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Lyon attacker Memphis Depay says he is ready to give his all for the club, despite a failed transfer to Barcelona in the summer – and he is heartened to see Houssem Aouar remain too.

Both men had been expected to depart before the October 5 transfer deadline, but the moves to Barca and Arsenal respectively did not make it over the line.

The Netherlands star is now looking forward to firing Lyon back to where they belong after a sluggish start to the season which has seen them win only one of six league fixtures.

“I’m proud of playing for Lyon and proud of being captain,” he told the media on Friday. “I think a lot of things have been misunderstood. Clubs were interested by I’m here. Now I must think of the present and speak of the team.

“I don’t know what will happen in the future. It’s my fourth season with Lyon and I want to make the most of it. I love this club, even if some people have their doubts. My aim is that the club goes back into the Champions League.”

Meanwhile, Memphis was content to see the core of the squad retained when reports suggested they could be decimated by sales at the deadline.

“We’ve got a number of talented players in the team,” he said. “I’m happy that Houssem Aouar will stay with us. I know that Moussa Dembele has a great capacity to score goals and he will score them. It’s up to the team to do what it takes.”

Lyon are next in action on Sunday when they travel to face Strasbourg in an early kick off.

Head coach Rudi Garcia has confirmed that left-back Melvin Bard is out after an injury sustained with France’s Under-21 side, while there are doubts over Maxence Caqueret and Leo Dubois, as well as goalkeepers Anthony Lopes and Julian Pollersbeck, who have all tested positive for Covid-19 lately.

Meanwhile, fellow Ligue 1 side Montpellier face the prospect of their match against Monaco on Sunday without eight players, including seven starters, after Covid-19 swept through their club.

Bruno Fernandes “isn’t firing as much” at Manchester United and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer now has the option to rotate, says Luke Chadwick, with the former Red Devils midfielder pointing out that Donny van de Beek was not acquired to “sit on the bench all season”.

The Red Devils have seen standards slip in 2020-21 on an individual and collective basis as those who found form so easy to come by towards the end of last season suddenly scratching around for it, with consistency proving to be elusive as a result.

Fernandes is among those to have wobbled slightly, with the Portuguese having set the bar so high on the back of his January arrival from Sporting.

He remains an important figure for the Red Devils, with two goals and as many assists to his name this term, but more is now expected of a man who set Old Trafford alight following a big-money transfer.

There has been no suggestion that he will be dropped out of the side, as Solskjaer shrugs off reports of rifts inside the United camp, and the 26-year-old will likely line up against Newcastle on Saturday.

The Red Devils do, however, have the option of freshening things up if they so wish, with £35 million ($45m) summer signing Van de Beek straining at the leash as he waits on a first Premier League start.

Former midfielder Chadwick told CaughtOffside of the decisions Solskjaer faces: “Signing Van de Beek does allow a little bit of rotation.

“Bruno Fernandes isn’t firing as much and it was always going to be tough for him to stay at the same standard as last season.

“I can’t imagine they’ve signed a top young player just to sit on the bench all season.

“I think there will be changes made from the last game. 

“Van de Beek is the one you would expect to start this game. You need to find a way of winning games and I’d be very surprised if he doesn’t start.”

United suffered a humbling 6-1 defeat to Tottenham in their last outing and Solskjaer may decide to mix things up after having the international break in which to mull over big selection calls.

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has confirmed Joe Aribo and Bongani Zungu will miss the Old Firm derby against Celtic on Saturday.

Aribo is nearing match fitness as he continues his recovery from an ankle sprain that has kept him out of action since August 12 when he scored in their 3-0 win over St. Johnstone, while Zungu will have to wait for his Rangers debut as he continues his isolation at home - part of the coronavirus guidelines after travelling from France last week.

“We are still assessing the internationals so we won't be able to give you an update on them until later,” Gerrard said ahead of his team’s trip to Celtic Park. "Aribo and Roofe are close but this game will be too soon for them. I think everyone else is pretty much fine."

The Nigeria international has spent close to nine weeks on the sidelines and he has played three Premiership games this season with a goal to his name so far. Injury also denied him the chance to represent the Super Eagles during the international window, as they were defeated by Algeria and held by Tunisia.

"Nothing's popped out or came up which is extreme where they could miss tomorrow's game," Gerrard added. "So we've near enough got a clean bill of health, besides Nikola Katic, which is fantastic."

South Africa star Zungu joined Gerrard’s men on a season-long loan from French club Amiens, and has been supplied with training equipment to keep him fit.

"Bongani Zungu is currently in quarantine so we sadly won't see him for another 10 days or so," Gerrard added. "We have sorted him with gym equipment so he can train from home."

Rangers and Celtic are yet to taste defeat in the Scottish top flight this season but the Gers sit at the top of the table with 26 points after 10 points while the Bhoys are a point behind the leaders with a game at hand.

