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Hector Bellerin is delighted to see fans back in some Premier League stadiums ahead of Arsenal’s north London derby clash with Tottenham on Sunday.

The Spain international says there is nothing more sad for a footballer than playing in an empty stadium, and he believes having supporters gives an advantage to the home team.

On Thursday, Arsenal welcomed supporters back to the Emirates Stadium for the first time since March and put on a show with a 4-1 thrashing of Rapid Vienna in the Europa League.

“The fans give an advantage to the home team,” Bellerin told beIN SPORTS. “When you do get the win away it’s a completely different feeling, for different reasons.

“There’s no better feeling than being able to share the win at home with your fans.

“I’ve missed them so much. It’s so difficult for me when the game’s finished and I walk around the pitch. To thank the fans ... playing with an empty stadium, there’s nothing more sad than that for a football player.

“The synergy you get with them when you win, or you score a goal; 60,000 people unite on the same wavelength and we’re really missing that as players."

The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will be far from full on derby day, with only 2,000 supporters permitted into the 62,000-capacity arena, but it is a welcome step towards some semblance of normality in the English game.

Whatever the attendance, Bellerin is sure the fixture will live up to expectations.

“It doesn’t matter what stage of the season it is. It doesn’t matter whether you’re playing for something or not, it is always such a meaningful game.”

The right-back also recalled some of his favourite memories from the derby.

“There was a 4-1 or 4-2 at the Emirates … there was a 2-2 at White Hart Lane that, even though it wasn’t a win, I remember as a really tough game and entertaining.

“I’ve always enjoyed the pressure and the aggression of those games. I miss not being able to play with fans. They bring such an atmosphere to those kind of games. It’s not going to be the same.”

Patrick Vieira has been sacked from his position as manager of Ligue 1 club Nice.

A club statement released on Friday morning said: "Having arrived at OGC Nice in the summer of 2018, Patrick Vieira is no longer the coach of OGC Nice as of today.

"In an interview after last night’s meeting, the Nice board informed Patrick Vieira of their decision to end their collaboration."

Nice have confirmed Adrien Ursea as interim manager for their trip to Reims in Ligue 1 this weekend.

Former Arsenal midfielder Vieira has departed Nice after two and a half years in charge, with the club having lost their previous five games in all competitions and been eliminated from the Europa League at the group stage.

The 44-year-old former France international had also been criticised by fans for Nice's uninspiring style of play, and he leaves the club, who are hoping to qualify for Europe again this season, 11th in the Ligue 1 table.

His last domestic game in charge saw Nice draw 1-1 with Dijon, currently bottom of Ligue 1, while Vieira's final match came on Thursday as they lost 3-2 to Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League, with a number of Nice fans protesting against his management outside the stadium before kick-off.

Vieira arrived at Nice in May 2018 having previously been in charge of MLS side New York City FC and having worked on the coaching staff at Manchester City following his retirement as a player.

In his two full seasons in charge of Nice, Vieira took the club to seventh and sixth in Ligue 1, earning Europa League qualification last season thanks in part to the French football campaign being ended early as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

During his playing days, Vieira was one of the most respected central midfielders in football, helping France win the 1998 World Cup on home soil and the European Championships two years later.

At club level, he is most closely associated with Arsenal where he played between 1996 and 2005. He won three Premier League titles, most notably being part of the Invincibles side which won the 2003-04 domestic league without losing a match.

Vieira was linked with the Arsenal manager's job both when Arsene Wenger and successor Unai Emery left the role, which is currently occupied by Mikel Arteta.

SC Villa coach Edward Kaziba has exuded confidence they will start their 2020-21 Ugandan Premier League (UPL) season with a win when they take on BUL FC on Friday.

The Jogoos, who are the record winners of the league with 16 titles, will open their campaign against a team which beat them 2-1 at Bugembe Stadium in Jinja Town last season.

Coach Kaziba is, however, convinced they have done enough to take on their bogey side and has promised a winning start.

“It is our first game of the campaign, we are going to Jinja prepared to win the game,” Kaziba said as quoted by the club’s official website.

“We have been training very well, there has not been any external disruptions from our preparations for this game.

