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La Liga have explained what exactly is entailed in the deal they signed with Tanzanian giants Young Africans (Yanga SC).

La Liga, in conjunction with Sevilla, entered into a historic strategic consultancy agreement deal that targets to help the record Tanzanian league champions transform in various development aspects.

The deal, signed in June in the presence of former Tanzania President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete and expected to run for three years, will see Yanga advised on management and activities with the fans, digital transformation, marketing and sales, economic control, digitalisation or international development.

La Liga regional manager Africa Juan Botella has told Goal in an exclusive interview that the partnership will help transform Yanga into a strong outfit and help enhance their true potential.

“La Liga, as an institution with a long remarkable experience in professional football, and Sevilla as one of the top international clubs, are interested in promoting football in Tanzania helping one of the most important clubs of the country in its transformation process enhancing its true potential,” Botella told Goal.

“La Liga and Sevilla will jointly offer its services to Yanga, providing it with their knowledge and expertise, with the aim of professionalising the whole club structure.”

Botella also confirmed the project which started immediately after the deal was signed in Dar es Salaam, will stand a chance for renewal after they carry out a review when it elapses.

“The project that starts now will take place for over three seasons [part of 2019/2020, 2020/21, 2021/22 and 2022/23], but it has a preliminary stage based on the priorities set by the Yanga, in which La Liga and Sevilla will carry out a review and recommendations for some strategic areas,” Botella continued.

Asked whether the deal will involve friendly matches between Sevilla and Yanga, Botella explained: “It would not be the first time Sevilla plays in Tanzania, as they did in 2019 against Simba.

“It is something not to be excluded but the agreement we have signed goes far beyond a match between both clubs. At this stage, no matches have been set but we do not close any door.”

In an earlier interview with Goal, Botella revealed why La Liga picked to support Yanga over their mainland rivals Simba SC.

“Yanga and Simba are the two top teams of the country so they both have a huge fan base,” stated Botella.

“Looking specifically at Yanga, the most awarded club in the country, we do not have to forget some of Yanga figures; it boasts a large community on social networks, they are not just numbers, but the level of engagement is huge.

“Just think that during the official presentation of the deal, after an hour of the streaming event, more than 3000 people were still connected to YouTube and continued to send messages of gratitude.

“They have 27 Premier League titles [with five wins across the last 10 years], four Tanzania FA Cups, five Cecafa Club Cups, and the club also has leading sponsors in their fields.”

Real Madrid should keep Sergio Ramos for the remainder of his career after making a mistake in allowing Cristiano Ronaldo to leave, says Predrag Mijatovic.

The defender's deal runs until the end of the 2020-21 season, by which time he will be 35.

Madrid have in the recent past allowed other legendary names to leave at the tail end of their playing days, including Ramos' former team-mates Raul and Iker Casillas, who moved on to Schalke and Porto respectively.

However, Mijatovic is adamant the Spain international must be retained despite his advancing years, giving him the chance to teach future generations about life with Los Blancos.

"We cannot afford to let our players help other teams, because they should be ours," the former Madrid forward told Stats Perform News.  "I would like to have this policy back.

"Unfortunately, it doesn't happen at Real Madrid. Raul had great history at Real Madrid and left in a bad way, Fernando Hierro the same, Casillas too.

"Now they are talking about Sergio Ramos [doing the same]. His contract has to be extended, two or three years, it doesn't matter. This guy has to finish his career at Real Madrid.

"He is important, almost a treasure of the club. Both for what he has done already and what he can do in the future, maybe not on the field, but teaching the young players who join Real Madrid on how to play, behave and adapt to the club. That's what it has to happen."

Madrid also let Ronaldo depart the Santiago Bernabeu for Juventus in 2018, while there has also been speculation Luka Modric, who turns 35 in September, could move on.

Both players were pivotal in helping to win the Champions League for three successive years during Zinedine Zidane's first spell in charge.

"If I had been at the club, I wouldn't let players like Cristiano, Sergio Ramos or Luka Modric leave," Mijatovic continued. 

