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Jordan Henderson is a Champions League, Club World Cup and Premier League title winner at Liverpool, but the Reds captain says Jurgen Klopp’s side “can be a lot better”.

It is difficult to see how the Merseyside outfit could take their game to even greater heights.

They were a dominant force on a domestic scene in 2019-20, with a first English top-flight crown in 30 years secured in record-setting style.

Prior to that, continental and global trophies had been captured, with Klopp smashing open the floodgates on the silverware front.

The challenge now is to maintain those standards, and Henderson believes there is more to come from Liverpool as individuals and a collective.

He told the club’s official website on not looking back at previous triumphs: “For me, there’s no real point to do it now because I still don’t feel I’ve finished, I feel there’s still a lot more to come.

“We can be a lot better. I know people will say, ‘Well, how?’ but trust us, in certain games we’ve played, in training sessions, we can still improve. Individuals can still get even better again.

“I still feel as though there is a lot more to come from all of us and if we want to be one of the best teams, then you need to do it consistently – you can’t just do it for a few years and then that’s it. You need to keep going and going and going.

“I look at what a lot of ex-players that have won trophies have said; it’s hard to win one but then it’s even harder to then win another one and another one and keep going.

“I can certainly see that and we understand that, so it’s just about basically doing what we’ve been doing for a long period of time and focusing on the right things, not getting carried away and not getting too down.

“There will be moments within a season where you maybe have a loss of form, or you’re not playing particularly well or whatever. You will have those moments and it’s about how you deal with them – and we always deal with situations in the right way and we need to continue to do that if we want to be successful again.”

As successful as Liverpool have been over the last two seasons, Henderson is adamant that everyone connected with the club is looking forward and remain as hungry as ever to savour more glory.

The England international added ahead of a Community Shield clash with FA Cup winners Arsenal on Saturday: “What’s happened in the past is incredible but it’s the past. You’ve always got to focus on what’s in front of you and that’s the most important thing.

“For us, it’s about being better. When we just lost the title – not last season, the season before – I can remember the total points was 97 and normally that wins you the Premier League, but on this occasion it didn’t and everybody was saying, ‘Well, where are you going to go from here? How are you going to improve?’ Next season we finish [with] 99.

“So it’s about improving, it’s about being better and you can’t have any limits on that. You’ve just got to keep giving absolutely everything, you’ve got to keep working harder than you ever have before, staying hungry. We’ve definitely got that mentality within this dressing room.”

Jude Bellingham has been reflecting on how he became an award-winning £25 million ($33m) asset on Borussia Dortmund’s books at just 17 years of age.

A meteoric rise to prominence has been enjoyed by the promising midfielder over the course of the last 12 months.

A senior debut was handed to him by Birmingham at the age of 16 years and 38 days, with Bellingham not looking back from that point.

It did not take long for his potential to be noted by leading sides across Europe, with Premier League heavyweights quick to join the hunt for his signature.

In the end, German giants Dortmund emerged victorious in that transfer scramble, with Bellingham lured away from St Andrew’s in July.

“What Birmingham City did for me, I can’t thank them enough, I’d thank them a million times because they’ve given me the platform to go on and achieve the things that I have,” Bellingham told the EFL’s official website.

“I got so much support from them, all the way through from the age of seven. I must give thanks to Pep Clotet, it’s never easy for any manager of a team to throw in a 16 year old, especially in the Championship, but for him to stick by me was huge.”

Bellingham’s rapid progress has now been recognised with the EFL Young Player of the Season award for 2019-20 and the LFE Championship Apprentice of the Year prize.

Quizzed on how he got to this point, the teenager added: “It’s not all about quality where us young players are concerned.

“It’s about having that fire in your belly, the hunger to stand out and change a game regardless of your age. It’s easy to be given your debut and then coast a little bit, but to go and make an impact like many young players have done is a credit to young players in this league, the clubs that they’re at and the league itself.

“For me personally, it just took a lot of hard work. I wanted this more than anything in the world; to get into the first team and perform for Birmingham City was the only goal I had and that was my determination.

“There are some fantastic opportunities within the EFL with the cup competitions especially, it gives youngsters like me a chance and a platform to shine, especially when we’re coming up against experienced first-team professionals.”

Bellingham is now lining up alongside the likes of Jadon Sancho and Erling Haaland at Dortmund, with the plan being for further potential to be unlocked in his game as he continues to take giants steps up the football ladder.

 “I’m very grateful to get the opportunity to play for this club,” said a youngster who has also earned a first call-up to the England U-21 squad.

“I really appreciate the trust they’ve put in me by signing me. We’ve had a lot of training sessions, a few pre-season games and I just can’t wait to get started. It’s been so far, so good for me and I just want to carry that into the main season.”

