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Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson has led the condemnation of racist abuse aimed at Wilfried Zaha, praising the player for going public with the attack.

Ivory Coast international Zaha took to social media before Palace's Premier League encounter with Aston Villa to detail a number of messages sent to him by an individual over the platform Instagram, including numerous racial slurs and threats.

Both Palace and Villa issued statements on Twitter shortly afterwards, with the clubs pledging solidarity with the player and the latter promising to identify the nameless supporter and issue a lifetime ban.

Speaking ahead of the match, Eagles boss Hodgson offered his support to Zaha too, with the 72-year-old adding that he did not feel the subject was something that should be kept under wraps.

"I think it's important," the former England boss told Sky Sports when asked on presenting a unified front to raise awareness and combat racism.

"I think it is being highlighted very much at the moment anyway with the Black Lives Matter movement.

"Everyone seems to be making such an effort to eradicate this type of behaviour and it is very saddening that, on the day of a game, a player wakes up to this cowardly and despicable abuse.

"I think it is right that Wilfried made people aware of it, I don't think this is something you should keep quiet about.

"I think it is very good that our club and Aston Villa and the Premier League are doing everything they can to find out who this despicable individual is, and one can only hope that he will get identified and he will get called to account and that he will pay for these actions, because there is literally no excuse. There is no excuse at all.

"Obviously the reason is he wants to put off one of our best players playing well today but to do it in the way that he has chosen to do it, I think it is totally inexcusable."

In a statement posted on Twitter, Palace stated: "This is an absolute disgrace and should not be happening. We stand with you, Wilf, and anyone else who has to suffer such horrific abuse."

Villa followed up with a show of solidarity, tweeting: "We deplore the disgusting racist messages sent to [Wilfried Zaha].

"We condemn all forms of racial discrimination and stand with [Crystal Palace].

"We are working with the police in investigating this extremely serious matter and when the culprit is identified, AVFC will issue a lifetime ban."

Kaizer Chiefs football manager Bobby Motaung says if the year 2020 was meant for them, nothing will stop them from lifting the 2019/20 Premier Soccer League (PSL) title.

The Amakhosi boss was speaking after celebrating his 50th birthday a few days ago, he says their 50th anniversary is a milestone and that they have had their ups and downs as a club.

Motaung also added that life is a journey packed with challenges, suggesting that it’s the survival of the fittest in football.

“It’s in God’s hands and if it’s destined to be, it would be and if it’s not, football is about winning and losing. It’s a game,” Motaung told FARPost.

“But you fight for success. Life is the same – you fight for survival…It’s a milestone for Chiefs to reach 50 years and we’ve had our ups and downs.

“If it’s to be this year, it’s going to be.”

As things stand, coach Ernst Middendorp’s troops remain at the summit of the PSL log table with 48 points from 22 matches as the season remains halted because of the coronavirus pandemic since March.

Although they battle it out against reigning PSL champions, Mamelodi Sundowns for the league honours, Motaung’s sentiments suggest they can still lift the coveted trophy.

Meanwhile, coach Pitso Mosimane’s men sit second with 44 points but they have played 21 games and the two PSL giants are yet to meet in the second round of the campaign.

Just after parting ways with midfielder George Maluleka who recently joined the Brazilians, a number of legends believe the 31-year-old's absence could derail Chiefs' PSL title ambitions.

Sunday's MLS match between D.C. United and Toronto FC has been postponed after a player tested positive for coronavirus.

The announcement was made just minutes before it was scheduled to kick off and the league is yet to announce a new date or time for the match.

The match was called off after one D.C. United player tested positive for Covid-19, while a Toronto player's test came back inconclusive.

The players were tested the previous day but had to be checked again on Sunday morning and in the interests of health and safety the league has decided to reschedule the match.

A statement read: "Major League Soccer announced that today’s D.C. United vs. Toronto FC match has been postponed and will be rescheduled. MLS will announce details later today for the rescheduled match.

"Under the league’s health and safety protocols, clubs are tested the day before each match. The results of yesterday’s tests for D.C. United and Toronto FC produced an initial unconfirmed positive Covid-19 case for one player and an inconclusive test for another player.

"Because of the arrival time of the clubs in Orlando, the league’s protocol called for retesting both teams this morning and to await the results of those tests prior to playing the match.

"Major League Soccer will continue to prioritize the health and safety of all participants of the MLS is Back Tournament in making these decisions."

