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Cedric Amissi scored Al Taawoun’s only goal in Tuesday’s 2-1 defeat to Al Faisaly in a Saudi Professional League fixture.

The Burundi international beat goalkeeper Mustafa Malayekah in the 63rd minute yet his side ended on the losing side inside Al Majma'ah Sports City Stadium.

With football returning to the Asian country after a long hiatus owing to the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic, Al Faisaly took an early lead through Ahmed Al-Fiqi in the ninth minute courtesy of Igor Rossi’s assist.

The Burgundy held on to the slim advantage heading into the half-time break as Malayekah denied the visitors from equalising thanks to his brave saves.

Al Taawoun started the second half like a wounded animal and were rewarded 18 minutes from restart as the 30-year-old found the net with a cool finish.

Notwithstanding, the hosts regained their lead through Guilherme Augusto who fired past goalkeeper Hussain Shaian seven minutes later.

That proved to be the winning strike as no goals were scored for the remaining part of the encounter.

Amissi’s goal was his fifth in 19 Saudi Arabia topflight appearances so far this season. He was on parade from start to finish for Vitor Campelos’ side. Cape Verde international Heldon Ramos was an unused substitute for the Wolves.

Defeat leaves Al Taawoun in the league's eighth position having garnered 32 points from 23 league outings as Al Faisaly climbed to fifth after accruing 38 points from the same number of matches.

Unbeaten in their last four outings, Al Faisaly travel to Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Sports City Stadium on Sunday for a date with Damac, as Al Taawoun visit ninth-placed Al Shabab on Monday.

Amissi joined the Saudi Arabian outfit in 2017 from Portuguese side Uniao da Madeira and helped them win the 2019 Kings Cup. He had previously represented Prince Louis, Rayon Sports and FC Chibuto.

On the international scene, the midfielder boasts of 45 caps for the Burundian national team with 10 goals to his credit. He was part of Olivier Niyungeko’s squad to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations where the country failed to qualify from Group B that also paraded Nigeria, Guinea and Madagascar. 

Joe Bryan's unlikely double sent Fulham to the Premier League in a 2-1 extra-time win over west London rivals Brentford in Tuesday's Championship play-off final at Wembley.

The full-back caught goalkeeper David Raya off guard with a 35-yard effort towards the end of the first half of extra time, with the Brentford goalkeeper expecting his opponent to cross.

Incredibly Bryan scored a second after a wonderful move in the closing moments as the former Bristol City man proved the difference-maker in a game otherwise lacking in quality

Henrik Dalsgaard pulled one back in stoppage time of the second period of extra time but it was too little, too late as Fulham returned to the top flight at the first time of asking following relegation last season.

Brentford's defeat in a match dubbed the richest game in football meanwhile means their 73-year wait to play in English football's top tier continues.

Fulham were the main aggressors in a first half devoid of chances, Josh Onomah forcing Raya into a smart low stop down to his right after 17 minutes the closest Scott Parker's side went.

Harrison Reed was perhaps fortunate only to see yellow for a late slide on Christian Norgaard half an hour in, while Neeskens Kebano bent a free-kick in the side-netting shortly after the break.

Fulham again had a chance when Bobby Decordova-Reid shot wide on the half-volley from a promising position inside the area.

It took until the 71st minute for Brentford dangerman Ollie Watkins to test Marek Rodak with an edge-of-the-box drive and he also scuffed wide under pressure from Michael Hector early in extra time.

The game needed a spark and Bryan provided it to the dismay of Raya, the full-back shooting from an improbable free-kick out on the left after spotting Brentford's keeper well out of position. 

Fulham made sure when Bryan received Tom Cairney's pass, played a one-two with Aleksandar Mitrovic and slotted past Raya with his weaker right foot.

There was still time for Dalsgaard to nod in when Norgaard kept Said Benrahma's cross alive but the seconds soon ticked down on Brentford's promotion push as the final whistle brought delirious Fulham celebrations.

What does it mean? Fulham in the money and in the promised land

Brentford stood to gain a reported £160million if they were promoted. Fulham stand to earn slightly less at around £135m but a swift return to the Premier League will bring a sigh of a relief.

Bryan's brilliance the difference

In truth, Fulham just about edged the chances without ever really creating a clear-cut opportunity, which is why Bryan's ingenuity proved so inspired. There was a little more panache about Fulham's second.

Heartbreak for Raya

You do have to feel for Raya for such an incident occurring in Brentford's biggest game of the season. Never has the saying expect the unexpected been more true as Raya was left embarrassed by Bryan.

What's next?