Liverpool made “excellent signings” in snapping up Thiago Alcantara and Diogo Jota, says John Barnes, with the latter considered a more reliable option than Divock Origi and Xherdan Shaqiri.

Jurgen Klopp moved to add more creativity and firepower to his ranks during the summer transfer window.

Greek left-back Kostas Tsimikas was also acquired, but he will be filling back-up duties behind Andy Robertson.

Thiago and Jota will, when fully fit and firing, expect to see more minutes given the obvious qualities that they bring to the table.

Barnes expects both to make a telling contribution to the cause of the defending Premier League champions, with “something completely different” snapped up by Klopp in a congested marketplace.

“They are two excellent signings,” the Reds legend told the Liverpool Echo. “They are both players who can come into the first team for an extended period of time.

“Thiago in particular, as he gives the midfield something completely different.

“When Chelsea went down to 10 men, it became immediately obvious Thiago would be the most important player as Liverpool would need creativity from a deeper midfield position.

“Thiago gives Klopp a quality option that can help maintain a level of performance in midfield. There perhaps hasn’t been that previously.

“Jota isn’t necessarily going to come in and take over from any of the front three. But I think Klopp can already rely on him more than Divock Origi or Xherdan Shaqiri for a longer period of time.”

While important boxes have been ticked going forward, Liverpool are once again having to contend with an injury-enforced absence for first-choice goalkeeper Alisson.

Adrian is having to provide cover between the sticks, but Barnes believes the Reds – who have looked uncharacteristically fragile ay the back this season – need to avoid wasting important energy on worrying about who is not available.

He added: “The fact he’s [Alisson] not there, it doesn’t mean Adrian is a bad goalkeeper. It just means the defence aren’t as secure playing in front of Adrian compared to Alisson.

“Look at when Joe Gomez or Joel Matip have played alongside Virgil van Dijk. They are often much better than when they were alongside Dejan Lovren. Gomez or Matip are still the same player, but they feel more comfortable around a better player.

“That is something Jurgen Klopp will be telling his players – to forget about the fact Alisson isn’t there because they just have to get on with it.”

If Kaizer Chiefs coach Gavin Hunt can get Khama Billiat firing again on all cylinders, it would almost be as good as signing a new player.

Which could prove especially important if Chiefs fail to get their Fifa transfer ban overturned and is particularly crucial at the moment in light of injuries to Samir Nurkovic and Leonardo Castro.

Billiat was a shadow of his usual self last season and the three league goals he scored were his worst ever return since he arrived in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) as a youngster at Ajax Cape Town a decade ago.

He didn't even score in cup competitions and in fact his tally of eight league goals in two seasons for Chiefs matched the amount of goals he scored in his final campaign with Mamelodi Sundowns in the 2017/ 18 season.

Such was the Zimbabwean's loss of form last season that there was constant speculation, not helped by some of Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane's comments on the player, that he wanted a return to the Brazilians.

Perhaps ironically or even cruelly, when Billiat finally did show a flourish of form, with two goals in the final two matches of the season for Chiefs, it came too late as Masandawana snatched the league title away from the Soweto giants.

We may never truly know what was holding the Zimbabwean back, whether it was former coach Ernst Middendorp's tactics, formation, or perhaps it was an uneasy relationship between the two.

Now, with Hunt having replaced Middendorp, Billiat could have the chance to reclaim his former glories and once more become the match-winner and game-changer he has shown himself to be down the years.

And the good news for Amakhosi supporters is that Hunt is keen to work with the player and get the best out of him.

“I think the most important thing I’ve got to do or we have got to do is start to get him playing to his strengths," Hunt said at a press conference ahead of Chiefs' MTN8 clash with Maritzburg United on Sunday, as quoted by the Sowetan.

“Where we can get the best out of him.

"And that’s all I’m going to try and do. Whatever he needs. Support‚ extra work. If he’s willing‚ and I think he is willing‚ I think he’s got huge potential still."

As Hunt rightfully points out, a happy and on-song Billiat could be the difference between finishing second, or actually winning silverware, something which the club has not achieved for half a decade now.

“I don’t want to know what’s gone on here before," the coach said. "It’s got nothing to do with me.

“I just want to see what’s in front of me and hopefully we can get him. He’s certainly a double figures goal-scorer in the league‚ and that’s got to be the first aim.

“If he does his part the rest can do our part‚ and then we’re successful.”

New Young Africans (Yanga SC) coach Cedric Kaze has promised to entertain the club's fans after arriving in Dar es Salaam to take charge of the record league champions.

After Goal exclusively reported the Jangwani giants had settled to hire the coach after the exit of Serbian Zlatko Krmpotic after only 37 days in charge, the Burundian tactician finally arrived on Thursday night and will be unveiled anytime this week ahead of their next Mainland Premier League match.

Kaze has revealed his delight at getting the job to handle one of the ‘biggest brands’ in East Africa and even the whole of Africa, and promised to achieve bigger things with the Jangwani giants.

