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Ghana U20 women's coach Yusif Basigi has called up 30 players for an international friendly with Morocco in Accra.

The Black Princesses will face the Atlas Lionesses for the second time this year following an initial meeting in Morocco in preparations for their U20 Women's World Cup qualifying matches.

At the Mohammed VI Stadium, goals from Milot Pokuaa and Faustina Akpor could not save Basigi's ladies from defeat as they threw away a goal lead to lose 3-2 to their hosts in Casablanca.

After strikes from Ghizaine Chebbak, Ouinekh Hanane and Hanane Ait El Haj gave the Moroccans a comeback win, coach Basigi will hope his side's profit from their home advantage this term.

In the build-up to the warm-up fixture, the Hasaacas Ladies handler is counting on the bulk of players that featured in the previous meeting in Morocco, with a mix of some fresh domestic talents.

The 30 players and officials are due in camp at the GFA Technical Centre (GSCE), Prampram from Thursday, November 19 and will, on arrival undergo a mandatory Covid-19 test.

With the cancellation of the 2020 U20 Women's World Cup due to Covid-19 outbreak, the Ghanaian side will be aiming to continue preparations for the qualifiers for the 2022 edition.

FULL SQUAD

Grace Baanwa (Hasaacas Ladies FC), Kerrie McCarthy (Kumasi Sports Academy), Cynthia Kolan (Pearl Pia Ladies FC), Justice Tweneboah (Ampem Darkoa Ladies FC), Tedina Sekyere (Dreams Ladies FC), Nina Norshie (Valued Girls FC), Faustina Aidoo (Hasaacas Ladies FC), Queenabel Amankrah (Hasaacas Ladies FC), Cecilia Hagan (Sea Lions Ladies FC), Evelyn Badu (Hasaacas Ladies FC), Azumah Bugre (Army Ladies FC), Jaqueline Owusu (Dreamz Ladies FC), Suzy Dede Teye (Ladystrikers FC), Peterson Kundock (Ampem Darkoa Ladies FC), Fuseina Mumuni (Pearl Pia Ladies FC), Grace Acheampong (Ashtown Ladies FC), Mukarama Abdullah (Northern Ladies FC), Milot Abena Pokua (Hasaacas Ladies FC0, Doris Boaduwa (Hasaacas Ladies FC), Rahama Jafar (Northern Ladies FC), Lauratu Issaka (Mfantseman Ladies FC), Faustina Akpo (Berry Ladies FC), Joyce Larbi (Kumasi Sports Academy), Abigail Tutuwa (Prisons Ladies FC), Rafia Kulchire (Hasaacas Ladies FC), Diana Antwi (Ampem Darkoa Ladies FC), Comfort Yeboah (Soccer Intellectuals FC), Sophia Dadzie (Sea Lions Ladies FC), Selina Abalansa (Soccer Intellectuals Ladies FC), Sandra Owusu Ansah (Supreme Ladies FC).

Sergio Ramos is “on the wane” at 34 years of age and would only be an option for Liverpool to consider in January if they got “desperate”, claims Steve Nicol.

The Reds are expected to enter the winter market for reinforcements at centre-half.

That is because Jurgen Klopp has endured a wretched run of luck on the injury front of late, with the likes of Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez being ruled out with long-term knee problems.

Various options have been mooted for Liverpool to consider, with Dayot Upamecano and Kalidou Koulibaly of RB Leipzig and Napoli respectively billed by many as top targets.

It could be that Ramos comes into Klopp’s thinking as he continues to run down his contract at Real Madrid.

Nicol, though, is not convinced that the World Cup winner is the kind of “stop-gap” that the reigning Premier League champions require, with those at Anfield urged to show more long-term thinking.

The former Reds defender told ESPN FC when asked if Ramos could be a candidate to help Liverpool through a difficult situation: “I don't wish to make this sound bad but it depends how desperate they are.

“Listen, if Virgil van Dijk has a setback and it's going to take even longer, if Joe Gomez is struggling, you'd rather go for someone like Upamecano, at 21, who you're going to have for a decade. It's kind of a no-brainer.

“If you can't get him, then you kind of start going down the list.

