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Khouma Babacar found the back of the net while Mbwana Samatta was in action as Fenerbahce beat Alanyaspor 2-1 in Thursday’s Super Lig game.

Babacar made his 12th league appearance this season as a second-half substitute in the encounter and delivered scintillating performances.

The forward scored his fourth league goal of the campaign but his effort was not enough to save Cagdas Atan’s men from defeat.

Samatta, meanwhile, came off the bench to make his ninth Super Lig appearance since teaming up with Fenerbahce in the summer on a season-long loan from Aston Villa.

The Tanzania international gave a good account of himself to help his side secure their 10th league win of the season.

Sinan Gumus opened the scoring for the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium outfit as early as the 12th minutes after he was set up by Ozan Tufan.

Fenerbahce were handed an opportunity to double their lead in the 67th minute from the penalty spot but Enner Valencia missed his strike.

Dimitris Pelkas then increased the Yellow Canaries’ lead in the 70th minute, firing his strike beyond the reach of goalkeeper Marafona.

In an effort to turn around the game to his favour, manager Atan brought on Senegal international Babacar in the 71st minute.

The forward soon made his presence felt when he reduced the deficit for Alanyaspor 10 minutes after his introduction into the game.

 Samatta replaced Senegal forward Mame Thiam with 15 minutes left to play and he played his part in his side’s victory.

The forward had 10 touches on the ball, struck one shot and had a 100 percent successful pass rate in the encounter.

With the result, Alanyaspor dropped to the fourth spot on the Super Lig table after gathering 30 points from 17 games.

Fenerbahce, meanwhile, moved to the second spot on the table after accruing 32 points from 16 league outings.

The Senegal and the Tanzania stars will be expected to continue their eye-catching displays for their respective clubs in their next games.

Azam FC have started their campaign in the 2021 edition of Mapinduzi Cup with a 1-1 draw with Mlandege at Amani Stadium on Thursday night.

Congolese striker Mopiana Mozizi scored on his debut to hand the Ice-cream a first-half lead before Rashid Mandawa replied for the opponents.

The 2014 Tanzania Mainland League champions came into the match hoping to start well and go top of Group C. The Chamazi-based charges coach George Lwandamina opted to give some fringe players a chance to show what they are capable of doing.

Wilbol Maseke was started in goal, with Bruce Kangwa, Daniel Amoah, and Yakubu Mohamed also getting their chance.

Mlandege had played their first group game on Wednesday against Malindi and ended up registering a 0-0 draw. A win for them on Thursday was vital to help them stand a chance of advancing to the next phase.

However, it was the Ice-cream Makers who scored in the 30th minute courtesy of the new signing Mozizi. It happened to be the only goal in the only goal in the first half.

In the second half, both teams gave their best to get a favourable result. Azam tried to keep the scores intact but their opponents upped their tempo hoping to get an equalizer.

With two minutes to go, Mlandege managed to get their equalizer courtesy of Mandawa and deny Azam maximum points.

Mlandege have now managed to get two points from as many matches while Azam are on one point.

The 2014 Tanzania Mainland League champions are the most successful in the annual competition, having won it a record five times.

Last season, they were eliminated in the last four by Simba SC. The teams settled to a goalless draw in regular time before Wekundu wa Msimbazi registered a 3-2 shootout win to advance to the finals where they eventually lost by a solitary goal to Mtibwa Sugar.

On Friday, Young Africans (Yanga SC) will be playing Namungo hoping to get maximum points after their 0-0 draw in their initial game against Jamhuri. Simba SC will be playing Chipukizi.

Feisal, Kaseke, Yasin Mustapha, Farid Mussa, Bakari Mwamnyeto, and Ditram Nchimbi are absent for Wananchi owing to Taifa Stars engagements.  

NorthEast United (11) and Hyderabad (12) are separated by only one point before they face each other in an Indian Super League (ISL) encounter at the Tilak Maidan in Vasco, on Friday evening.

TV CHANNELS & LIVE STREAM

The Star Sports Network have the exclusive broadcasting rights of the ISL in India.

Commentary will also be available in vernacular languages across India.

