Looking for Soccer News?

Manchester United star Anthony Martial has promised to "come back even better" after a poor start to 2020-21, while acknowledging it's down to him to show everybody the best version of himself.

Martial recorded the best numbers of his career to date last season, scoring 23 goals and laying on 12 assists in 48 games across all competitions to help United finish third in the Premier League and reach three semi-finals.

However, he has been unable to pick up from where he left off at the start of the new campaign, drawing blanks in his first four appearances.

The 24-year-old's misery was compounded when he was shown a red card during a 6-1 defeat to Tottenham before the international break, and his fortunes haven't improved since his return to Old Trafford following his exploits with France.

Martial has missed United's last two Premier League games through suspension, but headed into his own net during United's 2-1 win at Paris Saint-Germain in their Champions League opener last week.

He will be back in contention for a place in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's line-up when the Red Devils play host to RB Leipzig on Wednesday, and he is eager to silence his doubters and kick-start his season on an individual level after a testing couple of months.

Asked if he relishes being back on Europe's biggest stage, Martial told United's official website: “For sure, it really does you good, especially when you’re talking about big games like these in the Champions League.

"That red card [against Spurs] was my first ever and it’s something that I will learn from. But it will at least allow me to work even harder in training to come back even better.

“I still haven’t scored yet this season. But I know that as and when I get off the mark with one, everything will be fine. So, it’s down to me to keep putting in a big effort in training and to then show everybody the real Anthony Martial.”

The France international added on his own goal against PSG: "These things happen. But since it was my hometown club, I just wanted to give them a bit of a helping hand!

"No, seriously, that kind of thing can happen to anybody, but the main thing was that we managed to score the winning goal right at the death, and that was more important to me.

“I was really happy because my brothers and a lot of my family are United fans but my mates all support Paris. They’d all told me that we were going to lose, and I’d told them that we wouldn’t.

"So when we went on to win I was overjoyed!”

Martial is now facing extra competition for a role through the middle at Old Trafford following the arrival of Edinson Cavani, but he sees the addition of another "great player" as a positive rather than a negative.

“He’s a really great player, he’s proved exactly that all the way through his career, and I hope that he’ll manage to help us out,” the forward said of his new team-mate.

“It’s always a positive to have even more quality within the group and as there are always a lot of fixtures to play, when one player is rested, it will allow us to ensure that there is no drop-off in quality whatsoever.

"That’s especially important for the team.”

The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has given clubs until November 13 to ensure their coaches align themselves with set rules and regulations before getting a green light to sit on the technical bench during matches.

In a letter from the Federation to clubs, National League coaches must attain a minimum Caf C License to be allowed to coach teams in the three top divisions.

"In reference to our letter dated September 10, 2020, sent to you all through email, we wish to remind you that the submission deadline for the registration of your coaches is hereby extended to November 13, 2020," read the letter signed by FKF General Secretary and CEO Barry Otieno and obtained by Goal.

"This follows the FKF National Executive Committee (Nec) resolution passed at the 2017 Annual General Meeting (AGM) that all national league coaches must attain a minimum Caf C License.

"You are hereby requested to send the [curriculum vitae, relevant certificates, copy of identity card, FKF coach registration form, HD passport photo] for your head coach and assistant coach to the Federation's Technical Department for accreditation."

The tacticians will also have to part with a fee to continue plying their trade in Kenyan football.

"Further to the above-mentioned requirements, an annual fee of Ksh500 for local coaches and Ksh100,000 for foreign coaches is mandatory in order for a coaching license card to be issued," the letter further revealed.

"This fee is subject to review in the 2021/22 season.

"Please take note that a coach who has not been accredited will not be allowed to sit on the bench. We look forward for your cooperation."

The FKF Premier League is set to start on Friday, November 20 with 13-time champions AFC Leopards hosting Western Stima.

A day later, Mathare United will host Kakamega Homeboyz while Tusker FC will have a date with Gor Mahia. Bandari are scheduled to play Zoo Kericho while Kariobangi Sharks will be at home to play Wazito FC.

Newbies Nairobi City Stars will play Nzoia Sugar while Sofapaka meet KCB. Another promoted side Bidco United will play Posta Rangers while Ulinzi Stars will play either Kisumu All Stars or Vihiga United.

Former Arsenal star Alexander Hleb says it was a mistake to leave the club for Barcelona.

Hleb joined the Gunners from Stuttgart in 2005 and spent three seasons in north London, making 130 appearances and reaching the Champions League final with the club.

