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Former South Africa forward Benni McCarthy says his four goals against Namibia at the 1998 Africa Cup of Nations finals were inspired by the grudge he held against the fellow Southern Africans whose supporters had taunted him earlier.

A first-half 14-minute goal blitz by McCarthy saw Bafana Bafana beat Namibia 4-1 to complete their Group C campaign in style on their way to the final of the tournament held in Burkina Faso.

But a few weeks before, South Africa had been stunned 3-2 by Namibia in a Cosafa Cup qualifying round match in Windhoek, in what was McCarthy’s full national team debut after making his maiden appearance against the Netherlands in June 1997.

During that match in Windhoek, McCarthy was inundated with “banana” chants which angered him before plotting his revenge in Burkina Faso.

“But for me, it was more of a grudge match because I made my debut coming on as a substitute against Holland, under Clive Barker, when we lost 2-0 at FNB Stadium [in June 1997], with a cameo for a few minutes,” said McCarthy as per Sowetan Live.

“I had a pretty special game [Cosafa match against Namibia], with an assist for ‘Chippa’ [Phil Masinga], but unfortunately we lost. And I remember the celebrations of the Namibians because they had beaten us. And the whole stadium sang this song, ‘Banana Banana’.

“That game was just the curtain-raiser for the Afcon for us. And I said to myself, ‘If I’m in that Afcon squad then I’m going to make them eat their words, those bastards’.”

South Africa drew 0-0 with Angola in their Afcon opening match, before a 1-1 draw with Ivory Coast, making their final group match against Namibia a decider. McCarthy had missed the Ivory Coast match due to injury.

“We needed to win against Namibia, so I just told Jomo [Sono then Bafana coach] that I would take an injection because I really wanted to play, and I wanted to shove those ‘Banana Bananas’ that they called us down their throats,” McCarthy said.

“Come the game I was psyched up. I had a nice strapped ankle and I genuinely couldn’t feel the pain. As the game went on that was the only thing in my mind — ‘Banana Banana, Banana Banana’. And every goal that went in I kept singing to myself, ‘Banana Banana, Banana Banana’.

“The game finished, and I had scored the four goals, which was incredible and I was so jubilant.”

To make it sink into the Namibians, McCarthy then declined to exchange his shirt with the Namibian players after the match.

“And shame, even now when I think about it I was a bit of an a**hole to the Namibian players at the end because every one of them came up and wanted my shirt,” McCarthy said.

“And I said, ‘I ain't giving my shirt to you — you were singing Banana Banana’. So that was for me what was behind that performance. Just getting them back for calling us Banana Banana.”

The former FC Porto and West Ham United man then finished the 1998 Afcon tournament as joint top goalscorer with Egypt’s Hossam Hassan, each having managed seven goals with Bafana losing the final to the Pharaohs.

Victor Osimhen "is precisely the type of footballer that Napoli needs", according to Dries Mertens, who has backed the club to bring in the Lille striker this summer.

Few could have predicted the impact that Osimhen would have in Ligue 1 when he arrived at Lille from Charleroi for €12 million (£11m/$13m) in August 2019.

The 21-year-old was targeted after the departure of club talisman Nicolas Pepe, who completed a £72 million ($90m) move to Arsenal after an outstanding season at Stade Pierre Mauroy.

Osimhen has filled Pepe's boots admirably, scoring 18 goals in his first 38 appearances in all competitions to help Lille finish fourth in Ligue 1, while also competing in the Champions League.

The Nigerian frontman's performances have not gone unnoticed among Europe's elite clubs, with the likes of Juventus, Napoli, Liverpool and Tottenham among those taking an interest in his services in recent months.

Napoli are reportedly leading the race for Osimhen's signature, with the Lille star's agent confirming he has already been in contact with the Italian giants over a potential move.

Mertens would welcome the talented forward's arrival at Stadio San Paolo, having been made aware of his unique abilities while he was still on the books of Charleroi.

"My friends from Charleroi told me how well he played before going to France," the Napoli talisman told Il Mattino. "I don't know if he will come, but in any case, he is precisely the type of footballer that Napoli needs."

Mertens went on to express his hope that Jose Callejon remains at Napoli beyond the end of the season, with the midfielder's current contract set to expire this summer.

The 33-year-old added on his team-mate's future: "I tried to convince him to stay, and I'm still trying, I'm not giving up. Losing a friend like him would be sorry but also giving up a teammate and an extraordinary professional like Jose is not easy. I don't know what will happen. There's still time."

Napoli have been in good form since the resumption of the Italian season in early June, winning two of their three Serie A fixtures after beating Juventus in the Coppa Italia final.

Mertens is hoping Gennaro Gattuso's men can build on that platform to reach even greater heights in the coming years.

