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AFC Leopards have confirmed midfielder Dan Musamali has moved to Nzoia Sugar on a season-long loan deal.

The youngster, who signed for Ingwe in 2019 from St. Anthony in Kitale, will have an option of playing against the parent club during that loan period.

“Our midfielder Dan Musamali has joined Nzoia Sugar on a season-long loan,” AFC Leopards confirmed on their social media pages. “The youngster joined us in September 2019, from St. Anthony Kitale, and has an option to play against his parent club across all competitions.”

Musamali has expressed his delight at getting a move where he can secure play-time and build his career.

“It is an opportunity for me to get more playing time as well as improve myself. The team currently is full of experience for the season and my desire is to come back and earn myself a place once again," he said.

His loan move comes just a few hours after Ingwe confirmed the signing of midfielder Fabrice Mugheni from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

“We are pleased to announce the signing of Congolese holding midfielder Fabrice Mugheni from Rwanda National Football League side Rayon Sports," Leopards confirmed on their official social media outlets.

“The former Police FC and Kiyovu SC star midfielder joins us on a two-year deal.”

Mugheni is one of the players that left Rwandan giants Rayon Sports in June as the club experienced a mass exodus.

He had joined the Blues for the second time towards the end of the 2017/18 season and played a critical role as they lifted the Rwandan Premier League title in the subsequent season.

The midfielder was the fifth player to leave Rayon Sports after his teammate and goalkeeper Yves Kimenyi and Eric Irambona, who signed for rivals SC Kiyovu.

Eric Rutanga and Eric Iradukunda were the others who left the troubled giants and joined Police FC.

Mugheni had featured for Rayon Sports in 2015 and his stay through to 2017 helped the club win two titles. The first one was the Rwandan Peace Cup in 2016 before the league title in the 2016/17 season.

The 13-time league champions have been working on strengthening their team ahead of the new season. John Oyemba, Harrison Mwendwa, and Bienvenue Shaka are the players already confirmed at the Den.

Lionel Messi is uncomfortable at Barcelona, according to Juan Sebastian Veron, who says the Argentine superstar is struggling amid the Blaugrana's search for an identity.

Barcelona have been unable to banish the memory of a trophyless 2019-20 campaign in the early stages of the new season, picking up just seven points from a possible 15 in La Liga.

To make matters worse, Messi has not scored a single goal from open play in his last six appearances for the club, with two successful penalties doing little to silence those who believe he is no longer fully committed to the collective cause at Camp Nou.

The 33-year-old handed in a transfer request over the summer only to later perform a U-turn on his future amid the looming threat of a legal battle, but he will be free to push for a move once again when the transfer window reopens in January.

Messi, who has a clause in his contract which allows him to leave Barca on a free transfer at the end of each season should he choose to do so, also expressed concern over Barca's ability to compete at the very highest level after an 8-2 drubbing at the hands of Bayern Munich in the Champions League last term.

The six-time Ballon d'Or winner has been linked with the likes of Inter, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City in recent months, and it has been suggested that Saturday's 3-1 defeat to Real Madrid will end up being his final Clasico appearance at Camp Nou.

Veron thinks Barca are in the middle of a transitional period which is hampering Messi's ability to perform, and that Ronald Koeman has yet to figure out the best way to utilise a talismanic performer's talents in the final third of the pitch.

"I see him with a lot of discomfort playing in a team in transition," the former Argentine international told Ole. "In all of these years at Barcelona he was a key player but now they're in transition, they have a lot of spare parts and are trying to find an identity.

"It seems clear to me that, to a certain extent, the club haven't been able to provide Leo [with the right team-mates], especially in their formation and as a team.

"This, somehow, has gone against him. He's a player who has always tried to be competitive and stay at the very top."

Messi will be back in action with Barca when they take in a trip to Juventus in the Champions League on Wednesday, which could see him come up against arch-rival Cristiano Ronaldo for the first time since the Portugal international's departure from Madrid two years ago.

Yakou Meite has admitted Blackburn Rovers will be tough but confident Reading are focused on continuing their impressive run of form on Tuesday night.

The Royals extended their unbeaten run to six games in their 3-0 victory over Rotherham United in Saturday’s Championship match.

The Ivory Coast international bagged a brace in the encounter to take his tally to three goals in six league games after opening his account against Barnsley in September.

Meite, who has been with Reading since 2016, was also on the scoresheet in their last meeting with the Blue and Whites, where they lost 4-3 after conceding late in the game.

The 24-year-old revealed his side will leave no stone unturned in their quest to secure their hh Championship win of the season at Ewood Park.

“It’s going to be a tough game. Last year was very tough against them, I remember. They’ve got a good team as well,” Meite told the club website.

“Every game in the Championship is tough, but especially when you go away to a team like this who is really strong and have good players.

“But we are confident in what we are doing at the moment, so we’re just going to go there and try to win, as we always do. Let’s see what happens – this is what we are focused on.

“It’s also important to have players who can play different positions and in the last game when we beat Rotherham, you saw that when things aren’t working then we can change.”

Victory over Blackburn Rovers will help Reading consolidate on their lead at the top of the Championship table. 

