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Nzoia Sugar FC striker Boris Kwezi has revealed he is keen on returning to his native Uganda because of allegedly being treated like a 'slave'.

The former Chemelil Sugar FC player was acquired by the Western-based side who were restructuring for the abandoned 2019/20 Kenyan Premier League (KPL) season. The forward managed to score four goals to help his team finish in 15th position with 13 points after managing two wins, seven draws, and 13 losses in the 22 matches played.

"I would rather come back home," Kwezi said as quoted by the Sports Nation.

"I have gone six months without salary, the way these guys are treating us is like we are slaves. You go to demand your salary but they tell you, ‘You are a foreigner. We will pay you when we get your money because you can’t go anywhere'."  

The forward has further stated his fellow countrymen are embarrassed to go home owing to their status and went on to reveal how the fans have been helping them.

"It is hard for some [Ugandan] players here to talk because they do not want to be ashamed back home.

"Some fans are the ones who are helping me, I was chased out of the house two months ago by the landlord due to no payments so a fan called me and told me to stay with him at his place. Things are tough."

The situation has deteriorated to the point where the coach is also allegedly excluding the player in training.  

"You spend the whole week without getting anything to eat from the club but they expect you to come for training every day," Kwezi continued.

"They do not care if you have eaten or not.  

"A coach comes to the training ground and he tells you; ‘Today I am not playing with foreigners, you can go and play aside'.

"You can finish in a week while you have trained for one hour with the team."  

Efforts to reach Nzoia Sugar for the club's point of view were not answered by the respective officials. 

Enzo Zidane, the eldest son of Real Madrid legend and manager Zinedine Zidane is hoping to join Botola Pro 1 side Wydad Casablanca, according to his agent Roberto Carlos.

The midfielder played for Juventus, Liceo Frances, San Jose before joining the Blancos youth team in 2004 and spent 10 years in the academy.

Zidane featured for Real Madrid teams C and B, before he made his first-team debut in 2016 in a Copa del Rey clash against Cultural Leonesa.

The 25-year-old then teamed up with Deportivo Alaves after leaving the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu but featured sparingly.

His quest to enjoy more game time saw him move to the Swiss Super League, teaming up with Lausanne-Sport and he spent a season with the side including a loan spell at Rayo Majadahonda.

In the summer of 2019, he moved to Portugal, joining Aves but struggled to make an impact with the side before returning to Spain with Almeria in January.

Zidane is hoping to continue his development in Africa with Carlos discussing a possible transfer.

“Greetings President Naciri, it is a great pleasure for me to be able to speak with you,” Carlos said in a video.

“I hope to close the deal for Enzo Zidane, a very good player, with Wydad, a great club from Casablanca.”

The Wydad al Oumma are one of the most successful clubs on the continent, having won the Moroccan professional league title 20 times.

They are also the current champions of the Botola Pro 1 and have won the Caf Champions League twice, in 1992 and 2017.

Wydad Casablanca also secured the Caf Super Cup title in 2018 and were runners up in the competition in 1993 and 2003.

The Moroccan club has featured four times in the Caf Confederation Cup.

Should the deal be successful, Zidane will be the sixth foreign player in the club after Nigeria international Michael Babatunde, the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Kazadi Kasengu, Uganda’s Joel Madondo and Ivory Coast duo of Gbagbo Junior Magbi and Cheick Comara.

Kakamega Homeboyz chairman Cleophas Shimanyula has claimed Kenyan Premier League Limited did a good job and their contract should have been renewed.

KPL’s deal to run the top-tier ended officially on September 24, bringing to an end a journey that started in 2005. Shimanyula feels the league managers did a commendable job and the deal should have been extended given what they achieved.

“KPL did a good job and I sincerely do not think anyone can match their good job. They had a good management structure, were well-organised and also brought sponsors on board,” Shimanyula told Goal on Thursday.

The KPL chairman position was automatically taken by the club chair whose team won the league title and this model of leadership, Shimanyula says, was the best one.

“They also initiated a new way of getting the KPL chairman; that the team which wins the league, their chairman automatically becomes the chair, that was a proper way to do things,” he added.

“The leadership of the league was not left to the cartels who would not run the league but have their own agendas prioritised. There was no need for electing the KPL chair because that would always not be a fair way to get the best leader.”

During the KPL regime, Gor Mahia produced the chairman on seven occasions but Shimanyula explained why he did not have an issue with K’Ogalo’s dominance.

“There was no problem with Gor Mahia dominating the chairmanship position because they fought and deservedly got there,” he added. “That acted as an encouragement for other teams to fight, win the league and produce the chair.