The former attacking midfielder was not able to secure a regular spot in Barca's starting XI as he featured just 36 times for the Spanish giants and was loaned out to Stuttgart, Birmingham and Wolfsburg before his contract was terminated by mutual consent.

Although the Camp Nou outfit won the Champions League, La Liga and the Copa del Rey in his first season at the club, he admits it was not worth leaving Arsenal, where he felt truly happy.

"Many years later and I still think about it," Hleb said on Arsenal's In Lockdown podcast. "I don't understand. To this day I still don't understand what happened or why I made the decision.

"Of course, Barcelona in that moment was the best team in the world but I was really happy at Arsenal at the time. I had friends, I enjoyed the coach, I was playing for one of the best teams, the fans, the stadium, everything! The fantastic championship, the Premier League, everything!

"Why I left, I don't understand. Barca, of course, were the best team at the time and everybody wants something to try but really I was 100 per cent happy at Arsenal.

"I cried when I talked to Arsene [Wenger]. We talked in the holiday before I left and he told me he wanted to keep me and I was important. I cried. I didn't know what to do in that moment.

"Of course, Barca is a fantastic team. I won titles and everything but I didn't play as much as I did at Arsenal. This is only my mistake because at the time, a lot of things happened in my private life. I started very nervously [at Barcelona]. Always aggressive. It was only my mistake.

"This is not a situation where Guardiola didn't trust me or something like that. No, this is only my mistake. At Arsenal I was happy, you know? When you're happy in the team, you need to stay.

“Of course [I still think about my career]. When you're young you think you have so many years but it's really like one moment. It's really quick. My children now ask me about [my career] and you explain your emotions and it's nice, it's very nice.”

Ruvu Shooting attacker Fully Zullu Maganga has stated Simba SC are his customers and that is why he can easily score against them.

The 32-year-old scored last season when the two teams settled for a 1-1 draw and on Monday, he was on target to help the visitors walk away with maximum points at Uhuru Stadium.

It was an excellent response after their 1-0 loss in the previous game against Tanzania Prisons. 

"[Since our defeat to Tanzania] Prisons, we have been training well and following what coach Benjamin Mkwasa has been teaching us," Maganga told reporters after guiding his team to victory over the 21-time Tanzania Mainland League champions.

"He advised us on how to play [at Uhuru Stadium] and as players, we followed the instructions to the letter."

The striker went on to explain why it was easy getting a goal against Wekundu wa Msimbazi.

"I am used to Simba and every season, I see them as my customers," Maganga continued.

"And, it is not only Simba, but most teams I play, do not get it easy because I give my best to score."

The towering attacker is now setting his sights on the next assignment hoping to get a win as well.

"We are playing Coastal Union in our next top tier game and we are going to do exactly what we have done to Simba SC," he concluded.

Monday's win took Ruvu to the seventh position with 12 points. The administrative side have played eight games in the 2020/21 season. Of the eight matches, they have managed to collect three wins, as many draws and two losses.

Following the defeat, the Msimbazi-based charges dropped to fourth on the table with 13 points after seven matches. They have managed to collect four wins, a draw, and two losses.

Azam FC, who also fell by a solitary goal to Mtibwa Sugar, lead the race with 21 points from eight games. They are followed by Young Africans SC (Yanga SC) who have not lost any games this season.

After seven matches, they have managed to get six wins and a draw to take their points tally to 19. Biashara Mara United are third with 16 points.

Sifiso Meyiwa, brother of the late Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa, says his family desperately want closure.

Meyiwa was shot dead in October 2014 at the home of his then girlfriend Kelly Khumalo, in October 2014.

Although it was initially believed his death was the result of a botched robbery, there were also those who thought his murder was planned.

And now this week, the South African government revealed that by implementing new cold-case techniques, they were able to make five arrests. They also believe they have identified the individual who delivered the fatal shot to kill Meyiwa, as well as having found a suspected murder weapon.

Speaking to the media ahead of the suspects' appearance at the Boksburg magistrate's court, Meyiwa's brother Sifiso revealed the anguish the family has gone through and hopes to now find some peace.

And if indeed the murder was an orchestrated hit, the family wants to know who was behind it.

“We heard that there is a mastermind and we want to see who this guy is. This case has brought so much pain for six years. All we want is closure,” Sifiso was quoted saying by the Sowetan.

The latest developments in the case may just eventually help the family find some kind of closure. However, it's tragically come too late for Meyiwa’s father Sam, who passed away 15-months ago. On top of that, Meyiwa’s mother is also not in good health.

