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Express FC midfielder John Byamukama has revealed the stiff competition for a starting place at the club and promised to maintain his consistency so as to play regularly.

The holding midfielder is one of the many players in that role at the Red Eagles vying for a starting berth but after his good display capped with a beautiful goal in the 2-2 draw against Kyetume FC in the Uganda Cup Round of 32 first leg, Byamukama says consistency will be the key to success.

“To be honest there is a lot of competition at the club and healthy competition at that,” Byamukama told the club’s official website.

“As a player I know consistency keeps you in the team, I think I played well [against Kyetume] and my goal also boosted my confidence so I know I have to keep it up in order to maintain a starting berth.

“What counts is what you do when the coach trusts you so ahead of the Uganda Cup return leg [on Saturday], the focus is on advancing to the Round of 16 and the team is working towards that.”

'Tooki' as he’s fondly known, made four appearances for the Red Eagles last season, three off the bench, while the Uganda Cup draw away to Kyetume was his first start for the club this campaign.

Byamukama will hope to help coach Wasswa Bbosa’s charges seal a Round of 16 spot in the return leg against Kyetume when the two sides meet again at the Muteesa II Stadium in Wankulukuku on Saturday.

Despite managing a 2-2 draw in the first meeting, Bbosa maintained they have the advantage going into the return leg as they managed to score the two goals and promised to rectify mistakes from the match before they meet again.

“Well it was a tough game but we managed to pick up two important away goals,” Bbosa told the club’s official website. “I think the advantage is ours now and we’re going back to correct the mistakes we did today [Tuesday].

“Overall, I think we played well but we can do better in the return leg.”

Express FC have managed 10 domestic cup titles, a record they share with KCCA FC, and they last won the cup in 2007 with victory over KCCA in the final.

Police have confirmed that the man who ran onto the pitch during Granada's Europa League clash with Manchester United avoided security and Covid-19 protocols by hiding under a tarp for 14 hours before kickoff.

The streaker ran onto the field naked during the 10th minute of Thursday's match, throwing himself onto the field before being apprehended by police.

He has since been identified as Olmo Garcia, known by locals as "The Naked Man of Granada" due to his reputation for walking through public areas without any clothes.

What did police have to say?

“He made it onto the pitch from underneath a large canvas, where he was hidden,” the local police said in a statement.

“The man made it into the stadium at 7am after getting through the security perimeter located between the stadium and the Palacio de Deportes building, where it is clear he spent the next 14 hours hidden under the canvas in order to not be seen until he decided to make his move.”

The match itself

After the disruption, Manchester United went on to score two goals in what was their away leg, giving the Premier League side a huge advantage heading into the second leg at Old Trafford.

Marcus Rashford opened the scoring in the 31st minute, with Bruno Fernandes converting yet another penalty kick in the game's dying moments to seal the 2-0 win.

The two teams will face off again in Manchester next Thursday, with Man Utd set to take on Tottenham on Sunday ahead of that Europa League quarter-final clash.

Further reading

Vipers SC have advanced to the Uganda Cup Round of 16 after defeating Busoga United 2-1 at Fufa Technical Centre in Njeru on Friday.

Yunus Ssentamu and Lawrence Tezikya struck in either half for the Venoms while the hosts got a goal through Isaac Wagoina. As a result, the reigning Ugandan Premier League champions have advanced 5-1 on aggregate after a 3-0 win in the first leg.

On Friday, the hosts came into the match hoping to overturn the 3-0 deficit suffered in the initial meeting at the St Mary's Kitende owing to goals from Caesar Manzoki, who scored a brace, and Ibrahim Orit.

The Venoms needed just 24 minutes to score their first goal. Richard Basangwa picked out Ssentamu in the danger zone and the latter easily beat the goalkeeper from about 10-yards.

After the break, the hosts came back stronger and managed to equalize in the 65th minute courtesy of Wagoina's header.

However, with five minutes to go, Tezikya managed to connect with Joseph Dhata's pass to ensure his team carried the day.

URA FC also made it to the next round after defeating Mbarara City by a solitary goal.

The two teams had settled for a goalless draw in the first leg and a scoring draw for the Tax Collectors or a win of any kind for any team would have sealed progress to the next round.

