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West Ham United striker Sebastien Haller said he returned from his first international assignment with the Ivory Coast with confidence after scoring in Sunday's Premier League match against Sheffield United.

Haller fired in a powerful shot in the 56th minute which gave David Moyes' side a 1-0 victory at Bramall Lane.

It was his second goal in the English top-flight this campaign and it came just a few days after he made a memorable debut appearance for Ivory Coast.

The France-born striker scored his first international goal for the Elephants in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixture against Madagascar and he believes the goalscoring feat has helped him since he returned to London last week.

Haller told the club website; “It feels great. For me it is the same, a goal is a goal, and I'm just happy for the goal. This one is from outside the box, so it is special.

"I'm happy for the team because today was a great fight and we got the three points which we needed.

“Of course for the confidence as a striker it's really important [to score]. I came back from the national team, bringing the confidence back from that, so I hope it can help the team for the next games.

"I just know that at the training ground everyone is involved, giving their maximum in each session. It pushes everyone to the right direction and that's why I think we're here today [with the points]. We have a good attitude.”

In his reaction, David Moyes expressed happiness with the 26-year-old's confidence boost and he wants him to build on Sunday's winner when they host Aston Villa for their next Premier League fixture on Monday.

"That’s what we want from Seb [Haller] and what everyone’s looking for, me included,” Moyes said.

“He came back from international duty and I could sense in the two days we had back training that he had a spring in his step. His confidence seemed up and we’re really pleased with that.

“He’s showing signs now, and like today’s goal, we want him to get more goals and to be more involved in the build-up play and stronger in some situations.

“But I have to say I couldn’t be more pleased for him because he’s stuck at it and be’s scored a really good goal today.”

Gor Mahia forward Nicholas Kipkirui is confident the team will come back from Rwanda with a positive result against Armee Patriotique Rwandaise.

The Kenyan champions will be away in Kigali in the first leg of the preliminary round in the Caf Champions League to the Army, targeting a result that will put them in a prime position to advance to the next round.

The former Zoo FC man is confident his team will not disappoint.

"We are well prepared for the game and yes, we are away but we are going for nothing less than a win," Kipkirui told Goal on Monday.

"APR are a good team, and they are going to offer a stiff challenge. It is expected, but we are equally prepared and we are going to give our best. There are players with enough experience and quality to help us get a win."

The Kenyan champions will be against their former striker Jacques Tuyisenge who joined the team at the beginning of the season.

"Tuyisenge is a good striker, we all know what he is capable of doing," Kipkirui continued.

"But, remember we have defenders who can stop him as well; actually if we play together as a unit, then I am confident we will get the result we need. This is all about teamwork."

The 24-year-old has promised the fans his best, at the same time opining on the upcoming 2020/21 Football Kenya Federation Premier League season.

"As usual, if I get a chance I will strive to put the ball in the back of the net, but if I do not, I will work harder to create something for the opponents.

"The upcoming season will be tough because also remember we are adapting to the new tactics by the new coach [Roberto Oliveira Goncalves]. It might take us a few games to fully adapt but I am confident we will prevail."

Posta Rangers coach Sammy Omollo will be in the technical area when Gor Mahia play APR due to the controversy over Robertinho's coaching papers.

Olivier Giroud is hopeful that Chelsea will be open to letting him leave in January as manager Frank Lampard contends with several members of his squad being frustrated over a lack of game time.

World Cup-winning striker Giroud will seek his exit unless he is introduced as a regular starter in the weeks leading up to the January transfer window.

The 34-year-old has publicly admitted to not being happy at starting just one game this season and having played for just 157 minutes.

"It's worrying. I thought I still had a role to play at Chelsea but my playing time is getting reduced a lot. It's going to have to change or a decision must be made," Giroud told Telefoot.

"I am clear-headed about my situation: I will have to make a decision in January. I hope to make the right one, as I have always done."

