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Asian Football Confederation (AFC) today announced that the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) will be used for the first time in the AFC Champions League (ACL), starting from the quarterfinal stage onwards.

This, after last month's announcement that Malaysia will be hosting the remaining matches of Group G and H of the competition this season, as well as the subsequent Round of 16, quarterfinal and semi-final matches.

While it has not been confirmed which specific venue the matches are going to be but with Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) being in Group G, Sultan Ibrahim Larkin is likely to be one of the venues to be used.

VAR is already widely used throughout the major football competitions in the world from the 2018 World Cup in Russia to the UEFA Champions League competition which Bayern Munich won only earlier this morning.

The VAR system that AFC will use for the ACL will only be limited to four game-changing decisions or incidents - goal or no goal, penalty kicks, direct red cards and mistaken identity decisions.

Thus far within the Asian continent, VAR has only been used in the 2019 Asian Cup and the 2020 AFC U23 Championship competitions, making the ACL the third competition to get a technological advancement.

In Malaysia, VAR has yet to be implemented for a variety of reasons. The high cost incurred is one of the major reason for the technology not to be used within the domestic calendar of M-League football.

But the decision to play the knockout matches in Malaysia meant that VAR will be used for the first time in the country, albeit not in a competition organised by Malaysian Football League (MFL).

Yet, it will be a valuable opportunity for the league organiser as well as Football Association of Malaysia's refereeing department to get a closer look at how it is implemented to prepare for the eventuality of VAR becoming part of Malaysian football.

Jose Mourinho has revealed the secrets of his success, including how to handle the football media world, in an insightful conversation with Ted Lasso.

The Tottenham manager is a Premier League veteran, having also managed Chelsea and Manchester United in the English top flight, and he passed on some advice to the newest man in the dug-out.

Lasso has been appointed as manager of AFC Richmond for the new Premier League season  but faces a steep learning curve in England after previously only coaching an American football team at college level.

However, Mourinho looks to have taken the inexperienced coach under his wing, offering him advice on various aspects of coaching on and off the field.

Having won two Champions Leagues as well as three Premier League titles, Mourinho knows exactly what it takes to be a success and outlined the key things any manager needs to make it at the highest level.

"But in football, there are no shortcuts," Mourinho explained on a call to Lasso. "First, you must identify players you can rely on."

Mourinho has had many inspirational leaders in his teams throughout his career, from his early success with Porto as well as at Inter and Real Madrid, while his current Spurs team is spearheaded by England talisman Harry Kane.

Equally important for most Mourinho teams are his reliable and impenetrable backlines, with the Portuguese having made a name for himself using tactics his critics labelled as 'parking the bus' but which proved extremely successful.

"Next, defence: the opposition cannot score, you cannot lose," Mourinho insisted.

Perhaps the most important lesson taught by Mourinho to newcomer Lasso was how to deal with the media - something any new coach in the Premier League will have to deal with, especially if results do not go their way.

The 57-year-old announced himself to the British public by labelling himself as 'The Special One', but having been on the wrong end of FA fines for post-match comments on opponents and referees, he knows exactly when and what to talk about in interviews.

"Finally, you must learn how to handle the English press," Mourinho continued. "I’m going to tell you exactly what to say: 'I prefer not to speak.'"

Having confused Lasso with the statement, Mourinho clarified the meaning, telling the American coach that these five words are crucial to surviving any interview, especially if asked a tricky question that could result in a fine or suspension.

"No, that’s what you say to the press. 'I prefer not to speak.'"

Watch Ted Lasso exclusively on Apple TV+

Liverpool are running the rule over young goalkeeper Javier Cendon, who is training with Jurgen Klopp’s first-team squad.

The 19-year-old Spaniard has joined up with the Reds at their pre-season camp in Austria, and sources have told Goal he has impressed staff, including goalkeeping coach John Achterberg, with his displays.

Liverpool are now considering whether to offer the teenager a contract upon their return to Merseyside later this week. 

Cendon left Villarreal at the end of last season, and would be seen as a possible option for Barry Lewtas’ under-23 squad rather than a first-team player. He is expected to be given the chance to continue training at Melwood while the club make a decision.

Liverpool are well stocked in terms of senior goalkeepers, with Adrian set to be understudy to Alisson Becker once again. Caoimhin Kelleher, who made four senior appearances last season, will again be third choice.

Kamil Grabara, the Poland under-21 international, is expected to depart on loan, with Hamburg and PAOK Salonika among those interested in signing the 21-year-old. Grabara spent last season at Huddersfield, and also has suitors in the Championship.

Loris Karius will be sold if a buyer can be found. The German has been with the squad in Austria, but was not involved in Saturday’s friendly against Salzburg – Alisson and Adrian shared duties while Kelleher was an unused substitute – and has been told he has no future at the club.

Montpellier are among the clubs to have made enquiries, though Karius himself has insisted he is in no rush to make a decision.

