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Cyriel Dessers hopes to be at his best for Genk in order to get a recall to the Nigeria national team after he was left out of the Super Eagles squad against Sierra Leone.

The centre-forward was handed his Super Eagles debut against Tunisia in October in a friendly after his eye-catching performances for Heracles Almelo.

 Dessers bagged 25 league goals to emerge as the 2019–20 Eredivisie joint top scorer before teaming up with Genk in the summer.

The centre-forward has, however, been omitted from the Super Eagles squad for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifying game against the Leone Stars scheduled for November 13 and 17.

The Belgian-born player has expressed his disappointment for his failure to make the 24-man squad but has taken positives from the situation.

“On not getting a call up for the National team for games against Sierra Leone, personally I was not happy after knowing I did not make the cut,” Dessers told AOI.

“But then again, it shows I have to play more at club level and hopefully tries to always be at my best week in week out.”

On Saturday, the forward bagged his third goal in eight Belgian First Division A games to help his side secure victory over KAS Eupen.

Paul Onuachu, who has been drafted in for Nigerian’s game against Sierra Leone as Moses Simon’s replacement, set up Dessers for his strike.  

 “It was nice to be on the score sheet again this weekend,” the 25-year-old continued.

“I felt it’s been a long time coming for me and I hope to build on this goal in my subsequent matches."

Dessers will hope to add to his tally when Genk take on Sint-Truiden in their next league game on Saturday to boost the chances of a recall to the Super Eagles.

Nigeria currently lead Group L with six points after victories against the Republic of Benin and Lesotho. 

Liverpool's songbook of chants and anthems is a long and storied one, and the Kop's rendition of Johnny Cash classic "Ring of Fire" is no exception.

The tune is especially popular during Champions League days with the travelling Anfield faithful, but why did it become so famous and one of the Reds' signature songs? Goal takes a look.

Liverpool chants: Lyrics & videos to the most popular Anfield songs

The iconic Cash song has been adopted by Liverpool fans during European nights, beginning during the journey to the 2005 Champions League final where the Reds were ultimately victorious against AC Milan in one of the most memorable games of all-time.

The hook of the song is the part that Liverpool supporters have claimed for their own, with Jamie Carragher - who lifted the trophy that night in Istanbul - admitting that the Cash classic was a fan favourite played on fan coaches.

The song then caught on with other Liverpool fans en masse until it has become permanently ingrained in the Anfield songbook.

"'Ring of Fire' started on the fans' coach that my dad and his mates get to the away games," Carragher said.

"Someone put a Johnny Cash tape on and my dad and everyone started singing it on the bus. It caught on at Anfield, then it became a favourite at the European away games."

The song is most associated with the famous 2005 Istanbul win, but still gets sung on matchday by supporters to this day.

It's also popular with Liverpool players themselves, with Carragher and former captain Steven Gerrard singing the hook of the tune after they lifted the trophy.

A year after the miracle of Istanbul, the song was revamped to soundtrack Liverpool's victorious 2006 FA Cup run.

Echo and the Bunnymen frontman Ian McCulloch, a Liverpool native and massive Reds fan, contributed vocals on the track alongside a new group called the Boot Room All-Stars.

The updated version of the track also includes recorded audio of Liverpool fans singing the anthem during a home game against Aston Villa.

Ian Gordon, of song management company Oxygen Music, said: "It's a song that means so much to Liverpool fans and sounds great on the terraces.

"Ian [McCulloch] was keen to get involved as he's a fanatical Liverpool fan and has had a season ticket since he was a kid."

South Africa got off to a perfect start in the Cosafa Women's Cup after condemning Angola to a 2-0 defeat in Tuesday's fixture at the Wolfson Stadium.

Despite missing a number of top stars, defending champions Banyana Banyana returned to action for the first time since March's triumph over Lesotho with a clinical triumph on the home soil.

Desiree Ellis' team almost gained an early lead through Mapula Kgoale after a deflected goal-bound shot fell in her way but she fired wide from close range in the 17th minute of the match.

The holders went on to threaten the Angolans again but Kokesto Tlailane's wayward shot went inches wide in the 24th minute.

Lonathemba Mhlongo broke the deadlock in the 40th minute when she connected with a pass to open the scoring for Banyana.

Hildah Magaia almost doubled the lead with her well-taken effort inside the six-yard area but her goal-bound effort was halted by captain Angola Lidia Lubano on the brink of half-time.