He said: "I am convinced that the victory in the Italian Cup is the starting point of a project that will bring us success. I really believe that the gap to Juventus is minimal, much less than what the current standings say."

Merseyside Police have instructed Liverpool supports to stay away from Anfield and the surrounding area during and after the Reds’ Premier League clash with Aston Villa on Sunday.

Jurgen Klopp and his side ended a 30-year wait for the title as Manchester City’s loss to Chelsea on June 25 pushed them over the finishing line, sparking wild celebrations in the Merseyside city.

However, with the coronavirus pandemic still very much an active threat, these scenes were widely condemned and the local constabulary are hoping to avoid similar incidents as the champions play their first home match since their first Premier League crown was secured.

"Please DO NOT come to the ground," Merseyside Police tweeted. "We are ALL living and working in unprecedented times. The players want your support but ONLY from home.

"Covid has NOT gone away. NOBODY wants another lockdown. Do the right thing and watch the game with your Sunday roast."

Since Liverpool clinched the title, pubs in England have opened, exacerbating fears that fans may congregate in the area around the historic ground, particularly after the Police Federation said it is “crystal clear” that people under the influence of alcohol will not follow social distancing guidelines.

The club have also sent out a message via LFCTV , in which young people who stay around the ground were showcased.

In their first fixture since winning the title, the Reds were routed 4-0 by second-placed Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, slumping to a 3-0 deficit at half-time as they struggled to show the qualities that had seen them win the division with a record number of matches to spare.

Although Klopp has indicated that he is liable to rotate his side in the weeks ahead in order to give the younger players in his ranks the opportunity to earn a Premier League medal – even stating he would give away his own if need be – he will be hopeful that his team will bounce back against an opponent that find themselves at the opposite end of the table.

The Reds can still accumulate a record number of points in the league, with Manchester City’s 100, achieved in the 2017-18 campaign, their target. If they win their remaining six games, they will hit 104.

Former Orlando Pirates striker Jerry Sikhosana has opened up about his love-hate relationship with Kaizer Chiefs. 

Sikhosana used to give Amakhosi a torrid time during his playing days, and he remains the last player to have scored a hat-trick in a Soweto Derby. 

"By the way, I am a Kaizer Chiefs fan but there's one incident that made me want to give all whenever I played against Chiefs," Sikhosana told Lesedi FM. 

"When I was playing school sports, Sadaam Maake, their No.1 supporters from Tembisa, organise a meeting with Kaizer Motaung because he apparently raved about me to him and wanted the club to sign me - that was before I turned professional," he recalled. 

"We got there, and we were told that Kaizer Motaung was in a meeting and we waited for him. He came out of that meeting and we met him. 

"Surprisingly, our meeting took five minutes, and he said to me, 'Jerry, don't call me, I will call you' and I am still waiting for that call even today," he continued.  

Sikhosana, 51, said Motaung still reminds him of that painful meeting every time they meet even though he has long retired from professional football.  

"And he (Motaung) knows that story because whenever we meet, he still asks, 'Jerry, are you still waiting for my call?" 

"So, that was the reason I hated playing against Chiefs although I loved the club. I wanted to show them Bra Kaizer what he could have had at his club." 

Sikhosana further revealed his mother would be angry every time he scored for Pirates against Chiefs because she also supported the Naturena-based side.  

"Even my mom would be angry every time I score against Chiefs because she was also their big fan," added Sikhosana.      

The former South Africa international is one of the many former players who played for teams they never grew up supporting. 

Benni McCarthy is another player who turned out for Pirates even though he grew up supporting Amakhosi. 

Sikhosana's late friend, Isaac Shakes Kungwane supported the Buccaneers but he played for the Glamour Boys among other teams.  

Danny Rose has admitted that his "days are numbered" at Tottenham, and that he knew he "wasn't needed" at the club anymore after Mauricio Pochettino's departure.

Rose joined Spurs from Leeds as a teenager in 2007, and has since racked up 214 appearances for the club in all competitions, scoring 10 goals.

The England international enjoyed the best spell of his career to date under Pochettino's stewardship between 2014 and 2019, as the Lilywhites became Premier League title contenders and Champions League finalists.

However, the 30-year-old found himself on the fringes of the action after Jose Mourinho was drafted in to replace the Argentine in November and was subsequently sent out on loan to Newcastle in the January transfer window.

Rose still has one year left to run on his current contract at Tottenham, but is now determined to extend his stay at St James' Park after accepting his lengthy spell in north London has already drawn to a close.

Ahead of Newcastle's clash with West Ham on Sunday, the left-back wrote in the club's official matchday programme notes: “First and foremost, I am playing for my future. I don't think I need a bigger motivation than that. I have settled in very well, I love the lads, and staff and the fans.

