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The Tanzania government has praised fans for adhering to safety measures when the Mainland Premier League resumed on Saturday.

The Tanzanian top-flight returned after it took a break in mid-March owing to the coronavirus pandemic, with Young Africans (Yanga SC) setting the ball rolling with a 1-0 win against Mwadui FC while third-place-chasing Namungo FC settled for a 2-2 draw against Coastal Union.

On Sunday, it was the chance of champions Simba SC to return to action and they dropped points after a 1-1 draw against Ruvu Shooting while second-placed Azam FC won 2-0 against Mbao FC at Azam Complex in Dar es Salaam.

While the government had warned stadia managers against breaking the rules ahead of the league restart, they have now expressed satisfaction with what they saw, as all involved implemented the public guidelines as issued by the Ministry of Health.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry for Information, Culture, Arts, and Sports, Hassan Abbas, said he was impressed with how things unfolded during the first week.

"First of all, we should thank President John Pombe Magufuli for letting sports activities resume since many countries are yet to resume sports activities and Tanzania has done well so far,” Abbas is quoted by Daily News.

“The second thing we should cherish is his authorisation to allow supporters to watch live the games at stadiums while taking into consideration all precaution measures to avoid further spread of Covi-19.

“The bottom line here is I together with many people out there are totally delighted to see that sports is back and we just need to continue taking into consideration the major measures to curb Covid-19.

“People should ensure that they wash their hands before going into the stadium using running water, they should use sanitisers if possible, wear masks, have temperature test and create a one-meter distance with each other once inside the venue.”

Speaking on the same subject, Director of Sports in the Ministry for Information, Culture, Arts, and Sports, Yusuph Singo, picked out a few mistakes which fans should rectify ahead of the next matches.

“Whenever a goal has been scored, some people are breaking the laws as they celebrate in groups but I am sure that they will get used to it,” Singo explained.

“Most of the guidelines like wearing masks and washing hands are being respected without problems but as government, our task is to continue creating awareness to people on what they should do to avoid the spread of Covid-19.”

Yanga SC head coach Luc Eymael believes Bernard Morrison must apologise to the team after skipping the Tanzania Mainland League restart.

The Ghanaian was not part of the team that won by a solitary goal against Mwadui in Shinyanga and will also miss Tuesday's match away to JKT Tanzania in Dodoma.

The Belgian has now revealed what he is expecting from the player after a phone conversation that lasted almost an hour.

"It was a mistake from [Morrison] to skip our league restart and he has admitted," Eymael told Mwanaspoti.

"There are no two ways about it, he has to apologise to the entire team, technical bench and the fans as well.

"It is a fact when I arrived many things were not in place and it was up to me as the head coach to put the house in order, for the team to work together in harmony.

"Morrison was one of the problems and he was not part of the team in Shinyanga; I did not get enough time to understand where the main problem was and had to leave without him."

The 60-year-old tactician has also warned the player against feeling special in the team, stating matches are not won individually.

"Even if you had two Cristiano Ronaldo, two Lionel Messi and two Sergio Ramos, there is no way they can win against a team comprising of 11 players, they will lose," Eymael added.

"Morrison is arguably the best player at Yanga, however, he needs other players to shine. It is all about cooperation with other players as well; Yanga is a team, not a one-man show." 

On Tuesday, Yanga will be playing against JKT Tanzania hoping to bag maximum points, and their communication officer Hassan Bumbuli admitted it will be a tough match, but they are going for nothing less than a win.

"We respect [JKT Tanzania] they are a good team, and to be honest we respect all our opponents," Bumbuli told journalists.

"All teams are tough to beat especially at this time when they are chasing their objectives. However, we all know Yanga is a big, established and historic team and will do absolutely everything to win especially on the pitch.

"Like our game [on Saturday] against Mwadui, it was tough but we won; we scored two goals, we were denied one but still managed to get maximum points by the 1-0 win.

"We are one team determined to get maximum points regardless of the opponent we are playing against. For instance Prisons, they were unbeaten by the time we played them in the first round, but we defeated them.

"So regardless of how good JKT are, we just want to go there, beat them and return to Dar es Salaam with maximum points."

Cristiano Ronaldo "had the p*ss taken out of him" by Massimiliano Allegri at Juventus, according to Domenico Tedesco, who says the Portuguese superstar wasn't immune to his old coach's jokes on the training ground.

Allegri coached Ronaldo during his final year at Juve, after the Italian champions lured the five-time Ballon d'Or winner to Turin from Real Madrid in the summer of 2018.

The Portuguese striker's haul of 21 goals in 31 Serie A appearances helped the Bianconeri win an eighth successive Scudetto, ensuring that Allegri's reign ended on a high.

The 52-year-old led Juve to 11 major trophies in total, and two Champions League finals, establishing himself as one of the finest coaches in European football in the process.

Allegri was also a popular figure in the Allianz Stadium dressing room, as Tedesco saw when he visited the Italian tactician last season.

