Looking for Soccer News?

Mamelodi Sundowns captain Hlompho Kekana is confident recent experiences of triumphing in closely-contested Premier Soccer League (PSL) races will help them beat their closest challengers Kaizer Chiefs to the league title.

Second-placed Sundowns are three points behind leaders Chiefs and the two sides meet at FNB Stadium on Thursday in what is potentially the title decider.

Last season, Downs pipped Orlando Pirates to the league crown on the last day of the season to win it by two points, having also beaten the same side to the championship with a game to spare the previous season.

That is in stark contrast to Chiefs’ last league triumph in 2015 where they won it with several games to go and Kekana feels that the past brutal confrontations have battle-hardened them, an experience that would come handy in the current campaign.

“At the moment I think we now understand the nature of this game and I believe that we are a team that is very ambitious. We have been in this space for so many seasons now,” Kekana told the Sundowns media team.

“We understand that we have to take each game at a time and one of the matches that we have to take care of is the one that is coming up against Chiefs. We know that we have to do our business and we have to make sure that we win this match.

“We have to make sure that we take care of all the elements that are involved in the game. I think we are in the right frame of mind to do so because we just won the match [last game against Golden Arrows] and I think it’s a morale booster for that game. I believe we stand the chance of doing business for ourselves.”

Sundowns go into this match on the backdrop of a 1-0 win over Golden Arrows on Monday which was their first victory since the PSL season resumed.

Those three points came after a frustrating run of three draws and a defeat, a period that raised questions about Downs’ ability to claim a third successive league title.

“We have a task and responsibility to serve football lovers so we have sacrificed a lot. We know that there is a lot we have to offer on the field of play,” said Kekana.

“It was a breather to play against Arrows knowing very well that we are doing very well as a team. I think we tried, so many games that we tried to win and the tricky ones which were difficult for ourselves because we haven’t been defending well or scoring as many goals as we wanted to.

“But I think we are in a very good space at the moment because we wanted to get the three points we were really looking forward to as a team. I think at the moment the boys know that it’s doable we can go do it again, we can go and win the match again because there are still matches we still have to play.”

After facing Chiefs, Downs will be left with three league games, all interestingly against relegation fighting Limpopo teams Baroka FC, Polokwane City and Black Leopards.

Ben Chilwell hopes to replicate Ashley Cole's success at Chelsea after completing a move to the club from Leicester.

The left-back joined the Blues in a £50 million ($66m) deal and signed a five-year contract on Wednesday.

Cole, who spent eight years at Stamford Bridge and won the Premier League, Champions League and Europa League among others with Chelsea, heaped praise on the England international and tipped him to succeed at the club.

Chilwell grew up watching Cole shine at Chelsea and will be comparing himself to the former England star. 

"It’s great for myself, I’ve got that benchmark of what a great Chelsea left-back is," he told the club’s website when asked about following in Cole's footsteps.

"I grew up watching Ashley Cole play so I know how respected he is here and again that was a big reason for me wanting to come.

"I feel like I’m still young and I want that sort of career that he had at Chelsea for myself as well."

Chilwell will be working closely with another Chelsea legend during his time in west London, with Frank Lampard currently in charge of the first-team.

The 23-year-old revealed that his talks with the coach were pivotal in convincing him to make the move.

"[Lampard was] massively important. Obviously I wanted to play for a massive club, that’s what everyone wants for their whole career, but talking to Frank before I came was one of the main reasons I wanted to come," he added.

"He instilled a lot of confidence in me, told me how much the system suits the way I play and seemed like a really good guy that you can talk to about stuff away from football. I think that’s very important for a young player, having a manager that you can get on with and talk to stuff about.

"He’s very keen on young players, we’ve seen that since he’s been here and talking to him was a massive reason for me wanting to come.

"When you work under a manager who was a player himself, I think that’s really important. He was a great player not just for Chelsea but for England as well. Hopefully he can help me with my career for however long and hopefully he can give me a lot of advice and I hope I have as good a career as he had.

"When I spoke to the gaffer he kind of instilled what I already knew, that this system does suit me. When I watch Chelsea play I look at the full-backs and think: ‘That’s perfect for me, that’s my game down to a t’. I literally can’t wait to get started and hopefully many great years to come."

Real Madrid outcast James Rodriguez is closing in on a €35 million (£31m/$41m) move to Everton.

Goal has learned that Goodison Park is the most likely next destination for James, with Carlo Ancelotti eager to bring the 29-year-old to Goodison Park ahead of the new season.

The David Beckham-owned MLS franchise Inter Miami had previously submitted an offer for the Colombia international, but he is now expected to embark on the next stage of his career in the Premier League.

James dropped a major hint over his future earlier in August, admitting that a move to England holds great appeal to him during an interview with Mexican motivational speaker Daniel Habif.

