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Jurgen Klopp’s media engagements at Borussia Dortmund were more like a late-night show than a press conference, according to defender Mats Hummels.

The Liverpool boss made his name in seven years at Dortmund, winning two Bundesliga titles and reaching the Champions League final.

Klopp’s personality was never far from the headlines whether due to his passionate displays on the touchline or his sense of humour with the press.

Hummels says current boss Lucien Favre has a markedly different approach – but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

“After seven years of press conferences with Kloppo here in Dortmund, we got used to the fact that it wasn’t really a press conference, but a late-night show,” Hummels told Sky Sports. “[Favre] does not want to reveal so much and he can be rather withdrawn, but if you are looking for entertainment you should switch to ProSieben [a German television network] at 8:15pm.”

Klopp’s press conferences haven’t lost their entertainment value since moving to the Premier League, recently quipping that Liverpool would support injured defender Virgil van Dijk "like a good wife is waiting when the husband is in jail".

Hummels was speaking after Dortmund beat local rivals Schalke 3-0 in the Revierderby on Saturday. They bounced back from a disappointing Champions League defeat at Lazio in midweek, and Hummels was keen to throw his support behind the under-fire Favre.

He said: "I think he's a very good coach and we really enjoy working with him, but I don’t think it's good to get into these things as a player. There are other people who are responsible for that."

Dortmund have now won three matches in a row without conceding in the Bundesliga, sitting one point off the top of the table with five games played.

They came in for plenty of criticism for their performance in Rome, but midfielder Julian Brandt says that such kneejerk reactions are part of the territory at a big club.

"I've gotten used to it,” Brandt said. “After a bad game or a defeat, it can quickly lead to unrest. That is quite normal. The boys and the staff can handle it. We have also had some very, very good games this season. We will all keep building together, including the coach, this season.”

Philippe Coutinho is set to miss Barcelona's trip to Juventus after suffering a hamstring injury, with the club confirming the full extent of the issue on Sunday.

Coutinho has re-emerged as a vital member of Barca's squad since returning to Camp Nou earlier this summer.

The Brazilian flopped in his first season at Camp Nou following a £142 million ($185m) move from Liverpool in 2018, and was subsequently sent out on loan to Bayern Munich.

He helped Bayern win a domestic treble last season, and even scored against his parent club in a stunning 8-2 quarter-final triumph in the Champions League, but the German outfit decided against bringing him in on a permanent basis.

Barca were tipped to sell Coutinho to an alternative suitor in the summer transfer window, but new Barca boss Ronald Koeman made it clear he still had a future at Camp Nou after replacing Quique Setien in the managerial hot seat in August.

The Dutchman has since been rewarded for his faith in the 28-year-old, who has contributed two goals and two assists in six appearances for the Blaugrana at the start of the 2020-21 campaign.

Coutinho has been arguably Barca's most consistent performer over the past two months, but he allowed his standards to dip during Saturday's Clasico clash against Real Madrid.

The former Liverpool star played the full 90 minutes of the 3-1 home defeat, with goals from Federico Valverde, Sergio Ramos and Luka Modric rendering Ansu Fati's effort for the hosts as nothing more than a consolation.

Barca have now revealed that Coutinho has picked up a knock which could see him sit out a midweek encounter with Juve in the Champions League, but have not been able to offer a firm return date for the midfielder.

"A test on Sunday morning has revealed that Philippe Coutinho has a left biceps femoris (hamstring) injury. Exactly how long that means he will be out of action depends on how the injury evolves," a statement on the club's official website reads.

"Coutinho started Saturday’s Clasico and played the full ninety minutes, and has appeared in a total of six competitive games thus far this season (five in La Liga and one in the Champions League), scoring one goal in each competition."

Barca will have to avoid a defeat at the Allianz Stadium to remain top of Group G, having won their opening game of their European campaign 5-1 against Ferencvaros on Tuesday.

Leroy Sane has been working with Germany legend Miroslav Klose to hone his finishing ability, Bayern Munich manager Hansi Flick has revealed.

