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Bayern Munich star Thomas Muller has set a single-season record for assists in the Bundesliga with his 21st of the season, surpassing the previous mark, which was set by Kevin De Bruyne.

Going into the final day of the 2019-20 campaign, the FCB attacker was on par with the Manchester City star, who chalked up 20 assists in the 2014-15 season while playing with Wolfsburg.

Before four minutes of the match had elapsed, he had set up winger Kingsley Coman to open the scoring.

The 30-year-old, who was a World Cup winner with Germany in 2014, has featured in all but one league fixture for Hansi Flick’s side this season, missing the recent 2-1 win over Borussia Monchengladbach due to suspension.

His first assists of the season arrived in a thumping 6-1 victory over Mainz on August 31, while he chalked up multiple decisive passes on six occasions in the league this term, also doing so against Borussia Dortmund and Fortuna Dusseldorf in back-to-back November fixtures, against Koln and Hoffenheim in February, and versus Bayer Leverkusen earlier in June after the league restarted following the coronavirus suspension.

Previously, his highest tally of assists in a top-flight season had been 16 in the 2017-18 season, although he has hit double figures in all but one of the seasons in which he has been a regular in the starting XI.

While he has produced more assists than ever before, his goal scoring record has dropped, with seven scored in the Bundesliga this term. Indeed, his first goal did not arrive until the final day of November, when he found the net in a 2-1 loss to Leverkusen.

Muller has not scored double figures in a Bundesliga season since 2015-16, when he hit a personal best of 20, coincidentally recording a career low of seven assists.

The forward’s form has helped Bayern to secure another German title, while they retain an interest in the Champions League, which will be finished in August in a mini tournament that will be played in Lisbon. 

To reach that stage, though, Bayern will have to complete the second leg against Chelsea at the Allianz Arena, though they hold a 3-0 advantage from the first encounter, which was played at Stamford Bridge on February 25.

Ex-England winger Shaun Wright-Phillips has described his former Manchester City teammate Marc-Vivien Foe as “the most amazing man” he met as he pays tribute to the fallen Cameroon legend.

Foe collapsed and died of a heart defect during a Fifa Confederations Cup semi-final match between Cameroon and Colombia on June 26, 2003.

Prior to his sudden death at the age of 28, the former midfielder had spent a season at City while on loan from Ligue 1 side Olympique Lyon.

“He was the most amazing man I met as a young lad growing up,” Wright-Phillips told the official Manchester City website.

“He was so soft, humble, and whenever I needed help or a bit of guidance, he was one of the people that was always there for me.

"And as a player, he was just a beast. He was a big unit, he carried himself well, tackled, and he played good football. You could see that he was moving onto the next level.”

City have since retired the number 23 shirt Foe wore during his brief spell at the club, which was his second Premier League home, having previously spent one and a half-seasons at West Ham United.

Another former teammate of Foe at City, Kevin Horlock, remembered the former Lens midfielder as a player who brightened the Citizens' dressing room with his beaming smile.

"He was a great athlete, a great footballer and even more than that, a great bloke. He was a fair, old size and he covered every blade of grass,” said Horlock.

"He did a lot of my running and he took some stopping. He was one of those players who gave everything and the fans loved that and so did the players.

"I don't think I have ever seen a picture of him where he doesn't have a big smile on his face. He made the changing room a better place."

Despite Foe lasting 73 minutes during that fateful match against Colombia, Cameroon went on to edge the South Americans 1-0 to qualify for the final of the Confederations Cup.

The death of Foe attracted global sympathy and Cameroon went on to lose 1-0 to hosts France after extra time of an emotional encounter.

Borussia Dortmund have formally given up in the race to sign Achraf Hakimi from Real Madrid on a permanent basis.

The right-back has been with Lucien Favre’s side for each of the last two seasons on loan, but he will not remain at Signal Iduna Park beyond the end of the current campaign.

Although Real Madrid will recall the player, reports suggest that he is set for a move to Inter, where he will be guaranteed the first-team football he craves under head coach Antonio Conte.

