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Veteran Azam FC captain Aggrey Morris Ambros has extended his stay at the club by one more year.

The Taifa Stars centre back has been part of the Ice-Cream Makers since 2009 and played a vital role in helping the team win their maiden Tanzania Mainland League title in 2014. He has been consistent for the Chamazi-based side despite his age and it is the reason why his time at the club has been extended.

"Azam FC captain Aggrey Morris is still with us at Azam Complex after extending his contract by a year," the club confirmed on Monday through their social media accounts.

Apart from the league, Morris helped the Chamazi-based side win the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (Cecafa) Kagame Inter-club Cup in 2015 and 2018.   

He also played a role in helping the team win the FA Cup in the 2018/19 season and last season, they were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Simba SC who eventually won the competition.

Earlier in the day, Azam completed the arrival of striker Alain Thierry Akono Akono on a two-year contract and went on to confirm it was the last transfer done in the current transfer window.

The Cameroon international has arrived from AS Fortuna du Mfou and becomes the last signing for the ‘Ice-Cream Makers’ in this transfer window.

"We have officially shut down our transfer activities by signing striker Alain Thierry Akono Akono from Cameroon," the club confirmed.

"Akono has agreed to sign a two-year deal after passing a medical and becomes our last signing in this window.

"Akono was very instrumental for Cameroon during the Africa Nations Championships (Chan) qualifiers and arrives at Azam to add his power to the striking force."

Azam have been busy in the transfer market as they have already signed six players among them Emmanuel Charles, former Gor Mahia keeper David Kissu Mapigano, Awesu Awesu, Ally Niyonzima, Ismail Aziz and Ayoub Lyanga.

Salum ‘Sure Boy’ Abubakar committed his future to the club for one more year despite intense interest from rivals Young Africans (Yanga SC).

Azam will be aiming at winning the league title next season.

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane says the Premier Soccer League (PSL) title is for leaders Kaizer Chiefs to lose after witnessing his side edge Golden Arrows 1-0 at Dobsonville Stadium on Monday.

Substitute Themba Zwane came on to score in injury time to hand Sundowns their first victory since PSL action resumed.

It was an important victory for second-placed Downs who closed the gap between them and leaders Chiefs to three points.

As chances of a third straight league title appeared to be slipping away from Sundowns after struggling to collect maximum points in the last four league matches, Monday's win could also have been the right tonic Sundowns desired ahead of Thursday’s top-of-the-table clash against Chiefs.

“Yeah, it's heavy, it's tough, it's not easy, heavy on the players, heavy on us. Yeah, we deserve a break, we've tried so much, we've been fighting and fighting, it just shows when you don't give up, you keep hitting the door, the hinges will go and the door will open,” Mosimane told SuperSport TV.

“Thank God two super-subs Themba Zwane but I'm happy the ball comes from Lebo [Maboe] because he also has been having stress and pressure, what a pass Lebo provided. It shows that if you keep trying, it’s never late, you keep going you know. Nothing is in our hands but we'll fight until the end.

“To be honest, I think we controlled the game, the risk was minimal tonight, which is very good and very important because we were always not sure whether we are winning or what. The goals are there, the goals are coming. I think it's the ninth goal or 10 goals we have scored ever since we've been back.”

Going into the Arrows match on the backdrop of conceding six goals in three prior matches, Mosimane responded by bringing back the defensive Rivaldo Coetzee into the squad.

“The win has not been there but if you keep going, you keep scoring and you fix at the back,” said Mosimane.

“We got the goal, the big game we won, tonight was a big game. I wish it came earlier but in life you never know the right time, it's always the right time, you never know when is the right time.”

Focus for Sundowns now shifts to Thursday’s encounter against closest rivals Chiefs.

"The coming game [against Kaizer Chiefs] is not in our favour, nothing is in our hands, the title is on Chiefs to lose, not on us,” Mosimane said.

“We're just chasing, they've got the goals, they've got the points, they can't ask for more. I would have swapped my positions with them to be honest. I think [Ernst] Middendorp is in a good position.”

Losing coach Steve Komphela watched his side extend their winless streak to six games as they are placed 11th on the standings.

“You try to make sense out of this but it still remains strange. It shouldn’t be. It’s just sad that we have to go to the dressing room but the strain of the bubble is that you are playing these matches together, there is nothing else that refreshes you,” Komphela said.

“And as the leader because you are the light after this darkness you have to go back and inspire again. But first I must get inspired. So I hope after this post match when we go to the dressing room and we have gathered enough logic to speak light to them.”