The former Schalke boss, who is now in charge of Russian side Spartak Moscow, says Allegri's "dry sense of humour" was clear to see, and not even Ronaldo was safe from his sharp tongue.

Tedesco told Goal and SPOX: "Allegri is a very charismatic coach. I really liked the way he deals with the team.

"He ran a lot in training, played a lot of football and has a good, dry sense of humour.

"If Cristiano Ronaldo didn't get the ball to shoot, he also had the p*iss taken out of him. It was very interesting to see."

Tedesco went on to discuss the progress Leon Goretzka has made at Bayern Munich since leaving Schalke two years ago.

He insists he has not been surprised by the 25-year-old's impact at Bayern, having witnessed the midfielder's "special" talents up close at the Veltins-Arena.

"I am extremely proud of Leon. But I am by no means surprised by his development," said Tedesco. 

"Anyone who has conversations with Leon quickly realises what makes the boy so special. First of all, he's a great person. He is intelligent, highly professional, he thinks outside the box and he is extremely sensitive from a social point of view.

"As a coach, you will notice this immediately when you see how he deals with his team-mates. And he wants to win every game - that's his mentality, which he transfers to everyone else.

"Leon is the prototype of a modern central midfielder. Every club can wish for such a player because he simply brings everything a player needs in this position.

"He is strong, technically great in tight spaces, he can play the final pass and he is also dangerous in the box. He is also always there for headers."

Bayer Leverkusen are aware of the huge interest in Kai Havertz and are unsure what will happen regarding the Germany international’s future.

Havertz has enjoyed an outstanding season for the Bundesliga club and has been linked with a big-money move when the transfer window reopens.

Premier League trio Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United have all been credited with an interest in the recently-turned 21-year-old, while Real Madrid have also been mentioned as suitors.

Reports have suggested that Leverkusen’s Bundesliga rivals Bayern Munich are leading the race for the playmaker as the champions-elect prepare to finetune their squad in the summer.

Leverkusen’s sporting director Rudi Voller recently stated the club had not given up hope of retaining Havertz, despite the lengthy list of admirers.

The club’s CEO Fernando Carro has now offered his update on Havertz and is hoping that a solution can be reached to keep everyone happy.

“I can see that many clubs are interested in him,” Carro told Kolner Stadt Anzeiger.

“Kai has been with us for 10 years. I see the wish of the player to take his next step sometime in the near future, which you have to respect, just as you have to respect the fact that he has a contract with us until 2022.

“You have to try to find a solution where the player's goal can be reconciled with ours. At the moment nobody can say for sure what will happen.”

The links to Bayern drew a positive response from Thomas Muller, although the forward did receive a rebuke from his own club’s sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic.

Muller said of Havertz: "In my last call-ups for the national team, I always enjoyed training and playing with him. He is a very good player, if not the best player of his age group in Europe at the moment.

"His skills are exceptional. Of course, we always want the best players at Bayern."

Former Bayern captain Lothar Matthaus expressed his view that his old club can afford to sign Havertz, despite reports suggesting the player will command a fee in excess of €80 million (£72m/$91m).

Matthaus told Sky Deutschland: “Havertz, who is sure to be hunted by the vast majority of clubs, should in my eyes have the character and quality to assert himself at Real, Barcelona, ​​Juventus or the top English clubs.

“Havertz has made a very good impression on me and that, paired with insane talent, means he has what it takes to show his class abroad. But of course Bayern will also be a factor.

“It could also be an option to agree on the season after next, with Bayern allowing him to stay in Leverkusen for another year – especially if they qualify for the Champions League. 

“Then Thomas Muller will be a year-and-a-half older and the prospects for Kai are even better than they are already. He will certainly cost at least €80 million, and only because of the current crisis. Otherwise we would be talking about a three-figure amount.”

Ashraf ‘Fadiga’ Mugume has explained the reason he signed for Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA FC).

The 13-time league champions, who are reeling from losing out on the 2019-20 Ugandan Premier League (UPL) title to rivals Vipers SC, confirmed the double signing of midfielder Mugume and striker Charles Lwanga at Lugogo Stadium on Sunday.

Both players were free agents with Lwanga having run down his contract and parted ways with SC Villa while Mugume was at Police FC.

Mugume, who penned a four-year contract which will see him stay at the club until July 2024, has explained he wants to win trophies in Uganda hence the decision to sign for the former champions.

“I can’t wait to get started, repay the club for the faith they have had in me, fight for the badge and earn my spot on the first team,” Mugume is quoted by the club’s official website.

“I want to win trophies with the club, I want to make the fans happy and my family proud.

“I am happy and feel overwhelmed to join KCCA. I have had a chance to train with the club since January 2020 and I immediately felt at home since the first day here.

“I have a couple of players that are my friends here and also grew up with a number of them so the chemistry is good.”

Mugume, who started his career at Red Star FC while studying at Old Kampala Primary Senior between 2012 and 2014, says he already likes the environment at Lugogo and he is ready to get a fresh start.