Parker can now start preparing his Fulham side for a fresh tilt at the Premier League, while for Thomas Frank and Brentford it is at least one more campaign in the hustle and bustle of the Championship.

Inter Allies coach Tony Loko is not convinced about the safety of playing football ahead of a possible resumption of the Ghana Premier League (GPL) in October.

Ghana's domestic football competitions have been on hold since March when the coronavirus pandemic broke out around the world.

The Football Association (GFA) has set a tentative date in October for the return of the sport, subject to the national government's approval.

“We are not ready for our football to come back," Lokko said, as reported by the BBC.

"I have been communicating with my players and they are also scared, Look at the situation we are all scared of the virus.

"The health materials we are supposed to put in place are not ready and that is the fear of everyone at the moment.

“We do not have the necessary facilities to observe the medical precautions that have been laid for regular testing of players and technical teams."

There is currently a standing ban on all contact sports, including football, in Ghana.

When the suspension is lifted and football returns, the West African nation is looking to follow the likes of Germany, England, Spain and Italy to organise games under tight safety protocols such as playing matches behind closed doors.

The 2019-20 Premier League was at the matchweek 15 stage when it was forced to a temporary halt. After three months of standstill, the GFA completely cancelled the season.

“It has not been easy - football is a source of livelihood for we Ghanaian players and all of a sudden, coronavirus stopped our income," said Dreams FC player Patrick Arthur.

"Financially, it’s not been okay for us. Being at home for six months has not been easy.

“I understand it may be a challenge for our Ghanaian football to follow the precaution of the European clubs but I am trusting the authorities to put things in place.”

Despite the football ban, Ghana's national U17 men and women's sides and the national U20 women's team have been granted special permission to commence training ahead of major international assignments.

Presently, the nation has recorded 37,812 cases of coronavirus including 3,308 active cases, 191 deaths and 34,313 recoveries and hospital discharges. 

Mohammed Fouzair was on target as Al Raed defeated Damac FC 3-0 in Tuesday’s Saudi Professional League encounter.

Football in the Asian country returned after over four months owing to the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic that crippled several activities across the globe.

However, it was Al Raed who made a winning return thanks to goals from Marco Perez, Ahmed Zain and Fouzair at Buraidah’s King Abdullah Sport City.

The hosts went ahead in the eighth minute through Perez, who profited from an assist from the Moroccan. That strike woke the visiting side from their slumber, however, they were unable to find their way past Al Raed’s solid backline.

Twenty minutes into the encounter, Nigeria’s Imran Ilyas was cautioned by the referee for a careless tackle on Husein Al Shuwaish.

Besnik Hasi’s team doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time after Zain turned Mohammed Al Amri’s pass past Algerian goalkeeper Moustapha Zeghba.

With 10 minutes left to play, Fouzair sealed the triumph with his team’s third goal of the evening. The goal was his sixth in 22 appearances so far this term following a permanent move from Ahmed Musa’s Al Nassr in 2019.

Nevertheless, the midfielder was replaced by Abdullah Almogren in the 90th minute, while his compatriot Jalal Daoudi was an unused substitute.  

Cameroon midfielder Arnaud Djoum was in action from start to finish as well as Algeria’s Azzedine Doukha, who was in goal for Al Raed.

For Damac, Farouk Chafai – who is on loan from MC Alger - was handed a starter’s role by manager Noureddine Zekri and saw every minute of action in Buraidah, as well as countrymen Zeghba and Ibrahim Chenihi.

Nigeria’s Adam was replaced at half-time by Hassan Raghfawi with Tunisia's Ghazi Ayadi coming off for Ayman Al-Hujaili in the 70th minute.

Victory for Al Raed see them move to sixth in the log with 35 points from 23 outings as Damac remain in the relegation zone after accruing 18 points from the same number of fixtures.

Fouzair would be hoping to take his scoring form to King Abdulaziz Sports City Stadium for Sunday’s showdown with third-placed Al Wahda.

Turkish Kadınlar Ligi side Adana Idmanyurduspor have handed Nigeria midfielder Ramat Abdulkareem a one-year extension.

Abdulkareem joined Adana in September 2020 from Nigerian top-flight side Confluence Queens, and was signed for the rest of the season after she enjoyed a successful trial in December.

She impressed in her brief outing, playing in four matches and scoring twice for Adana before the Turkish league cancellation due to the coronavirus pandemic in June. 

Her impact on her short stay with Adana in their top-flight survival fight saw the club reward her with a contract extension. 

Speaking on her new deal with the club, she told Goal: "I am excited about extending my stay at the club and signing an improved contract.

"Despite being brief, it has been an exciting experience here and I'm keen to establish myself and help the club excel in the new season."