About the players who have not been called to the matchday squad, Kaziba said: “Derrick [Ndahiro] is out of this fixture as he continues to steadily recover from an injury.

“Saidi Keni will also not take part in this encounter due to licensing issues. The rest of the team is in perfect shape waiting for kick-off.

"Some of the new players we recruited during the pre-season transfer window will be given their chance to debut for the Jogoos.

“We come into this game well aware of how a similar fixture ended last season. The technical team has studied the mistakes from that game and has been able to introduce the players to new tactics so that they do not fall victim of the same mistakes. On this occasion, we are more physically and mentally prepared.”

In a recent interview, Kaziba said his target is to see Villa play entertaining football and score beautiful goals.

“The club’s target this season is to entertain and win with style,” Kaziba said as quoted by the club’s official website. “We finished third last season, an improvement from the previous season, and as a progressive club, we must aim higher this season, we are Sports Club Villa.”

The UPL kicked off on Thursday with KCCA FC winning their opener against Bright Stars 2-1 and due to the strict Covid-19 pandemic standard operating procedures, fans will not be allowed in stadium.

Sergino Dest is hoping to spend at least “one more year” with Lionel Messi at Barcelona, with the United States international among those waiting on transfer extension developments at Camp Nou.

The Liga giants continue to run the risk of seeing a six-time Ballon d’Or winner walk away for nothing in the summer of 2021.

Messi will, as his current deal runs down, be free to speak with any suitors from January – with the likes of Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain said to be heading that queue.

Those in Catalunya hope exit talks can be avoided, with there an understandable desire on their part to get a talismanic presence tied down on fresh terms.

The clock is ticking for Barca, and Messi has already made one push for the exits, but Dest is looking for the modern-day icon to remain alongside him and spearhead more quests for major honours.

The USMNT star told the Associated Press of the Messi departure talk: “I hear those things, too, but I don't know what is true or not.

“I hope I can play with him for one more year. But we will see. Everyone wants to have him in this club, but it is his choice.”

Dest has not looked out of place in a star-studded Barca squad since completing a summer move of his own from Dutch giants Ajax.

He is just 20 years of age, and is now operating under the brightest of spotlights, but the talented right-back is taking everything in his stride and believes he has found the stage where he truly belongs.

Dest added on making a high-profile switch: “I was not nervous at all, it was just that I am ready and happy to play.

“If I would be nervous, I shouldn't have come to Barca. For me it is my time to show what I have got, try to do my best and help the team out.”

Dest shunned the chance to link up with Champions League holders Bayern in 2019, as he delayed a big career call, and has no regrets at having favoured Camp Nou over the Allianz Arena.

He said: “It was not easy, but this is my dream club. So that is why I chose Barca.

“I saw some chances. They had some new players for the team. [Ronald] Koeman wanted me at Barca, so I thought they had a good plan for me. And right now I am playing, so I am happy.

“I had to take it because you never know when the chance happens again.”

Harry Maguire insists records act as no added motivation for Manchester United as they look to extend their winning run on the road this season to five Premier League games.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side have been fluffing their lines at Old Trafford, with home form proving hard to come by, but a faultless sequence of results has been collected on their travels.

United have not made life easy for themselves, having fallen behind in each of their top-flight away games so far, but 12 points have been picked up from four fixtures.

Brighton, Newcastle, Everton and Southampton have all been seen off, with West Ham next up for Solskjaer’s side on Saturday.

Victory at the London Stadium would see United’s class of 2020-21 emulate the efforts of Ron Atkinson’s side from 1985-86 that opened up their season with five successive away wins.

Maguire is adamant that opportunities to make history hold no extra weight for the Red Devils, with full focus and commitment given to each passing contest – regardless of where it is being staged.

The United captain told the club’s official website: “Every game we play, we have a great incentive to go and win. I don’t really look into the stats and figures.

“I don’t want to jinx anything, I just want to get the three points and that’ll be the focus come Saturday.

“Like I said, the home form hasn’t been great and we need to improve on that but now it’s another game where we try and get three points and that’s what we’ll look at it as.”