 TEAM NEWS

NorthEast United Possible XI:   

Injured - Kwesi Appiah 
Doubtful - None
Suspended - None

Key Players - Idrissa Sylla, Federico Gallego

Hyderabad Possible XI: 

Injured - Nikhil Poojari 
Doubtful - Fran Sandaza
Suspended - None

Key Players -  Aridane Santana, Joel Chianese  

Moussa Dembele is not interested in a move to West Ham despite reports suggesting the Hammers have enquired about the Lyon striker, Goal understands.

The Premier League side are on the brink of selling Sebastien Haller to Ajax and so are on the lookout for a replacement this month.

Reports in France suggested David Moyes' side had identified Dembele as a possible target and made preliminary enquiries. However, the former Celtic striker is not interested in a move to the London Stadium, though he has not ruled out leaving Lyon during the January window.

Reports also indicate that Atletico Madrid have contacted the French club about the possibility of signing the 25-year-old, who has two-and-a-half years remaining on his current deal. Like West Ham, Atleti are also on the lookout for a new striker after releasing Diego Costa from his contract six months early.

Diego Simeone’s side are proposing an initial loan deal with the option to buy in the summer for a fee in the region of €35 million (£32m/$43m) including bonuses. No agreement has yet been reached, but if Lyon do sell Dembele they are expected to approach Leicester over a deal to sign Islam Slimani as his replacement.

The Algeria international is into the final six months of his contract at the King Power Stadium and appears to have no future at the club. He has made just one appearance for the Foxes this campaign and has been sent out on loan in each of the last three seasons, most recently with Ligue 1 side Monaco.

Dembele meanwhile was linked with Manchester United over the summer after a dazzling 2019-20 campaign that saw him hit 24 goals in all competitions. However, the former Fulham youngster has struggled badly this term, hitting the back of the net just once in 16 appearances.

He is currently recovering from a broken arm suffered in training shortly before Christmas and is not expected to return to full fitness until mid-February.

In total, he has scored 45 goals in 105 appearances for Rudi Garcia’s side since joining from Celtic in the summer of 2018.

Arsenal have completed the signing of Omar Rekik from Hertha Berlin.

The 19-year-old will join the Gunners' Under 23s side after penning a professional contract with the club.

Bild reports Arsenal have agreed to pay Hertha around £540,000 to land the centre-back, who had periods in the youth academies of Feyenoord, PSV, Manchester City and Marseille before joining the German side.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta confirmed on Thursday that the defender's arrival was all but complete, telling reporters at a press conference: "He’s a young talent that we’ve been following for a while that we believe has a really bright future."

The Tunisia Under 21 international is yet to make his senior debut, having played regularly in the fourth-tier of German football with Hertha Berlin II this season, but he was an unused substitute in three Bundesliga matches last season.

"It feels great to be here after a long time of hard work. It feels great. I moved in three weeks ago and I’ve been in quarantine, so I can’t wait to get started," Rekik told Arsenal's website.

"The warmth of the people and the interest that they showed in me, and of course, when a club like Arsenal is interested, I don’t think anyone needs to think twice. 

"I’m a winner. I always want to win, and that’s with everything, not only football, ever since I was a kid. My style of play? I’m a central defender and I like to play with the ball, I like to play out from the back, and I think this is also the structure of the club. It fits perfectly."

Rekik says Arsenal's playing style played a key role in his choosing to continue his career in north London.

"With Mikel Arteta, if you watch the games, he’s not a coach who thinks quickly to play a long ball. Of course, when needed, you have to do it, but I think the style of play fits," he added.

"As a young player, you need to play somewhere where they’re not afraid to give you a chance and you can see a lot of youth players have broken through here, and I want to be the next one."

Rekik, who is the north London side's first signing of the January transfer window, was linked with a move to the English capital in the summer transfer window, but a move did not materialise.

The Gunners recently loaned out defender William Saliba, who has linked up with Nice for the rest of the season.

Guediawaye Football Club have confirmed the appointment of former Liverpool forward El Hadji Diouf as the club’s sporting director.

Five years after calling time on his playing career, the two-time African Player of the Year will commence life as an administrator with the Senegalese second division outfit.