Mark Abbott, the league's deputy commissioner, explained further: ”Each team was tested the game before and two results we are re-evaluating.

"One for D.C. is a positive test, but not a final positive. With Toronto we had one that is an inconclusive test and we are re-evaluating that."

He added: "Once we receive the results of the two tests we will be in a position to know when to re-schedule the game."

The MLS is Back tournament being held in Florida has been hit hard by the ongoing pandemic since before it began on July 8.

The competition's schedule had to be changed just a day before the opening game because FC Dallas and Nashville SC were forced to withdraw after several players tested positive for Covid-19.

Borussia Dortmund have refused to comment on a viral video that purports to show Erling Haaland getting kicked out of a nightclub in Norway, although his father has since hinted it is real with a joke at his son's expense.

A video was shared on social media in the early hours of Sunday morning appearing to show the 19-year-old striker being escorted out to mild protestations.

The person believed to be Haaland seemed to eventually be led away after failing to convince nightclub security to let him back in, having reportedly set off a party popper in the venue.

There was initially some doubt in Germany over if the video was from this weekend. Haaland posted a picture on his social media on Saturday of him with a chainsaw and his father, former Leeds United player Alfie-Inge Haaland, in a rural Norway setting.

Fellow Dortmund attacking star Jadon Sancho liked and commented on the image, which said “winter is coming… let’s chop some wood”.

But Haaland’s father poked fun at his son with a tweet on Sunday afternoon, saying: “Come on Erling, back to work. Big city nightlife is not for you.”

The tweet was accompanied was Haaland Sr holding an axe and chopping wood.

Haaland scored 44 goals across all competitions in 2019-20, with the season having wrapped up for Dortmund following the conclusion of the Bundesliga season, where they finished second behind Bayern Munich.

Lucien Favre's side were knocked out of the Champions League at the last 16 stage by Paris Saint-Germain, and are next expected to feature in competitive action in September when German football returns.

However, it’s uncertain whether Haaland will still be a BVB player given his phenomenal form in the past 18 months.

He only joined Dortmund in January for €20 million (£17m/$22m) from Red Bull Salzburg, but already he has been linked with Manchester United and Real Madrid.

Any fee for the forward, whose agent is Mino Raiola, could be record-breaking given his talent and length of contract at Signal Iduna Park, which expires in 2024.

Haaland has consistently played down transfer talk in public, recently insisting: “Dortmund are one of the best teams in the world, I have signed a long contract and I have practically just arrived.

“So now I don't think about leaving at all.”

Mamelodi Sundowns utility player Thapelo Morena says Zoom sessions with the club’s physiotherapists were critical for his quick recovery.

Two days after damaging ligaments in his right ankle during a Nedbank Cup Round of 32 1-0 win over SuperSport United on February 8, Morena underwent surgery.

Sundowns’ training base at Chloorkop was then closed due to the coronavirus outbreak and most of Morena’s recovery period was spent at home, doing virtual physiotherapy sessions.

But he is now back on the football pitch although doing light training in Rustenburg where Sundowns are currently camped.

“Ja, my journey to recovery has been hectic a bit because I didn’t have the full attention of the team but I had support from the physio staff, and the team as well via Zoom,” said Morena as per Times Live.

“The doctors said to me I must just take it easy and do my level best to see when I can come back.

“Currently I’m not training full with the team. There are some activities that I do with the team and I complete everything on the side alone with the physio. But I think everything is going well and it’s been the way we’ve planned it.

“The most important thing is when your mindset is right and you are doing the right things. Mostly, I was at home with my wife and my daughter. Some of my cousins also used to come and visit. It was a bit difficult but we managed the whole situation very well.”

His worth to the club was shown when Sundowns were recently rewarded with a new five-year contract while he was busy working on his fitness.

“You know it’s very difficult for a big team, especially when a player gets injured and they have to give him a certain contract. I was very happy and very humbled with that,” Morena said.

While he was ruled out for the rest of the season, he could participate in the campaign’s remaining games if Premier Soccer League (PSL) action resumes as he hopes to be better soon.

“You know, the first day was a bit difficult, a bit tiring and demanded more from the players but I think soon everybody will be feeling much better,” he said.

Wilfried Zaha and Jordan Ayew have been named in Crystal Palace’s starting line-up against Mbwana Samatta’s Aston Villa in Sunday’s Premier League outing.

The Eagles come into this clash following Tuesday’s disappointing 3-2 home defeat to Frank Lampard’s Chelsea at Selhurst Park Stadium.

