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Jamshedpur FC are all set to sign Lithuanian international and former Chennaiyin striker Nerijus Valskis FC on a two-year deal, Goal can confirm.

The 33-year-old striker made a name for himself in his debut season in India and picked up the Golden Boot Award in the 2019-20 Indian Super League (ISL) scoring 15 goals in 20 matches for Chennaiyin FC. He also had six assists to his name. 

The Lithuanian spearheaded Chennaiyin’s attack last season and had played a crucial role in the club’s miraculous turnaround under the tutelage of Owen Coyle who led them to the final of the competition. He is now all set to reunite with the head coach who also recently joined Jamshedpur. The former Bolton Wanderers manager has penned a two-year deal with Jamshedpur FC. 

Jamshedpur, on the other hand, endured a disappointing campaign despite starting the season on a positive note. But injuries to their key players at important junctures in the season meant they missed out on a play-off spot for the third season in a row. With the ISL finalists on board for the upcoming season, Jamshedpur will be hoping to land their first-ever playoff spot. 

Former Argentina captain Diego Maradona has saluted his late Cameroon counterpart Stephen Tataw who died last Friday aged 57.

A right-back in his playing days, Tataw captained Cameroon at the 1990 and 1994 Fifa World Cup tournaments.

At Italy 1990, he led a team that stunned then defending champions Argentina 1-0 in their opening Group B match, thanks to a Francois-Omam Biyik second-half goal.

Posting a picture of himself and Tataw on social media just before the famous match at the San Siro, Maradona saluted the ex-Cameroon skipper.

“Thirty years ago, with Stephen Tataw, captain of the "Indomitable Lions" of Cameroon at the 1990 World Cup. My respects to your family, may you rest in peace,” wrote Maradona.

The 1990 finals were Cameroon’s second appearance at the tournament and Tataw guided his teammates in writing history as the first African team to reach the World Cup quarter-finals.

They were stopped by England, narrowly losing 3-2 after extra time, after claiming the scalps of Romania and Colombia enroute to the Last Eight.

However, most memorable for Cameroon at the tournament was pulling off the shock victory against Maradona’s Argentina, and Omam-Biyik remembers how it was their goalkeeper Thomas N’Kono who saved their day with a string of impressive saves.

“If N’Kono did not have the possibility of stopping the ball, we would’ve lost 2…3…to 4-0. Thomas N’kono gave confidence to the team,” Omam-Biyik told New Frame.

While Omam-Biyik credits N’Kono for a heroic outing, the forward’s goal which separated the two sides was also one for the archives.

He rose highest over Argentina defenders to head in past goalkeeper Nery Alberto Pumpido.

“I jumped very high in my playing career, but that day God said it was my day because the jump was impressive, but the keeper did not do a good job to save the ball,” said Omam-Biyik.

Victories over Argentina and Colombia made Cameroon believe “it was Africa’s World Cup” according to Omam-Biyik, but “maybe if we had experience we would have gone to the semi-finals. We had it all – the passing, dribbling and possession.”

It was an impressive tournament for Cameroon, so much so that N’Kono’s understudy Joseph-Antoine Bell has acknowledged that the team even surprised themselves.

“Though we lost to England, the world started believing in us, knowing Africa could challenge big teams,” Bell said. “What happened to us, we did not prepare for it and we did not even know how we reached there.”

After 1990, Cameroon were involved in five more World Cup tournaments but could not better or replicate their heroics in Italy.

Senegal and Ghana are the only other African team to reach the World Cup quarter-finals.

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) presidential aspirant Twaha Mbarak has hit out at the incumbent Nick Mwendwa for what he says is misleading the public and misuse of former Federation officials.

The Mombasa-based administrator has pointed out cases the outgoing office presented to the court and went on to state stakeholders derailed the election process.

"The former FKF president Nick Mwendwa has consistently misled the public that stakeholders have derailed the FKF elections by taking the matters to court while in essence, he is the one who keeps on taking the matters to the Sports Dispute Tribunal (SDT) in an attempt to gag innocent and sincere public servants such as the registrar Madam Rose Wasike and push her to break the laws of the land and threatening her with Fifa ban which is a total misconception of the reality of things," Twaha said in a signed statement obtained by Goal.

The candidate has also stated the incumbent is also taking advantage of former FKF branch officials who are desperate to be re-elected, and when one shows a different approach; he is threatened to be left out.

"Mwendwa is taking advantage of ignorant and desperate former FKF branch officials who failed to deliver on their mandates and fear defeat in the forthcoming elections; by sponsoring them to take football matters to ordinary courts," Twaha added.

"He threatened to drop them from his line-up of the so-called 'Team Blue' if they fail to obey his illegal orders.

"According to FIFA statutes, such officials are not supposed to be anywhere near football. Our legal team was forced to intervene. The matter has since been dismissed on 9th of July, 2020. 