“I am very happy to here,” Kaze told reporters on arriving at the Julius Nyerere International Airport. “I am also very proud to be the coach of Yanga, one of the biggest teams in Tanzania, East Africa, and even across Africa.

“I have received a lot of congratulation messages from several quarters for accepting to take up the job and I promise them I will not disappoint, I now know that Yanga is a big brand, and urge all those associated with the club to pull together and support the team as we achieve more success in the coming years.”

Yanga media officer Hassan Bumbuli explained why the club had settled to hire Kaze, immediately they parted ways with Krmpotic, who had won four matches from the five played, with one ending in a draw.

“Like people have been saying in social media, it is now official that Cedric [Kaze] is the new man to coach Yanga, because we have reached an agreement for him to take over and we are happy to have him here," Bumbuli said earlier.

“I have talked to the coach on several occasions before he came to the country and he told me a lot of things, he told me several things on the players, and so it means he was already following the team even while in Canada.

“He knows Yanga very well, not only this season but even the past season because he knows a lot about the team, he knows and also understands the philosophies of Yanga and he also told me is main target when he takes charge is to return the passing football back to Yanga.

“Kaze wants Yanga to possess and pass the ball more, he wants to play the style Johan Cruff introduced to Barcelona during his time, the ‘tiki-taka’ style, and we want to welcome him on board.”

Kaze is an experienced African coach who holds a Caf A License. He started his coaching career as an assistant to Armas Niyamugambo at Prince Louis Rwagasore FC.

He was confirmed as the head coach for the 2005/06 season and his team finished second to Vital’O. He left and joined Atletico FC for the 2006/07 season and he helped the club remain among the top four sides in four seasons in charge.

Kaze was named Burundi’s coach of the season twice; in 2008/09 and in the 2011/12 seasons, although his side finished second.

He lifted the Ligue A title in the 2010/11 campaign.

Kaze has six days to prepare the team for their next league match against Tanzania Prisons at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium on October 22.

The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has explained why they released draft fixtures for the 2020-21 FKF Premier League despite the government ban on football activities in the country.

The Kenyan government through the Cabinet Secretary of Sports Amina Mohamed confirmed a month ago contact sports, including football, will remain suspended until further notice owing to the coronavirus pandemic.

Though the government later allowed the FKF to stage a friendly between Kenya and Zambia, and despite several pleas from stakeholders to have the ban lifted, the same government has remained mum on the matter.

On Wednesday, the FKF went ahead to release fixtures for the new campaign, and federation president Nick Mwendwa has told Goal the reason behind the move.

“We want to start the league on November 20, and if we don’t start the league on that date, then we will have problems to end the same because we don’t have enough time,” Mwendwa told Goal.

“The government is still insisting that contact sports remain banned but we are still negotiating with them, they have not communicated if we can start the league but we are hoping for the best.

“We are supposed to play our league to go hand in hand with that of Europe and if we don’t start the league on November 20, then we will be in trouble, we will not be able to conclude the league in time, and this will not augur well with Caf and Fifa.”

Mwendwa continued: “We also have Gor Mahia taking part in the Caf Champions League and also Kenya’s Harambee Stars taking part in Afcon qualifiers, we need the league to resume so that it can conclude as per the set calender, but if we don’t then we will not have a league this season.”

The highlight of the fixtures is the Mashemeji derby which will see AFC Leopards hosting rivals Gor Mahia in the first round battle on March 6, 2021, at Nyayo Stadium before the second round duel set for the same venue on May 23, 2021.

Last season, Gor Mahia won both encounters, beating Ingwe 4-1 in the first round match before edging them out by a solitary goal en-route to winning their fourth straight league title.

AFC Leopards are yet to beat Gor Mahia in their last seven matches with the best result against their rivals the 1-1 draw in the 2017-18 season.

However, the two teams have been given tough starts in this campaign as Gor Mahia will start their title defence with a clash against Tusker – their most formidable rivals in the last four seasons – as the first opponents for the new season away from home.

It will be the second straight time the Brewers and K’Ogalo have been scheduled in a season-opening fixture as they had met in the 2019/20 season when Gor Mahia mounted a comeback to stun Tusker 5-2 in Kisumu.

The Gor Mahia-Tusker tie is one of the matches that has been scheduled to take place on the season-opening day on November 20.

The second match for Oliveira ‘Robertinho’ Goncalves' side will be against the 2010 league champions Ulinzi Stars on November 28.

For their third match, Gor Mahia will entertain the 2008 Kenyan Premier League winners Mathare United on December 4. The Green Army will then host another former league champion Sofapaka in what will be their second home match on December 9.

On the other hand, AFC Leopards will first host Western Stima, who are expected to have a relatively new-look team after Gor Mahia and Wazito FC raided their first team, on November 20.

Thomas Partey is “the final piece of the jigsaw that makes Arsenal challenge for the title”, says the club’s former scout Francis Cagigao, with the £45 million ($58m) midfielder expected to star in north London.

