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Callum Hudson-Odoi was forced to miss out on Chelsea's behind-closed-doors friendly against QPR on Sunday due to an ankle knock but the winger has overcome the injury to give Frank Lampard a full squad of options ahead of the Premier League's restart.

The 19-year-old will be aiming to take to the pitch against Aston Villa this coming weekend, having missed the Blues' 7-1 drubbing of QPR which followed on from a 1-0 victory over Reading at Chelsea's Cobham Training Centre.

Fellow youngster Reece James had missed several sessions through injury but was able to play a part in the club's latest warm-up clash. In addition, N'Golo Kante started against QPR after originally staying away from training due to fear of contracting Covid-19.

The France international only began 'phase two' contact training last week after Premier League clubs were given the green light to return to training three weeks ago.

In general, the lockdown period following the coronavirus outbreak has allowed Lampard to see some of his players come back after an injury crisis hit the club before the stoppage.

Mateo Kovacic, Tammy Abraham and Christian Pulisic were all out ahead of the break in play in March but are since back fit.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek's two goals against QPR gives Lampard cause for optimism after he has spent over a year out following tearing his Achilles tendon in a post-season friendly against the New England Revolution.

Lampard had been cautious about using the England international due to a lack of match fitness and has allowed him to play for the Under-23s to quicken his return.

Despite the good news, Chelsea still have to be prepared for injuries as they aim to play out their last nine league games - and their FA Cup matches - which are scheduled to finish before August 1 as part of a hugely busy fixture list.

Lampard and his coaching team have called upon the best of the academy to boost the squad as their teams at various youth levels saw their seasons cancelled.

After signing a new deal, Tino Anjorin has featured heavily in the pre-restart friendlies but there has also been minutes for Armando Broja, Ian Maatsen, Lewis Bate, Henry Lawrence and Tino Livramento.

Anjorin and Broja had made their debuts on March 8 in Chelsea's last match before play was suspended, a clash in which they won 4-0 against Everton in the Premier League.

Chelsea remain in fourth place in the league as they look to qualify for next season's Champions League once again. They will also prepare for a quarter-final match away at Leicester City on 28 June in the FA Cup.

Qatar have inaugurated the Education City stadium, the third venue to be completed for the 2022 World Cup. The world-class stadium has been completed on schedule by the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) and Qatar Foundation.

It was formally inaugurated on Monday evening with a compelling live online programme celebrating the contribution of frontline workers and medical staff during the Coronavirus pandemic. The highlight of the programme was a speech by His Highness, The Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

The Education City stadium, nicknamed 'Diamond in the Desert', has a capacity of 40000 and has advanced technology like the stadium cooling and other such features. The façade features triangles that form complex, diamond-esque geometrical patterns, appearing to change colour with the sun's movement across the sky.

It has received a five-star rating from the Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS) and parts of the stadium can be re-purposed after the tournament. It is the first Qatar 2022 World Cup venue to get such a rating.

The arena's capacity will be reduced by half and 20,000 seats will be donated to build stadiums in developing countries, helping cultivate a passion for the game around the globe.

H.E. Hassan Al Thawadi, Secretary General of the SC, said: "The completion of Education City Stadium is yet another milestone as we inch ever closer to the first FIFA World Cup in the Middle East and Arab world."

FIFA President Gianni Infantino also paid tribute to the frontline workers around the world before expressing confidence that football will return to normal ahead of the 2022 World Cup.

"Tonight, while announcing the completion of the Education stadium, we pay a tribute to those who fought and are still fighting the Covid-19 pandemic. We must not forget, health comes first. In some parts of the world, it is possible to look ahead. In others, we still have to be careful. The new stadium reminds us that football will return with more passion than ever. When time comes, we will be sharing the stands with family and friends. When time comes, we will celebrate the 2022 World Cup in Qatar," he said. 