"They are players that despite losing maybe a bit of fitness as the years go on, they are always very positive for the upcoming players.

"Let's imagine a young striker who comes in and learns from Cristiano, giving him advice. Or a young centre-back speaking with Sergio Ramos. Who could teach him better than Sergio Ramos on how he has to behave?

"Football is not just about having great players and then dropping them when you no longer need them. There are some players ...Italians do this perfectly. There are players like [Franco] Baresi, [Paolo] Maldini, and these big players who are a great asset to the club."

Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold wants to use his profile to promote greater equality in society and would view his career as a failure if he didn’t do so, regardless of his achievements on the pitch.

The Premier League has played its part in trying to combat racism this week, with players’ shirts displaying "Black Lives Matter" across the back instead of their own names.

Players, officials, and coaches have also all taken the knee immediately prior to kick-off, a powerful gesture beamed to millions of people watching on TV across the world.

Alexander-Arnold, who joined his Liverpool team-mates in taking the knee before a training session at Anfield earlier this month, says he is fortunate to have not experienced racism directly during his life, but that doesn’t mean he is not affected by those who have been abused.

The Liverpool defender says education is key to eradicating racism from society and wants to use his profile to do his bit by influencing youngsters who see him as their role model.

“Racism as a whole is not only the person that it is directed to,” he told BT Sport. “Just because I haven’t been directly racially abused doesn’t mean I haven’t felt racially abused, I feel the pain they feel. It’s a community feeling, if you say it to one person, you say it to everyone.

“Maybe I put pressure on myself because I know that's the right thing to do. It’s what I believe in. I want to make sure I’m educating people and be a role model. I've got a big platform, I know a lot of kids look up to me.

"It's not just about being a role model on the pitch. I want to be someone who feels as though I've made a change in the way that people think.

“At the end of my career I want to look back that I influenced a generation, someone who made a change in the way people think.

"If I get through my career and I haven't done that then I'd see that as a failure on my part."

Though he is fully behind the symbolic gestures made by the Premier League this week, Alexander-Arnold thinks much more can be done on a practical level to ensure greater equality in the game, particularly off the pitch among coaching staff and boardrooms.

“There's not enough equality within the system,” he added. “For that to change we need black people in the boardrooms, we need people in there with a voice.

"We need equality from physios and kitmen, all the way up into the boardroom. We need everyone to have an opportunity.

“If two people are evenly deserving of a job, more times than not it will go to the white person, maybe subconsciously it happens.

“No one is asking to be given freebies. We want everyone to have an equal opportunity so when you are going into an interview you feel as though you are being judged on the right things. Not your skin colour or where you’re from, you are judged on your CV and how good a coach you are.”

Former Kibera Parliamentary aspirant Eliud Owalo has donated KSH250,000 to Gor Mahia and challenged them to adopt a sustainable business model.

Owalo's gesture to the players comes at a time they have faced delayed salaries as the club ran without a financial partner for the abandoned 2019/20 season.

The politician hosted the players, members of the technical bench, led by head coach Steven Polack, and the chairman Ambrose Rachier at a Nairobi Hotel on Saturday.

“Today, I hosted Gor Mahia for lunch at the Sarova Panafric Hotel in Nairobi,” Owalo posted on his Facebook page.

“I utilized the occasion to make a humble contribution of KSh250,000 to the team for short-term minimal cushion against adverse effects of Covid-19.

“The playing unit was led by acting captain Joachim Oluoch and accompanied by club Chairman [Ambrose] Rachier, coach [Steven] Polack and Team Manager Jolawi Abondo.

“Moving forward, I submit that we must deploy a business-model in management of the club to make the club financially viable and sustainable.

“If Arsenal can do it, Gor Mahia can equally do it. If Barcelona can do it, why not Gor Mahia?”

One of the club's fans, in a reply to Owalo's post, challenged the K'Ogalo's officials to run the club professionally.

“Thank you Jakom [leader]. Our clubs are run very unprofessional. I've tried in vain to share how business models can be input in sports in Kenya,” Derick Boondox said in his reply.

“Teams need to have employments structures that are professional with a performance contract. Currently, office bearers are elected and run those teams like political parties.