“There is a time Tusker won the title as well as Sofapaka, Mathare United and Ulinzi Stars. So, I would say the method ensured no cartels were accommodated.

The Kakamega Homeboyz chair also explained why he would have liked the league managers to get their contract extended one more time.

“KPL should have been given another chance, 100% not even 90% because I loved their job,” he concluded.

“I am saying they should have completely remained because KPL Limited was run by a board that was not answerable to anyone else.

“They were very independent, unlike a scenario where the office bearers are nominated by the FKF president. In such a case, there is no independence because the president can dictate to the nominees what to do thereby manipulating the office and influencing decisions.”

FKF president Nick Mwendwa had earlier revealed the league will be renamed to FKFPL owing to the management change.

Manchester City have not made a move for Atletico Madrid defender Jose Gimenez amid claims  that a bid of £78 million (€85m/$99m) has been rejected.

Pep Guardiola urgently wants to bring in a new right-sided centre-back before the transfer window closes on October 5 after failing to replace Vincent Kompany last summer.

Atletico president Enrique Cerezo said the Liga giants had received the offer from City, but wanted to keep the defender, who tested positive for Covid-19 on Monday.

"We did receive the offer," he told El Transistor . "But Gimenez is a magnificent player and we are interested in having magnificent players in the team."

Goal has been told that City were surprised to hear about the offer for the 25-year-old and that no bid has been made.

The Uruguayan defender is on a shortlist of possible targets for City along with Napoli's Kalidou Koulibably and Sevilla's Jules Kounde.

Koulibably was City’s preferred option throughout the summer but negotiations with the Italian club have proved difficult, with no agreement reached on a fee.

Kounde is another player that the Premier League club have been monitoring, with Sevilla sporting director Monchi confirming that the Liga club turned down a bid, believed to be from City, for the 21-year-old.

Real Madrid and Barcelona have also been linked with Kounde, with sources having told Goal that the release clause in his current contract is worth €80m to €90m (£82m/$105m).

City had hoped to have a new defender in before Sunday’s Premier League clash with Leicester City but are running out of time to get a deal done before then.

Kounde is set to play in Sevilla’s Super Cup clash with Bayern Munich on Thursday night while Gimenez is in quarantine after his positive coronavirus result.

City already have five senior centre-backs at the club following the signing of Netherlands international Nathan Ake for £40 million ($53m) in the summer.

Spain international Eric Garcia could leave before the window closes, however, with Barcelona preparing a fresh bid for the teenager, who is in the final year of his contract at the Etihad Stadium.

Nicolas Otamendi is also expected to leave in the next few weeks and the former Valencia defender could be used as a makeweight in any deal with Sevilla for Kounde.

Stephane Bahoken has expressed his disappointment following his omission from Cameroon squad for their games against Japan and South Sudan.

The Indomitable Lions will square off against the East Asian country on October 8 before taking on Cyprian Besong Ashu’s men a day later.

The friendlies have been lined up as part of their preparation for their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying game against Mozambique in November.  

Coach Toni Conceicao has named a 32-man team for the encounters leaving out Bahoken from the squad.

The 28-year-old attacker has been a key member of Angers since teaming up with the Ligue 1 side in the summer of 2018 from Strasbourg.

Bahoken featured in 20 league games to help the Black and Whites finish 11th in the French top-flight last season and in the 2020-21 campaign, he has two goals in three appearances.

The forward, who has 10 caps for Cameroon is yet to feature for the West African side since Conceicao took charge of the team.

Bahoken, however, promised to continue his impressive club performances for a chance to earn a return to the West African side.

“I didn't quite understand [why I was not selected] but these are the choices of the coach. I play, I prepare well and I make key contributions,” Bahoken told Radio Foot Internationale, as per beIN SPORTS.

“Toni Conceicao chose not to select me, so I'm a little disappointed. I must now play a more crucial role with Angers to appear in the next list.

 “On a list of 32 players, I thought I had my chances but this is not the opinion of the coach. The only answer I can give him will be on the pitch.

“I will continue to give my all for the team and maybe Tony Conceiçao will give me my chance on the subsequent lists”

“Since he arrived, I have not spoken with him and I will answer him on the pitch."

Bahoken made his international debut for Cameroon against Kuwait in March 2018 after switching his allegiance from France.

The forward was part of Cameroon team at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt and last featured for the side against Nigeria in the Round of 16 of the tournament under Clarence Seedorf.