It is understood that Giroud will seek to remain at a top European club, having almost moved to Inter in the last January window when both Tottenham and Lazio were interested in him.

France coach Didier Deschamps has already expressed his concern around Giroud's lack of game time ahead of Euro 2020 which will now take place in the summer of 2021.

Alongside Giroud, Emerson Palmieri and Marcos Alonso will both seek their exits once again in January after Ben Chilwell's summer arrival reduced their time on the pitch.

Juventus remain the most likely option for Emerson after they struggled to complete a loan deal on transfer deadline day for the Italy international.

Still, Lampard has given Emerson some minutes in recent weeks and he won't actively explore his exit until a meeting in December about his future.

Alonso's future looks even more bleak compared to his fellow left-back after failing to make a single appearance since September 26, following a half-time argument with Lampard over his defensive mistakes against West Brom which saw him substituted at the interval.

Inter coach Antonio Conte is understood to be interested in taking Alonso to the San Siro ahead of Emerson.

Meanwhile, Fikayo Tomori will seek a loan move in January having turned down the chance to join West Ham on transfer deadline day when he rejected them in the final minutes before the window closed.

The 22-year-old has made only three appearances this season, and just two starts, with Lampard struggling to keep all of his five centre-backs happy.

Antonio Rudiger explored his options to leave Chelsea ahead of transfer deadline day but he has jumped back up the pecking order in west London in recent weeks.

Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Roma and AC Milan were among the clubs that explored signing the Germany international, although he has since convinced Lampard of his worth.

Rudiger's priority is to remain at Chelsea and he will likely turn down any approaches unless Lampard and the club move to put him back on the unwanted list.

Andreas Christensen has dropped to fourth in the central defensive pecking order with both Thiago Silva and Kurt Zouma cementing their status as the regular starters.

The Denmark international has not been offered a new contract despite having just over 18 months left on his current deal. However, he is likely to hold on until the summer before either pushing for a new deal or his departure.

Chelsea have several former loanees still at the club, including Danny Drinkwater and Baba Rahman who are both fit and could leave either permanently or on temporary deals. Both players failed to find clubs in the summer but they will try again in January.

Azam FC have stated their ambitions to bounce back from the weekend's defeat and beat rivals Young Africans (Yanga SC) in a Mainland Premier League match on Wednesday.

The Chamazi-based giants blew their chance to stretch their lead at the top of the 18-team league table after falling to a solitary goal against KMC in a match played at Uhuru Stadium on Saturday.

Reliant Lusajo scored the all-important goal after connecting with a pass from Hassan Kibunda to beat Azam keeper David Mapigano, and also hand the title-chasing club their second defeat of the 2020-21 campaign.

Ahead of their next league match against Yanga, Azam media officer Zakaria Thabit has promised the fans an immediate response from the defeat.

“We really worked hard against KMC but could not get anything from the match,” Thabit is quoted by Sokaletu. “It was a battle of who could take his chances, and KMC used their one chance and finished us off.

“But we must now forget about the match and focus on our next assignment, it is the derby against Yanga, we know we will be playing at home but all we need is a quick bounce back.

“We must win the tie, we will do everything to win the match for the fans, we hope the coach will see some of the mistakes the boys committed against KMC and rectify them, we want to be ready and get the points against Yanga.”

In an earlier interview, Azam assistant coach Vivier Bahati admitted they were outmuscled by KMC during the Saturday match and could not play their usual passing game and hence did not deserve to get anything at Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

“I must accept that KMC overpowered us, they took control of the game and destabilised our style of play, in fact, they were the better team and deserved to win,” Bahati is quoted by Sokaletu.

Azam needed three points from the fixture to stretch their lead at the top of the 18-team table but despite the defeat, Bahati is confident they are still in the race for the title.

“In football sometimes, it comes a time when the players’ style is slowed down, they don’t play like they always do and that is what happened to our players, we were outshined and it is part of football,” Bahati continued.

