Looking for Soccer News?

Mikel Arteta congratulated Unai Emery on his appointment as Villarreal boss, while acknowledging his predecessor has left him with a considerable but "beautiful challenge at Arsenal".

Emery was appointed to replace Javier Calleja on Thursday, eight months on from a winless run of seven matches across all competitions that resulted in him being sacked by the Gunners.

Arteta was handed the reins as his permanent successor the following month and has guided Arsenal to the FA Cup final, although a midweek defeat to relegation-threatened Aston Villa showed inconsistency remains.

Nevertheless, the former Manchester City assistant was keen to thank Emery for what has often appeared to be a flawed inheritance.

"Congratulations for the new job, he's going back to Spain," he told a news conference ahead of Sunday's final Premier League match versus Watford – another game where Arsenal will have a defining say on matters in the bottom three. "He's a manager who has a lot of experience there and has been very successful there.

"We wish him all the best from our side. There are a lot of people from our side who like him a lot and have huge respect for him.

"Thanks from my side as well for what he did here with the players, trying to improve the team and the squad. We wish him all the best and hopefully things will go well for him."

Arsenal head into the final matchday 10th in the table, with an eighth-place finish their best-case scenario.

Victory over Chelsea in the FA Cup final is their only remaining route into European competition and Arteta acknowledges they have fallen some way from being a Champions League fixture during his playing days.

"I don't think the league table lies at the end of 10 months and with 38 games gone," he said. "Hopefully next season will be very different.

"We have a beautiful challenge, a demanding challenge but a beautiful challenge ahead of us. We have to put this club back to where it belongs, which is with the top clubs in this country and Europe. In order to do that we have to make a lot of good decisions."

A 2-1 victory over Premier League champions Liverpool last week preceding a 2-0 FA Cup semi-final triumph against City has done nothing to obscure this reality.

"It hurts so much, [but] it's a beautiful challenge to bring the club into that position again," Arteta added.

"I know how difficult it is going to be, because we can see what other clubs have been doing over the last few seasons, but I am very positive that we are going to be able to do it."

Mikel Arteta says he's "positive" Arsenal can close the "big" gap between themselves and English football's top sides in the coming years, and that he is looking forward to the "beautiful challenge ahead".

A 1-0 defeat away at Aston Villa on Tuesday ensured that Arsenal will miss out on a place in the Premier League's top six for the first time since 1995.

The result left the Gunners languishing way down in 10th in the standings after 37 fixtures, with little left to play for in their final day clash against Watford on Sunday.

Arteta has, however, overseen significant improvement at Emirates Stadium since being appointed Unai Emery's permanent successor in December.

Clear signs of progress were evident during a 2-1 win over 2019-20 champions Liverpool last week, and Arsenal followed up that performance by knocking Manchester City out of the FA Cup at the semi-final stage.

The Gunners can still gain re-entry to the Europa League if they beat Chelsea in the showpiece event on August 1, but Arteta acknowledges the fact that his long-term project at the Emirates is still very much in its infancy.

The Spanish head coach told his press conference ahead of this weekend's meeting with Watford: "I don't think the league table lies at the end of 10 months with 38 games. Hopefully next season it will be very different.
 
"We have a beautiful challenge, a very demanding challenge but a beautiful challenge ahead of us. We have to get this right and bring this club back to where it belongs which is with the top teams in the country and in Europe. In order to do that we have to make a lot of good decisions.
 
"We haven't been consistent. We obviously had a lot of issues as well in the background, a lot of things that had happened, but at the end of the day we weren't good enough to be with the top teams.

"That's not a lie and it shows the big room for improvement and the gap that is still there and has to be minimised really, really quickly in order to be in a good position to challenge those teams."

Arteta added on Arsenal's failures in the second half of the season and the "direction" he is trying like to take the club in: "It hurts so much. When I said it's a beautiful challenge, and as well from my side, it's to bring the club into those positions again.

"I know how difficult it's going to be because you can see the other teams, what they're doing, what they've been doing the last few seasons.

"The road and the direction we have to take in order to be quick in that transition. I'm very positive that we're going to be able to do it."

Premier Soccer League (PSL) giants Orlando Pirates have announced the death of Matina Elsie Khoza on Thursday.

Matina, who was Pirates club chairman Irvin Khoza's wife, had been in and out of the hospital as she battled ill health.

The Buccaneers released the following statement on their official website.

"The Khoza Family is announcing the sad passing of Mme Matina Elsie Khoza, the wife of Dr. Irvin Khoza, mother of Sonono, the late Zodwa, Nkosana and Mpumi Khoza."

"Mme Matina, who was affectionately referred to by everybody, including her ten grandchildren, as Mama, has been in and out of hospital in the last few years battling ill health."

"She sadly passed at 09h11 this morning, Thursday 23 July 2020. She was 69 years of age."

"The Khoza Family pleads with the public to help us observe restrictions imposed on the nation by the Covid-19 pandemic."

"There will, as a result, be no visitations and prayer services held at home," a club statement read.

Khoza also lost his second wife, Yvonne Mantwa Kgotleng-Khoza, who sadly passed away last January.