Before her move to Turkey, Abdulkareen previously starred for Nasarawa Amazons, Abia Angels and Adamawa Queens, before playing a part in Confluence Queens' run to the 2019 final in Nigeria.

She has also been part of Nigeria's Flamingoes' build-up to the 2014 U17 Women's World Cup in Costa Rica and later with the Falconets to the 2016 U20 Women's World Cup in Papua New Guinea.

Having extended her stay, Abdulkareen was handed the jersey number 10 and will be hoping to lead her side to a better season, having finished the last term with nine points from 16 games.

Manchester United will pursue other targets if they can’t agree a price with Borussia Dortmund for Jadon Sancho, with the two sides apart on their valuation.

The winger remains Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s top target this summer but Goal understands that the club will walk away from a deal if they can’t reach a realistic agreement over price. 

It is understood the German side want €120 million (£108m/$142m) for the former Manchester City man but United are not willing to go near that fee with the effects of the coronavirus pandemic hitting the club.

Reports had widely suggested Sancho had already agreed personal terms with United but it is understood discussions are continuing and no terms have been agreed. 

The club are still paying for the mistake they made when signing Alexis Sanchez and the impact his high salary had on the wage structure at the club. Consequently, any deal agreed with 20-year-old Sancho over wages would be with that in mind.

Solskjaer said in his press conference on Tuesday that the club would not be rushing transfers this summer. “This transfer window is a long one, every transfer takes its course. It is what it is,” the Norwegian said.

Dortmund have set their own deadline of August 10 in order to have their squad ready to start preparing for the new season but it is understood United will not be bound by the demands of the German side and if discussions - which are understood to be at an early stage - go beyond that date and the Bundesliga outfit won’t sell beyond that, then United will move on to other targets.

Bayern Munich winger Kingsley Coman is another player who Solskjaer is interested in and United could move their focus to either Coman or another alternative if they cannot come to an agreement with Dortmund.

Executive vice chairman Ed Woodward has warned for a while that it would not be business as usual during the current transfer window and while United are in a better position than many other clubs, it is understood they are still feeling the impact of the pandemic.

Wigan Athletic’s relegation to League One has been confirmed after an independent arbitration panel ruled the club's 12-point deduction for entering administration in July will stand.

The club finished 23rd out of 24 teams in the Championship in 2019-20 after the 12-point penalty was applied. They joined last-place Hull City and 22nd-place Charlton as the three teams heading down to League One for the 2020-21 campaign. 

Wigan had hoped that they could escape relegation with a successful appeal, which would have sent down 21st-place Barnsley in their place. 

But on Tuesday the EFL confirmed that the club's appeal had been rejected.

"The insolvency event occurred on the 1 July 2020 and under EFL Regulation 12.3, the Club was subject to a 12-point sanction; yet the timing of the deduction could only be determined once the final games of the season had been played," an EFL statement read.

"The reason for this approach was due to the administration taking place after the fourth Thursday in March. In such circumstances EFL Regulations state that, in the event a Club is relegated by virtue of their final position following the conclusion of the league campaign, then the deduction would apply in the following season. 

"As the Club was not in the relegation places following the last round of Championship fixtures, the sanction was then applied to their 2019/20 total which resulted in a 23rd placed finish."

Wigan, who have bounced between the Championship and League One since relegation from the Premier League in 2012-13, released a statement saying they were "disappointed" but would accept the decision.

"The club put forward a strong case and naturally we are disappointed at the decision," the statement read.

"The first-team management will now prepare the team for next season's Sky Bet League One campaign.

"No detailed reasoning behind the decision is available yet, but we will post further information at the appropriate time."

Wigan entered administration last month, saying that the impact of the coronavirus pandemic played a major factor.

"Obviously the suspension of the Championship season due to Covid-19 has had a significant impact on the recent fortunes of the club," administrator Gerald Krasner said last month in a statement.

Black Leopards caretaker coach Morgan Shivambu has stressed the importance of collecting points in their first four matches when the 2019/20 season resumes. 

Lidoda Duvha are rooted at the bottom of the Premier Soccer League (PSL) standings on 16th spot with six league matches left to end the campaign, which has been suspended since March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Limpopo-based side's first four matches will be against Maritzburg United, Golden Arrows, SuperSport United as well as fellow relegation-threatened side AmaZulu FC.

Shivambu, who was appointed as the club's new coach on an interim basis following the departure of coach Alan Clark last month, is looking to ensure that Leopards hit the ground running with the team under pressure to avoid relegation to the National First Division (NFD).

“We have to collect points in our first four matches so that in our last two games we’ll be relaxed and we don’t play under pressure,” said Shivambu on Daily Sun. 