“But the defeat does not mean we are now out of the race for the title, no, we know we still have a long way to go, and we must recover as quickly as we can and make sure we win our next match.

“The race for the title is still far to be decided and what we need to do now is recover, rectify our mistakes against KMC, and get ready for the next match.”

The Chamazi-based giants suffered their first defeat of the season after going down 1-0 to Mtibwa Sugar at Jamhuri Stadium in Morogoro.

The winner between Azam and Yanga will move top of the table as the two teams are currently tied on 25 points from 11 matches.

Simba SC are third on 23 points after thrashing Coastal Union 7-0.

Liverpool star Diogo Jota has been praised by Danny Murphy for giving Leicester "nightmares" in a Premier League clash on Sunday.

Jota became the first player in Liverpool's history to score in his first four home games for the club after heading home during a 3-0 win over the Foxes.

The 23-year-old now has eight goals to his name from 12 appearances in all competitions for the Reds, who forked out £45 million ($60m) to bring him to Anfield from Wolves in September.

The Portuguese was deployed on the right of a front three alongside Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane against Leicester in the absence of Mohamed Salah, and showed off his versatility by switching from wide to central positions throughout the 90 minutes in order to create openings in the final third.

Murphy was hugely impressed by the former Wolves star's latest performance, and says he "deserves credit" for the way he has seamlessly integrated himself into Jurgen Klopp's set-up.

“Diogo Jota, talk about hitting the ground running,” the former Liverpool midfielder said on the BBC's latest Match of the Day episode.

“He was all over the place. He started on the right of the three, where Salah plays normally, drifts into the holes into the centre of the pitch, because he’s so desperate to get on the scoresheet and make an impact on the game.

“He mixes his game up well, dropping deep, linking up the play. And what I like about him is the amount of runs he makes off the ball, which is what all good players do.

“And it’s also the fact of his bravery to go and find spaces, wait, and the intensity of his runs.

“He keeps getting in there, he’s a brilliant option, another source of goals for Liverpool and he deserves credit for how he’s adapted. For any defender picking him up, it must be a nightmare.”

Jota will be back in contention for a place in Klopp's starting XI when the Reds play host to Atalanta in a Champions League group-stage encounter on Wednesday.

Liverpool are due back in Premier League action three days later, with a tough trip to the Amex Stadium to face Brighton on the cards.

Clement Lenglet says he feels "prepared" to lead Barcelona's defence with Gerard Pique now set to miss a large portion of the season through injury.

Pique was forced off the pitch after colliding with Angel Correa during Barca's 1-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid at Wanda Metropolitano on Saturday.

The 33-year-old was later diagnosed with medial and cruciate knee ligament damage, and is now likely to be out of action for the next few months as he begins a rigorous rehabilitation programme.

Sergi Roberto will also be unavailable until the new year after picking up a thigh issue against Atletico, leaving Ronald Koeman facing a selection crisis at the back.

Lenglet's presence in the heart of the defence will now be more important than ever as Barca bid to get their season back on track, but he is ready to step up and meet that challenge head-on in the absence of Pique.

The Frenchman told a press conference ahead of a trip to Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League on Tuesday: "Pique is an important loss because he has been playing for many years and it affects us a lot, I am not the one who should answer [about my role] because it is the coach who picks the team.

"I feel prepared to help the team after two years or so, I am managing a little better being at the club and its environment but it is the coach who chooses the team."

Barca slipped to 12th in the Liga standings after their latest defeat, 12 points behind leaders Real Sociedad, who have played two games more, but Lenglet still believes the domestic crown can be salvaged if the squad remains unified.

"Yes, we can win; there are many games and points left, it has been a difficult start, with bad results, we lack points but there is still a lot left," he said.

"It would not be good to lower our aims, it would be a lack of respect for those who work for us and those who watch us on television, we have to go on and turn the situation around. "

Lenglet added on the importance of getting back to winning ways on the European stage, with Koeman's side now only one win away from qualifying for the knockout stages: "It is important to qualify for the round of 16.