The PSL chairman has been busy working with the South African Football Association (Safa) to ensure that the 2019/20 season resumes.

The campaign was suspended last March due to the coronavirus pandemic which has impacted the staging of sporting events worldwide.

PSL had plans to resume the suspended season in a Biologically Safe Environment (BSE) in Gauteng on July 18.

However, Safa made it clear that football can only start in August 2020 as the match officials were not ready to officiate top flight league and National First Division (NFD) matches.

The PSL Board of Governors is set to hold a meeting on Friday to discuss the way forward regarding the resumption of football.

Michael Owen expects the silverware to continue rolling in at Liverpool, with the former Reds striker claiming the only question facing the Reds is “how many trophies are they going to win.”

Jurgen Klopp’s side have enjoyed a remarkable run over the course of the last 13 months. Having waited seven years for tangible success, the floodgates opened when capturing the 2019 Champions League crown.

UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup success soon followed, while their 30-year wait for English top-flight glory has also been ended.

Liverpool got their hands on the Premier League title after seeing off Chelsea 5-3 on Wednesday, with wild scenes of celebration sparked inside Anfield and around the football-mad city.

The challenge now is to maintain the stunning standards that have been set, with the Reds aware of the need to establish another dynasty and avoid being a flash in the pan.

Owen believes many more triumphs will be taken in, especially as charismatic Klopp has been tied down on a contract through to 2024.

The ex-Liverpool frontman told Premier League Productions of the Reds’ highly-rated coach: “The man just gets it. He gets life, he gets the city, he gets how people tick. He’s just the man.

“I find it hard to get impressed by too many people, but that fella, every time he opens his mouth, I can’t stop listening. I think he’s absolutely brilliant.

“The club, the city, they’ve embraced him and he’s embraced them in return. He’s everything that Liverpool needed at the time. He’s everything that they need now and in the future.

“You are striving for perfection at the moment. It’s just a matter of how long he can keep this going now, in terms of how many trophies Liverpool are going to win - but I couldn’t speak highly enough of him.

“When you’re playing, you don’t feel the magnitude of what you’ve done. Even Klopp said it’s two or three hours to think about what you’ve done, but I can guarantee that for him it will be a quick holiday with the family and then ‘how are we going to defend it again?’

“Football is a short career, you’re on a hamster wheel in many ways, and as soon as you retire you think ‘I won that, and I won that’. When you’re doing it, it’s relentless. It’s a relentless pursuit of what is next, what can I win next?”

Shkodran Mustafi looks set to suffer FA Cup heartache, with the defender expected to miss the Wembley showpiece with Chelsea through injury.

Mustafi, who was firmly out of favour with former boss Unai Emery, has become an integral part of Mikel Arteta’s side and had started nine of Arsenal’s 10 games prior to the FA Cup semi-final with Manchester City.

But after suffering a hamstring injury in the closing stages of the 2-0 win over Pep Guardiola's side, Mustafi was forced to miss Tuesday night’s 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa.

The Germany international has undergone a scan on the problem and head coach Mikel Arteta has now revealed he fears the centre-back will not be available to face Chelsea at Wembley.

“I doubt it,” said Arteta, when asked if Mustafi would be fit for the final.

“We have to see how he evolves in the next few days, but at the moment I doubt it.”

Arsenal go into Sunday’s Premier League finale with Watford sitting 10th in the table, knowing they can’t finish higher than eighth. It will be the club's worst league finish since 1995.

That means Europa League qualification for the 2020-21 campaign rests on winning the FA Cup final a week later.

Should they beat Chelsea, it would be a fourth FA Cup success for the club since 2014, but Arteta admits that winning at Wembley would not make up for the poor league campaign.

“No,” he said, when asked whether an eighth-placed finish and a FA Cup success would add up to a good season.

“For me, this club deserves the best and you have to be fighting for every title.

“Obviously after everything that happened, if we are able to win the final and qualify for Europe, we can say it’s OK. But it’s not the level for this football club.”

Meanwhile, Arteta says he plans to play as strong a side as possible against relegation-threatened Watford this weekend out of respect for the other sides who are battling with the Hornets to stay in the Premier League.

With the cup final looming, there could be a temptation to rest some key players, but Arteta insists that won’t be the case.

“I’m going to assess the squad and how they are feeling,” he said. “Ideally I want to play as strong a team as I can.

“We have to respect there are a few teams in the relegation battle and we are responsible for that as well.”

Alan Shearer has backed Mason Greenwood to beat his Premier League scoring record while describing the Manchester United striker as a "potential superstar".

Greenwood became the first teenager to reach ten goals in a top-flight season since United legend Wayne Rooney when he netted in a 1-1 draw against West Ham at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

The England U21 international's second-half strike also ensured that he joined Rooney, George Best and Bryan Kidd as the only teenagers to have hit 17 goals in all competitions over the course of a single campaign for the Red Devils.

Greenwood has stepped his game up another notch since last month's Premier League resumption, and his goals have helped Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side close in on Champions League qualification.

Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial are the only players to have outscored the 18-year-old at United this season, with both men currently on 22 goals, even though he was mostly used as a substitute before the coronavirus-enforced lockdown came into effect.