"I've already been in several good leagues and the only thing missing is Serie A and the Premier League, you have to see where I want to go or where they want me to go," he said.

"Going to England would be a good thing, it's a top league."

Ancelotti was the man who convinced the experienced midfielder to join Madrid in 2014, when he completed a £71m ($93m) move to Santiago Bernabeu from Monaco following a stellar showing at the World Cup finals in Brazil.

However, the Italian head coach was relieved of his managerial duties a year later, and James quickly fell out of favour under Ancelotti's successor, Zinedine Zidane.

James was eventually sent out on loan to Bayern Munich, where he spent two seasons before returning to the Spanish capital last summer.

But he was unable to force his way back into the Madrid team last term, with a lack of regular opportunities restricting him to just 14 appearances for the club across all competitions.

Rumours of a rift between the former Monaco star and Zidane have swirled throughout the 2020-21 campaign, which ended in La Liga glory for the Blancos.

James has now picked up a total of nine major honours during in his time at the Bernabeu, but he wasn't happy with his limited contribution to Madrid's latest title charge, as he told the 'Realeza del Fútbol Latino' podcast: "I know I have the conditions to always play, but because of other people, I cannot do it.

"If I were a bad player, I would accept it, but I'm a person who wants to win and always play."

The playmaker also revealed that he was denied a permanent move away from the club in 2019, adding: "When you see you don't have the same opportunities as your team-mates, it's hard. I wanted to leave but the club wouldn't let me."

Barcelona are still trying to convince Lionel Messi to stay at the club and expect him to attend training when sessions resume, according to sporting director Ramon Planes.

Messi rocked Barcelona on Tuesday when it emerged the six-time Ballon d'Or winner informed the club he would like to leave.

The 33-year-old reportedly intends to activate a clause in his contract that would allow him to unilaterally terminate their agreement following the 2019-20 season and join another club.

While it was required to be activated before the end of May, Messi told the club he still intends to make use of it as the season was extended into August due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Planes, promoted to his role following Eric Abidal's dismissal last week, says Barca have not given up hope of continuing their association with Messi.

Although Planes was speaking as Barca presented new signing Francisco Trincao to the media, unsurprisingly the focus was not on the young Portuguese winger.

"It was important news about Messi, but what we feel and have said many times is that we think of Messi as a Barca player," Planes said.

"Today Trincao arrives and we hope that he will triumph alongside Messi. Barca has rebuilt itself many times throughout its history and has always come back strong. Our idea is to do it around the best player in the world.

"You have to have enormous respect for Leo because of what he is and because of his history. We are not thinking about any contractual clause.

"Messi's marriage to Barca has given both parties a lot, much joy to the fans and internally we are working to convince Messi, to find the best solution for Barca and for Messi.

"We are making additions like Pedri and Trincao to make a winning and young team, all clubs are regenerating.

"It is not a dispute between Messi and Barcelona, ​​neither deserve it. We are working to make a winning Barca."

A number of top European clubs have been linked with Messi in the wake of the reports coming out of Camp Nou, including Italian giants Inter and Champions League finalists Paris Saint-Germain.

However, Manchester City has been mooted as the most likely next destination for the six-time Ballon d'Or winner, and Goal has learned that Pep Guardiola has already been in contact with the Argentine over a potential move.

Guardiola was the man who initially unlocked Messi's full potential at Camp Nou, and he is eager to arrange a reunion ahead of the 2020-21 season.

Leicester have confirmed that Jamie Vardy has signed a new deal with the club that will take him through until 2023 with the Foxes.

The England international forward finished the 2019-20 season with 23 Premier League goals, giving him the competition’s Golden Boot.

With a previous deal that was due to expire in 2022, Leicester have moved to keep the 33-year-old on their books for at least an additional year.

“The journey that I’ve been on with this football club is hard to describe, and although we’ve accomplished so much together already, I know that I’ve got so much more to achieve with this team, so it’s a special feeling to be able to commit my future to Leicester City once again,” Vardy told the club’s official website.

“I love playing my football in front of our fans at King Power Stadium and I’m delighted to continue this journey at such an exciting time for the club.

"We’ve a fantastic team that I believe is capable of getting even better and I can’t wait to see what we can achieve together in the next few years.”

Vardy has been one of the iconic figures of Leicester’s rise to prominence in the Premier League, which peaked in 2016 as they won the title under the guidance of Claudio Ranieri.

He had joined the club from non-league Fleetwood Town in 2012 and fired Leicester into the quarter-finals of the Champions League in 2017.

In addition, he holds the record for consecutive games scored in the Premier League, striking in 11 successive fixtures in 2015.

His latest achievement came in July, when he joined the exclusive Premier League 100 club, becoming the 29th player to pass that landmark in terms of goals scored. 