Sane returned from injury in style on Saturday, coming off the bench to score a stunning long-range effort in Bayern’s 5-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt.

The 24-year-old cut inside from the right and fired inside the far post from the edge of the area, continuing his excellent start to life back in the Bundesliga.

The former Manchester City star scored one and created two more on his debut against his old club Schalke, and will now be hoping to keep his momentum after missing Bayern’s last three games.

“He worked hard and did a few training sessions with Miro Klose, and that helped him,” Flick told SPOX.

“We were all very pleased with his debut, so he can continue like this. You can see that he really wants to improve his fitness. We are very satisfied with his attitude and mentality.”

Klose scored more than 250 goals in his club career, including 53 in 150 games for Bayern, and is Germany’s all-time leading goalscorer with 71 strikes for his country.

He retired in 2016 after a five-year spell at Lazio and returned to Bayern immediately, initially taking charge of the club’s Under-17 team.

He was announced as assistant to first-team coach Flick in May 2020 and has been backed to eventually become a manager in his own right.

At the moment, Klose primarily works with Bayern’s forwards, including Robert Lewandowski. The Polish star has hit new heights over the last 12 months and he set a new Bundesliga record on Saturday, becoming the fastest player ever to hit the 10-goal mark in a season.

However, it wasn’t all good news for Bayern against Frankfurt. While Sane returned from injury, left-back Alphonso Davies is facing up to two months on the sidelines after suffering ankle ligament damage in the opening minutes of the game.

Davies went over on his ankle off the ball and was replaced by Lucas Hernandez.

“He has a ligament injury on his right ankle,” Flick confirmed to reporters after the game.

“He's twisted and torn a ligament, a ligament was partially torn off. We expect him to be out for six to eight weeks.”

Mamelodi Sundowns' opening goal against Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium did not happen by chance, coach Manqoba Mngqithi has revealed.

Sundowns beat Amakhosi 3-0 on Saturday afternoon with the first goal arriving in the 37th minute when Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune failed to act decisively on a corner by Rivaldo Coetzee, which enabled Peter Shalulile to steer the ball into the net.

Although the goal has largely been chalked down as a Khune error, Mngqithi has subsequently revealed that there was considerable planning which went into his side's set plays.

That included nullifying Chiefs' attacking threat from dead-ball situations – which was one of their main strengths last season, as well as maximising their own potential at free-kicks and corners.

According to  Mngqithi, this was largely down to the work of one of his two co-coaches, Rhulani Mokwena.

"We worked very hard on the set-pieces, considering that in our previous match (a 1-0 defeat to Bloemfontein Celtic in the MTN8 quarter-finals) we conceded from a set-piece - a very, very, very bad set-piece at the far post which we could have dealt with better,” Mngqithi told SuperSport TV after the match.

“We worked very hard on our organization on set-pieces and also on our attack on set-pieces," he continued.

“On the corner-kick that was scored by Peter Shalulile, we give credit to coach Rhulani because he was working on that corner-kick a lot yesterday [Friday]. And it paid off because Peter was left free and the rest of the guys could have easily scored in that moment. So it’s encouraging to see things you prepare in training coming out in the match.”

Mokwena and Mngqithi worked as assistants to head coach Pitso Mosimane last season when Masandawana won the league as well as two domestic cup competitions.

Mosimane has now taken up the top job at Egyptian giants Al Ahly. Mokwena and Mngqithi have also been joined on the technical bench by former Bafana Bafana and Kaizer Chiefs head coach Steve Komphela.

William Troost-Ekong has expressed his disappointment with Watford’s 1-1 draw against Bournemouth in Saturday’s Championship game.

The centre-back made his second league appearance for the Hornets in the encounter, having teamed up with the side from Udinese in September.

The Nigeria international delivered solid defensive performances, making a number of timely clearances as he aimed to help his side keep a clean sheet.

Stipe Perica opened the scoring for Watford as early as the 12th minute after he was set up by Senegal international Ismaila Sarr.