“It doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out that my days are numbered at Spurs. I am playing for my future – no bigger motivation.

“It is probably the first time in my career I have been in this situation – never have I been down to less than one year on my contract – so it's a new experience for me.”

Rose added on how quickly he became aware that he wasn't going to play a key role in Mourinho's plans at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium: "It's not enjoyable that you are training and you know you're not going to be playing at the weekend. That's difficult. When my old manager lost his job, that was pretty much the end for me.

“I spent November not playing, December not playing, and then I joined here in January. It was very frustrating. I wasn't needed in the manager's plans at the moment in Tottenham.”

Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has offered his support to financially hit Schalke, praising their qualities of youth development and stating that they could have been Bundesliga champions had they not sold their talented academy products.

Bayern wrapped the German domestic season up on Saturday by winning a second double in succession as they overcame Bayer Leverkusen 4-2 in the DFB-Pokal final, but Schalke had a more modest finish of 12th.

While there was little danger of relegation, they face an arguably greater problem for their long-term health due to economic issues brought on by the coronavirus crisis, which saw no professional football played in Germany for three months and the season finishing behind closed doors.

They suffered a further blow with Manchester City’s €49 million (£44.7m/$55m) sale of Leroy Sane to Bayern as they missed out on a sell-on profit after City had bought him for €50m in 2016. 

With the likes of Mesut Ozil, Manuel Neuer and Ilkay Gundogan having also come through their ranks recently, they have been prolific producers of fine young players, though they have not been able to capitalise fully upon it.

“The pool of players to have come through their youth teams is one of the best in all of Germany,” Rummenigge recognised in an interview with Sport1 . “Schalke could have been German champions in the meantime if they could have kept the many players who they have trained well in their youth division.

“The fact is that they have always sold very promising players, such as Leroy Sane to Manchester City in 2016, to meet their financial needs.”

Rummenigge said that while Schalke might once have hoped Sane would be sold for a fee in excess of €100m, recent events mean that was never likely to be on the cards.

“A year ago, the transfer sums still had another dimension, but this year prices seem to be on a more rational scale,” he said.

“Nobody wants to be pitied. With a new concept, a new spirit and the necessary patience, Schalke will find their way back to their old strength. They are one of the traditional clubs in Germany and an important part of the Bundesliga.”

He also reacted to reports that Schalke will put in a self-imposed salary cap of €2.5 million per player next season.

“Every club has to find its own philosophy. The salary structure of the team is an extremely sensitive one,” he said.

Sergio Ramos was Real Madrid's penalty hero for the second time in four days as a 1-0 win at Athletic Bilbao sent the LaLiga leaders seven points clear.

Zinedine Zidane's men have been flawless since the season's restart to claim control of the title rice, but they were given a stern test by Getafe on Thursday and again had their work cut out for a time on Sunday.

Yet as against Getafe, Ramos stepped up to net a second-half penalty and secure all three points in Bilbao, with his latest decisive goal coming after Dani Garcia tripped Marcelo in the area to prompt a VAR review.

A seventh straight victory ensured Madrid made the most of playing before rivals Barcelona, who will kick-off at Villarreal later in the day knowing they have an even more significant gap to make up.

Madrid recalled Marco Asensio for his first start of the season in a move which almost brought immediate reward.

The fit-again forward drew a low save from a fourth-minute free-kick, with Karim Benzema then unable to direct his header goalwards when Dani Carvajal squared the rebound.

That was about the extent of Athletic goalkeeper Unai Simon's involvement before half-time, while Thibaut Courtois repelled Raul Garcia's powerful header at the other end.

Simon might have had a far greater role to play, though, as both Rodrygo and Benzema squandered huge headed opportunities from searching Asensio centres, each missing the target completely.

The second period appeared set to play out in similarly frustrating fashion for Madrid until Marcelo went down in the area and a penalty was eventually awarded, with Ramos coolly tucking his finish inside the left-hand post in the 73rd minute.

Simon saved smartly with his legs from Benzema in the closing stages, but the one Ramos goal proved enough for Madrid again.

What does it mean? Madrid unscathed after testing week

Madrid have not been quite as stylish in their past two matches as in earlier performances, but Getafe and Athletic provided potentially tricky opponents.

In both games, Los Blancos had to rely on late penalties. But given the relatively kind fixtures to come, it was crucial Zidane's side simply collected the points in any way possible. They are well on course for the title now.

Asensio deserves assist

This has been a difficult season for Asensio due to injury, but he might yet have a key role to play in the run-in.