There, the 39-year-old, who also starred for Bolton Wanderers and Blackburn Rovers, among several clubs during his active days, will be aiming to help the Dakar-based outfit return to the Senegal Premier League at the end of the 2020-21 campaign.

Following the sacking of former president Pape Thialiss Faye, Guediawaye FC - a team that emerged as champions of the 2014 Coupe de la Ligue - are embarking on a long-term project of establishing themselves in the top tier.

"We have new mechanisms in place to move forward, with a management team, a college for the management of the club. In the college, the novelty is the creation of a position of Sports Director for which we negotiated and obtained the appointment of El Hadj Ousseynou Diouf," said club’s communication chief Malick Sy per Lesoleil.sn.

Should they achieve their aim of earning a berth in Senegal's top flight, Sy further revealed the club are eyeing a place in a continental competition in three years’ time, while their five-year target will be to have a full training centre.

Diouf was part of the Senegalese golden generation that helped the West African country finish as runners-up at the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations in Mali, before making their World Cup debut in South Korea and Japan, where they stunned reigning world champions France in their opening game.

The outspoken forward was hot property back in 2002, with Reds coach Gerard Houllier moving early that summer to secure his signature in a £10 million ($13m) deal from Ligue 1 side RC Lens.

He was, however, to flop badly on Merseyside, recording just six goals in his debut campaign and none in his second. Nevertheless, he would go on to enjoy some success in England with the likes of Bolton and Blackburn, but he was seldom the same player at club level as for his country.

His last active involvement in football was as a player for Malaysian side Sabah FC during the 2014/2015 season, and he was also once invited by Senegal coach Aliou Cisse to assist in the training of the Senegal senior national team on a part-time basis.

Kaizer Chiefs forward Lazarous Kambole says they are focused on getting the business done when they face former coach Ernst Middendorp in Saturday’s Premier Soccer League (PSL) clash against Maritzburg United at FNB Stadium.

After Middendorp led Chiefs to an agonising near-miss of the league title last season, Kambole says it will be an “emotional game” coming up against their ex-coach.

Amakhosi face a Maritzburg side that has improved under the German and has not lost in two straight games, including recording their first win of the season in their last game against Bloemfontein Celtic.

“Coming from the win I think they are motivated so they are not going to be easy. We just have to go all out and make sure we win the game. It’s going to be an emotional game [facing Middendorp] but business is business so we will talk on the pitch,” Kambole told Chiefs’ media team.

While Maritzburg are satisfied after notching their first victory of the campaign, Chiefs are equally high in confidence after a history-making Caf Champions League outing.

They beat Angolan giants Primeiro Agosto 1-0 on aggregate to reach the tournament’s group stage for the first time ever.

This was on the backdrop of the Soweto giants going for six consecutive PSL games without tasting victory, and they last won a match in October 2020, their only victory in eight league matches.

Amid all their domestic woes and mounting pressure, Gavin Hunt became the first coach to guide Amakhosi into the Champions League group stage.

Kambole feels their Champions League performance will help them pick up form on the domestic front.

“I’m happy with the result [in Angola], I’m happy that we have qualified to the group stage of the Champions League,” said Kambole.

“It wasn’t an easy game. We have not been doing well in a couple of games but we fought in Angola and this game has given us confidence [going into] the next game.

“It’s not going to be easy [switching from Champions League to PSL]. Of course it will be different from the Champions League because PSL has it’s own style of play. We have been playing in the PSL for a very long time so we know what the league is all about. We are prepared. It’s not going to be easy but we are soldiers and we are ready.”

Kambole has managed just a goal for Chiefs in 21 appearances across all competition since arriving at Naturena in July 2019.

But the Zambian, who has featured in just two league games this season, feels that he is on the path to improve his personal fortunes.

“We just have to continue working extra hard, believing in what I can do on the pitch. I am on the right track and by the grace of God I will start scoring and things will get back to normal,” Kambole said.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has praised Folarin Balogun for the progress he has made since joining the club. 

The forward teamed up with the Gunners’ youth team in 2008 and was handed his first professional contract in February 2019.