“Clearly, you want a younger player who is going to be there for some time. You really want to avoid stop-gaps, unless you're in a real hole.

“So, listen, if they got Ramos it would only be for a couple of seasons. I think he's on the wane a little.

“But it wouldn't be the worst signing ever, he would do a job. But even he's injured today, he did his hamstring.”

Ramos limped out of Spain’s stunning 6-0 victory over Germany in the UEFA Nations League.

He could also be facing up to a lengthy spell on the sidelines, with Liverpool in no position to take fitness gambles as they manage their way through an injury crisis.

It may be that Ramos is taken off the table in the coming weeks anyway, with Real still keen to agree fresh terms with their talismanic captain and extend his 15-year association with the club.

Kerala Blasters kick-start their Indian Super League (ISL) season on Friday when they face ATK Mohun Bagan.

The Blasters have made wholesale changes to their foreign contingent with only midfielder Sergio Cidoncha being retained from last season. Amongst the new players is Costa Nhamoinesu, who has been named amongst the three captains who are Cidoncha and Jessel Carneiro.

Coach Kibu Vicuna explained his reasons for handing the captain’s armband to be shared by three players.

“For me, which player is going to be the representative of the team is important. These players have the possibility to be good captains. They are going to be the representatives of the team. 

“To be captain is not only about having the armband, it is about representing the team on and off the field. I like to have three-to-four captains. Perhaps in the future, we will add one more,” said Vicuna.

Nhamoinesu is impressed with the talent at Kerala Blasters and believes that every player is keen to learn from Vicuna a new style of play which captures the attention of the Blasters fans.

“When I came here, I am not trying to pick out individuals, I look at the team as a whole.  All youngsters are enthusiastic, and they are full of energy, they really want to learn from the coach who is teaching a new style of play,” said the 34-year-old.

The Coronavirus pandemic has hit the preparations of most teams as they remain in a bio-bubble during the course of the campaign. Nhamoinesu was quick to point that it’s important to be motivated and stay focused especially during the times of the pandemic.

“It (This season) is different than what we are used to. Everything is now about the mental aspect. Physically it is demanding but now we must be strong mentally. We are not trying to look for excuses, we will try to work with what is available for us. 

“Yesterday, we had some activity among us after dinner. No one knows what the future holds. We are looking to work with whatever is available and we will see where that takes us,” he shared his thoughts.

Wazito FC have unveiled Francis Kimanzi as their new coach ahead of the 2020/21 Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League campaign.

The immediate former Harambee Stars coach takes over from Fred Ambani who was fired alongside his technical bench that included assistant coach Salim Babu and goalkeeper trainer Elias Otieno. 

At his new team, the 44-year-old will be assisted by John Kamau who is also an experienced coach.

"I am grateful and honoured to be here ... discussing the future of Wazito Football Club together with my able technical bench," Kimanzi said during his unveiling on Thursday morning.

"It was not an easy decision, it was a tough one because of the culture of the club [which is] what I need as an individual.  

"I am very happy to have pulled together a good technical bench to help in achieving the objectives of Wazito FC. We will do it for sure; we have a mission and we must achieve it."

The tactician has now set his sights on helping the team get back to the winning formula ahead of the forthcoming campaign.

"We want to get the team to a winning formula; currently we do not know how but we will figure it out once we meet the players," Kimanzi continued. 

"We want to have a playing style that can be recognized by players; we want to leave some good legacy at the club."  

Ambani and his team were fired after failing to convince management that they were the right people to steer the team forward. Wazito FC's 2-1 loss away to Zoo FC in Kericho played a major part in their dismissal.

After his appointment, Kimanzi will start his Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League campaign with a clash against Kariobangi Sharks on November 29 before playing away against Mathare United on December 5.

Wazito will then take on Sofapaka on December 9, tackling Ulinzi Stars on December 13, and then wind up their opening five fixtures with a clash against KCB on December 26.

The team is aiming at performing better this season after struggling to a 13th place finish in the abandoned 2019/20 season. 

Golden Arrows captain Matome Mathiane says his team are mindful of a Kaizer Chiefs backlash but have a game-plan in place for a positive result.

Following the international break, Chiefs will be desperate to bounce back and start stringing some form together. This is after they lost three, drew one and won two of their opening six matches in all competitions.