He currently lies on 103 strikes in England’s top flight and has netted 129 times in 309 outings in all competitions for the Foxes, who will play in the Europa League next season after finishing fifth in the standings. That tally puts him fourth on the club’s all-time leading scorer list.

At international level, he has played 26 times for England and has seven goals to his name.

Manchester City are Lionel Messi's "best option" as he seeks a move to a new club, according to Rivaldo, who thinks Pep Guardiola would build his team around the exit-bound Barcelona superstar.

Shockwaves were sent across the football world as news of Messi handing in an official transfer request at Camp Nou broke on Tuesday.

Goal has reported that the Argentine wants to trigger the release clause in his current contract, which expires in 2021, so that he can bring the curtain down on a hugely successful 16-year spell in Catalonia.

The 33-year-old's frustrations over the way the club has been run in recent years boiled over after an embarrassing 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munch in the Champions League, and he has now decided to see out the remaining years of his career in new surroundings.

Pep Guardiola has already been in touch with Messi to discuss the prospect of a reunion at City, who are one of very few clubs in Europe to boast enough financial power to match the six-time Ballon d'Or winner's current pay packet.

The two men worked together to great effect at Barca between 2008 and 2012, and Rivaldo believes a generational talent would quickly adapt to the demands of Premier League football at the Etihad Stadium.

"Manchester City could be Messi's best option as his next club," the former Blaugrana forward told Betfair.  "He's 33 but his quality and talent are unquestionable and I think he still has a few more years at the top. He could quickly start shining in England.

"Guardiola has deep knowledge of Messi's abilities and would find a solution to quickly incorporate him into the team and get the best from him.

"I even imagine Guardiola building the rest of his team around Messi. His talent can make the difference at any place and at any time, and I'm sure he could produce match-winning performances in the Premier League."

Rivaldo did, however, admit that the prospect of Messi leaving Barca for nothing after a historic era at Camp Nou would leave the club in a perilous position amid the financial uncertainty of the ongoing coronavirus crisis.

The Brazilian added: "At a time when every club faces difficulties due to the pandemic, it would be a big blow for Barcelona to lose their biggest star without receiving any payment.

"That's the biggest obstacle to an immediate exit for Messi because Barca will want to receive at least some money.

"Cristiano Ronaldo's transfer fee, when he left Madrid for Juventus for €100m, was considered a dubious bit of business in 2018.

"But looking at what's happening with Messi, perhaps it wasn't so bad for Madrid, as they got a good fee at the right time.

"It will be a sad ending for Messi's story with Barcelona if the things remain this way, but this is football and sometimes things don't run according to our expectations."

Cristiano Ronaldo intends to keep playing football for as long as his body allows and he works fastidiously on maintaining a peak physical condition in defiance of time's unrelenting march.

But, no matter what he does, time will inevitably prevail and the sculpted Portuguese will eventually be forced to hang up his boots for good.

Most footballers are keenly aware that their trade is fickle and could cease at any time, meaning the question of what to do when that day comes is never far from their thoughts.

So, as he enters into the final stages of his career, what does Ronaldo have in mind? Goal takes a look at the Juventus star's retirement plans.

Ronaldo has hinted at a number of potential avenues for exploration when he retires from playing football, including coaching, acting and pursuing studies.

Will Cristiano Ronaldo go into acting?

Ronaldo revealed, in December 2019, that one of his ambitions was to "challenge [himself]" by playing a part on the big screen.

"I hope I live more than 50 years to learn new things and face different challenges and try to find solutions for them," Ronaldo told a Dubai Sports conference. 

"One of the things that I seek to challenge myself in, for example, is acting in a movie."

The former Manchester United star wouldn't be the first footballer to transition into acting, with Vinnie Jones, Pele and (to a lesser extent) David Beckham being notable examples.

However, at risk of offending Ronaldo's ego, it seems very unlikely that 'CR7' will land a lead role in a Hollywood blockbuster or find himself in the running for an Oscar any time soon.

Will Cristiano Ronaldo go into coaching & management?

Moving into coaching is a well worn path for ex-players and Ronaldo was famously depicted 'coaching' Portugal to victory alongside head coach Fernando Santos in the final of Euro 2016.

Such images would suggest a flair for the craft of coaching, but Ronaldo has been equivocal when pressed on whether he has designs on becoming a coach or manager.

"Right now, I'm not interested in becoming a coach, but maybe one day I will be bored and I will feel like it," he told DAZN Italy in late 2019. "Never say never.

"If I became a coach, I would be a motivator, the coach must pass on his passion and talent to the team.

"For example, I like to have fun, dribble, shoot, score goals, I should pass this on to the team, as a motivator."

Changing roles from being the star player who can do it all to the coach who must inspire others to do it all may be off-putting for Ronaldo.

Indeed, simply being a great footballer does not mean that one will become a great coach overnight and, in many cases, great coaches have had quite average playing careers. 