Balogun was promoted to the first-team in October 2020 and made his debut against Dundalk in a Europa League game.

The young attacker has been turning heads since linking up with Arteta’s men, scoring twice in as many appearances in the European competition, amid other dazzling displays.

The Gunners boss is impressed with the development of the 19-year-old and promised he would continue to have an opportunity to showcase his talent for the club.

"His progression and the use of the time that he's had with us has been incredible. He will keep having chances while he's with us," Arteta told the club website.

Balogun is in negotiation with the Emirates Stadium outfit for a new contract as his current deal is set to expire at the end of the season.  

He will hope to get some minutes under his belt when the Gunners take on Newcastle United in their next outing on Saturday.

The Emirates Stadium outfit are currently 11th on the league table after gathering 23 points from 17 games.

The 19-year-old attacker has made five appearances for Arsenal but he is yet to feature in the English top-flight for the club.

He has, however, played 10 games for the club in Premier League 2 in the current campaign, scoring two goals and providing one assist.

Balogun, born in New York, United States, to Nigerian parents, has represented England at U17, U18 and U20 level.

The forward is, however, still eligible to represent the Super Eagles and has previously revealed his interest to feature for the three-time African champions.

Odisha FC registered their first win of the 2020-21 Indian Super League (ISL) season after a 4-2 win over Kerala Blasters at the GMC Stadium in Bambolim, Goa, on Thursday. 

An inspired performance from Diego Mauricio saw Stuart Baxter's men script a comeback after going down to an early goal. 

Odisha FC head coach Stuart Baxter was a relieved man after their first win in nine games. He praised his charges for playing as a unit. He, however, mentioned that this was not the first instance when the Kalinga Warriors showed spark this season. 

"Very pleased. Very pleased with the players. We changed the way we are going to play. We had Jacob (Tratt) at right back. We had Gaurav Bora playing as a centre back. Giving away a goal and then coming back totally dominating in the next 75 minutes of the game, it was an awesome performance," Stuart Baxter said after the game. 

"We have shown that potential in almost every game. In the beginning, it was sporadic, we made too many mistakes, all the way to the East Bengal game. We gave away too many goals which made the hill to heavy to climb," he added. 

Odisha FC pressed Kerala Blasters with purpose and Baxter said that it was a part of the game plan as they wanted to break the opponents' game early and capitalise on their mistakes.

"It was part of the game plan. With only two centre-midfield players, we wanted to breakup their play earlier. We were going to commit Nandhakumar and Jerry (Mawihmingthanga). If we lost the ball, we had four payers ready to counter. We want to press the ball," Baxter said. 

The British manager is confident that the win will be a catalyst for his team to improve their performances. He also pointed out that the squad is on a high and becoming better with time. Besides that, Baxter wants his players to give in their all in the remaining matches. 

"I certainly hope so. We started the season with defeats. I have never seen that glum feeling. I am hoping this is a bit of catalyst to go on a better run. The squad has been on a positive spiral we are becoming better and better. I think it's getting better. I was really really upset after giving away two goals against East Bengal," he said.  

"The minimum for me is that every player gives everything he has got in every situation. And the end of the season I want to see if they end on fourth place or 10th place or whatever," he added.  

Alex Iwobi believes Everton are as good as his former Arsenal team and they have the quality to perform well in European competitions.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side made a promising start to the 2020-21 season and the 24-year-old has likened the talent at Goodison Park to Arsene Wenger’s men.

Everton, currently placed seventh on the table, endured a four-game winless run in the Premier League back in late October, with three consecutive defeats to Southampton, Newcastle United and Manchester United, which has made the Nigeria star call for more consistency in their performances for the remainder of the season.

“I think we are good enough to compete in Europe,” Iwobi the club website. “This Everton side is as good as the Arsenal teams I was in, 100 per cent.

“We have talented, international players, in the team and on the bench.

“The chemistry in the dressing room is great. Seamus grabbed us together and said we could do better.

“We always discuss our potential and what we should be achieving. It is good to get every player’s idea on what they believe we can improve.

“We know we can give a lot more in games like those at Southampton and Newcastle – we see the quality in training every day.