Mikel Arteta completed his transfer business on the final day of the summer window. The Gunners had been monitoring Partey “for a long time”, with those efforts finally delivering the desired result as the deadline approached.

Arsenal agreed to trigger the release clause in the Ghana international’s contract at Atletico Madrid, allowing him to make his way to Emirates Stadium.

Cagigao believes Partey will deliver an immediate return on the investment made in him, saying it is possible that he could be the man to fire the Gunners back into contention for the Premier League crown.

“He is a player that we pursued for a long time and strongly recommended over the last few years,” a man who left Arsenal in September after 24 years with the club told the Daily Mail.

“I first watched him about six years ago playing for Almeria on loan from Atletico Madrid and he was more box-to-box, attacking even. I think we will see him with the shackles off because he did very much play in a constricted midfield unit [at Atletico].

“He could be the final piece of the jigsaw that makes Arsenal challenge for the title.”

While Partey’s signature was secured, there have been several top talents to slip Arsenal’s recruitment net down the years.

Legendary former boss Arsene Wenger has revealed on a regular basis that he came close to landing some superstars of world football. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Cristiano Ronaldo and Yaya Toure are among those that the Gunners passed up the chance to sign, with Barcelona legends Lionel Messi and Gerard Pique also evading their clutches.

Cagigao added on what might have been: “There are players that get away every season and it's public knowledge that Messi, Pique, Juan Mata and others were very close. In Messi's case work permit issues ensured that we could not get as close as we wanted.”

Arsenal are no longer dwelling on mistakes of the past, with Arteta having helped to turn the club around, landing FA Cup and Community Shield honours along the way.

Gor Mahia have confirmed four of their new signings have been cleared by the Federation of International Football Association (Fifa) to play for them in the 2020-21 campaign.

The Kenyan Premier League (KPL) champions signed a total of 14 players in the ongoing transfer window, four of them arriving from foreign countries.

The club has now confirmed in a statement that the four players have been cleared to play for the side after receiving their International Transfer Certificates (ITC).

“The international football governing body [Fifa] has finally cleared four players who recently joined the team,” the club revealed in a statement on their official website.

“Burundian Jules Ulimwengu from Rayon Sports, Tito Okello from Vipers of Uganda, Cameroonian Bertrand Konfor, formerly of Al Mudhabi of Oman, and John Macharia who previously featured for FC Guria Lanchkhuti’s of Georgia have all been cleared by Fifa to play for Gor Mahia.

“As per Fifa regulations, all transfers of players between countries must go through a process to get an International Transfer Certificate [ITC] – a certificate provided from one national association to another to facilitate the transfer.”

On being cleared to play for Gor Mahia, midfielder Macharia said: “I am so happy to receive the news that the ITC application process has successfully gone through. It’s a good feeling… my previous club wanted me to go back and so, I wasn’t sure what was in store about my move to Gor Mahia.

“This is good for me because it feels good to train with a team knowing well you are free to play in any competitive match. Now, I have to work… and work hard to achieve the best at my new club.”

Gor Mahia are now free to register the four players for Caf Champions League assignment when the registration window opens on October 21.

Apart from aiming to retain their league title, Gor Mahia will also take part in the Caf competition for the fourth season in a row, and they will be looking to better their performance from last season.

Meanwhile,  Gor Mahia will have quite a task in their quest to retain the title considering their first five 2020/21 fixtures.

The giants have been handed Tusker – their most formidable rivals in the last four seasons – as the first opponents for the new season away from home.

It will be the second straight time the Brewers and K’Ogalo have been scheduled in a season-opening fixture as they had met in the 2019/20 season, when Gor Mahia mounted a comeback to stun Tusker 5-2 in Kisumu.

The Gor Mahia-Tusker tie is one of the matches that have been scheduled to take place on the season-opening day on November 20.

The second match for Oliveira ‘Robertinho’ Goncalves' side will be against the 2010 league champions Ulinzi Stars on November 28.

For their third match, Gor Mahia will entertain the 2008 Kenyan Premier League winners Mathare United on December 4. The Green Army will then host another former league champions Sofapaka in what will be their second home match on December 9.

On December 13, the record league champions will travel to face debutants Bidco United in a game that will be expected to start at 16:15.

Nairobi City Stars Noah Abich has retired from active football ahead of the 2020/21 season and joined the club's technical bench.

The defender has been one of the longest-serving players in Kenya football since breaking into the limelight back in 2003 with Nzoia Sugar.

He has since played for 12 teams including Tusker FC, Bandari FC, AFC Leopards, and Sofapaka, among others.

"I wish to make it official that I have retired from football as a player," Abich told Nairobi City Stars' website.

"You can now refer to me as a coach as that is my new direction. 

"It has been a long journey that has had highs and lows. I am now at a point where I want to give back by nurturing the next crop of players. 

"I thank City Stars for allowing me to wind down my playing days and for ultimately giving me the opportunity at their technical bench to start my coaching journey at a high level."