In the PSL, Amakhosi have only found  the back of the net once in three matches, an own goal by a Chippa United defender in their 1-0 win over the Chilli Boys.

Arrows meanwhile have started solidly and are in filth spot on the table with five points from three fixtures; a convincing 3-1 win over SuperSport United as well as 1-1 draws against Baroka FC and Bloemfontein Celtic.

As their skipper says, the KwaZulu-Natal side is braced for an onslaught by Chiefs when they meet at the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium on Saturday afternoon, 15:30 kick off.

At the same time, Abafana Bes'thende, under head coach Mandla Ncikazi, have plans of their own to win the game.

“They are still a big team, and we will give them the respect they deserve," Mathiane told Sowetan.

"But going to play Chiefs, we know that they will want to bounce back to winning ways at our expense. That’s something we don’t want a team that has not been winning to get back to winning ways against us. So we are well prepared to play against them.

“We play with high intensity, and we press. The moment we will start pressing, they will have a serious problem,” Mathiane added.

The Arrows defender also mentioned that the Glamour Boys seemingly have a reliance on playing route-one football and he has questioned their ability string passes together.

“They don’t have those players they used to where they will keep the ball for a long time. The system they are playing now, they are using long balls, so we are a team who plays possession football."

Kerala Blasters are all set to face ATK Mohun Bagan on the opening day of the seventh edition of the Indian Super League (ISL) on Friday in Goa. Due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, the season will be conducted in Goa with every team being part of a bio-bubble.

Coach Kibu Vicuna acknowledged that while the pre-season preparations have been far from ideal, but the fact that the league will see light of the day is certainly a big positive.

“It is true that pre-season is short. In a new team, you like to train more. You have players who ended quarantine three days ago. Every team has its own problems. No complaints and excuses. We are happy to start the league. 

“The foreign players came later due to visa issues and they need more time. The whole team needs more time, not only physically but also tactically. We are going to be better next month than today, I am sure about that,” said Vicuna.

The Spanish coach won the I-League title with Mohun Bagan last season with the Green and Maroon playing an exciting brand of football. With Mohun Bagan and ATK merging to form a new entity in ATK Mohun Bagan, Vicuna moved to new pastures as his contract wasn’t renewed. This was because Antonio Habas, the coach of the erstwhile ATK, was appointed head coach of ATK Mohun Bagan.

“I have good sentiments for Bagan, they treated me very well. I have a lot of friends there. But I am happy to be at Blasters, I am going to do my best, the people have received me very well,” he shared his thoughts on facing his former team on the first day of the campaign.

“We are starting the season, trying to create a good team and will try to play good football. It is a different league. It was a tough league last season. The level of players coaches and clubs are very even, every game is going to be tough. I have confidence in the way we are training.”

Vicuna is spoilt for choices this season when it comes to the Indian contingent especially in midfield. The former Mohun Bagan coach mentioned that the players who will make most of the chances afforded to them will be given more opportunities rather than just choosing a team based on the past reputation.

“I am not used to looking at the players' past. If they take advantages of the chances they have, they are going to play. We have good young players and players with experience. We are trying to create a balance. For me, age is not the most important. We have players with potential, as all players, they must improve daily.”

Kerala Blasters have four goalkeepers, namely Bilal Khan, Albino Gomes, Muheet Shabbir and Prabhsukhan Gill and Vicuna is pleased with how each of the four are undergoing their training in the pre-season.

“We have four number ones, we have four goalkeepers. We are happy with the way they are training with the goalkeeper coach. They performed in the friendlies. We have to choose one for tomorrow's game, that's all. We are focusing on the first game,” signed off Vicuna.

Zesco United head coach Numba Mumamba has challenged Jesse Were, John Makwatta and their fellow strikers to be more composed in front of goal.

The Ndola club will host Kabwe Warriors on Saturday as they look for a second win in the Super League campaign which they started by drawing Napsa Stars 1-1.

They then lost to Forest Rangers in a local derby before picking up a 1-0 win over Lumwana Radiants in the third matchday.

Mumamba now wants his strikers to be more clinical in order to get goals from the many chances he believes his side creates.