Manchester United have put David de Gea in an “awkward” position by bringing Dean Henderson back into the fold, says Paul Parker, with every goalkeeping performance for the Red Devils now set to be dissected in minute detail.

The two men competing for a regular starting berth at Old Trafford have both seen competitive game time this season.

De Gea opened the new Premier League campaign as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s No.1, and was beaten on three occasions as Crystal Palace collected an impressive 3-1 win on their travels.

Henderson then slotted into the United side for a Carabao Cup clash with Luton, with a clean sheet collected in a less than convincing 3-0 win over the Hatters.

Debate as to who should be first choice appears set to rage from this point, with many having already called for De Gea to be nudged down the pecking order after seeing errors creep back into his game.

That would be harsh on a man with four Player of the Year awards to his name in Manchester, with Parker among those questioning why United have put themselves in this position and whether sporting or financial ambition has led to a battle between two international-calibre goalkeepers.

The former Red Devils defender told Eurosport: “What I would like to think is that Henderson has looked at De Gea, a vastly experienced goalkeeper, and he has thought to himself that he can compete and eventually beat him out as the club’s first-choice. I hope that was his motivating factor, not the huge new contract he got, otherwise he should have gone back on loan to Sheffield United.

“If he is up for the challenge though, and I have no reason to think otherwise, then he deserves a lot of credit. It’s easy these days for players to be content, to stay comfortable. It would have been very easy for him to go back to Sheffield United, where he knows everyone and is the undisputed first-choice, but fair play to him for testing himself.

“I don’t think you can give as much credit to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer or Manchester United as a whole. They’ve put themselves, and De Gea, in a very awkward situation. We all know De Gea is going to come back into the starting line-up for Saturday’s game against Brighton but what happens then if he makes an error? Every goal they concede now is going to be dissected more than before.

“Even if United win you know Solskjaer is going to be under pressure from fans and the media to make a change. It’s tough for goalkeepers, you don’t get to make as many mistakes as outfield players, and now De Gea is going to be under the microscope more than ever.”

Henderson has made no secret of the fact that he wants to nail down a role for United, but has also aired his admiration for De Gea and accepts that competition for places in 2020-21 is going to be fierce.

Thiago Alcantara is a “world-class” talent and has linked up with Liverpool in order to enhance his reputation as a “winner”, says Reds goalkeeper Adrian.

Jurgen Klopp has added another match-altering talent to his ranks at Anfield.

Thiago, as one of the finest manipulators of a ball in the global game, has added his considerable ability to a star-studded squad on Merseyside.

The excitement that accompanied his arrival has continued to build on the back of an eye-catching Premier League debut against Chelsea.

Liverpool were not in need of much assistance, given all that they have achieved over the course of the last two seasons, but proven performers are always welcome.

Thiago has slotted seamlessly into the fold, with the Spain international expected to help deliver more major silverware for Klopp and co.

“For sure. He's a winner,” Adrian told Liverpool’s official website of a notable new recruit.

“You see his career, he won a lot of titles because obviously he was in a top team like Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

“He likes to win, he came here to win, to try to win all the titles we are facing this season.

“It's going to be intense, it's going to be a period with many games. It's a great signing for us and I think he's going to help us a lot.”

Adrian added on a player that he has crossed paths with in the past: “Thiago is a world-class player.

“I knew him before when we went to the national team and because we have a few friends between us.

“He's a top player, he has quality, he has [a] great pass, great shot, vision of the game – a different one. So he gives us a lot of help.

“This season is going to be tough and he gives us that quality that he has. Obviously part of this is a great player, fits really well into the dressing room, speaks very good English, so no problem at all.

“I think he's going to enjoy this season, the first season with us.”

A £20 million ($26m) deal with Bayern Munich for Thiago was quickly followed at Anfield by a £41m ($53m) agreement for Diogo Jota, with the Portuguese forward being snapped up from Wolves.

He is another being tipped to make an immediate impact when called upon, with Adrian happy to see another proven attacking option added to the ranks.

The Spanish goalkeeper said when asked how Jota is settling in: “Very well as well. He trained a few days with us.

“I think he's also a great signing. We need people with that pace, with that quality that Jota has.

“He showed last season with Wolves that he can score, he can pass, he can dribble, he can do many things and obviously he's a hard worker as well. I think he's going to adapt quick to the team.

“We hope [he has] some opportunity to play in the next few games and show the quality that he has as well.”

Liverpool stars old and new will be given opportunities to impress on Thursday when the Reds take in a Carabao Cup third-round clash with Lincoln.

