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Kenya international Mark Makwatta scored a hat-trick as Zesco United defeated Division two side Neelkhant FC 8-0 in a pre-season friendly game staged at the Trade Fair Grounds, Ndola.

The eight-time Zambian champions are preparing to bounce back after a disappointing 2019/20 campaign, in which they finished fifth. With new players coming in, it was a good time for Timu ya Ziko to showcase their talent against a lower-tier side.

The Ndola-based charges bolstered their squad with the signing of Bruce Musakanya, Lazarus Phiri, and Kampamba.

Interestingly, Kampamba and Musakanya were on the score sheet as Zesco managed to get four goals in the first half. 

Harambee Stars strikers Jesse Were and Makwatta were on target as well as the hosts dominated. 

After the break, Makwatta completed his hat-trick with Kampamba also getting another goal to complete his brace. Another goal came from Logic Ching'ondu.

Kenya coach Francis Kimanzi will be impressed with the news, considering the fact that he is preparing the national team for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations to be held in Cameroon.

Meanwhile, Football Kenya Federation (FKF) president Nick Mwendwa revealed they are in talks with other countries for possible friendlies for the Harambee Stars.

After Caf released a new condensed calendar for both the Africa Cup of Nations and World Cup qualifiers, countries are expected to be in a rush to prepare their teams for international football's return.

Mwendwa said one of the countries they have approached is Sudan but did not give a clear indication whether the northern neighbours have accepted FKF’s request.

"Caf calendars are already out and we have been in talks with two countries to see whether they can come and engage Harambee Stars in friendlies," Mwendwa told NTV.

"It has been quite hard to get a willing nation for friendly action because of the situation around the [coronavirus] pandemic.

"We must engage in friendlies to prepare the team for qualifiers. Sudan and other nations are among the countries we have had talks with."

The FKF chief said the big issue now is getting the local players fit for those qualifiers given that they have been out of action for almost six months now.

Romain Saiss and Adama Traore will start for Wolverhampton Wanderers in Monday’s Premier League outing against Manchester City.

Having started their 2020-21 campaign on a winning note thanks to a 2-0 victory over Sheffield United at the Bramall Lane with Raul Jimenez and Saiss finding the net, Wolves would be hoping to make it two at a bounce against the visitors.

To achieve this, manager Nuno Espirito Santo has handed the Morocco international and Mali prospect.

For Manchester City, there are playing their first game of the new season and Pep Guardiola’s men are eyeing all points at the Molineux Stadium.

Bernardo Silva and Oleksandr Zinchenko will play no part against Wolves after suffering muscle injuries in training, as Algeria’s Riyad Mahrez will start from the bench.

Abel Eturude has claimed Premier League sides Express FC and Sports Club Villa are sleeping Ugandan Premier League lions.

The midfielder explained why he thinks his new club Express and the Premier League record champions SC Villa have been performing below their capabilities.

“SC Villa and Express, I wouldn’t like to compare them to Onduparaka because those two are just sleeping lions but very great teams with great history even at the continental level,” Eturude told Sports Nation.

“But I wouldn’t rule out Onduparaka because it took a single season to make a brand for themselves, so they can build on that to make the team much greater.”

The former SC Villa midfielder was unveiled recently by Express after agreeing to a two-year contract and explained what motivated him to make the move.

“I made a decision that had a lot of risks especially with my career as a football player,” Eturude added.

“I felt I let my friends, fans and family down at some point. It hurts because I personally hate discouraging anyone but I always believed all things happen for the good.”

As he hopes to start a new life at Express, the Ugandan has revealed what he would want to achieve with the club.

“Yes, I have my personal plans and ambitions especially after being out of action for a full season,” he stated.

“I will need to work hand in hand with the technical team which is willing to help me out because they know my capabilities.

“Besides my own plans, God has the best and perfect plans for me and I will need to trust in him more.”

Eturude had expressed his satisfaction for joining the Red Eagles after a season without action due to illness.

“I feel so great to join Express, it’s a big club with great history and it’s one of the few clubs at least every football player would love to play for,” Eturude explained.

“This club has great ambitions and I believe we shall work hand in hand with the technical team and the fans so that we restore the pride of Express. In God all things are possible.