“We are creating a lot of chances but we are also failing to score. This was the story in Lumwana where we created a lot of opportunities but only scored one goal,” Mumamba told the club’s website.

“We are in a hurry to shoot on target. There is a need to have composure in front of goal before you shoot. We have invested a lot of time working on our finishing so that we are ready for the next game against Kabwe Warriors.”

Although the former Zambia international claims there has been a waste of chances, he feels there was a strong response during the match against Lumwana Radiants.

“They responded very well and looked very confident in our third game against Lumwana Radiants.,” he concluded.

“We controlled the game and dominated most of the proceedings. That is what we expect from ourselves especially that we are fighting to win the title.”

The match against Kabwe Warriors will be among the first which will be attended by fans since the government lifted the suspension on stadium attendance.

The fans, who were not in a position to enjoy the latter stages of the 2019/20 campaign due to the coronavirus pandemic, will now attend the venues but with strict adherence to the Covid-19 protocols.

Meanwhile, the club’s CEO Richard Mulenga has mourned the death of Zesco United Supporters Club member Jessica Lumbeta.

“Lumbeta’s passing comes at a significant moment when football fans have been sanctioned to watch Super League matches from the comfort of their respective match venues,” Mulenga stated.

“Lumbeta is one such voice that we will greatly miss not only this Saturday but also in the ensuing years to come.”

Timu ya Ziko are seventh with four points after three games.

Sami Khedira has opened the door for a move to the Premier League to be made in 2021, with the Juventus midfielder admitting he would welcome the opportunity to be reunited with Jose Mourinho.

The World Cup winner has spent the last five years on the books of Serie A giants in Turin.

Form and fitness issues have dropped him down the pecking order at Juve, with no competitive game time seen this season and just 35 appearances made across the last two campaigns.

Free agency now beckons, as the 33-year-old runs down his contract in Italy, and it could be that his next challenge lies in England as the former Real Madrid star looks to chase another “dream”.

“When I was a child it was always a big dream of mine to be a Premier League player,” Khedira told Sky Germany.

“I am really happy and satisfied with my career until now but one thing is still missing because I always had this dream and it has never come true… to be a part of the Premier League.

“I have watched so many Premier League games since I was young and even now I am following the Premier League a lot.

“I always enjoyed playing in the Champions League against the English clubs. The atmosphere, the style and idea of football has always impressed me.

“If it is possible it will for sure be a really big dream [come true] and honour to be a part of the Premier League.”

It could be that Khedira pushes for a switch to Tottenham, as he wants to work with ex-Blancos boss Mourinho again, while current Everton coach Carlo Ancelotti is another manager that he holds in the highest regard having also enjoyed success with the Italian tactician at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Quizzed on why he rates Mourinho so highly, Khedira said: “Because of his personality, He is always honest, direct, clear in his mind and a great coach.

“Many people talk about him [being] too defensive but he is a winner, he is a champion. That is why he impressed me the most.

“I really enjoyed working with Jose Mourinho but there are many coaches who I would like to work with.

“I would never say no again to Jose Mourinho but it is not the only guy who I would say I would like to work with again.

“There are many coaches, even in the Premier League that I respect a lot. Ancelotti is doing a great job at the moment and is a great personality. He is one of the coaches who impressed me also.”

TS Galaxy striker Wayde Lekay has explained how he dealt with the disappointment of missing a penalty against Kaizer Chiefs.

The match in question against Amakhosi was a league encounter on November 4. A week before that, he had opened his scoring account in the PSL by taking his team to a 1-0 win over AmaZulu.

Against Chiefs though, Lekay was to hit the woodwork from the penalty spot, with the game ultimately ending in a 0-0 draw.

The Cape Town-born player admits the miss hurt him, but says he's mindful about dwelling too much on the negatives.

"Obviously during the game, it is a disappointing moment but many players miss penalties. It is something that happens in football," he told the club website.

"You have to accept it. Yes, it does take a knock on your confidence but if you allow it to get the better of you then you won’t succeed. I’m back on training and working very hard. That’s the most important thing," the 23-year-old added.