At academy level, Liverpool released three goalkeepers over the summer, with Shamal George, Dan Atherton and Kai McKenzie-Lyle all departing.

Fabian Mrozek, a 16-year-old, was signed from FC Wroclaw and will join up with the under-18s. The Reds already have two more young Poles, Viteszlav Jaros and Jakub Ojrzynski, competing for places at under-23 level, along with Ben Winterbottom, signed from Blackburn last year.

Cendon, meanwhile, was part of the Villarreal under-19 squad which reached the final of the Dallas Cup last year, and has represented Spain at youth level.

Ernst Middendorp has admitted that having Kaizer Chiefs striker Samir Nurkovic unavailable for the match against Mamelodi Sundowns will be a huge loss. 

Nurkovic is suspended for the top-of-the-table clash after receiving his fourth yellow card against Stellenbosch FC on Sunday night. 

And Middendorp said he will have to find solutions from within the squad now that he will be without his best striker for the encounter that could decide the destination of the PSL trophy.    

"It's a huge loss, there is no doubt about it," Middendorp told the media.  

"At the moment, we must look at finding solutions but let me try and find the solution inside the squad in the way that we can strategise but it's very painful for me and for us as a club."  

Ironically, Nurkovic replaced the injured Leonardo Castro who pulled a hamstring in the first half of the 1-1 draw with Stellies. 

This was Middendorp's way of avoiding Nurkovic to get booked but the injury to Castro forced him to throw the Serbian marksman onto the pitch.  

The 61-year-old mentor had not received Castro's medical report after the game but he confessed Chiefs cannot go to the Sundowns game without two of his best attackers this season. 

"I have really not gotten feedback from my medical team about Leonardo Castro," confirmed Middendorp.   

"But we definitely cannot expect to have Samir and Castro out for such a huge game. They have been on form and very successful for the club this season," he added.

The Nurkovic and Castro partnership has yielded 20 of the 46 league goals scored by the Soweto giants this season. 

Should Castro fail to recover on time for this crunch encounter on Thursday then Middendorp could be forced to start with Lazarous Kambole and Khama Billiat upfront.

Kambole finally opened his goalscoring account for the Soweto giants against Stellenbosch, and Middendorp would hope he can deliver again when it matters the most. 

The clash could also see the return of Lebogang Manyama who missed the Stellenbosch match due to a niggling injury while there is also Dumisani Zuma who could play high up the field and has goals in him.     

Joshua Kimmich has revealed that Bayern Munich had a "feeling of invincibility" during Sunday's Champions League final in Lisbon.

Bayern became the first side to win the competition with a 100% record after picking up an 11th consecutive victory against Paris Saint-Germain at Benfica's Estadio da Luz.

Hansi Flick's side had scored 18 goals in total during knockout stage wins over Chelsea, Barcelona and Lyon, but the Ligue 1 champions provided a far sterner test in the showpiece event.

PSG wasted several guilt-edge openings in the first 45 minutes, while Robert Lewandowski went closest for Bayern as he hit the woodwork with a poacher's shot after spinning expertly in the box.

Thomas Tuchel's men continued to try and soak up pressure and hit their opponents on the break early in the second period, but the Bundesliga outfit were eventually able to make their dominance of possession count just before the hour mark.

Kimmich provided the assist for Kingsley Coman to beat Keylor Navas in the PSG net with a well-placed header, sparking wild scenes of celebration among the Bayern players and staff.

The game ultimately ended 1-0, with Flick delivering a sixth European Cup to Allianz Arena to add to the Bundesliga title and DFB Cup his side had already won in 2019-20.

Kimmich has acknowledged the fact that Bayern weren't at their free-flowing best against PSG, but also admitted that the squad was always confident of success after their unprecedented run to the final.

“It is the biggest day of my career. I can’t describe what it means to be on the pitch with a team like this one," the German midfielder told the club's official website.

“Winning a title like that with brothers is the best you can achieve. Hansi Flick has given us a very good feeling in the camp and given us a lot of confidence right from the off.

“Each victory has given us more and more confidence. When you make mistakes, someone else makes up for them.

“We weren’t without mistakes (in the final) either, but we had a slight feeling of invincibility. I think we deserved to win this competition.”

Bayern forward Thomas Muller added on becoming a two-time Champions League winner: “It feels incredible. We’ve been on a journey, we’ve come relatively far from how we felt in the autumn, and then we went on a run that was sensational.

“We’ve also deserved this feeling. We have the team spirit – the boys are ready to toil. We also rode our luck and had Manuel Neuer between the sticks.

“It wasn’t our best game, but we hung in there and now we’re on top.”

Harvey Elliott “really loves Liverpool” and boasts the “elite mentality” required to become a senior star for the Premier League champions, claims his former Fulham youth team coach Jack Johnson.

At 17 years of age, the highly-rated midfielder is already part of Jurgen Klopp’s first team squad.

On the back of being lured away from Craven Cottage in the summer of 2019, Elliott has gone on to take in eight appearances for Liverpool.