Shearer hit 260 Premier League goals over the course of his career, which stands as the highest mark in the competition's history, but he can see Greenwood surpassing that tally if he continues his current trajectory.

The former Newcastle and Blackburn centre-forward said on BBC's Match of the Day: “[He's] a potential superstar. I respect the power, left foot, right foot, and the way he gets his shot away early, he doesn’t give the keeper a chance to set himself.

“Whether it’s near-post or far-post. Everything is power, head down and hit it as hard as you can. I was taught at Southampton, by my old youth coach Dave Merrington, to concentrate on that right foot and make it unstoppable.

“Now, he can do it with his left or right foot. He gets it away early and the goalkeepers have no chance.

“I think in 12 or 13 years time, we could be talking about a Premier League record goal scorer. I know there are so many things that can happen in someone’s career, but I think he’s that good.”

Greenwood and co will be back in action on Sunday when United take in a crucial trip to the King Power Stadium to face Leicester on Sunday, which will mark their final domestic outing of the campaign.

Olivier Giroud says he is still "thirsty" to make history and win trophies for France, with a number of individual goals still in his sight at international level.

The 33-year-old striker was a key figure in France's victory at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, however it was expected he would be moved aside in time for Euro 2020, with manager Didier Deschamps having a wealth of attacking options at his disposal for Les Bleus.

Giroud was also set aside in his club career in the first half of the 2019-20 season, as he rarely featured for Chelsea under new manager Frank Lampard and looked likely to be moved on in January.

However he stayed at Stamford Bridge and has regained his place in the first team in the second half of the season, contributing crucial goals both before and after the coronavirus-enforced hiatus in the Premier League season.

His form - four goals in his last five games for the Blues - could have seen him called up for France again for the European Championships, however they have been postponed by a year because of the pandemic, meaning the veteran forward faces an uphill battle to keep his place in the squad.

Giroud however has a number of individual aims, as well as the possibility of another major international title, to keep him focused on his France place. He currently has 97 caps at senior international level, and has scored 39 goals - the third most ever, behind Michel Platini on 41 while Thierry Henry leads the way with 51.

Giroud told Canal+ :  "I had the chance to make a Euro final [in 2016, where France lost to Portugal] and win the World Cup. I'm still thirsty for trophies and to break records with the French team.

"It would be good to pass 100 caps, and then try to get past Platini in second place in the France team's top scorers rankings. These are goals and the Euros next summer is of course a goal."

Giroud also has aims to reach at club level this season, with Chelsea needing to beat Wolves in their final game of the Premier League campaign to qualify for the Champions League, before facing Arsenal in the FA Cup final at Wembley on August 1.

Callum McGregor is hoping to get another shot at Neymar in the 2020-21 Champions League, with the Paris Saint-Germain forward having revelled in “taking the mickey” out of Celtic in seven previous outings against the Scots.

The most recent of those came in the friendly at Parc des Princes on Tuesday. Thomas Tuchel’s Ligue 1 title holders got the better of the Scottish kings in a comfortable 4-0 win as they stepped up their preparations for the resumption of Champions League competition.

Neymar was among the goals in the French capital, with the Brazilian having now netted eight times in his meetings with Celtic. His aggregate record against the Glasgow giants stands at 32-2, across spells with Barcelona and PSG, with his antics not always being well received by the Hoops.

Neil Lennon spoke out against the South American following his last outing, while McGregor admits that he would welcome the opportunity to cross paths with the showboating 28-year-old one more time.

The Celtic midfielder said in the Daily Record: “We keep saying we owe him one before the games, but he’s that good that if you don’t switch on, he punishes you in the first minute like he did on Tuesday night. He played an unbelievable ball into [Kylian] Mbappe to score the opener.

“So you can say, ‘Get close to him next time’ but it’s not that easy. It’s a learning curve for the players as well. Hopefully we will get back there to the Champions League and have a second crack at it.”

McGregor added, with Neymar having once again brought out his bag of tricks against Celtic while also becoming involved in a heated discussion with Lennon: “Is it infuriating? Of course it is. You’re professional and you like the respect part of the game.

“You don’t like people taking the mickey out of you, but you have to respect the talent and try to get the ball back off him.

“His job is to score and you’re always going to get things like that in football. He’s a world-class talent and it’s very hard to get close to him.

“He manipulates the ball so well but if you have a kick at him he doesn’t like it, but it’s not personal. It’s my job to win the ball back and sometimes you mistime a tackle but if you stand off then top players will hurt you.

“You have to respect the quality but not respect him to the point of standing off him and letting him do his thing.

“We had a couple of nibbles at him but he seemed to take it and come back for more. That’s why he is a top, top player. He was even laughing at one point. He’s just a top talent, whether you love him or hate him. There are a lot of tussles in the game and that’s just part and parcel of football.”

Former Asante Kotoko star Ibrahim Sunday believes the club will need between two to three years to make a strong impact in continental inter-club competitions.

The two-time conquerors of Africa are set to represent Ghana in the 2020-21 Caf Champions League with an aim of improving upon their first-round elimination in 2019-20.

They received the nod for the championship on the decision of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) following the premature termination of the 2019-20 domestic football season.