“Why do our teams only attract betting firms to invest in them and not, other brands? These are the questions we should ask. What should these clubs do to recruit fans? How strong is the brand of these clubs different from just filling a roster in KPL? Let's get serious with sports, it's a billion-dollar industry.”

In an interview with Goal , Polack challenged the club to look for multiple sponsors so as to prevent financial instabilities should one opt-out.

“Let me explain to you, you can’t put all your eggs in one basket, because look at what happened to SportPesa, they dropped out and that was it, there was no one to support the club with money, there was no one to cover up after they left, you need to have at least three sponsors," said Polack.

“I am not only looking at Gor Mahia but even in South Africa teams have more than one sponsor, so they need to work hard and get more sponsors so they can be able to keep the club financially stable, but one thing is for sure, I know Gor Mahia officials are not going to sit and wait, they are going to work hard and get more sponsors, we have already talked about it."

Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards recently signed a three-year sponsorship deal with Betsafe.

Bernard has backed his Everton team-mate and Brazilian compatriot Richarlison to keep improving as the Toffees return from the coronavirus break.

Richarlison has talked his way into the headlines this week after calling out Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk ahead of Sunday’s Merseyside derby.

With 10 Premier League goals in 27 appearances this season, the forward is three shy of his best effort to date, having registered five and 13 league goals in his previous campaigns.

“Richi is capable of adapting to any scenario during a match,” Bernard told EvertonTV.

“He's the type of player who's really aggressive in the box. He's fearless and not scared of putting himself about or taking a whack.

“Whatever is happening, the important thing for him is putting the ball in the back of the net.This makes him who he is, a player with a massive presence in the box.”

Richarlison turned 23 while football was suspended, and Bernard thinks he is going to keep getting better.

“He is still developing. When you look at him, he's still so young to be doing what he is in the Premier League.

“I am certain he will mature and become an even better player, not just in the way he plays but also in the way he understands and reads the game.”

As well as helping Everton climb the table under Carlo Ancelotti, both Bernard and Richarlison are hoping to make an impression on the international stage.

Richarlison has six goals in 19 games for Brazil while Bernard is hoping to add to his 14 caps, the last of which came six years ago.

“My objective for Everton's restart is to come back well and give my all, so we can get the wins and share joyful moments together,” Bernard added.

“I think to play for the national team in any country you have to be doing well for your club, so for me to think about the Brazilian Selecao, I have to think about Everton.

“It is good we can play at Goodison [rather than a neutral venue] but I'd be even more pleased if we were able to have our fans there.

“It’s a delicate situation coming back after the pandemic and two months out and going into a difficult fixture. But the game being a derby is an additional motivator for me and, I believe, all the players.

“We need to look after ourselves, be dedicated and as prepared as possible for a tough, intense game. It will also be a happy occasion because of this opportunity to play again at Goodison Park.”

Osinachi Ohale has appreciated Spanish side Club Deportivo (CD) Tacon ahead of a rumoured move to Serie A this summer.

The Nigeria international spent the 2019-20 season at the Spanish Primera Iberdrola outfit and made 15 appearances, scoring twice in the process for David Aznar's side since joining last September.

Of her two goals, the first came in Tacon's 5-1 thrashing of Toni Payne's Sevilla on January 4 and the second in a 4-3 win over rivals Madrid CFF in a local derby in the capital four weeks later.

And following the league cancellation in May, which saw her side finish 10th this season - with 23 points from 21 matches - the 28-year-old has thanked the entire club setup.

"Hi everyone. It is time to announce that I will be leaving CD Tacon when my contract expires at the end of the month and a new chapter is about to begin," Ohale wrote on Instagram.

"I would like to say thanks to everyone at the club and to the fans for all the support and love you have given me this year. 

"It has been amazing. As for my followers, I will let you know my next step in the very near future."

Before her move to Spain last year, Ohale previously starred for Damallsvenskan outfit Vaxjo, whom she joined from Vittsjo in 2018, playing 25 matches during her 12-month spell in Sweden.