"He sponsored other desperate officials to launch similar cases in Kericho and Muring’a. However, all the cases were consolidated and are scheduled to be heard in Nairobi."

Mwendwa has also been accused of overstepping his mandate and trying to force everybody to be on his side.

"It is therefore hypocritical for Mwendwa to call FKF officials who were genuinely elected in 2015 and managed to comply with the Sports Act 2013 as non-members. He believes that genuine FKF members must be his sycophants. 

[Mwendwa] needs to wake up to the reality that sports is a devolved function and he can never, therefore, dictate to FKF members on the running of football activities in their counties and that everybody including him are not above the law."  

Young Africans have continued with their clear-out in the transfer window with the release of 14 players ahead of the new season.

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

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 clash and was since arrested under suspicion of marijuana possession.

Other played 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.

Earlier on Monday, the club denied reports they have been forced into panic transfer activities after missing out on winning silverware in the just-concluded season.

The Jangwani Street-based giants have already signed four players – defender Bakari Mwamnyeto from Coastal Union, striker Waziri Junior from Mbao FC, left-back Yassin Mustapha from Polisi Tanzania and midfielder Peter Mauya from Kagera Sugar.

A section of Yanga fans have questioned the criteria the club is using to sign new players since they have not appointed a new coach after they fired Belgian Luc Eymael at the end of the 2019-20 Mainland Premier League season.

The fans believe the club should have first appointed a new coach, who could reveal the players he wants to be signed for the club ahead of the new season.

Yanga have now come out to defend the signings, insisting the deals they have already accomplished have the blessing from the technical bench, adding their top target is to win the league title next season.

“All the players we have signed already are as per the request from the technical bench, even if Eymael left, we still had a team working under him which still exists and they are the ones involved in this transfer activities,” Hersi Said, Director of GSM Investment, who are Yanga’s main sponsors, told reporters on Monday.

“We are ready to make tangible recruitment of players to create a squad capable to challenge for titles next term. As GSM, we will be fully involved in this exercise.”

Yanga had a disappointing campaign in the last season where they failed to reach the final of the FA Cup after losing to eventual winners and rivals Simba SC, and could only finish a distant second behind their old rivals on the league table.

The Timu ya Wananchi have now been linked a number of foreign-players, including Kenyans Jesse Were and John Makwatta, who play for Zesco United, Sven Yidah of Kariobangi Sharks, Erick Rutanga of Rayon Sports and Mukoko Tonombe of AS Vita Club from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

A number of coaches including Kenya’s Bernard Mwalala, who also played for the team, have been linked with the vacant role at the club.

Former Barcelona defender Albert Ferrer says that the club is too reliant on Lionel Messi's brilliance and lacks the depth to truly compete at the top level.

Barcelona failed to win La Liga for only the second time in six seasons as Messi and Co. were beaten to the title by Real Madrid.

The domestic failings come on the heels of several years of continental failures, with notable collapses against Roma and Liverpool sending the club crashing out of the Champions League.

Although Barca remain active in this season's competition, it has been a campaign where the club's weaknesses have come to light, even if the magnificent Messi has been able to hide some of those weaknesses.

The forward became the first player in La Liga history to fire at least 20 goals while providing at least 20 assists, with the Barca star finishing on 25 league goals while surpassing Xavi's record with 21 assists this season.

But Ferrer says that the Argentinian star won't be able to do that forever, even if the former defender does believe that Messi, who has been linked to Inter in recent weeks, will remain with the club for the rest of his career.

“I’m not too worried about how Leo has been feeling – we expect that because he is a winner,” Ferrer told FourFourTwo.

“He wants to compete for everything, and win the Champions League. I think he will be at Barcelona until he retires. He loves Barcelona, the team, the club.

“It’s a unique situation. No other team can say they depend so much on someone. Barcelona needs to become independent of Leo Messi, but he is still the best, and the moment you give him the ball, he does something with it. 

“It’s a good sign that Barcelona still have Messi, but other players need to play more, so not everything has to go through him. It may be difficult to mark Leo, but sometimes he is surrounded, so you need other ways. 

“Barcelona need to make other players very important too, and do something different to help him. But they have some good options with the likes of Ansu Fati now.” 

While Fati is on the rise, Ferrer says that there is still a lack of true depth in the Barcelona squad, and that lack of depth is what cost them this season.

Barca have been linked with the likes of Lautaro Martinez and Neymar this summer, although Josep Maria Bartomeu says the club will be unable to sign either in the near future.

But Ferrer says that big changes are needed if the club hopes to return to the top of La Liga.

“I think before the lockdown, Barcelona were OK really,” he said. “But I think the squad is a bit short in terms of numbers and they couldn’t really rotate how they desired, maybe.