“Football has been made easy through globalisation. We should be proactive in studying our opponents before meeting them," Sunday, who won the Champions League with Kotoko as a player in 1976 and as a coach in 1983, told Light FM.

"Moreover, we need aggressive and committed players for the course, if thinking of a short term project.

“The long term will need a time of maybe two or three years to prepare the players very well before competing heavily in Caf competitions.

“Determination was the key for us in winning the trophy. We had committed and devoted players who even slept on the floor through hunger in achieving this step because this was a trophy which escaped Kotoko for far too long. That’s how I became the African Footballer of the Year onwards.”

Kotoko's best performance in a continental championship in recent times remains a runners-up finish in the 2004 Confederation Cup following a defeat to country rivals Hearts of Oak.

The club's new 12-member board, set up in June and has been tasked to restore the glory of the old days.

"The board is not prepared enough and ready to compete, so they should resign from joining the Caf competitions [in the coming season] and concentrate on the next time," former Kotoko striker Osei Kofi, joint-top scorer at the 1965 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) as Ghana won a second continental title, told Boss FM.

"If [Kotoko] join next season's Caf competitions, it will be a disaster and misuse of money and staff."

Kotoko are regarded as the biggest club in Ghana. With the biggest fanbase, the side has won the Premier League on 23 occasions, with four titles more than nemesis Hearts. 

Arsenal defender David Luiz says he will cut his hair if he ever moves into management, but a number of his current club colleagues are not convinced that he will follow through on that promise.

At 33 years of age, an enigmatic Brazilian centre-half is starting to piece together plans for when the day comes to hang up his boots.

He has committed to another 12 months at Emirates Stadium, with Mikel Arteta taking up a one-year option in his contract despite ongoing questions of the South American’s ability to perform on a consistent basis.

Luiz has also expressed a desire to take in a second spell at Portuguese giants Benfica before heading into retirement.

That suggests that he is at least two seasons away from calling it quits.

When that time does come, the former Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain star has suggested that he will look to head into coaching and pass on the vast experience that he has accrued over the years.

In order to make that transition, though, he may have to smarten up his image.

Luiz claims he would be willing to do that, with his trademark curly locks chopped off, but his Arsenal team-mates – including Alexandre Lacazette, Sead Kolasinac and Hector Bellerin – are not so sure.

Luiz was asked by Esquire, while promotion the Gunners’ new kit for 2020-21, what he would do if going into management.

He said: “I’d put a suit on and cut my hair.

“I can’t be a coach with this hair, nobody’s going to respect me!”

Lacazette responded by saying: “You’d cut your hair?!”

Kolasinac chipped in with: “Tracksuit. I don’t think David would actually go through with that haircut. He can’t, it’s David! I think he’d look better with his hair.”

Bellerin added: “No way. He wouldn’t be David Luiz anymore. He’d be someone else.”

Luiz has earned favour again during his recent outings for Arsenal, with the mistakes which have been an all too familiar theme in his game being cut out.

A commanding performance was put in during a 2-0 FA Cup semi-final victory over Manchester City, although the Gunners followed up that display with a shock 1-0 defeat away at relegation-threatened Aston Villa.

Mikel Arteta’s side will bring the curtain down on their 2019-20 Premier League campaign with a home date against Watford on Sunday.

It’s been another breathtaking campaign in the Premier League, and the 2019-20 season will live long in the memory, but the top flight is still to reach its conclusion on Sunday, where much will be decided in the final round of fixtures.

Liverpool’s title triumph may have been wrapped up some time ago, but there’s still Champions League qualification to be decided, and one of three relegation candidates will be able to save themselves from the drop.

Heading into the final day, only the champions and Manchester City have confirmed their berths in the Champions League for next season, and two out of Chelsea, Manchester United and Leicester City will join them in Europe’s premier club competition next term.

United, on 63 points and with a +28 goal difference, are in pole position.

They are away at Leicester and, regardless of the result in Chelsea’s game, will advance if they avoid defeat against the Foxes.

A week or two ago, United would be overwhelming favourites; they were the in-form team in the division, had Bruno Fernandes, Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood firing on all cylinders, and appeared capable of outclassing any team in the division.

However, in recent fixtures, vulnerabilities have appeared.

They were denied all three points at the death against Southampton, outclassed in their FA Cup semi-final defeat by Chelsea, and struggled to down West Ham United on Wednesday.

Indeed, the Hammers were the better side for much of the contest, and fully deserved their opener when Paul Pogba handled in the box and Michail Antonio converted the subsequent penalty.

United are looking leggy and jaded at just the wrong time, and the defensive lapses of Harry Maguire and, notably, David de Gea, will give the Foxes hope of a home victory.

Brendan Rodgers’ side have also come in for criticism of late; they’ve lost their grip on third, and then fourth, and are fifth heading into the final day.

Leicester have lost two of their last three, collapsing against both Bournemouth and Tottenham Hotspur, and appear devoid of cohesion and defensive security.

Nonetheless, they still know how to win games—witness recent victories against Sheffield United and Crystal Palace—and may be quietly confident of upsetting the Red Devils at the death.