Mason Greenwood boasts “world-class potential” and will ultimately become a “defender’s nightmare” in a central striking post for Manchester United, claims Darren Fletcher.

At 18 years of age, a highly-rated product of the Red Devils’ famed academy system is still finding his feet on a senior stage.

He has fared admirably under the spotlight to this point, with 17 goals recorded across all competitions in 2019-20.

A productive partnership has been struck up with Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial, with the latter currently filling a No.9 role.

Plenty have suggested that Greenwood will be moved inside at some stage, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer asking him to operate out wide at present.

Fletcher believes a talented teenager is destined to make that switch, with his ability on either foot and keen eye for goal marking him out as a deadly frontman of the future.

The former United midfielder told Sky Sports after seeing Greenwood open his goal account for 2020-21 in a Carabao Cup win over Luton: “I think he’s a starter in United’s best team.

“Mason plays off the right-hand side, Anthony Martial in the middle and Marcus Rashford on the left, with Bruno [Fernandes] at No.10.

“That’s the best attack and the one that put people on the edge of their seats after lockdown and produced United’s best form.

“I’m sure Mason’s evolution is to be a No.9. He’s got world-class potential.

“The fact he can go both ways – not many strikers can go naturally onto their left foot and naturally onto their right foot and finish it. He’s a defender’s nightmare.”

Solskjaer, who once operated as a leading striker for United, has admitted that he sees Greenwood taking on central duties at some stage.

He has, however, been quick to point out that the youngster still has areas of his game to work on before such a tactical tweak can be made.

The Red Devils boss has said: “He can play through the middle as well. I think, as a young boy, not physically grown yet, it is nice to be facing forward rather than being the No.9, the foil; being the battering ram if you like.

“So I think he’ll end up as a No.9 in the end, probably. But he’s so good with his right and left, so he can come in off his right and left, or through the middle. I scored most of my goals from just outside the post as well, I wasn’t in the middle."

Solskjaer added: “For him to be a No.9, he needs to learn how to head the ball.

“I keep telling him that and, if he wants to do that, he’s welcome to come and practice with me.” 

Bruno Fernandes boasts a perfect penalty record at Manchester United, with eight efforts converted from as many attempts, but the Portuguese claims he would move aside if others wanted to step up.

The Red Devils knew they were acquiring a dead-ball specialist when putting a deal in place with Sporting during the January transfer window.

Fernandes slotted seamlessly into the fold at Old Trafford, with free-kicks and corners immediately falling under his remit.

He also inherited spot-kick duties and has proved to be faultless when offered opportunities to score from 12 yards.

The 26-year-old has only missed two of the 30 penalties he has taken in his career to date, making him very much a go-to man when pressure is ramped up.

Fernandes is, however, adamant that he would happily stand down if the likes of Marcus Rashford or Paul Pogba decided that they wanted to take advantage of the flurry of spot-kicks that have come United’s way of late.

“It doesn’t matter if I take penalties,” the classy playmaker told United Review. 

“We have a lot of qualities in the team, like I’ve said before.

“I already talked with some players. Rashy was the guy who took the penalties so I tell him: 'When you feel confident, if you want to take the penalty, for me, it is not a problem.' I will not fight.

“I feel confident with penalties and I want to take them but, if someone comes to me to ask to take a penalty, I will not fight every time, just to take a penalty.

“In that moment, I can be tired or not prepared to take a penalty and I can say easily: ‘You take it’.

“I trust in my team-mates – Rashy, Anthony [Martial] and also Paul [Pogba], they have a lot of qualities and can take it. We have really good penalty-takers.

“The most important thing is scoring for Manchester United. It doesn’t matter if it is Bruno or someone else.”

Fernandes is not overly concerned about boosting his own numbers with successful penalties and claims others get just as many as he does, with scoring from the spot having become an art form in itself.

He added: “Yeah but we can’t talk a lot about penalties because everybody will say: ‘Bruno only scores with penalties’.

“If the others score them, it’s no problem! Penalties are part of the game, you know. You need to score. You have the chance but you need to score.

“I know everyone is talking about them like it’s easy but you can lose a final with a penalty. Manchester won the Champions League in Moscow with penalties [in 2008].

“For most people, it’s easy when you’re in front of the TV. It is easy – just look at the goalkeeper jump to his left so why don’t you shoot to the right? Yeah, I can shoot to the right but, on my mind, was the left and the goalkeeper saved it! It can happen! But the most important thing, for me, is to keep scoring.”