“In some of the games, there might have been six or seven players from Barcelona B playing, and while they’re very talented, they still lost games and particularly struggled in defence. So depth on the bench was one reason.

“They also tried to play differently, less predictably. But when there is a game every three days, that is difficult – you are just playing for your lives. It was a strange situation. And you have to also say that the run from Real Madrid [at the end] was fantastic.

“Barcelona can never win everything. They’ve won eight of the last 12 titles. Important players have left the club, so it has taken time to adapt.

“I think what they’re trying to do is the right way. They are trying to make a transition and bring some new players in, and bring in some young players from the academy.

“It’s difficult to find players when you’ve got those at the level of Leo and [Sergio] Busquets, but it is true that new players need to come in and improve the tempos and the levels.

“They also maybe need to experiment with formations. Yes, 4-3-3 is the philosophy of Barcelona but I think they should be more open to trying different things within the philosophy. It’s key.”

Barcelona are set to continue their Champions League campaign against Napoli on Saturday.

All India Football Federation (AIFF) general secretary Kushal Das cited infrastructure and a lack of long-term vision as the major factors hampering the growth of football in Delhi. 

On Monday, in an E-Summit organized by Football Delhi, the governing body of football in India's capital city, Das said that the Indian FA and Football Delhi can work together to improve the city's output in Indian football. 

"Infrastructure is a problem in Delhi. After the U-17 World Cup, we have stadiums so much superior to the Ambedkar Stadium. The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium is not a football stadium. The experience (there) was so bad (during ISL games)," the AIFF official said. 

He further added, "The capital is very important, so are the other cities. The AIFF has the structure and the knowledge base to help the state association. We can create a structure that is necessary for football to thrive again in Delhi. It will take some time but if you come to us, we are very willing to help."

Das also said that in order to attract sponsors and sell the idea of a Delhi-based club, Football Delhi has to come up with a strategic plan. 

"The football culture is sporadic in our country. Delhi had some sort of a culture, not anymore. There are people who are interested in football but you have to give them a strategic vision that this is what we want to achieve. Without that plan, it is very difficult. There are people who are interested and have money but you have to give them confidence.

"That is why it is very important that Football Delhi comes and works with the AIFF. If we work together, we can come up with a vision document. With that, you approach someone who has passion and money."

Towards the end of the virtual conference, Das was asked whether the AIFF could consider giving special exemptions or grants to the parties who are ready to run a club in the capital. He responded, "I don't think that would be fair at all. (It would be) Absolutely unfair. The AIFF has the technical know-how to support Football Delhi in terms of competitions, creating vision document, youth development and grassroots.

"AIFF conducts 1500 plus games in the leagues and about 32000 baby leagues (done by the operators, controlled by the AIFF). We have a very efficient I-League department, we can help them understand and learn what needs to be done."
 

Real Madrid star Karim Benzema had a simple answer when asked if he fancies a crack at mixed martial arts after his football career comes to an end: “No problem for me, I'm up for it!”

Benzema, 32, enjoyed a brilliant campaign for Madrid, scoring 21 goals and providing eight assists as Los Blancos beat Barcelona to the Liga title.

Such form suggests Benzema still has plenty of legs left in football yet, even though he may be approaching the twilight years of his career.

But there are other challenges that appeal to the French striker, including it seems having a go at the fight game.

Benzema took questions from several friends for a YouTube video, one of which came from French kickboxer Fouad Ezbiri, who he has trained with in the past.

Ezbiri asked if Benzema - a fan of fight sports - ever had plans to step in the ring at least once.

“Well, Fouad, my broski, in any case I hope you're doing good, and it's true that I love fighting sports,” Benzema said. 

“I love training, as you say we already trained, after the soccer why not train with you for six months and if you think I can be ready for a fight, no problem for me, I'm up for it!”

Benzema also responded to a separate question about how much longer he feels he has left in football.

“I'm working a lot. I pay attention to everything I do, I take care of myself and I'm trying to get the best out of me as possible,” Benzema added. 

“I know this is not the beginning of my career but in any case, for me, age does not mean anything and we're going to do everything.”

Benzema also revealed three major sporting influences of his, saying: “It depends. there are many people who have inspired me but we'll take soccer for example. It's Ronaldo, the Brazilian, so he's the one who made me love football, simply. It's thanks to what he did but everyone knows it. 

“Then athletic, although I'm not a big fan of basketball, but I would say Michael Jordan for what he did, what he has been with the Chicago Bulls. And then another athlete I would say Mike Tyson, there you go, Mike Tyson, because it's the power.”

Real Madrid team-mate James Rodriguez pondered whether Benzema prefers scoring or assisting a team-mate.

“I'll answer you sincerely. Making assists or scoring goals are two different things but not that different and I like to do both,” he said. 