The 21-year-old has contributed significantly to Dortmund’s push to secure second in the Bundesliga, scoring five goals and adding 10 assists to date, but Saturday’s encounter against Hoffenheim, in which he was named only as a substitute, will be the last time he appears on a teamsheet for BVB.

“There have been developments only this week. The price is much higher now. And there is a point where we have to say: we do not want this and we cannot do this,” Michael Zorc to Sky Sports . 

Previously, Zorc had insisted that Dortmund were very much in the race to retain the player.

Speaking to the media on Wednesday, he said: "His deal with Dortmund is ending. But we're interested in finding a solution with Real again and find a solution where he will be back playing at BVB next season."

It is reported that Inter will make a €40 million (£36m/$45m) offer for the player and will offer him a healthy salary, too.

In total, Hakimi has played 44 times in all competitions this season, notably scoring four goals in eight Champions League appearances, notching a crucial double in a thrilling 3-2 victory over Inter that helped his side progress to the knockout stages of the competition.

He has been contracted to Real Madrid for the duration of his professional career to date, having joined the Santiago Bernabeu side when he was only seven years old.

He made his debut for the reserve side in 2016 and graduated to the first-team squad in August 2017. Thus far, he has featured 17 times in all competitions for the Primera Division title hopefuls and scored two goals.

Meanwhile, the Madrid-born player has featured 28 times for Morocco, scoring two goals for his international side.

Former Orlando Pirates midfielder Abednigo Netshodzwe says he understands how Bidvest Wits players feel following the club’s sale to Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila (TTM).

The retired midfielder also shared advice to the Clever Boys players, urging them not to make decisions on their futures in haste because they might make bad decisions.

As things stand, both TTM and Wits have confirmed the sale of the club whilst coach Gavin Hunt’s future has attracted media interest.

“Bidvest Wits players' situation is sad. I know it very well. Not all the players will get new clubs, even if they get new clubs, they will not get the same money they used to get at Wits,” Netshodzwe told Isolezwe.

“[All] The players cannot all get new clubs as soon as possible and they must be patient and not put themselves under pressure because they might make bad decisions.

“If they get new contracts or offers, they must be careful not to be exploited when it comes to contracts.”

Following the Braamfontein-based club’s sale and news that it will relocate to the Limpopo province, a number of players are set to leave the club.

Skipper Thulani Hlatshwayo along with Sifiso Hlanti and Buhle Mkhwanazi are some of the key players linked with big moves to Orlando Pirates.

On the other hand, midfielder Thabang Monare and winger Deon Hotto are also linked with moves to the Buccaneers, while reigning PSL champions Mamelodi Sundowns are also gunning for the duo.

Although the likes of Gift Motupa, Haashim Domingo, and goalkeeper Ricardo Goss have reportedly signed long-term deals with coach Pitso Mosimane’s troops, their futures are also the subject of speculation.

In addition, the move to sell the club has received contrasting remarks from legends and football bosses as the 2016/17 PSL champions’ heritage is set for an immediate demise when the 2020/21 season resumes.

Juventus have said that they continue to count on midfielder Adrien Rabiot, despite rumours linking him to the Premier League.

The 25-year-old arrived in Turin last summer from Paris Saint-Germain on a Bosman move but has struggled to establish himself in Maurizio Sarri’s plans.

With the player reportedly discontent due to a lack of playing time, he caused further controversy in May when he refused to cut his wages in the wake of the coronavirus crisis.

This increased whispers that he could be on his way to England, with former PSG boss Carlo Ancelotti among the more interested parties with Everton.

Although the player seems to have re-established himself in Juve’s plans, starting in victories over Bologna and Lecce since the coronavirus suspension of the league, his long-term future remains uncertain.

Seeking to put an end to the speculation, Fabio Paratici, the technical coordinator of the Serie A side, has spoken of the player’s situation.

“Let’s not forget that Rabiot is in his first year in Italy, and the first year is always special,” he told Sky Sport Italia. “At the start of the season, we could see the same doubts over Matthijs de Ligt, who happened to be the best defender in the Champions League [with Ajax last season] at the age of 19. Now I see there is a different opinion of him.

“Rabiot also arrived from PSG after six months of inactivity. He had to catch up with his physical condition. That said, he is a great player, someone who is very important for Juventus today and will be for the future.”