SuperSport Fixtures

Thursday 23 July – Udinese vs Juventus

Thursday 23 July – Lazio vs Cagliari

Friday 24 July – AC Milan vs Atalanta

Saturday 25 July – Genoa vs Inter Milan

Saturday 25 July – Napoli vs Sassuolo

Sunday 26 July – Arsenal vs Watford

Sunday 26 July – Chelsea vs Wolves

Sunday 26 July – Crystal Palace vs Tottenham

Sunday 26 July – Leicester vs Manchester United

Sunday 26 July – Manchester City vs Norwich

Sunday 26 July – Newcastle vs Liverpool

Regardless of the result at the King Power Stadium, Chelsea will finish inside the top four with a point, and the only scenario in which Frank Lampard’s side would miss out on the top four is if they are defeated by Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leicester take all three points from United.

It’s a strong position, particularly considering Chelsea are at home, but they too have shown worrying failings in recent weeks.

On Wednesday evening, they conceded five as they were outgunned by champions Liverpool, and while there’s genuine quality going forward, Chelsea’s defence appears in dire need of an overhaul.

While they impressed against United in the FA Cup, Chelsea’s backline—which conceded three goals in defeats by West Ham and Sheffield United—risks being exposed by Wolves’ attackers.

The Old Gold are on a three-match unbeaten streak, and while their own Champions League hopes were extinguished by back-to-back defeats by Arsenal and the Blades, they’re bubbling with quality and confidence.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side are comfortably capable of exploiting the holes in Chelsea’s defence, but will it be enough to deny the Blues Champions League qualification?

Elsewhere in the Premier League on Sunday, Arsenal host Watford, Tottenham Hotspur are away at struggling Crystal Palace, while Manchester City and Liverpool meet Norwich City and Newcastle United respectively, with all matches live on SuperSport.

There’s also Serie A action this week, with the top four all in action.

League leaders Juventus returned to winning ways on Monday, ending a three-game run without a victory by dispatching Lazio as their miserable streak continues, and are on the brink of yet another title.

Once touted as the side most likely to compete with the Old Lady for the title, Lazio have endured a disappointing run, taking just one point from their last five matches.

Juve are away at Udinese on Thursday, and can clinch the title with a win, while Lazio host Cagliari…will this be the match when they finally get all three points?

Three more points for Maurizio Sarri's side would take them out of the reach of Atalanta due to a superior head-to-head record, and would mean they secure a record-extending ninth Italian title with three games to spare.

On Friday, Champions League contenders Atalanta will face a stern test of their ambitions when they travel away to AC Milan.

UCL qualification is beyond the Rossoneri, but they’re ending the season strongly, and will be keen to secure a statement victory against a free-flowing Atalanta side who have not lost since late January.

Stefano Pioli was recently rewarded with a two-year contract for his side’s excellent form, but can Milan take another big step in their recent renaissance on Friday?

Atalanta, who have an eye-catching 95 goals in their 35 league outings to date, will surely be desperate to hit a century of top flight strikes before the season is out.

Kenyan Premier League (KPL) side Gor Mahia have completed the signing of goalkeeper Levis Opiyo.

Opiyo was a free agent after his contract with Nairobi City Stars expired and he expressed an unwillingness to extend it.

A source from Gor Mahia has indicated to Goal the former Thika United custodian has already put pen to paper for a fairly long deal.

“[Levis] Opiyo has signed a two-year contract with Gor Mahia already. He has visited the club’s office where he signed the papers to serve Gor Mahia for the two seasons ahead,” the source told Goal.

Goal also understands Fredrick Odhiambo has been released by Gor Mahia and his place is expected to be filled by Opiyo.

“It is also true that [Fredrick] Odhiambo has left the club,” the source added.

“This is just the beginning of our transfer activities in the market as we hope to assemble a better and competitive team going forward.

“We need a team that will help mount a good campaign both at the domestic and international levels.”

Opiyo is expected to battle for a starting position with Boniface Oluoch who has remained a key man for a dominant K’Ogalo side in the Premier League scene since 2015 when he was signed from Tusker.

The exit of David Mapigano, who was signed before the 2019/20 season began, is understood to have made Gor Mahia prioritise the signing of a goalkeeper.

Opiyo has played for one foreign club in his career, lower league German side Fortuna Babelsberg. He has played for many local clubs including Posta Rangers, Thika United, Sofapaka, Mathare United, Mahakama FC, Western Stima and Vihiga United.

He made his name at Thika United where he worked with goalkeepers Lukas Indeche, Zamu Adisa and Joel Bataro when the Thika-based club was still in the KPL.

Gor Mahia are also understood to have reached an agreement with defender Kevin Okumu.

Okumu, like Opiyo, were key for Nairobi City Stars in the National Super League (NSL) where they were declared champions when the league was cancelled due to the coronavirus.

Nairobi City Stars Chief Executive Officer Patrick Korir confirmed both Opiyo and Okumu left the club due to expiration of their contracts.

“Yes, Opiyo left after his contract expired and Okumu hinted he had other offers and that is why he could not extend his stay with us,” Korir told Goal.

Opiyo’s signing is the first Gor Mahia have completed and they are linked with a number of local stars.

