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Jose Mourinho admits Steven Bergwijn was not his first-choice option in the January window but is delighted with the winger's impact since joining Tottenham.

The Netherlands international opened the scoring in Friday's 1-1 draw with Manchester United to make it three goals in eight appearances for the London side.

Bergwijn has added an extra dimension to Spurs' attack and Mourinho is pleased the club pushed ahead with the signing, even if the left-sided attacker was not his primary target.

"He's a good player. Congratulations to my club because initially he wasn't my first option – in the end it was a great decision," he said at Monday's pre-match media conference. "He's a player with a bright future and we are more than happy."

Mourinho has a near fully fit squad to choose from for Tuesday's Premier League clash against West Ham, with Dele Alli back from suspension and Lucas Moura overcoming a knock.

The Portuguese is relishing the prospect of fielding his favoured attacking line-up for the first time since succeeding Mauricio Pochettino in November.

"It's only good news [on the injury front]. Lucas is back. Dele Alli is back from punishment and no injuries were reported in the game against United," he said. "We didn't lose any players and we have two extra players who make my squad really good. It's the first time since I arrived that I have all six attacking players available.

"It's a problem that we love. The problem that we hate I had for a long time. It's very good news for us because we need everybody."

Juan Foyth will miss out on the midweek London derby with a troublesome knee injury, but Mourinho denied reports the centre-back requires surgery.

"Surgery? Unless he has consultation by Zoom in Argentina, I hope not," he said. "The information I had from medical department is he'll have recovery period and be available for some matches."

Spurs head into the match winless in seven, a run that has seen them exit two cup competitions and lose ground in the race for a top-four finish in the Premier League.

Mourinho acknowledges that only victory will do against West Ham to keep alive his side's hopes of Champions League football next season.

"I think we have to think about winning the game. Even a draw is not a good result for us," he said. "If you want to finish seventh, if you reduce our ambition, then a point is a point. If you want think about the biggest ambition as possible then we'll need to win."

Bernardo Silva believes Manchester City players “don’t get the recognition they deserve” when it comes to prestigious individual awards, with Kevin De Bruyne’s lack of personal prizes leaving the Portuguese forward baffled.

The Belgium international playmaker has been a leading contender for PFA Player of the Year gongs in the past. That honour has, however, always headed elsewhere since De Bruyne returned to English football at the Etihad Stadium in 2015.

Leicester’s remarkable title triumph in 2016 saw Riyad Mahrez’s efforts recognised by his peers, with N’Golo Kante going on to take first place a year later after moving to Chelsea and helping them to the Premier League crown.

De Bruyne then starred for title winners City in 2017-18 – as they reached 100 points – but he was edged out in the PFA vote by Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah.

A domestic treble was not enough to see him past Virgil van Dijk in 2019 – with injury issues working against him that season – and Silva has questioned whey a period of stunning success for Pep Guardiola’s side as a collective has not been mirrored on a personal level.

He told The Telegraph: “Kevin de Bruyne should have won the [award] two years ago - he was clearly the best player in the league that season. It is a fair process, but I can't understand why City players don't get the recognition they deserve.”

City are now sweating on whether the likes of De Bruyne will stick around if a two-year ban from European competition is upheld. They have appealed that ruling, with Silva admitting that future uncertainty at the Etihad is helping to narrow the focus when it comes to a European quest in the present.

He added: “Of course, what happens with UEFA is an important matter. No one knows what is going to happen, so we must only think about what we can control now. What we can control is to play the competition in the best possible way. We must put all of our energy into trying to win the Champions League.

“I think all of the players are with the club and support what they are saying. We will try to do our best this year and not worry about anything else.”

Silva has added incentive when it comes to capturing a continental crown this season, with the final stages of the 2019-20 Champions League campaign set to be played out in his homeland.

“For me personally, it is an extra motivation to try to do well in the Champions League,” said Silva. “It is a special competition and it is going to be a unique event in my home city.

“To fight for the title in my city [Lisbon] would mean a lot because I missed out on the Euros four years ago when Portugal won the trophy and I was hoping to play in this summer’s tournament before the pandemic.

“We know we are no longer fighting for the Premier League – that is impossible. Of course, we want to defend the FA Cup, but we all know what the Champions League means.

“This club has never won it, I’ve never won it and most of the players haven’t won it. Our goal is to really go for it because it’s a big opportunity to win the biggest competition.”

Gareth Bale “does not seem to care” that he is out of favour at Real Madrid, claims Jorge Valdano, with Zinedine Zidane considered to have “ruled out” the Welshman for the foreseeable future.