The Hornets were on the verge of securing all three points in the game before conceding a late goal through Chris Mepham to share the spoils at home.

Troost-Ekong has aired his frustration following his side’s failure to beat Bournemouth, given the effort they put into the match.

“We are a little bit disappointed to only get a point, but if you'd have said before the game we'd get a point, we'd have probably taken it,” Troost-Ekong told the club website.

“Of course it's disappointing when you concede so late in the game and it felt a bit like a loss, but if you look back at the game, without a biased view, they had the ball a lot so a draw was probably a fair result.

“We should have perhaps tried to defend a bit higher, especially in the second half, but it's quite difficult as we didn't have the right pressure on the ball.

“They tried to play behind us quite a lot, so they pinned us back a bit with the ball in behind. They moved the ball well and as soon as we tried to get up the pitch, they tried to get behind us. They had quick players, so we had to cover the space.”

The Super Eagles vice-captain played for 70 minutes on his debut for the Hornets after suffering a problem in his hamstring.

The defender, however, featured for the duration of the game against Bournemouth and was named the man of the match.

“I managed to hang on. I felt my hamstring a bit. I'm still adjusting to the speed of the game as my last game with my [former] club was the third of August,” he continued.

“I'm still working on my match fitness so I'm happy to get 90 minutes in my legs. The Championship is a different type of football.

“It's more direct and you don't have so much time with the ball. It's good quality, from what I've seen, and I'm looking forward to the next game.”

Troost-Ekong will hope to impress again when Watford take on Wycombe Wanderers in their next league game at Adams Park on October 27.

Lyon starlet Rayan Cherki has revealed that his talents were initially spotted by a coach who saw him playing in a parking lot. 

Cherki has become one of the most coveted talents in Europe after breaking through to Lyon's first team last season as a 16-year-old. 

In June, Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas revealed that Manchester United and Real Madrid were both interested in signing Cherki before he committed to a professional contract with Lyon.

Speaking to Telefoot, Cherki said his path in football began with a chance encounter with a Lyon coach in a parking lot. 

"It was done in a parking lot," Cherki said. "As usual I was with my ball. I started to juggle, and I was lucky to come across an OL coach who suggested that I go do tests."

In August, Cherki made history by becoming the youngest player to ever take part in a Champions League knockout-round match, as the forward came on against Bayern Munich just two days after his 17th birthday.

Lyon fell to Bayern in the semi-final of the Champions League after making a run through to the last four, following upsets of Juventus and Manchester City.

Cherki has been linked with a move away from Lyon but insisted that he is aiming to go even farther with his current side in Europe's top club competition.

"Of course winning the Champions League with OL is still in the back of my head," he said. "Especially since this summer we reached the semi-finals. We lacked one little thing, but over the years we will do it."

Cherki has made six Ligue 1 appearances for Lyon this season thus far, with OL sitting 11th in the league table after a stuttering start.

Though he is yet to get on the scoresheet in 2020-21, Cherki detailed how he has achieved regular playing time with Lyon at such a young age.

"I am a player who likes to go on 1v1, who always likes to go forward," Cherki said. "I use my two feet. Since I was four, I have been training on my weaker foot. And that helps make a player a force."

Yanga SC passed what was seen as the first big test in the Mainland Premier League season after beating KMC FC 2-1 on Sunday at CCM Kirumba Stadium.

Yanga will remain in second place but have increased their tally to 19 points courtesy of Tuisila Kisinda and Waziri Junior’s goals. Hassan Kabunda had given KMC the lead but Yanga fought back to claim their second-biggest victory so far.

KMC took the lead in the 27th minute when Kabunda moved along the left wing before cutting in and created some space for shooting. His right-footed strike was powerful enough to beat Metacha Mnata who had not conceded a goal before.

It took Yanga 14 minutes to find an equaliser through Kisinda who successfully converted a penalty that had been won by Yacouba Sogne. He tried to meet a high ball that had been brought in by Lusajo Mwaikenda but was fouled inside the box.