“It needs to consistently come out on the pitch and all of us know we can improve and offer more.”

Iwobi started his football career at the Arsenal academy at the tender age of nine before he earned his maiden professional deal at the Emirates Stadium.

He became a key player for the Gunners and later moved to Everton on a five-year deal in 2019, but the Super Eagles midfielder revealed why he owes his success to his family and his supporters.

He continued: “Every day I try to prove to myself I should be here, that I should be playing for Everton. That I should be in the starting XI. That I should be representing my country.

“I always have that motivation. Especially because of what my family went through for me to get where I am.

“It gives me that hunger to improve myself and I work every day to try to do that.

“I had a lot of downs growing up. Moments when I was told I wasn’t good enough, times when I was almost released by Arsenal.

“I want to fight for not just me but the hundreds of thousands of Evertonians and the people who follow and support me. I feel I owe it to them to give 100 per cent every day.

“And I always want to do well for my family. Everything I do is for them.”

Iwobi missed Everton's 1-0 loss to West Ham United on New Year's Day, but he might be in contention for their FA Cup outing against Rotherham United on Saturday.

Czech National Football League side FK Dukla Prague have announced the signing of Sunday Faleye.

The forward put pen to paper on a three-year deal at the Stadion Juliska outfit after successful medical examinations.

Faleye last played for Austrian second division side FC Wacker Innsbruck, where he found game time difficult to come by, featuring only in 10 league games.

In an effort to enjoy more playing opportunities, the forward has teamed up with Roman Skuhravy’s men until the summer of 2024.

Faleye has expressed his delight to join the Czech second division side and hopes to help the club achieve success.

"I am excited to have become a part of Dukla. I will try to do my best on the field and help the team to get as many points as possible,” Faleye told the club website.

FK Dukla Prague sports director Jan Stanek revealed his joy with the acquisition of the 22-year-old forward.

"I am very happy that we managed to catch the arrival of the first selected player, we are discussing the others,” Stanek said.

“We stood a lot on Sunday, it has very interesting advantages and preconditions. It increases our danger in attack, he is very strong one on one.

“We sometimes lacked more courage in these moments in the autumn and Sunday should clearly help us. Most opponents defend against us, so we need players who can bring us an advantage.”

Faleye featured for Shooting Stars and Akwa United in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) before moving abroad to join SCR Altach and then Wacker Innsbruck.

The forward featured for Nigeria’s U23 side prominently and also represented the Super Eagles' home-based team.

Faleye will link up with his compatriot Michael Ugwu and Ivory Coast midfielder Mohamed Doumbia at Stadion Juliska.

The attacker could make his debut for FK Dukla Prague when they take on Taborsko in their next league game on January 10.

Milton Karisa and Saidi Kyeyune were on target as Uganda picked up a 3-0 win over Niger at the Annex 2 Omnisport Stadium on Thursday, in a pre-African Nations Championship (Chan) encounter.

The Cranes emerged victorious in their last engagement in the mini-tournament as they now are set to focus on the actual event.

Karisa scored Uganda’s opening goal in the second minute and that was his second of the tournament. In the 10th minute, Kyeyune added the second for the Cranes and it would have been three had Joachim Ojera tapped home a fine cross that was played to him by Viane Ssekajuugo.

Karisa scored the third in the 14th minute to take his tally to three goals in the four-nations tournament.

In the 57th minute, coach Johnathan McKinstry made a change as he introduced midfielder Tony Mawejje for Shafiq Kagimu, as Uganda looked more comfortable in dealing with their opponents.

Joel Mutakubwa had to be attended by the medical team in the 61st minute when he collided with an opponent as he made an attempt to clear the ball.

Ssekajugo, who had a good day against Zambia when he scored the two goals, was substituted in the 77th minute and his place was taken by Vipers SC’s Ibrahim Orit. The last change by Uganda was made in the dying minutes of an encounter they largely dominated as Kyeyune was withdrawn and Bobosi Byaruhanga came on.

Niger were unable to find a way to get even a consolation goal against the Cecafa champions who will now start their journey to Daoula where their Chan matches will be hosted.