“My mother hasn’t been doing too well. Her BP [blood pressure] has been high and she has been stressed because nothing has come from all of this,” Sifiso Meyiwa said.

Adv Gerrie Nel, heading up AfriForum’s private investigation team, also reiterated the possibility of there being a mastermind behind the murder who needs to be brought to justice.
 
"We agree, that having gone through the evidence, that this is a hit and we've also indicated our full cooperation in exposing the mastermind and ensuring that the mastermind is also prosecuted," Nel was quoted saying.

Nel added that AfriForum will be keeping a close watch on court proceedings.

RB Leipzig have no reason to fear Manchester United when they meet in the Champions League on Wednesday, Lothar Matthaus says.

Julian Nagelsmann's side, who reached the semi-finals of the tournament last term, are unbeaten in their first seven games in all competitions so far this season and are top of the Bundesliga.

United, meanwhile, have endured a difficult start to 2020-21 as they sit 15th in the Premier League, though they started their Champions League campaign with a 2-1 win at Paris Saint-Germain last week.

Germany legend Matthaus believes Leipzig should be confident of maintaining their unblemished record when they travel to Old Trafford, while he also believes Borussia Monchengladbach can get the better of Real Madrid in their Group B clash on Tuesday.

"For Julian Nagelsmann and RB Leipzig, the next highlight is the game at Manchester United," Matthaus wrote in his Sky Sport column. 

"The Bundesliga leaders are seamlessly building on the great last season. The team has become even more mature and grown up. 

"After the departure of [Patrik] Schick and [Timo] Werner, [Yussuf] Poulsen and [Emil] Forsberg are experiencing something like a second wind. 

"The team now finish off games without taking unnecessary risks. The 2-0 win against Basaksehir or the 2-1 win against Hertha Berlin show that Leipzig are becoming more stable and that they are very intelligent at work.

"Anyone who made it into the Champions League semi-finals last season doesn't have to hide from Manchester United either. No matter how big the name is, the United team shouldn't intimidate RB Leipzig. Especially not if you look at the Premier League table. After five games, the English team are in 15th place. Only seven points and nine goals scored, 12 conceded are the meagre results at the start of the season.

"So Leipzig can definitely win. Just like Borussia Monchengladbach against Real Madrid. Especially when Borussia play as bravely as they did in the last 30 minutes against Inter. 

"Real are of course a very experienced squad and should never be underestimated, especially in the Champions League. They are already under a lot of pressure after losing against Shakhtar Donetsk, but have a broad chest again thanks to the 3-1 win in Barcelona at the weekend.

"It's a pairing that produced great duels back in the 1970s. Here, too, of course, it's a shame for the Gladbach fans that no spectators will be in the stadium to cheer on the team. 

"For years they have worked towards such opponents and were mostly only allowed to admire them in front of the TV set. But that's how the times are. Borussia have to believe in their chance. They definitely have one."

Michael Thomas believes that Arsenal need "another creative outlet" like Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar.

Arsenal have endured an inconsistent start to the 2020-21 campaign under Mikel Arteta.

The Gunners have fallen to 11th in the Premier League standings after six fixtures, with a 1-0 home defeat to Leicester on Saturday marking their third defeat of the season.

Arteta's men are currently among the lowest scorers in the top flight with just eight goals to their name, with talismanic frontman Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang currently in the middle of one of the worst goal-droughts of his career.

Arsenal strengthened their midfield ranks over the summer by signing Thomas Partey and Willian, while extending Dani Ceballos' loan from Real Madrid, but Thomas believes they are still lacking a spark in the final third of the pitch.

Lyon's Aouar was heavily linked with a move to Emirates Stadium before the October 5 transfer deadline, and the former Gunners star thinks he is exactly the kind of player his old club need to sign in order to close the gap between themselves and the elite.

“Through Arteta giving the team a more robust look, it has come at a cost to the creative side of our game,” Thomas told Caught Offside. “The players are playing very rigid.

"You need to be able to control the ball in areas that the opposing team doesn’t want to be and suffocate them. I think this will change in time but it needs to be sooner rather than later.

“Mesut Ozil obviously offers great creativity when he plays, but at what cost to the team’s efficiency?

“The team obviously needs more creativity going forward because they simply don’t have enough good efforts on goal. We are used to the frontline being played in behind, but recently everything seems to be in front of the opposition with no penetration or speed in the attacks.

"Another creative outlet is very needed whether it be Aouar or someone else.”

Thomas went on to address the continued struggles of Arsenal's record signing Nicolas Pepe, insisting his output going forward hinges on Arteta's preferred system.