“If we don’t do well at the beginning of this mini-league, it’s going to be difficult for us."

Shivambu also said that they should not be under pressure when they lock horns with top Gauteng clubs Bidvest Wits and Mamelodi Sundowns in their last two games.

"The last two games are against Wits and Sundowns and I don’t want to face those teams while we are under pressure," the retired central midfielder added.

Lidodo Duvha were struggling before the season was halted due to Covid-19 five months ago as they had recorded four successive defeats across all competitions 

Shivambu, who is assisted by former Leopards captain Mongezi Bobe, admitted that the team's defence needs to improve. 

“The players admitted they have been conceding easy goals. We have been working more on the defensive side because we know we are good going forward," he concluded.

The suspended season will be completed in a Biologically Safe Environment (BSE) in Gauteng and Leopards have been drawn to play their home games at FNB Stadium.

Lidoda Duvha are set to resume their league campaign against Maritzburg at the 2010 Fifa World Cup final venue on Sunday, August 16. 

Kosovan Women's Premier League champions Mitrovica have completed the signing of South Africa striker Andisiwe Mgcoyi and defender Zanale Nhlapo for the upcoming 2020-21 season.

Mgcoyi and Nhlapo sealed their transfers to the Kosovan giants this week after successful medicals and after agreeing to personal terms, according to a statement on the club's Facebook page.

The Banyana stars joined Mitrovica from Albanian Women's League side Apolonia, where they spent the last season, with Mgcoyi scored 17 goals in eight games before the coronavirus cancellation.

Before their move to Europe last year, the South Africans starred for Sasol Women's League giants Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies and are the first signings of the Kosovan champions this summer.

Following their switch, they inch closer to achieving their dreams of featuring in the Uefa Women’s Championships League next season.

They will swell the number of Banyana stars to play in the competition after Glasgow City's Janine Van Wyk and Dinamo-BSUPC trio Lebogang Ramalepe, Rhoda Mulaudzi and Bambanani Mbane.

In a statement, the club announced the duo as their first acquisitions on Facebook, said: "First two reinforcements for the 2020-21 season.

"Today at the premises of the KFF Mitrovica club, the first two reinforcements for the summer deadline 2020 arrived. 

"Zanele Portia Nhlapho and Andisiwe Mgcoyi both came from South Africa where last season were part of KF Apollonia - Fier. 

"In the next few days, our reinforcements will come that will complete the team in order to achieve Champions League goals even in the new championship 2020/21."

Having secured the duo, Seid Onbashi's side will be counting on the South Africans to retain their domestic crowns and excel in the Champions League, having exited the qualifying round twice before.

Manchester City have completed the signing of Valencia winger Ferran Torres in a deal worth an initial £21 million ($27m).

The 20-year-old has signed a five-year contract at the Etihad Stadium and will join up with Pep Guardiola’s squad for the 2020-21 season.

Valencia could receive a further £11m ($14m) in add-ons for the Spain Under-21 international, who was in the final 12 months of his contract.

City beat a host of top European clubs to the signing of Torres, with Manchester United, Juventus, Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid all expressing an interest.

But the highly-rated forward was keen to work with Guardiola, and, as Goal reported on July 27, he agreed personal terms after the City boss spoke to him personally to convince him to make the switch to Manchester.

Due to UK travel restrictions surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic, Torres completed his medical in Spain but will be available for the new Premier League season.

“I am so happy to be joining City,” Torres told City's official website. “Every player wants to be involved in attacking teams and Manchester City are one of the most attacking in world football.

“Pep encourages a really open, aggressive style, which I love, and he is a manager with a proven track record of improving players. To have him overseeing my development is a dream.

“City have won plenty of trophies in the last 10 years and I hope I can play a role in continuing that success.”

The deal is seen as a bargain for one of Spain’s emerging talents, with Valencia needing to improve their finances after failing to qualify for Europe.

City's director of football Txiki Begiristain added: “We have followed Ferran’s progress closely and have been very impressed.

“He is young and still developing, but his technical qualities are exactly what we are looking for in a winger. He is quick, direct, can create space with one movement and is capable of producing match-winning moments.

“I feel this is the perfect place for him to develop and with Pep in charge he can take his game to the next level.”

City have moved quickly to find a replacement for Leroy Sane after the Germany international moved to Bayern Munich in a deal worth an initial €49m (£45m/$58m) earlier in the summer.

Guardiola is expected to follow up the signing of Torres with the addition of Bournemouth defender Nathan Ake in the coming days in a deal worth £40m ($52m), with a potential further £1m in add-ons.