After the restart, coach Ellis made some changes as she replaced goalscorer Mhlongo with Karabo Dhlamini, while Mapula Kgoale came on to take Nonhlanhla Mthandi's place in the 56th minute.

Five minutes later, substitute Dhlamini was right on the spot to tap in a fine cross from the left to make the result safe.

The win sees South Africa open their title defence on a high and puts them in the second position in Group A, tied on three points but separated from leaders Eswatini by goals scored.

Banyana will aim to claim the top spot when they take on table-toppers Eswatini in their second match at the same venue on Friday.

In the other result, Eswatini recorded a 4-2 comeback victory against Comoros at the Wolfson Stadium.

Schalke have confirmed AC Milan's interest in Liverpool-linked defender Ozan Kabak.

Kabak has emerged as one of the brightest young prospects in European football since moving to Schalke from Stuttgart for €15 million (£14m/$18m) in June 2019.

The 20-year-old signed a five-year contract at Veltins-Arena, and has since racked up 30 appearances for the club across all competitions, scoring three goals.

It has been reported that Liverpool have opened talks with Schalke over a possible deal for Kabak, who has a €45m (£41m/$53m) release clause in his contract which will become active next summer.

However, the German club have already turned down an approach for a prized asset from another high-profile potential suitor, with Milan told the centre-back was not for sale towards the end of the last transfer window.

Schalke sporting director Jochen Schneider told WAZ of the Rossoneri's attempt to sign Kabak: "Milan knocked at the very end of the transfer period in the summer, which was out of the question for us."

The Turkey international is currently serving a five-game suspension after being punished for spitting in the direction of Ludwig Augustinsson during a 3-1 defeat to Werder Bremen on September 26.

Kabak was sent off in the second half after receiving two yellow cards, and although the referee missed the incident with Augustinsson, the German Football Association took retrospective action against him for unsportsmanlike behaviour.

The former Stuttgart star is set to sit out a DFB Cup first-round clash against Schweinfurt on Tuesday, but will be available for selection again when Schalke take in a trip to Mainz on Saturday.

Schneider is looking forward to seeing Kabak back on the pitch, having seen the defender establish himself as a key member of the squad since returning from lockdown.

“Ozan is simply a great player, he was one of the few bright spots even after the restart in May," the Schalke chief added.

"Now he will help us to become even more stable defensively and, with his strength at set-pieces, also more dangerous offensively."

Manuel Baum's side have struggled in Kabak's absence, slipping to 17th in the Bundesliga standings after six fixtures, but did manage to pick up a 1-1 draw in their last outing at home to Stuttgart.

Mohamed Salah and Harry Kane are “cheating” when making theatrical plays for penalty decisions, says Danny Murphy, with the Liverpool and Tottenham forwards forcing the hand of match officials.

Simulation has become a buzzword again in the Premier League on the back of another eventful round of English top-flight competition.

During Liverpool’s narrow 2-1 win over West Ham at Anfield, Salah threw himself to the ground under pressure from Hammers defender Arthur Masuaku.

There was contact, with Jurgen Klopp among those to have spoken out in support of his Egyptian frontman, but whether there was enough to hit the turf has become a subject of much debate.

Murphy is among those who feel that too many players in the modern era have become masters of the dark arts, with tumbles taken at any given opportunity.

Plenty have pointed out that players have to go down in order to highlight the fact that they have been clipped, with few big calls made when the decision is made to remain upright.

Questions will, however, continue to be asked of whether the faintest of touches is enough to justify a penalty award, with superstar performers blurring the lines when it comes to sporting etiquette.

Former Liverpool and Tottenham midfielder Murphy told talkSPORT of those who push the boundaries: “Callum Wilson, Harry Kane, Mohamed Salah, they all did it, and it’s something so many forwards do now which is using the inefficient refereeing and the rules to get penalties.

“I don’t want to see it. They’re all doing it, they’re all cheating, they’re all manipulating the referee – you can use what word you want.

“And it’s not going to stop, because you don’t get penalties if you don’t go down! Actually, the only way you’re going to stop it is if defenders stop doing stupid tackles. You can’t go in for a tackle in the box, you’ve just got to stand your ground.

“But why can’t referees have the intelligence and common sense to see through it? They can see they’ve over-exaggerated, they’ve overdone it, they’ve dived and after the event, delayed, they’ve thrown themselves to the ground – don’t give the penalties!”

It is not the first time that Salah has found himself at the centre of such a storm, while Spurs striker Kane is also back under the spotlight after going down under pressure from Adam Lallana in his side’s 2-1 victory over Brighton.