Manchester United are clearly struggling with fatigue, according to Luke Chadwick, who says the Red Devils' "spark seems to have disappeared" in recent matches.

United won five of their first six matches in all competitions after returning from lockdown, scoring an impressive 17 goals while only conceding four at the other end of the pitch.

Bruno Fernandes, Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood were firing on all cylinders as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men put Sheffield United, Brighton, Bournemouth and Aston Villa to the sword, moving to within touching distance of a place in the top four in the process.

The Red Devils were, however, dealt a setback after being held to a 2-2 draw by Southampton at Old Trafford on July 13, as they produced a performance devoid of the free-flowing attacking verve and intensity of previous games.

The Manchester outfit were equally unconvincing during a 2-0 victory at Crystal Palace, and their 19-match unbeaten run stretching back to January came to an end in stunning fashion when they were beaten 3-1 by Chelsea in last weekend's FA Cup semi-finals.

Fortunately for United, Leicester suffered a damaging defeat to Tottenham on Sunday which opened the door for them to move into the Champions League spots if they avoided defeat at home to West Ham on Wednesday.

Solskjaer watched his side secure the point they needed to go third, and their position was cemented when Chelsea were humbled by Liverpool later that day.

Chadwick sees plenty of cause for concern for the Norwegian despite the Red Devils' position in the table, and has stressed the importance of his old club finishing the job on the final day against Leicester so that they can attract top talent from across Europe this summer.

The former United midfielder wrote in his latest column for Talk of the Devils: “Having watched a lot of the Premier League fixtures since football returned, I would have to say it looks like United’s performance has dropped off the most over the past 3-4 games in terms of what looks like fatigue.

"The spark seems to have disappeared… don’t get me wrong there has still been the odd glimpse here and there, but the difference between say the Brighton or Bournemouth attacking play, and the Southampton or Crystal Palace performances, and again last night, have been like night and day.

"Some suggested that the team selection was down to pressure to qualify for the Champions League.

"I would imagine in the club’s eyes, the most important thing this season is qualification for the Champions League, and rightly so for a business that expects at the very least to be involved in the most lucrative competition in club football.

"To attract the calibre of player to really challenge, Champions League football is a must and of course for the club to finance these sort of moves.

"Obviously any sort of silverware would be a massive boost to everyone at the club after a tough couple of years, I think the majority of fans would accept and understand Ole changing the team for the FA Cup considering the games that were coming up but what would have been very hard to accept would have been the performance as much as the result, crashing out with a bit of a whimper!

"I have been as guilty as anyone of getting a bit carried away in the past couple of weeks, watching United playing with attacking vigour and confidence – reminiscent of the wonderful teams of years gone by!

"The last four performances against Southampton, Palace, Chelsea and West Ham have brought him back down to earth and realise there is still plenty of work for Ole to do to get the club really competing again.”

Former Orlando Pirates defender Benson Mhlongo believes midfielder Khethokwakhe Masuku left the Soweto giants because he did not receive proper guidance.

Masuku joined Pirates from Black Leopards at the beginning of the 12/13 season and spent three seasons at the club before leaving straight for lower division side Royal Eagles.

After just a season at Eagles, Masuku returned to play Premier Soccer League (PSL) football with Bloemfontein Celtic for one and a half seasons.

But Mhlongo feels the midfielder prematurely left Pirates where he could have made more of an impact had he stayed.

“I believe that you didn’t have that guidance, a person to mentor you and guide you… If I was your mentor by then I was going to tell you to stay at Pirates. Happy Jele has stayed at Pirates, Sergio Ramos has stayed at Real Madrid,” said Mhlongo in conversation with Masuku on Amaplayer.

“I felt that you were one of those players, if you stayed, coaches will come and go and if you were still at Pirates, there was a lot you were going to offer Pirates.

“I believe that but I was not there, I was still playing with you and I am now willing to mentor you.”

Following his last PSL chance with Bloemfontein Celtic midway through the 2017/2018 campaign, Masuku was back in the First Division for the rest of the season at Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila.

After turning out for another lower division side Baberwa FC, he has been clubless since 2019.

His latest attempt to return to football in January drew blanks following an unsuccessful trial stint at Baroka FC but Mhlongo has pledged to resuscitate Masuku’s career.

“We must see you back in the PSL, how you make it, we have to fight. Let’s not make this just talk, let us make it happen,” Mhlongo said.

“I am a coach. There must be feedback after three or six months that, ok, this is where you are. Feedback in terms of you are playing.

“Masuku I am going to try my best to at least get you a team either in the PSL or GladAfrica Championship.”

Gor Mahia official Ronald Ngala has stated Sam Ochola convinced him and other officials that he needed a chance to help in the club's transformation.

The K'Ogalo Secretary-General opted against defending his seat in the elections set for August 8 in favour of Ochola who also vied for the same position in the last elections.

"Ochola convinced the majority of us that he is fit to help Gor Mahia hit the next level," Ngala told Goal.

"He came up with ideas on how he intends to help the team move forward, and I have to admit they were impressive. So I decided to let him run for the seat and rallied my supporters behind him.

"We will assess him after his term has ended to see what he has achieved and his impact on the team."

The experienced administrator has also revealed fresh ideas were needed in management.