Fernandes and the rest of Solskjaer’s United side will be back in action on Saturday when they go in search of their first Premier League points of the season away at Brighton.

AC Milan have confirmed that Zlatan Ibrahimovic has tested positive for Covid-19 and will be taking in a period of quarantine.

The 38-year-old must self-isolate after seeing it revealed that he is a carrier of the coronavirus.

The enigmatic Swedish striker is the only member of playing and coaching staff at San Siro to have posted a positive test.

An enforced break means that Ibrahimovic will play no part in Milan’s upcoming fixtures.

A statement from the Serie A club on their official website read: “Zlatan Ibrahimovic has tested positive for Covid-19 following a second round of swab tests ahead of tonight's game against Bodø/Glimt.

“The club has informed the relevant authorities and the player has been promptly placed in quarantine at home.

“All other team members and staff have tested negative.”

Ibrahimovic has enjoyed a productive opening to the 2020-21 campaign for Milan.

He has taken in two appearances so far, with three goals recorded across those outings.

His goal account for the season was opened in a Europa League qualifier against Shamrock Rovers, before then bagging a brace in Serie A against Bologna.

The self-proclaimed ‘Benjamin Button’ of modern day football had been looking to kick on from that point, having agreed to extend his second spell with the Rossoneri.

He said after finding the target against Bologna: "I'm fine, I'm working, this is the second official match.

“We won, I could have scored more goals. If I was 20, I would have scored another two. I'm like Benjamin Button, I was born old and I die young.”

Ibrahimovic added on Milan as a collective: "We are not yet at 100 per cent, we still made some mistakes that we usually wouldn’t.

“Today it was important to win the first game and start well. Our goal is to do better than last year.

“The young players are doing well; they work, they listen, they have discipline, they know that you have to suffer, work and be focused every day.

"This year we have to think one game at a time and do well, play confidently and play every game like a final. The goal is to stay high in the table.

“I like to have responsibility. The biggest pressure comes from myself. I don't want anyone to talk about my age, I want everyone to be judged on the same level - I don't want any favours because I'm 38.”

Cristiano Ronaldo did not try and talk Miralem Pjanic out of a move to Barcelona despite the Juventus superstar boasting strong ties to Real Madrid.

A five-time Ballon d’Or winner spent two seasons playing alongside Pjanic in Turin.

The Bosnian midfielder was, however, to become the subject of a trade agreement involving Brazil international Arthur.

A South American midfielder is now in Italy, while Pjanic finds himself at Camp Nou.

The 30-year-old sought out advice from Ronaldo before heading to Spain, but a Real legend never suggested that he should steer clear of a team on the opposite side of a fierce Clasico divide.

Pjanic told Mundo Deportivo: “The opposite. When everything was done he told me that he was very happy for me, that I would be happy here because the game in Spain is very good and strong. 

“It was bad for him that I was leaving Juventus, but he told me that he thinks I will have a lot of fun in a great team like Barcelona. 

“Cristiano has been very professional at Juventus, he is a player who has shown many great things and who has been very important in the dressing room by setting an example for everyone.”

Pjanic is now preparing to line up alongside Lionel Messi at Barca.

He is accustomed to working with such talent by now, with a spell at Roma seeing him become a team-mate of Francesco Totti before moving on to Juve and eventually seeing Ronaldo join him at the Allianz Stadium.

“And with Buffon too!” Pjanic said of playing with modern day legends.

“The mentality is what is important and they are so unique. They've played for many years at a top level and to do that you have to be focused on your work, you have to love football. 

“They always want to improve in all competitions, they are an example for everyone.”

Pjanic has had to shake off a bout of Covid-19 since securing a switch to Barcelona, but he is now very much part of the fold under Ronald Koeman and raring to get going.

A man who won four Serie A titles with Juve will open up a quest to savour La Liga glory on Sunday when his new employers start their 2020-21 campaign at home to Villarreal.

Jadon Sancho “wants you to know that he’s better than you”, says Borussia Dortmund team-mate Thomas Meunier, with the England international compared to Kylian Mbappe in the showboating stakes.

Said talent has seen a 20-year-old forward enjoy a meteoric rise to prominence.

Sancho has become one of the most sought-after assets in European football, with Manchester United having spent much of the summer trying to lure him back to his homeland.

Dortmund have stood firm, however, and made it clear that they will not be bowing to transfer pressure.

That means Sancho is being freed to continue tormenting club colleagues and Bundesliga rivals in Germany.

Meunier, who left Mbappe’s side at Paris Saint-Germain to link up with Dortmund in the current transfer window, told BVB TV of Sancho: “Jadon is a bit sneaky.