Tanzania Mainland League side Simba SC have been ranked seventh on the list of African clubs with a massive following in social media platforms.

Wekundu wa Msimbazi have been on the rise as far as online presence is concerned, and their efforts to improve in this facet have paid dividends. In the released list, the 21-time league champions have acquired two million followers.

On Facebook, they have managed to get 668,000 followers while Instagram has one million. The Msimbazi-based side have 332,000 followers on Twitter with the remaining 90,000 subscribers coming from YouTube.

"We represent the country well, some are unknown where they are," Simba reacted on their Facebook page which was seen as a direct taunt to their bitter rivals Yanga SC.

Egyptian giants Al Ahli lead the list with 29 million subscribers in all the social platforms, followed by Zamalek who are on 12 million. Raja Club Athletic are third with six million followers.

South African top tier sides Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates are in the fourth and fifth positions, with five and four million followers respectively, while Mamelodi Sundowns are 10th with one million subscribers.

Other teams in the top ten list are Pyramids, who are placed sixth with three million subscribers, Wydad Athletic Club who are eighth with two million while Club Africain are ninth with a million followers. 

Simba have been pushing to become one of the best teams in the continent on and off the pitch.

Recently, chairman Mohammed Dewji revealed his ambition for the Tanzania giants.

The Wekundu wa Msimbazi sealed a treble last season – Community Shield Cup, Mainland Premier League title, and the FA Cup – and will thus be the country’s flag bearers in the Caf Champions League for the third season in a row.  

"I am not pleased with winning the domestic titles," Dewji told reporters in an earlier interview. "My goal is the Caf Champions League.  

"Our goal is to keep on the pace to compete and win the Mainland Premier League, but also to reach the Champions League’s group stage and if we can win it.

"We have currently set GPS to our players that monitor the players’ performance by measuring heartbeats per second, resting heart rate and average heart rate to get each player statistics."  

Ligue 2 side Amiens have announced the signing of Nicholas Opoku on a season-long loan from Serie A side Udinese.

The defender has been with the Italian club since the summer of 2018 when he joined from Tunisian side Club Africain.

The centre-back made 19 league appearances for the White and Blacks before teaming up with the Unicorns temporarily in January.

Opoku only featured seven times for the Stade de la Licorne outfit before the outbreak of coronavirus in March which forced the 2019-20 season to be abruptly concluded.

The defender returned to his parent club following the expiration of his loan contract with Amiens but has now sealed another temporary deal with the French club.

The Stade de la Licorne outfit also have an option to acquire the 23-year-old permanently after satisfactory performances.  

“Amiens SC and Udinese have agreed to loan Nicholas Opoku,” read a statement from the club website.

“Amiens SC are pleased to announce the return to the club of Nicholas Opoku. Already loaned to Amiens SC last season, Nicholas Opoku returns to Picardy for this new 2020-2021 season. “

Opoku started his career in his country, Ghana, with Kumasi Corner Babies before joining Berekum Chelsea in 2016.

After a season with the club, he moved to Tunisia to team up with Club Africain and made 18 league appearances for the North African club before moving to Italy to sign for Udinese.

Opoku has featured for Ghana U17 and U20 teams and made his senior international debut against the United States in July 2017.

The 23-year-old centre-back has now made four appearances for the West Africans and will hope to feature consistently for his new club for a chance to enjoy regular call up to the Black Stars.

Houssem Aouar has seen moves to Arsenal and Manchester City mooted, but the highly rated Lyon playmaker has told those asking questions of his future: “I haven’t left yet”.

Various landing spots have been mooted for the 22-year-old midfielder since he broke onto the scene at Lyon. He has remained loyal to his Ligue 1 employers as others have departed, but the current window could be the one where he finally departs.

Lyon, despite making the Champions League semi-finals in 2019-20, have no European football to look forward to in the upcoming campaign. That is leaving them vulnerable to raids, with several prized assets attracting admiring glances.

Aouar falls into that category, with leading sides across the continent keeping a close eye on his situation.

Premier League giants are said to be heading that queue, as the likes of Arsenal and Man City mull over moves to bring more creativity into their ranks, but no deals have been done yet.

Quizzed by L’Equipe on whether he would find it difficult to bid farewell to Lyon at a time in which he would be denied the opportunity to say goodbye to fans amid coronavirus-enforced shutouts, Aouar said: “I haven’t left yet. So I haven’t asked this question.”

The youngster remained coy when asked about his international ambition. A first call-up to the senior France squad has been secured, with Didier Deschamps eager to offer Aouar a prominent stage on which to shine.

Regular football in familiar surroundings could help to keep him in contention for Les Bleus heading towards a rearranged European Championship in 2021.