McKinstry had said the Niger game was important for his side given that it will give them a glimpse of what to expect from Togo during a Group C encounter.

"Niger play physical, fast and direct football,” McKinstry said in an interview. “The biggest aspect of the game against Niger will be for the players to understand what kind of football they will face against Togo.

“A lot of the young boys in the squad have not come across this kind of football. Not many of them have experience and Thursday will be preparation for Togo. It is time to get their feet in the water so that they can understand and hopefully we can put up another top performance like in the previous two games.”

The Niger game was the last for Uganda, who picked up a 1-1 draw against Cameroon before they downed Zambia 2-0 in the second match.

Kerala Blasters suffered a disappointing 2-4 defeat against Odisha FC in the 2020-21 Indian Super League (ISL) clash at the GMC Stadium in Bambolim, Goa.

The loss sees Kerala Blasters sitting in the second last position in the table with six points from nine matches. Kerala Blasters head coach Kibu Vicuna was quick to apologise to the supporters for their poor performance. 

"I want to say sorry to all the supporters. We did not play a good match and committed too many mistakes. This is not the team that we want to see and sorry for that," Kibu Vicuna said after the game. 

Vicuna said that his team were not at their tactical best throughout the match but expressed hope that the team will improve. He also mentioned that he was looking for a response from the team in their next match which comes up on Sunday against Jamshedpur FC. 

"Everything (was wrong) because tactically we commit a mistake and the result. The good thing is we have a game on Sunday and we have to react. We need to focus on the next game to get all the three points," he said. 

"Well, when you concede four goals, its impossible to get points. Today we will analyze the match but is a tough night for us," he added.

Kerala Blasters have used different pairs of centre-backs in the previous matches. Vicuna revealed that players' fitness has been a reason for that and he has had to rotate them according to their condition. 

"Yes, we have players that are not ready to play. Yesterday we had a problem with Costa (Nhaimonesu). In the last training, he worsened his injury and could not play tonight. He was recovering after an injury," he said. 

"In football, we have to keep going, I believe this team can play better, we have shown in matches. We have to recover from this loss. We have to play better in every aspect of the game." 

Former Kaizer Chiefs forward Pollen Ndlanya says 2021 “will be a special year” for the Soweto giants whom he believes stand a “real chance to win the Caf Champions League” despite facing reigning African champions Al Ahly and Mamelodi Sundowns as potential group stage opponents.

The Champions League draw will be held in Cairo on Friday.

In their first-ever group stage participation, bottom-seeded Chiefs could be drawn in the same pool as their Gauteng rivals Mamelodi Sundowns who are in Pot 2.

The Soweto giants could also find themselves in the same group with top-seeded and defending champions Al Ahly who are coached by former Downs tactician Pitso Mosimane.

With Chiefs also facing the possibility of playing the likes of Esperance, TP Mazembe, Wydad Casablanca and Zamalek, Ndlanya regards his former team as “one of the biggest teams on the continent” and has confidence that Gavin Hunt’s men could be crowned African champions.

“I feel positive that the club has a real chance to win the African Champions League. This will be my dream and deepest wish for the fans and the best possible way we can celebrate the club's 51st birthday in style,” Ndlanya told Chiefs’ media.

“Kaizer Chiefs is one of the biggest team on the continent thanks to the dedication and hard work of the founding fathers and past players, duly assisted by the technical teams, management and staff, whose efforts have all contributed to reaching this milestone.

“Kaizer Chiefs is an iconic global brand today because of everyone’s contribution, love and passion. The Chairman has dedicated his life to the success of the Club and has worked tirelessly to build this world-class team and facility, the Village. After all the challenges that came in 2020, I believe that with help of God, 2021 will be a special year for Kaizer Chiefs.”

Although Chiefs are struggling on the domestic front, Ndlanya’s confidence in his former team might be emanating from the fact that they are unbeaten in all their four Champions League matches.

Impressively, Chiefs have won away in Cameroon against PWD Bamenda as well as in Luanda against Angolan champions Primeiro Agosto.

Meanwhile, Amakhosi chairman Kaizer Motaung has blamed the coronavirus pandemic for the team’s faltering in last season’s Premier Soccer League (PSL) title race.