Simba wa Nairobi CEO Patrick Korir revealed the former left-back is in the club's long term plan.

"We thank him for his dedication and diligence to the team and will support him as he scales upward to coaching," the administrator was quoted by the club's official portal.

"He is part of a long-term plan and we will endeavour to build his capacity as we go along."  

Abich has been turning out for the Nairobi-based team since April 2019 and played a huge role in helping the team get promoted to the Kenyan Premier League (KPL).

"He has been a dedicated servant who gave his all on the pitch," Samson Otieno, who is the club's coordinator, said.

"We counted on him to survive relegation when the team needed an experienced hand in the 2018/19 season and he came through for us in a big way with important deliveries and goals. 

"It is now our turn to hold his hand as he ventures into the other side of his career which is coaching."

While at Tusker, Abich won the league title and in 2008 and 2015, he was the best scoring defender for, Sony Sugar and Mathare United, respectively. 

Cardiff are set to sign Harry Wilson on loan from Liverpool for the rest of the season.

The Welsh outfit have seen off competition from a host of Championship rivals, including near neighbours Swansea, to land the 23-year-old, whose move will be finalised before Friday’s transfer deadline.

The Bluebirds have agreed a deal which will see them pay what sources describe as a “significant” loan fee, and are understood to have convinced Wilson and his representatives that they will offer the right “football package” for the Wales international.

The deal is not done yet, with other clubs still hoping to sway Wilson's decision late on, but Liverpool expect the move to be finalised.

Goal can confirm that Liverpool rejected an offer from Swansea earlier this week after they were unable to meet the Reds' financial demands.

Interest from other clubs was strong, with Norwich, Blackburn, Nottingham Forest and Derby, where Wilson spent a productive year on loan in 2018-19, all making moves this week.

But it is Cardiff, managed by Neil Harris, who have won the race. Wilson could now make his debut for his new club at Preston on Sunday afternoon.

Liverpool had looked to secure a permanent buyer for Wilson this summer, and valued the winger at around £20 million ($25.5m). 

But they found takers were limited, rejecting an offer from Burnley shortly before the Premier League transfer deadline. Without a buyer, and with the player desperate to secure regular football having spent last season in the top flight with Bournemouth, they were forced to reconsider their earlier stance that he would not be loaned once more.

He will not be on the only departure on deadline day, with midfielder Herbie Kane on the brink of joining Barnsley in a permanent deal worth £1.25m.

The 21-year-old made his senior Reds debut in the Carabao Cup at MK Dons last season, and travelled to Yorkshire for a medical on Thursday evening, having made his recovery from hamstring surgery in a behind-closed-doors game at Kirkby earlier this month.

Liverpool will retain a 15 per cent sell-on clause in Kane, who also had offers from Luton, Hull and Portsmouth. He will hope to be registered in time to make his debut for his new team against home-town club Bristol City on Saturday.

Liverpool also expect interest to come for Ben Woodburn, Liam Millar and, perhaps, Yasser Larouci before Friday’s 5pm BST (12pm ET) deadline. 

A host of League One clubs are interested in Woodburn, while Millar has interest in the Championship. 

Nat Phillips, sources have told Goal, is now unlikely to be loaned, with Liverpool feeling a permanent move, or remaining at the club as centre-back cover, would be in the player’s best interests. 

Forest, Middlesbrough, Bristol City and Swansea are all interested in signing the 23-year-old.

Valencia star Geoffrey Kondogbia has launched a stunning broadside towards Anil Murthy, the club president, who he has accused of “destroying” the team.

Five games into the new season, Valencia have seven points but are on the brink of an internal crisis as head coach Javi Gracia is threatening to leave the club due to broken promises.

The former Watford boss is angry that the club failed to sign any additional reinforcements during the summer transfer window, while numerous important players, such as Rodrigo, Dani Parejo and Ferran Torres were all allowed to depart.

Meanwhile, Kondogbia appeared poised to move to Atletico Madrid, where he would have been the replacement for Arsenal-bound Thomas Partey in midfield, yet the opportunity to switch to the capital was quashed by the president.

“Having already destroyed an ambitious project, you had to deceive your coach and, finally, me. Thank you, Anil Murthy,” the former Inter and Monaco midfielder posted to his Instagram stories.

Valencia are thought to have been hit particularly hard by the coronavirus pandemic, with the club having been forced to cut their wage budget by almost half.

The club has a history of financial troubles, with the Nou Mestalla stadium infamously still under construction due to cashflow issues.

Work began on the club’s new ground as early as August 2007 only for the brakes to be placed on it 18 months later. It is hoped that the stadium will be ready for action by 2022.

Meanwhile, Valencia were one of the dominant sides in Spanish football around the turn of the century, when they won La Liga in 2001-02 and 2003-04, while they also reached a couple of Champions League finals but fell to Real Madrid in Paris in 2000 then against Bayern Munich in 2001 in Milan.