The defender, who began her career with Rivers Angels and Delta Queens in Nigeria, also enjoyed a stint at National Women's Soccer League side Houston Dash in 2014 in the US.

At international level, she played for Nigeria at four Africa Women's Cup of Nations, winning on all occasions and also at three Women's World Cups, including at last year's event in France.

She is a top target for a number of top teams in Europe, including the Italian side AS Roma, who seek her services as a replacement for Federica Di Criscio, according to reports in Italy.

Having bid farewell to Tacon this week, the Super Falcons star is expected to reveal her next possible destination in the coming days.

Roma midfielder Bryan Cristante has revealed how he successfully fought off two thieves who attempted to steal his Rolex watch.

The Italy international was stopped at a set of traffic lights in his car near Roma’s Stadio Olimpico when the incident happened on Friday morning.

Il Messaggero reports that one of the assailants attempted to get into his Porsche Cayenne and steal a Rolex watch from his wrist, but Cristante managed to punch him to the floor, forcing him and another man to drive away on a scooter.

Two plainclothes policemen who were nearby noticed the scuffle, but the pair had managed to flee before they could intervene.

"It was 10:30am and I was in my car waiting between Viale Angelico and Viale delle Milizie for the red light to change,” Cristante told Il Messaggero.

“All of a sudden a person with a helmet tried to get into my car, grabbed my wrist and tried to steal my watch. 

“I reacted by punching his helmet twice, which split the visor. The robber fell to the ground and I could see he didn't know what to do before an accomplice arrived on a T-Max (scooter) and they drove away.”

Cristante has made 21 appearances for Roma so far this season, scoring once. It is his second season in the Italian capital having joined initially on loan from fellow Serie A outfit Atalanta in the summer of 2018.

The 25-year-old and his Roma team-mates are preparing for their first game back after the coronavirus shutdown at home to Sampdoria on Wednesday. Paulo Fonseca’s side are currently fifth in the table, three points behind fourth-placed Atalanta, who have a game in hand.

Italian football resumed earlier this month with the Coppa Italia semi-finals and final, with Napoli overcoming Juventus on penalties to win the title for a sixth time on Wednesday.

The remaining 124 Serie A matches will now be played out over 43 days, starting on Saturday with the four remaining fixtures from gameweek 25 - all of which were postponed because of the coronavirus outbreak in March.

Juventus currently lead the table by one point ahead of Lazio as they seek a ninth-successive Scudetto.

Former Southampton Under-23 manager Radhi Jaidi has taken to social media to congratulate academy product Nathan Tella, who made his Premier League debut in the 3-0 win at Norwich City on Friday.

The Anglo-Nigerian winger started from the bench and came on for Danny Ings in the 88th minute.

In the two minutes he spent on the pitch, the 20-year-old had three touches on the ball and won two of his three total duels.

The game at Carrow Road was the first to mark Matchday 30 Premier League fixtures, the first full round of games since the league was suspended in mid-March because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Danny Ings got the ball rolling four minutes into the second half with the assist from Stuart Armstrong.

Ings then returned the favour for Armstrong to score in the 54th minute before Nathan Redmond wrapped it up 11 minutes before full-time with Nigerian turned Irish forward Michael Obafemi providing the assist.

Friday's victory sent Southampton 10 points clear of the relegation zone with eight matches left to play.

"Great win Southampton and congratulations for another Premier League debut and academy product Nathan Tella, very proud of you," Jaidi posted on Twitter.

Tella has been on the books of Southampton as a youth player since 2017 when he joined from Arsenal.

He was coached by Jaidi who headed the Saints' Under-23 squad between 2017 and 2019, leading them to promotion to Division 1 of the Premier League 2 for the 2019-20 season.

Tella has played 39 times for the Southampton Under-23, scoring seven goals and providing five assists.

His contract with the south coast club expires at the end of June, but it's yet to be seen if he will be given an extension after he impressed coach Ralph Hasenhuttl in a pre-match friendly with Bristol City, where one of his efforts from outside the box hit the inside of the post.