“I want to put all the past behind me and have a fresh start here at KCCA FC,” Mugume continued.

“I feel this is the right environment for me to develop and grow into the right player I want to be. I have been involved in a number of practice games with the club and I felt the style of play was the right for me to blossom. They love to use the ball and I am comfortable in that kind of style.

“The club has very good technically gifted players and competition here is real. Many players are on the National team and this speaks volumes for the kind of quality here.”

After leaving school in 2014, Mugune joined the Vipers Junior Team while at St Mary’s SSS, Kitende in 2015, where he won the Fufa Juniors League in 2015 and was later promoted to the senior team in 2016 and played his first match against Mbarara City.

KCCA are also understood to be in the final stages of finalising the signing of Pius Obuya from Maroons. Obuya is thought to be an apt replacement for Allan Okello, who left in January for Paradou AC.

Mainz striker Taiwo Awoniyi has thanked the club’s medical team for their efforts to ensure he regained consciousness.

The Nigerian forward was stretchered off in the 23rd minute in his side’s 1-0 defeat to Augsburg in Sunday’s Bundesliga game at Opel Arena.

Awoniyi hit the head of Felix Uduokhai and then landed awkwardly before he was taken to the hospital where he was diagnosed with a severe concussion.

On Monday, Mainz manager Achim Beierlorzer revealed the striker has regained consciousness and can now remember the incident.

The former Nigeria U23 striker has thanked God, his club and Mainz University Medical Center for saving his life.

"The last thing I can remember from this scene is how I hit the ball with my head, and then I passed out,” Awoniyi told the club website.

“It was difficult for me on the field to regain consciousness and really awake and it also took a little while before I could remember everything. But I feel much better now.

“I would like to praise our medical department at Mainz 05 and Mainz University Medical Center. They looked after me very well.

“And I thank the dear God who protected me in this situation and made everything possible for me anyway.”

Awoniyi joined Mainz last summer from Premier League club Liverpool and has featured in 11 Bundesliga games for the Opel Arena outfit since his arrival.

The 05ers are three places above the relegation zone and the 22-year-old, who revealed he will not play a part when his side takes on Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday, is confident they can avoid the drop from the top-flight at the end of the season.

“Unfortunately I will not be able to help my team on the pitch in Dortmund, but I will support them as much as I can. Together we will give everything for the fans and avoid relegation, I'm sure of that,” he added.

Awoniyi has been with Liverpool since 2015, after his impressive showing for the Golden Eaglets at the 2013 U17 World Cup, where he scored four goals in the competition to help Nigeria win the title.

The forward has, however, spent most of his time on loan playing in Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium.

It is yet to be seen when he will be allowed to take the field again.

Posta Rangers have reached out to the government to have them included in the stimulus package which is helping to assist sportsmen and women in the country financially.

The government introduced the stimulus package one month ago, to help support the players owing to the effects caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

AFC Leopards and Sofapaka were among the first teams in the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) to receive a stimulus stipend.

The Ministry of Sports, through Cabinet Secretary Ambassador Amina Mohamed, announced Sh20 million had been released from the Sports Fund to help players amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.

While players from all teams in the top-flight are shortlisted to get financial help for the next three months, Tusker, Bandari, Wazito FC, KCB, Posta Rangers, and Ulinzi Stars, were excluded since they allegedly have financial backing.

Posta Rangers have now come out crying and begging Amina to help their players, who have suffered because they have not received salaries for the last three months.

“We wish to inform you Posta Rangers players and officials are also struggle financially and they are not stable as it was deemed,” Posta Rangers said in a statement dated June 11, signed by club chairman John Tanui, sent to Amina, and obtained by Goal.

“The players and officials owe rent arrears for at least two to three months.

“In addition to facing imminent eviction, as their June rent is due, they and their families now face an increasingly desperate housing, food, and health crisis. We look forward to your positive consideration and appreciate your continued support for the growth and development of sports in Kenya.”

During the first release, AFC Leopards pocketed the largest amount (Sh350,000) after submitting 35 names which included players and members of the technical bench. 

Kisumu based All-Stars received Sh340,000 for 34 names with Sofapaka and Zoo FC getting Sh300,000 each for 30 individuals. 

Women's footballers were not left behind. Gatundu-based Gaspo FC, who are taking part in the Kenyan Women Premier League (KWPL), also received their fair share. The technical bench and players numbering 28, received Sh280,000.

Gor Mahia have also received financial support though most of the players feel the Sh10, 000 is not enough to help them pay accrued debts.

Steven Gerrard says Liverpool should already be "starting work on a statue" of Jurgen Klopp ahead of their title coronation.

Liverpool will be confirmed as the new Premier League champions if they pick up six points from their final nine fixtures of the 2019-20 season.

Klopp's men had established an unassailable 25-point lead over holder Manchester City before the coronavirus stopped play in March, having won all but two of their first 29 games.