Johnathan McKinstry has revealed why he opted to recall veteran players Tonny Mawejje, Murushid Juuko, and Denis Iguma in the Uganda Cranes squad for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against South Sudan.

The Northern Irish coach shocked many while naming the provisional squad of 22-local-based players after he recalled the three players, who are yet to play active football for the past one year.

Iguma only returned from injury, while Mawejje has not played active football since leaving Al-Arabi last year and Juuko only signed for Express FC two weeks ago after a year out without action.

“There are three guys who have huge experience and have played at really high levels of the game but for some reason, the last nine or ten months have not been as they would have liked them to be,” McKinstry told media at Lugogo as quoted by Kawowo Sports.

“But also for all of them, they have moved categories recently because by signing for a UPL team means they are eligible for Chan.

“We are going to start preparing for chan around December 14. So, if I wait until then to see Tony [Mawejje], Murushid [Juuko], and Denis [Iguma] in our training environment then it is probably late for them.”

On why he believes the three deserved to be part of the six-day training session for local-based players, McKinstry explained: “This was a case of we have six days training with the local guys so let’s bring them in and see where they are physically and technically and even how they fit into our system.

“If you think about it, the type of Cranes team that they played under is a different one that we are building now, so it is a great opportunity for them to come and see how we are developing the team.

“You should never discard experience because it is so valuable. The trio holds huge experience that can only help the young boys but it is down to their performance. No one gets a free ticket just because of their experience.”

Uganda will host South Sudan in the first meeting on November 12 at St Mary’s Stadium Kitende (4 pm) before they face off again five days later in Kenya.

Players in camp: Goalkeepers: Alionzi Nafian (URA FC), Lukwago Charles (KCCA FC), Mutakubwa Joel (Kyetume FC).

Defenders: Ndahiro Derrick (SC Villa), Galiwango Disan (Vipers SC), Willa Paul (Vipers SC), Mandela Ashraf (URA), Iguma Denis (KCCA FC), Kato Samuel (KCCA FC), Juuko Murushid (Express FC), Lwaliwa Halid (Vipers SC), Mbowa Patrick (URA FC).

Midfielders: Mawejje Tony (Police FC), Kyeyune Saidi (URA FC), Kagimu Shafiq (URA FC), Watambala Karim (Vipers SC), Owori David (SC Villa), Anukani Bright (KCCA FC).

Forwards: Oriti Ibrahim (Vipers SC), Karisa Milton (Vipers SC), Mukwala Stephen (URA FC), and Ahebwa Brian (KCCA FC).

Manchester United will need to dip back into the transfer market in January as they remain a team in “transition” that lacks “characters” and “identity”, says Peter Schmeichel.

The Red Devils have found the going tough through the opening months of the 2020-21 campaign.

Impressive performances have been put in on a Champions League stage - while progress has been made through to the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup - but Premier League form remains a source of concern.

No top-flight victories have been secured at Old Trafford this season, with just two taken in total from six games so far.

United are enduring their worst start since David Moyes’ ill-fated tenure in 2013-14, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer the latest coach to find consistency hard to come by.

A 1-0 defeat at home to Arsenal was suffered last time out, in a game which saw the Red Devils severely lacking in creativity, with Schmeichel of the opinion that more money needs to be thrown at long-standing problems.

The legendary former Red Devils goalkeeper told beIN Sports: “They are inconsistent. Make no mistake, this is still a team in transition and a developing team.

“They still need to bring new players in. It’s still a team that needs to find its identity and to find the main characters of the team. That was evident [against Arsenal].

“It was very hard to see what we were trying to do. I have to say, it was made fairly easy for Arsenal.

“It’s something that needs to be worked at. I still think we’re trying to recover from the 27 years of one manager [Sir Alex Ferguson] and finding a new identity.”

Schmeichel believes too many so-called stars are failing to deliver for United at present, with Paul Pogba among those seeing their performance level called into question while the likes of Harry Maguire and Mason Greenwood contend with issues on and off the field.

“I think some of the big players need to improve,” Danish icon Schmeichel added.

“There are a few players in there that are recovering from a lot of unwanted media attention that has nothing to do with football.

“A few big players are under pressure from external things, like Maguire and Greenwood.

“You have to be happy, the camp has to be happy, to challenge for titles.”

United, who will be back in Champions League action away at Istanbul Basaksehir on Wednesday, have slipped to 15th place in the Premier League table.

Swallows chairman David Mogashoa has confirmed the signing of former Bidvest Wits defender Sifiso Hlanti.