Victor Moses has described Inter Milan’s 3-2 defeat to Sevilla as devastating after they gave their all in the Uefa Europa League final.

The former Nigeria international came on as a 78th-minute substitute on Friday as Antonio Conte's men bowed to the Spanish outfit at the RheinEnergieStadion.

Romelu Lukaku got Inter Milan off to a flying start from the penalty spot in the fifth minute but Luuk de Jong's double within 20 minutes turned the game around for Sevilla.

Diego Godin drew the Nerazzurri level in the 35th minute but Romelu Lukaku's own goal in the 74th minute sealed the five-goal thriller for Sevilla and secured their sixth Europa League title.

Moses who joined Inter Milan on a short-term loan from Chelsea in January, was hoping to end his temporary stint in Italy with a trophy after he helped them finish second in the Serie A this season, behind Juventus.

“Devastated to lose the final on Friday. We gave everything but it just wasn’t to be,” Moses wrote on Instagram. “Thank you so much to all of the fans for your amazing support for the team during the season.”

Moses contributed three assists in 20 games for Inter Milan in the second-half of the 2019-20 season, which include 15 Serie A appearances.

Prior to his move to Italy in January, the 29-year-old spent the first-half of the season on loan in Turkey with Fenerbahce but he was restricted to first-team action.

Inter Milan have the option to make Moses' stay permanent with his Chelsea contract expected to expire in June 2021.

He has been at Stamford Bridge since 2012 after leaving Wigan Athletic.

Moses called time on his international career in August 2018 after representing Nigeria in two Fifa World Cup tournaments and he was part of the team that won the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

The 2020-21 club season is about to get underway, and the U.S. Men's National Team gearing up for the 2022 World Cup qualifiers next June as international soccer nears a return.

The team's failure to qualify for the 2018 edition in Russia was seen as a major humiliation, but a few years on and with a clutch of fresher, more promising talents in the squad, the USMNT will be hoping to right a lot of their past wrongs.

Qualification games for the 2022 World Cup won't begin until next summer, but the USMNT camp will be keen to get preparations started as soon as possible, beginning with a few friendlies.

After seeing a majority of the 2020 schedule cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, the U.S. i looking to line up some non-competitive games to boost up squad fitness this fall.

But due to the ongoing threat of Covid-19- with the United States sporting the highest number of cases and deaths in the world - some complications will likely be faced with organizing friendlies, especially when American citizens are faced with international travel bans around the world.

USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter, however, is optimistic of arranging friendlies at some point this fall.

“Right now we’ve been focused on trying to compete in the United States, trying to find a safe environment where we could play games," he said according to Yahoo Sports.

"We’ll switch focus in November and try to play two high-level games in Europe. I’d expect a domestic-based side for October and a European-based side for November.”

The USMNT will kick off their 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign in June 2021, but not before they face off against Honduras in the Nations League semi-final next March.

The USMNT's last game was a 1-0 friendly against Costa Rica in February.

Former Ghana skipper Stephen Appiah has urged ex-Black Stars and Leeds United striker Anthony Yeboah to reconsider his decision to stay away from domestic football administration.

The erstwhile Eintracht Frankfurt frontman has been away from the scene since selling off his football club Yegoala FC in 2014, an outfit named by his popular nickname during his playing days.

“It’s sad that he is no longer interested in football. When I was made Black Stars captain [in 2002], he was the second person I called," Appiah told Asempa FM.

“I want to thank him for everything he has done for football but he shouldn’t get out of the game.

"I’m begging him not to follow the criticism but offer his support to the sport."

Yeboah set up Yegoala FC after hanging up his boots. The club played in the Ghana lower divisions, struggling to break through to the Premier League (GPL).

"I stopped involving myself in Ghana football because I was not ready to ruin my hard-earned reputation," Yeboah told Asempa FM.

"We need to protect the game because most of these players, it's all they have.

"I live a peaceful life since I withdrew from doing football in Ghana and it was a good decision I took.

"If I didn't stop doing football in Ghana, I would have been forced to be corrupt because almost all the clubs were paying bribes to referees and so nobody was ready to listen to my cry.

"The reason why I stopped doing football in Ghana was that the officiating officials were maltreating my team because I was not ready to pay the bribe."

Yeboah featured for Ghana at three Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) tournaments, including the 1992 edition where the Black Stars finished as runners-up.

"I once told a referee in an away game to officiate fairly but to my surprise, he asked if I was a novice in Ghana's league," Yeboah was quoted as saying by Agyenkwa FM in 2018.