Project restart will begin when City take on Arsenal on Wednesday, and if they lose, it will open the door for Liverpool to ascend to the top-flight throne by beating Everton in Sunday's Merseyside derby.

Club legend Gerrard, who took up his first head coaching role with Rangers in 2018, says Klopp has set the standard for all managers to aspire to, and he has been delighted to see Liverpool reach new heights under his stewardship.

“Let’s cut to the chase, sitting here, doing this interview right now, I think Jurgen Klopp is the best manager in the world,” the ex-Reds midfielder told The Athletic.

“I know there are a lot of successful managers about. Pep Guardiola is exceptional. Carlo Ancelotti is exceptional too and I think Everton are really lucky to have him with his CV. I could name many more.

“Having had the experience of being a manager for the past two years, you realise how difficult and challenging the job is. I have nothing but respect for Jurgen.

“The way the man handles himself, the way he’s been with myself, the way he goes about his business, the way he comes across. I think he’s got a heart and I think he’s got a head. He just works for Liverpool. He has come and taken the club to the next level.”

Once Klopp delivers Liverpool's 19th league title, he will go down in history alongside the club's legendary former managers Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley, both of whom sit outside of Anfield in statue form.

Gerrard says the German boss will deserve the same tribute once Liverpool's transformation from also-rans into European and English champions is complete.

He said: “Knowing Jurgen, he won’t want to be put in that bracket. I know what he’s like, he’s humble and respectful. When you look at the scale of the job he’s done, for sure he deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as those iconic managers.

“What you need to take into consideration is that when Jurgen took over Liverpool they weren’t close to being the best team in the country, they weren’t even in the top four.

“To come to Liverpool when he did, get to the amount of finals that he has, deliver the sixth European Cup and then deliver the first league title after 30 years…

“For me, someone like Jurgen should be rewarded now. It seems like in football we often wait until people get older before their achievements are fully recognised.

“But I know the owners of Liverpool won’t let that happen. When Jurgen delivers the league they should already be starting work on a statue of him.”

Gerrard added on the "relief" he will feel when Liverpool finally hold the trophy aloft: "You don’t want to count your chickens until it’s certain but I think we all know that it’s inevitable.

“For me, there will be a lot of relief. Being a fan for a lot of those years and being a player and coming ever so close, you know that this is the one that people have craved.

“This is the bread and butter of the club. I grew up watching all the successful Liverpool teams winning leagues. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to do it myself.

“I’m a fan now and I always will be until the day I go into a grave. When they get it done and they lift that trophy, it will be 100 per cent happiness for me. I can’t wait for it. I’ll be the proudest man on the planet.”

Mikel Arteta has confirmed sorting out a new contract for Bukayo Saka is a priority for Arsenal alongside resolving Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s future.

Saka has enjoyed a breakthrough season at the Emirates Stadium and has made 29 appearances in all competitions, scoring three goals and supplying 10 assists.

He impressed as a makeshift left-back in the weeks leading up to the coronavirus lockdown, but is keen to revert to his more natural position on the left wing in the future.

With Kieran Tierney now fit again, and Aubameyang generally deployed on the left flank, Saka could find starting opportunities more limited when the Premier League resumes on Wednesday.

At the same time, Arsenal are also trying to tie down Saka to a long-term contract, with the 18-year-old’s current deal due to expire in 2021.

The likes of Liverpool, Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund have been linked with Saka, and Arteta acknowledged the teenager’s situation is one of the more urgent ones facing Arsenal.

"We are trying, as a club, to finalise the deals that are more urgent and are a priority for us," said Arteta.

"The ones you are talking about [Bukayo and Aubameyang] - they are both really important, not just for now but for the future of the club as well and if the club has something to announce, they will do it in the right moment."

The Gunners restart their season with a trip to Manchester City on Wednesday and it is likely to be a hectic period during the coming weeks.

Arteta will need to juggle his squad, but is keen not to place any undue pressure on the talented crop of young players at his disposal.

He added: "They have to keep developing and one of the biggest challenges is always consistency.

"They have been doing it for a certain period of time, for certain moments of certain games but to do it consistently for every three days for 94 or 96 minutes, that's a different story.

"In order to do that and develop the right way, they need the right players next to them, with the right mentality, with the right qualities and with the right drive.

"That's what we have to do, we have to give them the right foundations in order for them to feel free to develop, without the extra pressure that they don't need in these moments and they cannot carry on.

"We don't give them too much responsibility too early, because there is always a risk to burn them."

Yanga SC have parted ways with their secretary-general David Ruhago, effective immediately.

In a letter dated June 15, the 27-time league champions confirmed the exit of the official.

"Yanga club management and Secretary-General David Ruhago have today [Monday, June 15] reached a mutual agreement to part ways," read the statement signed by communications officer Hassan Bumbuli and obtained by Goal.

"The decision has been reached after extensive talks by all the parties involved. So effective today [Monday], Ruhago is no longer serving the team as the secretary-general."