Tuisila scored his second goal since he found the back of the net during the Wiki ya Wananchi in September.

Waziri Junior, who had not started a single game under Zlatko Krmpotic, doubled Yanga’s lead in the 62nd minute.

Junior has always had a good goalscoring time at the CCM Kirumba Stadium even during his time with Mbao FC. The goal against KMC is his first for the record league champions and has come in his first start for Yanga in the league.

The win came after coach Cedric Kaze had said he was satisfied the players were learning his tactics well and that they would be in a better position to implement the style.

“What I have taught in the last training sessions was seen during the Polisi Tanzania match but again I cannot say the players did 100% what I needed them to,” Kaze told Mwanaspoti in reference to their previous match.

“We are doing a good job in as far as building play from the back is concerned. Initially, Yanga were used to playing long balls but I will not allow that anymore.

“Every player is going to get a chance and show what they have learned from the training ground. We are going to implement changes as this is not just a job where one sleeps and wakes up for it.”

In the other matches, Biashara United defeated Polisi Tanzania 1-0 courtesy of Deogratius Judika’s goal while JKT Tanzania got a 6-1 win over Mwadui FC.

Azam FC, who are yet to lose, are leading with 21 points from seven matches.

Napoli’s game with Benevento in Serie A on Sunday turned into a family affair as brothers Lorenzo and Roberto Insigne played against each other – and both scored.

Younger brother Roberto burst into tears after scoring his first goal in Serie A to put Benevento into the lead in the first half.

At half-time, he told DAZN: "I'm very, very happy but I'm sorry to have scored my first Serie A goal against my brother!”

Napoli captain Lorenzo ensured there would be no hard feelings by hitting an excellent goal in off the crossbar midway through the second half to level the scores. Andrea Petagna scored the winner for Napoli soon after.

It was only the second time in Serie A history that two brothers have scored against each other in a game. Hungarian pair Istvan and Ferenc Nyers did the same back in 1949, while playing for Inter and Lazio respectively.

While Roberto was delighted to get his first goal in the top flight, Lorenzo is closing in on 100 goals for Napoli, and now has 92 in all competitions.

Both were born in Naples. Roberto began his career at Napoli, making his debut in the Europa League in 2012, but he hardly featured for his hometown club and was sent out on loan on six occasions.

He represented Perugia, Reggina, Avellino, Latino and Parma before first joining Benevento on loan as they finished bottom of Serie A in 2018-19. He made the move permanent the following summer and helped them to the Serie B title last season.

The Insigne brothers are far from the only pair of siblings to feature together in Serie A.

The pairs of Franco and Guiseppe Baresi, plus Fabio and Paolo Cannavaro both made more than 800 appearances in the competition between the two.

Filippo and Simone Inzaghi, Cristiano and Alessandro Lucarelli and Sebastien and Nicolas Frey are among the other well-known pairs of brothers to have played in the Italian top flight.

In the 1940s and 1950s, five Sentimenti brothers – Lucidio, Vittorio, Primo, Ennio and Arnaldo – were all regular fixtures in Serie A, the former pair often playing together for Juventus.

Erling Haaland’s Revierderby goal for Borussia Dortmund against Schalke on Saturday has won him a year of free food from former Dortmund man Kevin Grosskreutz.

The Norwegian sensation netted the second of Dortmund’s 3-0 win over their local rivals with a superb chipped finish.

Now 32, former Germany international Grosskreutz has dropped down to the third division with Uerdingen, but the Dortmund native remains a keen supporter of his former club.

He played more than 200 times for Dortmund in a six-year spell from 2009 to 2015, winning two Bundesliga titles under the guidance of Jurgen Klopp.

Grosskreutz owns the Mit Schmackes gastropub in Dortmund, and he says Haaland can eat there for free after his derby performance.

"Just a great guy. Have a year of free food at Mit Schmackes, bro,” Grosskreutz wrote on Instagram.

Haaland’s finish was an ominous sign for Bundesliga defenders, coming with his supposedly weaker right foot.