Jaidi is now in charge of Hartford Athletic in the United States and was previously a player with Southampton, featuring 66 times between 2009 and 2012, when he hung up his boots.

The 44-year-old was an Africa Cup of Nations winner with Tunisia on home soil in 2004.

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) presidential aspirant Sam Nywamweya has criticised Nick Mwendwa's actions, saying it chased away South Africa-based broadcaster SuperSport.

The Johannesburg-based broadcaster ended its contract to air the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) matches after the Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT) ruling which recognized the FKF's decision to add two more teams to the top-tier in 2017.

Nyamweya, who has been a huge critic of his successor, says Mwendwa's actions are to be blamed for the broadcaster's exit.

“His [Mwendwa’s] acts made SuperSport TV run and that is his biggest sin. SuperSport ran away because FKF forced KPL to have 18 teams and not 16,” Nyamweya told Radio Jambo.

“After they had their way, FKF promised to give KPL financial support, in front of the SDT, for having 18 teams in the league. They never did that. 

“Economically, it was not possible for KPL to have 18 teams and this is the reason we lost them.”

Kenya had won the rights to host the 2018 African Nations Championship (Chan) but the rights were later withdrawn due to lack of preparedness and Nyamweya counts that as another failure by Mwendwa.

“Failure to host Chan is another biggest failure. Despite stating there were pitches ready for the tournament, that was not the case eventually as it emerged,” added the former president. 

The FKF has also had to deal with questions arising from the use of funds, especially the KSh244M given to them to facilitate their preparations for the 2019 African Cup of Nations, and Nyamweya said they must be held accountable.

“Lack of accountability and transparency on government, Fifa and Caf funds is another big issue with the current FKF,” added the aspirant.

“The former Permanent Secretary Peter Kaberia and the Sports Cabinet Secretary have questioned their use of funds before. 

“If you get such a huge amount of money and you are not accountable, that becomes a big problem. 

“Caf has been sending money but unfortunately the same cannot be accounted for. During my time, we only got USD 250,000 per year and the government financial support was meagre, to say the least.

“I can remember before our game against Cape Verde [a World Cup qualifier in 2015], we got money from the government on Friday when the team was to travel on Saturday. How would you purchase air tickets and prepare in such circumstances?

“Recently, the government gave the federation KSh244 million something that was never enjoyed during the previous administrations.

“We worked hard despite the challenges and ensured no player owed us any of their allowances.”

Ruben Loftus-Cheek says playing behind closed doors will prove a mental challenge for Premier League players, but one which Chelsea are ready to rise to.

Frank Lampard’s side resume their league season with a trip to Aston Villa on Saturday, before their first game back at Stamford Bridge against Manchester City on Thursday.

With the signings of Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech confirmed since play was stopped, there is a positive feeling around the club, and Chelsea are hoping that will translate to the pitch.

Loftus-Cheek hasn’t played yet this season due to a serious Achilles injury, but he says he is now raring to go.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Loftus-Cheek told Chelsea’s official website.

“Playing in front of an empty stadium will feel really, really weird, because we’re used to loud noises and not even being able to hear the bench shout at you.

“Now we’re going to hear everything and it’s going to have that kind of hollow feeling, which is a good mental test for us. I’m definitely looking forward to playing football again, no matter the circumstances.

“I don’t think it’ll be a problem for us, because as soon as you start playing, everything else kind of zones out anyway.

“You’re so focused on the game when you’re playing that sometimes you don’t even notice the crowd when they are there.

“I think this will be the same thing once it starts – you won’t even notice because you’ll be so focused on playing football.”

Loftus-Cheek also spoke about Chelsea’s experience of going into lockdown. The Blues were one of the first football clubs to do so after Callum Hudson-Odoi tested positive for Covid-19.

“You never think this kind of thing will happen, and we went into quarantine earlier than others because Callum had symptoms,” he said. “We didn’t know it was going to stay like that for so long!

“Once everyone knew this was not going to be over in a week, the fitness guys at the club came up with a plan for us to follow to keep us ready, and keep us ticking over until we came back.

“We’ve done some Zoom sessions online with the whole squad, doing some strength work, which was fun. Just to keep the morale there and chat to everyone was good.