For example, Diego Maradona is widely regarded as one of the best footballers ever, but has struggled for success as a coach and continues to endure ridicule.

Arrigo Sacchi, meanwhile, was a mere amateur footballer, yet masterminded a golden age for AC Milan and led Italy to a World Cup final.

If he does move into coaching, Ronaldo would be wise not to do it out of boredom, as he suggests, and look to the blueprint of obsessive success stories such as Johan Cruyff and Pep Guardiola.

Will Cristiano Ronaldo go to university?

Ronaldo has said that he would like to "continue [his] studies" when his playing days draw to a close. However, it is not clear if he means pursuing a university degree, as a number of other footballers have.

"I always recommend learning all that is new. This is what I always strive for," said the forward. "I always seek to educate myself, because my studies tend to answer many of the questions on my mind.

"We have to learn the best of others, and this is an important part in helping me achieve what I have reached now."

It might be hard to picture someone like Ronaldo strutting through a university campus with a collection of books tucked under his arm, but there are plenty of examples of footballers with degrees.

In fact, many have completed college courses while still playing, getting stuck into literature in their downtime instead of whiling away hours on the golf course.

Former Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany and Spain midfielder Juan Mata are notable examples, as well as Brazil legend Socrates.

Focus on his business interests

Long before retirement was ever an imminent consideration for Ronaldo, he had cultivated a long line of business interests outside of football and they are sure to keep him occupied when he stops playing.

He is a hotelier (Pestana CR7), a fashion mogul with various CR7 lines of clothing and lifestyle offerings (including a hair transplant clinic) and has dabbled in the fitness industry with a number of gyms.

One potential business avenue Ronaldo could explore, but has not spoken of yet, is owning a football team. With the wealth that he has accumulated over his career, it is a realistic option and has been done.

Beckham, the man whose No.7 shirt Ronaldo inherited when he joined Manchester United and whose stardom he emulated, has eschewed coaching, but remains involved in football, with ownership stakes.

The former England captain is the owner of Major League Soccer club Inter Miami and has a small stake in Salford City (along with Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Phil Neville, Gary Neville and Nicky Butt).

Ronaldo's namesake Ronaldo Nazario (the 'real Ronaldo' for some) bought a majority share in Spanish club Real Valladolid in 2018, four years after his involvement with Fort Lauderdale Strikers.

Gabonese are expecting a lot more from Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as they target a place in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2022 Fifa World Cup, Gabon coach Patrice Neveu has disclosed.

Aubameyang who doubles as the Panthers captain, failed to guide the Central African nation to 2019 Afcon in Egypt but they have started their qualifiers for the next edition on a flying note.

With a record of 25 goals in 65 international games, Neveu believes the 2015 African Footballer of the Year who scored 29 goals for Arsenal last season can replicate his goalscoring form in the national team.

"When I arrived, he was a little hesitant about committing to the national team for many reasons," Neveu told Fifa website.

"I talked to him and he agreed to stay. He’s the captain and a great goalscorer, and he proves this year after year.

"He does a lot of great things for Arsenal, and so the people of Gabon expect a lot more from him in the national team. My role is to create the optimal conditions for him to best serve the group.

"He’s a superstar, but when he joins up with the national team, he treats everyone as his friends. I won’t deny that he has stipulated some requirements for the national team, especially at an organisational level.

"I hope he can do for us what he does for Arsenal and help us in the upcoming Africa Cup and World Cup qualifiers. As a coach, I’m very happy to work with a great player like him."

Gabon have registered a win and a draw in their first two qualifying fixtures for the 2021 Afcon and they sit second in Group D behind the Gambia.

They have also been paired against Egypt, Libya and Angola in the second qualifying round for 2022 World Cup, however, Neveu has highlighted the priority of the national team.

The nomadic coach who has had managerial stints in 11 countries, is anticipating a tough challenge against Egypt when they begin their qualifiers in May 2021.

"Our first target is to make the 2022 AFCON in Cameroon. Everyone in Gabon was disappointed to miss out on the most recent edition of the tournament, so a return is a must for us," he continued.

“Egypt are favourites in this section because they’re more experienced and have high-quality players such as Mohamed Salah.

"However, I think our team can spring a surprise. We have to believe in our ability to finish top of the group and make the play-off round. We’re going to have a tough game in Egypt, but we can get a positive result there.

“We have some top-level players too, and when we focus on team work, we can get good results, despite our squad lacking some strength in depth, both in terms of the quantity and quality of our back-up players."

Harry Maguire's refusal to apologise after being found guilty of aggravated assault, resisting arrest, and repeated attempts of bribery has been branded “shocking” and “unsportsmanlike” by one of the prosecution's lawyers.