Against already-relegated Claret and Blue, they would be targeting their sixth away win this season. To achieve that, Roy Hodgson will be relying on the African duo.

Since scoring against Bournemouth – which saw him eclipse Tony Yeboah’s record as the highest-scoring Ghanaian in Premier League history, the 28-year-old has gone on a run of four games without a goal as he aims to reach double-figures for the first time in England.

Also in the Eagles’ line-up is Senegal’s Cheikhou Kouyate, while Ghana’s Jeffrey Schlupp remains frozen out of the team.

For Aston Villa, Samatta is expected to lead the line for Dean Smith’s team as well as Egypt’s Mahmoud Hassan ‘Trezeguet’.

Trezeguet’s compatriot Ahmed Elmohamady and Zimbabwe international Marvelous Nakamba will start the game from the bench.

Leroy Sane will prove a superb addition to Bayern Munich's side, according to the club's former striker Lukas Podolski, but the ex-Germany international believes that the winger has more yet to give.

Sane's move to the Bundesliga champions was confirmed at the start of this month, following well over a year of speculation that he would swap Manchester City for Bavaria, with the attacking midfielder penning a long-term deal to seal a return to his home country.

The arrival of the 24-year-old will boost an already fearsome Bayern side that sealed an eighth consecutive domestic crown earlier this year following the resumption of sport after a coronavirus-enforced lay-off and remain in contention for European glory in this season's Champions League.

Speaking ahead of the club's return to continental football next month against Chelsea - in which Sane will be unable to play any part - forward Podolski, who now plays his trade wth Antalyaspor, has backed the ex-Schalke man to impress under Hansi Flick at his new home.

However, the former Germany international - who is the nation's third-most capped player and a World Cup winner in 2014 - also added that he believes Sane still needs to earn greater success than a clutch of English domestic honours before he reaches his full potential.

"They get the best players [at Bayern] and Sane is a great player," Podolski told Sky Germany. [But] of course he still has further potential.

"He has not yet reached the top level. He still needs a bit more experience, a few more seasons. He needs to play regularly with the national team and win a European championship or a World Cup,"

Podolski further praised Flick, who guided Bayern to silverware after he arrived as a mid-season replacement for Niko Kovac, adding: "You can see how they perform under him. Hansi Flick has done a great job."

Bayern will be in Champions League action on August 8 when they host Chelsea, leading 3-0 from the first leg in February, with victory setting up a tie against either Barcelona or Napoli in the quarter-finals in Lisbon.

Former Cecafa Secretary General Nicholas Musonye has maintained his position that Kenyans do not love football.

Over the last few years, Musonye stated Kenyans only love alcohol and betting over their own football. The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) presidential aspirant said if locals have a love for their teams then AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia should not be struggling financially.

“Let me ask, do Kenyans love their football? I have no regret of saying Kenyans do not love football but love drinking alcohol and gossip more. I have no apology to make,” Musonye told Radio Jambo.

“If Harambee Stars are playing at Nyayo Stadium and only 15,000 people turn up what is that? Football is people.

“Look at our AFC Leopards vs Gor Mahia match where it has failed to attract people. Our people have immersed themselves in betting and European football.

“I said so because I want them to come back and support teams on the pitch. The best sponsor for any team is always its supporters.

“For example, if 50,000 of Gor Mahia fans turn up for a single game, that is enough and it means they would not even need another sponsor.

“If Leopards fans come and watch their matches while paying just paying 100 shillings is more than enough for the club.

“But in a Leopards match against Sofapaka, you can only be assured of 300 supporters attending. Others are hiding somewhere, drinking alcohol, betting and gossiping.”

Musonye went on to give an example of how a previous Yanga SC vs Gor Mahia match helped Cecafa pay debts from just the gate collections.

“I can remember a match pitting Yanga and Gor Mahia in the Cecafa tournament in Tanzania in the past where we ended up getting KSh30 million, you can imagine,” added the veteran administrator.

“The money helped Cecafa pay all the debts it had but were it in Kenya it would have been a different story.”

The former sports journalist went on to explain how important it is for Kenyans to regain the love for their football and that his opinion on them is not abuse but a reminder.

“I will continue fighting and telling Kenyans it is time to get back to the pitch because they are the best sponsors,” he explained.

“Without people at the stadium, our football is not going to grow at all. Sponsors will also pull out if there are no people attending matches.

“I will continue abusing Kenyans, not in a bad way, so as to convince them to get out of the bars and attend matches.