Youngsters are being given a chance to make their mark within star-studded ranks at Anfield, with academy graduates and encouraging signings seeing a prominent platform handed to them.

Johnson expects Elliott to make the most of his opportunities, with the boyhood Liverpool fan living the dream on Merseyside as he looks turn undoubted potential into a lengthy career at the very top of the game.

“Harvey’s a Liverpool fan and he really loves Liverpool,” Johnson told the Blood Red Podcast of a player he worked with from U12 level at Fulham.

“And nothing ever seemed to faze Harvey. He just wants to play football. It doesn’t matter if it's in the back garden or in front of 100,000 – I don’t think his heartbeat would change. He takes everything in his stride. He just wants to play football – and wants to win.

“His mentality is elite. That’s why he is where he’s at. Working at an academy, you see a lot of very good players, who have got tricks and have got skills, but you could tell from quite early on that he had that elite mentality.

“As I said earlier, some people may think he’s quiet, but it comes from a place of being really focused. We’d have analysis sessions and he’d be really clever. He’d sit where he’d get the most out of that analysis session. You may have one or two boys in the group who, if you sit next to them, they might distract you. But he made sure he sat away from that.

“He’d have the banter and the jokes at the right time, but when there was information to be given, he’d be at the front, taking it all on board. So, yes, elite mentality from the kid.”

Johnson added on his experiences with Elliott: “My first impressions? Good player! Good feet, skilful, knew the game, and like a lot of players who are highly thought of, would play up a year. He was a good character. He was quite a quiet lad – not in a shy way, in a real focused way.

“He knows what he’s at the club for; he knows what he’s come to training to do – and that’s improve and be the best he can be, every single training session and every single game. So, quiet, but that was down to being really, really focused. 

“At U12s, technically he was probably the best in the group, but I think the turning point was when he developed physically – and he took real ownership of that himself. He went away and worked really hard on his sprinting, and when I came back across him with the U15s, two or three years later, he was a different beast.”

Bruno Fernandes is a Manchester United captain of the future, according to former Udinese manager Andrea Stramaccioni, with the Portuguese considered to boast all of the qualities required to be a leader at Old Trafford.

The Red Devils moved to snap up a talented playmaker from Sporting in the January transfer window.

Having monitored Fernandes for some time, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side were hoping to see a calculated mid-season gamble pay off.

The 25-year-old midfielder has exceeded all expectations in England, with a role quickly taken up as an integral part of United’s plans.

Fernandes has claimed that there is even more to come, having already shown himself to be a useful source of goals and assists, with an ambitious performer targeting continuous improvement.

It could be that his talismanic presence sees him inherit the armband at some stage, with Stramaccioni of the opinion that the Portugal international would make a fine skipper for United.

He told Sky Sports of a player he worked with in Italy: “Bruno is a very good boy, a very good person. He is a really hard worker, he’s positive.

“When we were at Udinese he worked a lot and his approach was always positive.

“He can certainly captain Manchester United, he is a really talismanic player. He is loved by the fans, respected by his team-mates – even from opponents.

“To be captain of Manchester United is something really, really important. I hope he will be.

“I think now we don’t need to think about this kind of thing, he has to think about keeping his performance at a high level, as he is doing, and step by step gain the respect of everyone around him – the media, the fans – and continue to keep a high level.”

It could be that Fernandes is reunited with Stramaccioni in English football further down the line, with the Italian tactician revealing that he has come close to landing prestigious posts in the recent past.

He added: “I was close in the past to Sheffield Wednesday, but it was four or five years ago.

“Then I was in touch with Aston Villa, two years ago. Then I was very close to Watford, because it is the same owner of Udinese.

“Premier League, Championship, with respect for all the other leagues, I think they are the best leagues in the world.”

Ernst Middendorp has referred questions around Itumeleng Khune's continued exclusion from matchday squads to the Kaizer Chiefs management. 

Khune, 33, has been a noticeable absentee for Amakhosi since the resumption of the season as Middendorp has stuck to his guns by using Daniel Akpeyi as his preferred first-choice this season. 

Bruce Bvuma has sat on the bench thus far, and Middendorp isn't prepared to reveal more on his reasons for keeping Khune away from the team.  

"I think, regarding Itu, if you need a little bit more in terms of details, I refer you to the management of Kaizer Chiefs. Probably, they will give a little bit more information," said Middendorp as quoted by City Press. 

Middendorp, however, confirmed that Khune was training with his teammates, saying they continue to monitor his progress. 

He revealed that from the technical team's point of view, there is something missing in Khune's game, and that's all he was prepared to say. 

"Itu is in training. We have a very clear identification of our current situation, how far he is to go in competition and to be prepared for selection." 

"At the moment, what we have seen as a technical team, there is something missing - that's all I can say," added Middendorp.  

The Ventersdorp-born shot-stopper has featured sparingly for the Glamour Boys this season with just two league appearances under his belt. 