The Manchester United captain, who was dropped from the England squad after the verdict, has repeatedly professed his innocence after being given a 21-month suspended prison sentence after an incident on the Greek island of Mykonos.

The centre-back intends to appeal the verdict, with his club fully behind him, but prosecution lawyer Dr Ioannis Paradissis has raised questions over the injuries suffered by policemen in the altercation, adding that his clients are yet to receive an apology from Maguire's camp.

“The appeal process in Greece is a retrial. So obviously there is still time for the three defendants to say they are sorry and then I believe that the outcome might be different,” Paradissis told BBC Radio 4.

“It would be different because under Greek law you can withdraw some accusations - non-aggravated bodily harm and the verbal assaults that were shouted at the policeman.

“I don't know if my clients would accept that but they told me they are still waiting for an apology and they haven't heard any and this is what I find quite shocking and quite unsportsmanlike, because fair play means when I've done something wrong, I apologise.”

He added: “I'm representing some policemen that have been hit, they have injuries and the three defendants say they are not guilty but on the other side they don't explain how these injuries were made.

“We don't have the same definition of what a victim is then because how can you be a victim and the policeman that have been assaulted, hit, that were just doing their job, they went home with injuries - how can they not be a victim?”

The fracas is reported to have been a result of Maguire's sister, Daisy, being assaulted in some way, with some reports claiming his sibling was stabbed in the arm while others claim she fainted after being injected with an unknown substance.

Paradissis, however, has said that any such claims are irrelevant to how Maguire and his entourage treated the authorities, and that his sister made no mention of being attacked in any way when being interviewed by police.

“Obviously that [Maguire's sister being injected] is irrelevant concerning the assault committed against the police officers,” he said.

“And in any case what is strange about this case about the sister is that the sister was interviewed by police and she said nothing about that to the police. This is a new line of defence that we heard recently.”

Ronald Koeman will need time to rebuild if Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez leave Barcelona, says Rivaldo.

Former Netherlands boss Koeman was handed a two-year contract at Barca last week after being drafted in to replace Quique Setien in the Camp Nou hot seat.

The Spanish champions turned to a club legend to steady the ship in the wake of a humiliating 8-2 thrashing at the hands of Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

The 2019-20 campaign marked Barca's first trophyless season in 12 years, and an inquest into the failings of both the first-team squad and the board has already begun.

A number of household names are expected to move onto pastures new this summer, including Messi, who has made clear his intention to leave the club with a view to activating a special clause in his current contract.

Suarez also appears destined to head for the exits at Camp Nou, with Barca reportedly ready to terminate the Uruguayan's existing deal a year before its expiry date.

Koeman may well be taking charge of a significantly weakened squad next season, and Rivaldo has called for patience as the Dutchman attempts to usher in a new era.

"Ronald Koeman was hired to renew Barca's squad and get the team back on track quickly," the former Barca star told Betfair.

"His status as an iconic Barca player, who scored the winning goal when the club won their first Champions League, could give him extra margin for error, especially after the probable exits of Messi and Luis Suarez.

"If both those players leave, Koeman will rebuild from almost nothing so I hope he gets time because it could take a while to get Barca back to their full power."

Rivaldo believes Koeman is the right man to lift the cloud of gloom surrounding Camp Nou, having witnessed the 57-year-old's coaching abilities up close at the height of his Barca career.

The Brazilian added: "He arrives as an experienced manager so, besides his status at the club as a player, he will be respected for the work he did in the Premier League and with the Dutch national team.

"When I was playing for Barcelona, and Koeman was Louis van Gaal's assistant, I never had any problem with him. He used to talk with the players and we could tell he would become a manager one day."

Sam Nyamweya has vowed to fight for justice so as to have a free and fair Football Kenya Federation (FKF) elections.

The football administrator has once again come out to criticise the FKF Electoral Board saying they lack the capacity to conduct a free and fair exercise and promised to go to all corners in the country and make sure that justice is served to his people.

“I and my supporters wish to state we shall pursue the cause for FKF electoral justice to its logical conclusion,” read the statement from Nyamweya obtained by Goal.

“I and my supporters wish to express our utmost displeasure with the conduct of the FKF Electoral Board because they have confirmed our worst fears that it lacks the will and capacity to conduct free, fair credible, all-inclusive, FKF elections.

“The purported exercise being carried by the FKF Electoral Board is a sham, a charade and a mockery of the basic tenants of democracy.

“The FKF Electoral Board has with reckless continued to disregard the ruling of the Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT) on matters FKF elections. This, therefore, renders the purported process and its purported outcome as null and void.”

Nyamweya continued: “I and my supporters will only be part of an electoral process that is anchored in the enabling law being the Sports Act of 2013, one that respects and adheres to the ruling of the SDT and one in which all members of FKF from the grassroots to the national level are accorded their democratic right to freely participate in the elections.”