“When I had the ball I was waiting for Jadon [Sancho] to sprint but he didn’t like to sprint so much,” Haaland told the Bundesliga’s official channel after the final whistle.

“So I played it to him and then I was just running, like I do best. He played it perfectly. I’ve been training my right foot, so it’s good to get a goal with that foot.”

Haaland was giving his post-match interview alongside Manuel Akanji, who scored the opening goal of the game.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen you do a chip,” Akanji noted. “Normally it’s just full power and he hits it in.

“In training he’s in my pocket, easy! No, no of course, he’s a really good striker, especially around the penalty area. You have to stay really close to him otherwise it’s going to be a goal. It’s good to train against good strikers so you can improve in every training session.”

Dortmund have now won three league games in a row without conceding but will return to Champions League action on Wednesday playing catch-up in their group after being beaten by Lazio in their opening match.

They then play Arminia Bielefeld and Club Brugge, before a Klassiker date with Bayern Munich on November 7.

Swallows FC marked their return to the Premier Soccer League with a 1-1 draw against Stellenbosch at Danie Craven Stadium.

It was a contest settled inside the opening 30 minutes and interestingly, both side got their goals from the penalty spot.

Ruzaigh Gamildien, on his first match for Swallows since switching from Chippa United, slotted home his penalty 16 minutes into the match, before Stellenbosch skipper Robyn Johannes responded, also from the spot, on 27 minutes.

The match started with no team posing any threat to the other in the opening stages but Swallows captain Lebohang Mokoena shot from just outside the box but his effort was blocked nine minutes after the first whistle.

Gamildien then broke the deadlock when Stellenbosch goalkeeper Lee Langeveldt was ruled to have kicked former Chippa United midfielder Zaphania Mbokoma to earn Swallows a penalty.

But the hosts were not to surrender as they pressed for an equaliser with Leletu Skelem a constant menace in the Swallows defence.

The persistence paid off when Swallows goalkeeper Virgil Vries was adjudged to have brought down Skelem inside the box and Robyn Johannes duly converted the penalty.

That was it in terms of goals as few chances came in the way of both teams thereafter.

Soon after coming on as a substitute just before the hour mark, Swallows debutant Moeketsi Makhanya’s low shot went just wide as he entered with so much verve, promising to break the Johannes-marshalled defence.

On the other end, Nathan Sinkala narrowly missed the goal with a headed effort off a Mario van Heerden corner kick on 65 minutes.

Sinkala was back again with 15 minutes to go but his shot from the edge of the box rose just above the right top corner.

With a minute left on the clock, Stellenbosch’s Ryan Moon missed with just Vries to beat in what was the best chance of the contest after he was released by fellow substitute Roy-Keane Avontuur.

Langeveldt was then forced to impressively repulse Sammy Seabi’s header which was his first touch of the ball after coming on from the bench deep into stoppage time.

Following the draw, Swallows now prepare to host Bloemfontein Celtic on Wednesday.

Elsewhere at Thohoyandou Stadium, Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila and TS Galaxy played to a 1-1 draw as well.

With both sides playing PSL football via the acquisition of Bidvest Wits and Highlands Park, they were not short of experience.

Tshakhuma coach Joel Masutha started the likes of former Orlando Pirates defender Alfred Ndengane, Mamelodi Sundowns loanee Nicholus Lukhubeni, Lerato Lamola and another Pirates attacker Meshack Maphangule.

Masutha’s opposite number Dan Malesela threw in veteran Reneilwe Letsholonyane as a substitute into a squad that started with Mxolisi Macuphu and Lindokuhle Mbatha. 

New Zealander Myer Bevan marked his TS Galaxy debut by thrusting his team ahead a minute into first-half stoppage time.

Former Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Mogakolodi Ngele then hit back for Tshakhuma nine minutes into the second half.

Both sides struggled to penetrate each other's defence and the contest ended as a share of the spoils.

Bevan registered his name on the scoresheet after heading in Mbatha’s cross from the right.