“Express are a big brand in Ugandan football. I was contacted by the club and they told me about their ambitions and why they needed my services.

“They have the head coach I have worked with and I know his capabilities.”

Eturude is among the many Ugandan players who have switched loyalty ahead of the 2020/21 season that is set to start on October 17.

Nairobi City Stars top scorer in the National Super League (NSL) Davis Agesa has stated he is ready for the challenges of the Kenyan Premier League (KPL).

Agesa’s goals played a key part in Nairobi City Stars’ NSL exploits before they were promoted to the top-flight because they were leading when the second-tier was cancelled.

“Yes, I feel I am ready and hungrier for the KPL challenge,” Agesa told the club’s website.

“Well I can say it’s day-to-day progress that I challenge myself to be better than yesterday so hopefully I keep my name more on the score sheets and keep raising City Stars flag high.”

Agesa was the Simba wa Nairobi’s top scorer in the last four seasons in the NSL between 2017 and 2019/20, with 17 goals.

Nairobi City Stars were relegated to the second-tier in 2016 after being part of the KPL in the 12 previous seasons. Agesa scored seven goals in their maiden NSL season and that included the only hat-trick the club registered in 2016.

Agesa bagged the hat-trick against Talanta FC in September at Nairobi's Camp Toyoyo, when they won the tie by a 4-1 margin. The striker had scored his first-ever Nairobi City Stars brace a week earlier against Isibania FC at the same turf.

In the 2018/19 season, he scored three goals after he had left the club for a short stint in Asia. In the last campaign that was cancelled because of the emergence of the coronavirus pandemic, the Kenyan striker found the back of the net six times.

The goals make him the striker with the most NSL goals for the Kawangware club ahead of Gambian and former Kariobangi Sharks star Ebrima Sanneh.

Sanneh and Ugandan striker Sande Katuma have both scored 15 goals in two seasons in the Super League.

Former KCB and AFC Leopards striker Ezekiel Odera and Peter Mwangi Wainaina enjoy the third and fourth spots in the chart with 14 and 10 goals, respectively.

As Nairobi City Stars prepare for a KPL return, Agesa will hope to tap into his experience in the top-tier after featuring for Thika United before they were relegated in 2018.

Former Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper John Tlale has hailed the signing of Ricardo Goss from Bidvest Wits, saying the young keeper will gain from the reigning Premier Soccer League (PSL) champions' participation on the African continent.

The treble winners are set to return to the Caf Champions League next season and Tlale is confident Goss will benefit from the likes of veteran keepers Denis Onyango and Kennedy Mweene.

Although he believes the young keeper might struggle for a regular spot at Chloorkop under coach Pitso Mosimane at first, the former Bafana Bafana keeper is confident the ex-Clever Boys net-minder will be able to fight for a place in the national team.  

“We need to congratulate him on getting a contract in a team like Sundowns. I know there are concerns that he might be overlooked for Bafana Bafana because he will compete with Onyango who is the best in Africa,” Tlale told Isolezwe.

“What’s important is to know that Mweene an Onyango whom he will fight for the jersey with is getting old, that means he stands a good chance to become the future of the club when it comes to the plans of the coaches.

“He must just fight for the jersey and he must not give up because he might not play a game in a season as he would wish. He is fortunate because Sundowns play in Africa.”

On the former Abafana Bes’thende keeper’s chances at the 2019/20 treble winners, the Kroonstad-based legend backs the 26-year-old to challenge the veteran duo.

“He must just learn and study as much as he can from Onyango and Mweene who are very experienced. That will help him if we look at the competition for the Bafana Bafana jersey,” he added.

“I think he has joined Sundowns at the right time. Honestly, we must look at the fact that football is game of results, and if he gets if the coach [Mosimane] gets the results, why must he change the team?

“I played for Sundowns and I would start 28 matches and the other games would be given to [Ronnie] Kanalelo. It is important to have patience.”

Apart from the likes of Zambia’s Mweene and Ugandan skipper Onyango, the former Golden Arrows player will compete against Jody February, who will join from Ajax Cape Town and Reyaad Pieterse.

Kaizer Chiefs chairman Kaizer Motaung believes the management has done its best to assemble a solid technical team this season. 