“He always wants to nutmeg you or dribble past you. It's a bit like a humiliation. He wants you to know that he's better than you.

“Mbappe is the same - they are a bit arrogant in the way they play. There are ways to stop them - you take the ball or take then man!”

Sancho is one of several youngsters to be starring for Dortmund, with Erling Haaland, Gio Reyna and Jude Bellingham also forming part of Luicien Favre’s exciting squad.

“They're fantastic, not only as footballers, but as people," Meunier added.

“They're all conscious of the fact we have the quality to do something great. We all want to win titles, and everyone is going in the same directions. They can be 17 or 25 - it makes no difference.”

Meunier, at 29 years of age, is one of the more experienced heads at Dortmund.

He is hoping to put those qualities to good use, with the Belgium international right-back confident that he can strike up a productive partnership with Sancho down their flank and contribute plenty of end product himself.

“I'm an attacking player, so I can score a goal in every game,” Meunier said.

“I might have scored against Gladbach - I was on my own when Gio went down for the penalty. There will always be possibilities [to score].

“But my priority is to be on the pitch every three days. Recovery is the most important thing for that. Being professional is the key to success.”

Dortmund opened their 2020-21 Bundesliga campaign with a 3-0 win over Borussia Monchengladbach, with Reyna and Haaland on the scoresheet, and have a trip to Augsburg and a Supercup clash with Bayern Munich to take in over the course of the next week.

Donny van de Beek is ready to “fight for everything” at Manchester United, with the Dutch midfielder determined to help the club lift silverware.

Tangible success has been in short supply for the Red Devils of late.

Jose Mourinho delivered three trophies in his debut campaign at the helm back in 2016-17, but a Europa League triumph to end that term remains the last entry on United’s roll of honour.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer guided his side into contention for major silverware across multiple fronts last season, only to come unstuck in three semi-finals.

Efforts are being made to right those wrongs, with Van de Beek acquired from Ajax to help aid that cause.

The 23-year-old is buying into the ambition of those he has joined in Manchester, with the Netherlands international setting lofty targets in English football.

He has told United Review: “I always trust in myself and for sure you can always improve and be better and I will always work hard to make those steps and still now I will continue to do that.

“I have made a good step from Ajax to United and now I want more and more and I want to help the club win prizes. We will fight for everything.”

Van de Beek was given the perfect grounding during his time at Ajax.

Having worked his way through a famed academy system, an Eredivise and KNVB Cup double was savoured in 2018-19 – while runs to the Europa League final and last four of the Champions League have also been taken in.

On the lessons he learned in Amsterdam, Van de Beek added: “A lot was about the position game, the technical part of the game.

“In the Ajax youth team you have really good coaches and really good players and this is what has made Ajax so big.

“A lot of young players get a chance in the first team and then they make a good career and they go to big clubs, this is what Ajax do. This is also what I learnt.

“I learned a lot about football skills with the ball… you had everything in the youth team, all the possibilities to improve a lot and that is what helped me so much.”

Van de Beek has already opened his goal account for United, in a 3-1 defeat to Crystal Palace, made his first competitive start for the club in a Carabao Cup third-round win over Luton and will be looking to be involved again on Saturday when Solskjaer’s side head to Brighton.

Gwambina FC head coach Flugence Novatus has stated his side know what they must do against Mainland Premier League giants Simba SC.

The debutants will be hosted at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium on Saturday by the champions for the fourth match of the season. After having a good campaign in the First Division League (FDL) in the 2019/20 season, Gwambina have struggled in the top-tier as they possess just a point from a 0-0 draw against Kagera Sugar.

They have lost against Biashara United and Ruvu Shooting with 1-0 margins and the game against Wekundu wa Msimbazi could have not come at a better time.

“We need to just play our game and make sure we collect maximum points. We are going to play a big team with a huge following but we surely know what we need to do,” Novatus told IPP Media.

“We are in our preparations for Simba on Saturday and we are ready for them despite the fact we know they enjoy very good players.”

The tactician admitted mistakes were done during their previous tie and he is hopeful the same will not be repeated in Dar es Salaam.

“During our game against Ruvu Shooting, we committed some mistakes and I have been working on them since then,” he concluded. “My main aim is to rectify the mistakes well before we face Simba."

On his part, Simba’s head coach Sven Vandenbroeck revealed he is aware the debutants would come hungry for points and will be ready to shock the champions.