The former Steenberg United (second-tier) player goes on to explain that confidence is a big part of the game, and says he's benefiting from the knowledge he has been receiving from his coach, Dan Malesela.

"You have to know that you are worthy," Lekay said.

"You have to know what you can do. It is something that the coach always emphasizes. He always says that the biggest challenge is fear.

"If we are going to fear then we won’t succeed. For us to have those characteristics, I believe we can take on anything. It is pointless coming in to the league with fear.

"It is eleven versus eleven in the field of play. That’s what we are here for.  We have to know that we can go and win. Confidence is key."

So far the rookie Premier Soccer League (PSL) club has shown little fear and this is afterall the team which won the Nedbank Cup two seasons ago when beating Chiefs - while still playing in the second-tier at that point.

Currently they are seventh on the standings and are unbeaten with five points from three matches. The Mpumalanga side are next in action on Saturday night, away at Swallows FC.

Former Ghana and Mainz 05 midfielder Nana Darteh Bediako is the latest to attribute the nation's struggle in securing the international future of players in the diaspora to bad press.

The West Africans have set their sights on following in the footsteps of the likes of Nigeria, Morocco and Algeria to broaden their talent pool with players born abroad.

Ghana's quest has, however, not gone as successfully as they had hoped, having been turned down by a series of players, the most recent including Athletic Bilbao striker Inaki Williams, Greuther Furth winger Jamie Leweling and Jeremy Doku of Rennes.

"They [players of Ghanaian descent abroad] are afraid of playing for the country because they think it will not end them well," Bediako told Happy FM on Wednesday.

"Some of the things they hear about playing for the Black Stars discourage them - the insults, harsh criticisms and many others.

"You cannot force them to make that decision on switching nationality. I would love to see my son play for the Black Stars. I am sure Abedi Pele is happy seeing his sons [Andre and Jordan Ayew] play for the Black Stars.”

Despite their low success rate over the years, Ghana are not giving up on their quest.

Football officials of the West African country are currently locked down in talks with Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah and Brighton and Hove Albion right-back Tariq Lamptey in an attempt to woo players over from representing their country of birth England at senior level.

Anderlecht winger Francis Amuzu and Ajax Amsterdam starlet Brian Brobbey are also on the radar of the Black Stars.

“There are a lot of perceptions about how Ghanaian footballers play the game,” Black Stars management committee chairman George Amoakoh told Nhyira FM in September.

"Destructive tendencies in the game, those who deliberately want to injure you and cut short your career.

“Then the usual unending speculation, especially about Ghanaian players using 'juju' to play football.

“Even those [players in the diaspora] who were raised here and go to Europe to play there, most of them, because of 'juju', don’t want to play for Ghana.

“It's a very big problem we are trying to unravel and make right."

Former Netherlands U21 centre-back Derrick Luckassen, and the France-born trio of Alexander Djiku, Enock Kwateng and Elisha Owusu have all recently pledged their allegiance to the four-time African champions. 

Chennaiyin will take on Jamshedpur in their first match of the seventh season of Indian Super League (ISL). 

In their second and third fixtures, they will face rivals Kerala Blasters and Bengaluru FC respectively. 

The full list of Chennaiyin's fixtures released so far can be found below: 

Here are Chennaiyin's first 10 fixtures. 

Fixtures for only the first 11 rounds, which consists of 55 matches, have been released right now. The schedule for the remaining 55 league matches will be published in December as the league awaits clarity on calendar dates of Asian Football Confederation (AFC) matches.

The entire tournament will be held behind closed doors in Goa, due to the Covid-19 pandemic which means the teams will have to stay in a bio-bubble for the duration of the tournament. 

For the seventh season of Indian Super League (ISL), Mumbai City have opted to make full use of their foreign quota of seven players.

After the takeover of the club by the City Football Group (CFG), the Islanders were on a roll in the transfer market this summer. Some of their moves include bringing in former FC Goa head coach Sergio Lobera, players like Ahmed Jahouh, Hugo Boumous, Bartholomew Ogbeche and Adam Le Fondre. 

A simple look at Mumbai's squad list gives you the impression that they are set to go all-out for the ISL title in their first year with Lobera at the helm. The recruitment drive has been impressive but it does leave a few gaps at the back. 