“After the match, they then can go to the bars and drink.”

Musonye states he has a strategy to bring fans back to the pitch should he be elected as FKF president. 

Wilfried Zaha called out racial abuse on Twitter as Crystal Palace prepare to take on Aston Villa in Sunday’s Premier League clash.

Despite anti-racism protests across England and Europe in response to George Floyd’s death, the Cote d’Ivoire star was the latest target.

The 27-year-old shared the tweet of a fan addressing him as a “black c**t”, while threatening to come to his house dressed as a ghost should he not score against Dean Smith’s men.

The post was accompanied by an image of the white supremacist hate group, the Ku Klux Klan.

Zaha also posted screenshots of abuse received on numerous accounts on social media.

Meanwhile, the club has reacted to the incident via their Twitter handle.

“This is an absolute disgrace and should not be happening. We stand with you, Wilf, and anyone else who has to suffer such horrific abuse,” Palace tweeted.

West Midlands police have also issued a statement, vowing to pursue the perpetrator.

“Hi Wilfried, we are looking into who the owner of this account is," the statement began, "and would encourage you to report it to your local police force too.”

This racist act comes in stark contrast to the Premier League's ongoing commitment to support the Black Lives Matter movement, with players continuing to wear the BLM logo on their kits and taking a knee at kick-off before all fixtures.

The former Manchester United man has scored four times in 34 Premier League outings this season, with his latest coming in the Eagles’ 3-2 defeat at home to Chelsea.

Following that effort, manager Roy Hodgson claimed Zaha who hit a personal best of 10 goals last season has returned to his best while backing him to maintain his new-found form.

"He's had some good games during this period and some games where I'm sure that he'll have said he can do better," Hodgson was quoted by the Standard.

"The other night he was certainly at the very, very top of his game and I see no reason why he shouldn't keep that going in the last four games.”

"I'm convinced we're going to see some very good things from him in these last 360-odd minutes,” he continued.

“I'm pretty sure also he'll be looking to try and add to that tally of goals and assists so at the end of the season he's got a bit more to show for what he's done this season."

That screamer from the Ivorian which ended his 17-game league drought was the furthest of all his previous 35 recorded in the English elite division.

Before the resumption of English football, Crystal Palace were looking for a place in the Europa League, but, successive defeats ensured that dream faded into thin air.

Currently, Roy Hodgson’s men remain 14th in the Premier League log having accrued 42 points from 34 games. Victory over already-relegated Villa will see them end the season well.

Former Inter Milan midfielder Sulley Muntari has jumped to the defence of former coach Jose Mourinho over the Portuguese's style of play which has been largely described as 'negative football'.

Mourinho, currently in charge of Tottenham Hotspur, is widely known for his defensive philosophy, a system during his time as manager of Chelsea and Inter, with whom he won the Champions League in 2010.

Muntari played under the former Real Madrid boss at Inter from 2008 to 2010.

“I really don’t buy it because I know who we are talking about here," the Black Stars told Metro FM.

"He is the leader and you need to obey what your coach tells you, and that’s what he wants from his side. So if he wants them to defend in a certain way, they have to do it.

“Every coach has his style of play and that’s the way he wants his team to play, that’s his choice.

"For instance, when he was our coach, he didn’t say anything during matches because we know what he wanted. We knew where we wanted to be, we knew we wanted to win trophies.”

Without a doubt, Muntari and Mourinho's biggest accomplishment together remains the 2010 Champions League success where they beat Bayern Munich 2-0 in the final.

"It was amazing, we still keep in touch as I speak, and we have a chat group which has the squad that won the triple at Inter Milan so we keep in touch,” Muntari said.

“It was always fun around him. He is a very principled man, he is an amazing coach. He gives you all the attention in other to perform. He doesn’t accept if you are not in good shape, you should be in good shape the whole year.

“So that’s what he gets from his players and everybody is loyal to him because he is loyal. He is very amazing."

Former Udinese and Portsmouth ace Muntari went on to play for AC Milan and Pescara in Italy, Spanish side Deportivo La Coruna and Ittihad in Saudi Arabia after his Inter adventure.

The 35-year-old is currently on the search for a new club since ending a short spell with Spanish second division fold Albacete last year.

Tottenham must move beyond their "dominant" rivalry with Arsenal if they are to rediscover their best form and challenge at the top of the Premier League table once again, according to former striker Dimitar Berbatov.