“We have prepared well as we give each of our matches the prominence they deserve. I know Gwambina will be eager to prove their worth and make the game tough but I trust my squad,” Vandenbroeck said.

The match will be very important for both sides to win in order to get their respective campaigns right on track.

Simba have seven points and will need a win to come close to Azam FC and Kinondoni Municipal Council (KMC FC) who have had a good start as they have not dropped points.

All eyes will be on Vandenbroeck on whether he will field Meddie Kagere to start as he did against Biashara United.

19-year-old Phrangki Buam is one of the up and coming youngsters who has joined FC Goa ahead of the 2020-21 season. And we might see the Megahalya-born in action in the Gaurs' first team this time around.

Buam is ready to fight for a place in FC Goa's first team which would be playing in the Indian Super League (ISL) and the AFC (Asian Football Confederation) Champions League this season.

"I chose FC Goa without regret. They play good football and for me, the best place is FC Goa," he remarked while promising to do his best to impress first team coach Juan Ferrando.

"First of all, I will try my best to get a place in the first team. Even if I get to play the Goa Pro League, it is not a problem for me. I just want playing time," the youngster added.

Phrangki caught the attention of scouts in 2012, as a 12-year-old, when he turned up for the U-14 trials organised by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) in Shillong. He was selected and spent three years at SAI after which he joined Royal Wahingdoh's U-15 set-up. After two years with them, he joined Shillong Lajong in 2017. 

Having won the 2018 U-18 Youth League (now Elite League) with an individual contribution of seven goals from 11 games, the Meghalayan lad claimed that he was overwhelmed with the opportunity to be a part of Lajong's all-Indian squad in the 2018-19 I-League where he played all 20 games and scored six times.

"I couldn't believe at that time, that from this year (2018) itself I get to play in the I-League at such a young age (17). For a young side without experience, it was very difficult for us to play against all the top teams like Real Kashmir, Chennai [City FC], East Bengal and all. 

"I was very sad when we knew that we were getting relegated. I could not sleep properly but I told myself that I have to keep working hard and give my best to get a chance to play at another I-League or ISL club," he stated.

In the same year, Phrangki represented Shillong College in the Reliance Foundation Youth Sports (RFYS) football tournament and bagged a hat-trick in each of the four games (including a double hat-trick in one) to win both - the Golden Boot and the Golden Ball - awards and help his team clinch the RFYS Shillong City Championship.

Subsequently, in the RFYS National Championship held in Mumbai, he added another six goals from five games, although his side finished runners-up.

He was also the top scorer in the Shillong Premier League (10) and the Meghalaya State League (14) when he helped Lajong win both titles in 2019. 

Before joining FC Goa, the attacking midfielder had a loan stint with FC Bengaluru United in the 2019-20 I-League second division where he recorded three goals to his name from eight games.

"FC Goa have always been my first choice. I have been a fan of the club since the very beginning of the ISL," he revealed. "I like their philosophy, the playing style and fans. I always had in mind that I will keep giving my best and one day play for FC Goa. So it's like a dream come true for me.

"It will be very difficult for me to get a place in the first XI. I will try to give my best and show the coach that I can play in the first 11 also."

Buam had three felicitations to attend on Wednesday - each of which organised by Amlarem Sub Division Sports Association, BDO (Block Development Officer) and Thangbuli Youth Social Welfare Club - in honour of his recent acheivements besides him becoming the first from his region to ply his trade in the ISL.

The player from Jaintia Hills professed his aspirations of making it to the Indian national team and that of playing abroad - all for which he needs to first break into the first team of FC Goa.

"First thing now is that I have to find a place in the [FC Goa] first team and if I improve, the national team (coach) will also take notice. It's my aim to play for the Indian national team and also for a team in Europe or anywhere abroad," he spelled out.

AFC (Asian Football Confederation) Medical Committee Chairman, Dr Dato Gurucharan Singh, has stated that it would be best for Anwar Ali to refrain from participating in competitive sports due to his ‘congenital heart condition’, Goal has learnt.  

He was found to be suffering from left apical ventricular hypertrophy which constituted a significant health risk for the player, as per numerous reports.

In a report submitted to the AIFF (All India Football Federation), Dato Gurucharan Singh has mentioned four key messages which substantiate that playing football professionally constitutes a health risk for the youngster who had represented India at the 2017 U17 World Cup. 

The report highlighted the following factors:

1. Inherited cardiomyopathies are recognised leading causes of sports-related cardiac arrest in young competitive athletes and for this reason both European and American recommendations for sports eligibility agree that athletes with cardiomyopathy should be restricted from competitive sports activity.