United’s form away from Old Trafford has been helping to make them competitive in the Premier League this season, while easing some of the pressure on Solskjaer, and Maguire is eager to see the Red Devils kick on from this point at home and abroad.

He added, with a 3-1 Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain suffered last time out: “It’s an amazing away run we’ve been on. Our home form hasn’t been good enough, like I’ve said, but our away form has been really good. We’ve shown great spirit.

“We’ve been losing in all four away matches [we have won this season], which is an incredible stat. It shows the spirit and the character in the group. We never give in and always fight to the end and we’ve scored some late winners.

“Our confidence is high, even after a defeat [to PSG], where we felt like the performance was there but the game was decided on fine margins.

“We’re confident, we know it’s going to be a tough game [at West Ham] but we go there trying to get the three points.”

Mesut Ozil will not be welcomed back into the fold at Arsenal despite people “constantly” calling for the German playmaker to be offered a reprieve, says Alan Smith.

A World Cup winner finds himself frozen out at Emirates Stadium under Mikel Arteta.

Despite being a proven performer at the very highest level, while also being tied to a lucrative contract, the 32-year-old midfielder has been left out of Europa League and Premier League squads.

It would appear that Arsenal have seen the last of a player they snapped up from Real Madrid in 2013, with Ozil due to hit free agency in the summer of 2021.

Smith is among those who feel that too many bridges have been burned for a slate to be wiped clean, with Arteta feeling let down by a man that he once played alongside.

Former Gunners striker Smith told Sky Sports of a long-running and potentially distracting saga at Emirates Stadium: “It's about getting the ball to Aubameyang quickly, and people who can see the pass early. That's why people go on about Ozil constantly, as he is the type who could do that.

“Arsenal were after a creative player in the window - Houssem Aouar - and they couldn't quite manage to get him along with Thomas Partey.

“But there is a lack of creativity, even before this bad run began, you could see that in the wins over Sheffield United and West Ham.

“Do I see Ozil returning to the team? No, I can't see it. Too much has gone on behind the scenes for Arteta to be able to trust him again. I think he feels he's been let down by Ozil at times, where the player has not been available when he thought he would be.

“If you don't trust a player, it's a big problem. It was a big thing to do not to put him in the squad, a huge statement, and I just can't see him coming back into the frame.”

Arteta is taking a considerable risk in omitting Ozil, with his absence an obvious topic of debate during an inconsistent run from Arsenal, but Smith believes a Spanish tactician will become a better coach for having made big decisions and experienced a testing run of form.

He added, with a north London derby date with arch-rivals Tottenham next up for the Gunners: “It's a big test for Arteta.

“He's a young manager who hasn't had to deal with these type of problems before, where he's got the last word and responsibility on his shoulders. It's totally different being a sidekick to somebody like Pep Guardiola, no matter how much work you do on the training ground.

“He's bound to make mistakes along the way, as good a coach as I think he is. It's a real test for him at the moment, and he must be scratching his head to think of a way of getting out of this run.”

The Qatar Football Association (QFA) submitted the third part of its bid to host the AFC Asian Cup 2027. This section of the file includes the delivery of a government guarantee that is compatible with the AFC’s (Asian Football Confederation) requirements for a successful bid.

The government guarantees pledged by the State of Qatar is a commitment to meeting all regulatory conditions for hosting the tournament. The pledge fulfills the approved schedule laid out by the Asian Football Confederation, the game's governing body on the continent.

This commitment is in line with Qatar's National Vision 2030, which promotes the advancement of the country's capabilities in all fields, with the help of massive investment in the coming years – already evident from the mega-projects currently underway in Qatar.

QFA General Secretary Mansoor Al Ansari is the CEO of Qatar's 2027 Asian Cup bidding committee. 

The guarantees confirm the QFA’s desire to fulfill all the hosting requirements – drawing on its accumulated experience and organizational expertise, acquired from staging many major sporting events over more than two decades.

Qatar, set to host the 2022 World Cup, is fast turning into a premier footbaling destination in Asia. The country will be one of the front-runners to win the hosting rights for the event which will see the participation of 24 teams, who will play a total of 51 matches.

The Asian Cup will require the preparation of 8 to 10 stadiums to international specifications.