Asked if those thoughts have entered his head, Aouar repeated: “I haven't left yet!”

With the Lyon starlet giving little away, the line of questioning was tweaked a little. Rather than pressing the issue of what could happen, Aouar was instead asked what he would like to do.

He replied: “That one is very tough. I want us to start the league well, and that we beat Dijon, to start with.”

Lyon are set to open their 2020-21 campaign on Friday with a home date against Dijon.

Bafana Bafana midfielder Dean Furman has officially joined League Two side Carlisle United. 

The tough-tackling player has penned a one-year deal with the English side, meaning he's contracted to them until the end of the 2020-21 season which gets underway in early September. 

According to the club, Furman underwent a week-long trial before he was offered this deal.  

Furman left South Africa in June following the expiry of his contract with SuperSport United. 

This was after letting the Tshwane giants know of his intentions to return to the UK and be with his family.   

Furman's new manager Chris Beech is confident the acquisition of the midfielder could work out to be excellent for the club given the player's experience. 

"This one could work out to be an excellent signing for us, and I’m delighted we’ve managed to do it," Beech told Carlisle's website. 

"I was aware of Dean when he moved to Oldham from Rangers years ago. As a young player, he made a real impact and subsequently moved into the Championship with Doncaster."

What excites Beech the most is Furman's ability to dictate matches in the middle of the park and he feels he will improve the teammates around him. 

"He’s such an intelligent footballer, with the ability to dictate a game - his retain and regain of the ball is exceptional and he adds leadership and maturity into that area of the pitch when it’s needed,"  added Beech. 

"Dean will, one hundred percent, help to improve our other midfield players through the application of his work, and that’s a huge plus for me. We’ve got some real talent in the building and I’m excited to see that progress.

"He’s been playing his football in South Africa but had a desire to come back to the UK to raise his family.

"Whilst there were lucrative offers for him on the table to go abroad again, he’s foregone that to buy into our journey, and he’s another that wants to be successful."

Beech isn't worried that Furman is already on the other side of 30 and he was actually impressed with his level of fitness during his week-long trial. 

"Dean’s on the older side of players we’ve recruited this summer at 32, with it typically being the young energy we’ve gone for, but nevertheless he’s one that’s in fantastic shape, super fit, and usually tops the stats in terms of distances covered in training, the game retains and regains during the time he’s been with us," concluded Beech. 

"He's a great pro with a great attitude, and I’m looking forward to him making us even better." 

GSM’s investment director Hersi Said has revealed Simba SC tried to hijack their move for Angola international Carlinhos but failed miserably.

The 27-time league champions had lost their captain Papy Kabamba Tshishimbi, who was not willing to renew his contract and were desperate to get his replacement.

Subsequently, the official has explained how Wekundu wa Msimbazi officials tried and failed to convince the Angolan to join them instead.

"[Simba SC representatives] went to Ethiopia to try and convince Carlinhos to change his mind but they did not understand the protocols set by the government [owing to Covid-19]," Hersi told Wasafi FM.

"So on reaching Ethiopia, our brothers from Simba were quarantined because the country is under restrictions. They did not manage to meet the player; so they gave him a call but Carlinhos told them money cannot convince him to change his mind, and that he is coming to Yanga SC."

The Jangwani Street-based side official has also revealed the midfielder came to Young Africans willingly and it was not because of money.

"Carlinhos is a financially stable player and he did not join the team because of money," Hersi added.

"He came to the team willingly and because of his passion for the game. Even some of his Angola friends and fans questioned his move to the club: They wondered why a player of his calibre chose to come to Tanzania.

"Many people tried to soil our reputation but the player insisted he is joining us and he eventually did."

The 25-year-old started his development at Petro Atletico in the youth team from 2009 and was eventually promoted to the senior team in 2013 but was loaned to Porcelana Cazengo.  

He eventually made a return to his parent team and went on to make 87 league appearances, scoring 11 goals in the process. He later joined Interclube which also participated n the Girabola.

Carlinhos is a full international for the Angola national team, which is commonly referred to as Palancas Negras and has made 10 appearances. He also has continental experience having played eight times with Petro Atletico in the Caf Confederation Cup.  

He was part of the team that won the Angola Cup in the 2017 season.    

Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum is wanted by Ronald Koeman at Barcelona, sources have confirmed to Goal, but the Dutchman is not pushing for a move and there is no offer on the table yet.

The versatile 29-year-old had a switch to Camp Nou mooted the moment another managerial change was made in Catalunya. Having previously worked with Koeman in the Netherlands national team set-up, Wijnaldum emerged as an obvious option for Barca to explore.