The 30-year-old had been training with Kaizer Chiefs for just over a month, hoping to land a contract had the Soweto giants’ transfer ban been lifted by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

But after CAS threw out Chiefs’ appeal, the club released Hlanti, together with goalkeeper Brandon Peterson and midfielder Phathutshedzo Nange who were also training at Naturena.

The length of Hlanti’s Swallows contract is however yet to be made known.

“Welcome to the Birds Nest Hlanthi,” Mogashoa announced on social media.

Hlanti joins a host of other players including Keagan Ritchie, ex-Orlando Pirates star Thabo Matlaba, Ruzaigh Gamildien and Sammy Seabi who have joined Swallows for the 2020/21 season.

The Dube Birds have been one of the most active clubs on the transfer market, signing at least 14 new players.

The Soweto side has also extended loan deals of Kaizer Chiefs quartet, Given Thibedi, Ayanda Rorwana, Sizwe Twala and Itumeleng Shopane.

Hlanti could make his Swallows debut when they visit Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila for a Premier Soccer League match on Wednesday as they seek to build on a draw and victory they had recorded in their campaign so far.

It is not yet clear where Peterson and Nange are headed to after they were allowed to join teams of their choice by Chiefs.

After failing in their CAS appeal, Amakhosi coach Gavin Hunt is working with the players he inherited from former coach Ernst Middendorp.

The former Bidvest Wits coach had hoped to sign Hlanti, Peterson and Nange, all of whom he coached at the now-defunct side.

The tactician’s hands are tied in the transfer market as he witnesses a Chiefs blunt strikeforce with forwards yet to score goals in four games as chief striker Samir Nurkovic is out injured.

Also a jittery defence, easily unlocked by Sundowns and Pirates, is another concern for Hunt.

Borussia Dortmund managing director Carsten Cramer says the club have won the lottery with Giovanni Reyna, with it his belief that the United States youth-team star has the same potential as Christian Pulisic.

Reyna has enjoyed a meteoric rise to stardom since joining his hometown club New York City FC back in 2015.

The 17-year-old spent four years in the MLS side's youth set-up before being snapped up by Dortmund, where he has quickly established himself as a regular in Lucien Favre's senior team.

Reyna took in 17 appearances in all competitions during his debut season at Westfalenstadion, and has been trusted with a more prominent role at the start of the 2020-21 campaign.

The midfielder has contributed two goals and five assists to Dortmund's cause across 10 outings, making an impressive impact in both the Bundesliga and Champions League.

Cramer thinks Dortmund hit the jackpot when they signed Reyna, whose career trajectory is currently mirroring that of fellow countryman Pulisic.

Pulisic also moved from MLS to Germany at the age of 16, and went on to appear in 127 games for BVB before being sold to Chelsea for £54 million ($70m) in 2019.

Cramer told Goal and SPOX of the impact Reyna has had on and off the pitch at Signal Iduna Park: "His potential is huge. Just like Christian (Pulisic), he is not only an outstanding footballer, but also a really good guy. For us, it is a six in the lottery in terms of sport and marketing.

"But the latter component was not decisive for us bringing in the boy. We do not commit to deals according to nationality or marketing value, but according to sporting criteria.

"But it is a nice coincidence that someone from marketing can use [the signing] meaningfully."

Reyna will be back in contention for a place in Favre's starting XI when Dortmund take in a trip to Club Brugge in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

The German giants are currently sitting third in Group F on three points, having bounced back from a 3-1 defeat away at Lazio by beating Zenit St Petersburg 2-1 on matchday two.

After their latest European outing, Dortmund will look ahead to the first Klassiker clash of the season against Bayern Munich on Saturday, with only goal difference separating the two clubs at the top of the Bundesliga standings after six fixtures.

Geoffrey Kondogbia has completed a €10 million move to Atletico Madrid from Valencia on Tuesday morning, replacing Thomas Partey in Diego Simeone's squad.

Goal confirmed the final fee over the weekend, with Kondogbia committing his future to Atletico through to 2024 after reaching an agreement to depart Valencia.

Los Rojiblancos were given special permission to sign the 27-year-old after seeing Partey join Arsenal for €50 million (£45m/$59m) on deadline day, with La Liga setting a November 5 deadline for Simeone to bring in a player to fill the Ghana international's boots.

Atletico announced Kondogbia's arrival via an official statement on their website, which reads: "Atletico Madrid have reached an agreement with Valencia for the transfer of Geoffrey Kondogbia who will play for our club for the remainder of the year and three more seasons.