The QFA submitted the first part of its bid file on 26th August 2020, followed by delivery of the second part, including the legal requirements on 29th October. The file incorporates all aspects of hosting the tournament and emphasises Qatar’s proven ability to stage top sporting events.

The country has hosted the Asian Cup twice before, in 1988 and 2011.

Casey Stoney continues to speak about the importance of a widespread visibility of the LGBT+ community within football, six years after coming out as gay. 

The Manchester United manager took great pride in coming out when she was captaining England and Arsenal, having been seen as the most 'high-profile' gay footballer in England at the time.

Stoney couldn’t continue to "hide herself" to the external world; if an established player was unable to speak about themselves, what would that say to others?

To many alike, sport saved Stoney when she was struggling with her sexuality and continues to support campaigns like Rainbow Laces that normalises and creates a safe space to escape and simply enjoy sport without conflict. 

"It's about visibility and awareness isn't it," Stoney told Sky Sports.

"Living online now is probably even more difficult as a gay person because of the amount people can say to you and the things you can read.

"So actually, being able to come away from technology and play sport to just be yourself in a changing room and be valued for what you do in your job and not have a concern about what you do away from your job, I think is key."

Stoney is a role model to many in the LGBT+ community, a successful gay woman who is happy with who she is and is determined to demonstrate how ‘normal’ her life is. She is simply a wife, a mother of three and a woman who is thriving in her career. 

"I don't hide away from the fact that it massively impacts on my life and has done for many years,” said Stoney.

"There have been moments in my life where sport has actually saved my life because you can struggle with sexuality.

"I hate the word acceptance, because it shouldn't be about acceptance. It should be about normalising love is love and it shouldn't be anything other than that. Campaigns like this they raise visibility, they raise awareness and it's important.”

Rainbow Laces campaign was launched in 2013 with the aim to make sport more inclusive. The laces will feature in the FA Women’s Super League, Premier League and EFL Championship between December 4-13.

Harry Kane and Heung-min Son have been shining for Spurs, but Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has been Tottenham’s “revelation” this season, says Glenn Hoddle.

Jose Mourinho appears to have pieced together a squad in north London that is capable of challenging for the Premier League title.

He has been backed in the transfer market when it comes to finding players that fit his mould.

Danish midfielder Hojbjerg ticks that box, with the 25-year-old being snapped up for £15 million ($20m) from Southampton.

That deal looks like being money well spent, with another destructive influence added to Spurs’ engine room.

Hojbjerg may not make as many headlines as exciting frontmen Kane and Son, but he has shown that he can mix graft with guile and be a key component in Mourinho’s well-oiled machine.

Hoddle admits as much, with the former Tottenham player and coach telling the Racing Post of the brightest stars in north London: “Harry Kane is playing exceedingly well, not only scoring goals but also assisting – him and Heung-Min Son have been wonderful at times.

“But the real revelation for me has been Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.

“I wasn't sure when he first came but his use of the ball has been much better than I thought he was capable of, and he's a leader and that's what Jose wanted. He has been a real bonus for Tottenham Hotspur.”

Hoddle believes that Spurs, who have hit top spot in the Premier League, can sustain a challenge for domestic supremacy in 2020-21.

He expects Mourinho’s methods to play an integral role in that quest, with the Portuguese boasting a proven formula when it comes to the art of trophy collecting.

“He's definitely changed their mentality,” Hoddle said of Mourinho, who has passed his one-year anniversary in the Tottenham hot seat.

“They won't play as expansive football but as he's done with all the other clubs he's managed, it's performances that matter and tactical little tweaks that are going to get the wins.

“The mentality has been to put winning first and after that, if the performance is good as well that's a bonus.

“For Tottenham, and many teams over the years, it would be the other way round but with Jose, yes he wants them to play well and wants to play good football, but there are certain games where they come off they won't have enjoyed the game but they have won the match.

“And he's done that at every club he's managed and to be honest the record is there for everyone to see. He's won trophies everywhere he's gone.

“And you can see that building. He's got a squad that goes deep and players are buying into that mentality.”