He also weighed in Aubameyang being forced to take up an unnatural role out wide while looking ahead to the Gunners' trip to Manchester United at the weekend, adding: “Pepe still has a lot to give but the creativity depends on Arteta getting the balance right between defensive stability and attacking threat.

"He has the ability to make the difference and hopefully he does so this Sunday.

“The wide role is not Aubameyang’s best position in my opinion, but the team are not creating enough for him anyway.”

Defender Pascal Ogweno could be on his way to Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League side Zoo FC.

The 28-year-old played for Kariobangi Sharks before ditching the Slum Boys for Gor Mahia. However, a lack of playtime at K'Ogalo led to his move to KCB FC where he once again failed to cement his position and was among the players who were released.

"Yes, we have made contact with Ogweno with intentions of signing him," Zoo FC coach Herman Iswekha told Goal on Tuesday.

"However, we will have to assess his form first and preparedness before sealing the deal. He is expected in Kericho tomorrow [Wednesday] and after meeting him we will make our conclusions."

Wilson Anekeya and Collins Neto are among the key players who have left the Kericho-based charges. Anekeya has since joined newly promoted Bidco United while Neto is still a free agent.

"They were good players who helped us last season but they are no longer with us," Iswekha continued.

"We have managed to get players who will fill their positions and ensure we get positive results in the forthcoming season.

"Preparations have been on point and we want to avoid the struggles we experienced in the abandoned season. We will be targeting a good start and consistency in the top tier."

The FKF Premier League is set to start on Friday, November 20 with 13-time champions AFC Leopards hosting Western Stima.

A day later, Mathare United will host Kakamega Homeboyz while Tusker FC will have a date with Gor Mahia. Bandari are scheduled to play Zoo Kericho while Kariobangi Sharks will be at home to play Wazito FC.

Newbies Nairobi City Stars will play Nzoia Sugar while Sofapaka meet KCB. Another promoted side Bidco United will play Posta Rangers while Ulinzi Stars will play either Kisumu All-Stars or Vihiga United.

The two teams are scheduled to meet in the promotion/relegation playoff set for late October and early November.

While Sony Sugar and Chemelil Sugar were relegated, Kisumu All-Stars finished in the 16th position in the top-flight.

Vihiga United finished third in the National Super League and per the rules, the two teams will meet with the aggregate winner playing in the top tier in the 2020/21 season.

Sofapaka defender George Maelo has officially announced his retirement from football.

The 36-year-old player has decided to call it a day after 17 years of active football which saw him also play for Police FC.

Sofapaka have confirmed the decision by the player to quit on their official website by stating: "Captain George Maelo has officially retired from active football.

"Club captain Maelo has finally called it a day from football after 17 years in the game. Maelo joined the club from Police FC in July 2016 and went on to serve the club for four years.

On quitting, Maelo said: “I’m so happy and proud of what God has done to me with my talent, all the years of my career I didn’t encounter any serious injury, and when fully fit I managed to play a junk of the matches. As a leader, I did my best on and off the pitch for the betterment of the team.

“Football has built me as a person and taught me a lot about life. At Sofapaka I found a second family where unity and love prevail. The club forms and holds a huge part of me, the trust from the management and everyone in the team meant a lot. I love Sofapaka family and I wish the team the very best.”

On his part coach John Baraza lauded the defender for his leadership and commitment and wished him well in his future endeavours.

“Maelo has been so outstanding since he joined us, he came in when we were battling relegation and during our tough times as a team he did a lot in supporting the club," Baraza said.

"He’s so selfless, hardworking and so disciplined, he made work easier for us as a technical bench. He’s definitely headed for greatness in life and as a team, we wish him success.

“As a way of appreciating his good deeds, the club has appointed Maelo as head of security.”

His decision to quit comes just a day after the club confirmed Elli Asieche as the captain for the forthcoming 2020/21 Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League campaign.

“Head coach John Baraza has confirmed midfielder Elli Asieche is the new club captain,” Sofapaka confirmed on their official portal on Monday.

“Asieche, who has been with the club for the past three years since his return, will captain the team beginning the 2020/21 season. He takes over from immediate former club captain George Maelo.”

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

“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.

Baraza also appointed Willis Obayi and Michael Kibwage as first and second assistant captains, respectively.

West Bromwich Albion manager Slaven Bilic has revealed his disappointment with Ahmed Hegazi’s transfer to Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad.

The 29-year-old teamed up with the Tigers on loan from the Championship club but will sign a permanent deal at the end of the 2020-21 campaign.