Juve, however, are closing in on the addition of another central midfield player, with Goal able to confirm on Thursday that Barcelona player Arthur has agreed terms with the club, albeit with Miralem Pjanic likely to move in the opposite direction to Camp Nou.

The Turin club are closing in on another Serie A title as they lead the standings by seven points following a 4-0 victory over Lecce on Friday, although Lazio, the side who sit in second, have a game in hand against Fiorentina on Saturday.

Roberto Firmino is as important to the Liverpool cause as Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, says Graeme Souness, with the Brazilian likened to “a big cat walking through the jungle waiting for an opportunity to do damage”.

The South American frontman is not the most prolific attacking option that Jurgen Klopp has at his disposal.

He is, however, a perfect fit in a system that has delivered Champions League, Club World Cup and Premier League crowns over the course of the last 12 months.

While Salah and Mane are all about end product, team player Firmino is the glue that holds Liverpool’s frontline together and allows others to thrive around him.

Reds legend Souness considers the 28-year-old’s qualities to be integral to Klopp’s plans, with the Scot telling Sky Sports: “Mo Salah might score the most goals but it would be totally wrong to say this side’s attack is just about him. He’s one of three very special players.

“I love watching Roberto Firmino play. A couple of years ago, I likened him to Kenny Dalglish. He’s like a big cat walking through the jungle waiting for an opportunity to do damage.

“His radar is on all the time and he’s got a great football brain, whereas Salah and Sadio Mane, they will catch your eye more because they are direct and they score more goals.

“They are a wonderful attacking unit, but it’s so important to have a really good defence because you can’t play super football in every single game you play.

“When it’s not going well, you need to know that you won’t be conceding goals. Then, if you’re on the back foot but you don’t concede, you know that at some point in the 90 minutes, one of your special players is going to create something for someone else or score himself.

“That’s what we had with Ian Rush. We would be under the cosh, we would clear our lines and a couple of passes later Rushy would be on the end of something, putting the ball in the net, and we would nick the game.

“Liverpool have that now with their attacking players and that’s what makes them so dangerous. Even when they are not at their very best, they defend well and they're capable of nicking games.

“It’s so important to have those players, those goal-getters who can get you 25 in a season.”

Firmino is yet to find the target at Anfield in a Premier League game this season, but he does still have 11 efforts to his name – including a couple of match-winning strikes at the Club World Cup – and has taken his overall tally to 77 in 237 outings for Liverpool.

Jurgen Klopp has ruled out a summer move for Jadon Sancho – despite admitting the England star would “look good” in a Liverpool shirt.

The Reds have been credited with an interest in the Borussia Dortmund star, who is also wanted by Premier League rivals Manchester United and Chelsea, among others.

Sancho is valued at more than £100 million ($123m), meaning a switch to Merseyside this summer is unlikely.

Liverpool have already rejected the chance to sign one target, RB Leipzig striker Timo Werner, due in part to concerns at the financial implications of the coronavirus crisis.

And it is anticipated that it will be a relatively quiet summer, transfer-wise, for the newly-crowned Premier League champions who already have a settled squad.

Klopp was asked directly about Sancho at a live event hosted by German publication BILD and replied: “A red jersey would look very good on Jadon. But I don't think such a transfer will take place this summer. 

“He is a very interesting player. If he moved to Liverpool, I would be the most surprised of all!”

Klopp also dismissed the idea that he was now the best coach in the world after guiding Liverpool to their first league title since 1990, insisting that rival Pep Guardiola remained top dog in that regard.

“I can't do anything with the title 'Best coach in the World',” he said. "But I know that, together with the whole coaching team, we are very good coaches. 

“But I think Pep Guardiola is the best coach of the world.”

Discussing his own side, who wrapped up the Premier League with an incredible seven games to spare following Manchester City’s defeat at Chelsea on Thursday, Klopp repeated his belief that Liverpool can kick on and win more trophies.

“This team doesn't need a change,” he said. “I cannot promise that we will dominate football now, nor do I know if it is time to talk about major upheavals, but I know that our goal is to keep the team together. 

“The boys are currently a great football age. We made a lot of right decisions together. If I have a talent, it is probably that I can bring extremely good people together. 

