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East Bengal are the new entrants in the Indian Super League (ISL) this season and a delay in completing formalities meant the team did not much time to prepare for the season.

Under Liverpool great Robbie Fowler, the Red and Golds had little over three weeks time to prepare and they are set to face their arch-rivals ATK Mohun Bagan in the opening match.

But East Bengal coach Robbie Fowler believes that the team is ready and are raring to play their first match of the season which is ISL's first Kolkata derby. 

“We prepared properly. We know it's been a really short time in preparation but we accept that and the players are ready so we go into this game as good as we can be. There are a few niggles but that is expected. That will be the case throughout the league. Even though we have been together for a short period it feels like forever (we have been) waiting for the game and thankfully the game is now upon us.

“Ideally, we all would have loved a lot more time but we have accepted that and we have moved on. We know we are two or three weeks behind everyone else in terms of preparation but we can only do we can do. We have prepared the team well and we will go out and give our best and hopefully get a good result,” said Fowler ahead of the all-important clash.

The British coach pointed out the pros and cons of playing a derby in their opening match of the season and suggested the team believes in their abilities.

“The advantage is we go into the game, we probably know a bit more about ATK Mohun Bagan than they do about us. We are prepared in that way. For the disadvantage, we have never played before so we may go into the game a bit rusty.

“ATK Mohun Bagan have played a game so they probably know a bit about themselves. But it is never about the opposition, it is about what we can do. We have prepared properly, we have the belief in ourselves and now we have to go out there and give our best shot.”

Fowler is familiar with a few of the foreign players in the ATK Mohun Bagan team. While midfielder Brand Inman played under the former Liverpool forward at Brisbane Roar last season and he saw players like Roy Krishna and David Williams play in the same league during his time as a coach in Australia.

The former Liverpool forward spoke highly about the opposition but said that his team will only focus on themselves,

“ATK Mohun Bagan are a team whose 80 per cent or 90 per cent of the players won the league last year so we know they are a good side and how organised they are. The manager has prepared them and they are well drilled. But it is not about them or any of their players.

“We know they have lots of good players. I had Brad Inman in Australia last year and I have played with David Williams, Roy Krishna came on trials when I was at a club in Australia. I know what type of players they are and they are dangerous players but we have to focus on us.”

The East Bengal manager considers his team as underdogs in front of the Mariners as he believes that retaining the core of the team from last season will be an advantage for Antonio Habas’ side.

“ATK Mohun Bagan are a new entity but they are a team who have been together for a good few years and they are well organised, champions last year. We are a new team and we are massive underdogs but sometimes underdogs win. We will try to give confidence to the players as much as we can. Underdogs sometimes do cause upsets.”

Manchester United still have “massive question marks” hanging over their centre-halves, says Paul Parker, with the former Red Devils full-back saying “you don’t know what you’re going to get next” from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side.

Inconsistency remains an issue for United, with the 2020-21 campaign doing little to address those faults.

There have been positives, such as a run to the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup and impressive results in the Champions League, but momentum has proved difficult to maintain.

A 4-1 victory over Istanbul Basaksehir in their most recent outing has United moving in the right direction again, while their Premier League hoodoo on home soil was brought to a close in a 1-0 win over West Bromwich Albion.

However, Parker believes Solskjaer will continue to pay the price for a lack of domestic ambition and the struggles of those at the heart of his back four.

The ex-Red Devils defender told Eurosport: “You don't know what you're going to get next with United. They've got a difficult game at the weekend at Southampton, so if they don't get a result there the whole process starts again.

“They won a game on Tuesday they should have won away from home earlier in the group stage. Team selection is key, so if they go out and play with the intention to win it and not concentrate too much about who they're playing against, that always gives them a better chance.

“The problem they've got is that as attack-minded as they are, there will still always be massive question marks about the centre-halves, because even [against Basaksehir] they were on edge.

“Because they've won three on the bounce, that doesn't say United are back. The way the Premier League is at the moment, no one is on stable ground.

“There's a good chance Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will go back to two holding midfield players, non-creative players in midfield, and then in the Champions League go back to what he did against Istanbul.

“It's about the state of mind that the players go out against Southampton in. If you see Fred and [Scott] McTominay playing that will give you a picture of how the game might be. Southampton would break that down easier.

“I don't think the players feel freer in the Champions League, Solskjaer certainly doesn't because he knows every game he's under pressure. United are always walking on a tightrope.”