Meite has formed a productive partnership with Anglo-Nigerian Ovie Ejaria, who signed a permanent deal with the club this summer from Liverpool.

The forward, who scored 13 goals in 40 league appearances last season, could add to his three strikes this campaign at Ewood Park.

Meite will hope his eye-catching performances for Reading will earn him a recall to the Ivory Coast national team.

The attacker has made only two appearances for the West African side since his international debut against Liberia in March 2019. 

Kylian Mbappe's days as a Paris Saint-Germain player are numbered, according to the striker's former France team-mate Adil Rami. 

The 21-year-old has been repeatedly linked with Real Madrid, while Premier League champions Liverpool have also been touted as having an interest in his future. 

Mbappe is contracted to PSG until the end of the 2021-22 season, and if he holds off signing a new contract then the prospects of him leaving before then may increase. 

He could join fellow World Cup winner Zinedine Zidane at the Santiago Bernabeu, and Rami is convinced Mbappe is planning for a future away from the Parc des Princes. 

Speaking on RMC Sport show Top of the Foot, Rami said the lack of news about a new deal for Mbappe at PSG makes his exit an inevitability. 

"I think it's done, especially since it's not moving forward in the [contract] discussions," Rami said when quizzed on the possibility of the Frenchman signing for Madrid.

"You have the impression that it annoys him to talk about it, he does not talk about it with the club, his entourage. 

"And from the moment where it annoys him, it means he does not want to hear it. It is awkward for him. 

"His future is all mapped out and it's sad for the Parisians, even for Ligue 1. I love this player." 

Rami, who was a member of France's 2018 World Cup-winning squad alongside Mbappe, is now playing in Portugal with Boavista. 

Mbappe has shown startling form in the early years of his career, following up his 33 Ligue 1 goals in 2018-19 with 18 from 20 games in the truncated subsequent campaign. 

This season he has begun with six goals and three assists in four starts and an appearance off the bench for PSG in their domestic campaign. 

He will be back in contention for a place in Thomas Tuchel's starting XI when the reigning Ligue 1 champions take in a trip to Istanbul Basaksehir in the Champions League.

PSG will arrive at the Fatih Terim Stadium on Wednesday looking to bounce back from a 2-1 home defeat to Manchester United in their opening Group H fixture, with Mbappe confident of a strong response.

"It's not the first time that we've lost the first match of the group stage. We know how to react,” he told PSG's official website.

“The matches succeed each other quickly and we'll try to win in Istanbul in order to honour the shirt and the club."

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer insists Donny van de Beek will have a big part to play for Manchester United this season despite still waiting for his full Premier League debut.

The Dutchman’s move to Old Trafford has been widely criticised this week after the 22-year-old was an unused substitute in the goalless draw against Chelsea on Saturday.

Former Ajax and Netherlands striker Marco van Basten was one of many vocal critics who questioned why Van de Beek made the move to United in the summer as he still waits for his first start in the league.

But Solskjaer has disagreed with his critics and, with United facing a jam-packed fixture schedule up until Christmas, the Red Devils boss claims Van de Beek will get minutes and the midfielder is just being given time to settle into life in Manchester. 

“When players come into a new league and team it’s always going to be a time to adapt," said Solskjaer ahead of Wednesday's Champions League tie with RB Leipzig.

"When he’s played, he’s played really well, I think it says a lot about our depth of quality in the squad that we don’t have to use him every single game, we also have other players, it says everything about our ambitions that we want to push on and challenge for trophies this season.  

“Donny will play a big, big part this season, I realise the topic is Donny van de Beek at the moment.

"It’s nice for some players and commentators to have a little go, I know you’re short for time on television and you have to put your points across very quickly.

"You don’t have to start the first three games to be a very important member of the squad. I would be disappointed if some of my team-mates had said I wasn’t important at Man United because I didn’t start very many games. Donny is going to be very, very important about for us, don’t worry about that.”

Scott McTominay, who has started the last three games and looks set to start again at Old Trafford on Wednesday night, said nobody should be panicking about Van de Beek’s lack of game time and claimed the former Ajax man has already had a positive impact on his team-mates.

“The way he has come in, he’s lifted everyone else,” McTominay said. “Big, big signings like that can really lift the dressing room and I feel like we’ve seen that already with the way that Alex [Telles] played in Paris and Donny coming off the bench and showing what ability he has whenever he has been on the pitch.

“I feel like there’s no time to panic with Donny. People can be so quick to come to an assumption that he’s not playing, give him time, let him adapt and let him settle in and let him concentrate on the season.”

Marcus Rashford has done more to combat child poverty in the UK than any politician has in the last 25 years, according to a councillor who believes the Manchester United forward should be awarded Freedom of the City.

Rashford has gone head-to-head with the UK Government over the issue amid the Covid-19 pandemic. 

The 22-year-old successfully lobbied the government to provide free meals for underprivileged children during the summer holidays and criticised politicians this week for voting against extending the policy through until the Easter holidays next year.

Despite the upset, Rashford found support from various businesses offering to step up and provide free meals, while it was announced this month that the England international will be honoured with an MBE because of his campaigning.