Middendorp previously said he would use Khune in the Nedbank Cup but Amakhosi crashed out in the Last 16, losing on penalties to Highlands Park and that proved to be the goalkeeper's last game before the season was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

Just a few days ago, Middendorp reiterated that Chiefs will finish the season with Akpeyi as their No.1, subsequently closing the door on Khune's possible return in the remaining four matches of the season. 

Akpeyi was instrumental in Amakhosi maintaining their position at the top of the log this season but he has come under scrutiny again after conceding seven goals in four matches since the restart of the season. 

In the process, the Naturena-based outfit has managed just one win, losing once and drawing the other two matches.   

Tom Rogic’s decision to leave Celtic for Qatar has come as a surprise to Australia coach Rene Meulensteen, as he feels that the 27-year-old midfielder has “Premier League quality”.

Rather than moving south when he leaves Scotland, it appears as though the Socceroos star will instead be heading for the Middle East.

Rogic is reported to have an agreement in place that will take him away from Parkhead after seven years in Glasgow. He had been tied to a contract by the Hoops through to 2023, with a desire on their part to retain the services of a player who has been a productive creative influence when fit.

Both club and player are, however, now pulling in different directions and Meulensteen is surprised to see the decision taken to head away from Britain by a player who still has so much to offer.

The former Manchester United assistant manager, who now works alongside Graham Arnold with the Australia national side, said in the Daily Record: “I’m really quite surprised a Premier League club, or a top Championship team, or even a team elsewhere in Europe that’s pushing for Champions League or Europe League hasn’t come for him.

“He’s at a great age and has fantastic qualities and is tactically also very intelligent. Used well, in the right system, he can be a big asset for a lot of teams.

“He has Premier League quality, but you need to adapt in your mindset because stepping onto the pitch at Celtic you know you’re probably going to win. That’s not the case in the Premier League where you have to do far more without the ball and it’s a lot more demanding.

“It’s about being adaptable and deciding to graft every day in training because there are no easy games at that level. I don’t see an issue with Tom being able to do that and perhaps he does have other things on the table, but if Qatar has come calling then there will also be a financial benefit for him in what is probably an under-rated and under-appreciated competition.

“The standard of the league in Qatar has jumped in recent years and they’ve invested heavily in local talent and not just foreigners. Top players like Xavi and Ronald de Boer played there, and so many others.

“The stadiums are new, getting around is easy in a small country and the league is played when the heat’s not so bad. In terms of resources and environment, it’s excellent, and I don’t think Tom’s game would suffer by going there.

“Tom's been at Celtic a long time. He loves the club and has won a lot of trophies there. I’ve asked him previously whether he’d like to move to the Premier League but I think he’s always been content at Celtic.

“Don’t forget they’re a huge club and you can never under-estimate winning, it’s the greatest feeling. You can never get enough. But now, where he’s limited with his game time, he might see this as an opportunity to try something different.”

Sunday Oliseh has praised Bayern Munich after winning the Champions League title ahead of Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday.

The Bravarians secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over the Ligue 1 champions in the final of the European competition at Estadio da Luz to clinch the highly coveted trophy.

Kingsley Coman scored the all-important winning goal with a fine header after he was set up by Joshua Kimmich moments before the hour mark.

With the Champions League triumph, Hans-Dieter Flick’s men, thus, completed their treble, having also won the Bundesliga title and the German Cup.

The German top-flight was the first to resume after the outbreak of coronavirus forced major leagues across the world to a hiatus while Ligue 1 was abruptly concluded.

Oliseh believes the early resumption of the Bundesliga contributed to the Bravarians’ success and explains other factors that led to their triumph in the European competition.

“The Germans [Bayern Munich] once again excel thanks to better organisation, foresight and hard work,” Oliseh tweeted.

“[It] restarted before every other league, with such a scenario in mind, looked physically better with a clear game plan and got lucky too. They just won the treble! League, Cup and ECL.”

Oliseh enjoyed success in the Bundesliga during his playing years, where he featured for FC Koln and Borussia Dortmund.

The 45-year-old made 53 league appearances for the Black and Yellows during his four-year stay and helped the club win the 2001-2002 league title and finish as runner-up in the Uefa Cup that same season.

Oliseh also played for Italian giants Juventus, Dutch outfit Ajax, Reggiana and Genk among others before his retirement.

The former RFC Liege midfielder had 54 caps for the Super Eagles and was part of the side that won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations.

Oliseh has served as Eupen sporting director and managed Vervietois, Nigeria and Fortuna Sittard since he started his coaching career.

Ronald Koeman is determined to be a success back at Barcelona and Jordi Cruyff says the Dutchman’s desire to get the club “back to where it should be is shared by everyone”.

Another change in the dugout has been made at Camp Nou on the back of a disappointing end to the 2019-20 campaign.

A humbling 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals of the Champions League proved to be the final straw for Quique Setien.

Barca have turned to a familiar face for inspiration as they seek to get back on track, with Koeman charged with the task of returning a fallen giant to its feet and convincing the likes of Lionel Messi to stay put.