“For example, my coaching staff is exceptional, but there is no single recipe. It is also important that we have continued to develop. 

“The problem in Dortmund was that our team fell apart. That didn't happen here and now the team has been exceptionally consistent for two-and-a-half years. We play every game as if it were the last one because we have nothing else to do on weekends!”

Barcelona striker Luis Suarez has revealed why he believes Liverpool are such a difficult opponent to play.

Jurgen Klopp’s side ended a 30-year wait for the Premier League title on Thursday as they were confirmed as champions due to Chelsea’s 2-1 victory over Manchester City.

The crown, though, had been in their hands for a long while before the outcome of that clash at Stamford Bridge, with the Reds having dropped points in only three fixtures to date this season, posting only one defeat in that time.

Suarez, who played for the club from 2011-2014, has felt first hand the oppressive quality of the Merseyside outfit, having been on the wrong end of a 4-0 defeat to them with Barca in the Champions League semi-finals last season – a result that incredibly turned around a 3-0 first-leg deficit.

Given the mental fortitude that Liverpool showed as goals from Divock Origi and Georginio Wijnaldum, who netted two each, eliminated the Catalans, it is perhaps unsurprising that he picked that out as their outstanding strength when speaking to the club’s official website.

Asked why Klopp’s men are such a formidable opponent, he explained: “I think the mentality of the players is so important on the pitch. We arrived in Liverpool 3-0 up, but when you play there they have the supporters and the manager, and the players are so focused and concentrated on the pitch. It’s difficult. 

“They scored in the first 10 or 15 minutes and they got the confidence to continue their play. In the second half they played fantastically. We need to accept that and if we’d have scored one goal, we would have had a really good chance to go through, but I think they are really good players.”

The Uruguay international forward, who helped the club to the League Cup of 2012 and was a member of the squad that came within a whisker of winning the title in 2014, is far from the first to praise the character of Klopp’s side.

Chairman Tom Werner had previously hailed the former Dortmund boss on the club’s website, stating: “He has just created such an atmosphere at Liverpool that there's no alternative except to win. He has created such an atmosphere.”

Liverpool have seven matches of the league season remaining as a victory lap, including a clash with dethroned champions Manchester City next weekend.

Borussia Dortmund are increasingly confident of keeping Jadon Sancho, with the club yet to field any offers for the winger, who has been strongly linked with a move to Manchester United and Chelsea this summer.

The England international has been in impressive form for the Bundesliga side this term, with his contribution of 17 goals in the league having seen him established as one of the outstanding players in Germany’s top flight.

That has seen him linked with a move for an astronomical fee, despite the Covid-19 pandemic throwing world football into a state of financial uncertainty, with any transfer potentially breaking the £100 million ($123m) mark.

While head coach Lucien Favre has admitted that he is unsure if the 20-year-old will remain with BVB for next season, Dortmund’s head of the licensed player division Sebastian Kehl has said that there has been no progress towards a deal and that he expects the winger to stay put.

“We expect Jadon to play with BVB next season and we’re all very happy with the quality that he brings to our side and the difference that he can make,” he told Sport Buzzer, while also confirming there have been no bids for the player.

Meanwhile, Dortmund will finish second in the Bundesliga this season, with their final match to take place against Hoffenheim at home on Saturday.

There was optimism that they would be able to make a stronger run at champions Bayern Munich but they will finish the season approximately 10 points behind Hansi Flick’s side, who found another gear following the coronavirus break to accelerate away from their challengers and comfortably take the title.

This has led to speculation over Favre’s future but sporting director Michael Zorc has confirmed that he will not leave his post before his contract expires in June 2021.

And Kehl added on Favre and his future: "Lucien is authentic and has an extremely meticulous way of working. The public discussions over his position have been unfair. His work is recognisable.

"We’re absolutely not ashamed of our performance this season."

Despite optimism that Dortmund are continuing to build a side capable of further closing the gap to Bayern, Kehl believes that if the Bavarians remain in a stable position "it will be tough to get past them".

The potential that exists in a midfield partnership of Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes excites Michael Carrick, but the Manchester United coach is eager to point out that “it’s not just about them”.