"A talented player arrives at Atletico Madrid, with great physical power that makes him rule the centre of the field.

"His good ball stealing also makes him stand out when it comes to intercepting opponent's attacking plays, making him a very complete midfielder both for defensive tasks and for cutting-edge work when mounting counter-attacks. 

"Thus, we welcome a player who joins our project with the greatest enthusiasm."

Atletico have benefitted from La Liga's rule which allows any club that sees a player leave after having their release clause triggered to sign a replacement from Spain within a four-week period.

Kondogbia was heavily linked with a move away from Valencia during the summer transfer window, with Tottenham among a long list of clubs reportedly interested in his services, as the Spanish club sought to balance their books by selling a number of first-team stars.

The Central African Republic international has now followed the likes of Dani Parejo, Ferran Torres and Rodrigo out of the Mestalla exits, bringing to an end his three-year spell with the club.

Atletico's newest signing initially joined Valencia on loan from Inter in 2017, before earning a permanent move the following year.

Kondogbia went on to appear in 104 games in all competitions for Valencia, but hit out at club president Anil Murthy for "destroying" the team earlier this month.

The former Inter midfielder joins an Atletico side currently sitting fourth in the Liga standings, and could be in line to make his debut when they take on Cadiz at Wanda Metropolitano on Saturday.

Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman has been slammed by former Spain star Joaquin once again, with the Real Betis icon saying he would not appoint the Dutchman as kitman if handed the reins of any given club.

Bad blood between an outspoken winger and divisive coach has existed for some time.

Joaquin, for all of his obvious quality, endured a forgettable spell working under Koeman during his time at Valencia.

The 39-year-old is still going strong back at Betis, with a trip to Camp Nou next on the agenda for him, but he is not about to forgive and forget when it comes to grievances from his past.

Joaquin butted heads with Koeman on a regular basis during his spell at Mestalla and is still irked by events that happened outside of his control.

“It was not the most beautiful experience of my sporting career,” Joaquin told El Larguero.

“It was not a pleasant experience, but as I always say: one has to live with everything and what happened at that time. 

“I do not want to talk about this issue because honestly it hurts me what happened there, I had a bad time.”

Koeman spent less than six months in the hot seat at Valencia, with the Liga giants quickly disposing of his services.

He has gone on to spend time with AZ, Feyenoord, Southampton, Everton and the Netherlands national team before returning to familiar surroundings in Catalunya.

Joaquin is baffled as to how Koeman has landed such a high-profile post at Barca, with the Spaniard admitting that he would never consider hiring the Dutchman if he were ever to become president at Betis.

“Not even as kitman!” was Joaquin’s blunt response when the question was put to him.

The two men will, however, see their respective paths cross in La Liga on Saturday.

Barca have been struggling to find a spark of late, while Betis are also finding consistency hard to come by, and Joaquin says both he and Koeman will have more pressing concerns this weekend than trying to rebuild bridges that were burned a long time ago.

He added: “I turned the page, we told each other everything.

“Fortunately, it did not last long and we were able to save the year by ending as well as possible because the year was complicated.

“[This weekend], he is not going to greet me and I am not going to greet him.”

James Rodriguez’s languid style has earned the Colombian comparisons to Brazil legend Ronaldo, with Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti claiming to see similarities between the pair.

The Toffees moved to snap up a South American superstar during the summer transfer window.

With James struggling for game time at Real Madrid, a reunion was put in place with former Blancos boss Ancelotti at Goodison Park.

That deal was considered to be quite a coup for the Merseyside outfit, with Everton proving that they can compete for the finest talent available in any given market.

James has made a bright start to his time in England, with three goals and four assists recorded through seven appearances.

The 29-year-old has shown that you do not need to be full of running in order to thrive in the Premier League, with guile as important as graft in the modern era.

Those at the very top of the world game have been proving that for years, with Ancelotti admitting that James’ laid-back approach reminds him of World Cup-winning frontman Ronaldo.

The Italian told France Football: “When I signed James this summer, everyone was worried about his physical state and to see how he’d cope with the intensity of the Premier League.

“During the first four games, do you know how many times he sprinted? Seven! He’s got more assists and goals than he did sprints.

“So what are we talking about? Of what we expect a player to do on the pitch?

“When I was at Milan, we brought in Ronaldo. On his arrival, he weighed 100kg.

“Before the first game, I told him: ‘You know I can’t play you. You need to lose weight’. He replied ‘What do you want me to do on the pitch? Score or run? If it’s to run, put me on the bench, if it’s to score, play me!’.