“We ended up doing those group sessions twice a week, and there was a lot of banter flying about, which was good – and we obviously got the work done!

“It was just good to talk to the boys and see them. We were all logged into a fitness app too, so we could see what everyone else was doing, running-wise, and that was good to keep the competition up and keep pushing each other.”

Neymar is determined to "make history" for Paris Saint-Germain when the Champions League returns in August. 

The world's most expensive player has been unable to lead the Ligue 1 champions to European glory up to now, with him having completed a €222 million (£201m/$248m) move from Barcelona in 2017. 

Neymar scored twice in the 3-2 aggregate victory over Borussia Dortmund in the last 16 before the 2019-20 competition was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

UEFA plans to stage this season's quarter-finals onwards in a 'mini-tournament' format in Portugal, by which time PSG will not have played for nearly six months, with the Ligue 1 season having been concluded early on a points-per-game basis. 

Having won the French title for the third time, Neymar now wants to deliver the Champions League to the capital. 

"This period was atypical, but the main focus was to keep safe, with steady body and mind," the Brazil star said via his official website. 

"I am ready and excited to return, thinking a lot about the Champions League, of course. We have a strong group, conquered a historical qualification, with the same intensity and dedication, but I miss the heat of the game. I can barely wait to enter the pitch and to, if it's God's will, make history." 

Neymar's fitness coach Ricardo Rosa has been impressed with the player's dedication to keeping in shape during months of inactivity. 

"The main emphasis was Neymar's dedication, effort and performance he had, his focus," Rosa said. 

"I've never had the possibility of being three months straight with him and he demonstrated dedication and commitment, excited to do his job, showcasing trust and respect for my work." 

The statements from Neymar emphasising his commitment to the PSG cause come a day after it was revealed that the Brazilian has been ordered to pay €6.7m (£6.1m/$7.5m) to former club Barcelona.

The Catalans, who have been keen on re-signing the forward but now look unlikely to do so given the financial issues of the coronavirus pandemic, saw a judge rule in their favour over a signing-on bonus dispute with their former player.

Simba SC coach Sven Vandenbroeck has confessed they will face a difficult and tough opponent in Mwadui FC when they face off in a Mainland Premier League match on Saturday.

The league champions started their campaign to retain the title with a 1-1 draw against Ruvu Shooting while Mwadui succumbed to a 1-0 defeat against Young Africans (Yanga SC) at Kambarage Stadium in Shinyanga.

As the two teams prepare to face off at National Stadium in Dar es Salaam, the Belgian coach has admitted it will not be an easy task for his boys, in a match they will also be seeking revenge having lost the first round fixture 1-0.

It was Mwadui who beat Simba for the first time this season and the coach is aware of the threats posed by the Shinyanga-based club.

“It will be a difficult game, Mwadui is one of the teams that can trouble you and you saw what they did to us in the first round tie,” Vandenbroeck is quoted by the club’s official website.

“We definitely want to bounce back from the draw against Ruvu and get a win because we want to keep our title chances on track but it will not be a walk in the park, we must be ready and I have warned my players against underrating our opponents, they should take the game seriously.”

Vandenbroeck's sentiments were echoed by defender Erasto Nyoni who said they will not underrate Mwadui.

“We know them [Mwadui], we know what they can do even given the chance and we will make sure we don’t give them room. We have prepared well and I am sure we will win the match.”

Simba will miss the services of midfielder Jonas Mkude, who picked up an injury during the friendly against KMC, and despite returning to training under the care of fitness trainer, he will not be fit to face Mwadui, in a match Simba must win after dropping points in their first match against Ruvu Shooting.

“We don’t want to rush him back and must wait for a clearance from the team doctor,” Simba’s team manager Patrick Rweyemanu told reporters on Friday.

Simba will also miss the services of Sudanese player Sharraf Shaiboub, who is still stranded in his native country owing to the lockdown imposed by the government to help curb the spread of Covid-19.

Former South Africa international Katlego Mphela has revealed he joined Kaizer Chiefs because Mamelodi Sundowns were dragging their feet to renew his contract, which made him feel not needed at Chloorkop.