They would, however, taste UEFA Cup success in 2003-04, when a Vicente penalty and a second-half strike from Mista allowed them to claim a 2-0 win over Didier Drogba’s Marseille in Gothenburg.

It was their second European title after they had won the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1980.

Their most recent piece of silverware came in 2019 with victory in the Copa del Rey, their eighth triumph in the competition.

The Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper position was much discussed last season as Daniel Akpeyi and Itumeleng Khune battled it out for the number one position.

Akpeyi initially had his detractors, and did make some high profile mistakes. But the 34-year-old did find some rhythm in the later stages of the campaign with some fine performances and ended up playing 25 league games for the Glamour Boys.

Khune, meanwhile, has been a long-time fan favourite at Chiefs, but struggled with injury problems and fitness last term.

In fact, its been several years since the Bafana Bafana stopper has performed at his consistent best; even in the 2018/ 19 season, he played just 13 times in the Absa Premiership.

Now, however, with new Chiefs coach Gavin Hunt at the helm, and with Sunday's opening game of the season - an MTN8 quarter-final clash with Maritzburg United beckoning, Khune has been gifted the opportunity to reclaim his position from the Nigerian.

That's because of an administrative blunder, as Hunt told SAFM, as quoted by the Citizen website.

“Daniel is not available on Sunday, his passport is expired, it’s a bit of an admin problem. I think Khune might just make the team!”

A solid performance from Khune and the 33-year-old may just reclaim his position as the number one keeper at the club and perhaps even force his way back into the national team fold.

While Hunt will be happy to have someone of Khune's quality to step in, his squad is looking rather thin in other areas of the pitch, especially up front where Samir Nurkovic, Leonardo Castro are injured and Lebogang Manyama is suspended.

Central defender Erick Mathotho is also unavailable and midfielder Willard Katsande is sidelined through suspension for Sunday's clash with Maritzburg at the FNB Stadium.

"We need reinforcements, especially as we are playing in Africa," Hunt added.

"We have a very small squad and right now we have so many out, we are really thin. We need to try [get players] if we can. Otherwise, we have got to look at our younger players. There are six or seven there, it is a great opportunity for them.”

Thibaut Courtois wishes Gareth Bale well at Tottenham, but Real Madrid’s former Chelsea goalkeeper is eager to point out that the Welshman will not be representing “the good London team”.

After seven years at Santiago Bernabeu, a familiar face is back in north London.

Spurs have re-signed Bale on a season-long loan, with the 31-year-old being offered the chance to put his recent struggles in Spain behind him.

That agreement is considered to be beneficial to all concerned, with form and fitness issues having become a sticking point in Madrid for a man who was once the most expensive player on the planet.

Courtois believes Bale will thrive back in the Premier League, with his ability without question, but a keeper with strong ties to those at Stamford Bridge has welcomed the opportunity to have a sly dig at a departed team-mate.

The Belgium international joked to El Larguero: “What Bale talked about with the coach is personal.

“I don't know what he thought, but then they are decisions that each one makes.

“I had a good relationship with Gareth and I wish him the best of luck this year, even if he's not playing for the good London team.

“He is a great player.”

Bale made a move over the summer after slipping out of favour at Real under Zinedine Zidane.

He is now working under former Blancos boss Jose Mourinho at Tottenham, with plenty tipping him to make an immediate impact back on British soil.

Peter Crouch is among those to have talked up the talents of an enigmatic performer, with a former team-mate of Bale confident that a proven winner remains as hungry as ever despite the success he has enjoyed in Spain.

“He’s won more Champions Leagues than Manchester United and he has got no financial worries but, trust me, he is as hungry as ever,” Crouch told the Daily Mail.

“All he wanted was to be happy again and now that he is, he’ll bang goals in left, right and centre.

“Fair play to Tottenham for pulling their finger out, as there was interest in Gareth from other clubs.

“I’m not going to say this is a fairytale but it is a piece of business that has left everyone involved — player, club, supporters — delighted. I hope it comes up trumps.”

Bale, who returned to Tottenham nursing a knee problem, could come into contention for a second debut for the club when Mourinho’s men take in a derby date with West Ham on Sunday.

Steven Gerrard has been warned that succeeding Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool boss “would not be good”, with Jose Enrique urging the Reds legend to bide his time before heading back to Anfield.

Klopp’s contract on Merseyside will come to close in 2024, while Gerrard is also working on terms to that point at Scottish giants Rangers.

It would be an emotional homecoming, however following in Klopp’s footsteps promises to be thankless task for whoever takes that challenge on.

The German tactician has delivered Champions League, Club World Cup and Premier League glory during his time at Liverpool, with there still the promise of more success to come.

Enrique believes Gerrard would be wise to avoid trying to emulate those efforts, saying patience should be the order of the day for a man who has made no secret of his desire to manage the Reds.

“I do not know who'll replace Klopp, but I hope it won't be a decision the club has to make any time soon,” former Liverpool defender Enrique told Ladbrokes. “Look at the difference he has had on the team, and the players who now want to come and play for us.