Hegazi has been with the Baggies since the summer of 2017 when he joined the side from Al Ahly and has made 104 appearances across all competitions.

The centre-back played a prominent role as West Brom gained promotion to the Premier League at the end of the 2019-20 season, making 14 starts.

Bilic has aired his frustration after the Baggies allowed Hegazi to leave the Hawthorns, despite an assurance from the club that the defender will remain with the side beyond this campaign. 

"He has experience. He is a top professional," Bilic told BBC Sport.

“I wanted him to stay and he wanted to stay and then something happened and then he is off although I had assurances from the club that he would stay.

"That happened yesterday. Of course, I am not pleased. I am really disappointed because we need players. There is, of course, the economic side but we are a football club."

Hegazi has already penned an emotional farewell message to West Brom and hopes to continue his progress with Al-Ittihad, which he described as "one of the biggest and most popular" clubs in the Arab region and Asia.

“To my dear Baggies, I would like to thank you deeply for all the support you have given me over the past three years, through all the ups and downs. You have been amazing to me and my family,” the Egyptian wrote on Instagram.

“And I have always endeavoured to repay this faith by giving absolutely everything on the pitch for this great club, the fans and my teammates.

“I would also like to thank my teammates, coaches, and all the staff at West Bromwich Albion for welcoming me from day one, you have become family and I will miss you all, I wish you the best of luck for the rest of the season and the future.

“Now I'm looking forward to starting a new challenge with Al Ittihad club, which is one of the biggest and most popular in the Arab region, Asia.”

Hegazi could make his debut for his new club when they take on Al Ahli in a Pro League game on October 31.

Scott McTominay says there is no point in Manchester United beating Paris Saint-Germain if they do not play well against RB Leipzig and has called on his team-mates to replicate their impressive display at Parc des Princes.

United marked their return to the Champions League with a 2-1 victory against PSG last week, thanks to goals from Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side built on a 4-1 victory away at Newcastle by overcoming the French champions, with an effective combination of defensive solidity and attacking fluency proving too much for last season's finalists to cope with.

The Red Devils were unable to make it three wins on the bounce after being held to a 0-0 draw by Chelsea on Saturday, but they seem to be settling into a groove after a slow start to the 2020-21 campaign which saw questions asked over their ability to compete with the elite.

McTominay has played a key role in United's mini-revival alongside Fred in the middle of the park, and has urged the rest of his team-mates to keep up their high standards when Leipzig arrive at Old Trafford in midweek.

“With a big win on Wednesday, it would be massive for everybody and the confidence that we are getting each week, and match by match, it would be really beneficial for the squad,” he told United Daily.

“There's no point going away to Paris, when it is a big game and the whole world is watching, and doing really well, and then not playing as well or doing all the right things that got you the win in Paris at home against Leipzig.”

Leipzig are sitting top of Group H on goal difference at the moment, having opened their latest European journey with a 2-0 win over Istanbul Basaksehir.

Julian Nagelsmann's men will be protecting an unbeaten record in Manchester having also reached the Bundesliga summit with four wins and a draw, and McTominay is well aware of the threat a team which made it through to the Champions League semi-finals in 2019-20 will pose the Red Devils.

“We know the intensity that they will bring,” the Scottish midfielder added. "They are a terrific team, I watched them a lot last year with a lot of the coaches in the Champions League games that they played.

“They're a very, very intense team with a good coach and good players as well, so it is not going to be an easy game at all.”

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League side AFC Leopards have confirmed the arrival of the Democratic Republic of Congo midfielder Fabrice Mugheni.

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.

"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 2-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.

Estone Esiye, who has featured for Premier League sides KCB and Kakamega Homeboyz, has also emerged as another target for Ingwe.

AFC Leopards lost all but one of their foreign players in the 2019/20 season because of the financial challenges experienced at the club. Coach Casa Mbungo led the exit as Vincent Habamahoro, Soter Kayumba, Ismail Diara, and Tresor Ndikumana all ditched the club after going for months without pay.

Peter Thiong'o is another player who is expected to be unveiled by the Nairobi-based side after joining from Kakamega Homeboyz.

Vincent Oburu is the only local player to have confirmed his departure from AFC Leopards thus far.  

AFC Leopards, who are targeting this season's league title, will start their campaign on November 20 at home against Western Stima.

Uganda head coach Johnathan McKinstry has named a 22-man local-based squad for the preparations of the November African Cup of Nations qualifying double-header against South Sudan.

Out of the 22 selected, about six will be considered for the game with the rest being sharpened for future assignments. 