This follows the appointment of Dillon Sheppard and Arthur Zwane as Gavin Hunt's assistants for the next three years. 

Motaung promised that the trio will receive all the necessary support they need to make their tenure a success.  

"We believe we have put a solid technical team together and we will give them all the necessary support they require," Motaung told the Amakhosi website. 

Zwane has been coaching for the past nine years while Sheppard only became a mentor three years ago, but they have a leader in the technical team as Hunt has been around the coaching circles for almost three decades. 

And Motaung said the 2019-20 league runners-up needed these three South African-born coaches to be competitive and stronger.    

"The wealth of experience among the three gentlemen is what we need to ensure we compete and build a strong team," he said. 

Furthermore, Motaung confirmed that both Sheppard and Zwane will work as Hunt's assistants and double-up as co-coaches for the club's MultiChoice Diski Challenge (MDC) team. 

Zwane had been in the position since the inception of the MDC league while Sheppard was also in charge of the Bidvest Wits MDC team before the club sold its PSL status, and 'Chincha Guluva' is confident the transition from the development to the senior team will be smooth.    

"The fact that Arthur and Dillon will concurrently work with the senior team as well as with our reserve side means that the transition for the young players to the first-team squad will be easier," continued the 75-year-old football administrator.  

"We have an abundance of talent." 

While the aim is to nurture the talent from the reserve team using the experience of both Sheppard and Zwane, Motaung said getting positive results also are as important. 

"However, they will need nurturing while we also need to focus on winning. Both assistant coaches have youth football experience and we believe they will continue to share their knowledge with our other youth coaches and players," concluded Motaung. 

Arthur Masuaku has urged West Ham United players to take the positives from their 2-1 loss against Arsenal to their next Premier League match against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday.

David Moyes' men are yet to win a league game this season after suffering back-to-back defeats, to Newcastle United and Arsenal at the London Stadium.

On Saturday, Michail Antonio's effort could not save West Ham against Mikel Arteta’s side goals from Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah, which sealed maximum points for the visitors.

"It was a decent team performance, but not the result we wanted," Masuaku told the club website.

"We just have to take the positives from this game because as a team I think we played well.

"We need to keep going from Sunday and hopefully, with a bit of luck, we can win the next game."

Masuaku played for 90 minutes against the Gunners before he was replaced by Felipe Anderson at the death of the encounter.

The DR Congo international rued West Ham's missed chances on Saturday, however, he wants the team spirit maintained in their Carabao Cup outing Hull City on Tuesday before they host Wolves for Sunday's Premier League match.

"We showed a great team spirit and we played well as a team," he added. "Last week was a poor performance against Newcastle, and the Gaffer told us that we need to change this - we need to play as a team and be hard to beat.

"I think we played well and had chances to win the game. Unfortunately, we didn’t, but we have to be positive.

"If we have the opportunity to kill the game we just have to do it. We’ve shown that we can compete against these teams. We have a strong team and if we play like we did tonight, we will win games."

Former Kenyan Premier League (KPL) champions Tusker have signed Kevin Monyi from Western Stima.

Monyi, a defender, is the latest to leave Western Stima and joins Robert Matano’s side for the next two years.

Western Stima have lost several players - especially to Gor Mahia and Wazito FC - in the ongoing transfer window as they have lost almost all their first-teamers after their sponsors, the Kenyan Power and Lighting Company, walked away earlier this year.

“[Kevin] Monyi has just signed a two-year contract with Tusker. Formerly playing for Western Stima, Kevin fits in the defence position at Tusker,” the club announced on their Facebook page on Monday.

“A warm welcome to the family, champ.”

Matano has already signed defender Christopher Oruchum from AFC Leopards as he aims to strengthen the defensive area.

Monyi comes to help strengthen the whole playing unit for the local heavyweights, who last won a trophy four seasons ago.

Since then they have been chasing the league trophy unsuccessfully as Gor Mahia have won them in the subsequent seasons, and have sparingly participated in the domestic cup tournament.

With Monyi and Oruchum already at the club, Matano has moved with speed to strengthen the backline, especially with the recent contract extension of full-back Eugene Asike.