It was the visitors who managed to score the all-important goal in the 13th minute through Brian Majwega to advance.

In another game played on the same day, Maroons FC defeated Terrazzo and Tiles 6-0 to advance 7-1 on aggregate. The overall winner will represent Uganda in the Caf Confederation Cup next season.

Friday results:
Maroons 6-0 Terrazzo and Tiles (agg. 7-1)
Busoga United 1-2 Vipers SC (agg.1-5)
Mbarara City 0-1 URA (agg. 0-1)

Rangers have confirmed the extension of Leon Balogun’s contract which will keep him at Ibrox Stadium until the summer of 2022.

The 32-year-old joined the Gers on a free transfer from Wigan Athletic last July and he has been a key part of Steven Gerrard's defensive set-up.

With 19 Premier League appearances under his belt so far this season, Balogun has played a crucial role in Rangers' defence as he won the first title in his professional career which includes a 33-match unbeaten streak.

The extension gives the former Brighton & Hove Albion player a chance to help the Gers retain the league crown next season and he is also hoping to play in front of the club faithful after the coronavirus restrictions come to an end.

“Today is a very happy day and a very proud day announcing my contract has been extended for another year,” Balogun told the club website.

“I am proud to be a part of this amazing club and I felt that pretty early on I had fallen in love with the club and the working environment, the way the players and the management staff work and the way the club is a big family, I am happy and proud that I can call myself a Rangers player.

“I am happy to be a part of the team that won the league, but what we have been saying recently is we are just getting started and I am happy that I can be a part of this. I said a few weeks in to one of my family, I wish I had been at a club and an environment like this early-on in my career.

“I am very, very happy and proud that this can now be announced. One thing too, I was never going to leave before witnessing a full Ibrox Stadium, and if everyone was happy, I was going to stay.”

Meanwhile, Rangers director Ross Wilson applauded the Super Eagles centre-back for adapting quickly to life in Glasgow and his impact on Gerrard’s squad.

“Before we even consider the quality of his football I am delighted that we will have Leon’s character, personality and professionalism here with us at Rangers again next season,” Wilson said.

“Leon joined us last summer on a free transfer and has played an outstanding part in our success as a team and towards a cohesive defensive unit. He loves being a Rangers player and has settled extremely well into life in Glasgow.”

Former Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana defender Edward Motale believes his old team plays more attractive football but lacks Mamelodi Sundowns' clinical touch in front of goal.

Motale was commenting ahead of Pirates' Caf Confederation Cup clash against Al Ahli Benghazi at the Orlando Stadium on Sunday.

His thoughts are, however, also relevant in the context of next Thursday's Nedbank Cup quarter-final clash between Pirates and Sundowns.

The former national team defender, a Caf Champions League winner with the Sea Robbers in 1995, says he's impressed by the quality in the Bucs squad but is concerned that something is lacking upfront:

“Pirates have an amazing squad and the difference between them and Mamelodi Sundowns locally is that they score few goals, while Sundowns are lethal in front of goal and do not play beautiful football. The interchange and passing of the Pirates players are the best," Motale told the Sowetan.

“However, my biggest concern about them is scoring," he continued, "the decision-making in the final third of the field is letting them down.

"We play good football but the problem is the scoring part. The defence is OK, but up front is not. The Pirates of today miss many chances and make the wrong decisions. If they can work on that they will win lots of games, starting on Sunday."

Pirates and Al Ahli Benghazi met last weekend in Libya at the Martyrs of February Stadium where they played to a 0-0 draw.

Bucs striker Gabadinho Mhango was especially guilty of some missed chances. Mhango has struggled for form and fitness this season while fellow forwards Zakhele Lepasa and Tshegofatso Mabasa have also spent lengthy spells sidelined with injury.

Two of the new forward signings this season, Jean-Marc Makusu Mundele and Terrence Dzvukamanja, have also for the most part failed to impress and have scored just two goals between them.

After three games in Group A, Nigerian side Enyimba are top with six points, followed by Pirates with five points. Al Ahli have four points and ES Setif from Tunisia have just a single point.

Kylian Mbappe and Paris Saint-Germain are in talks over a contract extension, according to head coach Mauricio Pochettino.