"It is important for many reasons after losing the last game and it will also give us a margin and can help the coach make rotations if we qualify tomorrow."

Fabinho has aired his pride at forming part of more record-setting achievements by Liverpool, with the Brazilian playing an important role in an unbeaten run at Anfield that now stands at 64 Premier League games.

Jurgen Klopp’s side added another entry to the history books when easing past Leicester 3-0 on Sunday.

Fabinho was drafted back into the Reds side for that contest, with the versatile 27-year-old recovering from injury to provide cover for absent centre-halves Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez.

The South American was rarely tested by the Foxes during another commanding showing from the reigning English champions on home soil.

Fabinho, who moved to Merseyside from Monaco in 2018 and is yet to suffer a league defeat as a Liverpool player, is delighted to be back playing a leading role in the Reds’ quest for more honours and accolades.

He told the club’s official website on their latest record: “It’s just unbelievable. I’m happy to be part of this team, part of this history.

“We just have to keep this mentality, to try to win every game because we know our qualities, we know here at Anfield we have to always play to win. I’m happy to be part of this history as well.”

Fabinho is also happy to be filling a defensive role for Liverpool, with Klopp needing him to step back out of a holding midfield role in order to help the Reds through a fitness crisis.

“Centre-half, I try to be always in good communication with my team-mates – Joel [Matip], Robbo [Andy Robertson], the players around me. They help me a lot,” Fabinho added.

“We knew we were playing against a very good team and a very dangerous striker [Jamie Vardy] but the communication was very important for that as well.

“I know in this position I have to be concentrated every minute of the game and I’m happy because we kept the clean sheet.

“I’m very happy to be back as well, to play the 90 minutes and win the game 3-0. I feel good, no problems. I’m happy because I’m back and played the full game.”

Fabinho may be required to slot in at centre-half for some time yet, with Van Dijk and Gomez having undergone surgery, but Liverpool are also being linked with a number of potential transfer targets ahead of the January window.

Brendan Rodgers questioned the narrative about Liverpool being "depleted" after Leicester City were well beaten on Sunday.

Rodgers' Leicester suffered a 3-0 loss at Anfield as Liverpool extended their unbeaten home run in the league to 64 games – a club record.

Jurgen Klopp was without the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, Jordan Henderson, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Thiago Alcantara for the Premier League encounter, but Leicester manager Rodgers suggested there had been too much focus on the injury concerns of his former side, who moved level on points with Premier League leaders Tottenham.

He also pointed to Leicester's own absentees, with Ricardo Pereira, Caglar Soyuncu, Timothy Castagne and Wilfred Ndidi all missing from the game.

"We don't dwell on it. We've had a terrific start. We were beaten by the better team," he told a news conference. "Everyone talked about Liverpool's injuries and that was the narrative leading into this game but it's still a top-class team with players at the front end of the pitch who can hurt you.

"There's still a number of players out but the players have been great, doing everything and it just wasn't our night, so we move on."

With Van Dijk and Joe Gomez out, Fabinho slotted into the centre of defence alongside Joel Matip, while James Milner started at right-back due to Alexander-Arnold's calf injury.

Rodgers said it was still a strong Liverpool defence, as Klopp's side kept their fourth clean sheet in seven games in all competitions.

"I don't really see it as a depleted backline," he said. "I know they're missing Virgil van Dijk, but Matip is a top defender, Fabinho has filled in, he played there against Chelsea and played there against top players.

"Andy Robertson has always played, Alisson is the number one goalkeeper and wherever James Milner plays he does an incredible job. I don’t go with that narrative, they're still very strong with top players.

"You look at their midfield, players who have always played. They're just an outstanding team, super organised, play really hard with quality and were the better team."

After Jonny Evans' 21st-minute own goal, Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino scored for Liverpool, the result leaving Leicester in fourth in the table – two points adrift of Spurs and Klopp's men.