He has entered the final 12 months of his contract at Anfield and Liverpool are eager to avoid losing any players as free agents. No extension talks have taken place on Merseyside for some time, though.

Barcelona are aware of that but are yet to formalise their interest by approaching Liverpool.

The Reds have no desire to sell at this stage and have been offered no indication by Wijnaldum that he is looking for a move. The uncertainty surrounding his contract is, however, keeping all options open.

Liverpool have several factors to take into consideration as they assess the situation. Wijnaldum’s age, along with his wage packet and role in Jurgen Klopp’s plans, will be considered.

He played more minutes for the Premier League champions in 2019-20 than any other midfielder at Anfield and was selected to be one of the Reds’ vice-captains behind skipper Jordan Henderson.

Koeman, however, was able to get the best out of him at international level and there is obvious appeal to be found in working with a familiar face at another of world football’s biggest clubs.

Any deal at this stage, though, would require Barca to free up funds from sales.

Were they to move players out in the current window and find themselves in a position to make a bid, then a suitable fee would have to be agreed with Liverpool.

The Reds would be reluctant to discuss such matters as things stand, but their situation could also change over the coming days and weeks.

Bayern Munich playmaker Thiago Alcantara continues to be heavily linked with a move to England, and his arrival could pave the way for departures.

Any agreement, however, is far from certain and Wijnaldum is expected to start for Liverpool when they face FA Cup holders Arsenal in the Community Shield on Saturday.

The Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) has warned clubs to make sure they do transfer activities before deadline day.

The exercise which kicked off on August 1 is set to close on August 31 and the federation through media and communications officer Clifford Ndimbo has told clubs to make sure they conclude their transfer activities before then because they will not extend the deadline.

“Let me urge all clubs in the top-flight league, First Division League (FDL), Second Division League (SDL) and Serengeti Women's Premier League to continue signing players since we will not add more days after the end of the stamped date,” Ndimbo is quoted by Daily News.

Ndimbo has also urged clubs faced with problems to sign players to work closely with the federation so as to get help.

The transfer window saw Simba SC raid their rivals Yanga SC for the services of midfielder Bernard Morrison, a transfer which saw the latter lodge a complaint with the TFF as they claimed the player was still contracted to them until 2022.

However, the TFF later ruled in favour of Simba and the Ghanaian forward, and thus the player will don the red jersey of Simba in the new campaign.

Other top signings so far include Simba raiding Kenya’s Gor Mahia for the services of defender Joash Onyango. The burly defender thus joined the list of Gor Mahia players to have moved to Simba, among them Francis Kahata, Dan Sserunkuma, and Meddie Kagere.

Simba have also signed Zambian player Larry Bwalya from Power Dynamos while Yanga have signed Angolan midfielder Carlinhos from Interclube.

The 25-year-old started his development at Petro Atletico in the youth team in 2009 and was eventually promoted to the senior team in 2013 but was loaned to Porcelana Cazengo.

Carlinhos is a full player for the Angola national team, which is commonly referred to as Palancas Negras and has made 10 appearances. He also has continental experience having played eight times with Petro Atletico in the Caf Confederation Cup.

He was part of the team that won the Angola Cup in the 2017 season.

"Your dream, our desire." That was the recurring slogan spotted on the streets of Rosario on Thursday as Newell's Old Boys fans paraded in a push to convince Lionel Messi to return to his boyhood club. 

Messi came through the youth ranks of the Argentine side before joining Barcelona in 2001 and going on to win a record six Ballon d'Ors among countless other honours. 

After nearly two decades at Camp Nou, however, the now 33-year-old has handed in a shock transfer request as he looks to move on from the club that failed to win a trophy last season. 

While Manchester City are the favourites to sign Messi should he secure an exit, Newell's haven't given up hope of the Argentine returning, with the club's faithful taking to the streets in a show of support. 

Following a push to parade gathered momentum on social media, Old Boys fans gathered across Rosario on Thursday waving red-and-black flags, letting off the occasional flare and donning countless forms of Messi merchandise. 

As it stands, Messi returning to Newell's is a long shot, with even the head of their English supporters club, Jamie Ralph, hopeful but conceding a reunion right now is unlikely. 

"Personally I think it’s a bit too soon, but what people need to understand is that Newell’s have a bit of a track record of pulling flagship signings out of nowhere, and that’s why people think it’s not that impossible," Ralph told the PA news agency. 

"Diego Maradona was at Sevilla in Spain – he was only 33, so he was the same age as Messi – and he came back and signed for Newell’s, which was unbelievable at the time. This was the year before the ’94 World Cup.

"There’s this real feeling that for players who come through the club, money doesn’t matter, it’s really the feeling to come back and play for their shirt again in front of the fans and really feel that you’re part of that club again.