Mbappe has seen speculation around his future grow as his deal heads toward a 2022 expiration, with a move to Real Madrid or the Premier League often mooted.

Pochettino is calm over the 22-year-old's future, saying he is hopeful the France star will be at Parc des Princes for years to come.

What was said?

"It's something we are used to," Pochettino said of the speculation regarding Mbappe's future. "When we talk about top clubs and top players like Kylian Mbappe who is at international level, there will always be rumours.

"The most important thing is that Kylian is quiet. He is quiet and focused on the team and helping them achieve their goals. Kylian is very mature despite his age.

"Both club and player are trying to come to an agreement that will see Kylian stay with us for a long time. It's the desire of the club and we are working on everything.

"You cannot control what happens outside. Does it have any effect on the players' performance or the atmosphere of the team? Zero, no consequences."

The bigger picture

Mbappe has only played in Ligue 1 so far in his young career, having come up through the ranks at Monaco before moving to PSG in 2017. The striker has been Ligue 1 top scorer for two seasons running and has won the league title with PSG three years in a row.

There are, however, a very small number of clubs that could afford a player as young and talented as Mbappe, with the coronavirus pandemic's financial impact adding further doubt to a possible move away.

Mbappe will look to win the one prize that has eluded him at PSG – the Champions League – this season, having scored a brace in the first-leg quarter-final win over Bayern Munich in midweek. 

Further reading

Gerard Pique has been named in Barcelona's squad for El Clasico on Saturday, despite recent struggles with a knee injury. 

Pique has made just 15 appearances all season as he has battled a knee injury, and hasn't played since March 3.

Sergi Roberto is also back in Barca's squad after missing two months with a thigh problem, but for Real Madrid, Eden Hazard has missed out on the squad as he continues to battle a hip injury. 

What was said?

"It is important [to have Pique] because of his quality and personality," Barcelona head coach Ronald Koeman said at his pre-match press conference. "[Pique and Roberto] lack the rhythm of matches, but they are physically well and excited. It is important to have them."

Asked if he would play Pique even if he's not 100 per cent fit, Koeman responded: "It depends on the moment of the game. Any player has to be in perfect physical and mental condition - but there are players who by personality and being captain are important.

"My job is to look for the best 11 players to achieve an important result."

Real Madrid team news

Los Blancos head into Saturday's clash far from full strength, with several players set to miss out in addition to Hazard.

Madrid's backline will be missing a number of key figures, with Dani Carvajal and Sergio Ramos injured and Raphael Varane out after testing positive for Covid-19.

With Ramos and Varane out, Madrid will likely start Eder Militao and Nacho Fernandez in central defence as they did in the midweek Champions League win over Liverpool.

The bigger picture

Saturday's game could go a long way toward determining who wins La Liga, with first-place Atletico Madrid having fallen off the pace in recent weeks. 

Atletico are just one point ahead of second-place Barcelona, with Real Madrid a further two points back in third place. 

"The result is not decisive," Koeman said. "After tomorrow's game there are many days to go, but it is true that the team that wins will get an important morale boost going forward."

Further reading

Kaizer Chiefs will be without both their big targetmen – Leonardo Castro and Samir Nurkovic, for their final Caf Champions League Group C match against Horoya FC on Saturday night.

The match kicks off at 21H00 South African time and takes place at the General Lansana Conte Stadium in Conakry, Guinea.

On one hand, coach Gavin Hunt’s task may be made harder by not having the pair available – Nurkovic is suspended after being sent off last weekend in the 1-0 win over Wydad Casablanca, while Castro is nursing a broken nose, an injury which occurred while he was in the process of scoring against Stellenbosch in the 2-2 midweek league draw.

On the flip-side though, Amakhosi’s play can at times be predictable when either Nurkovic or Castro are playing – both are big strong men with good heading technique, and as such, there is always the temptation – or likely even the instruction from the coaching staff - to get the ball forward as quickly as possible and to try and hit one of the big men with aerial passes towards the opposition box.

It's something which the Glamour Boys did to great affect last season under coach Ernst Middendorp, when Nurkovic’s 13 league goals nearly fired the Soweto side to the league title.