United sit 10th in the Premier League table after eight games and have another 10 fixtures to take in across all competitions before the end of the calendar year.

Marcelo Bielsa has described Diego Maradona as an artist whose “beauty cannot be matched”, with the Leeds boss adding his voice to the tributes which have poured in for the Argentine “idol”.

Maradona passed away on Wednesday at the age of 60. Three days of national mourning are being held in his homeland, while millions around the world have been rocked by the tragic news.

Bielsa is among those to have always held Maradona in the highest regard, with no doubt in his mind as who the greatest player of all time is.

A man currently plying his trade in the Premier League is deeply saddened to learn of Maradona’s death, but says the legacy of the 1986 World Cup winner will live on and be embraced by generations to come.

“He could not be better. He was for us and will continue to be an idol,” Bielsa said. “Given the fact he is not here with us anymore, it brings us great sadness. To lose an idol for us is something that makes us feel weak.

“Everything he did as a footballer was a beauty which cannot be matched.

“Maradona was an artist. The dimensions of the repercussions of his art has infinite recognitions. To give one example, that stands out, the songs that have been written about him are extraordinary.

“I have read texts after his death that have been emotional and it is a recognition of what he gave the spectators in beauty.

“In terms of what he signifies to us (Argentines) in particular, Diego made us feel like it was a fantasy; like an idol makes you feel.”

While saluting the remarkable career and life of Maradona, Bielsa continues to enhance his own reputation in England.

He guided Leeds to promotion last season, ending a 16-year absence for the club from the Premier League, and has seen his efforts recognised with a nomination for the Coach of the Year award at the FIFA Best ceremony.

“To be nominated is always a distinction. I appreciate it,” said the 65-year-old. “Every time a manager is singled out, the players are involved.

“The coach is always an appendix of the players and also the technical staff for the construction of a football team. It is not solely the responsibility of the one in charge. This nomination is also for the technical staff and this happening in a sphere of a club like Leeds also recognises the result of this.”

Stellenbosch FC defender Sibusiso Mthethwa says their ability to defend as a team and attack as a team makes them a difficult side to break down. 

Mthethwa and his Stellies teammates are set to take on the reigning Premier Soccer League (PSL) champions Mamelodi Sundowns at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Saturday.

Stellies returned to winning ways when they secured a 2-0 win over Chippa United in a league match at Danie Craven Stadium last weekend.

Mthethwa is banking on their solid defence after he helped the team keep a clean sheet in their victory over the Chilli Boys. 

“We want to compete with the best and this is an opportunity to show that we are not just here to make up the numbers,” said Mthethwa on Daily Sun.

“We are well aware that we will have our hands full against a quality attack that Sundowns possess but we are confident that we can manage.

“We defend as a team and attack as a team. We are not easy to break down because we understand our roles very well on the pitch"

Sundowns have started the current campaign very well as they are undefeated in the league having recorded one draw and three wins including the recent 4-3 win over AmaZulu FC in their last game last weekend.

Mthethwa made it clear that they do not fear any team as they look to make it two wins in a row by securing their first-ever victory over Sundowns.

“If you concede fewer goals then you win the game and that’s what we try to do in every match. It will be no different against Sundowns," he added. 

“They are a dangerous team but we believe In ourselves. We always fight for each other and the badge. We believe we can win, we fear no one. We are ready.”

Saturday's clash between Stellenbosch and Sundowns will be the third meeting between the two teams.

Last season, Masandawana collected six points from Stellies, who were in their debut campaign in the elite league.

A 3-1 victory over Stellenbosch in Tshwane in December 2019 was followed by a narrow 1-0 win in Cape Town in March 2020. 

Talk of Jack Grealish emerging as a transfer target for Manchester City has no substance to it, claims Gabriel Agbonlahor, with Blues boss Pep Guardiola yet to discuss the Aston Villa playmaker.

A talented 25-year-old midfielder was heavily linked with a move away from his West Midlands roots over the summer.

Manchester United appeared to be leading the chase for his services at one stage, while north London rivals Tottenham and Arsenal have also been credited with interest.

The North West is now said to be back on Grealish’s radar, with City mulling over their options heading towards another recruitment window in January.

It has been suggested that those at the Etihad Stadium are prepared to spend big on a proven Premier League performer, with reports of a £100 million ($134m) asking price doing the rounds.