Torres becomes City’s first major signing of the summer following deals for Juventus forward Pablo Moreno, Brazilian full-back Yan Couto from Coritiba and Burkina Faso defender Issa Kabore from Mechelen.

City are expecting a busy summer as they try to close the gap on Premier League champions Liverpool and are likely to add another central defender and forward before the transfer window closes.

Baroka FC coach Dylan Kerr has acknowledged that his side is not yet ready for Saturday’s Nedbank Cup semi-final match against Bloemfontein Celtic, but is already envisaging his side in the final against Mamelodi Sundowns.

Baroka kick off the return of football in South Africa against Celtic at Orlando Stadium, before Mamelodi Sundowns take on Bidvest Wits a few hours later at the same venue.

If Sundowns reach the final and then complete the Premier Soccer League (PSL) campaign in the top-two, their opponents in the Nedbank Cup final would be guaranteed participation in next season’s Caf Confederation Cup even if they come out as losing finalists.

That prospect appears to entice Kerr who also want to win Saturday’s match to set the tonic for their relegation fight in their remaining six league games.

“This is the best Cup competition in African football. If we make the final, I think we will be guaranteed a place in the Caf Confederation Cup, if Sundowns make the final too,” Kerr told the South African Football Journalists Association as per SuperSport.com.

“It will set the tempo of the next six [league] games. Baroka have been to two semi-finals before and lost, but hopefully, we can make it third time lucky. This could be a once in a lifetime opportunity for some players.

“The chairman might give a financial incentive to them, but that shouldn’t be what they are looking for. Something like 80 percent of my players might never make a cup final again. So this is a huge opportunity.”

But Kerr admits that his players are ill-prepared for Saturday’s showdown after almost five months of inactivity.

The Englishman has described their chances of immediately returning to the top of their game after limited preparations as “not realistic.”

“The reality is that we are at the six-week stage of pre-season, in ordinary circumstances, but we have only trained for three. And only as a group for one. So it is not ideal,” said Kerr.

“You cannot have five months without kicking a football and then expect to come back to training and play to the level I would be happy with, and that my chairman would be happy with. It is not realistic. We have seen in the PL [Premier League], La Liga and in Italy, a lot of top players have been missing through injury because of a lack of preparation.

“I am not ready yet, I am not happy playing first game on Saturday knowing I should have three weeks more to get my team into the shape physically and mentality to play these games. It is going to be who can survive the fittest in the 90 minutes. That is what is going to win the game. You have to have a bit of heart and be tough upstairs [mentally].”

On the league front, Baroka are placed 13th on the log and just three points above basement side Black Leopards.

Harry Redknapp was a more accomplished tactician than Arsene Wenger, according to former Arsenal forward Paul Merson.

Merson spent 12 years at Arsenal but was sold to relegated Middlesbrough just one season into Wenger's reign, eventually going on to shine under Redknapp at Portsmouth.

Portsmouth were promoted to the Premier League after racking up 98 points under Redknapp in 2002-03, with Merson named in the First Division's Team of the Year.

Now, Merson says he believes Redknapp was the best man-manager he played under, saying Wenger had a higher calibre of players to work with.

“One hundred per cent, best man-manager I’ve ever worked under, by a million miles,” Merson told Sky Sports of Redknapp.

“As a man-manager knowing what you want or what you need, you could tell him what you need, he wouldn’t tell you what you needed. I think that was a massive thing with him.

“The thing with Harry, people think, ‘Oh, he’s a wheeler-dealer’… his knowledge of football is second to none.

“I honestly think he’s tactically better than Arsene Wenger, in my opinion. I worked under both.

“Tactically, if I know a manager who wants to set up, make sure we don’t lose a game and stop the other team playing… for me, Harry is the man.

“He’s with George Graham, that sort of [level]. Arsene Wenger, he had some unbelievable players.

“When you’ve got Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp, [Robert] Pires, [Patrick] Vieira, [Emmanuel] Petit, [Marc] Overmars and [Freddie] Ljungberg… if I’m the manager of Arsenal, I’m opening the football match up!

“I want the game to expand, to go end-to-end because if it does, there’s only one winner. That’s Arsenal because of the players I just reeled off.

“But when you’ve got a manager who hasn’t got that quality of player and you’ve got to set up, that’s why I think Harry is a phenomenal manager.

“He put a team together, he pulled players into certain positions and it clicked. I played in a phenomenal football team.”

Portsmouth's promotion campaign was the only league title Redknapp won in his career, though he also lifted cups with Pompey, West Ham and Bournemouth, and was named Premier League Manager of the Season in 2009-10.

Harambee Starlets striker Elizabeth Katungwa has sealed a move to Swedish side Dalhem IF.