As well as nationwide acclaim, councillor John Leech believes the striker's hometown should reward his activism by awarding him the Freedom of Manchester.

“I wonder whether we ought to be looking to better reflect the diversity of the city, and whether or not there are people from other backgrounds who ought to be recognised for their contributions to the city," he told nomination committee, as quoted by Manchester Evening News.

“For example one of those people that have been mentioned in recent months has been Marcus Rashford.

“Despite being a [Manchester] City fan, I think Marcus Rashford has probably done more to highlight and raise the issue of child poverty in the last six months than any politician has managed in the last 25 years.”

Rashford's devotion to the cause has earned him a lot of praise from big names across the Premier League, including Red Devils team-mate Juan Mata, who urged him to ignore critics who tell him to stay silent and focus on football.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says he is "proud" of the attacker for his "absolutely incredible" work and Chelsea boss Frank Lampard says he "deserves credit" for speaking up about the issue.

While United have had a tumultuous start to the 2020-21 campaign, Rashford has netted four goals in eight appearances in all competitions and will be looking to improve on that record when his side face RB Leipzig in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Former Orlando Pirates coach Maahier Davids has reportedly joined Ernst Middendorp at Ethiopian football powerhouse, Saint George SC.

Middendorp was recently appointed Saint George head coach after parting ways with Premier Soccer League (PSL) giants, Kaizer Chiefs. 

The German tactician was dismissed by Amakhosi after the team lost the PSL title to Mamelodi Sundowns on the last day of the 2019/20 season.

Saint George then moved swiftly to appoint Middendorp as their new coach as they prepare for the new 2020/21 Ethiopian Premier League season.

The 61-year-old tactician has reportedly brought in Davids as his assistant at the most successful Ethiopian club having won a record 29 league titles 

Davids has been jobless since he left National First Division (NFD) outfit Cape Umoya United at the end of the recent campaign.

The well-travelled tactician had joined Umoya in November 2019 following a short stint at Pirates where he worked with his older brother, Fadlu Davids.

The duo was dismissed by Maritzburg United in December 2018 with Maahier having served as Fadlu's assistant in the first-team.

Fadlu was appointed first-team assistant coach at Pirates and Maahier joined the club's academy as a coach midway through the 2018/19 season.

However, Maahier decided to leave the Buccaneers and move to Umoya in the first round of the 2019/20 campaign.

The former Ajax Cape Town academy coach took over a struggling Umoya side and he guided the team to an 11th spot finish in the NFD with the Mother City club avoiding relegation.

Davids has now been pictured with Middendorp at Saint George on Tuesday and the latest reports are indicating that the former has joined the club as an assistant coach.

Middendorp started working with Davids at then-PSL club Free State Stars in 2015, before they moved to Maritzburg United along with Fadlu. 

Prior to joining Stars, Maahier served as the Ajax reserve team coach and worked with current PSL players Rivaldo Coetzee, Yagan Sasman, Hashim Domingo and many others at the club.

Saint George posted the following photo on their official Facebook page on Tuesday

Matthias Ginter says Karim Benzema "looks a bit odd" on the pitch at times, but has talked up the threat the Real Madrid "poacher" will pose Borussia Monchengladbach.

Madrid are scheduled to take in a trip to Borussia-Park in the Champions League on Tuesday night, where they will be aiming to banish the memory of a shock 3-2 home defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk on matchday one.

Zinedine Zidane saw his side concede three first-half goals against the Ukrainian outfit at Santiago Bernabeu, and they were ultimately unable to get anything out of the game despite a stirring fight-back in the second period.

The Blancos bounced back from that defeat by beating Barcelona 3-1 in the first Clasico of the season on Saturday, but cannot afford to let their standards drop again against a Monchengladbach side eager to impress on Europe's biggest stage.

The Bundesliga outfit opened their first Champions League campaign since 2016-17 with a 2-2 draw against Inter at San Siro, and will be expected to provide Madrid with an equally stern test on home soil.

Benzema will likely be tasked with leading Madrid's attack again despite a goal-shy start to the campaign which has seen him score just once in seven appearances.

The Frenchman is, however, fifth on the list of the Champions League's all-time top scorers, and a man who has played against him in Europe for Borussia Dortmund is wary of the danger he could pose Marcos Rose's side.

Ginter, who left BVB to join Monchengladbach in 2017, thinks Benzema has an unorthodox style, but knows full well that he comes alive in the penalty area having seen him deliver the goods in the final third for Madrid on a consent basis for over a decade.

"I think it's clear that Karim Benzema is a very good player," the Germany international told a pre-match press conference. "He's a top striker who's been at this level for many years.

"Sometimes he looks a bit odd, but when he gets inside the box, he's a poacher. It's difficult to play against him, but I think we'll be able to defend as a team.

"I faced him a few years ago, so I know his style. He's a top attacker."

Benfica coach Jorge Jesus has labelled Bernardo Silva "ungrateful" after the Manchester City winger said the Portuguese giants are in need of a new president.

Ahead of the club's presidential election this week, Silva posted a lengthy statement on social media in which he praised long-time incumbent Luís Filipe Vieira but claimed Benfica have become complacent in recent years and lack ambition.