The Jangwani-based side went on to thank the former official for his services before appointing his replacement. 

"The Yanga Service Committee under the leadership of Chairman Mshindo Msolla wishes to thank Ruhago for the time he served at the club," the statement continued.

"During this transition period, the service committee has appointed Simon Patrick who is a lawyer by profession to take over as the new Yanga secretary-general."

Ruhago was reportedly shown the door for failing to agree with the top management regarding some issues regarding the club's future.

Timu ya Wananchi have gone three seasons without the league title, and during the same time, they have been under tough financial constraints.

The East Africa side is aiming at winning the league next season; however, in the current campaign, they are targeting the FA Cup.

In the league's restart last Saturday, Yanga managed to defeat Mwadui by a solitary goal.

On Tuesday, they will be playing JKT Tanzania in Dodoma and in an earlier interview, Bumbuli admitted it will not be a walk in the park.

The Dodoma-based side have regularly been a difficult opponent for the 27-time league champion and in the last four meetings, they have managed two draws and as many wins.

With that in mind, the official admitted it will be a tough game but all they want are three points on the road.

"We respect [JKT Tanzania] they are a good team, and to be honest we respect all our opponents," Bumbuli told journalists.

"All teams are tough to beat especially at this time when they are chasing their objectives. However, we all know Yanga is a big, established and historic team and will do absolutely everything to win especially on the pitch.

"Like our game [on Saturday] against Mwadui, it was tough but we won; we scored two goals, we were denied one but still managed to get maximum points by the 1-0 win.

"We are one team determined to get maximum points regardless of the opponent we are playing against. For instance Prisons, they were unbeaten by the time we played them in the first round, but we defeated them.

"So regardless of how good JKT are, we just want to go there, beat them and return to Dar es Salaam with maximum points."

Eddie Nketiah can help Arsenal move to "the next level", according to Mikel Arteta, who has been impressed with the striker during the first few months of his tenure at Emirates Stadium.

Nketiah rose through the youth ranks at Arsenal before graduating to the senior squad in 2017, but was made to wait for his breakthrough after a string of cameo appearances.

The 21-year-old notched his first Premier League goal on the final day of the 2018-19 campaign against Burnley, and went onto enjoy a strong summer under Unai Emery.

Despite scoring four goals during Arsenal's pre-season tour of the United States, Nketiah was sent out on loan to Leeds in August to continue his development.

Unfortunately, he struggled for regular playing time at Elland Road, and the Gunners ended up calling him back to the Emirates in January.

Arteta. who replaced Emery in December, says he quickly decided not to allow Nketiah to go out on loan again after witnessing his ability at close quarters, and he is now expecting the young English forward to reward him for his faith by helping Arsenal finish the season strongly.

"We treat Eddie as an important part of our squad," the Gunners boss said in a press conference on Monday.

"We had to make an important decision not to let him go on loan again after the spell he had at Leeds.

"I watched him train and I was very convinced he was the right player for us to move us to the next level, that he can contribute in a big way to the way we want to play.

"He has been fantastic so far."

Nketiah hit three goals in seven outings for Arsenal after returning to the club from Leeds, before seeing his progress interrupted by the coronavirus outbreak.

He will be hoping to pick up from where he left off when the action resumes on Wednesday, as Arteta's men prepare to come up against reigning Premier League champions Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.

Arsenal slipped to ninth in the top flight when play was stopped in March, eight points behind Chelsea in the race for a top-four finish, but they do have a game in hand on their Champions League rivals.

Azam FC have confirmed striker Donald Ngoma has left the club after his short-term contract ended on June 14.

The Zimbabwean player signed for the “Ice Cream Makers” from Young Africans (Yanga SC) two season ago but the two parties have now reached an agreement not to renew the contract which has run down.

Azam have confirmed the exit of the player, who helped them to win two trophies – Mapinduzi Cup and Azam Sports (domestic Cup) – last season.

“We can officially confirm Donald [Ngoma] has left Azam after his contract came to an end on June 14,” the club confirmed in a statement seen by Goal.

“We want to thank him for his services and especially for helping the club to clinch two trophies last season and also want thank him for being a dedicated player, who led by a good example during his stay here.”

For the period he played for Azam, Ngoma was the club’s main striker and managed to score 14 goals in all competitions last season to become the club’s top scorer in that period.

Ngoma managed to play a total of 42 matches for Azam in all competitions, notching 20 goals in the process with four assists.

Goal understands the fate of the striker was sealed by head coach Aristica Cioaba, who gave the green light for the player to leave at the end of his contract.

Ngoma was among the seven foreign players in the Azam squad but was yet to report to Tanzania owing to the lockdown being experienced in Zimbabwe.

Last week, Azam managed to secure the services of their Uganda defender Nicolas Wadada ahead of the Mainland Premier League which resumed on Saturday.

Wadada had relocated to his native Uganda and with the country still serving the lockdown occasioned by the coronavirus pandemic, getting the player back to Dar es Saalam was not an easy task.