Agbonlahor, though, says the speculation should be taken with a pinch of salt as none of those at the centre of the rumours have offered any indication that a big-money switch could be on the cards.

The former Villa forward told Football Insider of a deal that he believes makes little sense to all concerned: “You hear about all these comments but Pep Guardiola has not come out and said it to anyone, you’ve not heard Kevin De Bruyne say anything.

“For me, people make rumours out of nothing. For all we know, it’s just someone making up a rumour so I wouldn’t get too dragged into that.

“Jack Grealish got into the England squad by playing regularly in his favoured position for Aston Villa. When you go to Man City you’re not guaranteed to play in your best position.

“Man City have got Raheem Sterling, Ferran Torres, Riyad Mahrez, Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva. They’ve got so many players that I’m not sure Jack would be playing every week.

“I’m sure Jack will be looking to do his best for Aston Villa and that’s given him the chance to play for England.”

Grealish is generating exit talk again at Villa after starring for club and country in 2020-21, with five goals and six assists recorded domestically while comparisons to the legendary Paul Gascoigne have been drawn across four outings for the Three Lions.

Uganda U20 head coach Morley Byekwaso has lauded the players for a good show that saw them pick a 6-1 win over Burundi in a Cecafa Championship tie on Wednesday.

The championship also acts as the U20 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers for the Cecafa region and after they were frustrated by South Sudan in the opener with a 0-0 draw, the Hippos responded by dispatching Burundi in the second engagement.

The victory saw Uganda earn four points and go top of their group as Burundi are scheduled to face South Sudan on Friday in Group B’s last match.

Ivan Bogere, after earning his first start in the tournament, scored the opener for Uganda in the 42nd minute before a penalty was successfully converted by Najib Iga two minutes after the opener had been registered.

Bogere scored his second in the 52nd minute to make it 3-0 for Uganda as Isma Mugulusi got two goals and Joseph Kizza got one to hand the Hippos a huge win.

Alfred Nkurunziza scored the only goal for Burundi in two minutes of added time that was awarded by Somalian referee Ahmed Hassan Hussein.

“I am glad my players responded well and scored many goals,” Byekwaso said in his post-match interview as per Cecafaonline.

Meanwhile, Ethiopia bounced back from their opening loss to Kenya and mounted a comeback to stun Sudan 3-2 in a Group C match.

It was Sudan’s first match and they started on a high with two goals from Abdelkarim Yousif in the first half.

Ethiopia responded in the second half and restored parity from two goals scored by Beyene Bayse as Biruk Balcha scored the winning goal at the Sheikh Amri Abeid Stadium in Arusha.

“I am happy that I scored two goals to help my team win the match,” said Bayse after the game.

The 3-2 win did not guarantee Ethiopia a straight semi-final qualification since they still have to wait and see what happens in the other group games.

The top teams in each group will qualify for the semis while the second-placed team is expected to take the fourth available slot.

Intense speculation regarding a big-money move to Manchester United will have unsettled Jadon Sancho, admits Paul Lambert, but the Borussia Dortmund winger has been told that he is already at a “special club”.

A highly-rated England international spent much of the summer being linked with a return to his homeland.

United, who made the 20-year-old a top target, wasted considerable time and energy pursuing a deal that never looked like being put in place.

Sancho suffered a dip in form after seeing his head turned, but has offered indications over recent weeks – for club and country – that he is ready to rediscover his spark.

Having found the target for England in a UEFA Nations League clash with Iceland, a third goal of the season for Dortmund was recorded on Tuesday in a Champions League win over Club Brugge.

Lambert believes Sancho is capable of putting the transfer talk he has been generating behind him, with there no need for the former Manchester City academy graduate to be considering a retracing of his steps.

The former Dortmund midfielder, who tasted European glory during his time in Germany, told the Daily Star: “I understand people saying that he’s a young kid and that he isn’t performing as well as he has been but now he is starting to really play.

“I think the talk of Manchester United would unsettle him being a British guy, but he has got a special club in Borussia Dortmund.

“Once the fans come back, as he knows himself, there is no better place to play football because the atmosphere is incredible.

“Hopefully he helps the team to success.”

Lambert, who captured a Champions League crown with BVB in 1997, believes Lucien Favre’s class of 2020-21 are capable of ending Bayern Munich’s dominance of the Bundesliga this season and claiming a first title triumph in nine years.