Silva joined the Lisbon side's youth academy at the age of eight but made only three appearances for the senior team before he left to join Monaco and subsequently moved to England.

It was Jesus who gave Silva his first chance in the Benfica team and the 66-year-old says he has avoided talking about the Portugal international since his departure, but could not stay silent in the wake of the player's recent criticism.

"For many years I never wanted to talk about Bernardo Silva, because he also messed with me for many years. It's okay with me," he said at a press conference. 

"Now with the club president who helped him grow, who continues to provide great conditions for young people to go out to better clubs, as is the case with him. It is very ungrateful.

"There are many defects that a man can have, but the worst thing is to be ungrateful. You can have a different idea, but you can't be ungrateful.

"I was the one who added Bernardo Silva to the team. We went on tour several games and when we arrived in Portugal, he asked me: 'Mister, what are your ideas about me? I want to know if I will play'. 

"I said: 'If you play, what do you mean? Explain it to me... Nico [Gaitan] comes out and you play? Does Salvio come out and you play? What do you want me to do?"

"Silva said: 'I have a contract to leave, I'm going to earn 20 times more, and I need to help my family. I need the coach to let me out'. 

"'Then talk to the president, it's not me,' I replied. If he’s listening to me, let him say that this is the truth, it wasn’t because I put him on the left side.

"After all these years I’m telling you because he was ungrateful to the president of Benfica. I didn't know how to make up for what Benfica and what the president did for him."

Simba SC midfielder Jonas Mkude has conceded the team and fans are undergoing tough times, especially after recent back to back defeats.

Wekundu wa Msimbazi lost by a solitary goal to Tanzania Prisons and on Monday, they played Ruvu Shooting hoping to get back to winning ways. However, it was not the case.

Fully Zullu Maganga outpaced his markers before playing the ball to his colleague whose first touch set the skipper in a one on one situation with Kakolanya.  

Maganga made no mistake from three yards, sending his team into the break with a deserving lead which turned out to be the winning goal.  

Simba were given a lifeline in the 80th minute when they were awarded a penalty after foul play by their opponents in the danger zone. Bocco, who had been introduced, took it but despite beating the goalkeeper, he could not beat the crossbar.

"Football results can at times surprise you, you can be shocked since you get what you least expected," Mkude told reporters.

"We tried to give our best [when playing Ruvu Shooting] but we could not get a positive outcome. 

"The coach made some changes to the team [after our loss to Tanzania Prisons] and we followed his tactics but it did not happen as we planned."

"We are in a very difficult period especially our fans because of the result we got [against Ruvu Shooting]. No fan can understand us especially after the recent results, but it is football and we have no option but to accept what has happened."

The next assignment for Simba will be at home against the Shinyanga-based Mwadui hoping to get back to winning ways ahead of the Kariakoo Derby against sworn rivals Yanga SC which is scheduled for November 7.

"Our focus is now on our forthcoming game where we want to at least get a positive outcome," Mkude continued.

"The coach [Sven Vandenbroeck] has seen the mistakes made which led to our losses and I know he will rectify them before we play our next game."

Simba are currently fourth on the Tanzania Mainland League table with 13 points from seven games.

There is a predictable pattern to the public perception of genius.

First, we are startled by it, usually in the aftermath of an eye-catching demonstration. It is almost impossible to comprehend that level of mastery, and its sudden emergence often takes us unawares. Then, when the shock wears off, we are in awe of it, but awe is a taxing state, both physically and mentally, and so in time it becomes unsustainable, and we become accustomed to it.

It is difficult to pinpoint the exact moment in which Sadio Mane’s genius became apparent (perhaps, if one were pushed, that quick-fire hat-trick against Aston Villa in 2015, whilst still on the books of Southampton, would qualify), but what is clear enough is that, far too quickly, we are on to that third stage.

Perhaps some of it is to do with the collectivist nature of Liverpool’s success.

The imperative of modern football is self-denial, and the individual has never been more subsumed into the whole than he is in the present day’s conception of football.

The influence of certain individuals is unmistakable, but – and this is especially important in the waning of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo – increasingly the manner in which football is understood is as one approach against the other, with the players who make up that approach less distinct individuals than pieces.

As such, it is easy to look upon Mane’s unpredictable agility, his unforeseeable explosiveness, his understated movement and his unmistakable impact on Liverpool’s play as merely a feature of the system as a whole.

Some pieces are, however, more high-powered than others.

Within the context of Liverpool, this is easy enough to accept with, say, a player like defensive stalwart Virgil Van Dijk, for whom dirges have been written and garments rent over the last two weeks; Mohamed Salah, by virtue of his goalscoring, embodies the team’s pointy end, and so is considered in the same wise.

So why not Mane?

It would appear that, for most, the things he does no longer hold requisite wonder.

This is, after all, a player who, many agree, should have finished higher than fourth in the Ballon D’Or voting last year, and yet by the time it came to decide who the Premier League’s best player for 2019/20 was, neither the Football Writers’ Association nor the Professional Footballers’ Association saw fit to bestow their respective Player of the Year awards on him.