"There’s a bit of romanticism going on. I do think Messi will play for Newell’s one day, but personally think it’s a little bit too soon."

Newell's Old Boys vice-president Cristian D'Amico, meanwhile, recently reiterated that the doors are open for Messi to return to the club.

"I don't know if it is impossible. It is all up to him and his family," the director told TNT Sports. 

"As directors we have to provide the best context possible to help him make a decision. When Maradona came to Newell's nobody thought he could come. I hope that something similar can happen with Leo.

"Obviously we shouldn't be making things up, this is a delicate subject. What Newell's doesn't dream of seeing the world's best player in their team's colours? Time will tell maybe, we have to stay calm."

Having a good striker in a team is a good idea. Retaining a player who scored more than half of the team's goals last season should, in nearly all cases, be a no-brainer. 

The deal with Bartholomew Ogbeche at Kerala Blasters appeared to be straightforward at first but then the Coronavirus pandemic took football for a ride. Everything seemed okay for a while initially but then the realization dawned on Indian clubs that the pandemic will have a massive financial impact in the football world. 

Every club functions and operates their finances differently. Kerala Blasters were left with no choice but to suggest deferred payments to their players.  

The deferrals felt better to some players compared non-payment of salaries, which did occur for a few months during the 2019-20 season. After the dues were cleared, Ogbeche's case stood out. 

The player did not want to take a deferral - from his point of view, he had just had two back-to-back brilliant seasons in the ISL and it didn't make sense to earn less money. 

And after weeks of discussions, during which Mumbai City swooped in with an offer, both parties came to an amicable resolution. 

Earlier this week, Ogbeche sent a farewell message to his Kerala Blasters' teammates, which read, 

Hi everyone, I trust you’re all doing fine. This is simply to inform you all that i won’t be part of the team for the upcoming season. I enjoyed the workouts as well as the times we’ve had virtually with some of you and I appreciate the oneness and love that reigned amongst us last season regardless of how tough the season was. 

Take good care of yourselves and all the best for the season ahead. God bless

As   Goal   had earlier revealed, Mumbai City were in advanced talks to sign the former PSG striker and that deal was wrapped up.

The Nigerian's 15 goals were vital for not only the player himself who surpassed Iain Hume as Blasters' all-time top scorer (in just one season!) but also revitalized a Blasters fanbase that felt lethargic seeing their team struggle in front of goal week in week out in the last few years. 

Given how Blasters have chosen to approach the current uncertain transfer market, with a preference to wait and observe rather than wrap up deals early, Ogbeche's exit was a long time coming and the club should be well prepared for his departure. Kerala Blasters will move on. And so should the fans. 

And now would be a good time to stop creating hashtags to bring back former players. It's time to move on.

Legendary Indian football manager Sukhwinder Singh will be conferred with the Dhyan Chand Award by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports of India on August 29, the National Sports Day of India.

From winning the maiden National Football League (NFL) title in 1996-97 to guiding the Indian national team to some memorable international wins, Sukhwinder Singh, whose coaching career spanned for more than 20 years, has tasted his fair share of success.

Singh expressed his joy as well as gratitude towards the authorities after being conferred the prestigious award.

“It felt great, to be honest. It really feels nice when you get recognised. I have had a long coaching career and I have been given this award for that. Thanks to everyone,” the veteran coach told Goal.

Sukhwinder Singh’s coaching career as a senior team head coach began in 1992 with JCT FC. He recalled taking charge of a rookie side, with which he managed to create a stir in his debut year.

“Before 1992, I had worked with the junior teams as well as an assistant coach in the senior team. In the first season, there were only three recognised players in my team, others were all youngsters. With such an inexperienced side we went to Durand Cup. In the first round, we defeated East Bengal. We had also defeated Mohun Bagan and then Mohammedan Sporting in the final to win the trophy.

“It was really a special win as we had defeated all three Kolkata clubs and at that time it was a big deal. I remember there was a headline in Economic Times after the final which read, ‘JCT shows the way’. The specialty of my team was fitness and hard work,” said the former JCT coach.

Singh recalled what prompted him to sign stars like IM Vijayan, Carlton Chapman and Jo Paul Ancheri in the 1995-96 season which eventually resulted in JCT winning the first-ever National Football League (NFL) title in 1996-97. Before that, JCT were more known for developing local talents.

“I had a great batch of young players. But after the first three seasons, many of the players left for other clubs. I never liked how other clubs use to take away our players so one day I told our club owner Samir Thapar about this. There was a prevailing rule in the club until then that only Punjabi players should play for JCT in order to uplift the game in the state. But before the 1995-96 season, Thapar told me ‘why don’t you bring in some big names from other clubs’?