Azam’s other foreign players include the Ghanaian trio of Razak Abalora, Dan Amoa and Yakubu Mohamed, and two players in Zimbabwe - Never Tigere, and Bruce Kangwa.

In a recent interview, coach Cioba confessed the absence of the players from his squad will greatly affect the team’s performances when the league resumes.

Azam, who are second on the league table behind leaders Simba SC, are also in the quarter-finals of the domestic Cup.

Gor Mahia coach Steven Polack has confessed he has not thought of discussing new signings with the club in the coming transfer window because “there is no money to support my transfer activities.”

K’Ogalo have already been listed by the Confederation of African Football (Caf} as Kenya’s representatives in the lucrative Champions League for next season and will need to strengthen their squad if they are to make a mark in the competition.

While Polack has already identified a few players he would love to bring to strengthen the squad, the financial situation at the club has forced him to wait for things to improve.

“Sorry, for now, I cannot talk about signings when the club does not have any money for the business,” Polack told Goal on Tuesday.

“Let me give you a very good example, let’s say you are a player and I am talking to you, by the way, please I will like you come and play for my club, this is the reason why and tell me about you, you explain to me and then you ask me, what about the finances, do you have the money? 

"That will be one of your questions and currently, Gor Mahia doesn't have the money.

“I cannot tell you, yes we might have some money in the future, I cannot pledge because the situation is bad. I cannot discuss anything to do with transfers until the clubs shows me they have finances, you cannot do anything, we might have some in the future so for now, I don’t want to discuss anything.

“For me, I don’t want to tell players to come to play for us when we don’t have money when you want to sign a player I always talk to the management first, how much money do we have? And then I can bring in my new players, but the case, for now, is different at Gor Mahia because we don’t have money.”

In a recent interview, Polack revealed to Goal he was praying hard that some of the key players in the club will stay in the coming season.

The Kenyan champions are struggling to pay salaries to players and the technical bench and most of their key players have already expressed the desire to move to greener pastures if they get good offers.

Goal understands captain Kenneth Muguna and his assistant Joash Onyango are among the players who are targeted by a number of clubs, with Tanzania giants Simba SC already in talks to sign the former.

Tanzanian keeper David Mapigano has also claimed he will not return to play for Gor Mahia unless they pay him all the money he is owed, while defender Dickson Ambundo is a transfer target for another Tanzanian club, Yanga SC.

India is set to host the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in 2022 and hence participate in the final round of the tournament for the first time since 2003. One country from which they should pick up a few tips and tricks is Vietnam.

Vietnam hosted the tournament twice so far – in 2010 and 2014. Along with Thailand, they have also been one of the most common ASEAN faces in the final round of the tournament since the turn of the century.

Given the exceptional way in which Vietnam hosted the tournament, India could possibly take a leaf from their handbook ahead of the 2022 edition. Of course, India will be hosting a bigger tournament and will have the experience of hosting the U17 Women's World Cup, scheduled for next year.

We look at how Vietnam organised the 2014 edition of the Women’s Asian Cup and whether they faced big challenges during the build-up to the big tournament.

Australia were set to host the tournament but a withdrawal from the same in May 2013 allowed Vietnam to be considered. However, their status as hosts was subject to qualifying to the main tournament from a group that also contained Hong Kong, Bahrain and Kyrgyzstan. Vietnam smashed 24 goals past their opponents in three games to storm into the final round.

There were very few operational difficulties in hosting the tournament and good footballing infrastructure was one of the biggest reasons why. Ho Chi Minh City was chosen as the host city for the tournament that was held over 11 days between May 14th and May 25th.

Eight months prior to the competition, AFC representatives gave the go-ahead to the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) after an inspection of the infrastructure and progress of the preparation ahead of the tournament. There was no big roadblock to discuss at that time.

Eight teams featured in the tournament – Australia, Japan, South Korea, China, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and Jordan. The first four qualified by virtue of finishing in the top-four of the 2010 AFC Women’s Asian Cup. The other teams won their group in the qualifying rounds.

Thong Nhat Stadium was used as the main venue for the games. The presence of university stadiums and training grounds in close proximity to the stadium ensured reduced operating costs. The RMIT University and Ton Duc Thang University grounds were near the Thong Nhat Stadium and the training ground in Phu Tho Football Centre was also just two kilometres away. These grounds were used for training purposes.

The last set of Group Stage games are to be held simultaneously. The Go Dau Stadium in the Binh Duong province hence hosted two games – Japan vs Jordan and Thailand v Myanmar.

This stadium is home to Becamex Binh Duong FC, a popular first division Vietnamese club and one of the biggest in the country. It is located just 30 kilometres from Ho Chi Minh City and travel was hence not a big concern.

The Thong Nhat Stadium is often the host to Vietnamese V-League games, Vietnamese National team matches and meets the AFC standard requirements. The presence of high profile hotels at Ho Chi Minh City ensured a pleasant stay of the players and match officials.