It was a spectacular fall for the then Ernst Middendorp-coached Amakhosi who had led the standings for 28 games and came within 31 minutes of clinching the league crown.

But they drew 1-1 with Baroka FC on the last day of the campaign to allow Sundowns to overtake them right at the death as they needed a win to claim the league title for the first time since 2015.

“Our 50th anniversary was meant to be a special moment in history,” Motaung told the club website.

"But as we all know our plans were interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic. We started brightly and focused our attention to lifting the Premiership until Covid-19 struck and halted our plans. We lost the title at the final hurdle of the league marathon.

“Be that as it may, we are entering this anniversary, with a renewed commitment to do our best. We still face difficulties and challenges given the continued pandemic, but we remain positive with the promise of hope as we seek out the opportunities to claw back what belongs to us.”

Chiefs' difficulties in the current PSL campaign has seen them win just one league match, drawing four and losing three, just two points better than bottom-placed Black Leopards.

Taiwo Awoniyi said he is focused on helping Union Berlin in the Bundesliga with his contributions in front of goal.

The 23-year-old striker, who is on a season-long loan in Berlin from Liverpool, has scored five goals in his 12 league appearances for the Iron Ones so far this campaign and he is their second-highest goal scorer after Max Kruse (six goals).

On Saturday, Awoniyi helped Urs Fischer's side cruised to a 2-0 victory at Werder Bremen with a goal and an assist in the encounter.

The result stretched Union Berlin's unbeaten run in the Bundesliga to four matches as they climbed to fifth on the league table with 24 points after 14 matches.

When asked about his recent form, Awoniyi told the Bundesliga website: "For me it's always about the team. Always fighting, working, doing everything for the team.

“And for a striker, I believe once you put that first, the rest of the things will come."

The Nigeria youth star, who is currently in his seventh loan spell away from Anfield, is yet to play for Liverpool since he joined from Nigeria’s Imperial Academy in 2015.

Awoniyi is in contention to make his 10th Bundesliga start of the season and he will be aiming to continue his goalscoring form when Union Berlin host Wolfsburg on Saturday.

Meanwhile, his compatriot Anthony Ujah is still nursing a knee injury and has been ruled out of the game scheduled for the Stadion An der Alten Forsterei.

“Our squad is big enough. Sure, in the striker position, we have Kruse, Pohjanpalo, Ujah injured,” Fischer said in a press briefing on Thursday.

“In the current situation, I’m not stressed. It’s about the guys who are available. Oli Ruhnert has clearly said we are looking. We’ll see if successful.”

Sports Club Villa midfielder Salim Abdallah has reacted to his lack of playing time at the Ugandan Premier League side.

The 20-year-old has been enjoying minutes only from the substitutes bench since he was promoted to the first team in the 2019/20 season.

The starlet is hopeful his time would come as he continues to put in the necessary effort.

“I know very many people think I should be getting more game time and even be able to start games but that is for the technical team to decide,” Abdallah told the club’s website.

“I am putting in all the hard work and concentration so that when the time comes for me to feature more often, I will perform exceptionally.

“I am patient, my time to shine will come and I urge the fans to be patient too.

“But as I wait for my time to come, I am working on some crucial elements of my game. In this break we are having now, I am working hard so as to improve my physical strength as physicality is a very important aspect of the modern game.

“I am also learning a lot from fellow offensive midfielders about ball distribution leading to assists to my teammates and also scoring goals because they win games.”

SC Villa have had a tradition of graduating their players from the youth sides to the senior ones and Abdallah is among the latest additions. The midfielder is happy that those who were promoted are doing well now.

“I am always happy seeing others succeed,” he added. “It is good seeing Benson Muhindo, Abdallah Ssekandi and Gavin Kizito become integral members of the senior side.

“As you very well know, Gavin is the biggest amongst us right now; he is already commanding a place in the starting XI, very disciplined and never depletes in performance. You can see from his performances that a big bright future awaits him.”

As he keeps on working hard in anticipation of a league start and regular minutes, Abdallah has set his eyes on winning matches for the Jogoos.