The former Kwale Starlets attacker has been in good form for both club and country, something that caught the eye of the European side.

Kwale Girls High School coach Mukasa Amboko, who has been nurturing the youngster since her time in school, explained how the forward managed to get the deal.

"One of the Swedish scouts secretly watched Katungwa lead our school team to the National title at Hill School in Eldoret and followed us to the East Africa Secondary School games in Rwanda in March 2018 where Katungwa scored the winning goal to win Kwale girls and Kenya gold medal in football after a long wait," Amboko revealed to Daily Nation.

The player was recalled by her former coach to start working on her fitness after the Gotland-based side made contact in March 2019.

"In March last year, one of the scouts asked about the availability of Katungwa," Amboko continued.

"Fortunately she was called up to the national team and that convinced the scout and Dalhem that she was the kind of player they were looking for.

"At that point, it was important for me to draw an individual training program for her to keep fit until last week when finally restrictions were lifted and Dalhem facilitated the acquisition of her residence VISA and air tickets."

The attacker left for Stockholm in Sweden via Doha Qatar on Monday, August 3. She will be joining former Harambee Starlets skipper Mary Kinuthia who has been playing for the same team since 2017. 

Katungwa is remembered for helping Kwale Girls High School to emerge national secondary school football champions in 2018, the first time a team from the coastal region had achieved the feat.

In 2019, she was voted football player of the year in the schools' category in the Sportsman of the Year Awards commonly referred to as SOYA.

Katungwa is seen as a prospect for the Kenya women's national team alongside another youngster Gentrix Shikangwa. Coach David Ouma is trying to build a team to compete both on the continent and in the world. 

Everton are set to miss out on long-term transfer target Everton, with the Gremio forward edging closer to a move to Portuguese giants Benfica.

Goal has learned a deal between the clubs has moved a step closer, with Benfica set to pay €20 million (£18m/$24m) for the 24-year-old Brazil international.

Gremio will also receive 15 per cent of the profit on any future sale.

Carlo Ancelotti's Everton had been interested in the player for some time, and were said to have been considering an offer during the most recent January transfer window.

The Premier League side were looking for a third scoring option to share responsibilities with Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison, who each scored 13 goals in the league in 2019-20.

While such a move may have seemed like fate, the player is now set to take his first steps in Europe with Portugal.

He was a prime target for manager Jorge Jesus, who himself has recently returned to Benfica after a hugely successful spell in Brazil with Flamengo.

Benfica finished as runners-up to Porto in both the Primeira Liga and the Taca de Portugal this season, and will be looking to launch an assault on the title in 2020-21.

In Everton, they will be signing a player who registered 15 goals and seven assists in 42 appearances in the most recent completed season, between the Brazilian Serie A and the Copa Libertadores.

He made his senior Brazil debut in 2018 and developed into an important player the following year, featuring prominently in his country’s victorious Copa America campaign and winning the Golden Boot with three goals.

Gremio currently own 50 per cent of Everton’s economic rights. The rest is divided between businessman Gilmar Veloz (30%), Everton’s youth club Fortaleza (10%), and an investor (10%).

Despite the advanced nature of the transfer discussions, Everton is expected to play for Gremio in their game against Internacional on Thursday.

The game will decide the winner of the Campeonato Gaucho, an annual tournament contested between 14 clubs in the state of Rio Grande do Sul.

Gremio have won the last two tournaments but remain seven titles behind Internacional in the all-time table, with 38 trophies to their rivals’ 45.

Have you ever wanted to throw your gaming controller through the TV because your online FIFA 20 opponent keeps celebrating a goal by shushing or dabbing?

Well, rest assured you might be able to keep your frustration under better control in the new FIFA 21 game, with EA Sports endeavouring to remove toxic features.

Sam Rivera, FIFA's lead gameplay producer, has revealed that the developers have listened to feedback regarding situations where users would purposefully try to anger their opponent.

"We were told by the community that there is toxic behaviour in the game and we wanted to make sure we removed them," Rivera said.

In past editions of FIFA, a common point of frustration was competitors overusing particular celebrations after scoring a goal - and making them run their full duration - to help rise the blood pressure of their opponent.

Rivera says that certain celebrations would be removed from FIFA 21, and although he did not reveal which would be canned from the game, expect moves such as the 'pigeon' and 'dab' to be under threat.

Another bugbear of FIFA users was the waiting times during choreographed scenes such as when the ball was out of play for a throw-in.

Some users would purposefully drag the scene out in order to frustrate an opponent or arrest their momentum.