Nicolas Pepe has "let everybody down", according to Ian Wright, who says the Arsenal winger "needs better advice around him".

Arsenal survived an onslaught to escape Elland Road with a valuable point after being outplayed by Leeds United on Sunday.

The hosts had to settle for a 0-0 draw despite being aided by a numerical advantage in the final forty minutes, with the Gunners reduced to ten men following a moment of madness from Pepe.

The Ivory Coast international was shown a straight red card for headbutting Ezgyjan Alioski, having been handed a rare start ahead of Alexandre Lacazette.

Mikel Arteta condemned Pepe's actions post-match, telling reporters: “It is unacceptable. I’ve spoken to him; it is unacceptable.”

Wright has also singled the 25-year-old out for criticism, with it his belief that a man who cost Arsenal a club record fee of £72 million ($96m) is still showing no signs of living up to his price tag.

"I’m not saying that it’s a proper full-on headbutt but you can’t do that to people in this day and age," the Gunners legend told Premier League Productions. "You can’t get into people’s face like that. Alioski has gone down like he’s really got a proper headbutt but at the same time that’s just totally unprofessional and just poor from him.

"From somebody that has been complaining about not getting enough game time, somebody that has now got his chance and he’s let everybody down.

"He has let everybody down and I’m very disappointed in him simply because I don’t know who his team is around him but he’s come to the club, we’ve spent a lot of money on him.

"He’s someone that we have a lot of faith in and he seems to me that he’s not getting better, he’s actually getting more in himself and more frustrated, where you want to see him improving. He needs better advice around him."

Nicolas Pepe has been branded “unprofessional” by Martin Keown on the back of his needless red card at Leeds, with the Arsenal forward urged to take a leaf out of Kieran Tierney’s book when it comes to displays of passion.

The big-money Ivorian forward lost his cool during the Premier League trip to Elland Road, the £72 million ($96m) man butting heads with Ezgjan Alioski on his way to taking in an early bath.

Mikel Arteta admitted afterwards that Pepe's actions were “unacceptable” with Arsenal having to dig deep with 10 men to secure a goalless draw.

Keown is another who believes that Pepe let himself and his team-mates down in a contest that could have kick-started his season, with others showing the kind of commitment that needs to rub off on everyone.

Scotland international Tierney confronted Alioski at the final whistle, as the North Macedonian saw his theatrics called into question with Keown looking for the rest of an inconsistent squad to follow the lead of the fiery full-back.

The former Gunners centre-half told the Daily Mail: “This was only Nicolas Pepe’s second Premier League start of the season despite arriving with that £72m price tag in the summer of 2019.

“Arsenal’s club-record signing could have used this opportunity to launch his campaign. Instead, his unprofessional behaviour put his team under pressure and, in the end, manager Mikel Arteta had to be satisfied with earning an away point with 10 men.

“This is a team that are rebuilding under Arteta. I was impressed with some of the fighting spirit on show.

“The way Kieran Tierney was trying to have a word with Leeds United’s Alioski at full-time - the player he saw as the protagonist in Pepe’s sending off - showed impressive fighting spirit.

“Tierney typified that spirit in the game itself, too. He’s not just at the back trying to keep a clean sheet. He bombs forward and puts in those extra yards for his team.

“Tierney might have felt incensed to see Granit Xhaka with his arm around Alioski at the end of the game after what had happened. I would have certainly felt like that if I’d seen one of my team-mates practically fraternising with the enemy.

“Xhaka then pushed Tierney away from the situation when he tried to confront Alioski, but the dust will settle from that incident. Tierney is just the type of personality Arsenal need in their team.”

Mamelodi Sundowns attacking midfielder Themba Zwane wants to continue to add even more goals and assists to his name.

It was quite some week for the player known affectionately as ‘Mshishi’ – after scoring twice for Bafana Bafana in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Sao Tome and Principe in Port Elizabeth on Monday, he followed that up with a hat-trick in Sundowns’ 4-3 win over AmaZulu at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria on Sunday afternoon.