Just over a year after they finished as runners-up to Liverpool in the Champions League final in Madrid, Jose Mourinho's side could miss out entirely on European action next season as they find themselves locked in a mid-table tussle.

Having parted ways with long-term boss Mauricio Pochettino in November following a poor run of form, Spurs have won less than half of their top-flight fixtures since and trail their north London rivals by a point ahead of this weekend's derby encounter.

With a particularly congested race for continental football this term, the club face the prospect of being limited to domestic action only for the near-future, unless they can turn around their uneven fortunes.

Speaking ahead of the visit of Mikel Arteta's Gunners, Berbatov - who helped fire Juande Ramos' Tottenham side to an EFL Cup triumph at Wembley in 2008 - has admitted that Tottenham's tenure as the most successful club on their patch could come to an end if Arsenal stay ahead of them.

But the former Bulgaria captain stressed that his old club need to be aiming higher than their neighbours if they hope to resume their position in the upper echelons of English football.

“Spurs have been the ­dominant side in north ­London for some time, but that could change now," he told the Mirror .

“At the end of the day this is about pride, but you can’t forget they want to be even higher in the table. As a former player of the team and a fan, I know Spurs can do a lot better than they are at the minute, looking at the position they are in.

“Their goal shouldn’t be about competing with ­Arsenal – it should be about competing with Liverpool and Manchester City. What is the point of ­battling it out with Arsenal if you are only fighting for eighth or ninth position?

“They might finish above Arsenal, but you don’t get a trophy for that. For both teams the goal should be about qualifying for the Champions League and challenging the teams on top.”

Heading into the north London derby, Arteta's Arsenal are nine points adrift of fourth-placed Leicester City, while Mourinho's Spurs are 10 points behind.

Neither side are still competing in Europe, with Tottenham knocked out of the Champions League by RB Leipzig in March and Arsenal were knocked out of the Europa League by Olympiacos.

Former Orlando Pirates and Bidvest Wits goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs will keep his position as Ayanda Dlamini's assistant until the end of the season after being handed a contract extension. 

This was confirmed by Usuthu general manager Lunga Sokhela who said they have already reached an agreement with the Mitchells Plain-born legend. 

Josephs' initial contract with the Durban-based outfit expired at the end of June.

He then left the club's base afterwards but he's expected to return and sign on the dotted line before resuming with his duties now that the team has reported for training.    

"We've agreed with Moeneeb that he will stay on as an assistant coach to Ayanda Dlamini until the completion of the season," Sokhela told Daily Sun. 

According to Sokhela, AmaZulu will sit down with Josephs at the end of the current campaign to discuss his future. 

"At the end of the season, the club will hold talks with him," he added.   

Media reports emerged last week that Usuthu wanted Josephs to take up the role of assistant coach on a permanent basis, meaning the goalkeeper may be forced to retire from professional football.

However, that's the decision Josephs still has to make and that will depend on whether or not the club believes in his combination with Dlamini. 

As things stand, Josephs is registered as a goalkeeper and an assistant coach by Usuthu. 

The pair were handed the job following Jozef Vukusic's suspension due to a series of poor results earlier this year. 

The future of Vukusic is far from being resolved but both Dlamini and Josephs know they at least have their jobs secured for the next two months or so. 

They got their tenure off to a flying start when Usuthu stunned Kaizer Chiefs 1-0 before the lockdown in March.

AmaZulu are under immense pressure to avoid relegation in the remaining matches of the season which are likely to be completed in the Gauteng province by August 31. 

They are three points above bottom-placed Black Leopards after managing just 23 points from 24 league matches thus far. 

Should both Josephs and Dlamini help the club retain its PSL status, chances are that they could be given another season to prove themselves as coaches.

Former Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Jackson Mabokgwane says an inconsistent policy of switching the number one role pushed him out of the Soweto giants.

After arriving at Pirates at the beginning of the 2016/17 season, Mabokgwane was met with competition from Brighton Mhlongo, Siyabonga Mpontshane and Equatorial Guinea international Filipe Ovono.

Then Wayne Sandilands was signed the following season in a move that stiffened competition for Mabokgwane.

After managing just three Premier Soccer League (PSL) games last term while working under goalkeeper coach Andrew Sparkes who is now at Premier League side Southampton, Mabokgwane decided not to renew his Pirates contract.

“There was a lot of rotation, they were never really sure who was their number. Only this season they have decided that Sandilands is their number one but my whole three years at the club, we shared, there was just rotation going on the whole time,” Far Post quoted Mabokgwane as having told iDiski TV.