The Scot added: “I think this could be the year. With all the young guys like [Erling] Haaland, Sancho, Giovanni Reyna and Jude Bellingham, alongside Marcos Reus, Mats Hummels, Thomas Meunier and Axel Witsel - they have top players.

“Hopefully this is the moment where they can overcome Bayern Munich, I think the club need a title whether it’s the Bundesliga or the Champions League or the DFB Cup.

“They have been so close in the last few years and hopefully, from an ex-Dortmund player, this is when they can get it. They’re going to have to overcome a really strong Bayern team.

“Everyone knows that they are really, really strong, but hopefully this season is the year that they can get it.”

Thiago Alcantara is capable of replicating the success he enjoyed at Bayern Munich with Liverpool says Xabi Alonso, with the 29-year-old considered to be “one of the best midfielders” on the planet.

Thiago was lured to Anfield from the Allianz Arena on the back of a treble-winning exploits in 2019-20 that were rounded off by a Champions League triumph.

Liverpool’s capture of the talented Spain international was considered to be quite a coup. Thiago has, however, endured a frustrating start to his time in England.

After offering glimpses of what he is capable of in early appearances, a bout of Covid-19 and an unfortunate injury picked up in the Merseyside derby with Everton have kept the experienced star stuck on the sidelines.

Klopp is hoping to welcome Thiago back into his plans at some stage in the near future, with Liverpool managing their way through an injury crisis that has depleted their squad in almost every area.

Alonso is among those looking forward to seeing another ball-playing option come back into contention for the Premier League champions, with the former Reds and Bayern midfielder a big admirer of a “fabulous” player following in his footsteps for club and country.

“I have loved watching Thiago Alcantara, the way he has been able to connect with the attacking players, helping to defend with his special qualities,” Alonso, who tasted Champions League glory with Liverpool in 2005, told UEFA’s official website.

“He’s a great friend, but above that, he’s become one of the best midfielders, and he’s a fabulous, intelligent, interesting, fun guy to be around in a training session and a dressing room.

“He loves football; he shows that with his personality and with the way he plays. He’s able to connect with his team-mates very easily. He’s done it fantastically at Bayern, and I feel that he’s going to do it in the same way at Liverpool, and I love it.”

Liverpool, who suffered a 2-0 Champions League defeat to Atalanta on Wednesday, will be back in domestic action on Saturday when they take a trip to Brighton.

Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has spoken glowingly of Diego Maradona as he recalled his memories of the Argentine legend following his death on Wednesday.

World Cup winner Maradona – arguably football's greatest ever player – died at the age of 60 after a suspected heart attack.

Former France international Zidane – also a World Cup winner – said following Wednesday's 2-0 Champions League victory: "It's an enormous loss for the world of football. I have him engrained in my head because of what he did at the 1986 World Cup. I was 14 years old.

"In the end, at least I was lucky enough to have the chance to tell him in person about that 1986 World Cup because every kid always wants to say what they think, and I had the chance to tell him that he was a hell of a player.

"So that's my best memory. This is sad news, we send our best wishes to his family. Rest in peace."

Inter head coach Antonio Conte, meanwhile, described Maradona as "the poetry of football".

Conte came up against Maradona during his time with boyhood club Lecce in Serie A, and he lauded the former Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata head coach 

"We are all shedding tears for the loss of a man who wrote football history and will always be an indelible figure in this sport," Conte told Sky Sport Italia.

"He was the poetry of football. I had the pleasure of playing against him, of marking him, and it still doesn't seem real that he's gone, especially as he was still young. It's very sad."

Maradona, the captain and inspiration behind Argentina's World Cup success in 1986 before going on to coach his country at the 2010 showpiece, had been hospitalised just days after turning 60.

He appeared in a fragile state when he briefly made an appearance as his Gimnasia side played a match on the evening of his birthday last month. 

He was discharged from hospital a fortnight ago following brain surgery, having undergone a routine operation for a subdural haematoma after being admitted to hospital due to concerns over anaemia and dehydration.

Maradona won 91 caps for Argentina between 1977 and 1994, scoring 34 goals at international level.

He started his career with Argentinos Juniors before joining Boca Juniors and went on to play for Barcelona, Napoli, Sevilla and Newell's Old Boys before returning to Boca in 1995.