The Spain international was involved from the outset at San Mames and twice was let down by team-mates following fine crosses. His deliveries for Rodrygo and Benzema were begging to be nodded in.

Ramos rash at the back

Ramos has now scored five massive goals in the past month, but his work at the other end of the pitch was of slight concern in Sunday's first half.

The centre-back was grateful to an offside flag following an awful early slip that let in Inaki Williams, who soon profited from some more hopeless defending on halfway. Eder Militao stepped in superbly on that occasion and often battled Williams alone.

What's next?

After a couple of tough tests in quick succession, Madrid will welcome the opportunity to rest until Friday when they host out-of-form Deportivo Alaves. Bilbao's next encounter is a home clash with Sevilla on Thursday.

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has singled out three men to thank the most for this season's Premier League title triumph.

The Reds were crowned champions of England for the first time in 30 years when Chelsea beat Manchester City 2-1 at Stamford Bridge on June 25. That result gave Jurgen Klopp's side an unassailable 23 point lead at the top of the table with seven matches to spare, a feat which has never before been achieved.

City reduced that gap to 20 by beating Liverpool 4-0 at Etihad Stadium on Thursday, but a new points record could still be achieved if the Merseyside outfit win at least five of their remaining games.

Ahead of their latest outing against Aston Villa, Henderson took up some room in the club's official matchday programme to show his appreciation to the key figures that inspired him to become a Premier League-winning skipper.

The England international began by thanking Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish, who was seen celebrating at home with a glass of champagne shortly after their coronation was confirmed.

Henderson said: “I could fill the entire programme listing people I am grateful to and, by the way, none more so than all my current teammates, the gaffer, his direct staff and the unreal club staff, who we don’t get to see as much of, but there are three people whose contribution to me personally here at Liverpool I want to highlight and thank.

“Firstly, Sir Kenny Dalglish. One of the things that set me off on the night we won it was seeing Kenny on TV immediately after and how emotional he was. Along with Damien Comolli, to whom I will also be forever grateful, Kenny is the reason I got the opportunity to play for this amazing club."

The next man on Henderson's list was Brendan Rodgers - the man who made way for Klopp back in 2015 after three years in charge of the first team.

The 30-year-old said: “Secondly, is Brendan Rodgers. I think on the outside Brendan probably isn’t given the credit he deserves for the role he played in our journey as a club, but I know on the inside, from people who know and understand, it’s hugely appreciated. You only have to listen to our gaffer now speak."

Henderson concluded by expressing his gratitude towards Liverpool's former captain Steven Gerrard, insisting the legendary playmaker was the main reason he signed for the club in the first place.

He continued: “Thirdly, is Steven Gerrard. It’s impossible to sum up the importance of Stevie to the modern Liverpool and what we are achieving together now.

"If you speak to every player in our dressing room – from the oldest to the youngest – they’ll all tell you that following in the footsteps of Steven Gerrard was a massive factor in wanting to sign for this club. It was for me, and I was lucky to play alongside him for club and country."

Gor Mahia organising secretary Judith Nyangi has lauded AFC Leopards chairman Dan Shikanda.

The Gor Mahia official believes Shikanda has got it right at Leopards and that is why the fans have developed trust in his leadership.

Shikanda has been in office for slightly more than a year now and has managed to convince the fans to stand by the team as far as financial issues are concerned.

AFC Leopards fans contributed to the team's coffers via a pay bill number during the season and enabled the club to honour their matches, especially the away ones.

“Look at what [Dan] Shikanda is doing at AFC Leopards. Due to goodwill fans are ready to contribute money because they have trust in his leadership,” Nyangi told Radio Jambo.

“If Gor Mahia fans can be ready to contribute money I am sure we may not even need a sponsor. And if a sponsor comes on board they will find us already in financial stability.

“We should not be beggars.”

Nyangi believes Gor Mahia can post more success if the fans develop some trust in the club's management as she believes AFC Leopards have done.

“I have interacted with the fans and got to understand that they need officials they can have trust in them,” added Nyangi, who vying for the post of the honorary treasurer in the August 8 elections. 

“We have a lot of fans but they will not give out their money to support the club because they are not satisfied with the current leadership," Nyangi continued.

“We have been asking fans to fill the stadiums so that we can get a little money for players but one is astonished that has not been happening instead the club is plunging into more debts.

“Leadership just needs goodwill and closeness to the fans.”

Concerning the election requirements, Nyangi had revealed her dissatisfaction with the need for contestants to possess a degree.

“Qualifications can only be asked for people who want to be employed by the club like the chief executive officer and the finance manager,” she said in an interview.

“When one is elected, he is elected to do a job on behalf of the members. Some people are not happy to see me there because they want to turn Gor Mahia into a club of a certain class of people.”