While clubs such as Jamshedpur and Kerala Blasters have opted to sign two foreign centre-backs, the Islanders have only brought in Mourtada Fall and are reliant on Indian defenders to step up this season. Compared to their immense firepower upfront and in midfield, the defence could be their weak point in the upcoming season. 

It must be noted that there is defensive midfielder Hernan Santana in Mumbai's squad who can slot in as a centre-back at times. He has played as a centre-back in the pre-season friendlies for Mumbai and provides an extra foreign defensive option for Lobera who knows him very well from his Las Palmas days. 

Mumbai City's defensive form will also be keenly observed by the other teams given how Lobera's Gaurs were infamous for conceding goals and throwing away clean sheets. The Spanish head coach has been adamant about his focus on outscoring opponents instead of restricting their attacks in the past and based on how the squad has shaped up, that philosophy is set to continue. 

In Lobera's 60 games in charge of Goa, the team scored 128 goals and conceded 79 (more than a goal per game). In his first season with Goa, the team kept only two clean sheets (lowest tally in the league) and let in 28 goals in 20 matches (only two teams had worse defensive records). 

But notably, Goa improved defensively in the next two years as Lobera brought in Mourtada Fall and Carlos Pena together to strengthen the defence and the team, as a whole, grew accustomed to the coach's style of play. 

It is only sensible to expect a similar trajectory for defensive displays at his new team as well. Mumbai City have the firepower to outscore every team in the ISL this season and they probably will, barring the odd game here and there. However, there will be pressure on the Indian defenders to put on a good show. 

Former Gaurs skipper Mandar Rao Dessai will have a prominent role to play at left-back. On the other flank, they have the option of deploying Sarthak Golui and former Kerala Blasters right-back Mohammed Rakip. They also have Valpuia, Tondonba Singh, Mehtab Singh and Amey Ranawade to pair with Fall and it will be interesting to see who is picked out of the available Indian options.

Sarthak Golui also can play as a centre-back but it is very clear that their Indian options in defence do not inspire much confidence apart from Mandar who is known more for his attacking traits. 

As it stands, Fall will take up one of the centre-back slots in the first team and how the rest of the defensive line shapes up could also determine how far a new-look Mumbai City will go this season. 

When the news of City Football Group's takeover of Indian Super League (ISL) club Mumbai City FC broke last season, somehow most football aficianados in the country knew that they might appoint a high-profile head coach to take up the project. 

It is not that Jorge Costa's stint was a disaster - there were positives to take away - but things didn't really click for the Portuguese who had previously played under Jose Mourinho at Porto. The last time that the Islanders saw the ISL playoffs was in 2018-19 season but a defeat to FC Goa in the semis halted their progress. CFG are in it for the long term and they needed someone to revamp the whole squad and play a more attacking brand of football. 

Enter former Las Palmas manager Sergio Lobera who spent three seasons with the Gaurs and created an identity of his own in Indian football. Lobera's team was hell-bent on outscoring their opponents instead of being conservative regardless of in-game scenarios. Possession-based football was quickly the name of the game and Lobera led the revolution from the dugout.

What helped Lobera at Goa was the fact that he managed to get exactly the players he needed for his system to work. FC Goa were a more complete team by his second year in charge of the team. And he had brought in more than one former player. 

The man who introduced Ferran Corominas to India (who has left ISL as the league's all-time topscorer) has now two lethal finishers in his squad.

Bartholomew Ogbeche has been in the race for the Golden Boot for two seasons in a row and had become Kerala Blasters' all-time topscorer despite having spent only one season with the yellows in Kochi. Partnering him upfront will be Adam Le Fondre who has been on fire in front of goal recently in A-League and is arguably the most exciting foreign signing of the season.

To assist these strikers and create goals on his own, Lobera will make use of the services of the best player in the league last season - Hugo Boumous. The French midfielder has 16 goals and 17 assists in 42 appearances - an incredible return in Indian football. 

Further behind in midfield, Lobera has Ahmed Jahouh who will be vital to dominating opponents in midfield and retaining possession for long periods of the game. He will have help from India international Rowllin Borges and the talented Raynier Fernandes. 