But in FIFA 21, such cut scenes will be auto-skipped to allow for quicker, more seamless gameplay - and more importantly, less time-wasting and frustration.

There will also be a significant reduction in waiting times for players to take all set-pieces such as kick-offs, corners and free kicks.

Previously, players could let the clock run down while they waited the maximum amount of time to restart play - another tactic that could cause extreme irritation.

It isn't just cutscenes where EA Sports have tried to reduce user frustration - there have also been significant tweaks to the playing mechanics involving tackling.

In FIFA 20, consumers became angry when they repeatedly made tackles and the ball would end up back with the opposition instantly.

However, with a new tackling system implemented in the new version, EA have assured that users will be rewarded more often for executing a well-timed tackle.

With all these added features to reduce player frustration, it appears EA are really trying to improve the levels of enjoyment from their consumers.

Jose Mourinho has claimed that he and Iker Casillas have repaired their relationship after the pair repeatedly clashed during their time at Real Madrid. 

Casillas announced his retirement on Tuesday after a legendary 22-year playing career that saw him win a host of trophies for both club and country. 

Among the honours the 39-year-old secured during his career are two European championships and one World Cup with Spain, and five La Liga titles and three Champions League crowns with Real Madrid. 

Near the end of his run with Real Madrid, Casillas fell out with Mourinho, who dropped his side's long-time starter in favour of Diego Lopez.

After clashing with Casillas and Sergio Ramos among others, Mourinho departed Madrid at the end of the 2012-13 season to re-join Chelsea. 

Now managing Tottenham, Mourinho has claimed that he and his former goalkeeper have patched things up and paid tribute to Casillas as he officially called time on his playing career.

"His intelligence and maturity have made us always respect each other and years later we have even been able to cultivate an honest friendship," Mourinho told AS before acknowledging the pair's difficulties in the past.

"He is a historic goalkeeper for Real Madrid, La Roja and world football," Mourinho continued. "With him I won La Liga and with him I had difficult moments due to my professional and never personal decision to play another player."

Mourinho added that Casillas is a "great goalkeeper and a great man".

After a decade and a half with Madrid, Casillas departed the Spanish capital in 2015 and joined Portuguese giants Porto. 

The goalkeeper made 156 appearances and won two league titles with Porto before suffering a heart attack in May 2019. He was unable to return to the pitch after that incident.

Officially bidding farewell to the game, Casillas posted on social media: "The most important thing is the path you travel and the people who accompany you, not the destination that it takes you.

“I think I can say, without hesitation, that this has been the right path and the dream destination. Thanks.”

Casillas announced his decision to run for the presidency of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) in February.

The Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) has picked September 9 as the date to kick off the 2020-21 Mainland Premier League campaign.

According to a statement from the federation obtained by Goal, the top-flight will kick off the season on Sunday, September 6.

However, before the season gets underway, champions Simba SC will take on Namungo FC in the Community Shield season opener on August 29, 2020.

The Division One league will then kick off on October 3, 2020, while the last division will start on November 7, 2020.

The domestic Cup, which is referred to as the Azam Cup, will start on November 28, 2020, while the mid-season transfer window will open on December 12, 2020, and will close on January 15, 2021.

Simba SC, who won three titles – Mainland Premier League, Community Shield, and FA Cup –  in the recently concluded campaign, will be keen to retain the titles when the season gets underway.

Simba won the league with six matches to spare after their closest challengers Young Africans (Yanga SC) and Azam FC failed to reach their tally of points, and they ended the season with 88 points, while Yanga came second and Azam third.

The Wekundu wa Msimbazi then went ahead to clinch a treble after beating Namungo FC 2-1 in the final of the FA Cup.

Simba will thus represent the country in the Caf Champions League whereas Namungo will participate in the Confederation Cup.

Currently, the transfer window is open for teams to sign players with the federation stating transfer business by the teams will be carried out within the month of August and there would be no additional time once the window slams shut.

The window was opened just after the conclusion of the top-flight and the lower leagues and some teams are now engaged in play-offs to determine who will get the promotion or relegation slots.

Yanga have been the busiest side in the ongoing transfer window so far as they have signed four players already and released 14.

According to the club, former Gor Mahia striker Gnamien Yikpe, who took much criticism last season, was axed alongside captain Papy Tshishimbi, who refused to renew his contract, and Congolese striker David Molinga have all been released.

Others dropped are veteran striker Mrisho Ngassa, Jafary Mohamed, Mohamed Issa Banka, Tariq Seif, Andrew Vincent Dante, Patrick Sibomana, Muharami Issa, Ali Ali, Rafael Daud, Ali Mtoni Sonso and Eric Kabamba.