“We got IM Vijayan and Jo Paul Ancheri and I had also approached Bhaichung Bhutia but he told that he would like to play one more season at East Bengal as gratitude towards the club for launching his career. I respected his decision. Instead of Bhaichung, I brought Carlton Chapman. In 1995 we had won three trophies which include the Sait Nagjee Football Tournament and the Federation Cup.

“Next season, Bhaichung joined us and some quality foreigners like Bernard Oparanozie and Stephen Abarowei were also there. We won the NFL in the very first year. It was indeed a memorable experience,” said the NFL winning coach.

Unfortunately, the dream had lasted for just two seasons. In 1997, Vijayan and Ancheri joined FC Kochi while Bhaichung Bhutia returned to East Bengal.

With once again a new batch of players, JCT for a very long time, could not replicate their performance from the first edition of the league.

In 2005 again, Singh decided to bring in players from outside Punjab once again. They signed national team star Renedy Singh and then promising youngster Sunil Chhetri from Mohun Bagan who had just made his debut in the national team.

“In 2005 again, we decided to bring in some known names as we were not getting the desired results in the league,” recalled Sukhwinder. "So we signed Sunil Chhetri and Renedy Singh. Brazilian striker Edu (Eduardo Da Silva Escobar) had also joined us. He was a very good striker."

“Whenever a player used to score against Kolkata clubs, the fans there never used to appreciate that and even abused the opposition player. But Edu got a standing ovation during the 2005-06 season in Kolkata. We had played Mohun Bagan and East Bengal back to back within a gap of three days. Against Mohun Bagan, we had won 3-2 where Edu had scored a hat-trick and against East Bengal, we once again scored two goals. It was one such rare occasion that the crowd had appreciated Edu’s performance.”

Harambee Starlets forward Bertha Omita has signed for Simba Queens of Tanzania.

Omita joins the Tanzanian champions from the Kenyan Women Premier League side Kisumu Starlets although the details of the deal have not yet been made official.

Simba Queens are the reigning champions of the Tanzanian competition and Omita is the first high-profile signing the Msimbazi Queens have made.

Meanwhile, Francis Kahata has praised the size of the current Simba SC's squad, having been part of the 2019/20 treble-winning team.

“The huge squad at the coach's disposal will bring about stiff competition within the team,” Kahata told the club’s website. “It is a squad that has a lot of talented players who happen to play for their respective national teams.

“The size we had last season was somewhat thin for them to fight and actually win three titles.”

The Harambee Stars forward scored four goals for Wekundu wa Msimbazi and was named the best player for the month of December.

The former KF Tirana and Thika United star joined the Tanzanian champions and established himself as one of the club's first-teamers despite the change of coaches midway through the campaign.

The Kenyan was signed by Patrick Aussems before Sven Vandenbroeck was appointed, and he maintained Kahata in his starting XI regularly.

Finally, Joash Onyango has explained why he has already adapted to life in Tanzania after signing a two-year deal with Simba in August.

“People in Tanzania are kind and very welcoming. The few days I have been here, I have been welcomed in a great way and in the process, I think I have adapted quite fast,” the former Western Stima defender stated. “Life in Tanzania is the same with life in Kenya and I think that is what has helped me adapt quickly.

“I am not going to talk much but my hope is to have a great time as a Simba player and of course win titles with them," he added. “I like how the team is organised and even the training facilities here are modern.”

The Most Valuable Player Award winner for 2018/19 KPL season also spoke about his new teammates and his expectations in regard to enjoying enough playtime.

“Although I have played with Francis Kahata and Meddie Kagere before, at Gor Mahia, I have met a number of other Simba players before especially in the SportPesa Cup, Cecafa Club Challenge Cup and in international matches,” he concluded. “I believe I am going to win the coach's faith in order to be a first-team member.

"I also think I am going to get enough support from our fans.

‘Berlin Wall’, as the Harambee Star is popularly known due to his defensive prowess, played against Vital'O of Burundi when they won 6-0 during the Simba Day friendly.

He was partnered at centre-back with another new player Ibrahim Ame.

Ghanaian striker Joseph Esso has joined Premier League side Dreams FC, weeks after his sensational exit from Hearts of Oak.

The Dawu-based club announced his acquisition on Thursday.

Esso, who was linked to Asante Kotoko, parted ways with Hearts earlier this month after failing to agree terms with the club on a contract extension. 

“Dreams FC are pleased to announce the signing of a professional contract with forward Joseph Esso for a two year period,” the club wrote on their official website. “He becomes the latest profile player to join the Still Believe lads ahead of the upcoming 2020/2021 season.

“Esso who shone for Ghana at the 2019 Wafu Championship arrives as a free agent.”