The posts of chairman, vice-chairman, general secretary, and honorary treasurer are the only contestable positions in the upcoming August polls.

Tanguy Ndombele "will be a success" at Tottenham according to Moussa Sissoko, who has backed his team-mate to win over Jose Mourinho.

Spurs forked out a club-record fee of £63 million ($79m) to lure Ndombele to England from Lyon in July 2019.

The 23-year-old was linked with a number of top European clubs, including Manchester City and Manchester United, before signing a six-year contract with the London club.

The Frenchman carved out a fearsome reputation as an all-action midfielder capable of dominating matches in the middle of the pitch at Lyon, and it was suggested that his qualities were ideally suited to the Premier League.

However, Ndombele's debut season at Tottenham has been underwhelming, with Mourinho publicly admitting he expects more from a prized asset after a 1-1 draw with Burnley in March .

It has also been reported that the two men have fallen out behind the scenes, leading to question marks over Ndombele's future in north London.

Mourinho has denied having any issue with the former Lyon star, while insisting he still has the "talent" to turn his career at Spurs around.

However, Barcelona have been credited with an interest in Ndombele ahead of the summer transfer window, and speculation is likely to increase in the coming weeks unless he is restored to Mourinho's starting line up.

Despite the fact that his international colleague has struggled to settle in at Tottenham, Sissoko is confident that he will stay put and justify the club's initial investment in the long-term.

"Maybe because I am like his big brother, I am a good example because nothing was easy for me at the beginning," the Spurs star told  The Guardian .

"Tanguy's first season has not been easy for a lot of reasons, but I speak with him nearly every day. I play with him in the national team, so I know him very well.

"I told him just to stay calm, keep working every day and his time will come. I just worked very hard at training [when times were tough at Spurs] and things changed.

"We all believe in Tanguy's quality. He has come to another country, another culture, another style of football, another league, he doesn't speak the language - so there are a lot of things.

"I am sure he will be a success at the club."

KCCA FC midfielder Ibrahim Saddam Juma states it is a sad moment to see his long-time friend Mike Mutyaba retire at an early age.

The 29-year-old Uganda international announced he is retiring after the doctor's advise owing to his heart condition.

His former teammate believes Mutyaba's absence is a disappointing one because he still had a lot to offer in football.

"It was a sad moment seeing [Mutyaba] announce retirement because of health issues yet he still had a lot to offer the game," Juma said as quoted by Sports Nation.

"[Initially] I talked to him and he came back, but it is sad he is retiring because of similar issues. "

The 26-year-old has played with Mutyaba at Vipers SC, Express and KCCA and elaborated on his experiences with the player.

"First of all his [Mutyaba] talent will be missed," Juma recalled

"[He] is the most talented and skilful player I have grown up with, his talent will be dearly missed in the league most especially to the young talent at the team and in the league because his experience adds a lot to them. He added a lot to the dressing room.

"As a player, I felt happy when we reunited at KCCA FC because I was with him at Bunamwaya [Vipers], and Express where he announced retirement in 2017 before his comeback.  

"[Mutyaba] retirement came a little bit early, He is my only football friend and I wish him success in his future endeavours but we will miss him as a player because of his football knowledge."

The forward was known for his discipline and young players have been urged to follow his example.

"Young players need to be determined, never to give up and discipline was key for him and he never undermined anyone at any level," Juma concluded.

Mutyaba, whose contract ran down on June 30, has been at KCCA for the last five years and managed to win three league titles, two Uganda Cup trophies and the Cecafa Kagame Cup in 2019.  

KCCA finished second in the abandoned 2019/20 Ugandan Premier League and won a ticket to represent the nation in the Caf Confederation Cup.

Vipers SC will represent Uganda in Caf Champions League after being crowned as champions.
   

Tanzania coach Etienne Ndayiragije says he is focused on checking the individual skills of local players in the Mainland Premier League to help him build a strong national team.

The Burundian tactician has revealed he is already satisfied with the performances of players in the top-flight since it resumed on June 13 but maintained his main focus now was on individual development.

“As you know, most of the teams which are doing well in the country have a mixture of foreign-based players as such, for me, I cannot hail the success of the entire team but rather how Tanzanians in such teams are performing,” Ndayiragije is quoted by Daily News.

“I congratulate Simba for being the champions but my concern is not on them but the work rate of domestic players in the team.”

Ndayiragije further pointed out that he was a keen supporter of foreign players playing in the local league because they give challenges to the domestic players to do even better.

“At the moment, I am working closely with the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) to create another generation of national team players especially considering the fact that most of the current players are nearing to retire from football,” Ndayiragije continued.