“To choose, I choose to score. On the other hand if my partner is good and sure to score I'll pass him the ball and offer him the goal. So, I choose both, my brother.”

Brentford star Said Benrahma said he is focused on helping his team win the Championship play-off final and not thinking about reported interest from Premier League clubs.

The Algeria playmaker is said to be on Chelsea and Arsenal transfer radars, thanks to his standout performances in the second division this campaign.

He is on the verge of helping Brentford gain promotion to the Premier League with his contribution of 17 goals and nine assists in 45 league appearances.

The Bees battle Fulham in the play-off final on Tuesday night at Wembley Stadium and the 24-year-old has disclosed that his mind is on helping the Bees earn the last qualification ticket to the English top flight not the rumours around his future,

"I'm not thinking about that at all at the moment,” Benrahma told Sky Sports News ahead of the final showdown. "I'm trying to put that to one side because I have a mission here, with a season to finish and a final to play.

"I'm on a mission for Brentford and I'm trying to do everything to help the club clinch promotion."

Benrahma moved to Griffin Park from Ligue 1 club OFC Nice in 2018, and his current deal at the club expires in June 2022. He has proved himself in the second division this term, and credited coach Thomas Frank for the club’s dominant performances and their rise in the Championship.

Brentford last played in the English top-flight in the 1946–47 season and the North African has claimed that Frank's motivation has played a big role for them.

"Thomas Frank has been important for us throughout the season," he continued. "He managed to motivate us and he communicates with us so much.

"That really helped us and he was able to find the right words for us to give 100 per cent. I think that was a big factor for us."

Alfred Duncan has expressed satisfaction at scoring his first goal for Fiorentina in Sunday’s 3-1 Serie A win at relegated SPAL, describing it as a 'personal satisfaction'.

The Viola headed into this game without any fears of relegation and took charge as the 27-year-old – who is on loan from Sampdoria, opened his account in the 30th minute.

The home side equalised via Marco D’Alessandro nine minutes later and it remained 1-1 until the closing stages of the game when Christian Kouame and Eric Pulgar (penalty) both found the back of the net.

The result means Giuseppe Iachini’s side finish in 10th position, with 49 points, 14 clear of the relegation zone. It was an improvement from the previous campaign where they ended in 16th place, three points shy of the drop.

"I've been looking for him for a while, a personal satisfaction that makes me very happy. I hope to start at the best next year, scoring.” Duncan told the club website. "It was important to close in the best way possible a season that has stretches has been difficult.

"We took three fundamental points because closing on the left is a very important milestone to start again next year.”

Duncan went on to stress how important it was for Fiorentina to start next season better and stronger.

"We can and must do more, Fiorentina must aim for a better ranking than this,” he continued. “Even if seen how it went this season, the 10th-place finish was very important.

"Also, thanks to the support of the club," the midfielder concluded. “It must be a point starting point, we have room for improvement. We also talk about it, and we will try to make ourselves ready to start strong again next year, without the errors of this season.”

Another on-loan player in Kouame (from Genoa) also netted his first goal for the club after recently coming to back to fitness from an anterior cruciate ligament injury that kept him out since November last year.

The Ivorian forward played a total of seven games, including 90 minutes of action in a 1-1 draw at home to Hellas Verona. He also provided assists in victories over Torino and Bologna.

Harvey Elliott has revealed the team-mates that have helped him most since the young winger made the move to Liverpool.

Elliott joined Liverpool in July 2019, having broken through with Fulham by becoming the club's youngest ever first-team player and the youngest to ever feature in Carabao Cup.

The then-16-year-old made his competitive debut for Liverpool in September as he became the youngest-ever player to start a match for the club and the second youngest to ever play for the Reds, behind only Jerome Sinclair.

He was rewarded with a professional contract at the end of the season, with Elliott signing on after turning 17 on April 4.

Widely tipped to be a key figure for the Reds in the coming years, Elliott says that players like James Milner, Jordan Henderson, Adam Lallana, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah have been vital to helping him adjust to life with the Premier League champions.

“Millie has helped me a lot throughout the season. He’s someone I want to be like. I want to have a long career like him,” Elliott told the Athletic.

“All us youngsters can learn so much from the likes of Millie and Hendo, two experienced pros who always give 100 per cent every single day. They don’t drink and they’re always professional with how they lead their lives. You can see that in the great shape they’re in.

“They don’t just want to be the best they possibly can be themselves but they also want to get the best out of everyone around them. Every day, I learn something new.

“Adam Lallana helped me a lot and it was a shame to see him go. I’m usually in the gym at the same time as Sadio and Mo, and they give me a lot of advice.

“If I’m doing a particular weight and it’s looking too easy, then Sadio or Mo will be over to push me with a different weight to make it harder. If I’m doing exercises with the band, they’ll be over to make sure my body is in the right position.”