Two star turns at Old Trafford were paired together from the off for the first time in a 4-0 victory over Sheffield United.

They had also been used in tandem during a 1-1 draw at Tottenham, with Pogba stepping off the bench in that contest to win the spot-kick that allowed Fernandes to snatch a point from the penalty spot.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is still working out how to bring the best out of two creative influences, with there experiments for him to carry out on selection and tactics fronts.

The general consensus is, however, that a World Cup winner will thrive alongside a Portugal international in time.

Carrick, who once kept the engine room ticking over for United, expects that to be the case.

He is, however, keen to avoid narrowing the focus on only two players, with the resurgent Red Devils looking to build towards a brighter future as a unit.

"It is understandable why a lot of the questions are 'can they play together' because they are two fantastic talents," Carrick told ESPN of Pogba and Fernandes.

"We feel we've got a really good balance in midfield between all the lads really. It is kind of unfair to single them out asking 'can they play together' because the other boys have done a terrific job and will have plenty to say as well.

"Of course, the talk is about Bruno and Paul and I'm sure they can play together. That's why they are both here at the club and I'm sure they are looking forward to it. But as Bruno and Paul would totally understand me saying, it is not just about them.

"We've got so many other options with lads who have already proven what they bring to the team. It is exciting to have that. They all bring something different and all have their own strengths."

Solskjaer will get another opportunity to work on partnerships within his top-four chasing side when the Red Devils shift their focus to FA Cup matters on Saturday and a quarter-final clash with Norwich.

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Nairobi West Branch chairman Caleb Malweyi has lauded the gains made by the current office under the leadership of Nick Mwendwa to boost football in the country.

Harambee Stars qualified for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations finals for the first time in 15 years but the team failed to make it to the last sixteen, after they came third in Group C, behind Algeria, and Senegal and ahead of Tanzania.

Harambee Starlets made their debut in the 2016 Africa Women's Cup of Nations after the current tenure re-introduced the FKF Women's Premier League and Division One Leagues which gave life to the then dying senior women's national team.

The team also closed the year 2019 as champions of the Cecafa Women's Championships in Tanzania for the first time ever.

“We have made gains in women's football, and youth football under the able leadership of Nick Mwendwa,” Malweyi told Goal. “We want to build on these gains in the coming four years.

“Harambee Stars did Kenyans proud by reaching the Afcon final for the first time in 15 years while the women’s team also did us proud by winning Cecafa trophy in Tanzania.

“The current regime also actualised the inconceivable idea of having a junior national team and developed the National Centre of Excellence that harbours the team and helps nurture young players who will then be pooled to the National Senior team, Harambee Stars.”

Malweyi’s sentiments come just a few days after the referees’ association led by Sylvester Kirwa lauded Mwendwa and his regime for helping them grow.

According to Kirwa, the referees’ manager at the federation, they have seen an increased number of referees joining the elite status.

“When I was employed by the federation, we decided to focus on certain key areas: building capacity, recruitment, development, and having more women,” Kirwa told reporters on Tuesday.

Kirwa says the fate of the local referees was changed completely after the federation managed to secure two critical Fifa funded courses that they used to support them.

“The result is we sent women referees to the Africa Women's Nations Cup (Awcon) and the World Cup for the first time,” Kirwa continued.

“Our two referees, Mary Ann and Caroline Wanjala have also joined the Elite ‘A’ category. Previously, referees used to pay money to attend courses but we abolished these allowing more of them to be trained.”

Kirwa said the number of men's elite referees have also gone up to three with Peter Waweru, Gilbert Cheruiyot, and Davies Omweno joining the club.

“Locally, we have seen very young referees coming up and now the majority of those handling the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) are between 24-33 years. This means that they have another 15 years at the top,” added Kirwa.

Kenyan football is preparing to go for elections with Mwendwa seeking to defend his seat but will face stiff opposition from former FKF president Sam Nyamweya, ex-Cecafa boss Nicholas Musonye, Herbert Mwachiro, former Gor Mahia CEO Omondi Aduda and Sammy Shollei.

Tanzania Premier League Board (TPLB) has outlined their plans to crown giants Simba SC.