This is not the first time that Bale has slipped down the pecking order under an iconic French coach.

He has previously come back into contention, with Real reluctant to leave a big-money asset stuck in the shadows.

Form and fitness issues have, however, made life difficult for Bale over recent seasons, with an expectant fan base marking him out as an easy target.

Questions have been asked of the 30-year-old’s ongoing commitment to the cause, with criticism of his fondness for golf never far away.

It may be that he gets more time on the fairways than he does on the football field over the coming weeks, with Valdano of the opinion that Real are preparing to play out their 2019-20 campaign without Bale forming part of those plans.

The former Blancos player, coach and director has told Onda Cero: “Zidane needs all of his players involved for these games.

“But that seems to be without Bale, who he has already ruled out.

“Bale does not seem to care too much either, and coaches know when a player wants to play.”

Bale did step off the bench in Real’s 3-1 victory over Eibar, which marked their return to competitive action, but was not involved in subsequent successes against Valencia and Real Sociedad.

Karim Benzema has been the star of the show for Madrid in those contests, with the French striker bursting through the 20-goal mark for the season.

Vinicius Junior is another of those to have seen regular game time, with the Brazilian youngster getting the nod ahead of fellow countryman Rodrygo.

That has come as no surprise to Valdano, who said of the battle between two teenage stars: “His [Vinicius’] contribution ended up being decisive.

“It seems that Vinicius is giving more to the team. Rodrygo does not have the same degree of self-confidence that Vinicius has.”

Valdano did, however, concede that “everyone sees more talent in Rodrygo” and that a couple of hot prospects should have prominent roles to play in Real’s long-term future.

Ralf Rangnick wants to sign Hoffenheim teenager Melayro Bogarde as one of his first players at AC Milan.

The current head of sport development for Red Bull is set to take charge at Milan this summer, replacing Stefano Pioli as the club's coach.

Milan look to have missed out on a Champions League spot for 2020-21 and see Rangnick as the man who can lead them back to Europe's top competition after another season of failing to finish in the top four.

Pioli is determined to finish the season strongly with Milan, who currently sit ninth in Serie A. A top-seven finish would be enough to earn a Europa League spot, but even European qualification will not be enough to keep the former Lazio boss in the job.

Rangnick is expected to take charge at the end of the season and has drawn up a list of players he would like to bring to Milan.

Having worked as sporting director and head coach at RB Leipzig, Rangnick will have a similar role at San Siro and is eager to shape the team in his image.

One of the first players he has targeted for Milan is Hoffenheim centre-back Bogarde, who became the youngest Dutch player to play in the Bundesliga when he made his debut in May.

The nephew of former Ajax and Barcelona defender Winston Bogarde, the 18-year-old is highly regarded across Europe and turned down offers from Manchester City and Manchester United to sign for Hoffenheim in 2018.

When he was at Feyenoord, many of Europe's top clubs were interested, with Arsenal also in the running for the teenage talent who decided that a switch to Germany would offer him a quicker route to first-team football.

"I did not want to go to a club that only ever loans you," Bogarde said when he arrived in Germany.

"So I went to Hoffenheim because I know that I can become a professional here. They are a big club, they played in the Champions League last season."

However, with one year left on his contract, the Netherlands Under-18 international could be set for the next step in his career as Rangnick looks to overhaul Milan's backline.

Former Orlando Pirates midfielder Teboho Moloi shed light on how he was taught and groomed to play for the Soweto giants, saying chairman Dr. Irvin Khoza is proud of his service to the club.

‘Tebza’ also revealed he used to earn less money compared to his Kaizer Chiefs counterparts such as Doctor Khumalo, because Amakhosi were winning trophies at the time.

The former Buccaneers mentor also goes on to say why wearing the black and white shirt was the equivalent to playing for the South African national team.

“I was taught to play for Pirates, I will be honest with you, during school holidays in 1985 to 86 I used to train with Jomo Cosmos and there’s a picture of the 1973 team that swept all the trophies at Pirates and in that picture I am their mascot but I am not in between my father’s legs, taking the pictures with the whole team, I am in between Jomo Sono’s legs, I love that man,” Moloi told FARPost.

“Playing for Pirates for me was like representing the country each and every day because the Pirates jersey is heavy.

"It is a jersey that you wear each and every day where else the Bafana Bafana jersey you wear it only for six days and then the pressure is off your shoulders but with the Pirates jersey, the pressure will always be there for each and every day of your life until you retire.