"I have been at Gor Mahia since 2005 and sometimes you have to give others a chance to help in development," Ngala continued.

"We all love the team and we want to make one of the top sides in the continent. So when there is a chance to make the team better, we take it; it is the reason why I opted not to contest." 

Earlier on, the Sports Registrar Rose Wasike had laid down the requirements Gor Mahia's election process must meet if they are to be allowed to proceed.

"This is to request you to submit documents relating to the appointed Independent Panel that will ensure the holding of fair and transparent elections,” a letter to the club and obtained by Goal read.  

"Nomination process of candidates without unfairly blocking any candidate from vying, adherence to 2/3 gender rule, non-discrimination, having an election procedure that adheres to the general provision of Article 81 of the Kenya Constitution 2010, the Sports Act and regulation 20 of Sports Registrar Regulation of 2nd September 2016 and other regulations stipulated in the club's constitution.

"It is a requirement under Regulation 20 of the Sports Registrar of 2016 that an independent panel is appointed and the Sports Registrar, one or an umbrella sports organisations and the ministry observers.

"Note that all your candidates must get clearance certificates from the government integrity clearance offices including Credit Reference Bureau, Higher Education Loans Board, Kenya Revenue Authority, Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, Directorate of Criminal Investigation, National Social Security Fund, and the National Hospital Insurance Fund among others.

"It is also my request that you submit a list of members that will vote, and who should be paid up members plus copies of their membership cards to prove membership, two passports size photos, postal address and mobile phone numbers to enable the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya [ICPAK) fit them into the online voting system."

Liverpool needed Champions League heartbreak to reach the next level, according to Trent Alexander-Arnold, who says "Kiev was the turning point" for Jurgen Klopp's squad.

The Reds suffered the third final defeat of Klopp's tenure when they came up against Real Madrid in the 2018-19 Champions League showpiece.

The Blancos ran out 3-1 winners in Ukraine thanks to a Karim Benzema effort and a Gareth Bale brace, with Sadio Mane grabbing what amounted to no more than a consolation goal for Liverpool.

The Reds reached the final again one year later and claimed the sixth Champions League crown in their history by beating Tottenham in an all-English decider.

They have since won the UEFA Super Cup, Club World Cup and Premier League title, with Alexander-Arnold having reflected on how the Reds' journey to the top began.

"For us, the turning point probably was Kiev," the 21-year-old full-back told the Liverpool Echo. "That was when we turned from a naive team, to one that knew how exactly to win games.

"So I think in Kiev, that taught us how to win games. We all walked away from that going into next season learning the best lessons we could.

"We all needed that loss, which is something that happens all the time. You need to make mistakes to learn what you need to improve on. It was the worst night of our lives but looking back, it was the best lesson we could have ever learned.

"And that is what has put us on this path we are on now. So over the last two years, winning so many games and trophies was all down to that one game and learning how to win.

"Once you get that first taste of a trophy, it is different to chasing it. You are chasing the feeling of it and you never really know what that might feel like. It is about chasing the unknown. But when you have won it, you know what is coming.

"So comparing the night in Kiev, which was the worst night of our lives, to the best night of our lives in Madrid, that contrast is there.

"It was always us wanting to feel like we did in Madrid so many more times. It was that feeling of winning, of pride and being a part of a successful team. Pushing ourselves to be the best we can be, the best players in the world, the best team in the world. We wanted to just take the club back to where we belong.

"Since the Champions League, we have won three more trophies. So for me, I personally always had a feeling that once we won the first one, we would be able to win anything and everything and barring the two domestic cups, we have done that over the last two seasons.

"The mentality was there before the Champions League, but I think we really cemented ourselves as a world-class team who can win trophies after Kiev. We have shown how good we are."

Asked how it feels to be a Premier League winner, Alexander-Arnold responded: "I think, to an extent, I have reflected but winning the league hasn't really kicked in and settled yet. When you are so involved in it and so close to it, it is hard to take a step back and realise what you have achieved.

"The time for all that will come when you retire and I can look back and feel proud of what I have achieved, but so far, I have achieved a lot and I am really grateful for the opportunities I have been given.

"Everyone always believed in me and have given me the chances to be able to take them as well, so there are a lot of thanks needed for everyone who has helped me on this journey, but there is still a long way to go.

"This is just the beginning."

Declan Rice has been warned off a move to one of the “big guns”, with West Ham legend Tony Carr calling on the England international to stay put as speculation mounts regarding a switch to Chelsea.

The versatile 21-year-old was on the books at Stamford Bridge before being released from the Blues’ academy system.

That decision forced him to look elsewhere, with West Ham eventually opening up their doors.

Carr, who spent 43 years working in the Hammers’ youth ranks, was to help put Rice on a path that has led him to the very top of the game.

Such progress has, however, generated admiring glances from afar.

Rice’s potential is said to have registered on the radar of Manchester United, while talk of a return to west London at Chelsea refuses to go away.

Carr hopes said interest can be fended off, telling the We Are West Ham Podcast: “I'm a little bit concerned. I hope he stays, I really do.

“He’s developing into a top player. His goal the other night against Watford - terrific.