East Bengal head coach Robbie Fowler has clarified his comment on Indian players after his team's 0-3 defeat to Mumbai City in the second game of the 2020-21 Indian Super League (ISL). 

Ahead of his team's third game against NorthEast United, Fowler said, "This (Fowler's comments) has been put out of context a lot. My comments were directed to my team. My philosophy is to coach a team to the best of my knowledge and abilities.

"We have an intricate way of playing. We have an identity and a philosophy. My players haven't been coached like this here before. We are implementing our ways and trying to get the best out of them which means lots and lots of hours on the training pitch."

He further added, "I understand from where did the people get the wrong context. My intention was not to disrespect anyone. I would never ever do that. There are lots and lots of good players in India. Some not great by all means. There are technically gifted players here but sometimes they need a better understanding of the game. That's being a realist and trying to better the system. Communicating better on the pitch, knowing when and when not to tackle, when to run and standstill. The understanding of the game can be better.

"We know that. Our job is to make the players as good as he can be and make them play for the national team. When the national team is successful that means everyone is enjoying the football. The ISL and I-League are good leagues. The development cannot happen overnight. It has to start from the grassroots. Future generations will find it easier to play the game better and understand it better."

After the game, Fowler had criticised the performance of his team and seemed to suggest that a few players in his team lacked the required level of coaching. He had said, "We will coach the players because in all fairness few of them have probably never been coached before and that is what we are doing. We will try and make our Indian players better and that takes good coaching and I don't think they had that in the years gone by."

East Bengal are winless after two games and have lost both the games. They fell to a 0-2 loss against arch-rivals ATK Mohun Bagan in ISL's first Kolkata derby in their opening game and then succumbed to a 0-3 defeat to Sergio Lobera's Mumbai City. 

"Whenever you get a team together it is important to get the chance to gel on the pitch.  All teams have remained in isolation, but we probably have struggled more than other teams due to the lateness of getting together as a team. The lateness of getting the squad together. We travel a long way to training each day. But we want to get lots and lots of hours in the training pitch. When you have to travel distances to get to games and training, the player's welfare is massively important. We need to look after that," Fowler explained the difficult start. 

He added, "We can't really do as many hours as we want to do in the training pitch. But saying that when we do put in the shifts in the training pitch the lads have been fantastic. They enjoy the training sessions and the camaraderie that we have. We are not looking for excuses. It is about what we do as a team. We will get it right. We know that. We are in work in progress. We are getting there."

East Bengal are also linked to foreign players in the market as they have not filled their available quota of seven foreigners. Fowler hopes to make a sensible decision regarding the seventh foreign recruit. 

"We have a lot of players (that we are looking at). I think we have got to be sensible. We have an idea of who we can and can't bring in. We have to be realistic. We have to look at players who would want to come here. Then spend two weeks in quarantine. It is a tall ask. We have made some phone calls. Not just a striker... lots and lots of things we can discuss. We have to try to be the very best that we can and that means to bring in someone who can be the best for the club."

The signature of a foreign striker became a bigger talking point after the team's difficult start. The Red and Golds have not been able to convert their chances with the available striking options in the team. 

"I know we haven't scored. I don't want to talk about individual players. We play as a team. The scorelines suggest that we have battered. But we were in the game. We are not a million miles away from where we need to be. Just because you bring in a foreign striker that doesn't mean you will win games. This country is bound by rules what we can and cannot do. We can bring in a foreign striker and then maybe weaken other areas. My job as a manager is to establish what is best for us and of course we need a number 9. But if it means weakening other position then we need to work it out with my team here. 

Injury update

"Aaron Amadi-Holloway probably shouldn't be very far away. We have to see with Loken (Meitei) and Danny (Fox). We will find it out after the scans within a day or two. Loken was one of our better players in the first game. Losing Danny in the second game disturbed the way we wanted to play. They are big players but maybe this is an opportunity for others to show what they have got," Fowler concluded. 

Wazito FC picked a Football Kenya Federation FKF Premier League morale-boosting 3-1 win over Vihiga United to hand Francis Kimanzi first three points as new head coach at Utalii Ground on Friday.