In defence, there is the tall figure of Mourtada Fall who was vital in stemming the concesion of goals with the Gaurs. It will be interesting to see how the defence lines up because this Mumbai City team is top-heavy. 

The trusted gloves of Amrinder Singh in between the stick completes what looks like a squad that is one of the favourites to win the title this year. It certainly won't be one-way traffic, as other teams have also strengthened their squads. But Lobera has all the ingredients to make it work in Mumbai (in Goa). And when Sergio Lobera gets all his ingredients, he knows the recipe to delectable football. 

Selangor midfielder Sarkunan Krishnansamy has revealed to Goal that he will be leaving the club on loan for the coming season.

The 24-year old player had made 14 league appearances and 13 starts for the Red Giants last season, but received only five appearances and one start this season, which according to him happened due to an injury.

"I was told by the technical director (Michael Feichtenbeiner) and secretary-general (Johan Kamal Hamidon) that I will be offered on loan in order to get me more playing minutes.

"It has been tough for me here with the arrival of a Malaysia midfielder (Brendan Gan) and a Singapore midfielder (Safuwan Baharudin) this season, so it's better for me to get to play at another team.

"Apart from the shortened season (due to the pandemic), I was sidelined for four matches at the very start of the season because of an injury. When I recovered, I had an uphill battle in trying to fight for a place against two national level midfielders (Brendan and Safuwan). 

"I don't mind playing at any team, but it has to be a Super League club because not only I want to get more minutes, I also aim to improve," said the Selangor product in a telephone call on Wednesday.

Pritam Kotal was one of the standout performers for ATK in their title-winning campaign under coach Antonio Habas in 2019-20 season. He was an indispensable member who hardly put a step wrong in defence and clocked every minute of the season. 

In the pre-season, the Spanish manager tweaked his position a bit and from a traditional right-back, he was asked to slot in a right-centre-back position in a three-man backline. He had no qualms in settling down to his new role and his performances on the pitch did not reflect that he was playing in a rather unusual position. 

After overcoming that challenge with flying colours, this season has thrown up a new adversary in the form of Coronavirus pandemic. Kotal agrees that a curtailed pre-season has dented the team's preparations and staying inside a bio-bubble has been complicated. 

"This season will definitely be a bit more difficult and different from other seasons. We have been at home for the past six-to-eight months. Moreover, we have got less time to prepare. Yet, I think this season will test us mentally more than physically. We have to be mentally stronger. We are strictly adhering to the guidelines. We have not played any friendly this season. Practising inside the bubble is a difficult task. But we are adapting to it," stated the defender to Goal. 

Staying in a bubble might be a challenge but Kotal has good company in the team as his national team compatriot Sandesh Jhingan has joined the squad. His friendship with Jhingan goes back a long way as the duo first shared the dressing room during their U19 days in national colours. 

"We have a pretty good understanding with each other. We play for the national team as well. We communicate very well which is very important while playing in defence. We learn a lot from each other. His joining will definitely add more value to our team."

The Uttarpara-born defender has won the coveted Indian Super League (ISL) title twice and now wants to take a step further and focus on Asia. This is in line with the vision of principal owner Sanjeev Goenka who did not mince words while expressing his desire to do well in the continent. 

The owner has flexed his financial muscles once again to only hold on to the core players of the previous campaign but has spent wisely on Indian stars like Jhingan, Manvir Singh and Subhasish Bose to reinforce the domestic contingent, given that seven Indian players will have to take the pitch in any AFC competition. 

"I want to win the league stage and qualify for the AFC Champions League. It will be a different experience to play in ACL. Our primary target is to do well in Asia. But we will be going match-by-match and not think about the ultimate goal. The next match is against Kerala Blasters and we need to win it," said Kotal with determination. 

One must note that no team has successfully defended the ISL title. And Kotal's ambition is to win as many trophies as possible in his career so that when he hangs up his boots, he can boast of a cabinet full of silverware. 

"We always want to win. Even in practice matches during training, we compete to win. We want to inculcate a winning habit. As players, you have to win trophies. After playing for 10-15 years, I want to have a cabinet with lots of trophies. If you don't win as a team then everything goes to waste. So this is no pressure. I think we have the team to win everything. The trophy itself is a motivation and not pressure."