Maradona had the best years of his club career in Italy, playing a massive part in Napoli winning the Serie A title in the 1986-87 and 1989-90 seasons.

Playmaker Maradona also lifted the UEFA Cup with Napoli in 1989 and he won three trophies during his time at Barca – including the Copa del Rey in 1983.

Maradona also had stints in charge of Textil Mandiyu, Racing Club, Al-Wasl, Fujairah and Dorados de Sinaloa in Mexico before being appointed by Gimnasia last year.

Bruno Fernandes is perfect for Manchester United because he “doesn’t care about mistakes” and is only concerned with “success”, says former Red Devils winger Nani.

The classy Portuguese playmaker was snapped up by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer early in 2020. Having spent several months mulling over a move for Fernandes, United finally agreed to part with €55 million (£47m/$60m) during the January transfer window.

Few predicted that the new arrival would make such an impression at Old Trafford, but Nani claims to have never been in any doubt his fellow countryman would send fans “crazy”.

Fernandes has delivered 21 goals and 13 assists in 35 appearances, with no player in English football able to better that return over that period.

Nani is delighted for Fernandes and believes Solskjaer’s side can enjoy tangible success in 2020-21 with such a talismanic figure calling the shots in midfield, with the Orlando City star telling United Review: “I still watch almost all of United’s games.

“I watch when it is possible because of my schedule here in Orlando. I always support United and I have to say they have been fun to watch. I really like the way this United team plays.

“Obviously one or two results at the beginning of the season weren’t what we wanted, but I’m confident this team will keep getting better and better. I think we can have a special season.

“A big part of this team is Bruno Fernandes, who I used to play with at Sporting. Bruno now is a much better player than when we were playing together. He was doing great in Portugal but the Portuguese league is not the same as the Premier League – in everything there is more quality and intensity.

“I saw so much potential in Bruno and I told him to go to England if he decided to move to another league. I said to him, ‘Your game will fit there and the fans will go crazy for you!’

“The style of his football is something fans appreciate. He is a player who likes to take risks in the game, who wants to take the responsibility of the game on his back and make difficult passes, dribbles and shots.

“He doesn’t care about mistakes; he only thinks about success and making the team have success. He knows what that takes. That’s Man United, isn’t it?

“All the years of success at the club were achieved with that approach. Every player in the team, from goalkeeper to striker, took risks. We all knew the timing, when we should be calm, but all our games had passion, quality and the freedom to take risks if the result wasn’t coming.

“Bruno has done so well until now, scoring goals and setting up a lot of goals, but I think he will keep improving and making the team even better.”

United, who saw off Istanbul Basaksehir in their latest Champions League outing, will be back in Premier League action on Sunday when they play host to Southampton.

Peter Shilton was "saddened" to learn of the death of Diego Maradona but remains vexed by the Argentina legend’s 'Hand of God' goal against England at the 1986 World Cup.

At the age of 60, Maradona died on Wednesday , leaving Argentina and the football world in shock.

Ill health and drug addiction had plagued the former Barcelona, Boca Juniors and Napoli star following his playing days, and he recently underwent surgery for a blood clot on his brain .

Tributes have been paid by the likes of Pele, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Shilton has more reason than most to feel a sense of antipathy towards Maradona, who punched the ball past him for Argentina's first goal in their 2-1 quarter-final win against England 34 years ago .

Shilton told the Daily Mail : "It has bothered me over the years. I won't lie about that now. People say I should have cleared the ball anyway and that I let a smaller man outjump me. That's rubbish. He had the run on me but that can happen.

"He wouldn't have punched it if he knew he could head it, would he? Of course not. So I am OK with all that.

"No, what I don't like is that he never apologised. Never at any stage did he say he had cheated and that he would like to say sorry. Instead, he used his 'Hand of God' line. That wasn't right.

"It seems he had greatness in him but sadly no sportsmanship."

Shilton tweeted on Thursday to describe Maradona as "the greatest footballer I ever played against without question", but he told the Daily Mail that attempts to unite him with Maradona over the years had come to nothing, having been given no assurances the little maestro intended to apologise.

And although England's goalscorer in that 1986 match, Gary Lineker, has spoken fondly of Maradona, Shilton suspects many in the team that lost out that day at the Estadio Azteca share his grievances.

He added: “Most of the England team who played in Mexico feel the way I do to this day.

“It wasn't just me who was cheated, it was the whole team. We had a chance of reaching the last four and maybe the final of the World Cup. How often does that happen?