Boniface Omondi, Dennis Ng’ang’a and Whyvonne Isuza scored Wazito’s goals before they were denied a clean sheet by Norman Werunga.

Joe Waithera would have given Wazito the lead in the sixth minute but he missed the target narrowly after he picked Isuza’s cross.

Omondi scored his competitive debut goal for the Nairobi-based club in the 14th minute to give his side a first-half lead. Initially, Waithera’s shot was saved by Vihiga United’s goalkeeper Joe Bataro but Omondi was at the right position to head home the rebound.

Brian Musa got a good chance to double the lead in the 21st minute but his effort, after receiving Dennis Sikhayi’s pass, went high and above.

Peter Odhiambo saved Wazito from conceding in the 26th minute as Vihiga attacked and crowded at the penalty box of the host. The former Gor Maia star’s huge save kept the score at 1-0 for Wazito who were, however, the dominant side.

Ng’ang’a scored the second for the 2019 National Super League champions with a superbly taken free-kick from 30-yards away in the 28th minute.

Vihiga were reduced to 10 men after the half-time whistle when Sabiri Sindani argued with the officials and was sent off. The red card proved costly for them as they looked outmuscled in all the departments thereafter.

Wazito took the advantage of reduced rivals to add the third goal in the 54th minute. Isuza tapped the ball into the net after Kevin Kimani set up a good cross for him with a fine delivery.

Just after three minutes past the hour mark, the visitors scored to deny Wazito a home clean sheet. Werunga’s goal was as a result of another well-taken free-kick.

Coach Kimanzi made two changes in quick succession as he introduced Musa Masika for Brian Musa in the 67th minute before Vincent Oburu came on for Omondi two minutes later.

The former Harambee Stars coach waited until the 87th minute to take out Isuza for Joshua Nyatini in order to reinforce the midfield.

As the game grew into a more physical contest, Waithira and Sikhayi were booked in the 85th and 90th minutes respectively.

Wazito managed to deal with all the attacks launched by the visitors to pick a first win in the season as Vihiga United went down for the second time in a row.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is set to hand Liverpool a timely fitness boost ahead of their home date with Wolves, although Jurgen Klopp is yet to decide whether the right-back is ready to start a game.

The England international has formed part of a lengthy injury list at Anfield over recent weeks.

Alexander-Arnold has been sidelined since picking up a knock in a 1-1 draw at Manchester City on November 8.

Liverpool have taken in four outings since then, across Premier League and Champions League competition, and remain in the hunt for domestic and continental honours.

Their cause is now about to be aided by the return of Alexander-Arnold, who will be looking to take his starting berth back from Neco Williams.

Klopp remains wary of asking too much from a player who has been nursing a hamstring complaint, but he will come back into contention against Wolves alongside midfielder Naby Keita.

Quizzed at his pre-match conference on whether any of his walking wounded are ready to return, Reds boss Klopp said: “I don’t know yet, we will see.

“Trent and Naby will do the first steps in team training today [Friday]; whatever we can do with that depends on how it looks.

“There are some niggles after the game against Ajax and we have to see how they respond.

“So far, they didn’t do a lot apart from treatment and stuff like this. We have to see how that develops [but] I don’t know in the moment.

“There is a chance Naby and Trent can be in the squad, I would say.

“If they can play, I don’t know. If they are in the squad then they can play, but if they can start or play 90 minutes, I don’t know. I think there’s a chance they are in the squad, yes.

“Apart from Naby and Trent, nobody is coming back, no.”

Alisson, Joe Gomez, Virgil van Dijk, James Milner and Thiago Alcantara remain among those still stuck on the sidelines, while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has been another long-term absentee.

He has been missing since suffering a knee injury in pre-season, but the 27-year-old midfielder is edging his way back towards full fitness.

Klopp added on the England international: “Ox looks really promising, he is doing a lot of stuff.

“He is warming up with the team now, some ball work, a lot of stuff, but we will develop that now over the next few days.

“Then we will see from which moment on it makes sense to throw him in. He is not too far away.”

A day after claiming his life was in danger and resigning at AFC Leopards, Tomas Trucha has now been unveiled as the new coach for Penang FC.