"When I went to Pirates [from Cosmos] I was taught that when you join Pirates you are going to serve, you are going to work, you are going to try and change things for the better because in Rockville, Soweto, the Kaizer Chiefs juniors used to train at Elkah Stadium and we would admire them.”

Speaking about his salary, the former Chippa United coach and Bafana Bafana midfielder said he used to earn R400 back in the day and he never received a signing-on fee from the club.

“If my father wanted money out of my talent, he could have taken me to any other team where he would have gotten a fat signing on fee for me, where I would have gotten an exorbitant salary,” he added.

“But my salary at Pirates when I joined them it was R400 and a couple of Rands and my friend at Chiefs [Doctor Khumalo] was earning big money, you must understand Chiefs were winning trophies so there were bonuses but you remember what you were taught.

"So, when I went to Pirates I went to serve, that is why till today I never received any signing on fee from Pirates.

“Irvin Khoza is happy that we have given our time, served the team and the next generation can always be thankful that players like ourselves that went through a lot of hardship, difficult periods for Pirates to be what it today, so when I joined the team I wouldn’t say I joined because I wanted to, I joined because I was sent to go serve.”

Barcelona boss Quique Setien has expressed his belief that there is an idea that VAR "is not being used well" after Real Madrid's controversial victory over Real Sociedad.

Madrid earned a 2-1 victory at the Anoeta on Sunday thanks to second-half goals from Sergio Ramos and Karim Benzema, but benefitted from a number of contentious refereeing decisions to move above Barca at the Liga summit.

Sociedad thought they had equalised when Adnan Januzaj fired past Thibaut Courtois from long distance, but the goal was ruled out for offside because Mikel Merino was deemed to be blocking the Madrid goalkeeper's view.

The home side's woes were compounded when Benzema appeared to control the ball with his arm before firing the winning goal in the 70th minute, with the Frenchman eventually cleared of handball after a VAR review pitchside.

Barca were held to a 0-0 draw away at Sevilla on Friday, and are now trailing their arch-rivals due to an inferior head-to-head record heading into the final eight matches of the season.

Ahead of a meeting with Athletic Club on Tuesday, Setien called for VAR to be used more effectively in order to ensure a level playing field.

"I'm focusing on us," the Barcelona manager told a pre-match press conference. "We have footballing problems, but I'm very happy with a lot of the things we're doing.

"We've won two and drawn one. We've scored six goals and we haven't conceded a single one. VAR is a tool we have that can make us better.

"But we must use it and have a clearer vision of reality. It is fair to ask why some actions are reviewed and others are not.

"It can lead to the idea that it is not being used well."

Setien went on to admit that Barca cannot afford any more slip-ups in pursuit of a third successive domestic crown.

"It's true that goal difference puts us below," he added. "But we still have the same amount of points. They [Real Madrid] can't make any mistakes either.

"Many leagues have been resolved in the last few games. Things are still the same.

"We're behind, but there are eight games left and we have the same idea of winning every game and being there until the last one.

"I knew we had to win almost everything, just like them."

Gor Mahia coach Steven Polack says he has no problem with new sponsors' Betsafe stance that they can only start financing the club when football returns in the country.

Last Thursday, the Kenyan champions alongside their sworn rivals AFC Leopards signed a joint three-year sponsorship deal with the betting firm estimated at Sh285 million, which will see K’Ogalo pocket KSh55m per year while Ingwe will receive KSh45m.

However, immediately after signing the deal, Gor Mahia chairman Ambrose Rachier came out to clarify that they can only get financial support from the new sponsors when football action returns to the country.

“As things stand now, we don’t have anything to give back to the new sponsor because there is no football being played,” Rachier told Goal.

“What we agreed on when signing the deal, is they will only be able to start funding the club when football resumes, and that can only be possible when our league starts again.”

The British coach has also waded into the issue, stating he was part of the club officials who attended the meeting when signing the deal with the new partners, and it is exactly what was agreed.

“It is something that was discussed and we understand the situation, how can you get money from sponsors if you are not advertising them? Polack posed a question to Goal on Monday.

“It doesn’t make sense, because you have to advertise before you get paid for your work, so I do agree with [Betsafe] and I know even around the world some sponsors dropped out because they were not making money themselves, so we understand they will not give the whole amount assigned in the deal but they will definitely boost the team.

“That is why I understand the situation very well, and I was actually in the meeting with the sponsors, the chairman invited me and I attended two meetings before the deal was sealed.”

Polack also took his time to thank Eliud Owalo, who hosted the team to a luncheon and also gave them money to boost the players during these difficult times occasioned by the coronavirus pandemic.