Unfortunately, the upshot of this is that, years down the line, the heft of his legacy within the Premier League might very well become the subject of debate. Even right now, to weigh him up against some of the finest Africans historically in the division is problematic, despite the fact that he has, for all intents and purposes, outperformed the vast majority of them on the pitch.

As we have established, however, football’s focus has shifted greatly over the last two decades, and so, while in terms of performance, he has already far outstripped some of the legendary African Premier League icons like Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Emmanuel Adebayor and Tony Yeboah, he remains behind some of the more totemic presences like Didier Drogba, Yaya Toure and Mohamed Salah.

The first two are pretty much unassailable, being the bulwarks upon which club dynasties were built – Chelsea and Manchester City respectively, and while he got a share of the Golden Boot two seasons ago, he cannot consistently outscore Salah.

His purview is subtler, geared more toward the functioning of the collective; he will score, but Jurgen Klopp’s attacking set-up is meant to maximize the Egypt international’s goal threat, not his.

Within Liverpool, however, there can be no doubts as to his worth, or his genius. On Saturday night, he once more put on a demonstration, playing decisive roles in both goals against a winless but typically resolute Sheffield United.

His far-post header, saved by Aaron Ramsdale, fell perfectly into the path of Roberto Firmino for the equalizer, and his cross, swung in with his left foot, found Diogo Jota for the winner.

It was the sort of contribution that perfectly encapsulates his value, but also the sort of impact that is so easily collapsed into the wider narrative of the Reds finding a way.

It seems then that Mane is doomed to exist in a crevice of the mind, universally acknowledged but not enough of an individualist that he consistently gets the acclaim he truly deserves from the wider public.

Danish club Vejle have withdrawn Ghana striker Raphael Dwamena from team engagements due to a relapse in his heart condition.

On loan from Spanish La Liga side Levante, the 25-year-old was looking to make a big comeback this season after a similar health problem truncated a loan spell with Real Zaragoza in the Spanish second division last term. 

He has made five league appearances for the newly-promoted club Vejle and scored twice.

"After the club's promotion to the 3F Superligaen, Vejle Boldklub signed a contract with Raphael Dwamena," the Danish outfit had announced on their official website. 

"The Ghanaian attacker came to Norreskoven after a heart operation in January, where the 25-year-old attacker had an ICD-Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator implanted.  

"This has been continuously monitored by Vejle Boldklub's health staff and medical team throughout the start-up, on the training ground and during the club's matches.  

"There has now been a single case where Raphael Dwamena's limit values ​​when monitoring the heart have been too high, and this unfortunately also means that Vejle Boldklub must now take Dwamena off the field."

It is the third time Dwamena's career is having to take a hit by his heart condition. In 2017, the Nkawkaw-born saw a move to Premier League side Brighton and Hove Albion cancelled for reportedly failing a medical in relation to his heart condition.

"I am truly grateful for the opportunity that Vejle Boldklub gave me to play football again. Now I have been taken off the field and am under medical supervision," the forward said. 

"Despite not being able to be on the pitch, I still want to help the club achieve its goals. Therefore, I would also like to say to both my teammates, the staff and the fans that I am proud to be part of the Vejle Boldklub family."

A Red Bull Salzburg academy product, Dwamena joined Swiss side FC Zurich in 2017 following an impressive loan spell with Lustenau in the Austrian second tier.

In the summer of 2018, he transferred to Spain to join Levante.

"That there has now been one case where the limit values ​​have been too high, we must, based on a health professional assessment as a club, take the consequence. Raphael is therefore taken off the field," Vejle technical manager Jacob Kruger said.

"We are, of course, sorry on Raphael's behalf, but the parties have been aware from the outset of the consequence that would have been the case if Raphael's monitoring had exceeded the limit values ​​in the measurement. 

"Raphael Dwamena has in her short time in Vejle Boldklub shown a great human format, a professional approach to her profession and a desire to learn from her towards our young players. We will now help Raphael in the new situation."

Dwamena is a full Ghana international, scoring twice on his debut in an Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier against Ethiopia in 2017.

Maritzburg United have signed Algerian defender Fares Hachi and midfielder Tyroane Sandows as coach Eric Tinkler seeks to arrest a difficult start to the season.

Having previously played for Mamelodi Sundowns and Chippa United, Hachi joins Maritzburg from French lower league side Lyon Duchere.

He will be joined by midfielder 25-year-old Sandows who comes in with the experience of having played in the Brazilian Serie A with Gremio.

Sandows has also played in Serie B with Figueirense and went to the 2016 Rio Olympics with the South Africa national Under-23 side.

“From everyone at the Team of Choice we would like to extend a warm welcome to Fares and Tyroane and hope that their stay with us will be a fruitful one,” Maritzburg United chairman Farook Kadodia told the club website.

“Fares' vast experience will be valuable to our backline and his time with Sundowns is something we took into account. Tyroane is an exciting young player who has enjoyed a unique footballing journey. He's eager to show what he can do in his home country and we at Maritzburg United are excited to have had the chance to introduce him to the Premier Soccer League.”

The new arrivals join the likes of Jose Ali Meza who also recently signed for Maritzburg from Sundowns as well as Gabonese midfielder Nathanael Bongo Mbourou who started playing at the end of last season.

