC by a whisker. Antonio Habas remains in charge and although his team failed miserably in the AFC Cup, he definitely knows a thing or two about being successful in the ISL, especially with a star-studded team. 

The team flew to Goa on October 17 with the national team players like Pritam Kotal, Manvir Singh, Liston Colaco, Subhasish Bose joining their team-mates on October 20. Players like Deepak Tangri, Sumit Rathi who were with the India U-23 team have also joined the team. 

ATK Mohun Bagan Squad

Goalkeepers: Amrinder Singh, Avilash Paul, Arsh Anwar Sheikh. 

Defenders: Sumit Rathi, Tiri, Ashutosh Mehta, Subhasish Bose, Pritam Kotal, Deepak Tangri, Prabir Das, Michael Soosairaj. 

Midfielders: Bidyananda Singh, Joni Kauko, Carl McHugh, Hugo Boumous, Ricky Shabong, Abhishek Suryavanshi, SK Sahil, Lenny Rodrigues, Engson Singh, Kiyan Nassiri. 

Forwards: Roy Krishna, David Williams, Liston Colaco, Manvir Singh. 

What are the strengths of ATK Mohun Bagan? 

The Green and Maroon army are one of the stronger squads in the ISL ISL with quality players covering each position. In Roy Krishna, they have one of the deadliest strikers in ISL. The Fijian striker guarantees at least 15 goals a season which is a phenomenal return for a striker. His combination with former Wellington Phoenix teammate David Williams is a nightmare for most defenders. 

This season they also have Hugo Boumous in their ranks who is known for his creativity and an ability to find create openings. The midfielder is one of the best in his business and there's little doubt over his calibre after his heroics with his previous sides, namely Mumbai City FC and FC Goa. If Boumous combines well with Krishna and Williams, it will create a lot of problems for the opposition.

There are a couple of versatile players in the squad like Deepak Tangri, Carl McHugh who can slot in midfield as well as in the backline with ease. This adds to their squad depth and can prove vital if any of the key squad members gets injured. 

Whereas in defence, they have plenty of experience in the likes of Tiri, Pritam Kotal and Ashutosh Mehta. They had conceded the least number of goals in ISL in the previous season and with Habas' methods, they will once again be a tough nut to crack. 

What are the weaknesses of ATK Mohun Bagan? 

One has to be a cymini sectores to find any weakness in this ATK Mohun Bagan side. Antonio Habas has ably drilled his philosophy in this squad and to beat them, the opposition has to put their best foot forward. However, there is one chink in the armour which was exploited by Sergio Lobera's Mumbai City and that is their tendency to go on the backfoot when taking on a quality side. 

They become too cautious and shrink into their defensive cocoon which allows the opponent to create pressure on the backline. Although Habas' troops can absorb pressure with elan, sometimes the fort is breached when there's little or no breathing space. 

Moreover, the squad also lacks an additional creative midfielder. Barring Boumous, there is hardly anyone who brings creativity which can come back to haunt them, especially in the later stages of the tournament.

Who are the key players of ATK Mohun Bagan? 

The three key players of ATK Mohun Bagan who might be the difference-makers are Roy Krishna, Carl McHugh, and Hugo Boumous. 

What are the fixtures of ATK Mohun Bagan? 

All matches are to kick off at 7:30 pm IST. 

Date Fixture Venue
November 19 ATK Mohun Bagan vs Kerala Blasters JLN Stadium, Fatorda
November 27 SC East Bengal vs ATK Mohun Bagan Tilak Maidan Stadium
December 01 ATK Mohun Bagan vs Mumbai City FC JLN Stadium, Fatorda
December 06 Jamshedpur FC vs ATK Mohun Bagan Athletic Stadium, Bambolim
December 11 ATK Mohun Bagan vs Chennaiyin FC JLN Stadium, Fatorda
December 16 Bengaluru FC vs ATK Mohun Bagan Athletic Stadium, Bambolim
December 21 NorthEast United FC vs ATK Mohun Bagan JLN Stadium, Fatorda
December 29 ATK Mohun Bagan vs FC Goa JLN Stadium, Fatorda
January 5 ATK Mohun Bagan vs Hyderabad FC JLN Stadium, Fatorda
January 8 ATK Mohun Bagan vs Odisha FC JLN Stadium, Fatorda
(Originally posted by Soham Mukherjee)

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