Meanwhile, Ndagiragije is finalising a list of the U-23 players which he will name in due course and further thanked the coaches in the top-flight, saying it will help him come up with a good squad for the Taifa Stars.

“Now, many teams are not afraid to give youths a chance to play which is a positive thing and previously, when a team from outside Dar es Salaam came to play here, they were being beaten with many goals like six goals to nil but now, they fight and bring much resistance than before," he added.

"This indicates that football has grown.”

Tanzania were due to take part in the African Nations Championship (Chan) competition before it was called off owing to the effects caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

The Taifa Stars are also in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers where they are drawn in Group D alongside Guinea, Namibia, and Zambia.

Mamelodi Sundowns defender Tebogo Langerman says he is “happy to be at the club” and prides the five Premier Soccer League (PSL) titles most among all his career accolades.

After tasting his first league title with SuperSport United in 2010, Langerman has gone to win four more with Sundowns.

The left-back’s career is also decorated by two Nedbank Cups, as many Telkom Knockout trophies and an MTN8 crown.

Following the 2016 Caf Champions League triumph with Sundowns, it appeared to be the biggest piece of silverware Langerman has won in his career, but the defender cherishes his league titles the most.

“If I have to choose I’d say the Premiership league title because it’s a big trophy in South Africa and it gives many opportunities like going to into continental competitions,” Langerman told the Mamelodi Sundowns website.

He justifies his choice for PSL gold medals by saying that winning the league title throws players under the spotlight more and enhances their track record.

“For most players, winning the league gives you the chance to go overseas and when you become the player of the year it shows your consistency,” said Langerman.

He has, however, never played his club football outside South Africa, after starting out his PSL journey with Bidvest Wits.

Now in his eighth season at Sundowns, Langerman was signed by former Barcelona assistant coach and World Cup star Johan Neeskens in 2012 before the Dutchman was replaced by Pitso Mosimane.

“Being at Sundowns for this long means a lot and I’m happy to be at a club of this size for this long and still be able to keep my position at this age,” Langerman continued.

“I am being helped by everyone at the club, from the president [Dr Patrice Motsepe], management, the working staff, my family, and the Sundowns supporters. And lastly all the coaches who have left the club and all those that are still here.

“I can’t say I’m a reserved person, I’d say I look at things differently and talk when it’s necessary.”

Somalia national team coach Said Abdi Haibeh has revealed his elation after the completion of the Mogadishu Stadium.

The completion of Somalia's biggest stadium means the Ocean Stars will now host their international matches at the facility. Somalia have been hosting matches in Djibouti for the last 16 years due to security issues in their country.

“The players and I are all looking forward to enjoying at home and play in front of tens of thousands of home-based Somali fans,” Haibeh told the Somali Football Federation (SFF) website.

“It was a great honour for me to select and act as the manager of the history-making Somali national football team last year. The players are well-prepared and ready for the national duties including international friendlies.

“However, I believe that the home atmosphere is going to be electric. This is the long-standing dream of Somali Football Federation authorities and it will soon be true if Allah allows.” 

Haibeh further lauded fans who have been supporting the team even when they were playing in foreign lands.

“During the 2019 edition of the Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup in Kampala, the Somali football supporters in Uganda organised by the Somali Sports Association headed by Omar Ali came to support us during every game and outnumbered the fans of our opponents,” added the coach.

“Even when we played against the home team [the Cranes of Uganda] it was like we played in Mogadishu.

“I can’t forget to thank Somalis in South Africa who travelled all the way to Harare, Zimbabwe to cheer the team when we had the second leg of Fifa World Cup qualifier clash in Zimbabwe.

“I am also sending a big thank you to the Somali community in Zimbabwe for their good organization to support the team.” 

Ocean Stars captain Ahmed Said Ahmed did not hide his happiness that their home stadium is now complete.

“I will be honoured to lead the team out for their first home game at Mogadishu Stadium after decades,” Ahmed told the SFF's website as well.

During the opening ceremony, the SFF president Abdiqani Said Arab said they will build their offices next to the new stadium.

“Mogadishu Stadium is now ready and Somali Football Federation is pleased to announce that Ocean Stars will be able to play their home games in the country," Arab said on July 1 when he commissioned the use of the stadium.

“We will also use the facility to host other football activities.”

Premier League sides Mogadishu City Club and Horseed Sports Club featured in the opening match of the stadium.

Everton midfielder Bernard has opened up on seeing a psychologist after a debilitating panic attack, insisting he has "become a better person" since seeking help.

Bernard signed a four-year contract with Everton in August 2018 after leaving Shakhtar Donetsk as a free agent. The 27-year-old has since racked up 61 appearances in all competitions for the Toffees, scoring five goals while also laying on six assists.