With two high profile stadiums in proximity hosting the games, there were little operational hiccups during the tournament. That women’s football does not garner as much attention as Men’s football reduced the burden on security. There was hence little chance of pitch invasion.

The attendance for the games that did not feature the Vietnamese women was rather underwhelming, with only a few thousand turning up for the games. This is less than your average attendance for a V-League game.

However, the fifth-place tie featuring Vietnam and Thailand witnessed about 20,000 people pouring into the stands. The long-time rivalry between the two countries ensured this fixture gathered the hype and was turned into a grand spectacle. Much to the dismay of the local crowd Vietnam lost 2-1 to finish sixth.

In India, the women's national team matches rarely attract many spectators which was also the case in Vietnam. However, as you can see, 20000 people attended a fifth-placed tie of the Vietnam national team. The 2022 tournament will see more interest in the women's game in India and will, hopefully, attract more fans to support the team from the stadium, as evidenced in Vietnam.

Elsewhere Japan and Australia overcame China and South Korea to book a date for the final. Azusa Iwashimizu scored the lone goal that won Japan their first title in the competition.

Thus, concluded one of the smoothest and well-organised tournaments. The then AFC General Secretary Mr Dato Alex Soosay praised the VFF for the organisational work of the Asian Cup and ensuring the tournament was completed without any big difficulties.

Come 2022, India will be the cynosure of women's football in the continent. They will do well to replicate what Vietnam managed in 2014.

Kerala Blasters sporting director Karolis Skinkys believes changes to the foreign player policy in the Indian Super League (ISL) should be a gradual process. 

As reported earlier , after the recommendation of the All India Football Federation's (AIFF) technical committee and the ratification of the Executive Committee regarding the '3+1' rule, ISL clubs had agreed for a reduction in foreign players' from the 2021-22 season. The decision was in line with the Asian Football Confederation's (AFC) guideline of including a maximum of four foreigners in the starting lineup out of which one player should be from Asia. 

Though the number of foreigners in the starting XI is set to be brought down, the compulsory inclusion of the Asian foreigner in the starting XI is syet to be agreed upon.

In an exclusive chat with Goal. Skinkys said, "To be honest, this (foreign) policy has two sides. I agree with the argument that domestic players will get more games with fewer foreigners. However, it is equally important for them to have a competitive environment to grow and learn."

He continued, "The goal should always be to ensure greater development of Indian players who can compete with and against the best. All things considered, we are in line with the vision of AFC but any change should be a gradual process as opposed to a sudden transition."

During a meeting held a few weeks ago, most of the clubs in ISL agreed to the recommendation of fielding a maximum of four overseas players at any given point of time on the pitch from 2021-22 season. But there are still some differences in opinion on the number of maximum foreigners that could be registered in the squad. While some want the teams to register five foreign players, a few want the number to be increased to seven.

There have been suggestions on not making it mandatory for the Asian foreigner to be in the playing XI as well. In the last two seasons, the ISL clubs were allowed to sign a maximum of seven and a minimum of six foreign players and could field at most five foreigners on the field. 

Even at a young age of 22, Chennaiyin FC's Anirudh Thapa has established himself as one of the best midfielders in India, with consistent performances for both club and country.

A lot of credit for Thapa's rise in stature over the years lies with the All India Football Federation's (AIFF) Elite Academy which identified his talent and gave him an opportunity to fulfill it. Thapa was also sent on a three-month long training stint to Ligue 1 side FC Metz which he feels has been highly beneficial in his growth.

Thapa explains the challenges he had to face when he first moved to the AIFF Elite Academy from the St. Stephens School in Dehradun when he was 14 years old.

"When I joined AIFF Academy, I was just 14 and I had come from St.Stephen’s. The players there were all really advanced. I had a good coach at St.Stephen's but I never really had the quality players around me whom I found at the AIFF Academy to challenge myself," Thapa told Goal . 

"The facilities and coaches were great at the AIFF Academy. It was difficult for me at first because the competition was huge."

But Thapa, who had paid scant attention to domestic football in India before, was to get an intensive crash course in the same during his stay at the academy.

"It was a great process for me. I could advance my game. I learned what football is in the country. We used to watch Pailan Arrows and I-League together. Before that, I just saw the national team but after coming to AIFF Academy, I got to know the history, Kolkata football and more."

Thapa's impressive performances in the AIFF set-up soon saw him grab the attention of numerous clubs, with Chennaiyin FC managing to sign the player up. The Dehradun-born player was also selected for a three-month training stint at FC Metz in 2016, alongside Jerry Lalrinzuala and Prosenjit Chakraborty.

It was a period that helped Thapa improve his technique and understanding of the game, thanks to the intensive nature of the training sessions in France.