2. Carriers of desmosomal gene mutation with no signs of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy should also be disqualified from competitive sports activity because intense physical exercise promotes the development and progression of the disease phenotype.

3. There is growing evidence that patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator may practice sports safely. However, it must be emphasised that participation in competitive sports at high cardiovascular demands may promote disease progression.

4. Patients with cardiomyopathy and mild phenotypic expression at low risk of sudden death may practice moderate-intensity recreational exercise. Patients should be educated to avoid peak exertion and recognise warning symptoms.   

It has been amply made clear that participating in professional football will be detrimental for the young defender and it could possibly aggravate his illness.

However, he can continue playing football in leisure where exertion will be far less. Singh writes, "However, many affected athletes aspire to continue practising leisure-time sports activities or at least maintain a physically active lifestyle despite their non-eligibility to engage in competitive sports."

He also mentions that competitive sports activity is associated with an increased risk of sudden cardiovascular death (SCD) in adolescents and young adults with clinically silent cardiovascular disorders. 

Inherited cardiomyopathies are recognised leading causes of sports-related cardiac arrest in young competitive athletes, with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) accounting for one-third of fatal cases in the USA and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy for approximately one-fourth in Italy.  

Pre Competition Medical Assessment (PCMA) may allow the identification of asymptomatic athletes who have potentially lethal cardiomyopathies and protect them from the risk of sudden cardiovascular death (SCD) through restriction from competitive sports. 

It is an unfortunate turn of events for the talented youngster who was earmarked as one to watch out for. After impressing for Indian Arrows in the 2018-19 season, Ali was roped in by Indian Super League (ISL) outfit Mumbai City FC who first identified his health risk.

He was advised not to play by experts in Mumbai, following which the club and India head coach Igor Stimac helped him to fly to France for expert opinion and treatment.

In 2019, the Minerva Punjab academy graduate travelled to France to be examined by Dr Francois Carre, chief of the medical department of sports medicine at the University Hospital of Rennes, who opined that the “practice of a competitive sport in competition presented an excessively high risk of a serious cardiac accident." 

Full-backs are well and truly back in fashion these days with a versatile defender capable of bringing plenty to a side looking to attack from the back. 

Ahead of FIFA 21's release, EA Sports has revealed the game's best full-backs with Liverpool duo Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson taking top honours. 

Both are rated at 87 overall with Alexander-Arnold boasting a pass rating of 87 and Robertson a pace rating of 83. The Scottish international is deemed to be slightly better in defence, but his England team-mate is far sharper in attack. 

Real Madrid right-back Daniel Carvajal and Barcelona left-back Jordi Alba aren't far behind the Reds pair with overall ratings of 86 - Alba's 88-rated pace and 83-rated dribbling making him a real weapon going forward. 

Manchester City Kyle Walker rounds out the top five with an overall rating of 85 with his only real weakness being a shooting rating of 63. 

Interestingly, no full-back currently playing in the Bundesliga has made the top 20, while eight Premier League representatives have made the cut. 

Portugal based duo Alex Telles and Marcos Acuna loom as shrewd pick-ups in FIFA 21 with their lower profiles set to keep their prices a bit lower than the rest when it comes to Ultimate Team. 

Manchester City maestro Kevin De Bruyne has again been named the best central midfielder in the FIFA video game series.

Ahead of FIFA 21's release on October 9, the 2019-20 PFA Player of the Year retained his overall rating of 91 after a superb season for City in which he gathered an incredible 20 assists and 13 goals in the Premier League.

After being the anchor for Real Madrid's run to the La Liga title, Brazil international Casemiro is the game's second best central midfielder after having his rating elevated from 87 to 89.

Following a position change from RB to CDM, Bayern's Champions League winner Joshua Kimmich heads a list three midfielders in equal third position with an overall score of 88, alongside N'Golo Kante and Toni Kroos.

Chelsea's Kante dropped one point from 89 to 88 after a relatively uneventful season for the Blues, while Kroos holds his 88 rating from FIFA 20.

Four midfielders are tied on 87 overall, with Manchester United playmaker Bruno Fernandes getting a two-point increase after his stunning impact in the Premier League, while Liverpool's Brazilian Fabinho, Real Madrid star Luka Modric and Barcelona veteran Sergio Busquets are alongside the Portugal international.

Other players to make the top 20 list include Bayern legend Thomas Muller, Red Devils linchpin Paul Pogba, Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson and their new signing Thiago, while veteran David Silva features despite a move to Real Sociedad.