 “I will most definitely feature more often for my team as it has been this season. I hope to get my first league start and also help my team win more games when the league returns,” he concluded.

“I would like to thank the coaches and my teammates for the enormous support overtime. Above all, I thank Allah because it has always been Allah enabling me to achieve all these milestones in my career.”  

The Ugandan league is on a break which was necessitated by the qualification of the national side for the upcoming African Nations Championship tournament.

England boss Phil Neville has agreed to manage Team GB at the rescheduled Tokyo Olympics next summer but may change his mind and join Inter Miami, says the Football Association's director of women's football Dame Sue Campbell.

Neville is reported to have held talks with the MLS side, which is owned by his former Manchester United team-mate David Beckham, about the vacant manager’s job.

The club are on the lookout for a new boss after announcing on Thursday that current head coach Diego Alonso had left after just over a year and 23 games in charge.

Neville meanwhile has already agreed to step down as England head coach when his current contract expires in July, just a month before Team GB are due to compete at the Olympic Games.

Campbell says the former Manchester United full-back wants to manage the side in Japan, but that Miami’s approach may force a rethink.

"We did make a decision that Phil [Neville] would lead Team GB in November and we were moving towards an announcement when he started to have these discussions [with Inter Miami]” Campbell told BBC Sport.

"Until those discussions are concluded, I can't really say any more. If Phil remains, he will be Team GB coach. If he goes, we obviously have something to think about and work through. That is where we are.

"It is his long-term future and it is up to him to make his decision. I'm certainly not privy to any detailed conversations he is having with Inter Miami but I know he is having conversations.

"We have some time on our hands but we all want to know and particularly the players, who are our priority. Once we know the decision about Phil, we will move quickly to find the right solution.”

Neville has yet to manage on the men's side of the game, bar a very brief spell as caretaker boss of Salford City. He did spend a year as an assistant at Manchester United under David Moyes before working under his brother, Gary, and Nuno Espirito Santo at Valencia.

Netherlands coach Sarina Wiegman has already agreed to succeed Neville as Lionesses boss after the Tokyo Olympics.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will find himself under pressure at Manchester United unless he delivers a trophy says Gary Neville, with more semi-final heartache endured by the Red Devils in 2020-21.

Having fallen at that hurdle on three occasions last season, questions are being asked of whether the players at Old Trafford are mentally strong enough to land major silverware.

Solskjaer has steered around that debate, with the Norwegian refusing to read too much into what he considers to be a run of back luck.

Having collected many medals as a player, the former United striker is aware of the expectation in Manchester.

Neville believes a coach who has already faced plenty of criticism throughout his reign needs to start hitting targets, as rivals Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola have done, in order to remain in his current post long-term.

The United legend told Sky Sports after witnessing a 2-0 defeat to Manchester City in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup: “I said before that I felt there was more expectation on this game for me as a Man United fan than there will be a week on Sunday against Liverpool at Anfield.

"No one this season expected Man United to challenge for the league title, but I think there was a feeling: win a trophy.

“Ole, at the end of this season, will have been there two-and-a-half years, and to go two-and-a-half years without a trophy, it will start to bring a pressure, because it helps you on your way.

“Jurgen Klopp needed a trophy and eventually got the Champions League. Pep Guardiola won the League Cup, Jose Mourinho at various clubs has won the League Cup just to get them going. He needed something and they were so close to a final with this game and in good form.

“It does pose a problem. I wouldn't say, sat here as a Man United fan, it causes me a great problem, that in any way shape or form I'm looking at the manager's job at any point, but it will bring pressure down the line. Because if they go to Anfield and lose, people will then say 'glass half empty' again. It can turn like that.

“The reason Ole will not be resting on his laurels is because when you're in a job which presents the problem he had four, five, six weeks ago when he had people questioning whether he'd make it through to the end of the season.

"When it gets good, like it has in the last couple of days when they're joint-top of the league and have a game in hand now on Liverpool, and they're in a semi-final, people think everything is fantastic, you don't get carried away the other way, either.”

Before the crunch clash with arch-rivals Liverpool, United have an FA Cup third-round date with Watford and a midweek trip to another north west neighbour, Burnley.