He is ready to embrace that challenge, as he prepares to take on a dream job, and Cruyff believes a man who once played in the ‘Dream Team’ managed by his father Johan is the ideal candidate to deliver a reversal in fortune for the Blaugrana.

Jordi told Sport: “In difficult moments like the one Barça are experiencing right now, it's always best to remember someone who identifies with the club and who knows its idiosyncrasies.

“That's why names like Ronald Koeman and Xavi Hernandez are always welcomed by Barça fans after wearing the shirt and never hiding away from the fact they would love to manage the side one day.

“No one can deny that Koeman has shown his great desire, including saying it bravely, that he wants to take on this difficult task.

“But he knows this club better than anybody, its famous atmosphere, how painful every defeat feels and how special every success is. He's in sync with Barça and its supporters. This will ease his integration into the role.

“For him, the easy option would have been to stay with Holland and lead them into Euro 2021. But he preferred to take over a similar role at Barcelona, fresh after a humiliating defeat at the hands of Bayern, and with a summer overhaul staring him right in the face.

“Koeman will have the backing from supporters because they want to see one of their own succeed. He added Henrik Larsson to his staff, another player who impressed during his time at Barça. In Alfred Schreuder he has the man who played a key role in Ajax's destruction of Real Madrid last season. Two names who inspire confidence. 

“Koeman knows the task at hand and the challenges facing him. It's time for painful changes but he brings a needed calmness to that process as well. But Koeman also crucially brings a lot of illusion and desire to succeed. That illusion, that desire to bring Barça back to where they should be, is shared by everyone.”

Koeman is still settling into a new post after being handed a two-year contract, but is reported to have met with his players and informed those that do not form part of his plans that they are free to move on.

Victor Osimhen has joined his new teammates at Napoli for their pre-season trip to Castel di Sangro in Abruzzo.

The Stadio San Paolo outfit have begun preparations for the 2020-21 season in earnest following their seventh-place finish in the Serie A table last term.

Osimhen joined Napoli on a five-year deal in July after an impressive debut season in the Ligue 1 with Lille where he scored 13 goals in 27 appearances.

After his brief summer break, the 21-year-old linked up with his new teammates in Naples before their journey to Castel di Sangro on Monday morning.

Also included in the 34-man squad are Senegal's Kalidou Koulibaly, Algeria duo Adam Ounas and Faouzi Ghoulam.

Napoli will spend the next two weeks in Castel di Sangro and they will be engaged in two friendly matches before concluding their retreat with a friendly game against Serie C outfit Teramo on September 4.

They have been scheduled to play Aquila and Castel di Sangro in a triangular match on August 28.

Osimhen will have his first training session as a Napoli player on Monday afternoon which will be opened to 1000 fans due to the coronavirus restrictions in Italy.

Although the fixtures have not been confirmed, the 2020-21 Serie A season has been earmarked to start on September 19.

Kakamega Homeboyz chairman Cleophas Shimanyula has bragged that his club will remain a force despite losing players to other teams in each and every transfer window.

The Kakamega-based club has recently conceded losing midfielder Peter Thiong’o to rivals AFC Leopards after the two clubs tussled over the player since the transfer window opened on August 10.

Shimanyula has now told Goal that the team will never be affected and went further to give a list of players they have lost to teams in the top-flight including Kenyan Premier League (KPL) champions Gor Mahia.

“We have always been feeding KPL clubs with players, not a single club in KPL has not signed a player from Homeboyz,” Shimanyula told Goal on Monday. “But as always the team still remains a force.

“We have lost Harun [Shakava] and Charles [Momanyi] to Gor Mahia before but it did not affect us, we still went ahead to finish second on the table in the last campaign, and actually had the season been played to the end, we should have won the title.

“We have an academy which is very strong, not even AFC Leopards or Gor Mahia have an academy like the one we have, we don’t fear losing players, we lose and promote from the academy and they just fit in very well.”

Shimanyula continued: “In fact this window, I don’t think we will sign any player, we don’t need to because we already have players to be promoted from the academy, we are not like AFC Leopards, who are waiting for free agents to sign…no, we are a team with proper structures.”

According to Shimanyula, some of the players who have left Homeboyz in the last four transfer windows to various clubs in the top-flight include Estone Esiye (KCB), Sostenus Idah (Bandari), Luke Namanda (Tusker) Gabriel Andika (KCB) and Sunday Mutuku (Sidama Coffee, Ethiopia).

Others are Daniel Sakari (Kariobangi Sharks), Edwin Lavatsa (Gor Mahia), Festo Omukoto (Western Stima), Festus Okiring, and Daniel Waweru (Ulinzi Stars), Japhar Owiti (AFC Leopards) and Faraj Owiti (Tusker).

On Sunday, Shimanyula maintained Homeboyz will continue to dominate rivals AFC Leopards even if they end up signing Thiong’o.