Monyi’s signing has been confirmed as Tusker and Sofapaka have been rumoured to be interested in Onduparaka FC striker Julius Malingumu.

According to reports, Tusker are in advanced talks with the Ugandan attacker even though Sofapaka and another unnamed KPL side have approached him.

Tusker will also need to find a replacement for their previous top scorer Timothy Otieno, who left to join Zambian Super League side Napsa Stars.

KPL outfits have been buying and selling players ahead of the 2020/21 season, the date of which is not known given the current ban on contact sports.

The Cabinet Secretary for Sports, Amina Mohamed, extended the ban on Friday until further notice and the order put the Football Kenya Federation’s plans for a new season into jeopardy.

FKF president Nick Mwendwa had hinted they were planning to start the leagues in mid-October but that may not happen at all given Mohamed’s order.

Kenyan Premier League (KPL) side Sofapaka FC have completed the signing of Nigeria striker Michael Tuborlayefa Karamor.

The 2009 league champions have been busy in the transfer market as they rebuild for the new season. It is for this reason they have gone to West Africa to get an attacker who will help them get goals.

"Nigerian International Karamor Tuborlayefa Michael has signed a two-year deal to join us ahead of the 2020/21 season," Sofapaka posted on their official website on Monday.

"The forward joins the club from Nigerian side Lagos Athletico for the next two seasons. 

"Karamor becomes the club’s fifth signing after having secured the services of Michael Bodo, Kevin Omondi, Roy Okal, and Paul Kiongera.  

"Welcome Karamor."

A couple of days ago, club president Elly Kalekwa confirmed the signing of Armee Patriotique Rwandaise Football Club (APR) defender Isaac Mitima.

Batoto ba Mungu have been active in the market, bringing in players who they feel can help them challenge for the league title next season.

The Kenyan side have confirmed the Army defender is now their player for the 2020/21 season.

"Mitima is now our player after signing a two-year contract with us," Kalekwa told Goal last week. 

"He is an experienced defender who will help in tightening our back four; his signing is good news to us and the fans at large because he will strengthen the team.

"He is landing in the country soon to join the team."

The Congolese businessman once again reiterated his desire to see the team win the KPL title for the first time since 2009.

"We want to have a competitive squad made of quality players for the new season," Kalekwa continued.

"The league title is top of our priority and it is the reason why we are going for players who can help us achieve that."

The Kenyan outfit paid Ksh 1 million to get the services of the defender. 

Last season, Batoto ba Mungu pushed for a 10th place finish after managing to collect 31 points from the 23 matches played.

The John Baraza-led charges managed to win eight matches, drawing seven and losing eight.

AIFF (All India Football Federation) President Praful Patel, in a virtual meeting with representatives of all the state associations on Monday, announced a major financial relief package for them.

In the meeting, Mr. Patel revealed that the Indian FA will be sanctioning an amount of INR 3 crores within the next seven days as COVID solidarity fund for the state organisations so that they can conduct the scheduled leagues and tournaments without facing any cash crunch.

The Indian FA will individually discuss with the State FAs to understand their individual requirements. However, the Western Indian Football Association (WIFA) and the Indian Football Association (IFA) announced their decision to forego the grant.

The AIFF president also decided to waive off the CRS (Centralised Registration System) fees for all players – forgoing an amount to the tune Rs. 1.32 crores. He also said that the AIFF will be waiving of an amount of INR 34.5 lakhs which they would have received as Academy Accreditation fee for the 2020-21 season. 

Addressing all the representatives of the state associations, the AIFF president said, “I understand that the Covid-19 pandemic has made life difficult for all of us, not just for football but for all issues regarding our livelihood The sport has been very badly affected worldwide, and matches are being played behind closed doors."

Additional funds will be granted to states who will come up with a comprehensive development plan along with performance-oriented incentives. 

The Indian football season is set to kick off from October 8 with the I-LeagueSecond Division after a hiatus of more than six months. The Coronavirus pandemic forced all sporting activities to stop in mid-March and football was no exception. 

The grant from AIFF will be a shot in the arms for the state associations and the onus will now be on them to restart footballing activities in their respective areas as and when the situation permits. 

Kenyan Premier League (KPL) giants Gor Mahia have completed the signing of striker Jules Ulimwengu to strengthen their attacking department.