As he entered the final six months of his Mamelodi Sundowns contract in January 2014, Mphela said he heard no word from the club regarding his future.

This was after failing to start a game for Sundowns in the first half of the 2013/14 season where he made five appearances from the bench, scoring two goals.

Chiefs then came calling and a transfer deadline day loan move to Naturena followed before it was switched to a permanent transfer in July 2014 after he had spent five and half seasons with the Brazilians.

“For me it was a bit of a difficult situation because I had my agent [and] on the other side I had the team. All I know is that there were six months left on my contract,” said Mphela on Marawa Sports Worldwide on Metro FM.

“You know when you are left with six months you are allowed to sign elsewhere when the club does not engage you and that’s what happened until such a time when rumours came out that I had signed for Chiefs and that’s when my agent came back and told me that these people [Chiefs] want to engage you.

“But then remember I had to think about myself and other things because I asked myself that I have been here for a lengthy part of my life and my contract is expiring [but] no one is saying anything, no one is saying we are going to renew [your contract] or not. I felt like, wow, 'I am not needed there and then here are offers.' What do you do as a person?”

Mphela says before settling for Chiefs, he turned down a lucrative contract offer from Mpumalanga Black Aces as well as SuperSport United.

He had previously worked with then Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter in the national team and he says he still had unfinished business with Bafana Bafana, which made it easy for him to pick Amakhosi.

“I had an offer from Aces and they put more money to be honest, more than anyone. Yes they put more money [than Kaizer Chiefs] but I was like ‘I still want to play for the national team,’ you consider those things,” Mphela said.

“And SuperSport United were there, they were willing to offer not more money but a longer contract. And then Chiefs came the last minute and I thought about it because I had worked with Stuart Baxter before.

“For him to come to me, I didn’t go to him, he came to me, I was like ‘this guy wants me, actually I am going to make it.’ I had played for him before so he came to me and I decided right there ‘ok cool I’m coming.’ I made a decision that I am going to Chiefs.”

Five months after his Sundowns departure, the Brazilians were crowned Premier Soccer League (PSL) champions and his stay at Chiefs also saw limited game time but he, however, ended his stint there as a league champion.

Highlands Park central midfielder Reneilwe Letsholonyane says George Maluleka has the talent to succeed at Mamelodi Sundowns.

The 31-year-old midfielder is set to join Sundowns on a free transfer from Kaizer Chiefs at the end of the current season after signing a pre-contract with Masandawana.

Letsholonyane, 38, played with Maluleka at Chiefs where they won the Premier Soccer League (PSL) title and MTN8 during the 2014/15 season.

“He [Maluleka] is a good guy, a good boy, he is one of the players I enjoyed playing with. He is younger than I am, he’s a good player,” Letsholonyane told Far Post.

“Talent-wise, I don’t doubt that because he is talented, he can compete with any other player in the PSL when he puts his mind on it when he works hard. So, definitely he will make it but mentally he must be in the right place."

Nicknamed Yeye, Letsholonyane achieved legendary status at Chiefs during his eight-year spell with the Soweto giants, before he decided to leave the club for SuperSport United in 2016 after failing to agree terms on a new contract.

Maluleka will also part ways with Amakhosi after deciding against signing a new deal and Yeye explained his former teammate will have to be mentally ready to play for the reigning PSL champions.

“Look whether you join Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs,  Mamelodi Sundowns, I would put SuperSport and Bidvest Wits in because they are also somewhere there, when joining these teams. Obviously especially the ‘big three’ [Chiefs, Sundowns and Pirates], you first overcome the mental part of being there," he said.

“You know that it is not going to be easy, it is not going to be easy for him to be in that environment. It is a new environment, whether it is in the country or not, the fact is a new environment.

“He spent a whole lot of time at Chiefs where they do things differently to where he is gonna be going. So first, you overcome the mental strength, you need to overcome things we can’t see, your feelings, it is not easy."

The former Bafana Bafana international admitted that it was not easy for him to leave the Naturena-based giants where he was one of the fan-favourites.