“Before he came and even when he joined, it was Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho, our best players at the time, who wanted to move to better teams, and now we have Thiago coming from Bayern - who have just won the treble - to play for Liverpool because Klopp has made us one of the best clubs in the world.

“I believe Stevie will manage the club one day, but to come in after Klopp immediately would not be good. Stevie is probably Liverpool's best ever player and he'll always be remembered as that, but to come in after Klopp fans will want him to win things straight away and that's not easy.

“I really like how Stevie works as a manager and things are going really well for him at Rangers, but it would be difficult to change the way Liverpool work again after Klopp and achieve success immediately.

“I would love him to one day manage Liverpool, though.”

Klopp is expected to bid farewell to Anfield once his current deal ends, with a charismatic character set to have spent almost nine years in the post by the time his agreement with the Reds runs out.

Uganda midfielder Khalid Aucho is set to leave Egyptian Premier League side El Makkasa as reports indicate he is headed to Al-Ittihad.

Aucho’s agent Geoffrey Kayemba has confirmed the Ugandan will leave EL Makkasa because the club has failed to honour part of their contract with the player, with credible reports indicating the former Gor Mahia star is likely to sign for the Alexandria club.

“My client [Khalid Aucho] played his role at the club and will, therefore, depart after the season,” Kayemba told Kawowo Sports.

“This is after the other party [Misr El Makkasa] failed to fulfil their obligations.”

The Ugandan leaves El Makkasa where he featured in 21 games and managed to find the back of the net two times across all competitions.

The 27-year-old midfielder is among the Cranes players who made moves after appearing in the 2019 African Cup of Nations in Egypt. He joined the North African side as a free agent in July 2019 after he had left Churchill Brothers of India.

At El Makkasa, life has not been smooth for the player as he at one time had to live without wages for seven months over undisclosed reasons.

His reported move to Al-Ittihad means he will link up with his international teammate Emmanuel Okwi.

He previously played for JMC Hippos, Simba, Tusker, Gor Mahia, Baroka, Red Star Belgrade, OFK Beograd, East Bengal and Churchill Brothers.

Should the deal be confirmed, Aucho will now have to help Al-Ittihad climb the table standings as they sit 11th – two places below his immediate former club - with 39 points.

In a recent interview, the former Water FC midfielder explained why he thinks Ugandan players are lucky in signing for various clubs during their heydays.

“It’s always easy for Ugandan players to cross-over to East African countries. Once in a club, they work hard and put in a lot of effort to prove their worth,” he stated at the time.

“They always want to show what they have and working hard is always part of their plans; no laziness.”

His reported new club is among the most followed Egyptian sides, after Al Ahly and Zamalek SC, and has won the Egyptian cups in six occasions since they were formed in 1914.

Aucho has been a regular member of the Ugandan national team and has enjoyed 40 caps and featured in the last two Afcon editions.

He is among the Ugandans who ply their trade in the Northern African country - Allan Kyambadde of El Gouna, Derrick Nsibambi of Smouha SC and Pyramids’ Abdu Lumala are the other Cranes.

Simba SC communications officer Haji Manara has tipped Azam FC to challenge for the 2020/21 Tanzania Mainland League title.

The Icecream Makers have so far collected 18 points from the six matches played and as a result have opened a five-point gap between them and second-placed Simba SC, who have played five games.

"With this pace, I can see Azam FC challenging for the league title this season," Manara posted on his official Facebook page.

"[Azam] have a very good team and so far they should be congratulated for what they have achieved."

The vocal official took a jibe at their rivals Yanga SC, with whom the champions have been having a tussle regarding the transfer of striker Bernard Morrison, stating a serious team should be focused on the pitch and not picking up fights.

"A team concentrating on winning trophies do not complain unnecessarily or see them in Tanzania Football Federation (TFF), Fifa or the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas)," Manara continued.

"You did not have any show-offs when picking up your players but you have proven on the pitch how serious you are.

"I know this season you will finish second behind the champions of this nation [Simba SC] and you will have 25 points more than [Yanga SC] who will finish third."

On Thursday, Azam FC collected another win after defeating Mwadui 3-0 at the Azam Complex.

The Chimazi-based charges needed 27 minutes to set the ball rolling at home.

The in-form Zimbabwean Prince Dube picked out Mudathir Yahya in a good position and the Tanzania international passed the ball to Richard Djodi in the danger zone, who, in turn, headed the ball down for Obrey Chirwa to open the scoring.  

Azam doubled their advantage in the 61st minute when Yahya managed to release a long ball to Dube, who managed to hold off his markers before beating the goalkeeper expertly.  

Dube was once again involved two minutes later, putting the defender under pressure and the ball eventually fell to Chirwa, who took his time before beating the goalkeeper to score Azam's third.  

Much like the World Cup and Asian Cup qualifying campaign for the Malaysia national team who saw their 2020 plans completely wiped clean, Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) had intended for professional match officials to be introduced to the domestic games in the middle of 2020 but that has now been pushed back.