The 49-year-old Czech Republic tactician only resigned from the Den on Thursday after handling the FKF Premier League side for one match, which saw the team beat Tusker 2-1.

But a day after his move, Penang have taken to their social media pages to confirm they have acquired the services of the coach.

“Welcome Tomas Trucha!,” Penang announced his arrival on their social media pages. “Penang Football Club [PFC] officially announced 49-year-old Czech Republic coach Tomas Trucha as Chief Coach of Super League competition season 2021.

“Starting a career as a coach as early as 25 years old, Trucha had a wide experience working in Europe before gaining a new experience with some troops in Africa.

“Although it was initially reported to be with a club in Kenya, Penang became Trucha's destination as a new challenge. He will be assisted by Manzoor Azwira Abd Wahid who will continue with the team as Assistant Chief Coach.

“The club believes the combination and experience both will give the team positive and competition next season.”

On Thursday, AFC Leopards confirmed the exit of the coach after Goal had reported the Czech had left after threats were directed on his agent and he was leaving with a 100% record at Ingwe having guided them to the opening win against Tusker.

“Today, we accepted Trucha’s resignation as head coach, effective immediately,” Ingwe said in a statement.

“This has been occasioned by the coach feeling that his safety is not guaranteed since his manager, Mr. Prince Channis, has been threatened by people purporting to be Ingwe supporters. This is disturbing and unacceptable for anyone who claims to be a supporter of this esteemed club.

“True, AFC Leopards’ supporters hold themselves to the highest standard and put the club’s and public before all else. At this time, the remaining technical bench shall take charge as we consider a replacement.

“On behalf of the management, we thank Trucha for his contributions to the club and wish him well in his future endeavours.”

Earlier, AFC Leopards chairman Dan Shikanda praised the former Township Rollers coach, saying he is at the same level as top European coaches, and admitted the threats were doing the club a great disservice.

Robert Lewandowski believes the decision to cancel the 2020 Ballon d’Or was made “too early”, with the prolific Bayern Munich striker missing out on a chance to claim a prestigious Golden Ball.

The 32-year-old frontman admits to having enjoyed the “best season” of his remarkable career to date in 2019-20.

Bayern swept aside all before them en route to another historic treble last term, with their talismanic No.9 leading the way as he plundered 55 goals across all competitions.

Lewandowski appears to be getting better with age, with the stunning standards he has set for himself continuing to be raised as he becomes ever more productive.

His exploits have already been recognised by the UEFA Player of the Year award, while he remains a strong favourite to claim FIFA's The Best prize.

No one, though, will be adding a Ballon d’Or to their collection, with France Football opting against selecting their cream of the global crop in a coronavirus-impacted 12 months.

Lewandowski remains disappointed by that decision, with every other major honour having been handed out in 2020.

The Bayern star told the Daily Mail: “Someone had to decide that this year there would be no Ballon d'Or.

“Maybe they decided too early because every [other] trophy has been decided. So many players, coaches, journalists know that, for me, it was the best season.

“We did what we did and it was spectacular. I'm glad everyone has seen it. These awards are something nice, amazing.

“But I also know that every personal trophy is for the team. The team without the striker finds it difficult to work but the striker without the team doesn't work either.”

For now, Lewandowski’s focus is locked on chasing down more collective silverware at Bayern, with Hansi Flick’s side determined to defend their Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal and Champions League crowns.

With the German giants already through to the last-16 in Europe, Lewandowski said: “We have won this trophy but it is clear once is not enough.

“We are still hungry. We want to taste this feeling with the fans, in a full stadium. Maybe after this season we will have a double celebration.”

Remaining competitive in 2020-21 will not be easy, though, with a short summer break, lack of supporters in grounds and a gruelling schedule making life difficult for all concerned.

Lewandowski added: “After [last] season when we [finished] and opened the new one, with such a short time to prepare, it is very hard —very hard for the body.

“Every player, every team. It's going to be impossible to compare this season to last year or next year.

“This is so hard. So many games, such a hard time and then the European Championship straight away. You have to think about your body and, in March, how it will be. 

“Will we be ready when the most important games are coming? You are a professional footballer and you have to adapt.”