"Some of my players used to come to inform me about referees' [requests] for bribes [in order for us to] continue to be in the league.

"But I told the players to play with their strength. If I didn't quit, I would have fallen victim of bribery allegations."

With 24 goals, Yeboah was until June Ghana's all-time top scorer in the English Premier League when his record was broken by Crystal Palace striker Jordan Ayew. 

Jurgen Klopp says Bayern Munich boss Hansi Flick could hardly have achieved more in his short time at the club – but suggested the Bundesliga side were lucky to win the Champions League.

Bayern’s Champions League final win over Paris Saint-Germain was their 21st consecutive victory in all competitions, a stunning run which saw them clinch a historic treble.

Liverpool manager Klopp says Bayern have world-class players in every position, but he also thinks they got a helping hand from the Bundesliga schedule.

"It is difficult to write more history in eight months," Klopp told ZDF of Flick.

But he added that the German side were "a little lucky that, amid all the chaos with schedules, their schedule was best suited to the Champions League.”

The German top flight was the first of the top five European leagues to return from coronavirus suspension, meaning Bayern had more than a month between their DFB-Pokal final win over Bayer Leverkusen and their Champions League thrashing of Chelsea.

Reigning champions Liverpool were already out by the time the competition was suspended but by way of comparison, Chelsea only had a week to prepare for their game with Bayern after losing the FA Cup final to Arsenal.

Beaten finalists PSG, meanwhile, never finished their league season but warmed up for the Champions League with Coupe de France and Coupe de la Ligue final wins.

Despite what could be seen as a slight dig from the former Borussia Dortmund manager, Klopp was happy to admit that Bayern are "at the moment definitely one of the absolute, absolute top teams” in the world.

“[They are] sensationally well equipped,” he said. “They have absolute world-class players in every position, and all at the right age.”

Bayern appointed Flick as manager following the sacking of Niko Kovac in November last year.

They had just been beaten 5-1 by Kovac’s former side Eintracht Frankfurt and were fourth in the Bundesliga, but Flick oversaw a remarkable change in fortunes.

Initially appointed as caretaker manager, he was given the job on a permanent basis in April and will now be looking to kick on to even more success in 2020-21.

His extraordinarily dominant side will return to action in the new season bolstered by the arrival of Leroy Sane, with many suggesting that Bayern’s young squad could be ready to dominate Europe in the coming years.

Arthur has bid an emotional farewell to Barcelona as the Brazil midfielder heads to pastures new with Juventus.

The 24-year-old will link up with the Serie A giants after moving in a €72 million (£66m/$81m) deal in June, with Miralem Pjanic – six years his senior – moving in the opposite direction.

Arthur’s exit from Camp Nou has been a messy one. In April, he said he was only interested in staying at Barcelona but, after being shown the door, he refused to play for the club in their Champions League campaign after returning to Brazil.

Now, though, he has perhaps sought to repair some burned bridges as he sets about establishing himself at Juventus.

“Saying goodbye is always difficult, even more so [because I am] leaving behind a place that has become my home,” Arthur said in a video posted on Twitter.

“An incredible city, that will remain forever in my heart. Where everyone received me as another Catalan, showed me a new culture, helped me to grow as a player and, especially, as a person.

“I am leaving a group of brilliant players. I'm very lucky to have played alongside them and, most of all, I am grateful for their support as good people with huge hearts.

“The crowd won me over from the first day, made me proud to play for them and to wear one of the greatest shirts in the world.

“They showed me care and respect that I will never forget.

“Today is the day to say goodbye, but I am taking everything with me in my heart forever.”

Arthur’s desire to remain at Barca was made clear four months ago, when he said: "There is always speculation but my idea is clear. The only option that interests me is staying at Barcelona.

"The supposed interest of big clubs is always flattering and a positive sign, but my mind is on playing for Barcelona for many years."

His arrival at Juventus will no doubt provide new head coach Andrea Pirlo with a welcome selection headache, with Rodrigo Bentancur, Aaron Ramsey and Adrien Rabiot also available to play a similar role.

Bidvest Wits claimed the Premier Soccer League's (PSL) third spot despite dropping points in a 0-0 draw with Maritzburg United at Tuks Stadium.

In what was their fourth draw since the season's restart, Wits picked up a point against Eric Tinkler’s side to come eight points behind leaders Kaizer Chiefs with four games remaining.

It was Wits’ third goalless share of the spoils since the return of football in South Africa.