Elliott, who is also the youngest player to ever start a match at Anfield, made eight total appearances for Liverpool in his debut campaign.

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane has warned his players against underestimating Bidvest Wits in Saturday’s Nedbank Cup semi-final match at Orlando Stadium.

Wits will be winding up their PSL business when football resumes in South Africa after their top flight league status was acquired by GladAfrica Championship side Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila.

However, coach Gavin Hunt and his charges have vowed that they will bow out on a high as they chase Nedbank Cup glory, a stance which appears to worry Mosimane.

“We have a big game against Wits of course and if you listen to their statements‚ they’re saying that they want to go out in style‚” Mosimane told Times Live. “Obviously there are a lot of incentives for the [Wits] players and the coaches [to win the cup]‚ so that’s why they’ve prioritised the Nedbank Cup.

I’m saying what they’re saying in the media," he added. “They haven’t said anything about the league.

They have only spoken about the Cup‚ so that gives me an indication that the league is not the priority to them. I’m not talking on their behalf‚ but I’m talking about what they’ve said.

“They want to win it and I know the character of the coach [Hunt] and the character of the team. So I know how difficult it will be and this is how I’m preparing my team.”

While Wits’ realistic chances of ending the season with silverware lie in the Nedbank Cup, they could also seal a respectable finish in the Premier Soccer League table this term.

Currently placed sixth on the standings, they are 10 points behind leaders Kaizer Chiefs who have played a game more than Hunt’s side.

Mosimane is aware of Wits’ competitiveness and is refusing to dismiss them as a team wrapping up their PSL business after the Students held Sundowns 1-1 in a league match in December, before a 0-0 draw in the return fixture at Loftus Versfeld in January.

“I hope the message sinks in the systems of my players to know what they have and what they don’t… they must not say they’re playing a team that [has been] sold,” said Mosimane. “They’re playing a team with the same players and same technical staff.

"In fact‚ we’re facing a wounded lion and when you’re facing a wounded animal you know you will be in trouble if you are complacent and not being careful of how you step.

“First, we’re going to give them the respect that they deserve‚ second it’s a semi-final it can go either way. It’s a big game‚ it’s a semi-final and it’s an emotional game."

After close to five months of inactivity, the Downs tactician has also expressed concerns about his players’ fitness which he says does not match their emotions.

Going into Saturday’s FA Cup final between Arsenal and Chelsea, both sides coveted the trophy, but the need was surely greater for Mikel Arteta’s team given the consequences of success or otherwise.

It was pretty common knowledge that the Gunners needed the cup to present a path into Europe next season. After ending eighth in the Premier League, the North London side desperately had to win their 14th title in the sport’s oldest domestic competition to feature in the Europa League in 2020/21.

While the Gunners aspire for more than participation in the continent’s secondary club competition, circumstances during the season meant FA Cup triumph would represent success.

From a financial perspective, in a pandemic-hit universe, European involvement in whatever form at least brings in some money for the club. For potential signings, Saturday’s victory, the club’s first trophy since 2017, gives possible arrivals a reason to move to North London.

Perhaps importantly, Arsenal’s conquest helps to convince star players that staying at the Emirates Stadium is good in the short and long term.

None other falls into the latter category than captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, the star of the final and semi-final vs Chelsea and Manchester City respectively. If there were doubts as to his prowess in the big games, the affable striker has dispelled that notion in the Gunners’ cup run, which culminated with two incredible performances at Wembley against two of the country’s finest clubs.

Both games were decided by the prolific frontman, whose standing among supporters of the club has grown exponentially in what was a very strange season in North London.

Unai Emery, the head coach tipped to take the club into a new era after the Arsene Wenger years, toiled remarkably in the last few months in the job, winning just two of his final 10 games before getting the sack at the end of November.

The performances of record signing Nicolas Pepe were inconsistent in his maiden campaign as he understandably struggled to get to grips with English football. Alexander Lacazette battled for form after an early-season ankle injury while playmaking genius Mesut Ozil was mostly out of the side in the first third of their season and crucially after the lockdown.

The most significant moment, however, came in October when then-captain Granit Xhaka sarcastically responded in kind as Gooners cheered his substitution in a 2-2 draw with cross-town rivals Crystal Palace. It seemed like Arsenal’s season would unravel after that astonishing moment at the Emirates.

Despite this, Auba still managed to score 22 Premier League goals in 36 appearances, matching his haul from 18/19. Only Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy prevented him from retaining the Golden Boot he claimed along with Liverpool pair Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane the previous year.

Understanding the nuances of both campaigns means this year’s tally is probably more appreciated. His return this season accounted for 39 percent of the team’s 56 goals, notably higher than last year which was 30 percent of the club’s 73 strikes. With the club in dire straits after Emery’s sacking and Freddie Ljungberg struggling in an interim capacity, it was the Gabon star who lifted the struggling side with his goals as many of the side’s heavy hitters toiled.