“Homeboyz cannot panic just because we have lost Thiong’o, this is a club which has an academy and we don’t care about losing players because we nurture our own, it will not affect our performances next season, just watch this space, because we will remain the team to beat,” Shimanyula told Goal.

“We will also beat AFC Leopards home and away [with Thiong’o], we have beaten them before and the history will continue, it will not change, we will beat them and this time if they don’t watch out, we will hit them 10-0.”

“Thiong’o is not a big loss for us because he was even warming the bench here, and used to come in the second period, I want you to go check his record [with Homeboyz], and tell me what he did that will be missed?”

In the last seven matches between the two sides, Homeboyz have managed four wins and suffered one defeat with the other two ending in draws.

Cabinet Secretary for Sports Amina Mohamed has confirmed the Ministry will soon roll out a sports resumption calendar.

Contact and non-contact sports in the country have been halted since mid-March when they were suspended due to the emergence of the global coronavirus pandemic.

But the assurance of Mohamed, in a virtual meeting with sports stakeholders, provided insight that the government will roll out a calendar, programme and guidelines for resumption.

“Due to the nature of pandemic, it was important to take a delicate and very diligent process that satisfied the Ministry of Health [MOH] and the World Health Organisation [WHO] directives including public participation,” Mohamed said during the virtual Monday meeting.

“It is my hope we will be able to complete the exercise as soon as possible and roll out a sports calendar.”

The Minister was speaking as she received the guidelines from a panel she had constituted to come up with a roadmap for resumption.

The report was presented by the panel’s chair Hassan Noor Hassan who led other members including Pius Meto, Rose Wachuka, Walter Ongeti, Gerald Gitonga, Agnes Oluoch, Naim Bilal, Elias Makori, Wycliffe Makanga, Doreen Odhiambo, Japhpter Rugut, Rose Wasike, Barnabas Korir, Francis Mutuku, Christine Mangwana, Kweya Obed, James Ochola and Sylvia Kamau in drafting the protocols.

“I am thankful for the committee members for the hard work that they put in to ensure the guidelines were ready in time,” Noor told the virtual meeting.

“We have lost a lot of time in the year and as you can see the school year has also been lost and we hopefully don’t want to see the same happening to sports.

“We really want to keep sports in the country alive.”

One of the guidelines proposed by the panel was the testing of all sportspeople before the resumption of their respective disciplines. This proposal, however, was slightly contested as the stakeholders asked the government to reduce testing charges or waive it altogether.

The stakeholders have been given a week to read the guidelines report and channel back their feedback before the ministry works on them and give a tentative date when sports will resume.

When the date shall be finally announced, it will give Football Kenya Federation (FKF) time to give a roadmap to the resumption of the leagues.

The fate of the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) that was cancelled by FKF and disputed by its managers remains unknown as the matter is at the Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT) now.

Ivan Perisic spoke about his future after winning the Champions League with Bayern Munich, highlighting the fact that he still has two years left to run on his contract at Inter.

Perisic joined Inter from Wolfsburg back in 2015, and has since racked up 163 appearances for the club across all competitions.

45 of those outings came during the 2018-19 campaign, but he was sent out on loan to Bayern last summer following Antonio Conte's arrival at San Siro.

Despite the fact Perisic has found himself in and out of Hansi Flick's line up at Allianz Arena amid a string of niggling injuries, he has been able to make a sizeable contribution to their latest campaign.

The 31-year-old has recorded eight goals and ten assists in all competitions, with his strike in a Champions League quarter-final clash with Barca helping Bayern earn a famous 8-2 victory.

He also started the German outfit's semi-final win over Lyon, and although he was left on the bench for Sunday's final in Lisbon, he insisted post-match that he is quite content in his current surroundings.

Bayern have yet to decide whether to take up the option to sign Perisic on a permanent deal, and he is expecting to be sent back to Inter after becoming a Champions League winner.

Asked what his next move will be after the Bundesliga champions' 1-0 triumph against Paris Saint-Germain in Lisbon, the Croatia international told Sky Sports: "It's a pity I haven't done something like this with Inter in recent years, but now I'm happy. I still have two years on my contract with the Nerazzurri, let's see what happens. We have to meet."

Kingsley Coman's 59th-minute header proved to be the difference between PSG and Bayern, with the final ultimately failing to live up to expectations in terms of goalmouth action.

Both clubs had been in prolific form during their respective runs to the showpiece event, but defence prevailed over attack on a night which saw Flick's side complete the treble.

The result might have been different had Kylian Mbappe and Neymar made the most of clear chances in the first half, but Manuel Neuer was in inspired form to keep a talismanic pair at bay.

PSG boss Thomas Tuchel hailed the Germany shot-stopper for his performance after the final whistle, telling reporters: "He took the goalkeeping game to a new level. Unfortunately for us."

Luis Figo famously left Barcelona for Real Madrid in 2000, but the Portuguese says it would be “impossible” for Lionel Messi to complete a similar switch 20 years on.

Speculation is building when it comes to a move away from Camp Nou for a superstar of the modern era.