All of his goals came in the first half in a blistering 11-minute spell. He now has four goals in four league matches this term and seems determined to better last season’s feat of 11 goals in the Premiership, as well as an impressive eight assists.

“As a player I want to score more,” Zwane said in his post-match interview with SuperSport TV in his capacity as Man of the Match. “When I get chances I want to score, I want to create more chances, I want to work for my team.”

Zwane was also later booked in what was a somewhat strange incident – he went off the field to change his muddy shirt but entered play again without waiting for the referee’s approval. For a player who generally stays clear of trouble and being cautioned, it shouldn't matter too much in the greater scheme of things.

“To be honest I was not aware, I wanted to rush because they were putting us under pressure so I wanted to change quickly,” he explained. “It was my mistake and I apologize to the coaches.”

Currently the Premier Soccer League (PSL) Player of the Season, the 31-year-old seems to be at the very top of his game at present.

And yet he feels there is more to come from him, which is bad news for those teams hoping to challenge Masandawna.

“I’m focusing on improving on the Mshishi of last season, trying to get more goals, more assists, help my team win trophies,” Zwane said.

The Brazilians, treble winners last season, are top of the league standings. Their next action is against Stellenbosch FC at Loftus on Wednesday.

The Confederation of African Football Caf) alongside other football federations across the continent have sent their condolences to the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) following the death of its president Sidy Augustin Diallo.

Diallo was confirmed dead on Saturday, two weeks after he tested positive for coronavirus.

Diallo has been a leader in Ivorian football since the early 1990s. He was first elected the vice-president of the FIF from 1991 to 1994, before he won the Ivorian FA presidency in 2011.

During his tenure, he helped Ivory Coast win their second Africa Cup of Nations title in 2015 amongst other achievements, which include their qualification for the 2006 Fifa World Cup in Germany.

“For the past 30 years, Mr. Augustin Sidy Diallo served football with immense passion, and his name will remain closely linked to numerous successes of the Ivorian national team,” Caf president Ahmad Ahmad stated.

Also on Saturday, the African football family was struck with more sad news as Caf Honorary vice-president and former president of the Togolese Football Federation, General Seyi Memene died after a long illness.

"General Memene will remain in our hearts as one of the great architects of our institution’s history. He contributed to write one of Caf most beautiful pages,” Ahmad noted in another statement.

“Caf president paid him a deserved tribute for "his inestimable contribution to the development of African football in general, and Togolese football in particular.

“My sincere thoughts of support and solidarity are with the family of General Memene for the loss of this great figure.”

The Ghana Football Association also paid tribute to the families of Sidy Diallo and General Memene.

“The Ghana Football Association wishes to express its deepest condolences to the families of late African football administrators, General Seyi Memene (Togo) and Augustin Sidy Diallo (Ivory Coast),” a statement read.

“Late Augustin Sidy Diallo, also passed on Saturday, November 21, 2020, two weeks after testing positive for the deadly corona virus.

“The thoughts and prayers of the GFA and the entire football fraternity are with their families at this time.”

The president of the Football Kenya Federation, Nick Mwendwa described the death of his 'friend' Diallo as shocking news.

The president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick also joined his counterparts in paying tribute to the fallen football administrators.

Olivier Giroud would score goals for Chelsea if the Blues gave him game time, says Gael Clichy, with the France international striker being urged to move on in January and find the opportunities he deserves.

The World Cup-winning frontman was given just three minutes off the bench in the 2-0 win over Newcastle on Saturday, taking him to 36 for the season in the Premier League.

Giroud needs goals and games if he is to remain part of the national team set-up under Didier Deschamps, with Les Bleus’ boss admitting as much.

The former Arsenal frontman has conceded that he will be weighing up his options when the winter transfer window opens, with Clichy calling on a proven performer to leave Stamford Bridge.