In January, when reports swirled about his future, the striker committed to the club till the end of the season, instantly stemming the negativity that was starting to build. Indeed, that moment sent a calming effect around the club and allowed Arteta room to focus on slowly influencing his group of players.

The greater efficiency of the Arsenal talisman this year deserves commendation, owing to how they struggled to fashion out chances.

Statistics show that the Gunners created 67 big chances in 19/20, putting them in the bottom half, and specifically 14th, for top creators. For even better understanding, relegated Watford (68) fashioned out more, as did West Ham United (68), Sheffield United (71), Southampton (74), Everton (76) and Burnley (78). Four of these sides ended in the bottom half of the Prem, emphasizing how harder it was to hit the same number as his first full campaign.

Under Emery last term, the three-time Premier League champions created 89 clear-cut chances, sixth-highest in the league, which further strengthens the argument that their top striker had a better campaign this year in an otherwise struggling side.

Furthermore, in a deviation from the norm, Aubameyang shed the perception that despite being a prolific goalscorer he also tended to miss really easy opportunities. Even though the 31-year-old has in the last few years regularly been one of the leading marksmen in the English top flight and previously the Bundesliga, he’s also tended to either top the charts for most clear-cut chances missed or be close to the top...not this year.

Surprisingly, Arsenal’s talisman failed to put away only 10 opportunities that fell into the ‘big chances’ column this season, which sits him 17th in the league. Last term he missed 23, higher than anyone else, and was second to Robert Lewandowski (21 to 19) in 17/18 even though he left Borussia Dortmund in mid-season.

It was the same in 15/16 and 16/17 where only the Bayern Munich forward failed to convert more. With fewer chances coming the Gabon striker’s way this term, he was even more effective in front of goal and very nearly retained the Golden Boot.

This new-found efficiency was notable in their FA Cup semi and on Saturday, where the club captain scored twice each from three and four shots respectively, underlining his recently discovered killer instinct in the big matches.

He’s not going to be a vocal, charismatic leader like Tony Adams was previously at the club or John Terry in Chelsea's best years, but what the 2015 African Footballer of the Year guarantees is to lead by example by scoring goals regardless of the quality around him.

This is what the Gunners realised this season, as their captain carried the side for large parts of a torturous campaign while others flailed. This ultimately culminated in cup success, thus taking the desperate North Londoners into Europe next season.

If Aubameyang leaves now, Gooners should show no antipathy toward the Gabon star. If he stays, Arsenal will want no other captain leading them as they strive to retake their place among the nation's biggest clubs under the hugely promising Arteta.

Uganda Premier League side Police FC have completed the signings of Bashir Kabuye and Mubarak Nsubuga.

Kabuye, 18, played for Police Armless Brigade last season and is expected to bolster Abdalla Mubiru’s attacking midfield department.

Nsubuga, 23, featured for Express FC, Wembley FC and All-Winners FC previously, and the length of his Police contract, as well as Kabuye’s, has not been revealed.

“I feel good to be part of the club because it suits my style of play and I expect to give it my best for both the fans and the club,” Kabuye said as he was unveiled by the Cops. “I feel great for the opportunity given and I feel like I'm at home.

"I'm ready to serve the team and will give it my best,” Nsubuga added . “Expect an improved performance from me this season as we target to win trophies for the club.”

The club's Chief Executive Officer Fahad Lumu promised that they will assemble a competitive team for the upcoming season.

“We are looking at these youngsters as an asset to the club and our fans should expect a competitive squad,” Lumu said. “With a combination of experienced players and them there should be no question but a promise of great performance.”

Meanwhile, Express FC’s assistant coach James Odoch has emphasised the need of the right attitude from the players.

Odoch, a former Red Eagle, and his fellow technical bench members are expected to be tasked to help the club win their seventh title once the next season starts in October.

“Football is not about a good team there’s more to that, we need to hope for the right attitude from the players because it so important,” Odoch told the club website. “You could have the best team in the world but with zero attitudes that would be terrible.”

Express last won the UPL title in 2012 and their best finish since then was in the 2015/16 season where they were third.

In other news, Proline FC director Mujib Kasule has opposed the proposed directive by the Federation of Uganda Football Associations, which would require clubs to deduct Pay As You Earn (PAYE) taxes from their players.

In a recent consultative meeting with the club’s captains and representatives, Fufa made it clear teams will be required to pay taxes as well as the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) remittances.

“This is a good initiative,” Kasule said as was quoted by Football256, “but not practical in Ugandan football, [where] only a few clubs especially institutional ones can afford to pay the tax but not all if not none.

“Honestly for my case, I would rather quit investing in football than paying the taxes.

“This will only cause more chaos especially for privately owned clubs, I think Fufa should provide a platform where clubs and government should meet and chart the way forward.