Utility player Tebogo Tlolane has also returned for another loan stint from his parent club Orlando Pirates.

Tinkler is keen for redemption after his side were knocked out of the MTN8 competition by Kaizer Chiefs, before losing their league opener to Baroka FC. 

Meanwhile, Maritzburg United have parted ways with assistant coach Vincent Kobola.

The 35-year-old had been Tinkler’s understudy since January 2019, having also previously worked with the Maritzburg head coach at Cape Town City.

“Vincent played a crucial role in our club's history in the nearly two years he spent with us and we will always be grateful for his contribution,” said Kadodia.

“After recent discussions with him, both parties agreed to part ways by mutual consent. We would like to sincerely thank Vincent for his service to the club.

“His professional approach and close relationships with the players were much valued. We trust he will go on to enjoy a successful future as a coach and we wish him the very best.”

Speculation that Kobola could no longer have space in Tinkler’s backroom staff became rife when the head coach roped in Delron Buckley and Rowen Fernandez to his technical team.

Watch any Spanish or Portuguese-language commentary of a football match and you'll be graced with the familiar, elongated monosyllabic cry of "GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL!" whenever a player scores, no matter how big or small the game.

It is a signature component of Spanish-language commentators, who scream the word with an incredible amount of gusto and passion.

But why do they celebrate strikes in such a way? Goal takes a look.

Screaming "goooooool" during matches by commentators has been a tradition throughout Spanish and Portuguese-speaking countries for decades.

The first known instance of the phenomenon dates back to 1946, 14 years after the first ever football game was broadcasted live on Brazilian radio.

Sao Paulo announcer Rebello Junior had stretched out his scream of "gol" ("goal" in Portuguese/Spanish) to the heavens until he was out of breath, which encapsulated the joyous, frenetic passion of the fans celebrating in the same stadium - and then broadcasting that same emotion to the rest of the world.

The energy that was so evident in Junior's voice is something that is so familiar to any football fan, since that kind of celebratory joy is the universal language.

“When it comes to narrating a goal in soccer,” said Jose Carlos Araujo of Radio Transamerica, who is known as one of the most famed executors of the celebration, “there’s a big dose of artistry involved.”

In 1958, columnist Max Gehringer wrote that Swedish football fans in the stadium turned to where Brazilian sportscaster Edson Leite was positioned every time a goal was scored just to watch him scream "GOOOOOOOL".

The cries that originated all over Latin America were then carried over to other European countries. Spain-based commentators since have adopted the celebration, and German broadcasters have their own version in which they scream "TOOOOOR" ("Tor" is German for "goal"). 

The cry became popular with Spanish-language broadcasters in the United States when Andres Cantor arrived at Univision to commentate on the 1990 and 1994 World Cups. He was already known amongst Spanish-speaking audiences, but his cries of "GOOOOL" became especially famous in the 1994 World Cup - which earned him an invitation to an appearance on “The Late Show with David Letterman” where he re-enacted his celebratory cries.

“It’s very flattering when [fans] recognise you, and it’s very funny when people start yelling their guts out in front of you,” Cantor told CNBC.

“Basically I’ve lost my identity. Many people know me by name, but many people say, ‘Hey, you’re Mr. Goal!’ so it’s like, OK, let me change my last name from Cantor to ‘Mr. Goal’.”

Cantor became synonymous with the cries of "GOOOOL" in the U.S., just when North Americans started showing more of an interest in football.

“I called every single game of the ’90, ‘94 and ’98 World Cup,” he says. “That was 50-some games in a month. That was very strenuous on the voice, so I took voice lessons with a voice coach that Gloria Estefan used.”

Having to scream "GOOOOOOOL" for several minutes on end is, of course, no easy feat, and requires great vocal skill and technique.

“It will depend on how much air I have in my lungs, really," explains Cantor. "Sometimes, I live the game with so much passion and intensity, a 90th minute goal will find me very, very tired.

"But... I’ve never timed myself, it just goes on the merit and importance of the goal I am calling.”

Galvao Bueno, a famous sportscasters in Brazil, compared the cry it to “a tenor’s high C,” which is one of the most difficult notes a tenor’s voice can hold.

“It’s your crowning achievement,” said Bueno. “Or your moment of defeat.”

“On days I’m narrating, I don’t drink coffee,” commentator Alex Escobar has said. “And the day before, I don’t drink alcohol.”

Manchester United coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is looking forward to seeing Dayot Upamecano in action at Old Trafford on Wednesday amid reports the Premier League side want to sign the RB Leipzig defender.

United host the Bundesliga leaders in the Champions League Group H clash and the 22-year-old is likely to start in the heart of the visitors' defence.

The Red Devils were heavily linked with a move for the France international in the summer transfer window, while Liverpool, Arsenal and Real Madrid are also said to be interested.

Upamecano revealed in September that he had held talks with several clubs despite signing a contract extension with Leipzig in July and he has not ruled out making a move in the near future. 

Solskjaer stopped short of confirming his side's attempts to land the former Red Bull Salzburg star, but he says he is aware of his quality.

"There's always rumours and speculation about good players for Manchester United," Solskjaer told reporters during at a press conference.