The ex-Gunners and Manchester City defender told Stadium Astro: “It’s been a few months, a few years, that we hear the same speech around Giroud, that he is not needed, he is not good enough, if he doesn’t play enough he will not get into the national team.

“All those questions, all those question marks, have been solved and resolved by Giroud himself.

“Give him time and he will actually score goals. When I say give him time, I’m not asking to give him 10 games in a row to get his first goal. Give him 20 minutes here, half-an-hour there, 40 minutes here, cup game, Champions League game, he will score goals and he will show people that that kind of profile in the team, within the group, is essential.

“You want players that can create something, but you also want players that can hold the ball and score goals.

“If you look at where he is in terms of goalscoring for France, I will not name all the names but he’s second and seven goals behind [all-time leading scorer] Thierry Henry, and this for me is enough. That is the answer to everybody telling me that he shouldn’t be there.

“So obviously if the manager of the national team is saying that he needs game time to go to the Euros, well if you look at that direction, you need to go and you need to find a place where you will play.

“Again, we’ve heard that many times in his career, many times, he’s always been there and scored goals, and he’s always kind of put people straight in terms of what he’s doing on the football pitch, or in this club, or in the national team. For me that’s a great example of attitude and commitment.”

Express FC coach Wasswa Bbosa is optimistic of a successful 2020/21 Ugandan Premier League season.

The Red Eagles players were on a retreat from Friday, November 20 to Sunday, November 23 in preparations for the forthcoming campaign. The experienced tactician believes the outing was a success and it will positively impact the team.

"This [retreat] is one of a kind; I have been at Express FC for a while but I have never seen such a level of organization," Bbosa said as quoted by the club's website.

"I am glad and happy that this retreat was a success and I know this will go a long way for us having a successful season."

Betway Uganda county director Adella Agaba Nyaruhuma emphasized discipline which he believes will be key in their bid to secure silverware.

"I would like you [players] to understand that the brand you are representing is huge and I kindly request you to be disciplined," the official said.

"You can’t achieve anything if you don’t have discipline.

"We have organized this retreat to ensure that players get a different environment as we prepare for the new season and I am sure we have achieved our goal.  

"Going forward I expect teamwork, discipline, and focus and I am sure we are getting silverware at the end of the season."  

The six-time league champions signed 18 players in preparation for the forthcoming campaign.

Coach Bbosa had pointed out initially nothing has changed as far as the team targets are concerned. He further exuded confidence that experienced defender Murushid Jjuuko will have a positive impact on the Red Eagles.  

"Our targets haven’t changed, and in three years we will at least win a trophy for Express, as we promised when getting this job," he added.

"And our bosses know about it because Express are here to compete and that is what it is known for; to be victorious. 

"We are so grateful for players like Murushid Jjuuko who adds a lot on our defence especially in experience and confidence because every other team is built starting from the defence."  

The Wankulukuku Red Eagles finished ninth in the abandoned 2019/20 season with 31 points.

Vipers SC were crowned as champions and will be playing in the Caf Champions League while KCCA FC, who finished second, got the right to play in the Caf Confederation Cup.

Jamie Carragher has backed Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp's call for five Premier League substitutes, insisting it's "inevitable" the change will be made.

A motion to allow managers the chance to continue making five changes per game was denied in August after the initiative was brought in post-lockdown to help the 2019-20 campaign reach its conclusion.

The original three substitutes rule was reinstated for the start of the new season, but with the calendar shortened by four weeks amid the scheduling issues caused by the coronavirus outbreak, clubs are now finding it more difficult than ever to keep their players fit.

After seeing the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Fabinho, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jordan Henderson pick up injuries varying in severity, Klopp called for the top flight to start allowing five subs again ahead of a top-of-the-table clash against Leicester on Sunday.

"We need it. For the players, not the clubs. December and January in a normal season is brutal," the Liverpool boss said last week.

"We know that. But this year, for the Champions League and Europa League clubs, October is like December.