The Brazil international has enjoyed a prominent role in the first team in 2019-20, but off the pitch he has been dealing with mental health issues.

Bernard has revealed that he has been undertaking therapy to tackle his anxiety, which he believes has helped him to strengthen his character in "all areas".

“I've been having therapy for the past year, I see a psychologist,” the Everton winger told the club's official website.

“It's not something I previously stigmatised, but I never thought I would require this type of treatment. Now I see how much I've evolved as a person, as a human being, how much this has helped me in my work.

“I've never publicly spoken to anyone about this. I think it would be good for this to be seen as a way of helping people to go to see a psychologist or psychiatrist.

“I had an anxiety attack a year ago, the psychologist really helped with this, the other professionals involved helped me a lot as well.

“I sought help as I genuinely needed it, but if I'd have only known how much this professional was going to help me, not just in relation to anxiety, with the attack that I had, but in all areas of my life [I would have asked for help sooner].

“I’m stronger in all areas and have become a better person, more positive and more confident. “

Bernard went on to admit that he was guilty of bottling his emotions up in the past, while detailing how his psychologist has helped him to "rebuild" internally over the past 12 months.

“We're all vulnerable to any type of situation, as we're human like everyone else,” he added. “In a lot of cases, I see that people are resistant and don't seek help, they don't take medication that could help with the process.

“I was taken by surprise but I've always been a person who bottled everything up and kept everything that happens in my life to myself.

“The person I've opened up to about everything has been my psychologist and, a lot of the time, I feel embarrassed to talk about certain things.

“I heard a good description from the psychologist once, he takes the boxes and puts them in the right place, and his assistance to put the boxes in the right place helps us to rebuild who we really are.”

Former Morocco midfielder Houssine Kharja believes new Inter Milan recruit Achraf Hakimi can win the Serie A title next season.

The 21-year-old joined the Nerazzurri from Real Madrid in a €40 million five-year deal earlier this week.

Hakimi had spent the last two seasons on loan at Borussia Dortmund, racking up 73 appearances, scoring 12 goals and providing 17 assists.

BVB finished second in the Bundesliga to Bayern Munich in both his seasons at Signal Iduna Park, but he was able to play a part in seeing the Bavarians off in the 2019 German Super Cup which Dortmund won 2-0.

Hakimi could not establish himself in the Spanish capital with Dani Carvajal and Marcelo still key men in the full-back positions for Zinedine Zidane.

The versatile Madrid-born player will now look to start a fresh chapter in his career with the Champions League, Uefa Super Cup, Club World Cup and Spanish Super Cup, all in his cabinet in his short time with Los Blancos.

Hakimi’s strong performances on the pitch have seen him compared to Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Kharja thinks his countryman has been a revelation.

“Hakimi was the revelation player this year,” the 37-year-old told TuttoMercato.

“Inter have beaten competition from great teams and perhaps he would have been useful also for Real Madrid

“For [Antonio] Conte, Hakimi is fantastic because he has impressive athletic skills, can make an incredible run and other features that make the difference.

“Conte has the ability to win the Scudetto, with Hakimi next year, he can win the championship.

"I have no doubts Hakimi will be successful in the Nerazzurri and will become an Inter star. From coach Conte, he will receive great support. I am happy with the choice to play in Italy.”

Kharja played for Inter in the second half of the 2010-2011 season, on loan from Genoa, making a total of 19 appearances and scoring once. He also played for the likes of Roma, Fiorentina and Sochaux. He was capped 78 times for the Morocco national team between 2003 and 2015, scoring 13 goals.

Hakimi certainly looks likely to play a key role at right wing-back for Conte with present options Victor Moses (on loan from Chelsea), Ashley Young and Antonio Candreva all approaching the twilight of their careers.

Inter started the current season strong and looked like they were going to end Juventus’ eight-year grip on the Serie A title. The men in black and blue stirpes have, however, fizzled out and are now 11 points behind the Bianconeri with a game in hand.

Western Stima chairman Laban Jobita has revealed he will not stop wantaway players from leaving the team in search of greener pastures.

The Kisumu-based side is currently without a sponsor following the exit of Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC), who have been helping the team financially.

Reports have it some key players are keen on leaving the team but that does not worry the experienced administrator.

"I am sorry this might sound rude, but to be honest, I will not cling onto a player who wants to leave," Jobita told Goal on Sunday.

"If players find a team they feel will provide them with what they need, we will give them a release letter. But the due process has to be followed before getting released from the club.

"If we release a player, we will go out there and find a replacement, there are players out there who can play for Western Stima and ensure the team performs well consistently."

Jobita has also revealed his immediate plans for the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) side.

"I have already sent several proposals to some corporates to come on board and sponsor us," he added.