"As previously announced in addition to the squad of 20 foreign-based players for the upcoming double-header against South Sudan in the [Afcon qualifiers], we would be looking to adding five or six Uganda Premier League players to the mix so that they can compete for places in the squad," McKinstry confirmed on Tuesday.

"In order to give the local-based players the best support, we will be running an advance camp between November 2-8. 

"In addition to that, we shall be able to have some early arrivals of foreign-based players whose leagues join this camp in Kampala. The camp will also help the local-based players to push their levels higher and hopefully get some minutes on the field against South Sudan."

The Cranes will play South Sudan on November 12 at St. Mary's Kitende with the return fixture scheduled four days later.

Local-based players:

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 Kairm (Vipers SC), Owori David ( Sc Villa), Anukani Bright (KCCA FC)

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

Foreign-base players

Goalkeepers: Dennis Onyango (Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa), Magoola Jamal Salim (Al Hilal Omdruman, Sudan) 

Defenders: Ronald Mukiibi (Ostersunds FK, Sweden), Nico Wakiro Wadada (Azam FC, Tanzania), Timothy Denis Awany (Sport Club Ironi Ashdod, Israel), Joseph Ochaya (TP Mazembe, Democratic Republic of Congo), Alex Kakuba (CD Cova Piedade, Portugal), Elvis Bwomono (Southend United, England)

Midfielders: Michael Azira (Chicago Fire, USA), Khalid Aucho (Misr Lel Makasa, Egypt), Allan Kyambadde (El Gouna, Egypt), Allan Okello (Paradou, Algeria)

Forwards: Derrick Nsibambi (Smouha, Egypt), Emmanuel Arnold Okwi (Ittihad Alexandria, Egypt), Alexis Bbakka (UMEA, Sweden), Fahad Bayo (Ironi Ashdod, Israel), Farouk Miya (Konyaspor, Turkey), William Kizito Luwagga (Hapoel, Israel), Uche Ikpeazu (Wycombe Wanderers, England), Edirisa Lubega (Paide Linnameeskond, Estonia) 

Atalanta star Josip Ilicic became depressed after he tested positive for Covid-19, team-mate Papu Gomez has revealed.

The city of Bergamo was hit hard by the spread of coronavirus earlier this year, with an average of 40 people dying each day at the height of the pandemic.

Ilicic missed the last seven games of the 2019-20 campaign, including the Champions League quarter-final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, as he was allowed to return to Slovenia.

Reports in Italy claimed the 32-year-old was not in the right frame of mind to feature for Gian Piero Gasperini's team and Gomez says he struggled after being diagnosed with Covid-19. 

“He had the coronavirus and fell into depression,” Gomez said in an interview with TyC Sports. “There comes a moment when the head explodes. Luckily he recovered and he's fine now. He is very important to us."

Gomez, 32, joined Atalanta from Ukrainian side Metalist in 2014 and was handed the captain's armband in his third season with the club.

He expects to see out the rest of his playing career with the Serie A outfit, saying: "I still have three years left on my contract, in February I will turn 33.

"I will surely stay here in Bergamo, we are very comfortable and I will have a position at the club in the future."

The forward made four appearances for Argentina in 2017 but was left out of the squad until national team boss Lionel Scaloni called him up for the World Cup qualifying games this month.

He was an unused substitute for the matches against Ecuador and Bolivia, but he was happy to be part of the team again.

"I had not returned for three years, for me it was spectacular to return because it is not easy at my age," he added. 

"Obviously I would have loved to go on for a few minutes, but what happened, happened. The game against Ecuador asked for one more player, but the coach chose another.

"I noticed [Lionel] Messi was very happy with this group in the national team. If he is happy, we will all be happy. We know what he experienced in these months at Barcelona, ​​surely he is not comfortable with how the team is playing. 

"I think Argentina has the obligation to reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup. You cannot demand to be the champions now.

"I won't pretend that we are Germany, but when you can work three or four years with the same person, things turn out better. Hopefully this will happen with Scaloni."

Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA FC) have officially terminated the contract they had with defender Kizza Mustafa.

According to a statement on the club’s official website, the decision has been necessitated to allow the player sign for Major League Soccer (MLS) side Montreal Impact, which is coached by Thierry Henry.

“KCCA FC and Montreal Impact have agreed to cancel the loan agreement for left-back Kizza Mustafa,” confirmed the statement.

"In July 2020, KCCA had agreed a deal with Montreal Impact a Canadian professional team based in Montreal, Quebec for the transfer of full-back Mustafa Kizza for two years with an option to sign a further three years at the end of the two years.