“At the time when I was there, there was no clear number one and that affected me because I wanted to play as the number one and to be consistent and to grow but with the quality that is there you cannot really blame the rotation system that happens because if a team has too much quality and you don’t play so well you will be dropped as somebody else is waiting and that’s what happened.

“So I cannot really blame anyone because if it meant I was supposed to play 100 percent performances each and every game for me to play 30 games then that’s what it was expected and if I didn’t achieve that, I couldn’t perform at a 100 percent every single match and then I was dropped, that’s unfortunate and I had to accept.

“If you keep clean sheets and win Man of the Match awards every game, then they won’t change you and unfortunately, I didn’t do that. When my contract ended, we sat and agreed to part ways.”

At Bloemfontein Celtic, he has Sipho Chaine and South Africa national Under-23 goalkeeper Mondli Mpoto to contend with for a starting place.

He arrived at the Free State province side to find the two already there and has managed take over as the first-choice goalkeeper also thanks to the departure of Patrick Tignyemb.

The 32-year-old has managed to feature in 19 league games, keeping five clean sheets this season and declares that he still has unfinished business with the South Africa national team which he last played for in 2016.

“I am just looking forward to putting in the performances and go back to Bafana Bafana, complete my career by playing a few seasons overseas, I still have a long way to go, I’m just getting started,” said Mabokgwane.

Coach Mussa Hassan Mgosi has taken a jibe at Yanga SC saying their quality is too low for Simba SC and the best they can do is try and find a way to play Simba Queens in the FA Cup.

The former striker is in charge of the Msimbazi based women's team and on Friday he helped them to a 5-1 win against Yanga Princess in a game played at Uhuru Stadium. 

"Simba showed top quality when they played Azam FC [in the 2-0 win]," Mgosi told Mwanaspoti regarding the Wekundu wa Msimbazi win over the holders in the FA Cup quarter-finals.

"If I was a Yanga official, a walkover would have been the best thing to do, or maybe write to Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) and request to play Simba Queens instead of their male counterparts."

The 34-year-old believes the Tanzania Mainland League champions will dominate the proceedings in the Kariakoo Derby and Timu ya Wananchi fans will leave early.

"I do not see any chance of Yanga defeating Simba in this game," Mgosi continued.

"All I understand is that Simba mean business and will be aiming at dominating and getting early goals. If they maintain their technique and play as planned, I am sure Yanga fans will leave the stadium early.

"Now to avoid that from happening, Yanga should play with Simba Queens."

The Kariakoo Derby will be played at the National Stadium from 5 pm with the winners advancing to the final where they play Namungo who beat Sahare All-Stars by a solitary goal on Saturday.

Earlier on, the Tanzanian government confirmed only 30,000 tickets will be available for the derby to be played at National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

"Covid-19 is not completely eradicated in the country that is why we still need to take precautions hence 30,000 is a good number during this period," the Government's Director of Information, Culture, Arts, and Sports Yusuph Singo said. 

"Those who will not have tickets should just remain in their homes and watch the game via television since we will not allow people to congregate outside the venue and we will have enough security personnel to facilitate that."

The government also increased ticket prices for the fans keen to watch the derby with VIP A, B, and C tickets going for 30,000/-, 25,000/- and 20,000/-, respectively, while those who will occupy ordinary seats will pay 10,000/-.

"We hope the Covid-19 pandemic will end soon and after that then normal attendance will be allowed," Singo concluded.

Kelechi Iheanacho has stressed that Leicester City are still on course for a top-four finish in the Premier League, throwing down the gauntlet to Manchester United.

The Foxes have won just one of their last five games in the English top-flight since football returned in England owing to a hiatus caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

A consequence that has seen them drop to fourth behind Manchester City and Frank Lampard’s Chelsea.

In sharp contrast, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men have impressed, winning four of their last five Premier League games as they continue their bid for a ticket to next season’s Champions League.

Nevertheless, the Nigeria international stated that his King Power Stadium outfit can still finish above the Red Devils who have slashed their eight-point lead to one, claiming his side is unfazed by their red-hot form.

"The race is on. Anyone can get into the top four, anyone can get into the top six,” Iheanacho told Sky Sports.

"Bruno [Fernandes] is a top player. They've got Marcus Rashford and Paul Pogba back in the team now.

“They're flying. But that's not what we need to worry about. We just need to focus on our games."