But while they now boast a seven-match unbeaten streak, the students have been undone by five draws in that run, the form which has compromised their league title chances.

A point was not enough for their opponents Maritzburg to move from position six on the standings, settling on 41 points.

Victory continues to elude Maritzburg who have recorded two draws and a defeat since the resumption of the season, a run which is in stark contrast to a four-match winning streak prior to the coronavirus-induced break.

With Tinkler’s men firing blanks on Monday, they would be hoping to pick themselves up in their next match against Highlands Park.

Elsewhere at Lucas Moripe Stadium, AmaZulu moved from the bottom following a 2-2 draw with Bloemfontein Celtic.

Lehlohonolo Majoro found the back of the net for a second-straight game while Justice Chabalala scored an own goal to earn AmaZulu a point against Celtic who came from behind twice via Lesotho forward Sera Motebang and Ndumiso Mabena.

It was a crucial point for Usuthu who had dropped in form following their 1-1 upsetting of log leaders Chiefs just before the suspension of the campaign.

Having returned to draw with Baroka and a defeat by Wits which condemned them to the foot of the table, the share of spoils with Celtic saw AmaZulu dreaming of preserving their top-flight league status.

For Celtic, it was another outing which marked their inconsistency after recording a draw and a win in their last two league games.

The draw saw the Free State outfit moving a rung up to 10th position on the log as they now seek to improve their chances of a top-eight finish in their next match against Wits.

AmaZulu face Black Leopards in their next game.

Jiangsu Suning striker Tabitha Chawinga is delighted about her bright start to the season after contributing a goal in her Chinese Women's Super League side's 3-2 opening triumph over Hebei China Fortune on Sunday.

Chawinga continued from where she left off last season, scoring Jiangsu's winner in her first match in 2020 against Hebei after a nine-month hiatus occasioned by the coronavirus pandemic.

The 24-year-old, who featured for the opening 45 minutes of the contest, believes her team deserved the victory against the newly-promoted side in the five-goal thriller.

"I am very happy and excited that we started the season on a winning note," Chawinga told Goal.

"As the champions, every team will be aiming to beat us but we got our goals early and that was enough to give us the victory, although it was a tough game.

"We almost threw away our lead in the first half because a number of top players are yet to join the team, including [Elizabeth] Addo and the coach was also trying to make some changes to manage the team better.

"We're happy with the win and I think we truly deserved it. We will aim to continue to build on that in our upcoming matches this season."

The Malawi international last kicked the ball on December 2 when her brace helped Jiangsu defeat Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels 2-0 to finish as runners-up at the AFC Women's Club Championship.

Overall, she helped Jiangsu to a quadruple, including the first Chinese title since 2009 last season, scoring 38 goals and claimed three top scorer awards along with the Player of the Year.

Having scored 12 goals in 14 matches last season, Chawinga opened her 2020 campaign account with Jiangsu's third of the match against Hebei.

And she could not contain her joy as she opened up on making a scoring start and target for the season while reflecting on her lockdown experience in China. 

"Besides the win, I am very delighted about getting myself on the scoresheet," she continued.

"Being unable to play football for about nine months was not easy but I am happy to start the season well and also score in my first match.

"It was a rough experience to be indoors for months and being unable to go out for training and no chance to work out during the coronavirus in China. I'm glad now that football is finally back.  

"I really do not have any personal goal target this season but I am determined to continue working hard to score as many as possible to help the team.

"I'm happy with my progress here [in China] with Jiangsu and hoping to help the team achieve greater success than we did last season."

She will hope to continue her impressive start when they take on Henan Jianye in their next league fixture on Wednesday.

Former Kaizer Chiefs winger Junior Khanye feels coach Ernst Middendorp should opt for Itumeleng Khune as the first-choice goalkeeper ahead of current number one Daniel Akpeyi.

Khune has been blighted by fitness issues over the past two seasons, with Akpeyi taking up the Bafana Bafana star’s number one spot while being mostly deputised by Bruce Bvuma.

But Akpeyi has faced a difficult spell in Chiefs’ last four games by conceding seven times against Bidvest Wits, Polokwane City, Bloemfontein Celtic and lately Stellenbosch.

Khanye’s placing of the blame on Akpeyi comes after Middendorp vowed the Nigerian will be the Amakhosi's first-choice goalkeeper for the remainder of the current Premier Soccer League (PSL) campaign while freezing out Khune.