“Kizza’s move to Montreal Impact was subject to completion of a medical review. The fullback was expected to undergo a medical at Montreal, after the restoration of normalcy in air transport.

“Montreal Impact competes as a member of the Eastern Conference in Major League Soccer and the club is coached by Thierry Henry.”

The statement continued: “Kizza was to stay at KCCA until December 2020 on loan from Montreal Impact because of the current Covid-19 situation but his loan period at KCCA had an option for Montreal Impact to call him for duty upon the improvement of pandemic situation.”

KCCA CEO Anisha Shahir Muhoozi confirmed the termination of Kizza’s loan deal at the former Uganda Premier League (UPL) champions by stating: “Early October, Kizza flew out to Canada to have his medical at Montreal Impact. He passed his medical and he is currently with his new club.

“KCCA would like to wish Kizza Mustafa the best at his new home Montreal Impact.”

In an earlier interview, Kizza has praised KCCA FC for giving him a platform to develop until he was scouted by Montreal Impact.

The left-back said he arrived at KCCA as a boy and now has left as a man.

“It was a pleasure for me to play for this big club and I want to thank all the stakeholders, the coaches, and teammates for the seven years,” Kizza told KCCA’s Youtube Channel.

“I want to extend my thanks to the coaches who I have passed through their hands for the opportunity they gave me to play for the big club.

“I have to say I played for the biggest team in Uganda and it has been a pleasure and honour.

“I came here as a boy and now I am leaving as a man. As a young boy, I wanted to play for KCCA because it was a club that I supported and the dream of playing for them was achieved.

“The coaches helped me grow because they were pushing me to improve in every aspect of the game after I joined from the junior side. It was their job to push me and it was my duty to push myself.”

Kizza joined the KCCA Academy as a teenager in 2015 and played for the development side until 2016.

The left-back joined Maroons FC on loan at the beginning of the 2016-17 season and later returned to KCCA in January 2017 and has played for the senior team for a period of three and a half years.

Former Brazil No.1 Julio Cesar has ranked Jorge Jesus above Jose Mourinho as the best coach he ever played under.

Cesar, who won 87 caps for Brazil between 2004 and 2014, spent seven years at Inter and was a key member of Mourinho's treble-winning side in 2009-10.

He ended up leaving San Siro in 2012 to take up a new challenge in English football at Queens Park Rangers, but only lasted two years at Loftus Road before moving to Portugal.

The talented former shot-stopper joined up with Jesus at Benfica for the 2014-15 season and won a Primeira Liga and Taca da Liga double in Lisbon.

Cesar was thoroughly impressed by Jesus' tactical acumen, which he feels sets him apart from any other coach he worked under.

The 41-year-old says the most successful period of his career was spent working with Mourinho, but he feels Jesus is on another level in terms of his overall knowledge of the game.

"I really like his work. He is a coach who really has something extra. But not to belittle others, obviously," Julio Cesar said on the Caioba Game Show.

"Mourinho was the culmination of my career. It was a very successful time with him at Inter. But between Mourinho and Jesus, I prefer Jesus.

"Tactically, he is absurd. He's a guy who breathes it 24 hours a day. He has a phrase: 'Everyone plays ball; now, understand the game few understand.'

"I remember when I arrived at Benfica, in the first season, I learned a lot. Thing I would never have imagined, reaching the end of my career, at the age of 34, several titles won and a nice history in football.

"In terms of management, he is a guy who knows a lot."

Mourinho left Inter to join Real Madrid in 2010, before going on to take in a second spell at Chelsea and an ill-fated stint at Manchester United.

The Portuguese is now plying his trade in north London with Tottenham, while Jesus finds himself back at Benfica after five years away from Estadio Da Luz.

The 66-year-old managed Sporting CP, Al-Hilal and Flamengo after departing Benfica in 2015, but returned to the club on a two-year contract back in August.

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

The Wekundu wa Msimbazi went down 1-0 to Ruvu Shooting in a match played at Uhuru Stadium and this came only three days after they had suffered another 1-0 defeat against Tanzania Prisons.

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 ten 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.”

Prior to Monday's meeting, Simba and Ruvu Shooting had met 18 times in all competitions and Wekundu wa Msimbazi had managed to win 16 games, drawing the remaining two.

Coach Sven Vandenbroeck tinkered with his squad, giving Beno Kakolanya and Francis Kahata a chance. Bernard Morrison, the returning John Bocco, and Aishi Manula were the players who started on the bench.