"I've always tried to respect [that] they are players for other teams and don't want to comment on every player we are linked to.

"But since he's playing against us tomorrow, I know he's a very good player and we can see him close up tomorrow."

Leipzig, who reached the Champions League semi-finals last season, are unbeaten in all competitions this term, while United sit 15th in the Premier League and have suffered shock defeats at home against Crystal Palace and Tottenham.

Solskjaer has been impressed by the improvement Julian Nagelsmann's side have made in recent seasons and knows what to expect in the midweek clash. 

"They are a club that has come up through the ranks very impressively and almost improved every season," the Norwegian coach added.

"Last season, third in the Bundesliga, they've started really well, got to the semi-finals and are really going for the big trophies.

"You have a young, proactive, interesting coach to watch who's very adaptable and with players who've got high energy, high tempo - all in all, they've been very interesting to follow the last few years."

Harambee Stars coach Jacob ‘Ghost’ Mulee has named Twahir Muhiddin, Ken Odhiambo, and William Muluya as part of his backroom staff.

Meanwhile, Haggai Azande has also been named as the goalkeeper trainer replacing Lawrence Webo.

While appointing ‘Ghost’ to handle the national team on a three-year deal after the sacking of Francis Kimanzi, Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President Nick Mwendwa confirmed to Goal they had given him a free hand to pick his backroom staff.

“It is upon him to give us the names he wants to work with,” Mwendwa told Goal after the appointment. “We don’t want to choose for him which coaches he can work with, we have given him time until Tuesday to give us names and that is what we will go with.”

On Tuesday, ‘Ghost’ confirmed he had settled for the experienced Muhiddin, who currently works as the technical for FKF Premier League side Bandari FC, Odhiambo, who handles the same side, and Muluya of Kariobangi Sharks to assist him.

“This is an experienced bench which is also abreast with modern football,” ‘Ghost’ told Goal after naming the new technical team. “We needed some international experience and it is the reason I have settled for the three coaches.”

The 52-year-old Mulee, who was the last local coach to take Kenya to the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Tunis, Tunisia, is set to start training the squad of 40 players which he named three days ago as they prepare to face Comoros in a double-header set for November.

Among the professional players in the squad include goalkeeper Arnol Origi, captain Victor Wanyama, Johanna Omollo, and striker Michael Olunga, both of who missed the international Fifa friendly against Zambia a week ago.

The first match against Comoros will be played at Kasarani on November 11, while the second has been slated for November 15, away. Kenya is second in Group G of the 2021 Afcon qualifiers with two points, off identical 1-1 draws with Togo and Egypt.

Provisional Squad; Goalkeepers: Arnold Origi (HIFK, Finland), Robert Mboya (Tusker, Kenya), Brian Bwire (Kariobangi Sharks, Kenya), Ian Otieno (Zesco United, Zambia), Timothy Odhiambo (Ulinzi Stars, Kenya).

Defenders; Johnstone Omurwa (Wazito, Kenya), Brian Mandela (Unattached), Joash Onyango (Simba, Tanzania), Daniel Sakari (Kariobangi Sharks, Kenya), Andrew Juma (Gor Mahia, Kenya), Mike Kibwage (Sofapaka, Kenya), Joseph Okumu (Elfsborg, Sweden), Samuel Olwande (Kariobangi Sharks, Kenya), Baraka Badi (KCB, Kenya), David Owino (Zesco United, Zambia), Hillary Wandera (Tusker, Kenya), Eric Ouma (AIK, Sweden), David Owino (Mathare United, Kenya).

Midfielders; Kenneth Muguna (Gor Mahia, Kenya), Victor Wanyama (Impact Montreal, Canada), Ismael Gonzalez (UD Las Palmas, Spain), Eric Johanna Omondi (Jonkoping’s Sodra, Sweden), Cliff Nyakeya (Masr FC, Egypt), Antony Akumu (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa), Musa Masika (Wazito, Kenya), Bonface Muchiri (Tusker, Kenya), Lawrence Juma (Sofapaka, Kenya), Johanna Omolo (Cercle Brugge, Belgium), Ayub Timbe (Unattached), Peter Thion’go (AFC Leopards, Kenya), Hassan Abdallah (Bandari, Kenya), Elli Asieche (Sofapaka, Kenya), Mathew Olaka (Unattached), Moses Mudavadi (Kakamega Homeboyz, Kenya), Austin Odhiambo (AFC Leopards, Kenya).

Forwards; Michael Olunga (Kashiwa Reysol, Japan), Benson Omala (Gor Mahia, Kenya), Masud Juma (JS Kabylie, Algeria), John Avire (Tanta FC, Egypt), Oscar Wamalwa (Ulinzi Stars, Kenya).

Reserves; Dennis Sikhayi (Wazito, Kenya), James Kinyanjui (Mathare United, Kenya).

Juventus defender Danilo acknowledged that the Italian side will miss Cristiano Ronaldo if he is unable to play in Wednesday's Champions League clash with Barcelona.

The Portuguese star's status has been up in the air since he tested positive for the coronavirus during the international break after featuring in 0-0 draws with Spain and France.