“I was lucky. My chance came again four years later but others weren't that fortunate.”

When the news of Diego Maradona's sad demise broke in India around 10 PM IST most people in Kolkata were indoors with the onset of winter in the City of Joy. The tea stalls were on the verge of shutting down for the day as customers had already thinned. 

For a Bengali, a session of adda (informal chat sessions) is incomplete without a cup of tea and this terrible news was serious business that needed to be chatted upon without delay. 

"I was about to have dinner when the news poured in. I felt so upset that I started calling my friends and asked them to come out and assemble at the local te shop to share the grief. The loss feels so personal. Just could not sleep well the entire night," said Subhankar Roy, an ardent Argentina fan who feels that there should be no debate regarding Maradona being the greatest of all time. 

The passion for football in the city is well documented. Apart from Kolkata Derby, the city also gets divided into two halves once in every four years, i.e. during the football World Cup. Streets get drenched either in Albiceleste (white and sky-blue) or Verde-Amarela (Green and yellow). Lifesize cutouts of Maradona and Pele continue to adorn the lanes and by-lanes apart from the contemporary heroes like Lionel Messi, Neymar Jr. and Cristiano Ronaldo. 

The 60-year-old was a blue-eyed-boy of the city. Therefore, it was no surprise that in 2008 when Maradona came to India for the first time, he set foot in Kolkata. Braving the December chill, thousands of fans thronged to the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Airport to greet their idol. The world witnessed how a city more than thousand miles away from Buenos Aires welcomed Maradona as if in 1986, he was wearing a different shade of blue while lifting the World Cup. 

It is no secret that Maradona was left-leaning and shared a special bond with Fidel Castro. After Castro died, he even said," I will go to Cuba to say goodbye to my friend. He opened the doors to Cuba to me when Argentina was closing them on me." 

Naturally, the ruling left government kept no stone unturned to make their comrade's event a success. Two helicopters were arranged for his trip as he was supposed to launch a football academy in Mahestala and then head towards the Salt Lake Stadium where a friendly match was to be played between the Chief Minister’s XI and the Foreign Minister’s XI in his august presence. 

The two sides were captained by Bhaichung Bhutia and Dulal Biswas. Bhaichung’s side were coached by Mohun Bagan’s Karim Bencherifa and East Bengal’s Stanley Rosario while Dulal’s team were guided by Mohammedan Sporting’s Shabbir Ali and Chirag United’s Subrata Bhattacharya.

Maradona did not take part in the friendly, yet the stadium was chalk-a-block. The crowd gushed with excitement as he dashed onto the pitch before the match and started juggling with the ball. Even the coaches and the players were jostling to get the glimpse of a lifetime. 

He also visited the Mohun Bagan ground where he hosted a clinic for U-12 boys and the Mariners turned out in numbers to get a glimpse of their demigod.

Young men from Argentina fan clubs crisscrossed the roads with flags and jerseys. It seemed that the city had travelled back in time to 1986 when it had ornamented itself with sky-blue colours to celebrate Argentina's World Cup win. 

In 2017, he once again returned to the city and this time to take on the former India cricket skipper Sourav Ganguly in a friendly match at the Barasat Stadium. This time, it was a bulkier version of him that took the field but nothing mattered to his millions of admirers in the city. 

Roy was there to witness a historic moment, the Prince of Football greeting pleasantries with the Prince of Kolkata. "It was surreal. Two legends of different sports in front of my eyes. A tale that I would narrate a million times to my grandchildren," stated the Maradona worshipper. 

Although he did not last many minutes on the pitch, the crowd had enjoyed every penny they spent. Later, he shot footballs into the gallery with his magical left foot and the spectators once again went into a frenzy. 

On Wednesday night, the tea stalls made some more profits. The fans shed a few more tears. Some even went hungry to bed. The City of Joy is in mourning!

The entirety of the footballing world was sent into shock late night on Wednesday when news broke of Diego Maradona's untimely death. 

Fans of the beautiful game in India were also similarly affected, with tributes pouring in from across the spectrum, including high-profile personalities like Prime Minister Narendra Modi, cricketing icons Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and more. 

The South-Western state of Kerala, known as one of the footballing hotbeds in the country, have officially announced a two-day mourning period to respect the legendary Argentine. 