Surprisingly, the club have retained controversial Ghanaian forward Bernard Morrison, who has missed training since the team suffered a humiliating 4-1 defeat against rivals Simba SC in the FA Cup semi-final and was since arrested under suspicion of marijuana possession.

Other players retained include Kenyan keeper Farouk Shikhalo, Metacha Mnata, Ramadhan Kabwili, Haruna Niyonzima, Lamine Moro, Bernard Morrison, Feisal Salum, Juma Mahadhi, Adeyum Saleh, Said Makapu, Balama Mapinduzi, Deus Kaseke, Ditram Nchimbi, Abdulaziz Makame, and Paul Godfrey.

Former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Josta Dladla has urged the current generation to adopt the spirit of legends such as Doctor Khumalo and the late John Moshoeu to inspire the team to glory.

The Soweto giants are currently sitting at the summit of the Premier Soccer League (PSL) log with 48 points from 22 matches and are gunning for their first league title since the 2014/15 campaign.

Dladla has also credited coach Ernst Middendorp and assistant Shaun Bartlett for their work whilst challenging the players to finish the job, saying their mentality going into the final stretch of the season could be the difference between success and failure.

“For the Chiefs players, most of them have not won the league at all. They want to taste it and they can smell it, it is just around the corner for them,” Dladla told Phakaaathi.

“At the end of the day, it is all about the attitude and the willingness of the players to say ‘I want to be like the Doctor Khumalos and the Shoes Moshoeus'.

“My mentality was always wanting to be in the history books, I wanted people to talk about me even when I am gone and these players have got a chance to do that.

“[The] 50 years anniversary was a huge deal for Chiefs but they have not won any major trophy in the last five seasons.”

Speaking about the German manager and the former Bafana Bafana hitman, the retired Wits University midfielder added it’s up to the troops to come up with good displays when they retake the field.

“The coaches have done the job, with the training and everything. At this point, what will work the most are the mentality and the hearts of the players,” he added.

“It is really up to the players and whether they are going to absorb the information from the coaches and turn it into good performances on the pitch.”

On the other hand, the Naturena-based club faces a battle to fend off the reigning PSL champions, Sundowns' quest to retain the lucrative title.   

The Brazilians are four points behind Chiefs having played a game less.

“Both teams have got the blueprint, now they have to go out there and graft for their team and get into the history books, because if Chiefs win it,” continued the former Masandawana player.

“The squad will always be remembered as the team that won the league in the 50th anniversary of the club and on the other hand, if it goes to Sundowns, history will remember them as the group that won the league three times in a row.”

Although coach Pitso Mosimane’s men are chasing a 10th championship gold medal, they also stand a chance of lifting the Nedbank Cup trophy as they will face Bidvest Wits in the semi-finals next weekend at Orlando Stadium.

German football faces a dramatic cultural shift if supporters are allowed back to stadiums next season, with away fans, standing and alcoholic drinks all set to be curbed.

Elite clubs joined a key German Football League (DFL) meeting on Tuesday where a set of strict rules was put in place to ensure uniformity in how the coronavirus crisis is handled.

Bundesliga clubs would be ready to welcome back fans if public health authorities consider it a safe step to take, having played out the final weeks of the 2019-20 season behind closed doors.

In a statement, the league said it shared the view of clubs that away fans "make up an important part of German football culture that must be preserved".

Yet under the circumstances clubs from the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga agreed they will not sell tickets to supporters of visiting teams until the end of the year.

The DFL said clubs had also agreed "on a voluntary basis" to forbid standing at games, for the purpose of making it "easier to monitor compliance with distance and hygiene standards in the stadiums".

That was another reluctant move on the part of the league, which stressed: "Completely unaffected by today's decisions is the fundamental commitment of the DFL and its clubs to preserve standing room in the sense of football and fan culture in Germany."

Drinking beer at a game is also popular in Germany, but it will be off the menu until at least October 31, the DFL said. Clubs have agreed not to apply to their local authorities for licences to sell alcohol until that date.

Fixtures for the new season, which begins on September 18, are set to be released on Friday.

Clubs have been told they must show they are ready to play a key role in contact tracing, which will mean tickets are personalised in the new season to show who is watching the game and from what precise area of the stadium.

"The professional clubs have undertaken to ensure in their games that in the event of infection the identity and contact details of possible and eventual affected stadium visitors can be determined," read a DFL statement.

"This is based on the consideration that the local health authorities can only interrupt existing infection chains early and effectively if they can quickly identify and contact the relevant people.

"The precise arrangement of the regulation initially agreed for this calendar year remains the responsibility of the individual clubs, which have to include concrete measures in their location-specific plans."