However, Ruvu took a deserved lead when Fully Zulu Maganga, who made no mistake from three yards, sent his team into the break with a deserving lead.

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 but Bocco, who had been introduced, took it and despite beating the goalkeeper, he could not beat the crossbar.

Following the defeat, the Msimbazi-based charges dropped to fourth on the table with 13 points after seven matches. They have managed to collect four wins, a draw, and two losses.

Azam FC, who also fell by a solitary goal to Mtibwa Sugar, lead the race with 21 points from eight games. They are followed by Young Africans SC (Yanga SC) who have not lost any games this season.

After seven matches, they have managed to get six wins and a draw to take their points tally to 19. Biashara Mara United are third with 16 points.

Krasnodar "have to be aggressive" against Chelsea, according to their fitness coach John Phillips, who says the Russian outfit must not be "intimidated" by the Blues.

Chelsea are due to take in a trip to the Krasnodar Stadium on Wednesday night as they seek their first win in this season's Champions League group stage.

Frank Lampard's men were held to a 0-0 draw in their Group E opener against Sevilla, and were involved in another stalemate against Manchester United on Saturday which has increased pressure on the Blues boss heading into their latest European outing.

Krasnodar earned a creditable 1-1 draw in the battle of the Champions League debutants at Roazhon Park last week, proving they will be no pushovers on the continental stage by holding their own against Ligue 1 high-flyers Rennes.

Phillips, who has previously worked at Southampton and Queens Park Rangers, thinks Murad Musayev's men are capable of picking up another positive result when they play host to Chelsea, but only if they stop the Premier League giants from playing their usual game by staying mentally sharp over the course of the 90 minutes.

"Chelsea are the same as most English clubs, they're going to be aggressive, the speed of the game will be high. They're doing okay in the league, but they will want to come here and they will want to really try and dominate so it's going to be tough," Phillips told the club's official website.

"Obviously with the injuries we've got and things like that, but for me it's just we have to fight, we have to work hard, and try not to be intimidated by them in any way, so it's a lot to do with the mentality, as well as the physicality.

"[We have to be aware] of their technical ability, also the speed and power. They have a lot of players who can individually do something out of nothing. I think the key is if we work hard, if we're aggressive, we need to concentrate for 95-96 minutes.

"We can't switch off because you'll get punished by these sort of teams. So it's almost as much mental as it's physical for this game. Don't give them respect and allow them to play, we have to be aggressive and take the game to them."

Asked if he expects an open game against the Blues in midweek, Phillips responded: "I think it'll depend on how they want to come out and play. Their style of play, they change it quite a lot.

"They changed formation from the Southampton game against Manchester United, so it will depend on how they see the game.

"If they look at it and think they can come and run over us then I think it’ll be quite open, which I think probably helps us because it means that there'll be opportunities to counterattack."

A report on Tuesday morning has linked former Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Oupa Manyisa with a move to Swallows FC.

Manyisa had seemingly been set to start a new chapter in his career with Limpopo-based side Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila (TTM), after the club bought Bidvest Wits' franchise to earn their spot in the top flight.

This was after the former Bafana Bafana playmaker had found his career stagnating at Sundowns, where he had struggled to get game-time during his three seasons, his cause also not helped by some serious injuries.

He was reportedly signed by TTM in July but was not among the new players paraded by the club a few weeks back.

And according to a report by the Citizen, TTM have been unable or unwilling to meet Manyisa's salary demands and have therefore decided not to sign him. The club have yet to fully clarify the situation.

The same publication also claims that Manyisa is now in discussions with Swallows FC.

“They are talking. But I am not sure how far they are with their negotiations," an unnamed source was quoted saying.

"He would obviously be a good addition for my team as we all know his capabilities. But the stumbling block could be that Swallows have already signed too many players and are already getting stick for it."

Manyisa’s most recent league action was more than a year ago, when he came on as a late substitute in a match against Baroka FC on April 20, 2019.

The Birds have signed more than 10 new players already, including the likes of Musa Nyatama, Thabo Mosadi, Kamohelo Mahlatsi, Sammy Seabi, Keegan Ritchie, Ruzaigh Gamildien and Wandisile Letlabika.

They started life back in the top flight, following a five year absence, with a 1-1 draw against Stellenbosch FC.  Gamildien opened the scoring with a 16th minute penalty but the Cape side equalised 11 minutes later through a Robyn Johannes spot-kick.

The Birds, coached by Brandon Truter, play their first home match of the 2020/21 campaign when they take on Bloemfontein Celtic at the Dobsonville Stadium on Wednesday night.