The outbreak of the Covid-19 has forced football activities to be suspended locally and internationally, causing a big hit to the financial side of things to FAM. With no international matches being played the whole year, there was no income to be earned from the hosting a match at Bukit Jalil National Stadium.

Businesses around the country are also going through major cuts and deficits which could be one of the reasons why the Professional Match Officials of Malaysia (PMOM) could not take flight this year. 

"We were planning for it to be launched in July of this year but the pandemic changed that. Now it has been postponed to next year and we will make the announcement in the near future," said Md Dali Wahid, the head of the referee committee at FAM. 

The update was given to the media on Thursday after the seventh referee committee meeting that also took a look at the performance of the match officials in the Super and Premier League matches from this season. While stating that the overall performance was satisfactory, Dali revealed that there were several cases which the committee had to take action on.

Throughout the season, four teams had submitted complaints to FAM on the performance of match officials - those teams are Petaling Jaya City FC, Terengganu FC, UiTM FC and Sabah. 

Two match officials were given a two-week suspension, two others given indefinite suspension while four others were given stern warnings over their subpar performances. Among the major errors being looked at was the inconsistencies of their respective decision making as well as reports from each referee assessor present at the match.

Simba SC winger Luis Miquissone has maintained his work at Simba SC is to assist and at the same time score goals.

The Mozambican player has so far this season been involved in six of Simba’s goals, assisting five and scoring one - against Tanzania Prisons at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.

Miquissone has now revealed he will continue to assist his teammates and also score goals because that is the reason he signed to play for the Wekundu wa Msimbazi.

“I will continue to do the work that brought me to Simba, assist my teammates to score goals and I will also make sure I score goals of my own,” Miquissone is quoted by Sokaletu.

“It is part of work to assist, that is my work, so I will continue to do it, my coach always knows I can assist and so I will have to do my work, meaning I must assist as many goals as possible.

“I am very proud of myself because I can score goals and assist, I am doing the job to assist my team to remain a force and also win as many titles as they can, I know I have managed five assists so far and scored one goal, but I also want to score more.”

Meanwhile, Simba have confirmed they will play a friendly against Mlandege FC from Zanzibar at Azam Complex on Saturday.

According to a statement on the club’s official website, the friendly is part of the team’s preparations as they get ready for the next Mainland Premier League match after the international break.

“As per the league fixtures, this weekend we don’t have any match and that is why we have decided to plan a friendly against Mlandege on Saturday to gauge the fitness of our players,” read part of the statement.

On Tuesday, Simba were also scheduled to face Ndanda FC in another build-up at the same venue, but it was postponed following the heavy rains which pounded Dar es Salaam.

Sven Vandenbroeck's side have so far managed to accumulate 13 points from five matches.

Doha will play hosts to the final of the 2020 AFC Champions League, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has announced on Friday. 

The final of the continent's premier club competition will be held in the Qatari capital on December 19, 2020. Iran's Persepolis have already qualified for the final after winning West Asian final. They will meet the winner of the East Asian tournament, the final of which is scheduled to be held on December 13, 2020. 

It must be noted Qatar hosted the West Asian matches of the AFC Champions League after the tournament was brought to a halt in March by the Coronavirus pandemic. The West Asian matches were successfully completed in four stadiums across Doha from September 14 to October 3, 2020, with the strict enforcement of a bio-secure bubble. 

Subsequently, the hosting right for the East Asian matches were also handed to Qatar and is supposed to be held from November 18 to December 13, 2020. The final will then be played in Doha six days later. 

The AFC felt that Qatar had already demonstrated the necessary hosting capability and have the medical infrastructure to host a tournament of such magnitude. 

AFC General Secretary Dato’ Windsor John, said: “The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly made the decision on the venue for this year’s Final more complex particularly in these uncertain times of travel and health restrictions. 

“The safety and wellbeing of all participating clubs as well as the protection of all stakeholders has been crucial to the AFC so we must thank the Qatar Football Association and the Qatar Local Authorities and Ministries for putting in place the necessary health measures and effective medical protocols. 

“The successful staging of the AFC Champions League (West) is testament to the capability of the QFA and the Qatar Government and we now look forward to building on the spirit of collaboration as we prepare to resume the captivating action from the East Group Stage to the final.”

The AFC also appreciated Qatar's ability to deliver technical arrangements like the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), medical requirements and commercial obligations. 

QFA Secretary General Mansoor Mohammed Al-Ansari, said: “Given the success of hosting the centralised West region matches in close collaboration with the AFC, and the preparation for the centralised East matches next month, we are confident that we will be able to deliver an outstanding AFC Champions League Final.

“Qatar wishes to reiterate our commitment to provide world-class sporting infrastructure and operational and health and safety expertise and we look forward towards working hand-in-hand with the AFC to offer Asia’s best clubs with the ultimate stage in December.”