“I appreciate what the honourable Owalo did, hosting the team to lunch, it was a very good gesture from him even though the entire squad was not there, we have to thank him and appreciate him for the gesture,” Polack continued.

“It was a nice gesture and I am very happy from what he did, and also the cash token he gave to the players and the technical bench was amazing, nobody knew that he was also going to give financial token and he did so, so we appreciate him very much, that was well appreciated.

“Gor Mahia needs help as much as they can and such gestures are good for the club and especially to the players, who have gone through tough times during the Covid-19 period.”

The new season for the Kenyan top flight is pencilled in to kick-off at the end of August.

Cape Town City chairman John Comitis says people shouldn’t be complaining now that Bidvest Wits have been sold because their sponsor, Bidvest, bought it from Wits University.

The Citizens owner further explained that his club wouldn’t exist if they weren't able to acquire Premier Soccer League (PSL) status after buying Mpumalanga Black Aces back in 2016 and relocate to the Mother City.

Comitis was speaking after the sale of the Clever Boys led to contrasting views as they will now be known as Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila (TTM) as of next season, and they will relocate to the Limpopo province.

“We as Cape Town City wouldn’t have been in existence if we weren’t allowed to do what we did,” Comitis told CityPress.

“If you’re going to complain about the Wits purchase, you should have complained when Bidvest bought the club and changed their name to Bidvest Wits because then it ultimately lost its positioning, which was a Wits University team. It was more about the sponsor.

“Well, Bidvest was entitled to do so, but that’s very much a rugby model, which I think is not very good.

“For instance, you have the DHL Stormers and two seasons later, the sponsor goes and it’s called something else. The secret is in the name and I think as the PSL we should keep it in the PSL intact.”

On the other hand,  Bloemfontein Celtic have also been making headlines in recent times as they were reportedly set to be bought by TS Galaxy owner Tim Sukazi.

However, it looks the sale will not go ahead and Phunya Sele Sele will not move to Mpumalanga after a Bloemfontein-born businessman Lebo Mokoena has reportedly stepped in to rescue the club from its financial woes.

In addition, Platinum Stars were also sold to new owners, including former Wits coach Roger De Sa, and are now known as Cape Umoya United, after relocating to the Western Cape in 2018, and the former Orlando Pirates coach has echoed Comitis' sentiments.

“We have a league in which the clubs are based on a franchise model and status buying is bound to happen,” said De Sá to the same publication.

“Look at Cape Town City and [Moroka] Swallows. they have both been revived and they bought their way back. We’ve got to accept the [club] owners have the right to sell.

“When we bought Platinum Stars, we did it differently because our vision was about development and education.”

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will “do an amazing job” at Manchester United, says Denis Irwin, with one 1999 Treble winner being backed by another to handle the “incredible” pressure of working at Old Trafford.

Having been a fan favourite in his playing days, a familiar face was returned to the Theatre of Dreams in December 2018.

Jose Mourinho had been ushered through the exits, with Solskjaer initially asked to steady the ship on an interim basis.

Having delivered on that remit, the Norwegian was then handed a three-year contract and charged with the task of bringing the good times back for the 13-time Premier League champions.

The odd question has been asked of his suitability to such a demanding role, given his lack of coaching experience at the very highest level, but signs of encouragement are being offered.

Irwin is among those buying into a long-term project and says Solskjaer’s presence at the helm comes as no surprise.

The legendary former United defender told ‘The Old Footballers Club’ on Switchbox TV: “I had six, seven years with Ole and he was very studious. He was very involved in the game.

“It’s a well-known fact that when he was sub he used to take it all in and try to work on a defender’s weaknesses when he went on.

“A highly intelligent man and I think he knows what he wants. I’m not surprised at all that he went into management.

“It was tough taking over Manchester United. He went on an incredible run when he took over and this year is his first year with a pre-season. I think he’s signed some great players, particularly [Bruno] Fernandes in the January window.

“Pre-Christmas I think we were up and down a little bit, but then we went on a run where we have really got ourselves challenging for that European spot. I think Ole will do an amazing job.”

Solskjaer has United in the hunt for a top-four finish this season, with competitive action having resumed amid the coronavirus pandemic, with Champions League qualification considered to be the very least that the Red Devils should be aiming for.

With such a rich history behind them, one of the biggest clubs in world football are expected to be much more than also-rans – with any manager taking the reins fully aware of that fact.

Irwin added: “They are under so much pressure.