Chiefs fans in particular though, as well as some former players, have criticised this direct approach which can rely more on physical presence and brawn rather than clever play and intricate combinations.

Certainly when the likes of Khama Billiat, Happy Mashiane, Dumisani Zuma, Lebogang Manyama and Bernard Parker are firing on all cylinders, with able support from silky playmaker Nkosingiphile Ncgobo, Amakhosi have the personnel to dish up fluent attractive football.

The problem though has been that Billiat has had injuries and has been someway off his best form for a while, while Zuma has also struggled with injury and Manyama has simply been off-form.

But with little option now, it’s up to Chiefs’ ball players to show Hunt that they can win games without going the old-school direct route.

Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City have been offered hope in their pursuits of Erling Haaland, with Gunnar Halle admitting that "a little bit of his heart will be in England".

Interest in the 20-year-old frontman continues to build, with a remarkable strike rate being maintained at Borussia Dortmund.

Big-money bids for the hottest of prospects are now being mooted with Premier League sides seemingly leading the chase, and Halle - who is a coach in Norway's youth set-up - concedes the Leeds-born starlet may be considering a return to England.

What has been said?

Former Leeds and Wolves defender Halle, who played alongside Haaland and his father Alf Inge, told the Daily Star when quizzed on the speculation: “It’s difficult to say, with the Spanish and English interest there are so many things now that have to be considered with his agent and everything, and the money of course will be quite a lot!

“I think a little bit of his heart will be in England because his dad was playing there with Leeds and City, but also his connection with Ole Gunnar, so I think his Dad will maybe play a part.”

How will Haaland decide his next move?

There is no guarantee that Haaland will leave Dortmund in the next transfer window, with the German giants keen to keep a prized asset on their books.

That resolve may be tested though, with Barcelona and Real Madrid also said to be keen on buying into obvious potential.

Haaland appears to be approaching an important career crossroads, but Halle insists that finances will play no part in his thinking when it comes to making any big decisions.

He added: “Erling will be thinking about where he can have more success in the way he is playing and not the money, he will get a lot of money anywhere. I think they will see where he can play his best football and where the team and manager can help him - so it’s difficult to say at this moment.”

Haaland is in demand as a remarkable record at Dortmund has seen him hit 49 goals in 51 appearances.

Further reading

Jack Grealish has been ruled out for "a few more weeks", but Aston Villa manager Dean Smith insists a niggling shin complaint for his talismanic captain is a not a "long-term" problem.

The Villans have been without their skipper since seeing him break down in the build-up to the Premier League defeat against Midlands rivals Leicester on February 21.

A return to training has been made, but Grealish suffered a setback ahead of the meeting with Fulham and finds himself back in the treatment room.

What has been said?

Villa boss Smith has told reporters when asked to offer an update on Grealish: "Jack had a setback obviously last week. Myself and Jack were probably a little too optimistic trying to get him back. 

"He wanted to be back for the Tottenham game (March 21) and we tried to push him for the Fulham game but he's had a setback which will probably keep him out for a few more weeks. We need to de-load him.

"The good news is is that it's not a long-term injury. He's mostly quite calm and we know he'll be back before the end of the season. It is what it is."

How many games will Grealish miss?

The 25-year-old midfielder has already sat out seven games for Villa. They have taken only eight points from the 21 on offer, but remain in the hunt for European qualification.

Smith will be eager to get Grealish back as soon as possible, while international ambitions with England heading towards this summer's European Championship also need to be taken into account.

Villa will not be rushing a prized asset, though, and will expect him to be sidelined through to the end of April. That would mean him missing meetings with Liverpool, Manchester City and West Brom - with the first of those fixtures set to take place on Saturday.

The Villans are due to face Everton at Goodison Park on May 1, which could be a possible return date for Grealish, with a testing run-in set to see them tackle Manchester United, Crystal Palace, Tottenham and Chelsea.

Further reading

Since adding the Champions League and Europa League to the FIFA series, EA Sports has released special squads containing the best players from that season's tournaments.

These squads usually have some of the highest rated players in the game, with Lionel Messi receiving a special 99-rated version in FIFA 19's Team of the Tournament: Knockout Stage squad.