“I played him. He didn’t run, but he scored two goals. For James, it’s the same thing.”

James sat out Everton’s 2-1 defeat at Newcastle on Sunday as he was offered an opportunity to recharge his batteries.

He has been nursing a slight knock since an eventful Merseyside derby clash with Liverpool on October 17, but could come back into contention when the Toffees take in a home date with Manchester United on Saturday.

Comoros head coach Amir Abdou has named his 23-man squad for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier double-header against Harambee Stars scheduled for November.

Among those included in the team is defender Bendjaloud Youssouf of Le Mans, midfielder Mohamed Youssef of AC Ajaccio, and his clubmate Faiz Mattoir. Eyes will also be on striker El Fardou Ben Mohamed who turns out for Red Star Belgrade.

Les Coelacantes started their campaign in Group G with an important 1-0 win away to Togo. Faiz Selemani scored the only goal in the 50th minute to hand his team maximum points.

They followed it up with a 0-0 draw at home to Egypt to take their points tally to four.

They are playing Kenya who started off with a 1-1 draw away to Egypt before registering identical results at home to Togo. 

While Comoros have not been involved in any international game since then, Harambee Stars have played several matches including an October 9 international friendly at Nyayo Stadium where they won 2-1.

Under former coach Francis Kimanzi, Cliff Nyakeya's strike and an own goal by Tandi Mwape handed the East Africa nation victory while a late goal by Emmanuel Chabula denied the hosts a home clean sheet. 

The first leg will be staged at Kasarani in Nairobi on November 11 with the second one scheduled for November 15 in Moroni, Comoros. Either side will be guaranteed to play in the competition to be held in Cameroon with maximum points from both games. 

Goalkeepers: Salim Ben Boina (FC Martigues), Ali Ahamada (SK Brann)

Defenders: Kassim Abdallah (Athletico Marseille), Abdallah Ahmed Mohammed (SV Zulte Waregem), Chaker Alhadhur (Chateaurox), Ahmed Soilihi (Quievily Rouen), Nadjim Abdou (FC Martigues), Kassim Mdahoma (Lyon SC), Bendjaloud Youssouf (Le Mans)

Midfielders: Youssuf Mchangama (EA Guigamp), Rafidine Abdullah (Stade Lausanne Ouchy), Ibrahim Madi (Martigues), Yacine Bourhane (Niort), Nasser Chamad (Gaz Metan), Mohamed Youssef (AC Ajaccio), Said Bakari (RKC Waalwjik)

Forwards: Faiz Selemani (KV Courtrai), Ibroihim Youssuf (Club Volcano), Nakibou Aboubakari (Stade Briochin), Ali Mmadi (Tours FC), Ahmed Mogni (FC Annecy), Faiz Mattoir (AC Ajaccio), El Fardou Ben Mohamed (Red Star Belgrade)

Former Orlando Pirates defender Edward Motale believes Josef Zinnbauer’s absence is “not a train smash” saying the Soweto giants will be in capable hands under assistant coach Fadlu Davids and the rest of the technical team.

It is not yet known for how long Zinnbauer will be away after he was allowed to travel to Germany to visit his son who is in critical condition following his involvement in a motor vehicle accident.

Davids will be in charge of the team until his boss is back and will start his caretaker role away at Bloemfontein Celtic in Wednesday’s Premier Soccer League clash.

With Davids’ coaching pedigree having been previously tested while he was at Maritzburg United, Motale says there should never be any worries about Zinnbauer’s absence.

“I think they got two assistants [Davids and Franck Plaine, the fitness trainer]. That’s where they need to come out and motivate the guys now,” Motale told Sowetan Live.

“I don’t think it is a train smash if the coach won’t be available now. We have energy on the bench. I don’t see it as a problem. I’m not panicking because it is not like the whole technical team left. We still have people who are working with him, and they must do their job. It is time to show us why they are there. The coach is gone for a while, so they must show us [that they are capable].”

Zinnbauer arrives in Germany to find another lockdown having just been imposed due to a surge in coronavirus cases.

A ban on international travel could see him locked up in his home country, prolonging his absence due to challenges in returning to Johannesburg.

“It maybe he is not coming back until the lockdown is finished or whatever,” said Motale.

“We don’t have to fold arms and say the coach is gone, no, the people who are available now must take charge of the team and make sure they continue where the coach left off until he is back.”