“There is so much money involved in the Premier League and teams like us want to be up there, winning titles and certainly being in the Champions League.

“There is so much pressure on managers these days, it’s like a revolving door. But Ole knows the history of the club, he knows what the club is all about.

“He’s tried to bring everybody back together as more of a unit as much as possible and I think we’re heading in the right direction.

“You need to be thick-skinned, but the amount of pressure managers are under is incredible.”

Ghana international Joseph Alfred Duncan has expressed worry about the Black Stars' long wait for a fifth Africa Cup of Nations title.

Four-time champions, the West Africans have not lifted the trophy since the last success in Libya in 1982.

Their most recent attempt ended woefully as they suffered a Round of 16 elimination at the 2019 championship in Egypt. It was the first time the Black Stars failed to make the semi-final since 2006.

“Obviously it’s something that is very frustrating because even when we are not in camp and we are in our various clubs, sometimes we get the opportunity to talk [among ourselves and] it’s something we talk about the most,” Duncan, who plays club football for Serie A side Fiorentina, told Citi FM.

“It’s something we also have in mind because most of the players also want to be great like the likes of Abedi Pele. Obviously we used to hear about them.

“Even having our team manager Stephen Appiah next to us, you also feel like I will like to win something with the national team or you want to get to the level where the old players got to that made them what they are today; that got them the names they have today."

In 1992, the Black Stars finished second, losing to Cote d’Ivoire in a penalty shoot-out in the final. In 1996, Ghana reached the semi-finals again, this time placing fourth after falling to Zambia in a third-place play-off.

The West Africans finished third and second, respectively, in 2008 and 2010, before making consecutive fourth-placed appearances at Gabon/Equatorial Guinea in 2012 and South Africa 2013.

At Equatorial Guinea 2015, Ghana, under former Chelsea coach Avram Grant, came mighty close once again, this time losing to Cote d’Ivoire on penalties in the final.

In 2017, the Black Stars ended the tournament in fourth position but failed to make the quarter-final of the championship at Egypt 2019 where they succumbed to Tunisia on penalties in the Round of 16.

Duncan is still chasing his first appearance at Afcon having missed the 2017 and 2019 events due to injury.

Barcelona boss Quique Setien does not expect the injured Frenkie de Jong to miss the remainder of the La Liga season.

De Jong is currently nursing a calf injury and will not be involved when the Catalans host Athletic Bilbao on Tuesday.

There have been suggestions the Netherlands international is likely to miss the rest of the 2019-20 campaign, as Barca attempt to defend their title from Real Madrid over the final eight matches.

Setien, though, expects De Jong to recover sooner rather than later.

When asked if the 23-year-old could miss the business end of the season, the Barca manager told reporters on Monday: "We hope that won't be the case. He has a small injury in the area of his calf and we'll see how he progresses. But I'm sure he'll be able to play a few games.

"He's a complete player because he gives us a lot of things when we have the ball, but he's also physical and covers a lot of space. He's young, he has dynamism, enthusiasm and quality. He's learning many things we've been trying to improve.

"It's true that he's an important loss and he could help us a lot. We're a little upset that he's not there, but these are things you have to adapt to. I still have confidence in the people who are going to play in his position."

Barca, who will also be without Sergi Roberto against Athletic, lost their place at the top of the table on Sunday as Real Madrid beat Real Sociedad 2-1 to take advantage of the champions' draw with Sevilla.

Although they are behind Madrid by virtue of their head-to-head record this season, meaning the title race is no longer in their hands, Setien says his Barca players have trained positively in recent days.

"We've trained very well. There's a bit of residual fatigue but we're going to try to keep up the excitement and expectations because we're convinced we can win the title and we're going to try to improve the footballing aspects we have to control," he said.

Setien included Jorge Cuenca and Dani Morer from the B team in his 24-man squad, but he does not necessarily expect either to play.

However, he says Samuel Umtiti has a chance of forcing his way back into the first-team picture after returning from suspension.

"As they gave us the option of taking 23 players, it's difficult for Cuenca to play, but we can't include players who haven't passed the [COVID-19] tests," he said.

"We'll see tomorrow because one of the two [Cuenca and Morer] will be left out. But they train with us every day and they're here.

"If we decided he [Umtiti] has to play, he would play. He's getting better and better and this is strictly a subject for me. These are football issues.

"It's true he's better but he was injured for a while and he hasn't been at the level of others. He's much better now and has his chances to play, like everyone else."

Setien added that Ousmane Dembele is progressing well in his recovery from a thigh injury but that his return to group training "will have to wait".