“I am not against paying taxes and saving with NSSF, I think it is needed on a personal level. However, with the current economic situation and the plight of local football clubs, I don’t think it is really feasible.

“What I am advocating for, is let the policymakers at Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) come and do baseline research on the feasibility of the tax, because clubs are struggling to pay monthly wages consistently, with generally little to no incomes for the majority and levying more dues on them is pretty straining.”

Former Wolfsburg manager Bruno Labbadia has lauded Napoli new boy Victor Osimhen for his work rate and effort, and is confident that the attacker can work well alongside current Partenopei frontman Dries Mertens.

The 21-year-old Nigeria international sealed a move to the San Paolo from LOSC Lille last Friday for €50 million, much to the excitement of Napoli fans and supporters in his home country.

He is expected to be the main striker for the club, with Poland striker Arkadiusz Milik anticipated to leave the Campania capital.

Osimhen comes in having scored 18 goals in 38 competitive outings for Lille. He began his senior career at Wolfsburg under the tutelage of Labbadia, after impressing for Nigeria at the 2015 Under-17 World Cup in Chile where he scored 10 goals in seven matches to finish as top scorer.

Things never went well for Osimhen at Wolfsburg, as injuries limited him to just 16 appearances in two years with no goals. He however found revival at Belgian club Charleroi where he netted 20 goals in 36 appearances.

"When he has the ball on his feet, he is formidable and in one on one he is very strong,” Labbadia was quoted saying in Il Mattino as reported by TuttoMercato, "and then he is very good in running without the ball to be found free by his companions.

"He knows how to descend in every reality, he always gives 200 percent," the German coach added. “He makes a great central striker because he is the classic number 9.

"Not only that, he played outside for me in 4-2-3-1. He was young and he's fast, but it is in front of goal that he can make the difference because he has a great flair for the goal.”

There have also been questions about how Osimhen can play alongside Napoli’s all-time top scorer Mertens and Labbadia believes both men can fit in together.

“They can coexist, they have different and complementary characteristics,” he said.

This same thought was also echoed by Andrea D'Amico, an associate of Osimhen's current agent, William D’Avila.

"It is clear that when you join an important team, there is always competition,” D'Amico told Radio Marte. "Napoli have had many champions who have been able to coexist to create healthy internal competition."

Sergio Ramos is the best defender in the world and can keep on playing until he is 40, according to former Real Madrid team-mate Rafael van der Vaart. 

Ramos was very influential in helping Madrid end Barcelona's run of success in LaLiga, scoring 11 goals as Zinedine Zidane's squad were crowned champions for the first time since 2017. 

The Spaniard was signed from Sevilla as a teenager in 2005 and was still young when he was joined at the club by Van der Vaart, who stayed at the Santiago Bernabeu for two seasons before joining Tottenham in 2010. 

However, having watched on as his old club secured the title once again, the Dutchman is impressed by how Ramos has matured and, considering his physical condition, sees no reason why the 34-year-old should be thinking of retiring anytime soon. 

"For me, he is the best defender in the world," Van der Vaart told Stats Perform News as part of the UEFA Europa League Trophy Tour. 

"When I was at Real Madrid, he was 21 or 22 and bursting with energy. He wanted to be everywhere. Free kicks, corner kicks, everywhere. 

"Now it is different, he has so much focus now. A focus on winning and he uses all his talents for that purpose. He's aware of his skills, strength and conditioning and that helped him being so important for his team in winning already so many titles. His body is unbelievable, he is a machine. 

"When I was watching a game the other day, I thought, 'how old is he? 34?' I believe he can still be playing for another six years, I've so much respect for him."

With LaLiga won, Madrid will now focus on potential European success as they return to Champions League action. 

They need to overturn a 2-1 first-leg deficit in their last-16 tie with Manchester City if they are to progress, with the remaining knockout rounds to be staged in Portugal, though Ramos will miss the match against Pep Guardiola's team at the Etihad Stadium due to suspension. 

However, Madrid have been outstanding since the season restarted in Spain midway through June, and Van der Vaart expects a "really interesting" return clash with City, who finished second in the Premier League. 

"Real Madrid have been very, very good after the coronavirus break," he said. "They have all been very focused [on the games]. Including a 10-game winning streak. 

"Karim Benzema and Ramos have been a key part of the team for me, and Zidane for bringing calmness to the team. 

"However, I watched Manchester City against Arsenal playing the semi-final of the FA Cup, as well as other games. They have so much individual talent, so they are always dangerous, for any team, including the magnificent Real Madrid. That's what we've seen in the first leg, so it is going to be a really interesting game." 

Van der Vaart was speaking as part of a Europa League Trophy Tour that has been collecting football boots from fans for Syrian refugees based in Jordan, a cause the former Netherlands international is passionate about. 