On Tuesday, the Electoral Board confirmed they had started nominations and the verification exercise ahead of the upcoming football elections in the country.

The Electoral Board led by Kentice Tikolo has already set October 17 as the date for the national elections which will be preceded by grassroots polls held across the 47 counties on September 19.

It will be the third time in a year that the FKF will be holding elections.

The previous two exercises were nullified by the Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT) last December and in March this year, with SDT chairman John Ohaga ruling the rules of engagement were flouted on both occasions.

On setting the guidelines for the exercise, Tikolo insisted the FKF Electoral Code, which has been the contentious issue with most presidential candidates saying it should be changed, will remain in force.

Apart from Nyamweya, other presidential aspirants Twaha Mbarak, Nicholas Musonye, have also strongly opposed the decision to use the Code and have already moved to court to have the exercise stopped.

Ajax defender Daley Blind is "feeling well" and will undergo further tests following a health scare on Tuesday, his club have confirmed.

The former Manchester United defender is said to have collapsed before being substituted during a friendly match with Hertha Berlin.

Blind was fitted with a subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator, a device that monitors and regulates his heart rhythm, after being diagnosed with heart muscle inflammation following a Champions League game with Valencia last December.

Ajax coach Erik ten Haag confirmed that there was an alert sent by Blind's ICD as he fell to the pitch during the Hertha match.

"Daley Blind's ICD went off," Ten Haag said to  Ziggo Sport . "He got subbed off straight away and he is feeling OK now, he is feeling fine. We will do research about this now."

Having already spent two months out of the game following the initial heart diagnosis in December, Blind faces another spell on the sidelines while doctors ascertain what caused the collapse.

Ajax issued a statement via Twitter on Wednesday, saying: "Daley Blind was forced to leave the pitch during Ajax - Hertha BSC.

"The central defender is feeling well, given the circumstances, and was at Sportpark de Toekomst this morning. He will undergo further examinations and await the results of these tests before resuming training."

Born in Amsterdam, Blind joined Ajax's youth academy at the age of eight and worked his way up the ranks before making his debut in 2008. He spent six years at the club in a variety of midfield and defensive roles before earning a move to Manchester United in 2014.

Blind returned to Ajax in 2018 and was a part of their famous run to the Champions League semi-finals in 2019, where they fell short against Tottenham courtesy of Lucas Moura's dramatic winning goal.

The initial heart incident last year came as a shock with Blind's senior career featuring more than 350 matches across 12 years including 69 caps for the Netherlands. Across his career, he has won six Eredivisie titles with Ajax while also lifting the KNVB Cup on one occasion.

Blind failed to win the league while at United, but was a part of four trophy triumphs including the Europa League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup and Community Shield.

Ajax are currently preparing for the start of the 2020-21 Eredivisie season, after the previous campaign was abandoned with no winner due to coronavirus.

Young Africans (Yanga SC) have confirmed new coach Cedric Kaze will arrive at the end of this week to take over the reigns at the club.

The Jangwani giants are without a coach since they fired Belgian Luc Eymael at the end of the 2019-20 Mainland Premier League season.

Despite announcing, they had hired the Burundian tactician to replace Eymael, Yanga fans have been questioning when he will arrive to start coaching the side with only a few weeks remaining before the season kicks-off on September 6.

Yanga SC's partner GSM's investment director Hersi Said has now cooled down the nerves of the fans after confirming the coach will arrive in Dar es Salaam on Friday.

“We are also waiting for our coach to arrive, he has been in Canada, he is handing over to his former club Barcelona before embarking on a journey to Tanzania and we expect him in Dar es Salaam before Friday,” Said told Goal.

“We must be patient because he must hand over [to his former club], and he must also take a Covid-19 test prior to his journey here, so it is not that easy, but by the end of this week, he will be around.

“We are happy to have Kaze because he speaks all languages, he speaks Swahili, he speaks French and also English, and this will be good for the team because the players will now benefit straight away, sometimes it was bringing problems because we had to hire a translator and it is something we will not do this time around as the coach will be able to speak to the players directly.”

Yanga have been in the market looking for Eymael’s successor and during the launch of Mwananchi Day celebrations in Dodoma, club chairman Mshindo Msolla confirmed the Burundian had accepted their offer for the top job.

Yanga will also need to get a new assistant coach after Boniface Mkwasa left and joined rivals Ruvu Shooting as head coach.

Kaze will take charge of Yanga who are looking to end Simba SC’s dominance in the local scene. Simba won a treble last season and their league success means they have kept the title in three consecutive campaigns after taking it from their archrivals.

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

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

Kaze was named Burundi’s coach of the season twice; in the 2008/09 and in 2011/12 seasons although his side finished second. He lifted the Ligue A title in the 2010/11 campaign.