Esso was one of five players to walk away from Hearts over a lack of agreement on contract renewal.

“Words cannot describe how I feel at the moment. Honestly, it really feels great to join one of the best clubs in Ghana. I really admire how the club operates and I am excited to be part of the family,” said the attacker. “Dreams FC is fast becoming one of the best clubs in the Ghana Premier League, I looked at the club’s project and wanted to contribute and be part of the dream.”

In the 2019-20 league season which was prematurely terminated at matchweek 15 due to the coronavirus pandemic, the forward scored three times in 14 league matches.

He joined the Phobians from Ebusua Dwarfs in 2018.

“It’s been a wonderful journey down the rainbow lane, full of colours and amazing victories," Esso posted in a goodbye message to Hearts fans on Wednesday. "At this point, it is no secret that my chapter at the great club has come to an end and my next destination has been topical, a fact that has proven the bond I shared with players, management and most importantly the fans.

“The love and support over the years was phenomenal and I am really grateful. For each cheer, from the stands, the touchline and from your digital distance, I appreciate you all.

“I have reached a decision on my career path and hope you understand the need for fresh challenge just as each one of you should when you have the chance to live your dreams.

"I set off knowing that I served the never say die colours with all my strength and will always cherish every moment."

In December, Esso was linked to Sudanese side Al-Hilal following a fine showing for Ghana at the 2019 Wafu Cup of Nations in Senegal.

France manager Didier Deschamps has defended Kylian Mbappe from criticism of his performance in the Champions League final, while also taking aim at Ligue 1 over a controversial fixture change.

Mbappe struggled to make an impact in Paris Saint-German’s 1-0 defeat to Bayern Munich, completing just 11 passes and having fewer touches than any other PSG starter – including goalkeeper Keylor Navas.

The 21-year-old’s participation in the Champions League had been in doubt after an ankle injury sustained in the Coupe de France final, but he returned to play a key role in his side’s quarter-final comeback against Atalanta.

Deschamps knows Mbappe wasn’t at his best against Bayern, but wanted to remind fans that he is only human.

“From the moment they don’t get the expected result and Kylian, like Neymar, is one of the players who has to make the difference, he is criticised when he isn’t successful,” Deschamps told reporters.

“Kylian is Kylian, he is not a robot. He did some good things; he could have done other things better.

“You have to take the context into account. Being stopped by an injury and having to come back could have had an impact on the semi-final and the final.”

Deschamps was less impressed with Ligue 1, after this week’s decision to postpone PSG’s opening game of the league season.

The French league season has already started, and PSG had been slated to kick off against Lens on August 29 – less than a week after the Champions League final.

Thomas Tuchel’s side requested more recovery time, and the fixture has been put back to September 10. France play Croatia in the Nations League just two days before, leaving Deschamps with selection headaches over the likes of Mbappe and Presnel Kimpembe.

"The decision to postpone this Lens-PSG match is to say the least surprising, if not embarrassing,” Deschamps fumed.

“I am not criticising or commenting on PSG or their arguments, but the fact that the league made this decision knowing the international calendar.

“It’s impossible to be able to play two top-level matches in 48 hours, even if the minimum legal limit is respected.

“For five seconds, I can put myself in Tuchel’s place – he would hope that Kylian and Kimpembe won’t play.

“Luckily, I have the freedom to do whatever I want but it makes it seem like I can’t consider them for the second game.

“It is surprising, embarrassing and annoying. I could use other words, but that would be too strong, I'll keep them to myself.

"If I use them, I'm against PSG. If I don't use them, I'm doing PSG a favour… anything can happen, but it's very embarrassing on both sides.”

Rennes have announced the signing of Serhou Guirassy from Ligue 2 side Amiens on a five-year deal.

It has been made known that the Red and Blacks are looking to bolster their squad ahead of their Champions League debut and had identified centre-back and centre-forward positions.

Rennes had already completed the signing of Morocco defender Nayef Aguerd from Dijon and Guirassy’s arrival is a part of the transfer mission already accomplished.

The 24-year-old had openly admitted after Amines’ Ligue 2 opener against Nancy in which he scored, that he was hoping to get the move to Rennes done and now that it’s happened, he says he is relived.

"I am relieved. It took a while but I'm very proud and very happy to join a club like Stade Rennais FC,” the Franco-Guinean said on the club website.

“I can't wait to meet the supporters and my new teammates. I hope that we will do great things this season in the league and in the Champions League.”

Rennes sporting director Florian Maurice meanwhile declared the Brittany outfit as a good choice for Guirassy to continue the progress of his career.

“He's a great signing, a player we've been waiting for some time. It took a little longer than expected but we are happy to get to the end," Maurice said.