Barca’s struggles in 2019-20, which saw them surrender the Liga title to Real and crash out of the Champions League on the back of a humbling 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich, are seeing serious questions asked in Catalunya.

Many of those are focused on Messi and the future of a six-time Ballon d’Or winner in his current surroundings.

The mercurial Argentine is yet to commit to a contract extension beyond the summer of 2020 , with talks over fresh terms said to have been shelved.

Amid the uncertainty, it has been suggested that the likes of Paris Saint-Germain , Inter and Manchester City could launch audacious bids to prise Messi from Barca’s clutches.

Figo cannot see anyone generating the funds required to do a deal , with the financial implications of a coronavirus pandemic hitting even the richest clubs hard - and he certainly cannot see Messi following his lead by crossing the Clasico divide and taking on a new challenge at Santiago Bernabeu.

“It'll be impossible for any club to pay up Messi's release clause this year,” Figo said at a Banco Santander event in Lisbon. “There's not much movement in the transfer market at the moment. I think it's very difficult or even impossible for any club to be able pay Messi's contract.

“For me, I think it's impossible we'll see anything similar to what happened with me 20 years ago.”

Messi is yet to discuss his future in public, but is said to have held talks with new Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman.

The South American superstar has previously aired his frustration when it comes to matters on and off the field at Camp Nou, with concerns raised as to the direction in which the club are heading.

He must be convinced that Barcelona remain the right club for him, according to former team-mate Deco.

Deco told Mundo Deportivo : "We are talking about the best player in the history of the club and his family is linked to the city. It's not easy, but it is also clear that he wants to keep winning. We cannot imagine a Barca without Leo, but it can happen."

Neymar congratulated the wrong team after Paris Saint-Germain's loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League final.

PSG failed to add an elusive piece of silverware to their collection after being beaten 1-0 by Bayern at Estadio da Luz in Lisbon on Sunday.

Thomas Tuchel's men created the clearer openings in a tense first half, but Manuel Neuer kept out efforts from Neymar and Kylian Mbappe to ensure that the teams went in level at the interval.

Bayern dominated possession throughout the 90 minutes, and eventually found a way through PSG's stubborn rearguard in the 59th minute as Kingsley Coman headed home a beautifully flighted Joshua Kimmich cross.

Hansi Flick's side held on a for a victory which saw them complete the treble, emulating the achievements of Jupp Heynckes' class of 2012-13.

Neymar was overcome with emotion after the final whistle, and although David Alaba sportingly attempted to console his opponent, the Brazilian's tears flowed as the reality of the defeat began to sink in.

The world's most expensive player eventually composed himself enough to send out a tweet congratulating Bayern on their victory, but was left red-faced after forgetting to type the final letter of the team's name.

Neymar ended up paying tribute to Bayer Leverkusen by mistake, as he stated: “Losing is part of the sport, we try everything, we fight until the end. Thank you for the support and affection of each one of you and CONGRATULATIONS to BAYER.”

Leverkusen issued a swift response to the PSG star via their official Twitter account, which reads: "Obrigado @neymarjr. I’m not sure why you congratulate me if I'm on vacation playing FIFA, but thanks.”

Tuchel jumped to the defence of Neymar and Mbappe after their off-night in front of goal, as he told RMC Sport post-match: "We've lacked efficiency. We want Kylian and Neymar to score all the time. I'm proud because Ney had another amazing game. He showed his abilities, his mentality.

"For Kiki, it’s difficult. It was a miracle that he was with us [after injury].

"It was a real fight! We gave our all, we left our hearts on the field. We couldn’t control the outcome. It was a goal that made the difference between two super strong teams. I'm very proud of the way we played, of our mentality. That's all a coach can ask of his players.

“I'm disappointed, but not too disappointed. It's a close score. I'm convinced that if we score first, we win the game 1-0.”

Paul Pogba staying at Manchester United is “tremendous news” for the Red Devils, claims Mark Bosnich, with the former goalkeeper of the opinion that the World Cup winner would be almost impossible to replace.

Speculation regarding a move away from Old Trafford for the France international midfielder has raged for some time.

Despite United having made Pogba their £89 million (€99m/$117m) club-record signing when returning him to England from Juventus in 2016, questions of his form and future have never been far away.

The 27-year-old has hinted at leaving at times, with admissions on his part that a new challenge may be just what he needs. United have, however, always maintained that they have no intention of parting with Pogba.

Pogba’s agent, Mino Raiola, has now come out and stated that no move will be made in the current transfer window, with many clubs struggling for funds amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Bosnich considers that to be a positive for the Red Devils, with it difficult to see how they could benefit from offloading a prized asset who could yet strike up a formidable partnership with Bruno Fernandes in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s engine room.

The former United goalkeeper told Sky Sports of Pogba staying put: “I think it’s tremendous news.

“I’ve said it for a long time now. I know this is a divisive subject and there are quite a lot who have the opposite opinion to what I am saying, but I had this discussion with a Manchester United support in Sydney the other day and he was on the other side.