Mogakolodi then replied for Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila after combining well with Maphangule.

Tshakhuma now gear up to visit Sundowns on Wednesday, while TS Galaxy host AmaZulu on the same day.

William Saliba has "enormous potential" and he "will succeed" at Arsenal, according to his ex-Saint-Etienne team-mate Harold Moukoudi.

Arsenal invested £27 million ($35m) in Saliba's talent in July 2019, before allowing him to remain at Saint-Etienne on loan for the duration of the 2019-20 campaign.

The 19-year-old joined up with his new team-mates at Emirates Stadium over the summer but is still waiting for his chance to shine at senior level for the Gunners.

The Frenchman hasn't seen a single minute of Premier League, EFL Cup or Europa League action at the start of the season, and has had to be content with just two outings for Arsenal U23s to date.

Saliba was touted for another loan move before the domestic transfer deadline, with Watford and Norwich reportedly leading a long line of potential suitors in the Championship.

Saint-Etienne also tried to bring back the defender on a temporary basis prior to the closure of the European market on October 5, but a final deal never came to fruition.

The Ligue 1 outfit expressed their frustration via an official statement on their website, which read: "Long before the transfer window closed, AS Saint-Etienne had reached an agreement with William Saliba and accepted Arsenal's offer for a one-season loan. 

“Unfortunately, all the administrative conditions could not be met in time, in England, for the completion of the deal. 

“The disappointment is great for ASSE and William Saliba, who was particularly determined to return to a club where he has flourished.”

Saliba now has no choice but to bide his time and fight for a place in Arteta's squad, with Moukoudi confident he will make the grade at Emirates Stadium if he continues to put in the necessary hard work behind the scenes.

"I told him not to worry and to keep working. It will pay off," the Arsenal centre-back's old colleague told ButFootballClub. "With the qualities he has, I am sure he will bounce back. He has enormous potential, no one can deny that. 

"He has to hang on, take his situation patiently, but he will succeed. It's certain."

Saliba will be back in contention for minutes when the Gunners play host to Leicester City in the Premier League on Sunday night.

Harambee Stars coach Jacob 'Ghost' Mulee has named his provisional squad for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying doubleheader against Comoros.

Among those who have been given a chance to prove their worth is goalkeeper Brian Bwire of Kariobangi Sharks and Tusker's Robert Mboya, who will be competing for the number one spot with HIFK's Arnold Origi, Ian Otieno of Zesco United, and Ulinzi Stars' Timothy Odhiambo.

Kariobangi Sharks' Daniel Sakari has been considered in defence, along with Andrew Juma and Mike Kibwage, who turn out for Gor Mahia and Sofapaka FC, respectively. David Owino of Zesco United has been given a lifeline as well to prove his worth to the national team.

Ismael Gonzalez makes a return to the national team, so does Tusker FC's Boniface Muchiri. Others who have been given a chance in midfield include Peter Thion'go, who has recently signed for AFC Leopards, Elly Asieche, and little known Mathew Olake.

Local-based players will report to camp on October 28 with the foreign-based players expected to report on November 2. Only 20 players will be included in the final squad to play Comoros.

The first match will be played at Kasarani on November 11 with the second one four days later away.

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 Olake (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)

Simba SC communications officer Haji Manara has boldly stated his charges will win the next 20 Tanzania Mainland League matches consecutively.

Wekundu wa Msimbazi were humbled in their last league outing by Tanzania Prisons. Samson Mbagula scored the only goal that separated the sides in their first engagement after returning from the international break.

However, that does not worry the vocal official who believes his team will still bounce back effectively.

"In [2018] we lost to Mbao FC, in Mwanza, early in the league and I recall our fans throwing bottles against us at the CCM Kirumba Stadium in Dar es Salaam," Manara posted on his official Facebook page.

"Just last season, we lost to Mwadui in early proceedings in the league and we were told we will not defend our league title and at the end of the season, we managed to win the title with a record number of points."