The Wekundu wa Mzimbazi will be declared the champions for the 2019-20 season if they beat Tanzania Prisons in their next Mainland Premier League match on Sunday.

Simba have already amassed 78 points from 32 matches and are on the verge of clinching a third straight league title if they get a win against Prisons in Mbeya.

According to TPLB chairman Steven Mnguto they have already outlined plans to fete the new champions and they will not have the trophy at Sokoine in Mbeya on Sunday where they play against Tanzania Prisons.

“Our plans, for now, is to fete Simba during their last league match and as such we will not have the trophy in Mbeya on Sunday because we will not give it to them,” Mnguto is quoted by Sokaletu.

“We have not talked to Simba on how they want it done, but that is our plan as TPLB. We can only be able to hand over the trophy to them at the final game, and remember they will now keep the trophy for good having won it in the past two seasons.”

Simba CEO Senzo Mazingisa also said they will meet as an executive to decide when to be handed the trophy from league managers.

“We will meet as an office to discuss the matter, we might as well have to wait for the final league match to be handed the trophy, I don’t have a problem with that.

“But we must make a decision as Simba as not Mazingisa, we have to decide what we think will be good for the club and the fans and soon we will have the date we prefer for the trophy ceremony.”

Meanwhile, Simba’s fitness coach Adel Zrane says he is impressed with the work rate of winger Shiza Kichuya, who is coming back from injury.

Kichuya joined Simba from Egypt and has struggled to claim a starting role in the club.

Zrane has now said the player is looking fit and ready to play after warming the bench for a long period.

Crested Cranes captain Ruth Aturo has claimed her parents never supported her pursuit of a football dream.

Aturo has grown to be an important figure of the Ugandan Women's National team and has revealed how her parents had little interest in seeing her pursue a football wish.

“My biggest challenge was my parents who didn’t support me,” Aturo told Football256.

“They would beat me thinking I was hanging out with boys. They expected me home by 6:00 pm but instead, I would appear at 7:30 or 8:00 pm which confirmed their suspicions.

“But being a big-headed girl who loved football I would say it is okay and that didn’t stop me from chasing my dream.”

Aturo is a recent Uganda Christian University (UCU) graduate and has revealed how balancing football matters and academics was a challenge.

“There is a moment when I got a lot of challenges in balancing football with books and yet I wanted to excel in both,” the goalkeeper added.

“This was a time I had both national team games and tests and I wouldn’t leave one for the other. Because it’s football that is helping me acquire education yet I also want to have a bright future.

“But somehow I managed to pull through by dedicating time and having support from my lecturers and teammates as well.”

The Crested Cranes player explained how her football career was launched despite facing numerous challenges including her parent's lack of interest.

“I started playing soccer in S2 at Soroti Senior Secondary School as a striker then later changed to become a goalkeeper in S3,” she added.

“One day we went for post-primary games at Nabumali High School in Mbale. I played so well and I emerged as the best goalkeeper.

“I remember the game against Kawempe Muslim Secondary School in which they hit us 6-0 but miraculously they wanted me to join them and I ended up at Kawempe Muslim thanks to coach Ayub Khalifah.” 

She won the 2018 Fufa Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award and is on record of revealing a wish of playing professional football for a club in the United States of America.

Aturo graduated from the Ugandan Christian University where she got a  Diploma in Business Administration. Aturo's elder sister Mary Achibo is a netballer featuring for the She Cranes.

Young Africans (Yanga SC) coach Luc Eymael has challenged his strikers to at least give him and the fans goals when they take on Ndanda FC in a Mainland Premier League match on Saturday.

The Jangwani Street-based giants have struggled to score goals since the top-flight resumed on June 13, something that has forced the fans to attack their strikers after every league match.

Ivorian striker Gnamien Yikpe is the most hit of all the strikers after Yanga fans stormed the team’s dressing room after the 0-0 draw against Azam FC at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam chanting for the club to release him.

The Belgian coach has now told Goal he has asked the lead strikers among them David Molinga and Ditram Nchimbi to give the club even five goals against Ndanda.

“We want to show the fans we can score goals and I want my strikers to be ready for the task against Ndanda on Saturday,” Eymael told Goal.