K'Ogalo have been desperate to land the forward after the departure of Francis Afriyie, Gnamien Yikpe, Juma Balinya, and Boniface Omondi, all in one year.

The Kenyan outfit have now confirmed the arrival of the experienced striker to lead their forward line.

"Burundian international Jules Ulimwengu joins Gor Mahia on a two-year contract deal becoming the latest addition to the squad," Gor Mahia made it official via their website.

"Ulimwengu is a centre-forward who has been featuring for his national team side and has previously played for a number of clubs in Africa including Vital’O FC, LLB Sports 4 Africa FC, Sunrise FC, and recently Rayon Sports FC of Rwanda.  

"The marksman, in the previous seasons while playing for his immediate former club [Rayon Sports FC], scored 12 goals that propelled them to lift their league’s trophy."

Rivals AFC Leopards were desperate to land the 21-year-old but the forward chose to settle at K'Ogalo thanks to continental football that Ingwe, currently, cannot offer.

After losing five players – Joash Onyango to Simba SC of Tanzania, David Mapigano to Azam FC, Dickson Ambundo to Dodoma Jiji, Omondi and keeper Peter Odhiambo to Wazito FC – Gor Mahia have been actively involved in the current transfer window.

Some of the new signings at Gor Mahia include Andrew Malisero Numero from Malawi, Benson Omalla, midfielder Sydney Ochieng, goalkeeper Samuel Njau, and defender Wesonga from Western Stima, Cameroonian midfielder Bertrand Konfor, John Macharia, and John Ochieng from Chemelil Sugar.

Meanwhile, Gor Mahia are still set to lose more players with Sofapaka confirming they are in talks to sign Lawrence Juma, while defender Charles Momanyi is yet to renew his contract and is being linked with a move to KCB.

Another player, Jackson Owusu, left to his native Ghana and is yet to confirm whether he will return ahead of the new season.

The Football Kenya Federation cancelled the 2019/20 season and went on to crown K'Ogalo as champions, giving them the right to represent the nation in the Caf Champions League.

Former Bidvest Wits duo Thulani Hlatshwayo and Deon Hotto are officially Orlando Pirates players after being unveiled on Monday afternoon. 

And the news of the two players putting pen to paper trended on Twitter as Bucs and football fans discussed their arrivals. 

For Hlatshwayo, the move was long overdue after years of speculation over his future, especially after confessing that he grew up supporting the Buccaneers. 

Hlatshwayo is believed to be one of the best-paid players in the PSL and some wonder if he took a salary cut. 

It is common knowledge that Pirates have been struggling to find Happy Jele's partner at the heart of their defence but who will make way for Tyson ahead of next season since he chose the Houghton-based side over Mamelodi Sundowns? 

What would your preferred line-up be with Tyson at the back and Hotto in attack? A few fans have an answer to this question. 

It is now up to the technical team to see how they utilise the two experienced players in the coming season.  

Chelsea defender Thiago Silva says he still hopes to represent Brazil at the next World Cup, despite the fact that he'll be 38 years old by the time the tournament kicks off.

Silva joined Chelsea this summer on a free transfer, departing Paris Saint-Germain after eight seasons with the Ligue 1 club.

During his time in Paris, the Brazilian remained among the world's best defenders, making 315 appearances while claiming seven Ligue 1 titles during that eight-year stay.

Most recently, the defender helped guide PSG towards what could have been the club's first Champions League crown, although the French side fell to Bayern Munich in the finale.

Internationally, Silva has been a mainstay for Brazil since making his debut with the senior team in 2008, earning a total of 89 caps while featuring at three World Cups.

And he's setting his sights on featuring at one more World Cup for his country, despite the fact that he'd almost certainly be one of the oldest players involved in Qatar in 2022.

"What motivates me, day by day, is the hunger to win. To win everything within my reach," he said in an interview with Chelsea's official website.

"Coming to the Premier League, my main goal is to win the league title and I’m certain that we’ll be fighting for that every step of the way. The team is really strong, we’ve got a great coach and I’ve come here to contribute in whatever way I can to ensure that we get as close as possible to achieving those aims.