“I can tell you this myself, it wasn’t easy for him to decide that he is leaving Chiefs and joining Sundowns," he added.

“I know that I experienced that firsthand. It’s eating him up inside but at the end of the day he had to make a decision and he did, he must leave with his decision."

Mauleka, who is nicknamed Mido, reportedly signed a four-year deal with Sundowns and he will compete with the likes of Hompho Kekana, Tiyani Mabunda, Oupa Manyisa and Andile Jali in midfield.

Former Uganda and SC Villa striker Andrew Mukasa has pleaded for assistance as he continues to recover from mental illness.

Villa's legend has asked for financial help and 'a small phone' as he battles the mental issue he has been suffering for over 10 years now.

“I am doing fine. There is a big change now as compared to the past,” Fimbo, as Mukasa is popularly known, is quoted as saying by Sports Nation.

“Although I am still struggling financially, I need money to buy medicine, new clothing and maybe a small phone.”

Before the coronavirus pandemic, Mukasa was staying with his brother Ronnie Makabai but had to return to his rural home at Wakaliga.

“I have to thank God and [Ronnie] Makabai who have been there for me, and everyone who has done his best to see that my son recovers up to this stage,” Mukasa's Grace Nandawula said.

“Fimbo is now doing well, he can wash his clothes, we can have good conversations and he is that patient who even asks for his medicines, and he is a smart person who now loves his God.

“However, there challenges we face especially getting his medicine, food, clothing and, of course, the house where he sleeps in is in a worrying state."

Mukasa won Premier League titles in 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001 with Villa and also lifted the Uganda Cup trophies twice with the same club. He won Uganda's Player of the Year in 1999.

Mukasa's plight has been reported almost a week after a number of Ugandan goalkeepers paid a courtesy call to former Ugandan goalkeeper Jamil Kasirye.

Fred Kajoba, Charles Lukwago, Ismail Watenga, Crested Cranes skipper Ruth Aturo and Dennis Onyango took part in the initiative to reach out to Kasirye.

“We are looking forward to setting up something that will stay around for a long time to sustain all the goalkeepers in need of help at any time be it the retired or those still active," Kajoba said as they promised to ensure retired players do not suffer anymore.

“We shall now start up a union which will keep us together because, from today onwards, we don’t want to hear any of our goalkeepers suffering.” 

Mukasa, who was the league top scorer in 1999 and 2000 with SC Villa, was appointed Uganda captain in 2000.

Kenya international midfielder Duncan Otieno is open to AFC Leopards return at any given time.

The former Ingwe skipper left the den in October 2018 for Zambian side Nkana FC where he is still contracted.

"Leopards will always remain my home and I cannot refuse to play for them," Otieno told Goal on Saturday.

"If the club management can come up with a good offer for me, I will consider it; remember I have a soft spot for the club which cannot be taken by anyone. However, no one has contacted me about it."

The towering midfielder's contract with the Red Devils will expire in October this year and the 26-year-old is not sure whether he will be at the club or not.

"The team is currently struggling financially and we have some internal problems at the moment," Otieno revealed.

"We are also facing financial problems at the club, it has affected some of our activities.

"I will hold a meeting with them after the Covid-19 pandemic is over and make a decision after that. Several teams have shown their interest in my services but I have not made my mind yet.

"Currently, I cannot guarantee where I will be playing next season."

Prior to Otieno's move to Zambia, national team call-ups used to come in handy but it is currently not the case. Did his move down South affect his chances with Harambee Stars?

"Far from it," Otieno explains, "you know my position in the team is also very competitive.

"Not being called does not mean my quality is questionable, but it means I have to work harder to deserve it. So I will just give my best at club level and get my recall to the national team through merit.

"Remember, we have the likes of Anthony Akumu, Victor Wanyama and Johanna Omollo among others who play in that role. I will be giving my best and when the time comes, I will make a return to the team.

"I am just hoping the [Covid-19] pandemic can be controlled sooner and normalcy returns. From there we will have an easy way forward and we will once again work harder on the pitch to hit our targets."