"We are open to anyone who wants to support the club for the long or short term. Our main objective is to ensure we compete effectively in the top tier without financial struggles.

"Even if a sponsor comes from Kisii, Nakuru or Kakamega, the team will be there."

Jobita also shed some light on the possibility of the team changing its name after KPLC's exit.

"It depends, but if it is the only way of getting a sponsor, why not?" Jobita revealed.

"We are still hopeful KPLC will change their mind and continue sponsoring us. I have not received an official letter from the company notifying us of their exit, so I am still waiting.

"In the past, we have been under the same, but after negotiations, the sponsorship is extended. So I believe we will be able to convince KPLC to stay," he concluded.

In the abandoned 2019/20 season, the team finished in the seventh position with 36 points.

Under coach Salim Babu, they had managed to get nine wins, drawn as many and lost five matches in the 23 games played.

Virgil van Dijk has revealed the Jurgen Klopp factor as the reason he joined Liverpool instead of Manchester City or Chelsea.

The centre-back left Southampton for Anfield in January 2018 for a reported fee of £75 million ($95m), which represented a record transfer for a defender.

There were other interested parties in Van Dijk's services, notably City and Chelsea, but the Netherlands international only had eyes for the Reds due to manager Klopp, who led Liverpool to their first Premier League title this season.

"I had the chance to go to Chelsea and Man City," Van Dijk said in quotes published in several national newspapers.

"When you compare the clubs, you look at the history, the town, the current squad, their plans for the near future, but the most important thing you look at is the manager - and Jurgen Klopp is an important reason why I chose Liverpool.

"Klopp has something special. Is it his energy? Is it his overall image? I sometimes sit and think about what he does and what he has more than others.

"I think it is his man-management. These days that is more important than anything in football.

"Klopp gives you this great feeling. He is genuinely happy when you walk into the club in the morning. It may sound daft, but that really inspires you as a player."

Van Dijk, 28, has already lifted the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup as a Liverpool player.

In the coming weeks he will get his hands on the Premier League trophy too, with Liverpool's status as champions confirmed last month with seven games still to play.

"I have always said that lifting the Premier League ­trophy would be a dream. That dream has become reality now," he added.

Already a popular figure on Merseyside, Klopp has attained legendary status after guiding his Liverpool side to a first English league title in 30 years, following their Champions League triumph last season.

Having built a phenomenal squad, featuring stars such as Van Dijk, the German boss admits he is not looking too far to the future just yet.

He told the Mirror: "I was seven and a half years at Mainz, seven at Dortmund and in 2024, when my  current contract at Liverpool ends it will be 23 and half. I have no plans beyond that."

Bruno Fernandes has helped to free Paul Pogba from the "burden of expectations" at Manchester United, according to Rio Ferdinand, who says the midfielder is finally starting to justify his £89 million ($111m) price tag.

Before the coronavirus outbreak brought the 2019-20 campaign screeching to a halt in March, Pogba's future at Old Trafford was the subject of intense speculation.

The 27-year-old has only shown flashes of his superb technical ability and outstanding vision since rejoining United from Juventus in 2016, with his commitment and fitness levels often called into question by supporters and experts.

The World Cup winner underwent surgery on a niggling ankle injury in January after missing almost the entire first half of the season, and was being tipped to leave the club this summer amid reported interest from Real Madrid.

However, Pogba returned to action with a renewed sense of purpose after the Premier League was cleared to resume on June 17, with his recent performances helping United embark on a four-match winning run.

The France international has been asked to operate in a slightly deeper role to accommodate January signing Bruno Fernandes, who has proven to be an instant hit in Manchester.

The former Sporting star has scored seven goals and laid on six assists in his first 14 appearances for United, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men have yet to suffer a loss with the 25-year-old pulling the strings in the middle of the park.

Pogba is still looking for his first goal since the restart, but has recorded two assists, while striking up a strong understanding with Fernandes which has helped the Red Devils improve significantly in the final third.

Ferdinand says the presence of the Portuguese playmaker has allowed the Frenchman to raise his game and play without any pressure for the first time in his United career.

The ex-Red Devils defender told BT Sport : "Pogba has been a totally different player since the restart. The energy levels in his game, it's the Pogba United paid £89m for four years ago.

"A big factor is undoubtedly the man he is playing with in the centre of midfield - Bruno Fernandes.

"Pogba will not want to be shown up out there and that's perhaps the motivation he needed. Solskjaer will be absolutely loving what's he seeing from those two.

"Fernandes is just doing what comes naturally to him and it's been a huge boost to Pogba's form - it's freed him up to play as well.

"There's probably less pressure on him now because he knows that some of the burden of expectation is being shouldered by Fernandes."