"That’s what motivates me: stepping out onto the pitch, and then winning, winning, and winning some more. I don’t think about anything else.

"As I’ve said before, the prospect of playing at the next World Cup is another thing that really drives me. I’ll be more or less 38 years old by the time of the next World Cup and I’m hugely motivated to be in good shape for it.

"The work that I’m putting in to make this a reality already started a while back and now Chelsea have given me a great opportunity to continue playing at the highest level.

"What Chelsea represents to me is a source of great happiness and motivation to be a part of a new project, a new family and I hope that this will be a very special year together."

Silva has yet to make his debut for Chelsea, having missed the first two matches of the Premier League season.

Next up for the Blues is a Carabao Cup clash with Barnsley on Wednesday before a visit to West Brom this weekend for the club's third Premier League match of the campaign.

Kaizer Chiefs have announced Dillon Sheppard and Arthur Zwane as Gavin Hunt's assistants for the next three seasons.

The move by the Amakhosi management doesn't come as a surprise after the media broke the news soon after Hunt's appointment last week. 

More to follow... 

Alvaro Morata is on the verge of completing a return to Juventus from Atletico Madrid, sources have confirmed to Goal.

The 27-year-old, who played for Juve from 2014-16, should undergo a medical on Tuesday ahead of an initial loan move.

Juventus are set to pay a loan fee of €9 million (£8m/$11m), with an option to buy for €45m (£41m/$53m).

The move will bring to an end Juve’s summer search for a new striker, with Morata eventually preferred over Luis Suarez and Edin Dzeko.

Juventus had reached an agreement to sign Dzeko from Roma, but that deal was complicated by Roma's desire to sign Napoli forward Arkadiusz Milik as a replacement.

Suarez had travelled to Italy to try and complete a move after agreeing a €10 million (£9m/$12m) contract, but sporting director Fabio Paratici has confirmed that deal won't go ahead.

Instead, Andrea Pirlo will welcome back his former team-mate Morata as the forward returns to familiar surroundings in his much-travelled career.

He scored 27 goals in 93 games in two seasons in Turin, forming a good attacking partnership with Carlos Tevez in Massimiliano Allegri’s successful side. He also scored in Juventus' 3-1 defeat to Barcelona in the 2015 Champions League final.

He returned to boyhood club Real Madrid in 2016 but was then sold to Chelsea, where he scored 24 goals in 72 games but failed to truly convince as a top-level centre-forward in the Premier League.

He then spent two years under Diego Simeone at Atletico, scoring 22 goals in 61 games.

It has been widely reported that Morata's replacement at the Wanda Metropolitano will be Juve's previous target Suarez, who has been told he can leave Barcelona by new coach Ronald Koeman.

After winning two Serie A titles already at Juventus, Morata will be hoping to become a key figure in the club’s search for a tenth consecutive league win.

Pirlo’s side started their title defence in fine form with a 3-0 win at home to Sampdoria on Sunday.

Dejan Kulusevski, Leonardo Bonucci and Cristiano Ronaldo scored, with challenging fixtures away to Roma and at home to Napoli to follow in the coming weeks.

KMC reclaimed the top spot on the Tanzania Mainland League table after defeating their hosts Mwadui 2-1 on Monday.

The Municipal side had issued a notice to temporary leaders Azam FC, stating by the end of the day they will be at the top.

The Chamazi-base charges were on nine points, but a win by any margin for KMC could have demoted them to the second position.

However, it took them just 11 minutes to realize they had to dig deeper to stand a chance of defeating the Shinyanga-based side when Issa Shabani beat the defenders before cooly slotting the ball past the goalkeeper.

It happened to be the only goal in the entire first half as the visitors struggled to break their opponents down.

With 13 minutes left to full-time, Reliants Lusajo levelled matters to give his team hope of getting maximum points.

In the 85th minute, the forward completed his brace to ensure the Kinondoni charges returned to the top with nine points from three matches.

In another league match played on Monday, newbies Gwambina FC continued their struggle after falling by a solitary goal to Ruvu Shooting.

The promoted side had collected one point from their first two matches and were desperate for maximum points against the administrative charges, who had also collected a point from their opening two games.

The only goal came in the 41st minute when the defenders failed to clear a cross from the left and Fully Maganga capitalized on it to help his team get three points.