Bagan definitely have the ingredients to lift the trophy at the end of the season. For that Kotal must ensure that he puts his best foot forward and continues his rich vein of form from last season. 

If it wasn't for the Coronavirus pandemic, Nishu Kumar would be getting ready to make his debut in front of a wave of yellow Kerala Blasters supporters, regardless of whether the team's match is being played at home or away.

But things out of anyone's control have denied him that experience. He will now most likely make his Blasters debut against ATK Mohun Bagan in the Indian Super League 2020-21 season opener on Friday behind closed doors in Goa. The whole process of getting ready to play football during the pandemic has been a weird one for players. 

"It (this pre-season) is definitely different and difficult because we can't go out, we have to stay at the hotel. At the same time, it is for our safety and we have to follow this," Nishu told Goal ahead of the season's first game on November 20. 

"We played friendlies but this year, we don't play a lot of (pre-season) games - that is the negative part. It is difficult but we have to follow the instructions."

The biggest problem with not adding a proper pre-season into the football calendar is how challenging it will be to maintain the players' fitness and get them to full match fitness before the first game. Fans only have to look at how things turned out last season after Eelco Schattorie's team had their pre-season tour to UAE cancelled. 

The former Bengaluru full-back feels players will take time to fully get into a rhythm but is glad that coaches have the option of making five substitutions per game. 

"I think the players may take a few games to settle in. We have a good fitness trainer and the coach (Kibu Vicuna) is very caring about our fitness. He is not putting a lot of pressure on us. Having five substitutions will help this season because now the coach has more options so that is a plus point. We are ready for the season." 

Nishu's signature cost Blasters a significant sum but the talented youngster is confident that pressure to perform will not affect him when he takes to the field. 

"We have a good squad. Experienced foreigners and young players. We have a good mixture and the coach Kibu was with Mohun Bagan who dominated the I-League - I am feeling very positive about this season. I am working hard to be in better shape. 

"I don't feel that much pressure. I feel that I have to do my best in training whichever club I play for. I am young and have to improve. The pressure is more like motivation to perform. I hope I can give my best this season also. We have good support so I have to give my best," Nishu said. 

Fans will be wondering about the position he will play under Vicuna. He usually plays left-back but can play on the other flank too. At left-back, Blasters already have Jessel Carneiro who registered an impressive debut season in ISL last year. Mohammed Rakip, who played right-back last season, left the club and signed for Mumbai City.

"I can play both sides. The coach knows that and he has tried me in both positions. I am comfortable with whatever position he wants me in," the 23-year-old revealed. 

He added, "Jessel is senior to me, I am learning from him. He is a very good guy and a good competitor. In training sessions, we are fighting for the spot in the first team. It is a healthy competition and will be good for the team."

With the opening game of the seventh season of Indian Super League (ISL) set to kick off on Friday, Nishu Kumar has identified the most difficult opponents that his new club Kerala Blasters will come across. 

The young full-back, who joined the Yellow Army for a record deal in the summer, believes Friday's opponents ATK Mohun Bagan and City Football Group-owned Mumbai City coached by Sergio Lobera are going to be the most difficult teams to face this season in the ISL. 

"ATK (Mohun Bagan) are a very good team. They are the defending champions (sic) . We are preparing well for the opening game, it will be a very good game, we are ready for that. Mumbai City and ATK (Mohun Bagan), I feel are the toughest teams."

Nishu is also looking forward to taking on his former club Bengaluru on December 13. The 23-year-old spent fives seasons with the Blues and played for the first team in both the ISL and the AFC Cup. 

"I grew as a player at BFC. I played so many games and got chances to improve. I will face (Sunil) Chhetri bhai, Udanta (Singh) or Ashique (Kuruniyan) when I play so I am really excited. Kerala Blasters vs Bengaluru is a big rivalry in India so I am waiting for that game," he said. 

The fullback is understandably disappointed that he will have to play in these big games without fans inside the stadium - a side-effect of the pandemic.

"I like to play in front of the fans and Blasters fans are big in numbers. I would like to play in front of them but this year, we can't play. We all are missing them. I know they will support from home. I hope next year I will play in front of them."