"When I went to Metz, it was a huge step up. The football there was very advanced. The quality of the players, facilities and infrastructure was great. Players were training even at the age of six-to-eight. We used to train with the B team and sometimes with the U23 teams. It was great to learn from them. The tempo of the game was really high and the training we used to do was more technique-oriented and it was more with the ball.

"The food was also very different from what we got in India. Even my sleeping pattern. But it was great to learn and when I came to Chennai, it was not that hard for me to make the step up. Of course, the players at the club were more experienced but when it came to technique and game, I was able to compete with them. That was a huge thing for me.

"Yes, I wanted to stay there longer but I had already signed a contract with Chennaiyin FC and had to come back."

A lot of young players in India have been moving to lower tiers of European leagues of late. Thapa feels that it is very important to move to Europe at a young age and spend some time there. He feels that the amount of knowledge and skills you learn in a short period of time in such leagues is a lot more than what you learn in India.

"If you go at a young age, you get to learn a lot. When I went, I was 18 and even then, I learnt a lot. If you go at 14-16, you will learn much more and become much better players.

"If they can stay for a longer period, it will be good because you can advance your game and be technically better. It is not just learning these things, it is also about learning it quickly. That is the main thing.

"In India, what you learn in two-to-three years, you will learn it there in one year. The training sessions are advanced and you play a lot more games than in India. They obviously play twice a week. It’s a big thing. You get more game time and it is very important in the learning curve for a player," reasoned Thapa.

Pep Guardiola has taken Bernardo Silva's game on to another level at Manchester City, according to former Portugal great Nuno Gomes.

Silva joined City from Monaco for £46 million ($58m) in May 2017 with a Ligue 1 winners' medal in his possession.

He has since been an integral part of the side that Guardiola has guided to six of the past seven major domestic honours on offer, including back-to-back Premier League titles.

Silva was voted City's player of the year in 2018-19 and went on to inspire Portugal to glory on home soil in the inaugural Nations League Finals.

Gomes told Stats Perform News he is a keen admirer of the 25-year-old.

"Bernardo is, for me at the moment, one of the best players that we have in Portugal," he said.

"With Pep he's improved a lot. I believe that Guardiola has said a lot of times that he is a massive fan of Bernardo Silva, and I believe Bernardo Silva, knowing that he has the trust and the confidence of the coach, he goes onto the field and he plays naturally, because he has a talent that is natural."

As he did during Monaco's run to the semi-finals of the Champions League in 2016-17, Silva has excelled roving in from the right flank at City.

However, injury problems for Kevin De Bruyne last term meant he also spent a lot of time operating on the right of a central midfield three and Gomes feels the defensive side of the playmaker's game has come along considerably.

"He has improved also in terms of defending, the way that he pushes the opponent, [as well as] the way he can compromise [opposition] defensive situations, because with the ball he is one of the best," he added.

"I believe with Pep Guardiola, he has already improved a lot in his style of play, and I’m a big fan of Bernardo Silva."

Guardiola's men host Arsenal on Wednesday when the Premier League resumes from the coronavirus shutdown.

Liverpool are poised to end City's reign as champions, but Silva and his team-mates remain in contention in the Champions League and FA Cup.

Lucas Hernandez still needs to get up to speed with the tactical demands of playing for Bayern Munich following his spell on the sidelines, according to boss Hansi Flick.

World Cup-winning France international Hernandez was an €80 million (£72m/$91m) acquisition from Atletico Madrid last year but he has struggled during his debut campaign in Bavaria.

The 24-year-old suffered ankle ligament damage at the end of October and was sidelined for more than three months.

During that time, Niko Kovac was sacked as head coach and Bayern were revitalised under Flick, who will complete a stunning resurgence and guide the club to their eighth consecutive Bundesliga title if they beat Werder Bremen on Tuesday.

Alphonso Davies has enjoyed a rapid rise to establish himself as first choice at left-back, while David Alaba has slotted in at centre-back in accomplished fashion, meaning Hernandez's versatility is of no immediate use in terms of remedying his situation.

Flick handed Hernandez a start in the weekend win over Borussia Monchengladbach, but Hernandez was substituted after the hour, having been replaced at half-time during the 5-0 thrashing of Paderborn

Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid and Manchester City are among the clubs to have been linked with his services and Flick concedes the player has work to do after such a long spell on the sidelines.

"Lucas is an absolute professional, I like his dynamic training," he told a news conference on Monday.

"He was absent for a long time and therefore has tactical deficits. 

"I'm happy with him, every player needs a rhythm. I see its potential."

Star forwards Thomas Muller and Robert Lewandowski are set to return from suspension against Werder, while Niklas Sule is to resume training later this week following a long-term knee ligament injury, along with Philippe Coutinho (ankle).

"There will be two changes that everyone can think of." Flick said, alluding to Lewandowski and Muller's involvement, although Javi Martinez is laid low with a stomach bug.

Weekend goalscorer Joshua Zirkzee is nursing a knock, as is winger Ivan Perisic.

Bayern lead second-placed Dortmund in the Bundesliga title race by seven points with three games to play.