“A clever coach knows how to balance his team. The guy today [the 1-1 draw against Stellenbosch]…the system he approached the game with today [is] very disappointing, I must say,” Khanye told iDiski.

“The goalkeeper conceded five goals in two games [prior to the Stellenbosch match]. I’m talking about Daniel Akpeyi. The game they played against Bloemfontein Celtic he conceded three, today he conceded one. Let’s not talk about the Bidvest Wits game, let’s start with the game against Bloemfontein Celtic and Polokwane City, [five goals in two games]. It means in the last three games he has conceded six goals. It’s too much.

“A clever coach would have rested him [Akpeyi]. He should have been rested. I’m sure… even though Chiefs are not playing good football, Khune would have helped them. In terms of marshalling the defence. Today the goalkeeper has conceded again. I’m very disappointed with the Chiefs coach.”

Akpeyi has managed to keep nine clean sheets in 23 league appearances this season while conceding 22 goals.

Khune, on the other hand, has featured in two league matches and shipped in no goals.

Chiefs have one win in their last five games with two defeats and as many draws.

Yanga SC chairman Mshindo Msolla has urged members to come through and help them sign two more players to reach the foreign quota as allowed by the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF).

The 27-time champions have so far acquired the services of five foreigners including Mukoko Tonombe, Michael Sarpong, and Tuisila Kisinda. Farouk Shikhalo, Lamine Moro, and Haruna Niyonzima have been with the team.

"We have two spaces for foreign players which will take the total to 10," Msolla said as quoted by Mwanaspoti.

"Our sponsor has played a huge role in helping us to get other foreign players, and now it is up to the members to help the team sign the remaining two.

"The two are not yet in negotiations with the club; however, if we will not bring them in the current window, then we can do it in the short transfer window."

Timu ya Wananchi have held talks with Burkina Faso forward Yacouba Songne and the two parties have reached an agreement on working together. Angolan Fernandes Guimares is also another player who the Jangwani Street-based side is targeting.

Most of these targets were signed in the absence of the head coach after the dismissal of former tactician Luc Eymael in July for disparaging comments about the club, the fans and the TFF. 

Recently, Cedric Kaze was confirmed as the new head of the team's technical bench.

"Those who are enquiring about the coach, we have already got [Cedric] Kaze who is from Burundi and was initially working in Canada," Msolla confirmed in an initial interview. 

"We are in the process of ensuring his travel arrangements are in order so that he can join us soon and start his job."

Kaze has reportedly made a demand that Yanga appoint former Azam goalkeeper Vladimir Niyonkuru as the new goalkeeping coach.

That position fell vacant when Timu Ya Wananchi did not renew Peter Manyika’s contract at the end of last season.

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 latest dominance. 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.  

Arsenal have moved a step closer to signing Gabriel Magalhaes from Lille, with the 22-year-old undergoing a medical in London today.

The Gunners have been finalising a five-year contract with the Brazilian defender at their London Colney training base after he arrived in the capital on Monday morning.

Arsenal agreed a fee, believed to be around £25 million ($33m) with Lille last week, and Gabriel is now set to become their second signing of the summer after the arrival of Willian from Chelsea.

Manchester United had made contact with the player’s representatives late last week with hopes of hijacking the deal, while Napoli and Everton had also had bids accepted by the Ligue 1 side.

However, Arsenal had always been confident of sealing a move for Gabriel after making him their top defensive target for the summer transfer window.

Mikel Arteta had made the addition of a left-footed centre-back a priority this summer, and he will now be hoping Gabriel clicks with William Saliba, who has already started pre-season training after returning from his loan spell at Saint-Etienne.

The process of completing the transfer was complicated by the two-week quarantine period imposed upon arrivals from France, with Arsenal following government rules at all times since his arrival to the UK.

Once the deal is fully completed and formally announced, Arteta and Arsenal will believe they have two of Europe’s most promising young defenders in Gabriel and Saliba.

That is real cause for excitement for a side which hasn’t always convinced at the back in recent seasons, though it will also likely lead to some departures.

With David Luiz, Rob Holding, Sokratis, Shkodran Mustafi, Calum Chambers and Pablo Mari also at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal will now have eight central defenders in their squad – though Chambers, Sokratis and Mari are all set to miss the start of the new season through injury.

Of those two, Chambers and Sokratis could still be set to leave the club.

Fulham are believed to be interested in taking Chambers back to Craven Cottage after he impressed on loan there in 2018-19, while Napoli are reported to hold an interest in Sokratis.

He and Mustafi, who both have just a year left on their current contracts, will be allowed to leave for the right price.

Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA FC) have confirmed midfielder Erisa Ssekisambu has left the club.

The club’s head of communication Moses Magero made the announcement as the club restructures after losing the Ugandan Premier League title to Vipers SC.

Magero revealed the attacking midfielder saw his contract expire and thus will not be part of the squad that is expected to feature for the 2020/21 assignments.

The Ugandan signed a one-year deal with the capital city club from Gor Mahia as a free agent and the contract expired on June 6, 2020.

Ssekisambu’s agent Ronnie Mwine had previously denied rumours the star was set for a KCCA exit and argued he was in talks with club officials regarding a possibility of extending the deal.

The star is a league winner twice having won it at Uganda Revenue Authority (URA FC) six seasons ago. He lifted it with Vipers again in 2016 but his one-year stay at Kassasiro Boys means he will leave without a title after Vipers were declared winners of the cancelled season.

Rumours have indicated a number of Zambian Super League sides are trailing the Ugandan and his exit will now allow him to expedite talks with his suitors.

He leaves KCCA having helped them beat Proline FC, now relegated, in the Fufa Super Cup curtain-raiser in August as his two goals helped the 13-time Premier League winners emerge with a 4-1 victory at the StarTimes Stadium in Lugogo.

Ssekisambu’s departure comes a day after goalkeeper Jamil Malyamungu left on August 22 after three seasons with the local giants.

Jackson Nunda has already left to join Sam Ssimbwa’s URA, goalkeeper Tom Ikara and Eric Ssenjobe were lured to Police FC by coach Abdalla Mubiru while Mike Mutyaba has retired.

KCCA will also miss full-back Muspaha Kizza who has penned a three-year deal with Montreal Impact of Major League Soccer. The Ugandan defender will, however, remain at the club on a loan deal until December.

Nicholas Kasozi, Muzamir Mutyaba and Saddam Juma are also understood to be on their way out.

In a bid to wrestle back the league title from the Venoms, KCCA have signed Stefano Loro, Ashraf Mugume, Charles Lwanga, Samson Kigozi, Dennis Iguma, Bright Anukani and Brian Aheebwa.

Former Ghana international Nii Odartey Lamptey supports CK Akonnor's decision to augment the Black Stars with new additions for the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) and World Cup qualifiers.

Akonnor, who assumed duty as Ghana boss in January, has been tasked to qualify the Black Stars for, and win the continental gathering in Cameroon and as well as steer the team to the global showpiece in Qatar. 

To achieve his objectives, the former Asante Kotoko coach has set his sights on securing the services of Ghanaians in the diaspora, including the England-born duo of Tariq Lamptey and Eddie Nketiah. 

“Our major objective is to win a trophy so it’s a key agenda for every coach," Nii Lamptey told Peace FM. 

"Every coach has his philosophy but I believe you must have a large pool of players so that in case a player is unavailable, you can easily replace him. 

"It has been a long time since we won a trophy so winning it is important but having a good team will help you during tournaments.

“CK is now building his team so he will use a lot of methods. Selecting new players is the right thing because in case of anything, it will help him get some replacements. It's a good decision that he is starting with that."

Aside from Arsenal's Nketiah and Brighton and Hove Albion's Lamptey, Akonnor has also targeted the Belgium-born and Anderlecht duo of Jeremy Doku and Francis Amuzu, Dutch-born brothers Derrick Luckassen (also of Anderlecht) and Samuel Brobbey (Ajax) and the French-born trio of Elisha Owusu (Gent), Enoch Kwateng (Bordeaux) and Alexander Djiku (Strasbourg).

"The most important thing is those who were born in Europe. Some of them are eager to play for the Black Stars," Akonnor recently told Starr FM, having earlier confirmed making contact with Nketiah's family over nationality switching discussions.

“That is what we want to do. Look at Nigeria, I think they have done that in a very nice way.

“They have brought a lot of guys who were born in Europe and the Nigerian team is now transformed so we are trying to do the same with the national team.”

 Akonnor will have his first taste of match action as Ghana boss in November when the Black Stars face Sudan in an Afcon qualifying double-header. 

Azam FC have confirmed the signing of striker Alain Thierry Akono Akono on a two-year contract.

The Cameroon international has arrived from AS Fortuna du Mfou and becomes the last signing for the ‘Ice-Cream Makers’ in this transfer window.

“We have officially shut down our transfer activities by signing striker Alain Thierry Akono Akono from Cameroon,” the club confirmed on their social media pages.