The Team of the Knockout Stage is likely to return again for FIFA 21 and is due to be released in the coming weeks.

What is the FIFA 21 Team of the Knockout Stage?

Earlier in the season, EA Sports released the Champions League Team of the Group Stage, which celebrated the best players from the tournament's first six matchdays.

To follow on from this, a separate Team of the Knockout Stage is usually released with upgraded editions of the best performers from the round of 16 onwards.

A special squad of players from the Champions League is released as well as a small number of players from the Europa League.

These players will be available in packs for a week, while others will be available as untradeable cards through Weekly Objectives and Squad Building Challenges.

When will the FIFA 21 Team of the Knockout Stage be released?

It is expected that the FIFA 21 Champions League Team of the Knockout Stage could be released on Friday, April 16.

The Champions League Team of the Knockout Stage is usually released after the quarter-final stage of the tournament.

In FIFA 19, it was released on April 19 after the second legs of all the quarter-finals had been completed.

Which players are in the FIFA 21 Team of the Knockout Stage squad?

The Champions League Team of the Knockout Stage squad usually focuses on players who have helped their clubs reach the semi-finals.

However, sometimes players who have already been knocked out are included, especially if they put in excellent performances in the last 16 and last eight.

Cristiano Ronaldo is a regular in these squads, but is not expected to feature in the FIFA 21 Team of the Knockout Stage squad after Juventus were knocked out by Porto.

Four goals each for Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland in the round of 16 should ensure their inclusion, but Messi could miss out despite scoring in both games against Paris Saint-Germain.

Mbappe's case was furthered strengthened with a man of the match performance against Bayern Munich, with Neymar also doing his best to be included in the Team of the Knockout Stage squad.

What offers are available during the FIFA 21 Team of the Knockout Stage event?

During the Team of the Knockout Stage event, the majority of the upgraded players from the squad will be available in packs.

As a result, EA Sports will look to sell more packs on the Store, with promotional offers available for limited times.

Over the first weekend, lightning rounds will see additional Promo Packs added to the store for an hour at a time.

As well as these promotional packs, daily Squad Building Challenges (SBCs) will be released, containing untradeable players, packs and other items.

Yanga SC media liaison officer Hassan Bumbuli has called on the Mainland Premier League officials to ensure there is fair play in the second round.

The Premier League resumed on Thursday after a 14-day break that was meant to give honour to the departed President Pombe Magufuli.

Some Yanga fans have complained of unfairness especially in the last six games before the break where their team picked up four draws, a win and a loss.

The most controversial case was Pius Biswita struck in the stoppage time for Polisi Tanzania during a 1-1 draw on March 7.

"From the game that is coming and the other ones we believe there will be fair play. We do not expect the kind of officiating that occurred in the previous games to recur as it led to a lot of murmurs regarding fairness," Bumbuli told Azam TV.

"We do not expect it to occur again and that is why we have prepared our players for a very long time in order to make sure we are not the complainants. But we also believe the others be it referees or any other official, have been preparing well as we have been.

"They must make sure the 17 rules that run football are applied fairly. We have had our preparations and we believe even them have done their part so that we do not see millions of fans get angry due to poor decisions."

The official also gave an injury update ahead of a league tie against Kinondoni Municipal Council on Saturday.

"Farid Mussa and Balama Mapinduzi, as well as Mustapha Yassin, are the players we will miss," revealed Bumbuli. "The rest are okay but it is upon the coach to decide who will play for us then.

"Since he got a leg fracture, Balama has started individual and recovery training. We will be glad to see him fully recovered and resume the fight for the biggest team in the country.

"Haruna Niyonzima arrived on Thursday and so he is not going to be part of the matchday squad.

Bumbuli also stressed they are at the top courtesy of their hard work and told off those who have predicted them to drop before the season ends.

"Let me remind everyone that Yanga are leading now and those who have been leading on social media ranks must wait. Let them continue being happy for what they do not have," he concluded.

Bumbuli's sentiments come after striker Saido Ntibazonkiza praised the level of preparedness seen at the club.

"When I came, I had to watch the game from the stands and I had to decide to start my own training regime in order to be at par with the rest of the group that has been training all through," the Burundian said.