State Sports Minister EP Jayarajan made the announcement, stating that November 26 and 27 will be the days of mourning. “In Kerala also, lakhs of fans could not believe his departure,” he said.

Earlier, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had also put out a message on social media, remembering Maradona's visit to Kerala in 2012. 

"The people of Kerala also mourn the death of the iconic football player Maradona, along with the football fans of the world,” Pinarayi Vijayan wrote.

"This magical player has a big place in the heart of football lovers of Kerala ever since the 1986 world cup was raised by Argentina. When (football) world cup is held in any corner of the world, it will be in this small Kerala, his (Maradona’s) pictures will be raised the most."

The 1986 World Cup hero, considered the greatest footballer ever arguably, breathed his last at his home in Buenos Aires after suffering a heart attack at the age of 60. The Gimnasia coach had been hospitalised at the start of November, days after celebrating the landmark birthday, after complaining of low spirits and fatigue. 

Tests at the La Plata clinic revealed a blood clot on the brain, which doctors later revealed was operated on successfully. 

Maradona was subsequently released from hospital as an outpatient to continue his convalescence, which he carried out in his dwelling in a private neighbourhood near Tigre, northern Buenos Aires. 

But on Wednesday morning he suffered cardiac arrest, and paramedics at the scene failed to revive him. 

Azam FC forward Prince Dube is set to leave for South Africa to be treated after breaking his ulnar at home to Yanga SC.

The Zimbabwean was injured after just a quarter an hour on his left hand in the match they eventually lost by a solitary goal. The 23-year-old, who has been in fine form this season, has managed to score six goals and is among the top scorers in the charts.

"Our striker Prince Dube, who was injured in our game against Yanga on Wednesday, November 25, will be taken to South Africa for treatment," Azam FC confirmed on Thursday.

"Dube, who is a Zimbabwe citizen, was injured in the 15th minute after hurting his left hand's ulnar [a nerve transmitting electrical signals to muscles especially in the forearm and hand].

"The Chamazi-based side has now revealed more details and wished the player a quick recovery.

"[Dube] will leave for South Africa on Sunday, November 29 via the Kenya Airways," the Ice-cream Makers continued.

"He will be treated at the Vincent Pallotti Hospital in Cape Town where he will be treated by a specialist Robert Nicholas. Azam have been using this hospital to treat the players since 2011.

"As a club, we wish Dube a quick recovery."

On Wednesday, the team was relegated from the top position after falling 1-0 to Timu ya Wananchi at Azam Complex.

After a goalless first half of an end to end showdown at Chamazi, Kaseke broke the deadlock when he managed to beat Azam’s David Mapigano in the 49th minute for Yanga’s opener.

Yanga have proven to be top title challengers this season as they look a renewed side in the hunt for a 28th Premier League crown. They drew 1-1 against archrivals Simba SC in November, a side that Azam are yet to meet this season.

Timu ya Wananchi are also the only side yet to lose a game in the campaign so far as Azam have recorded a second loss. The other team is Wekundu wa Msimbazi who will be in Caf Champions League action on November 29 against Plateau United of Nigeria.

Olivier Giroud has to be considered “one of the best foreign imports” that the Premier League has ever seen says Tony Cascarino, with Chelsea urged to continue finding a role for the Frenchman.

It has been suggested that the World Cup winner could make a push for the exits at Stamford Bridge in January.

Giroud has slipped back down the pecking order in west London and found regular game time hard to come by. He has admitted that, at 34 years of age, he will have to weigh up his options when another transfer window opens.

He did, however, offer another reminder of what he is capable of when netting the winning goal for Chelsea in their 2-1 Champions League victory over Rennes on Tuesday.

Giroud now boasts 135 efforts to his name across spells with the Blues and Arsenal, while finding the target on 44 occasions for his country, and Cascarino believes a man snapped up by the Gunners in 2012 has cemented a standing as one of the finest imports of the modern era.

The former Chelsea striker told talkSPORT: “He won the league with Montpellier in France, he has had eight years in England and scored over 100 goals for Arsenal. He’s won three FA Cups, he’s won the World Cup, he’s won the Europa League with Chelsea.

“He’s been a fantastic servant for all the clubs [he’s been at]. He’s been one of the best foreign imports that has come to these shores.

“I like Olivier Giroud and I think Frank Lampard said it, he trusts him.