“We play very good football, our passing is very accurate, our defending is almost better but our strikers are not doing their work, we are missing chances and let me honest to you, had we been good in front of goal, then Yanga should be leading by almost 15 or 20 more goals in the league.

“If you look at our past matches, the chemistry of moving forward is working very well but I really don’t understand why we cannot score goals, we keep taking the balls to the strikers but sometimes they surprise. I am sure today [Saturday] the fans will celebrate goals.”

Yikpe was missing in action during Yanga’s last league match against Namungo FC and Eymael is not sure whether the former Gor Mahia striker will be involved in the fixture.

“[Yikpe] is going through difficult times, the fans have really been on his neck and the game against Namungo, I decided to give him a break, he works hard every day in training sessions but now the problem is turning the training into a good show.”

Yanga have already missed out on winning the league title but they can clinch the FA Cup where they are in the quarter-finals and will face Kagera Sugar.

The Tanzanian government has put the blame on hosts for failing to adhere to the Ministry of Health rules which were put in place before the Mainland Premier League resumed on June 13.

The Ministry of Health had outlined a number of stringent measures to be followed by the clubs to help curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

However, with a number of teams not following the rules, the government has moved to ban Jamhuri Stadium in Morogoro and Sokoine Stadium in Mbeya, where matches will now be played behind closed doors.

The government through the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry for Information, Culture, Arts, and Sports, Hassan Abbasi has stressed the importance of following the rules and promised to continue taking action against those breaking the same.

“As a government, we have conducted our research and found that a big part of failing to control a big number of fans into the stadium is caused by authorities of the hosting teams,” Abbasi is quoted by Daily News.

“What I want to emphasise here is from the two venues [Jamhuri Stadium in Morogoro and Sokoine Stadium in Mbeya] where we have directed league games to be staged behind closed doors, the number of tickets which were sold did not surpass half of the carrying capacity of the two venues.

“So the government has banned supporters of Mbeya City from attending the remaining league fixture of their side at the Sokoine Stadium for breaching established health rules during their match against Simba which ended with the hosts losing 2-0.”

Abbas says they took the decision to ban Sokoine Stadium because fans of both sides flooded the stadium and failed to adhere to rule number 2.0.2 [III] which requires a sitting arrangement of one metre apart.

“What we have seen is that ticket sellers are doing their jobs well but what surprises us most is the big number of fans without proper tickets who make their way into the venues and cause overcrowding,” Abbasi continued.

“Most irregularities are committed on entry gates into the stadium by authorities of the hosting teams as such, the action we have taken as the government is meant to safeguard the health of people and not otherwise.

“It is not the duty of the police to inspect tickets to verify if they are fake or not that is why we strongly believe that big percentage of the malpractices are caused by agents of the hosting teams as they simply want to make a profit.”

Former Kaizer Chiefs and Free State Stars striker Emeka Mamale has passed away. 

According to a statement released by Caf, Mamale lost his life at a local hospital in Kinshasa on Thursday but the cause of his death is still unknown at this stage.    

Mamale was a full international with the Democratic Republic of Congo and he represented them in two separate Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon). 

The 1996 edition which was held in South Africa was his first and his second appearances at the games four years later.  

"Former DR Congo forward Emeka Essanga passed away on Thursday (25 June 2020) at a local hospital in Kinshasa, his family has announced. He was 42," read the statement.  

Nicknamed “Mamale”, he was an integral part of the Leopards squad that won bronze at the 1998 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations in Burkina Faso. He also participated in the 1996 and 2000 editions of the continental showpiece event. 

A journeyman, Esanga won the DR Congo domestic cup in 1996 with Daring Club Motema Pembe. He also had stints in Angola, Belgium, Israel, South Africa and South Korea," added the statement. 

Mamale began his football career in Kinshasa in 1995 playing for DC Motema Pembe. 

He then moved to South Africa in 1996 to sign for Free State Stars then known as Qwaqwa Stars for the 1996/97 season. 

In 2000, Mamale joined Kaizer Chiefs and his biggest breakthrough arrived while he was still on the books of the Soweto giants as he signed for Lokeren in Belgium. 