He is currently under investigation for breaking quarantine rules while away on international duty, having travelled back to his house in Italy via a private air ambulance after contracting Covid-19.

Ronaldo went on to miss Juve's draw with Crotone and win at Dynamo Kiev in their Champions League opener before then posting another positive test a day later, preventing him from returning for the Serie A clash against Hellas Verona over the weekend.

In order to play in Wednesday's clash with former La Liga rivals Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Ronaldo will need to test negative on Tuesday as protocol states a player must have a negative test 24 hours before kickoff.

Facing the very real possibility of heading into a difficult Champions League tie without Ronaldo, Juventus will need other players to step up if he is to be ruled out, Danilo says, although doing so will be easier said than done.

“These are the best matches to play,” the Brazilian said. “We want to win, we must be concentrated.

“Any team would miss a player like Cristiano. But we have faith in all the players. We have people who want to do well and help us play a great match.”

Juventus are currently in their first season under Andrea Pirlo, who took over this summer following Maurizio Sarri's departure.

The legendary midfielder has guided Juventus to two wins and three draws in his first five Serie A games, with the club currently sitting fifth in the league.

Danilo has featured in all but one of Juve's matches this season, and the former Manchester City and Real Madrid defender says he feels more than ready to play his part as the club continues its adjustment to Pirlo as manager.

“I feel good in this way of playing,” Danilo said at a press conference. “We often have the ball and therefore there’s no difficulty.

“I don’t know for tomorrow, but I’m ready to do my best. We have to move fast and be focused. We are on the right path.”

Simba SC winger Francis Kahata has stated Ruvu Shooting managed to get maximum points away to Simba SC because it was 'just their day.'

Fully Zullu Maganga scored the only goal in the 35th minute to help his charges get maximum points. Wekundu wa Msimbazi could have at least salvaged a point but John Bocco failed to convert a penalty.

"In football, you can either win, draw or lose and it is unfortunate we lost," Kahata told Goal on Tuesday.

"It is not that we played badly because every player who was given a chance did his best. Luck was not on our side; it was Ruvu's day and it is the only way I can explain the loss."

It was the second consecutive loss for the Wekundu wa Msimbazi after falling by the same margin to Tanzania Prisons. The defending champions have a relatively strong squad, so where is the problem?

"Other teams are prepared as well and just like us they are targeting wins," Kahata explained.

"It is extra harder for big teams like Simba and Yanga SC because the so-called smaller teams give their best to frustrate us and get a positive result.

"This is a tougher season and no team will find it easy. Losing is part of football; so we hope we can catch up with forthcoming assignments.

"We still have the best player; lest we forget, they are the ones who have been winning matches for the team."

On Tuesday, Simba SC captain John Bocco sent an apology to the club’s fans after the team suffered a second straight Mainland Premier League defeat on Monday.

The results have seen Simba drop the pace in their chase to retain the title with rivals Young Africans (Yanga SC) overtaking them to position two, while Simba are now in fourth.

Bocco, who was making a return to the team after an injury, and also missed a crucial penalty with 10 minutes left to the final whistle against Ruvu Shooting, has now apologized to the fans and promised a better performance in their next league assignment.

"On behalf of the players, I want to apologise for the two defeats we suffered against Prisons and Ruvu Shooting," Bocco said as quoted by the club’s social media pages. "We fell against teams that we should not have but we promise it will not happen again.

"Our promise to the fans is that we will rectify mistakes from the two matches and come back better and stronger to win the coming games."

Sofapaka midfielder Elli Asieche has vowed to cement his place in the Harambee Stars team after earning a call-up for the first time.

The midfielder was named in the 40-man provisional squad by new coach Jacob ‘Ghost’ Mulee ahead of the team’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double-header against Comoros in November.

As the team prepares to start training on Wednesday, Asieche has told Goal he is excited to finally earn a call to the team and has promised to make sure he cements his place in the squad.

“I'm ready to fight for a place in the final squad,” Asieche told Goal on Tuesday. “It’s every footballer’s dream to feature for the national team, I am ready to give it a go, I am ready to fight.

“All I want is to impress the coaches and cement my place in the team, it has been a long wait and I thank God I have finally been given the chance, I will try hard to prove my worth.”

Asieche’s week might be the best for any player after he was also named the captain of Sofapaka ahead of the new FKF Premier League season set to kick off on November 20.

The position at Sofapaka fell vacant after the exit of George Maelo, who was deployed in Machakos, in the current transfer window and it is for this reason the 2009 champions opted to give the midfielder an opportunity to lead Batoto ba Mungu.

The 29-year-old has promised to help the Nairobi-based team go in the right direction after he was trusted with leadership.

“I am happy for this new capacity and challenge, it shows a lot of trust and faith in me, from the head coach and the entire team. I look forward to leading and helping the club in the right way,” Asieche stated after his confirmation.

Harambee Stars’ local-based players are set to report to camp on Wednesday with their foreign-based counterparts scheduled to start checking in on Sunday.

The first match will be played at the MISC Kasarani on November 11, while the second has been slated for November 15, away. Kenya is second in Group G of the 2021 Afcon qualifiers with two points, off identical 1-1 draws with Togo and Egypt.