Iheanacho also reflected on his time at Manchester City, where he had the best goals-to-minutes ratio of any player in the English elite division, disclosing the lure of regular starts led to his £25m move to Leicester in 2017.

"My Premier League debut was against Watford in 2015. I got a few minutes or so. It was truly heart-warming. So nice, being young and then scoring goals,” he continued.

"There are young players doing well now and I'm happy for them, like Phil Foden and Mason Greenwood. You never know how it really feels until you start getting older and understand more.

"Everybody wants to play. No one wants to sit on the bench."

With five goals from 17 games so far this term, the 23-year-old is expected to be on parade when Rodgers’ men take on relegation-threatened Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Sunday evening, with the Cherries in dire need of a win to keep their battle against the drop alive.

FIFA 21 will arrive on consoles in October, boasting the best graphics and realism in the franchise's history.

EA Sports usually shows the game's graphical power through FIFA's story modes, with The Journey and Volta Football offering gamers the chance to progress through a narrative by starting at the bottom and working their way to the top in the past.

But will both game modes be on the latest edition? Goal brings you all you need to know.

Will The Journey be in FIFA 21?

The Journey was the major storyline-based game mode launched in FIFA 17 where users played as fictional footballer Alex Hunter, playing in trials before being signed to a Premier League team and eventually winning caps for England.

The second instalment of The Journey arrived in FIFA 18, titled 'Hunter Returns' and saw the hero move to the United States to play in Major League Soccer before returning to Europe to join Atletico Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain or Bayern Munich.

The final part of the trilogy was called 'Champions' and tied in with EA Sports acquiring the license for the Champions League and Europa League. The story concludes with Hunter playing in the Champions League final against childhood friend Danny Williams.

As of now, there are no plans to bring the Journey back for future versions of FIFA, but Hunter and Williams both had cameos in Volta Football in FIFA 20.

Will Volta Football be in FIFA 21?

The Journey was replaced by Volta Football in FIFA 20, which combined the storyline aspects of the previous games while also incorporating indoor and small-sided games from the FIFA Street series.

In the original Volta Football story, users played as a street footballer called Revvy who had aspirations of becoming a world champion. As well as the Volta Football story mode, four- and five-a-side matches could be played individually using custom players or real-life footballers.

EA Sports has confirmed that Volta Football will return in FIFA 21 and it is expected to have a new storyline, continuing on from where the action left off at the end of FIFA 20.

What changes will Volta Football have in FIFA 21?

So far, changes and updates to Volta Football have been a closely guarded secret by EA Sports, but a new storyline is set to be announced as a sequel to the story in FIFA 20.

More venues and pitches are expected to be revealed, as well as gameplay improvements and new objectives.

Many FIFA fans are hoping that FIFA 21 will add an online mode to Volta and even the option to play Volta Football using Pro Clubs.

Full details about FIFA 21 Volta Football will be announced in August 2020.

What other game modes will FIFA 21 have?

The release trailer and initial game announcement did not reveal any new game modes for FIFA 21, but did show a host of graphical and game experience upgrades, particularly on the next generation of consoles, the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5.

These include haptic feedback through the controller, more realistic lighting and player movement, immersive stadium sounds and weather detail.

Details on updates to existing game modes like FIFA Ultimate Team (FUT) and Career Mode will be revealed in August 2020.

FIFA 21 will be released worldwide on October 9, 2020.

Rwandan top tier side AS Kigali have reached an agreement with its players to reduce salaries by 50%.

According to the club’s secretary-general Francis Gasana, the negotiations and final decision was taken to help assist AS Kigali’s financial health that has been heavily impacted by the coronavirus outbreak.

AS Kigali is one of the clubs which had not taken a decision to reduce or suspend the players' salaries initially.

The Rwanda Football Federation (Ferwafa) suspended the leagues in March before it cancelled them in May which means the players have not been on the pitch for the last four months.

“We have reached an agreement with players and technical staff for the [50 per cent] pay cut because they have been out of action – no training of matches – since March,” Gasana told The New Times.

"We will pay them their full salaries and bonuses when full training resumes.

“The financial predicament caused by the pandemic also hit us, we are looking into ways of dealing with its impact on the life of the club and our survival post-coronavirus.”

With the coronavirus restrictions still active, sport might be allowed to resume fully in August as Gasana acknowledges there will be dire consequences on football from the pandemic.

Meanwhile, AS Kigali have appointed Corneille Hakizimana as the second assistant coach. Hakizimana has filled the void that was left by Ismael Nshutinamagara who is said to have quit the club without prior notice.