“He has been known in the national youth teams, he has also been known abroad by playing in Germany. After relaunching at Amiens, the idea for him was to continue his progression in a club like ours.

"It's a good choice for him and for us. He has this mix of experience and youth that will allow him to continue to grow.”

Before Amiens got relegated from Ligue 1, Guirassy scored a total of 12 goals in 46 appearances.

He will face competition for a starting berth with Senegal forward M’Baye Niang who notched 10 goals in Ligue 1 last season as Rennes finished third.

Julian Stephan’s men kicked off the new campaign with a 1-1 draw away to Lille, both sides finishing 10 men after Mozambique left-back Reinildo Mandava and Franco-Cameroonian right-back Sacha Boey were given straight red cards for dangerous tackles.

France manager Didier Deschamps has given details as to why he selected Houssem Aouar, Eduardo Camavinga and Dayot Upamecano ahead of Le Bleus Uefa Nations League ties against Sweden and Croatia.

The trio who are of Algeria, Angola and Guinea-Bissau descent respectively have been starring in their respective clubs.

Aouar was ever-present for Olympique Lyon as they reached the Champions League semi-finals, seeing off Juventus and Manchester City along the way and the 22-year-old’s technical abilities were too good for Deschamps not to notice.

“He [Aouar] has technical skills, he is able to score goals. He has brought more continuity to his performances,” Deschamps said in a press briefing.

“He's still a young player. We had been following him for a long time. I often talk to [France Under-21 manager Sylvain] Ripoll, he gives me more information.

“[Aouar] is rather versatile, he is an attacking midfielder that can be axial. He is more efficient in the offensive phase, in the use of the ball. He has a lot of interesting things."

Camavinga is a 17-year-old who plies his trade for Rennes and has been linked with a move to Real Madrid. He played 36 times last season with the Red and Blacks finishing in third place in Ligue 1 and qualifying for the Champions League for the first time ever.

He came in as a replacement for Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba who had tested positive for Coronavirus and Deschamps has been impressed by what Camavinga has accomplished at such a young age.

“I know his [Camavinga’s] trainer well. It might come early, but sooner or later it would have come,” Deschamps continued.

“In terms of personality, it shows when he's on the pitch. He has an influence despite his young age. He's able to do things at his age. We will have to be vigilant, but he has a potential that will make him an integral part of this team sooner or later. It is a pleasure to be able to have him with us at this gathering.”

Upamecano meanwhile was at the heart of the RB Leipzig defence with his sturdy performances seeing them reach the Champions League semis and finish third in the Bundesliga, qualifying for Europe’s premier club competition for the third season in a row.

“He's [Upamecano] a player we've been following for a long time. He is one of the players who was likely to come,” Deschamps said.

“He is very athletically, he goes fast, good in duels. The ball is not a problem for him, even if he must be careful not to abuse it too much at times. He's young, I felt it was time to prepare him. It is up to him to maintain this level. He still has a good margin of progress."

Juventus attacker Juan Cuadrado cannot see Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi joining Cristiano Ronaldo at the Serie A champions.

Messi has sensationally told Barca he wants to leave the club, where the six-time Ballon d'Or winner has spent his entire professional career.

Though he has yet to explain his decision, Goal understands Messi intends to give his version of events in the coming days.

Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain and Inter have been most strongly linked with moves for the 33-year-old, who has won 10 La Liga titles and four Champions League crowns during his time at Barca.

Others have suggested Messi could join Ronaldo in Turin to bring together the two best players of the modern day, but Cuadrado would be surprised if such a move happened.

"I can't imagine it at all. The truth is that I don't," he told ESPN Nexo on Thursday.

Cuadrado added: "Just like with Cristiano, many people did not believe and suddenly he arrived."

Man City is considered one of the most likely landing spots for Messi, with his former manager at Barca Pep Guardiola at the helm.

Goal has reported that Guardiola and Messi have spoken in recent days, with the pair still enjoying a strong relationship.  

PSG could also be an option, with Messi potentially reuniting with former team-mate Neymar in the French capital.

Meanwhile in Turin, Juve are preparing to begin their 2020-21 campaign under a new head coach after Andrea Pirlo replaced Maurizio Sarri at the helm earlier this month.

Despite winning a ninth straight Serie A title, Sarri was dismissed after just one season in charge following his side's Champions League exit to Lyon in the round of 16.

Cuadrado, who has been at Juve since 2015 and initially arrived on loan, said he was yet to hold talks with Pirlo about his plans.

"I have not had the opportunity to talk to him yet. When it is my turn I will surely tell him where I feel much more comfortable [playing]," he said.

"Hopefully what he knows and what a good player he was, he can contribute to the team and that we can get many titles together."