"It's great, I remember how incredibly happy I was as a little boy with my football boots. I even put my first pair on to bed and I dreamed of playing football. I hope that all children in the world may experience that kind of childlike joy. I'm so proud that I can help a little bit," Van der Vaart said. 

"We are collecting boots, which hopefully gives a bit more hope and fun for all children. So, I'm proud that I can help a little bit and be a part of it. 

"It's really important [to be able to go out and play]. Now there are so many things, but when I was little you would just go on the street and play. 

"In lockdown it was difficult, of course. You want to meet with friends, you want to go out and play games, but when I started playing it was just me and the ball."

Young Africans (Yanga SC) have convened an urgent meeting with their players on Monday as they close in on two AS Vita players.

The club is expected to make their transfer window plans known to the players as well as the fate of those who are deemed surplus to requirements

Goal also understands the meeting was urgently organised and messages were sent to the players, asking them to attend the meeting without fail.

The Jangwani street-based outfit has already signed midfielder Peter Zawadi Mauya, left-back Yassin Mustapha, striker Waziri Junior and centre-back Bakari Mwamnyeto.

Players whose future remain uncertain at Yanga include Gnamien Yikpe and defender Andrew 'Dante' Vincent, as Junior and Mwamnyeto's arrival cast more doubt on whether they will be retained.

Meanwhile, AS Vita striker Makusu Mundele has revealed coach Florent Ibenge has asked him whether he is ready to sign for Yanga.

Mundele said Ibenge has made it clear to him that the Tanzanian side are keen to sign a prolific goal scorer ahead of the 2020/21 season and he is one of their primary options.

“The coach [Florent Ibenge] called me and asked whether I am ready to play in Tanzania. I told him that I had received an offer from Simba SC but had never received any tangible interest from Yanga,” Mundele told Mwanaspoti.

“He told me to make my mind up quickly if I want to play for Yanga so that he can link me with a top official of the club for purposes of negotiations.”

Should the star join Timu Ya Wananchi, he would add to the number of the Democratic Republic of Congo's players in the current squad.

Striker David Molinga and captain Papy Tshishimbi are already there.

Meanwhile, Mundele also revealed his AS Vita teammates Mukoko Tonombe and Tuisila Kisinda have already agreed to join Yanga.

“Ibenge told me [Mukoko] Tonombe and [Tuisila] Kisinda have already agreed to be part of Yanga and will soon land in Tanzania to sign their contracts,” the striker added.

“These are two good players for AS Vita and will surely make Yanga even stronger.

“Regarding my decision to join them, I can only reveal it when I have answered coach Ibenge on what I have decided.”

He also spoke about a leg fracture that kept him out for a considerable long period.

“Until now, my injury still appear like it was a miracle, but I am happy I have recovered and ready for the next actions,” he concluded.

“The doctors have allowed me to take part in exercises and I am ready for the pre-season engagements.”

Uli Hoeness has confirmed that Bayern Munich have pulled out of the race to sign Bayer Leverkusen star Kai Havertz.

Havertz has emerged as one of the brightest talents in European football since breaking into the Leverkusen first team in 2016, scoring 45 goals in 148 appearances for the club in all competitions.

Seventeen of those efforts have come during the 2019-20 campaign, and he has also contributed nine assists to help Peter Bosz's side finish fifth in the Bundesliga while making it through to the latter stages of the Europa League.

Despite the fact that the 21-year-old still has two years left to run on his current contract at Bay Arena, he is being tipped to leave the club this summer amid interest from a number of top European clubs.

The likes of Real Madrid, Juventus and Manchester United have all been linked with Havertz in recent months, but Chelsea are now believed to be leading the race for his signature after entering into talks with Leverkusen.

Bayern had also been mooted as a possible next destination for the Germany international earlier this year, with club legend Lothar Matthaus among those to endorse the potential move for a "mega-talent".

However, the Bundesliga champions have already forked out an initial fee of €49 million (£44m/$57m) to bring Leroy Sane to Allianz Arena from Manchester City, and Hoeness does not envisage any more big-money deals being completed in the current financial climate.

"I am sure that after Leroy Sane there will be no major transfers this year," Bayern's honorary president told German newspaper FAZ.

"That has nothing to do with the quality of Havertz. We all think he is a very, very good player.

"But in the Corona period after a transfer of almost 50 million, one of 70, 80 million or more I can't imagine making unless we secure counter-financing through player sales."

When asked when a final decision on Havertz's future will be made, Leverkusen head coach Bosz told Deutschen Presse-Agentur over the weekend: "I couldn't say. Perhaps the crucial call will come today, maybe next week, maybe not at all."

As it stands, Havertz will see out the remainder of the campaign with the German outfit, who have a Europa League round of 16 second-leg tie with Rangers to look forward to on Thursday.