Henry Onyekuru revealed Galatasaray will keep fighting to retain their Turkish Super Lig title, notwithstanding their 3-3 draw with Gaziantep on Sunday.

The Yellow-Reds were leading 3-1 before Gaziantep rallied from behind to ensure a share of the spoils at Ali Sami Yen Spor Kompleksi Turk Telekom Stadium.

The Nigeria international featured for the entirety of the game in his 11th appearance since re-joining the side in January from Ligue 1 club Monaco.

The 23-year-old was part of the Yellow-Reds’ team that won the league title for a record 22nd time last season, after teaming up with them on loan from Everton.

Onyekuru feels the officiating was not favourable to his side against Gaziantep but he is optimistic they will not relent in their quest to clinch the 2019-20 top-flight diadem.

“Let no one perceive this as an excuse, but let's look back at the game we played last week; the same way this week,” Onyekuru told the club website.

“We can never touch our opponent. When we touch them, fouls are blown against us, and meaningless cards were shown.

“It really shocked us and we were surprised by the referee’s decisions. We did everything we could, we went 3-1 ahead.

“We were running and fighting from the beginning to the end of the match but we could only do that to the extent the referee allows us.

“We are Galatasaray. Galatasaray fight until the last minute carries this spirit and reflects on the field. I hope, these will not happen in the match we will play next week, but it was the same this past week. I hope we won't experience them next week.

“As Galatasaray football players, we have to fight until the last second. Of course, we can say that it has become difficult due to the difference in points opened, but Galatasaray does not give up in the spirit, we will continue to fight in the same spirit.”

The draw left Galatasaray in the fourth position with 51 points from 28 games, eight below leaders Istanbul Basaksehir.

Onyekuru, who has scored one goal and provided two assists for Fatih Terim’s men in this campaign, will hope to inspire his side to victory when they take on Istanbul Basaksehir on June 28.

Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA FC) defender John Revita has vowed to return stronger from an injury which threatened to end his career.

The Uganda international player picked up the injury against URA FC in January as the holders went down 1-2 in a Ugandan Premier League (UPL) match, and as a result, was ruled out for the rest of the season after the club’s doctors recommended he undergoes an operation to repair the damage.

The 27-year-old finally underwent surgery at the start of June, five months after he had suffered the career-threatening injury to repair his right knee ligament at CORSU Hospital in Kisubi, but was only released last Tuesday to start the recovery process.

Revita has now assured fans that he will use the current lockdown to heal properly and return as an improved player.

“I am happy and looking forward to the future,” Revita is quoted by New Vision.

“I will utilise this lockdown period to heal and return in time for the national league and the Chan tournament. I will come back stronger after the nine months that the doctors have prescribed for me to recover completely.

“I am still on crutches and will be going back for review after two weeks. For now, I will spend time with my wife and child.”

Revita also thanked the KCCA management for standing with him during the difficult times occasioned by the coronavirus pandemic.

On his part, club doctor Ivan Ssewanyana, who was present when the player went under the knife said: “I will make sure he follows the medical prescription for a good recovery. I am also grateful for the club's financial input in the health of Revita.”

Meanwhile, KCCA manager Mike Mutebi supported the club for standing with Revita, saying he was injured while doing duty for them.

“We have also treated players like Sadam Juma and Jackson Nunda before Revita got injured,” Mutebi told New Vision.

The defender was part of the Johnathan McKinstry-led team that qualified for the Africa Nations Championship (Chan) competition which was to be played in Cameroon on April 4-25. 

Revita’s injury led to his exclusion from the Uganda team that was preparing for Chan before the training was called off after the competition was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

However, the player might have a chance to help the East African nation in the competition if he manages to recover on time.

The new date of Africa's second-tier national competition has not been confirmed yet.

Yanga SC have hit out at some of the fans for the staged protests targeting players who, according to them, are not fit to be at the club.

In a statement signed by interim secretary-general Simon Patrick, the 27-time champions stated their disapproval with the way some fans abused the playing unit.

"Yanga SC have been saddened by indecent acts by a section of the fans who abused and shouted at some players and even reached a point of fighting among themselves," read the statement as obtained by Goal.

"The club management is disappointed and has taken the earliest opportunity to insist on the importance of supporting the team and solve rising issues in a peaceful manner."

The 27-time champions have admitted there are challenges in the team but went ahead to state this was not the right time to focus it.

"The management is aware of the challenges in the team and the pain fans are going through. However, at this time, we should be working together instead of destabilizing the players psychologically," the statement added.