It is reported Nshutinamagara, a former APR striker, left for Canada just before the outbreak of the coronavirus where he has settled already.

“We wrote to him asking about his absence and if he intended to come back, but he never responded. We took it as leaving his job without notice and appointed a replacement,” the Secretary-General told the same publication.

“Corneille [Hakizimana] is our new fitness coach.”

Hakizimana has previously been on the books of AS Kigali’s rivals Rayon Sports as an assistant coach.

Finally, Isaie Songa has joined Etincelles FC from Police FC.

The New Times reports the striker has made the move and will remain at Police for two seasons.

Songa had been with the Police side for the last five years and helped them win the 2015 Peace Cup, before he made the July 11 move.

Barcelona have confirmed Antoine Griezmann has suffered a muscle injury and will could miss the remainder of their La Liga campaign.

The 29-year-old forward started for Quique Setien's team as they beat Real Valladolid 1-0 on Saturday, but he had to be replaced at half-time, with Luis Suarez coming on to partner Lionel Messi up front.

Setien confirmed after the game that the France international had asked to come off because he was feeling some discomfort after the first half.

Griezmann had to undergo scans on his right leg on Sunday which revealed he had suffered an injury and the Catalan side are unsure how long he will be kept out of action.

"Tests this morning have shown that first-team player Antoine Griezmann has a muscle injury in the quadriceps of his right leg," a statement on the club's website confirmed. 

"He is therefore not available for selection at the present time and the evolution of the injury will condition his availability."

Griezmann will at least be unavailable for Thursday's match against Osasuna, but will likely miss the final clash with Deportivo Alaves on July 19.

Griezmann, who joined the Camp Nou outfit from Atletico Madrid last summer, has scored nine goals in 35 appearances in La Liga this term.

The attacker's injury will likely see Suarez return to the starting XI for the last two matches, as Setien confirmed on Saturday that he was just being rested after playing five games in a row.

The Catalan side are second in the Spanish top-flight and trail leaders Real Madrid by one point.

Barca will then turn their attention to their Champions League campaign, which resumes on August 8 when they face Napoli in the second leg of their last-16 tie.

The two sides drew 1-1 in the first match in Italy in Febraury before the competition was suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Jose Mourinho hopes to instil a winning mentality in Tottenham as they gear up for Sunday's derby clash with Arsenal.

The Portuguese coach took charge of the north London side in November, replacing Mauricio Pochettino at the helm following a dismal start to the season despite reaching the Champions League final last term.

Spurs' struggles are not yet over, however, as they sit 10th in the Premier League and have been eliminated from all other competitions.

The former Chelsea, Manchester United and Real Madrid boss admits it will take time to get Tottenham playing the way he wants, but he is determined to turn them into a real Mourinho side.  

"I want the team to be a reflection of what the coach is. When that happens, that's when you feel: 'This is really my team.'," he told Sky Sports.

"This is something that is not a finger click. It's a process. But if you have that feeling that it is your team even when you lose matches - because you will always lose matches - then that is when you are really happy."

He continued: "To come mid-season to a team in this situation is not easy. 

"I think it's good, in relation to next season, because it helps you to prepare.

"But for the moment it's not a very easy situation, especially for myself as this is only the second time I have done it in my career."

Tottenham are a point behind Arsenal heading into Sunday's clash with Mikel Arteta's team.

They have not finished below their local rivals in the table since the 2015-16 campaign and Mourinho says he and his team are fired up for the first north London derby of his tenure.

"When I am in a club, I like to be one of them and I like to feel what my people feel," he added.

"It's a new feeling for me when I move from club to club, but I learn that feeling very, very fast. I would say that the moment I put my foot in a club for the first time, I learn it automatically.

"So yes, I am one of them. In this case, one of us, which is Tottenham people. What is important for the fans is important for me.

"When I go to a derby as Inter manager, I know what it means for them. When I go as Real Madrid manager, I know what it means for them. And when I go as Tottenham manager, I know what it means for them.

"They can count on me to have exactly the same feelings, the same desire and the same passion that they have.

"When you are a player or a coach of a certain team, it cannot just be a job for you. You must have a sense of duty and a responsibility towards the people who love your club.

"For me, my club, my passion, my love, is the club where I am. In this moment, if you ask me if I know how important it is for Tottenham fans to look at their biggest rivals, then of course I know it and of course I share it."