Davids takes temporary reigns of a side yet to win in the league so far this season following 1-1 draws against AmaZulu and Stellenbosch.

He would be tasked to steer Pirates to a better position on the PSL log and replicate their MTN8 form which includes beating Kaizer Chiefs 3-0.

Zinnbauer’s travelling to German coincided with the departure of Michael Loftman who was Pirates’ first team analyst.

Manchester United captain Harry Maguire has rejected claims from Roy Keane suggesting that the Red Devils lack leadership within their ranks.

A skipper from the club’s illustrious past has taken a dim view on current struggles for consistency.

Keane has never been one to shy away from offering an opinion and has been left less than impressed by what he has seen from United of late.

A new low was hit when suffering a 1-0 home defeat to Arsenal last time out, with Keane telling Sky Sports that the Red Devils are missing the character required to break themselves out of a rut.

He said: "You're playing at United because you're expected to break these teams down, you’re expected to run back, you're expected to roll your sleeves up. That’s what characters at Manchester United are about.

"I don’t see men out there. I don’t see guys you want to be in the trenches with, guys you trust. Alex Ferguson always used to make the point that you need courage to be a Manchester United player - wanting the ball when you don’t really want it.

"Bravery doesn’t necessarily mean nailing somebody. Bravery means wanting possession, fans on your back, courage to pass the ball forward. We saw United players taking the easy option. They have to do better."

Maguire insists that Keane has got his assessment of United’s class of 2020-21 wrong, with the England international adamant that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer boasts both ability and leadership within his squad.

The Red Devils skipper told reporters: “I haven’t seen his comments. We don’t look at what’s happening, especially after a negative result, we don’t bring the negativity into the place, we stay positive.

“I can say for sure there’s a lot of leaders in this squad, I’m the captain and I have a lot of leadership around me with staff and players, so no. There’s a lot of leaders in the squad.”

United boss Solskjaer also sought to shrug off the contentious comments of his former team-mate.

He said: "Roy has always been outspoken and I'm very glad I have the players we've got here, we've got different jobs and Roy’s job is to give his opinion and I always listen to Roy but we always move on here with a great group of players, a strong group of players, and I'm sure we'll see a response."

Further criticism can be avoided by the Red Devils if they are able to play their way into form.

A Champions League clash with Istanbul Basaksehir on Wednesday will present them with an opportunity to claim a third successive win in that competition, and Maguire believes a corner will be turned.

He said: “The main thing is working hard, trying to improve.

“Coming into training each day, trying to improve. We want to be consistent. Last season when we found consistency we achieved third in the Premier League and Champions League football.

“We started off not in the best shape this season. We have worked hard since we came back from international break and since then we have been really good.

“We have conceded two own goals and a soft penalty. We are on the right track but we need to get the right balance.”

Jude Bellingham says Manchester United were never an option that he seriously considered when weighing up his future options, with the 17-year-old midfielder delighted to be at Borussia Dortmund.

After bursting onto the scene at Birmingham, sending records tumbling along the way, the talented teenager became one of the most sought-after young talents in European football.

His obvious potential registered on recruitment radars across Europe, with it quickly becoming clear that he would not be sticking around at St Andrew’s.

Premier League giants United identified Bellingham as a top transfer target, with the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson and Eric Cantona sent on a charm offensive.

The Red Devils were to be left empty-handed, though, a matter of months after seeing Dortmund beat them to the signing of Norwegian striker Erling Haaland, with the hottest of prospects opting to head for Germany.

Explaining that decision, Bellingham told The Telegraph: “Well, you know, Man United have a great squad but my decision had nothing to do with Man United.

“I was so focused and so happy with the interest from Dortmund that this became my first choice.

“For me, it was Borussia Dortmund and that’s it. When you find somewhere that’s the best place to be, you kind of ignore everything else, you know what I mean?”

The opportunity to form part of an exciting young squad in Dortmund helped to influence Bellingham’s decision, with fellow countryman Jadon Sancho one of several star turns to have seen their stock soar with BVB.

“I didn’t really speak to Jadon,” Bellingham added.

“I sort of spoke to him through other people. I would mention something and they would say, ‘Jadon thought the same about this or that.’

“I’ve said before how big of an example Jadon is for someone English and my age. We’re all trying to play but, specifically, we’re trying to make that next step into Europe’s elite.

“I think Jadon has done that perfectly and he was a massive factor in looking at his journey. Hopefully, I can mirror it.”

Bellingham is very much his own man and remains unfazed by the furore he continues to generate, with the Dortmund starlet now the youngest Englishman to start a Champions League game and to represent his country at U21 level.