New Borussia Dortmund signing Reinier has rejected comparisons with Kaka, the Brazil star who won the Ballon d’Or while playing with AC Milan in 2007.

The 18-year-old arrived in Europe at Real Madrid from Flamengo in January and after failing to make an impression on the first team at the Bernabeu, has completed a two-year loan move to BVB, with a similar deal having proved beneficial to Achraf Hakimi.

He has started pre-season training with the Bundesliga outfit with a view to featuring in their squad when domestic action returns in Germany next month, and he is eager to carve a name out for himself on his own merits.

“I don’t want to be a Kaka, I want to be Reinier,” he told the media. “It’s a nice thing to be compared to such a player, but I want to show the football player I am.

“I want to be successful with the club, win titles if possible and give the fans a lot of joy.”

Meanwhile, he said he was quick to jump at the chance to move to Germany when the door opened.

“My family and I didn’t have to think twice,” he said. “This club is known for developing players. When this option appeared, we knew it was the right one.”

Asked about his favoured role, he said: “I can play anywhere up front. Wherever the coach needs me, I'm ready. I want to help the team and do my best for the team.”

The playmaker quickly gained a positive reputation in his homeland for his attacking qualities from midfield, turning out for Flamengo 14 times in Serie A and scoring six goals before his move to Spain.

Additionally, he has been a regular in Brazil’s youth teams, notably turning out regularly for the Under-23 side previously in 2020.

His qualities have in the past been talked up by Dortmund boss Lucien Favre, who explained: “From what I’ve seen, he’s very good offensively and a very, very good finisher.”

BVB will start the Bundesliga season with a clash against Borussia Monchengladbach on September 19, while they will have a DFB Pokal encounter with Duisburg on September 14.

Kenyan Premier League (KPL) giants AFC Leopards are set to unveil Fabrice Kakule Mugheni soon as their new foreign player.

According to reports reaching Goal, the Democratic Republic of Congo midfielder has already touched down in the country and is at the club’s headquarters finalising the last details of his deal.

“The boy is in town. The club and the player are already in agreement that the deal should last for two years,” a source close to the development told Goal on Wednesday.

AFC Leopards have been working silently in the transfer market so far and the only player to have confirmed a pre-contract arrangement with them is Peter Thiong’o from Kakamega Homeboyz.

Mugheni is one of the players that left Rwandan giants Rayon Sports in June as the club experienced a mass exodus.

He had joined the Blues for the second time towards the end of the 2017/18 season and played critical roles as they lifted the Rwandan Premier League title in the subsequent season.

The midfielder was the fifth star to leave Rayon Sports after his teammate and goalkeeper Yves Kimenyi and Eric Irambona who signed for rivals SC Kiyovu.

Eric Rutanga and Eric Iradukunda were the other stars who left the troubled giants and joined Police FC.

Mugheni had featured for Rayon Sports in 2015 and his stay through to 2017 helped the club win two titles. The first one was the Rwandan Peace Cup in 2016 before the league title in the 2016/17 season.

Mugheni’s imminent signing comes a day after credible reports linked Kenyan goalkeeper John Oyemba to the 13-time KPL winners.

Although AFC Leopards have so much hope on their Ugandan goalkeeper Benjamin Ochan, the technical bench is understood to have singled out the former Kariobangi Sharks custodian as a better back-up for Ochan.

Estone Esiye, who has featured for Premier League sides KCB and Kakamega Homeboyz, has also emerged as a primary target for Ingwe.

AFC Leopards lost all but one of their foreign players in the 2019/20 season because of the financial challenges. Coach Casa Mbungo led the exits as Vincent Habamahoro, Soter Kayumba, Ismail Diara, and Tresor Ndikumana all ditched the club after going for months without pay.

Vincent Oburu is the only star to have confirmed the departure from AFC Leopards thus far.

The government through Sports registrar Rose Wasike has petitioned to have the recently held Gor Mahia elections nullified.

In court papers filed before the Sports Dispute Tribunal (SDT), Wasike wants the elections to be repeated after two months.

The papers seen by Goal cite the club’s Electoral Board for various malpractices during the exercise which saw Ambrose Rachier re-elected unopposed as chairman.

Among the illegalities cited by Wasike is a failure by Gor Mahia to use the Institute of Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK) online voting system and failure to properly vet candidates who contested in the elections.

Wasike said in the document obtained by Goal: “Only three of the contestants were able to provide the required documents needed for them to contest in the elections.”

Surprisingly according to the registrar, even club chairman Ambrose Rachier failed to give a clearance certificate from Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) as well as the certificate of clearance from the Directorate of Criminal Investigation.

“In view of the above, the sports registrar requests the SDT to nullify the recently held elections and the same be held after two months,” added Wasike.

Wasike also blamed the club for the late submission of its new constitution to her office and asked the club to be compelled to undertake the exercise afresh after the club elections.