“Akono has agreed to sign a two-year deal after passing a medical and becomes our last signing in this window.

“Akono was very instrumental for Cameroon during the Africa Nations Championships (Chan) qualifiers and arrives at Azam to add his power to the striking force.”

Azam have been busy in the transfer market as they have already signed six players among them Emmanuel Charles, former Gor Mahia keeper David Kissu Mapigano, Awesu Awesu, Ally Niyonzima, Ismail Aziz and Ayoub Lyanga.

Salum ‘Sure Boy’ Abubakar committed his future to the club for one more year despite intense interest from rivals Young Africans (Yanga SC).

On Sunday, Azam FC warmed up for the new season as they defeated fellow top-tier side Namungo FC 2-1 in a pre-season friendly played at Azam Complex in Chamazi, with Andrew Simchimba netting the winner following a miserable goalkeeping error.

The 2014 champions were keen to test their new players against their opponents who are restructuring for the Caf Confederation Cup next season.

The Chamazi-based club will be keen to make a good mark in the coming season after they ended the 2019-20 campaign without silverware.

The ‘Ice-Cream Makers’ did not enjoy as good a season as they had anticipated at the beginning of the campaign, as they managed to finish third in the league with 70 points, 18 fewer than winners Simba SC, and two behind second-placed Yanga SC. They managed to get 20 wins, 10 draws and eight defeats.

The team also failed to retain their FA Cup title to stand a chance of representing the country in the Caf Confederation Cup.

Manchester United defender Victor Lindelof has been praised after tackling a thief who had stolen an elderly woman’s handbag.

The centre-back is in Sweden with his wife Maja and their son as he enjoys a couple of weeks off before Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s squad return for pre-season training next week, and he found himself being hailed a hero on Monday after his actions helped authorities arrest a man for stealing.

A police statement said they received a call that a man in his 30s had stolen a bag belonging to a woman in her 90s after he cycled past her and snatched the bag which was lay in a basket on her walker. 

The man then fled the scene only to be chased down by a man, which is understood to be Lindelof, who then held the suspected thief down for five minutes until the police arrived.

A United insider told Goal: “We’re proud of his actions but Victor believes he was doing what anybody would have done in the same situation.”

While a statement from Vasteras Police said: “The police want to take the opportunity and thank the witness for a quick and wise intervention to restore the plaintiff's property.”

Meanwhile Lindelof’s centre-back partner Harry Maguire’s hearing for an incident in Mykonos, Greece, on Friday is expected to be heard in a Greek court tomorrow.

Maguire and two others deny police claims they assaulted three officers and then attempted to bribe them in Mykonos after a fight had allegedly broke out as Maguire tried to defend his sister, Daisy, who had reportedly been been stabbed in the arm.

The England international does not need to be present as his hearing and is back in the United Kingdom having flown home over the weekend. 

He will be represented by his lawyer at the court and it is still not clear what specific charges the defender faces, although it is now believed to be viewed as a misdemeanour offence.

Gareth Southgate has a decision to make over whether or not to include the defender in his squad for the upcoming internationals at the start of next month. The England manager is set to announce his squad on Tuesday.

Hearts of Oak’s hopes of luring Ghana international Sulley Muntari for a future with the club have been dealt a blow as the midfielder has professed his love for archrivals Asante Kotoko.

The former Inter and AC Milan man has been unattached since ending a six-month stint with Spanish second division outfit Albacete last year.

He has been heavily linked with Hearts in recent times, having had training spells with the club, and has as well been reported to be considering a move to a club in South Africa.

“I love Kotoko. They tried signing me when l was a young player in Kumasi," Muntari said in an Instagram Live chat with his fans.

“I would love to retire with them, but l would not rule out Hearts, RTU [Real Tamale United], King Faisal or Liberty Professionals.”

Muntari was on the books of Ghana Premier League side Liberty Professionals before first travelling abroad to join Udinese in 2002.

His time away has been very productive as he has won the Champions League, Fifa Club World Cup, two Italian Serie A titles, two Coppa Italia trophies and two Italian Super Cup golds during a four-year stay with Inter between 2008 and 2012.

Earlier, he helped Portsmouth win the English FA Cup in 2008.

In a 2012-13 Ghana Premier League run-in where Kotoko went head-to-head with Berekum Chelsea ahead of the final matchweek, Muntari backed Kotoko to win the title, saying, “All I know is Kotoko is going to win the league this weekend, they have been doing well this season and I think with the consistency and their strong mentality, they are going to win.