The 67-year-old has confidently stated his team will collect 60 points consecutively in their next assignments.

"What is my point? We are going to win 20 matches in a row starting Monday [against Ruvu Shooting], after those matches, we will now sit and make calculations," Manara continued.

"I am confident we will win the Tanzania Mainland League title until 2028, from there we can decide what next."

After the loss, head coach Sven Vandenbroeck revealed he would like his players to keep the ball and create more chances with it in order to stifle the opponents.

"You know my preference is always to play an attractive football where we have to enjoy ball possession more than our opponents and create more passes that will help us consequently create more goal-scoring chances," Vandenbroeck told reporters.

"This will ensure our opponents find it hard to deal with us and their primary target will always be getting a formula of stopping us."

The former Zambia head coach stated his players are learning the art of the playing style and how it would help them deal with any opponent going forward.

"My players have been accustomed to the demands of such playing style," he added.

"If one has been watching keenly, they will realise that passes created in a game are always fewer than in the subsequent games. This is what I want us to do whether we are playing away or at home.

"If we manage to possess the ball and create more passes, the opponents will always be thinking how to stop us and we will not be thinking much about them. We have been trying to work on this, every day during our training programmes."

Young Africans (Yanga SC) captain Lamine Moro has called his teammates to play with caution and respect their opponents KMC when the two sides battle at CCM Kirumba Stadium in Mwanza on Sunday.

The Jangwani giants’ skipper is aware of the threats posed by KMC and has also rallied their fans to come in large numbers and give them support as they seek to protect their unbeaten run in their seventh match of the season.

“We will have to be careful against them [KMC], they can hurt you and we must be ready to play a good game, covering for one another and attacking as a unit,” Moro is quoted by Sokaletu.

“Another thing that we need most is the support of the fans, we want them to come and support us, without them we cannot be able to accomplish the mission of bagging maximum points, we need them and they should come.”

In an earlier interview, KMC coach Habibu Kondo sent a clear warning to Yanga, suggesting they are the ones who will beat them first in the Mainland Premier League this season.

“We thank God we arrived safely in Mwanza in readiness for our match against Yanga, we have also got the chance to train at the match venue and we are now ready looking forward to the match,” Kondo is quoted by Sokaletu.

“We are all happy with the weather down here in Mwanza and my warning goes to Yanga that we have prepared well, studied how they played their last match [against Polisi Tanzania] and are ready to beat them, we don’t care nor fear them, we want to end their unbeaten run on Sunday.

“We played against a very tough Ruvu Shooting side while Yanga got it easy against Polisi, it shows you we are much prepared than them, they should not think we are not ready, we are very prepared to beat them.”

Some of the key players in the KMC squad include captain and veteran keeper Juma Kaseja, who has also played for Yanga before, Israel Mwenda, Hassan Kapalata, Reliant Lusajo, Keny Ally Hassan Kabunda, and Andrew Vicent “Dante”.

KMC are currently in the sixth position on the 18-team league table with 11 points from seven matches.

Manchester City star Riyad Mahrez has opened the door to a future move to Paris Saint-Germain or Marseille.

Mahrez has enjoyed a meteoric rise to prominence since moving to Leicester from Le Havre for just £450,000 (€500,000/$600,000) in January 2014.

The Algeria international went on to play a key role in the Foxes' run to the Premier League title in 2015-16, before making an impressive bow in the Champions League the following season.

Mahrez contributed 48 goals and 38 assists to Leicester's cause across 179 appearances in total, attracting attention from Pep Guardiola in the process.

City forked out £61 million (€67m/$80m) to lure the 29-year-old to Manchester from the King Power Stadium in the summer of 2018, and he has since managed to take his career to the next level.

Mahrez helped the Citizens win an unprecedented domestic treble in his first year at Etihad Stadium, and although they failed to reach the same high standards last season, he stood out with his individual performances.

The ex-Leicester talisman has now firmly established himself as one of the most consistent performers in Guardiola's squad, but he hasn't ruled out embarking on a new challenge away from the Etihad as he advances into the latter stages of his career.