"We are now very competitive and if God protects us from any injury, then we are coming back to fight for something big.

"The fans need to support us as this is our year of success, I believe so."

Yanga will host KMC at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium at 19:00 EAT after winning the first-round game with a 2-1 margin.

Simba SC striker Meddie Kagere has stated they are keen to complete the job coach Didier Gomes Da Rosa has started when they play the reigning Caf Champions League champions Al Ahly on Friday night.

The two teams will be meeting in the final Group A game at WE Al-Ahly Stadium in Cairo with the East Africans aiming at completing a double over the champions after their 1-0 win in the last meeting at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Da es Salaam.

The Rwandan attacker is optimistic the 21-time Tanzania Mainland League champions will get a win in Egypt.

"Millions of supporters and fans out here believe and know that we are winners," Kagere said in a pre-match presser.

"Football is a game played in public and on the pitch. So when we say it is a do-or-die clash, we mean it is going to happen on the pitch.

"We need a win and all we want to do is to complete the massive work the coach has done for us. We are going to give our best and I believe we will get a positive outcome."

The former Gor Mahia striker has further explained why he is not expecting an easy game on Friday.

"We have a good team and we are playing a good team as well; it is expected because this is the Champions League competition and no team is easy," Kagere continued.

"But we are well prepared, and we will give our best to ensure we continue registering a positive outcome in the competition."

Wekundu wa Msimbazi have conceded just one goal in the five matches they have played. They have managed four wins and a draw, scoring nine goals in the process.

Their opponents have managed two wins, as many draws and a loss. They are the group's top scorers having scored 10 goals but have conceded five.

In another Group A match, AS Vita will host Al Merrikh in a dead rubber game. The Congolese charges have four points. They have won one game, drawn once, and lost three. After scoring seven goals, they have conceded 11.

The Red Devils are at the bottom with two points from two draws. They have lost three matches; they have further conceded 12 goals and scored just three.

Ibrahima Konate could find himself lining up alongside Virgil van Dijk in the not too distant future, as talk of interest from Liverpool rumbles on, but the Frenchman has put a commanding Netherlands international behind Sergio Ramos on his list of top centre-halves.

A highly-rated Frenchman has become the latest RB Leipzig star to see a move to Anfield mooted, with Jurgen Klopp and the rest of Dayot Upamecano's many suitors forced to turn their attention elsewhere after seeing Bayern Munich win that recruitment race.

Konate boasts the potential to be a long-term solution for any number of clubs, with Liverpool eager to bolster their ranks after enduring an injury-hit 2020-21 campaign, but the 21-year-old may not have endeared himself to those on Merseyside when offering his take on some of Europe's top defensive talent.

What has been said?

Konate has been speaking to the Umm YouTube channel and taken part in their 'In That Order' game, which presented him with quite the poser when it comes to the best centre-halves around.

He said when asked to rank star turns from Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich: "Ramos. Number one of course. Van Dijk then [David] Alaba."

Why does Ramos get the nod?

While Liverpool supporters will back their man in any debate regarding the best centre-half on the planet, Ramos' longevity means that he will figure prominently in any such discussion.

He is now 35 years of age and seemingly approaching the end of a distinguished career, but he is not done yet and remains a key man for club and country.

Real Madrid are expected to continue discussing fresh terms with their talismanic captain, as he edges towards free agency, while a record-setting haul of 180 caps have been collected with Spain.

Ramos is a World Cup and European Championship winner, while an enviable roll of honour also includes five La Liga titles and four Champions League crowns.

Van Dijk has also tasted domestic and continental success while at Anfield and, at 29 years of age, will feel that he has enough time in which to secure a standing among the all-time greats before hanging up his own boots.

The bigger picture

Speculation regarding a move to pair Van Dijk with Konate in 2021-22 appears set to drag on into the summer, with Jurgen Klopp in the process of identifying transfer targets for Liverpool.

Issues at the back have severely hampered his cause this season, with the Reds knocked from the loftiest of Premier League perches, but a freshening up of the ranks on Merseyside appears to be on the cards.

Konate would be a sound solution for the present and future, given the potential that is still to be unlocked in his game, but he will not come cheap as Leipzig have him tied to a contract through to 2023.

Further reading