He would return to Africa in 2002 to play for Angolan club 1º de Agosto among other teams. 

His return to South Africa in the mid-2000s saw the now-defunct Platinum Stars, then known as Silver Stars, offer him a second chance to play in the PSL. 

Mamale went on to play in Israel in the latter stages of his football career, signing for Hapoel Acre. 

He retired in 2011 whilst on the books of Motema Pembe. 

Goal sends its heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Mamale as well as his former teammates.   

Jurgen Klopp has built a mighty red machine at Liverpool, and Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti admits he is a fan of the German's achievement.

Liverpool's 30-year wait for an English league title came to an end this week when closest rivals Manchester City ran out of games with which to catch them as they suffered a 2-1 loss to Chelsea.

A dominant season by the men from Anfield has seen them secure Premier League glory with a record seven games to spare.

There might be considerable envy from supporters on the blue side of the city, but Ancelotti has only praise for Liverpool and Klopp.

He told Sky Sport Italia : "I have a great relationship with him. We met last week when everything was virtually decided and I congratulated him.

"Klopp is the architect of this success. Not only for this victory in the Premier League, but for everything he's managed to achieve since arriving five years ago.

"With patience, he's succeeded in building a perfect machine."

Ancelotti lives in Crosby, away from the bustle of Liverpool, but reported hearing "a few bangs" after the Reds' long-awaited triumph was confirmed on Thursday.

Although he has Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum as a neighbour, Ancelotti said the Dutchman was out celebrating so not at home.

Everton face a stiff task to close the gap on their local rivals, but the appointment of Ancelotti in December looked a possible watershed moment for them.

He has not yet been able to nudge the Toffees into a European place, but despite sitting 12th in the Premier League they remain in that race, given seventh-placed Tottenham are just four points better off.

"Will Everton be the last team in my career? I don't know," said the former Milan and Real Madrid boss. "But honestly I'd like to make a long-term plan with this club."

The Toffees lie 12th in the standings this season, but with seven matches remaining still post an outside chance of qualifying for Europe if they can finish the campaign in spectacular fashion.

After a scoreless draw with Liverpool last Sunday, their next challenge is a home encounter with Leicester on Wednesday.

Uganda Premier League (UPL) champions Vipers Sports Club have moved to expand the VIP section of their St Mary’s Stadium.

The expansion of the stadium is being done ahead of the next season which will also see Vipers engage in the Caf Champions League after they were declared champions of the abandoned season.

The facility at Kitende has been hosting the four-time UPL champions since early 2017 and is regarded as one of the best-developed stadia in the country.

“An artificial turf was installed replacing a natural grass pitch, magnificent technical areas, a state-of-the-art gym are some of the various developments done since the official opening [in 2017,” the club's statement said.

St Mary's was given the green light to host international matches in March 2020 after a delegation from Caf and Fifa visited it. The inspection was done by Inspectors led by Daniel Amokachi together with Emmanuel Dasoberi.

“However, despite such achievement, the stadium authorities are not sitting on their laurels instead new developments are being introduced to enhance its features further,” Vipers added.

“In readiness for next season where Vipers are set to represent Uganda in the Caf Champions League, the VIP section expansion has taken place during the lockdown.

“The new expansion, adding a further 600 seats to bring the section’s capacity up to 1,225, will officially be opened to the public at the crowning of Vipers as the 2019/20 League Champions.

“Many football facilities have developed in Uganda and Africa at large but the greatest challenge among all is the sustainability with international required standards especially in moments when such facilities are not utilized.

“The management has future plans of further developments in phases as will be revealed from time to time in a bid to keep up with the standards as required by international football bodies.”

Stadium Manager Edward Junior Mulindwa said it is not only the VIP section which is set to undergo expansion and renovation but other areas will also be attended.

“We have installed more seats in the VIP area to accommodate more fans seated comfortably while enjoying football next season,” Mulindwa said.

“Further to that, we are also refurbishing all areas that may have been damaged during the regular season as well as equipping the stadium with other equipment to ease operations as we look forward to football next season.” 

The stadium was officially opened in 2017 when Vipers hosted Platinum Stars for a Caf Confederation Cup match.