After round three of the Tanzania Mainland League matches, only KMC and Azam have reaped maximum points and are placed in the first and second positions, respectively.

The 21-time champions Simba SC, Dodoma Jiji FC, and Yanga SC have managed to collect seven points from the three matches played and occupy positions three, four, and five, respectively.

Mwadui and Mbeya City have not yet collected any points from the three rounds. The latter have leaked in most goals, six, and are yet to score a goal this season.

Simba, Yanga, and Azam FC are touted as the best sides with a chance of winning the league this season. 

Ihefu FC head coach Mwaka Malwisi has revealed his concerns on his side’s inability to turn chances into goals.

The Mainland Premier League debutants were defeated 1-0 by Mtibwa Sugar in their third assignment of the season and the coach has placed the blame squarely on the striking department.

The coach added they met after the defeat to the Sugar Millers and came up with ideas that will hopefully solve the problem in their next game.

“We wanted to collect all the points but that did not happen. We played well but we did not manage to score,” Malwisi told IPP Media.

“After our defeat on Friday, we met on Saturday for post-mortem and we discovered that we lack power upfront. We created a lot of chances but our undoing was the failure to turn the chances into goals.

“I told my players to work hard especially in scoring goals because that is what we have not been able to do. Yes, we are playing well but football is all about goals.

“I am sure that by the time we will be playing against Biashara United, the problem will be history.”

Ihefu have scored only two goals since and they came during their season-opening game against Simba SC when they went down 2-1 and during their 1-0 win against Ruvu Shooting.

Meanwhile, Mtibwa Sugar’s head coach Zuberi Katwila has said attention will now be drawn on their next match against giants Yanga SC.

Mtibwa Sugar will be up against a rejuvenated Yanga side that has seven points after their last 1-0 win over Kagera Sugar.

“We played well and got the results we wanted and our focus is on the next Premier League matches where our hope is that we will win all the matches,” Katwila told the same publication.

“Yanga are our next opponents and we know they are a good side but we will prepare well before facing them. Hopefully, we will get the best results even though we know the game is not going to be easy at all.”

Yanga and Mtibwa Sugar will meet on September 27 while Ihefu and Biashara United – who saw their unbeaten run end ruthlessly by Simba SC on Sunday – will face-off on October 9.

Jadon Sancho would “fit in with Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes like a duck to water”, claims the Borussia Dortmund winger’s former youth coach Louis Lancaster, with Manchester United urged to retain their interest in the 20-year-old.

The England international has been a top target for those at Old Trafford for some time. United have invested plenty of time and energy into trying to put a deal for Sancho in place, but Dortmund are reluctant sellers and will not part with such a prized asset for anything less than his full market value.

That is leaving the Red Devils frustrated as they seek to bring the hefty asking price down, and they may be forced to turn their attention elsewhere.

The clock is ticking on United in the current transfer window, with Donny van Beek the only fresh face welcomed into their ranks so far.

Lancaster hopes interest in Sancho will be retained, saying there is plenty of potential value in a big-money deal that would add another proven performer to Solskjaer’s squad.

“If Jadon was to go to Manchester United I think it would be a great move for him," Lancaster, who worked with Sancho in Watford’s academy system, told the Manchester Evening News. “He would be going to play for a manager that has trust, if you look at some managers they don't trust that talent.

“Jadon will probably go to Manchester United but it will also be great for the Premier League, and it would be great for him because the club are structurally set up for success.

“You don't want to go somewhere they are not set up for that. The club have got a tremendous amount of history, they have got a great coaching staff and they have got players who will trust him.”

Lancaster added on Sancho slotting in alongside a number of other match-winners at Old Trafford: “I think with his personality he will just fit in with Pogba, Fernandes, he will just fit in like a duck to water.

“If he goes there they are not just getting a great footballer but they are getting a mature 20-year-old. If you look at others his age he is incredibly mature. For him to leave a country at such a young age, and going to Germany has made him a better person. If he goes to Manchester United they are getting a mature and independent 20-year-old.”

Sancho left Manchester and the ranks of United’s arch-rivals City in 2017, heading for Germany to find the regular football he craved, away from English shores.