“I never look at the records beforehand. If it happens, it happens,” he added.

“As soon as I’ve got one it’s always about looking forward to the next one. I’d never search for a record I could beat or adjust my game [for it].”

Mikel Arteta has quickly become “the governor” at Arsenal, says Tony Adams, with the Spaniard considered to be doing a “remarkable job” at Emirates Stadium.

A rookie coach was handed the reins in north London back in December 2019.

Fellow Spaniard Unai Emery had flopped as successor to the iconic Arsene Wenger, with the Gunners deciding to wipe the slate clean once more.

A calculated gamble was taken in appointing Arteta, with the former Arsenal captain boasting no prior experience of life in a top job.

He had been working alongside Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, with the former midfielder still only 38 years of age.

A sizeable rebuilding project was taken on at Arsenal, with a Premier League heavyweight rocking on the back of some heavy blows.

Arteta has set about restoring order, making a number of big calls along the way – such as that to omit Mesut Ozil from his plans – and is considered to be offering cause for optimism.

Adams is among those to have been encouraged by the first year of a promising reign at the Emirates, with the legendary ex-Gunners captain backing the current regime to recapture former glories.

He told Stadium Astro on the back of a 1-0 victory over Manchester United that saw Arsenal end their away-day hoodoo against fellow members of the so-called ‘Big Six’: “He [Arteta] has got fantastic ability to work with this team.

“He puts hours into the training pitch. He’s his own man, if Ozil’s not in his thinking, he’s out, it’s as simple as that. I can’t speak highly enough of the guy.

“The words coming out [of the club], when I talk to my mate Steve Bould, who’s still in the club taking the Under-23s at the moment, he said to me: ‘This guy has got it all, he’s the governor’.

“He’s the best he’s seen in a long time. He really does understand the game, he expresses himself; he’s very confident.

“It’s his first job, for God’s sake, he’s doing a remarkable, remarkable job.”

Arsenal will be back in Europa League action on Thursday at home to Molde and will enter the next international break after playing host to Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday.

Express FC midfielder Tonny Mawejje has welcomed his return to the national team, Uganda Cranes' squad and promised to use his experience to help the side.

While naming the 22-man provisional squad of local-based players, coach Johnathan McKinstry shocked many when he handed the veteran midfielder a place in the team that will face South Sudan in the Africa Cup of Nations double-header set for November.

Mawejje last featured for Uganda three years ago and recently he was given a lifeline after Ugandan Premier League (UPL) Express signed him on a two-year contract and also handed him the captaincy armband ahead of the 2020-21 season set to kick-off in December.

The player has now said he is happy to have earned a return to the national team squad saying he will use his experience to cement his place in the team.

“I am glad that I have returned to the national team setup,” Mawejje told Fufa official website. “It seems a surprise to many but I expected it. I am in the best shape to deliver like before.

“My role is to train, follow instructions and the technical team does the selection. My vast experience with the national team has to create an impact.”

Mawejje made his Cranes debut in 2008 in a 3-1 defeat to Mauritius away from home and last featured for the Uganda Cranes on January 25, 2017, against Mali in an Afcon qualifying match.  

The squad of local-based players started training at the Lugogo Stadium on Monday under coach McKinstry, his assistants Abdallah Mubiru, Charles Livingstone Mbabazi, and physical fitness trainer Alex McCarthy.

Uganda will host South Sudan in the first meeting on November 12 at St Mary’s Stadium Kitende (4 pm) before they face off again five days later in Kenya.

Players in camp: Goalkeepers: Alionzi Nafian (URA FC), Lukwago Charles (KCCA FC), Mutakubwa Joel (Kyetume FC).

Defenders: Ndahiro Derrick (SC Villa), Galiwango Disan (Vipers SC), Willa Paul (Vipers SC), Mandela Ashraf (URA), Iguma Denis (KCCA FC), Kato Samuel (KCCA FC), Juuko Murushid (Express FC), Lwaliwa Halid (Vipers SC), Mbowa Patrick (URA FC).

Midfielders: Mawejje Tony (Police FC), Kyeyune Saidi (URA FC), Kagimu Shafiq (URA FC), Watambala Karim (Vipers SC), Owori David (SC Villa), Anukani Bright (KCCA FC).

Forwards: Oriti Ibrahim (Vipers SC), Karisa Milton (Vipers SC), Mukwala Stephen (URA FC), and Ahebwa Brian (KCCA FC).