“I just pointed out that, first and foremost, if you wanted to replace him, who would you replace him with? How much is it going to cost you? If you are to sell him, how much are you going to take a hit on it?

“The gentleman in question was saying that they aren’t going to win anything with him. They have already won two trophies with him and he’s been very successful with Juventus, in terms of what he’s won, and we all know he’s won a World Cup.

“The partnership that we have seen with Bruno Fernandes, which has been successful already, augurs well for the future. I think he is the future and I think it’s a really good move, not just for him but for Manchester United, to keep him at the club.”

Pogba has made 164 appearances for United to date, registering 32 goals and 33 assists across those outings while helping the Red Devils to Community Shield, League Cup and Europa League success in 2016-17.

Mamelodi Sundowns are six points behind Kaizer Chiefs after this weekend's results but the gap could be reduced to just three points provided they win against Golden Arrows. 

They face an Arrows side that is winless since the return of football, and that alone could prove tricky for Pitso Mosimane's men. 

But Sundowns, themselves, are winless and they are under pressure to get positive results and keep Amakhosi on their toes in the title race.   

TV Channel, Live Score & How To Watch

The game will be shown live on SuperSport 4. 

Squads & Team News

The Brazilians have had to rotate their starting XI for the past four games due to injuries and suspensions. 

Mosimane is again set to make another change to his usual starting line-up after Ricardo Nascimento was red-carded in the previous game against Maritzburg United. 

The lanky centre-back will miss this encounter against Steve Komphela's men as well as the crunch match against Kaizer Chiefs on Thursday. 

In Nascimento's absence, Mosimane is likely to bring back Wayne Arendse or as his last resort, move Ricardo Coetzee to a more defensive role after playing him as a central midfielder in the past. 

It will be interesting to see if the technical team will keep the core of the team that did the job against the Team of Choice with Andile Jali and Hlompho Kekana in midfield alongside Tiyani Mabunda. 

It's upfront where things are likely to stay the same. Themba Zwane started on the bench against Maritzburg United, and Mosimane admitted his top goalscorer isn't at his best. 

However, with Sphelele Mkhulise, Gaston Sirino and Keletso Makgalwa in fine form, chances are that Zwane will again start on the bench and come on as a second-half substitute.   

Abafana Bes'thende haven't reported any suspensions ahead of this clash but they will be without Edmore Sibanda who got injured in the team's 2-1 loss to Black Leopards.  

This means Maximilian Mbaeva is most likely to start ahead of Nkosingiphile Gumede in goal after coming on as a substitute in Sibanda's place. 

Players such as Gladwin Shitolo and Knox Mutizwa will be expected to use their experience to match Sundowns on the day.

Mutizwa is chasing the Golden Boot award and he would want to score against Denis Onyango and put the pressure on the likes of Peter Shalulile, Gabadinho Mhango and Bradley Grobler who are also vying for the same accolade.  

Match Preview

This will be the 36th meeting across all competitions between the two sides since 2004.  

Sundowns have won 20 of the last 35 games to Arrows' nine while the other nine matches ended in draws. 

The Tshwane giants have scored 51 times against Arrows and conceded just 29 goals.

A win for Arrows will see them move into the Top 8 bracket as they are currently placed 10th on the log with 33 points from 26 league matches.

Sundowns, on the other hand, are second on the standings with 47 points from 25 games. 

Kenya international Joash Onyango has revealed he was left in shock with the turnout of Simba SC who graced the Simba Day friendly against Vital’O on Saturday.

The Wekundu wa Msimbazi played a friendly against the Burundian side and went ahead to win 6-0 at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

Onyango, who signed for Simba from Kenyan Premier League (KPL) champions Gor Mahia has now admitted Tanzania football fans love attending matches as compared to their Kenyan counterparts.

“The main difference I have seen today [Saturday] for Simba is the big number of supporters in comparison with Kenyan clubs,” Onyango, who made his debut during the friendly, is quoted saying by Daily News.

“Let me take this opportunity to thank all Simba fans for the warm reception they gave me upon arrival at this great club. I thank them a lot.”

With the absence of Pascal Wawa (Ivory Coast) and Louis Miquissone (Mozambique) – Onyango was handed his debut by coach Sven Vandenbroeck and did not disappoint as Simba managed to keep a clean sheet.

Simba’s new signing from rivals Yanga SC Bernard Morrison opened the floodgate of goals for the giants as they added the rest courtesy of captain John Bocco, Clatous Chama, Ibrahim Ajibu, Chris Mugalu, and Charles Ilanfya.

Last season, the Msimbazi-based side won a treble: they opened the season with a Community Shield win before securing the league title and then beat Namungo FC 2-1 to lift the FA Cup.

Simba will now open their season with a clash against Namungo in the Shield Cup before they start their title defence with a clash against promoted side Ihefu FC on September 6.

They will also take part in the Caf Champions League for the third season in a row while Namungo will take part in the Confederation Cup.