"I don't know why the PLB [Professional League Board] won't give the cup to Kotoko if they win because they have a greater goal difference. I think it is something they have to take a second look at. But I trust in the boys to deliver and Kotoko will be winners after the final matches.”

Muntari, who represented Ghana at the 2006, 2010 and 2014 Fifa World Cup tournaments, has also played for English side Sunderland, Italian fold Pescara, Spanish outfit Deportivo La Coruna and Saudi club Al-Ittihad.

With 23 titles, Kotoko are the most successful club in the history of the GPL, having four more wins than second-placed Hearts.

Khama Billiat’s agent Mike Ngobeni says his client is still the same talented player and pleads patience from the supporters, saying the striker will bounce back to his old form for Kaizer Chiefs.

Ngobeni also agrees with coach Ernst Middendorp that ‘King Khama’ is going through a rough patch and he’s not having the best of seasons so far.

On the other hand, the experienced player-manager is of the view that some coaches have different demands from players.

“It’s a phase, which is affecting everyone [at Kaizer Chiefs]. But to some people it’s like he is the only one playing there,” Ngobeni told The Standard.

“Sometimes it depends on what the coach requires from a player.

"Maybe the coach wants him to come from deep inside to collect the ball and start the build-ups, while maybe other coaches from his previous clubs wanted him to focus only on the attack.”

Although the former Mamelodi Sundowns attacker was sidelined through injury and recovered, Ngobeni added that the spell on the sidelines could be another factor to the 30-year-old’s dip of form.

“Players differ as some take time to recover, while others recover quickly. At the end of the day, he is still the Khama we know,” added the agent.

“The talent is there, and we just need to support what the coach says and that’s it.”

Chiefs have been lukewarm lately as they bagged only a single win since the restart, over Polokwane City, losing and drawing once since the restart.

However, they are under pressure to regain the form they showed before the season was suspended in March because of the coronavirus pandemic as they now lead coach Pitso Mosimane’s side by six points and now have four matches to go.

In addition, the Zimbabwe international will be expected to lead the Naturena-based club’s attack when they face Sundowns on Thursday in the league.

Mamelodi Sundowns have struggled to win matches since the return of competitive football this month, and Pitso Mosimane believes this is because three of his key players in Themba Zwane, Gaston Sirino and Sibusiso Vilakazi aren't at their best. 

Giving his assessment of the team's 2-2 draw at Maritzburg United, Mosimane said Sundowns wouldn't be struggling if the abovementioned players were not struggling. 

But could the coach have handled the rotation policy better when he had the chance? 

Over the last three to four seasons, Mosimane has been using the same squad for both domestic and continental competitions - and these players have become accustomed to playing so many games in the short space of time. 

Players such as Aubrey Ngoma, Anthony Laffor and Phakamani Mahlambi were continuously overlooked for the better part of the current season. 

And it's only now that Mosimane needs a bigger squad to complete the season that a few of them are getting back into the setup - and this because the pressure is mounting to get positive results.

It may not be too late as these players have been training with the rest of the squad for years but their lack of match fitness could hinder Sundowns' chances of lifting a third successive league trophy. 

By the time these players get their groove and those who've lost form regain their confidence, the season may be over, and it may be the case of preparing for next season for the majority of them. 

Playing catch up to Kaizer Chiefs means there's more pressure on Sundowns to always be at their best - and if their key players, who have contributed immensely to them fighting for the title, can't regain their form then this could hurt add more woes to their title-chasing chances. 

Mosimane only gave a handful of his fringe players an opportunity to play in the Shell Helix Cup in October 2019, and they didn't give him much to work on - and he continued to use his tried and tested. 

However, had he perhaps used a few of them in less-fancied games then things might have turned out differently. 

The quality and depth at Mosimane's disposal are unmatched but the reliance on certain players has made it extremely tough during this period.  

It's no secret that almost all the teams are struggling and coaches find themselves having to make changes week in and week out to manage the workload on players and those who were not in the team are gradually being introduced - but only for the sake of keeping the teams where they are on the log and not necessarily for winning matches.

Zwane, Sirino and Vilakazi have scored and assisted for Sundowns this season, and at this stage of the season, very few players can match them, let alone carry the team as much as they have done over the years in the remaining five matches of the season.

It is, for this reason, it's been difficult for Mosimane to drop both Lebohang Maboe and Denis Onyango because no one appears to be on their level - even with the experience of the likes of Kennedy Mweene and Reyaad Pieterse in the goalkeeping department.