"November is like December. December is still December, then January, then February.

"It’s not about me. It’s not about Liverpool. It’s about player welfare."

The Reds ran out 3-0 winners against the Foxes at Anfield thanks to an own goal from Jonny Evans and headers from Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino, but the victory was soured somewhat by Naby Keita limping off in the second half with a hamstring problem.

Carragher can understand why Klopp is reaching the end of his tether over the demands placed on the players in the current climate, and thinks the Premier League will soon be forced into action.

“It’s a big talking point now. I think Jurgen Klopp feels like he’s banging his head against a brick wall," the Liverpool legend told Sky Sports.

"You can see there, it’s the hamstring. You talk about Klopp and the five subs, I think there’s a lot more managers on board now. I think it’s maybe inevitable that it happens in the end. The EFL have gone to five subs.

"I was totally against it at the end of last season, but when you look at how many injuries there’s been in the Premier League this season - the numbers are massively up.

"People question Jurgen Klopp or Pep Guardiola not making three in one game, so why do they want five? I don’t think that’s a reason not to make five subs, I actually think it’s a reason to do five subs.

"What it shows is, it doesn’t mean the managers are gonna make five subs in every game, it’s just that when maybe, Jurgen Klopp thinks they’re out of sight from the opposition, it gives them the opportunity to maybe make two or three subs in the end.

"You saw against Man City, Jurgen only made two subs and Pep only made one because the game was in the balance. They’re not gonna make subs for the sake of it - they need to win the game.

"It gives them the opportunity, when the game is dead, as Liverpool’s was in Atalanta, and you can make them changes in the Champions League - you then make them changes."

A road accident has tragically claimed the life of Bafana Bafana right-back Anele Ngcongca, reports have emerged on Monday morning.

Various reports on Twitter have confirmed the news, as has reputable news outlet eNCA.

"He was involved in a car crash in KwaZulu-Natal on Monday morning," read the eNCA report.

"Ngcongca was thrown from the vehicle and died on the scene. His female companion is in a critical condition in hospital."

Although the name was not mentioned, KwaZulu-Ntal Brigadier Jay Naicker has confirmed an accident took place.

"At 05:00, a vehicle with two occupants lost control and overturned on the N2 freeway near Mtunzini. A 33-year-old man was declared dead at the scene," he said.

"The driver sustained serious injuries and was taken to hospital for medical attention. The circumstances surrounding the incident are still under investigation. A case of culpable homicide has been opened for investigation by Mtunzini SAPS."

Ngcongca was only 33-years-old at the time of his passing and has played for Bafana Bafana on 52 occasions.

The Cape Town-born player unfortunately joins an ever growing list of former Premier Soccer League (PSL) stars who have been killed in motor vehicle accidents, including Lesley Manyathela, Gift Leremi (both Orlando Pirates), Mondli Cele (Maritzburg United), Richard Henyekane (Golden Arrows) and Cecil Lolo (Ajax Cape Town).

Ngcongca made his initial inroads into professional football with FC Fortune, then playing in South Africa's second tier.

A move to Belgium followed where he enjoyed a lot of success with Genk, where he played over 200 matches and helped the team win the Belgian Cup twice as as well as the Belgian Pro League and the Belgian Super Cup.

The Khayelitsha-born defender then moved to France and had a brief spell with Troyes before returning home to play for Sundowns in 2016.

During his time in Pretoria he was part of a Sundowns squad which won the league title three times as well as the Nedbank Cup and Telkom Knockout. He did battle with injury with the Brazilians although he did still play 104 times for them.

Ngcongca had seemingly signed for Belgian second-tier side KSV Roeselare in July, but then an about turn transpired when it emerged just like last week that he was signing for AmaZulu.

AmaZulu had however not yet confirmed the signing and Ngcongca was not in the squad which lost 4-3 to Mamelodi Sundowns on Sunday.

His signing was however expected to have been announced soon.