During the exercise held via electronic voting on August 8, Rachier and club secretary Sam Ochola were elected unopposed while veteran Gor Mahia official Francis Wasuna beat outgoing treasurer Sally Bolo in a heated contest to retain the vice-chairperson post.

Wasuna garnered 226 votes out of a possible 389 to beat Bolo who managed 163 votes while Dolphina Odhiambo of Gor Mahia Augmentin Fund was elected the treasurer after getting 286 votes to floor Chrispine Okoth who got a paltry 103.

Bolo later refused to accept the outcome terming it as a flawed process.

“The Electoral Board managing the Gor Mahia polls have miserably failed in this noble task and now leave this great club at the behest of the SDT where a section of members and officials had filed a preemptive suit that will not only subject the club to long, winding and unnecessarily tedious battles but also bring it into disrepute,” Bolo said in a signed statement obtained by Goal after the polls.

“This is not acceptable at all and we shall not concede defeat if this blatant fraud is left to stand. What was touted as being an open and transparent process has actually been marred by shameful rigging and vote theft. It is disgraceful and very appalling that we still have to deal with archaic behaviour such as this.”

Manchester United star Bruno Fernandes has revealed that Cristiano Ronaldo regularly asks how things are at his former club when the pair chat.

Ronaldo turned out for the Old Trafford side from 2003-2009 and picked up the first of his five Ballon d’Or titles while playing for United. 

After a storied spell at Real Madrid, where he shattered club records, the 35-year-old is now with Juventus, although there have been reports that he could be looking for a way out in the summer after their disappointing Champions League performance.

Fernandes, who is the present darling of the Red Devils, having arrived in January and made a profound impact on their fortunes, has said that his compatriot continues to keep close tabs on United.

“It was my dream to play in the Premier League,” the playmaker told the club’s official website. “I have the choice to come to Manchester United and it was two dreams in one. It was perfect.

“Of course, I spoke with Cristiano after and he spoke very well about the club. I spoke with him some days ago, again.

“Every time I speak with him, he asks me how Manchester is and if everything is okay. Everyone knows he spent a lot of time in Manchester and he has consideration for the club. He likes the club, I think he won his first Ballon d’Or here, so it’s a club who’ve marked him, for sure.”

While the pair are in regular contact, Fernandes did not discuss his winter switch with Ronaldo because he didn’t need any convincing that the move was the right one.

“I spoke with him after, not before. I said before - Manchester, for me, was the dream team,” he revealed.

“I always wanted to play for this team and it doesn’t matter who can talk about it – bad or good, I will come.”

Fernandes, who will celebrate his 26th birthday at the beginning of September, has played 22 times for United and has found the net on 12 occasions, including scoring all of the eight penalties he has taken. In addition, he has eight assists to his name.

The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has started nominations and the verification exercise ahead of the upcoming football elections in the country.

The Electoral Board led by Kentice Tikolo has already set October 17 as the date for the national elections which will be preceded by grassroots polls held across the 47 counties on September 19.

“Football Kenya Federation's Electoral Board has on Tuesday, August 25, 2020, started receiving nomination forms from aspirants seeking elective positions at the county level,” read the statement from the board obtained by Goal.

“The Board received forms from aspirants from Mombasa, West Pokot, Nairobi East, Taita Taveta, and Trans Nzoia counties on day one. The exercise ends tomorrow, Wednesday, August 26, 2020.

“Aspirants seeking elective positions at the national level will submit their papers on August 31, 2020.”

On Saturday, the Electoral Board continued with the process of holding elections after they published the official register for voters who will take part in the exercise.

“FKF Electoral Board has published the final list of clubs eligible to vote at both county and national level in the upcoming FKF elections,” revealed the statement obtained by Goal.

“This comes after the lapse of a disputes’ resolution window last week, by the Electoral Board. The Board will on Wednesday, August 26, 2020, publish the final register of delegates eligible to vote at both levels.”

It will be the third time in a year that the FKF will be holding elections.

The previous two exercises were nullified by the Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT) last December and in March this year, with SDT chairman John Ohaga ruling the rules of engagement were flouted on both occasions.

On setting the guidelines for the exercise, Tikolo insisted the FKF Electoral Code, which has been the contentious issue with most presidential candidates saying it should be changed, will remain in force.

“In consonance with the directive from Fifa and in the spirit of progression, the FKF electoral process shall be predicated upon the FKF Statutes, the FKF Electoral Code currently in force and/or the Fifa Statutes/guidelines where required or where applicable,” Tikolo said.

“The electoral process shall begin at the county level in accordance with article 27 of the FKF (2017) Constitution.”

FKF presidential aspirants Sam Nyamweya, Twaha Mbarak, Nicholas Musonye, have strongly opposed the decision to use the Code and have already moved to court to have the exercise stopped.