That important career call has been justified with senior international recognition and 35 goals in 101 appearances for Dortmund.

Tahith Chong is flattered to have earned comparisons with former Netherlands international Arjen Robben, with the Manchester United starlet currently making a name for himself during a loan spell at Werder Bremen.

The 20-year-old forward has long been held in high regard at Old Trafford, but competition for places is fierce at his parent club and, after signing a new contract in England, he has gone in search of regular game time in Germany.

A bright start has been made to life in Bremen, with a superb solo goal recorded in a DFB-Pokal clash with Carl Jeiss Zena, and Chong is now being billed as the ‘Curacao Arjen Robben’.

A youngster born on that Caribbean Island but a representative of the Netherlands through a number of youth levels is delighted to have been placed into such a notable talent category.

He told the Bundesliga’s official website: “I think it’s a big honour.

“Obviously, Arjen Robben is a big, big player. When I used to be small, I used to look up to him and liked his game.

“I think I’ve mentioned before, the players that I used to look up to were Arjen Robben, Ryan Giggs and Lionel Messi. So, to have that honour is big but I have got massive, massive steps to take before I can get to that level.

“From my side, it’s something you look forward to, keep developing as a player. But, like I said, I have loads of steps to take in my development to finally get there.

“But Arjen Robben was one of the best wingers in his time, in his prime. So, for me there is a long way to go. But obviously honoured as a player to have that mention.”

While looking to follow in the footsteps of one modern-day great, Chong has already spent time working with another in Manchester.

Enigmatic Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic took in 18 months with United before heading to MLS with the LA Galaxy, and Chong lapped up the opportunity to learn from a charismatic character.

He said of Ibrahimovic: “At Manchester United, at that time, I think I was just 16 or 17. But if they needed a player or something, then I think once or twice I trained with them.

“Then after a while, he remembered my face, so would come across in the gym and would speak to me every once in a while. Yeah, so once or twice I trained with the first-team lads.

“Obviously, he’s a big leader, on and off the pitch. Every once in a while, because he can speak a bit of Dutch still, he used to play at Ajax also, so off the pitch he used to try to help me and speak to me on stuff I can maybe improve. So, that definitely helped also, he has been a help.”

Chong has taken in 16 competitive appearances for United to date, with his spell at Werder Bremen intended to return him to Old Trafford ready to compete for more minutes under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Maritzburg United chairman Farook Kadodia has confirmed they have written to Orlando Pirates, requesting them to keep Tebogo Tlolane for at least another season. 

The left-footed wing-back spent the second half of the season's loan at the Team of Choice after struggling for game time at the Sea Robbers upon his arrival from Chippa United in July 2019.  

According to Kadodia, Tlolane is very important to Eric Tinkler's team and they are not willing to lose him at this stage. 

The Team of Choice boss revealed he is just waiting for a response from Bucs management on whether or not they will allow them to keep Tlolane ahead for the 2020-21 season. 

"Tlolane is very important," Kadodia told Isolezwe. "That's why we wrote to Pirates, pleading with them to loan him to us again for at least another season," he confirmed. 

"We are still waiting for Pirates to get back to us in the next few weeks."

"We don't want Tlolane to go," concluded Kadodia.  

After featuring 34 times and finding the back of the net thrice for the Chilli Boys, Tlolane caught the eye of the Buccaneers who offered him a three-year deal. 

The reason for signing him was to strengthen the left-back position where Innocent Maela is currently playing.

However, the club appeared to have a bit more than they could chew as Maela continued to own the position while the arrival of Paseka Mako, also from Chippa United as well as the presence of Bongani Sam saw Tlolane fall down the pecking order. 

As a result, he was reduced to a single appearance in his first four months with the club - and Maritzburg United came knocking for his signature albeit on a deal because of the potential they saw in him during his days with the Chilli Boys. 

He made an immediate impact soon after arriving in Pietermaritzburg, featuring in the club's 13 league matches under Tinkler. 

And despite being a natural left-back, the 25-year-old proved versatile as he doubled up as a left-winger in some of the games. 

Tlolane would go on to score twice and providing three assists as Maritzburg United finished the season inside the top eight teams - a huge improvement, given that they nearly got relegated in the previous campaign.