“You could see the look on his face, the pleasure it gave him. And the hug he gave to David Moyes on the touchline when the goal went in sends great signs and signals he’s happy there and wants to stay.

“Unfortunately, sometimes agents get involved – I’m not saying this is Declan’s agent - but if someone says ‘we’re going to double your money if you come to us’, it’s hard to turn down and let loyalty be the deciding factor.

“I hope it doesn’t come to that. I hope he just comes out and says ‘I’m happy to stay at West Ham, I’m still developing as a player, they’ve brought me from obscurity, released from Chelsea, and now into the England team’.”

Carr added, with Rice seemingly set to have some big decisions to make on his future: “My message to Dec is this: ‘Stay where you are pal. You’re young enough and there’s still plenty of time to go to the big guns. Just keep establishing yourself by being a regular in the team.

“You’re in the England team because you're in West Ham's first team, you don’t need to go anywhere else’.

“He’s now an integral part of that West Ham team and in some respects, he’s taking up Mark Noble's mantle. If he stays, over time he’s going to be a future captain I’m sure.”

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has congratulated Ndubuisi Egbo after leading KF Tirana to clinch the Albanian league on Saturday.

The former Super Eagles goalkeeper achieved the feat after guiding the Tirona to a 2-0 home victory over Flamurtari at the weekend which saw them open a seven-point gap at the top of the table.

It is the first time the Selman Stermasi Stadium outfit will win the Kategoria Superiore title and have also secured a place in the Champions League qualifying round.

Egbo, thus, becomes the first Nigerian manager to win a European trophy and the football governing body has sent him a congratulatory message.

“It was with a huge sense of pride that the NFF and the entire Nigerian football family learnt of your exemplary achievement as the first-ever Nigerian, black and African coach to win a major European League, as you have steered KF Tirana to the Albanian top-tier championship with few matches left in the on-going season,” read a statement from the NFF.

“In the process, you also became the first African to qualify a team for the Uefa Champions League competition.

“The fact that KF Tirana was unable to win any silverware since the year 2018 until your arrival in December 2019 puts your accomplishment in proper perspective.

“Certainly, your rare character traits of sobriety, quiet confidence, seamless application and effortless brilliance, so evident in your days with the Super Eagles, when you steered your team to glory.

“This achievement is no doubt a marker for other Nigerian coaches, including your fellow ex-internationals, that by working assiduously and diligently in a noble way, they can indeed go out there and break the proverbial glass ceiling.

“On our part, we wish you and KF Tirana an enriching and fulfilling experience in the UEFA Champions League, where you are bound to come across much tougher encounters, but you have already demonstrated that you have the capacity to be unflappable when the going gets tough.”

Egbo, who started his managerial career with Bylis, has been with the Albanian side since 2014 as a goalkeeping manager before he was made coach of the side in 2019.

The 46-year-old had 12 caps for the Super Eagles and was part of the team that featured at the 2000 and 2002 Africa Cup of Nations.

Former Arsenal boss Unai Emery is back in management, with La Liga outfit Villarreal confirming his appointment on a three-year contract.

The Spaniard was relieved of his duties at Emirates Stadium in November 2019 after a testing 18 months in north London.

He had been acquired by the Gunners as successor to the legendary Arsene Wenger, but found it difficult to fill big coaching shoes and deliver on expectation.

Various landing spots have been mooted for Emery since he vacated a Premier League post, with the ex-Sevilla and Paris Saint-Germain coach still held in high regard across Europe.

Villarreal have won the race for his signature, with the 48-year-old opting to take on a new challenge back his homeland.

The Yellow Submarine said in a statement on the club’s official website: “Villarreal CF has reached an agreement with Unai Emery for the Basque manager to be Yellows head coach for the next three seasons.

“Unai Emery is a well-respected coach with vast experience in football around the world, and has managed top-level clubs such as Paris Saint-German and Arsenal FC. Furthermore, he also knows La Liga perfectly, after two successful spells at Sevilla FC and Valencia CF.

“Emery started his sporting career at Lorca Deportiva, managing to get them promoted to Segunda Division. After his first managerial experience, he moved to UD Almeria, who he also got promoted. This time, it was to the top flight of Spanish football.

“In the 2007-08 season, Emery arrived at Valencia CF, the club he managed for four seasons. On the bench at Mestalla, the Basque coach finished third in La Liga on a total of three occasions, each of which saw Los Che qualify for the UEFA Champions League the following season.

“After a brief spell at Spartak Moscow, Emery returned to Spain in 2013 to take the reins at Sevilla. With the Andalusian club, he made history, winning three consecutive UEFA Europa League.

“In recent seasons, the Basque manager has been in charge of two top-level projects on the European stage.

“After his successful time at Sevilla, he moved to Paris Saint-Germain, with whom he added to his trophy cabinet, winning a Ligue 1, two Coupes de France, two Coupes de la Ligue and two French Super Cups.

“In his last role as manager, Emery took charge at Arsenal FC, with whom he was UEFA Europa League runner-up in the 2018-19 campaign.”

Villarreal ended the 2019-20 campaign with a fifth-place finish in La Liga, meaning that they will be taking part in the Europa League next season – a competition that Emery boasts a rich history in.