"It will weaken us further and will not develop our game.

"We should be protecting our players against all odds. We were voted the best team in terms of fans discipline and players' respect in Africa; let us not dent our image."

After Sunday's goalless draw with Azam FC, fans stormed outside the Yanga SC dressing room calling out for the release of Ivorian striker Gnamien Yikpe. 

The towering striker was signed by Timu ya Wananchi in January, penning a two-year contract. However, he has failed to live up to expectations and has so far scored just one goal for the team.

After the restart of the Tanzania Mainland League on June 13, the team faithful expected better from the forward.

A poor performance in the 1-0 win against Mwadui - where he missed one gilt-edged chance - and another lacklustre display in the goalless draw against Azam may have sealed his fate at the club.

"Drop Yikpe, release Yikpe," were the chants heard from hundreds of fans who were protesting outside the 27-time league champions' dressing room after Sunday's game.

"I take the point gained in our match, but I am not happy at all with some performance," an agitated fan said.

"Who signed [David] Molinga and Yikpe? Especially the latter, we were told he was a good striker who performed well for the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) side Gor Mahia, so what happened to him here [at Yanga]?

"A striker who has scored just two goals [in all competitions], what does that tell you? The fans are hurt, we are hurting not the management. Is this the new Yanga we had been promised?"

Maritzburg United chairman Farook Kadodia has rubbished reports that they are currently negotiating with Orlando Pirates for the services of goalkeeper Richard Ofori.

The Team of Choice boss also refuted claims that he demands R15 million for the Ghanaian netminder, saying they are not talking to any Premier Soccer League (PSL) clubs.

Ofori has been linked with a move to the Buccaneers for some time as coach Josef Zinnbauer looks to strengthen his goalkeeping department.

“No, it’s not true that I want R15 million for Ofori. I don’t know who is spreading false stories. That’s is just a lie,” Kadodia told Isolezwe.

“There is no club that we are privately talking to regarding Ofori. We are not talking to any club and that includes Orlando Pirates.”

With Pirates having the likes of Joris Delle, Siyabonga Mpontshane, and Wayne Sandilands in their goalkeeping department, the Black Stars international has been reportedly targeted by the Soweto giants to beef up their squad.

The 26-year-old has established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the country and he is likely to be nominated for the PSL Goalkeeper of the Season award.

The towering player has kept 10 clean sheets from 22 league matches this season which has been suspended indefinitely due to the coronavirus pandemic since mid-March.

On the other hand, the chairman has already confirmed that an unnamed Belgian club is interested in their first-choice keeper.

Moreover, Pirates are reportedly competing against Mamelodi Sundowns for the keeper’s services, but the latest reports suggesting that the reigning PSL champions are close to signing Bidvest Wits’ Ricardo Goss means they might have pulled out of the race.

However, the agile keeper has made it clear that he is in no rush to leave the Team of Choice, saying the club has treated him well as he is now in his third season in the PSL, having joined coach Eric Tinkler's troops from Ghanaian club Legon Cities in 2017.

Paul Pogba’s cameo appearance for Manchester United against Tottenham proved that he is “world class” and much more than a “standard Premier League player”, says Michael Owen.

Questions have been asked on a regular basis as to whether the France international deserves a standing among the global elite since he returned to Old Trafford in the summer of 2016.

There has never been any doubting his ability, with the 27-year-old a World Cup winner and talismanic presence for his country. Consistency has, however, proved to be an issue at club level, while fitness struggles having further hampered his progress in the 2019-20 campaign.

A return to action was made in style, though, against Spurs, with Pogba stepping off the bench in north London to win the penalty that allowed United to take something from a 1-1 draw.

His quick feet inside the box lured Eric Dier into a clumsy challenge, presenting Bruno Fernandes with an opportunity to convert from the spot, while there were also flashes of the power and passing range for which he is famed.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hopes there is much more to come from a player with many doubters to win over, with United eager to see Pogba flourish alongside Portugal international Fernandes.

Owen is among those expecting good things from that partnership, with plenty of encouragement taken from their first competitive outing together. Pogba must prove himself deserving of a key role in Solskjaer’s plans, with his outing against Tottenham showing that he can be a Premier League superstar if fit and firing on all cylinders.

Former United striker Owen told Premier League Productions of a man who continues to divide opinion: “These players are the difference. That is the difference between just a Premier League player and someone that we all talk about, all the time.

“That [Pogba winning a penalty] is just a moment of brilliance when the game is hard, when Tottenham get 11 men behind the ball.