City defender Benjamin Mendy quizzed Mahrez on the possibility of a return to Ligue 1 one day on Canal Plus, to which the Algerian responded: "He's crazy, but it's true that I was a supporter of Marseille when I was little.

"Regarding PSG - it's not relevant because I'm still under contract and I'm fine in Manchester, but Paris is my city. I was born and raised in Paris. You never know. 

"I could have gone to play in Marseille [in 2014-15] and I can still play in Marseille. You never know in life, you shouldn't close any door. I didn’t know at the time and I was fine at Leicester but they ruled that I didn’t have the required level [to play there]."

Mahrez played the full 90 minutes of a 1-1 draw away at West Ham on Saturday, and will be back in contention for a spot in Guardiola's starting XI when City travel to Stade Velodrome to face Marseille in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Wayne Rooney believes Champions League qualification for Everton is "doable", but only if they solve one key issue in January.

Everton have emerged as the surprise early pacesetters in the Premier League after an impressive start to the 2020-21 campaign.

Hard-earned wins over Tottenham, West Brom, Crystal Palace and Brighton saw Carlo Ancelotti's men rise to the summit before they welcomed reigning champions Liverpool to Goodison Park for the first Merseyside derby of the season last weekend.

The Toffees showed they can mix it with the elite during a pulsating 2-2 draw, with goals from Michael Keane and Dominic Calvert-Lewin cancelling out Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah efforts for the visitors.

The Reds bounced back from that result by beating Sheffield United 2-1, but Everton can move three points clear at the top of the table if they get back to winning ways away at Southampton on Sunday.

Goodison legend Rooney, who currently stands as both Manchester United and England's all-time record goalscorer, believes his old club can qualify for Europe's elite competition if Ancelotti can add at least two more players to his ranks in the winter transfer window.

The Derby County player-coach says a lack of squad depth is the only thing holding Everton back, and he wrote in his latest column for The Times: “The top four is doable.

“It will be difficult because there are seven or eight teams competing for those spots and some big clubs will have to miss out but top four has to be the target, given Everton’s start.

"If they can get to January still in the frame and let Ancelotti bring in another couple of players, they will have a great chance.

"Their biggest issue is squad depth. In Gylfi Sigurdsson and Bernard, they have a couple of players who can come off the bench to provide something different but they need one or two more; players who don’t have to be world-beaters but who can slot straight into the team without a major drop in quality if there are injuries.

"They need a real back up for Allan and another striking option for games where the opposition is equipped to deal with Calvert-Lewin’s threat, but as we saw against Liverpool, this is an Everton that can handle challenges."

Rooney went on to credit Ancelotti for transforming the Toffees into a formidable force, highlighting his ability to maximise the output of a condensed group of players.

“The transformation comes from the manager,” said the former Everton striker. “Everything I thought Carlo Ancelotti could bring to Everton, he has brought. His work has been brilliant.

"If you look at the very best managers, while they might have different systems and styles, the thing they tend to have in common is a clear idea of the team they want.

"Selection is simple and consistent: they have eight or nine players who, if fit, always play.

"Through this, they build confidence and understanding and from a man-management point of view make their own job easier - instead of having to keep a squad of 20 engaged and happy, they only have to worry about the ten or so who aren’t getting the game time.”

Rooney also reserved praise for Calvert-Lewin, who he thinks is beginning to deliver on the potential he showed during his earlier years at Goodison.

“When I returned to Everton he was entering his second season with the club. I looked at him in training and thought ‘he has everything’. He was quick, strong, good in the air," he added.

"His only downfall was he was snatching at chances but he was already working hard to correct that and Duncan Ferguson deserves a lot of credit because Duncan would always stay with him after training and give him finishing drills. These were for finishing with his feet - the heading ability you see, that is more natural.

"The leap Dom is blessed with is incredible. In the gym, when we did box jumps, he would jump a full box above everyone else. What has improved is his timing and the positions he is taking up in the box."