“I said it before the game [against Rennes], it’s more the relationship with [France boss] Didier Deschamps and Giroud because if Deschamps says to him, ‘you’ve got to be playing, I need you to be playing more minutes, you’re going to have to move’. I think that’s the biggest problem.

“Lampard is totally happy with him. I’d love him to stay at the football club. He’s the second highest goalscorer for France. He’s been an absolutely great asset for club and country. So Frank has told him what he feels and how he needs him.

“He scored a couple goals against Sweden recently. He’s very close to Thierry Henry on the [France] goalscoring record, so there are some big challenges for Olivier.”

Giroud will be hoping to see more game time when Chelsea face old adversaries Tottenham on Sunday, but Tammy Abraham and Timo Werner have been impressing in attacking berths of late.

Football Kenya Federation president Nick Mwendwa has hit out at some Premier League chairmen over the ongoing push and pull over the StarTimes sponsorship deal.

Whereas a number of clubs have signed the undertaking, Gor Mahia, Zoo and Mathare United are understood to have rebelled against the arrangement of the sponsorship deal.

“They have been in football for the last 17 years and have got nothing to show for it, now when we have brought sponsorship, they still want to fight it,” Mwendwa told Goal without mentioning any specific official.

“We don't have time to discuss 'old men', the bus has taken off, for the last three years they had the chance to give us sponsors but could not do it, so why are they fighting now when we have managed to give them two sponsors?”

Mwendwa also stated how the ongoing disagreements between clubs and the federation might affect the newly-signed deal with the FKF Premier League broadcasting partner.

“KPL never got a sponsor in three years, they don't have money to give clubs and now they are fighting even without money. All we want is our players to stop suffering,” he added.

“A neighbouring country has got double of what we have got from the sponsors but sponsors are asking us why there is fighting.”

He also distanced himself with the internal conflicts that have affected a number of clubs like Gor Mahia. The friction at Gor Mahia is so intense that the suspension and ultimatums have been made in the last two days.

“I don't know why they have not signed, you can look for them and ask them,” Mwendwa concluded.

“We want sponsors to give the promised first batch of money but it is now becoming difficult as they are not happy with the squabbles going on.

“At some point, they even want to pull out just because a few individuals don't want to sign the endorsement.

“I will not talk about the clubs, we have an endorsement and as we speak we are testing Gor Mahia for Covid-19 ahead of the league’s kick-off.

“I am not interested in what the Gor Mahia chairman is saying because the clubs decided on their own.”

In preparation of the new season, FKF has had to realign their schedules as well as the dates of kick-off three times.

The new season will start without the attendance of fans since the ban on social gathering is still active.

East Bengal are yet to play a game in the Indian Super League (ISL) this season and as a result, there is very little information about how they approach a game. ATK Mohun Bagan coach Antonio Habas would have to rely on information from Brad Inman, who was part of Robbie Fowler's Brisbane Roar last season to know more about the English coach's tactics.

"For me, it's not an advantage (for East Bengal). Maybe it's good that we played a match, and maybe it's better for East Bengal because we don't know how East Bengal plays. It's something that we have to accept in a competition," he said.

"We have information about Fowler's last job in Australia with Brisbane (Roar). I had to see their performance, behaviour, system and many things but the information we have is little," the Spaniard added with regards to Fowler's track record as a coach.

ATK Mohun Bagan will miss the services of Michael Soosairaj, who picked up a knee injury in their opening game against Kerala Blasters. Subhasish Bose is expected to start in the left wing-back role.

"I have to talk to the players before the match. They know what is the first XI a day before when the match plan will be explained to the players."

Habas mentioned that both ATK Mohun Bagan and East Bengal have a good squad but pointed that it is vital to have a solid plan with regards to the brand of football and that the players are clear in their roles and responsibilities.

"We respect all the East Bengal players. We also have good players. To build a good (squad) doesn't only depend on having good players but also the concept of football and the model of play. This is the difference between a big team and other teams."

The former Valencia boss was asked to share his thoughts on the importance of derby and why there is a lot of pressure to clinch it in their favour.

"I think the derby is a special match but only for a week before and after the match. It's an important match for me because I know what the intensity is in Kolkata and what it (Kolkata derby) means to Kolkata supporters," said Habas. 

"It's important but you never know what is the most important match in your career. I coached Bolivia in three American Cups. All matches are different and now for me, I have the maximum concentration to win (against East Bengal). This is my obsession," he concluded.