“You need something out of the ordinary, and Paul Pogba has got that about him. The little shimmy and that’s it.

“If it wasn’t for him, then they would have got beaten 1-0. It’s brilliant play. That’s the difference between standard Premier League players and world-class players.”

Pogba will be looking to force his way into Solskjaer’s starting XI for a meeting with Sheffield United on Wednesday, with the Red Devils needing another positive result in that contest to keep themselves in the hunt for a top-four finish.

National Super League (NSL) side Shabana FC have welcomed the Kisii County government's move to renovate the Gusii Stadium.

The renovation will see the iconic stadium have a VIP pavilion while its carrying capacity on the terraces is also expected to increase.

The work has been undergoing as football actions remain suspended and Shabana feels the time is enough for the renovation works to be finished before the next season begins.

“Ten spectator stands have been constructed. An additional 10 stands will increase the capacity of 8,000 while the VIP stand will accommodate 2,500 people,” Shabana's statement on Facebook read.

“As Shabana FC family we have welcomed the new developments which are being undertaken after the indefinite suspension of the NSL.”

“It's quite a good move to have these renovations while the league is on break. Otherwise, it would have cost us a lot of money to play our home matches in Awendo, Kericho or even Narok,” Vice-chairman Nyandoro Kambi said.

“The fans should have the same spirit as that will make the players feel a sense of belonging and in return play to the maximum for better results,” Shabana's Organizing Secretary Stephen Kiama stated.

The Kisii Governor James Ongwae revealed why his government has undertaken to renovate the facility which is one of the recognised stadiums in the Nyanza region.

“Kisii is a sporting region and I thought, as a governor, that this stadium will remain behind as a memory to my people that indeed devolution works," Ongwae told Nation Sports.

“The Kisii County Government has prioritised youth talent nurturing and sports by implementing a massive expansion programme for Gusii Stadium.

“Gusii region has produced a number of champions in athletics, including the legendary Nyantika Maiyoro who honed his skills at the Gusii Stadium. This behoves us to establish a modern facility to nurture this talent.

“The Gusii Stadium now has a sitting capacity of 12,000 and we are keen on improving it to meet international standards.

“With enough spectator ablution blocks and adequate water supply system installed, the stadium is on a pedestal of rivalling established ones like the Nyayo National Stadium in hosting major events, thus injecting more revenue to the local economy besides exposing our youth to professional players who will come to play in Kisii.”

The stadium had hosted the Kenya Inter-County Sports and Cultural Association (Kicosca) games two years ago.

Liverpool "disappointed" in Sunday's Merseyside derby and need to be more "clinical" going forward, says Jordan Henderson.

Jurgen Klopp's men were held to a 0-0 draw by Everton at Goodison Park over the weekend, as they failed to get back to winning ways following the coronavirus-enforced break in the 2019-20 campaign.

Liverpool have been the Premier League's standout side by some distance this season, but their usual attacking vigour was in short supply against their local rivals.

In the end, the Reds were lucky to escape with a point, as Klopp admitted himself post-match, with Tom Davies going closest for the hosts when he hit the woodwork in the 80th minute.

Henderson, who got a full 90 minutes of action under his belt against the Toffees, has conceded that the reigning European champions lacked a cutting edge during their first outing since March.

The Liverpool captain told the club's official website: "I think we can be a lot better of course. We know that [but] there were still some positive things that I thought were good.

"We tried to adapt to the situation but overall obviously we are disappointed because we wanted to come here and get the three points.

"But there are still plenty of positives, a clean sheet and I thought we defended really well. We just lacked that bit in the final third.

"The intensity was pretty good with the counter-pressing with the ball higher up the pitch. I thought that was good.

"We were unlucky with a couple of injuries and hopefully they are not too bad. Overall, we’ve just got to take it, move on and try to be better in the next game."

Liverpool are now only five points away from sealing a first league title in 30 years, but their coronation might have been delayed even further were it not for Alisson's late save from Dominic Calvert-Lewin's instinctive flick.

Henderson went on to praise the Brazilian for his contribution, before looking ahead to a meeting with Crystal Palace on Wednesday.

The midfielder added: "He has been outstanding all season and he’s come up with a brilliant save as well to keep us with a clean sheet, so that was important for us.

"Like I said, in the final third I think we can be a little bit better and more clinical but we'll get ready now for Wednesday.

"Every game in the Premier League is tough and each team. You look at our next game against Crystal Palace, who performed well on Saturday, so every game we play will be tough.

"We’ve just got to perform as best as we can and try and win as many games as we can."