Nasser Al Khater, CEO of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, said: “The atmosphere will be electric at Education City Stadium when it hosts matches during the World Cup. This is a football lover’s stadium and one we are certain fans from around the world will enjoy during Qatar 2022.

“Providing unique experiences for fans and players alike in 2022 is central to our planning, and we will stage several events across various venues in the lead-up to the tournament to test our readiness and refine our plans to guarantee that everyone visiting Qatar in 2022 has an exceptional time.”

Yasir Al Jamal, Chairman of the SC’s Operations Office and Vice-Chairman, Technical Delivery Office, said, "We are very proud to announce the completion of our third tournament-ready stadium, following the successful redevelopment of Khalifa International Stadium in 2017 and the inauguration of Al Janoub Stadium last year. All of our projects remain on track and, as we celebrate this milestone today, we also look forward to marking many more between now and the big kick-off on 21 November 2022."

Machaille Hassan Al Naimi, President of Community Development, Qatar Foundation, said: "Education City Stadium will be a focal point for the world of football in 2022, and for the people of Qatar for many decades to come after the tournament."

The construction of Khalifa International Stadium and Al Janoub Stadium is already complete and the two venues are operational.

Kalidou Koulibaly has described his teammate Dries Mertens as the "Higuain of Napoli" after he became the club's leading scorer in their 2-1 aggregate victory over Inter Milan in the Coppa Italia semi-finals on Saturday.

The Nerazzurri had taken an early lead via former Tottenham Hotspur man Christian Eriksen before Mertens equalised four minutes to the half-time whistle to secure a 1-1 draw on the night.

The Belgian's goal tally now stands at 122 ahead of Marek Hamsik (121) Diego Maradona (115), Attila Sallustro (108) and Edinson Cavani (104).

“I spent a lot of time with him [Mertens] in the early days of Napoli," Koulibaly told Sky Sports Italia.

"He came to pick me up at home and took me to Castel Volturno. We had a lot of laughs on the journeys between Naples and the sports centre.

"He spoke to me in my first year and told me not to give up because he believed in me a lot. It can be seen that he grew up in a serene and happy family. I wish him all the best in the world because he really deserves it.

"He has grown a lot, has become a killer. He is the Higuain of Napoli because he knows how to do everything, he is a really important player and I am proud to play with him."

Higuain played for Napoli between 2013 and 2016, scoring an impressive 91 goals in 146 competitive appearances. The Argentine joined Juventus thereafter and will be up against his former employers in the Coppa Italia final on Wednesday.

Koulibaly played the entire 90 minutes on Saturday, his second appearance this year after having battled with a muscle injury since December 2019.

The Senegal international continues to be linked with a move away from the San Paolo with the likes of Manchester United and PSG long interested in him.

However, Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis emphasised on the pages of Corriere dello Sport, that he would not be selling the 28-year-old for less than €100 million.

"If [Manchester] City, United or PSG showed up with 100 million euros I would think about it and he [Koulibaly] could leave if that was his will. 60 million I don't even consider," he said.

Koulibaly will be hoping to take part in Serie A's resumption when Napoli travel to Hellas Verona next Tuesday.

Yanga SC goalkeeper Farouk Shikalo has narrated how a Gor Mahia official helped him cross the border between Kenya and Tanzania even though there is a restriction of travel between the two countries.

Shikalo said he had travelled back to Kenya when the Mainland Premier League was suspended due to a private issue. 

When the Tanzanian government allowed the resumption of football activities, the former Posta Rangers goalkeeper was still in the country. One of the hurdles he had to beat tpjoin Yanga teammates was the active cessation of movement between the countries.

Apar from the unnamed Gor Mahia official, the goalkeeper said a Mr Jerry Muro played a vital role in his travelling plans until he landed in Dar es Salaam.

“I left immediately after the league suspension because I had lost my elder brother and it is at that time when the Kenyan government suspended travel to or from Tanzania,” Shikalo told Global TV.

“[Jerry] Muro is the man who ensured my journey was a success. There is also another leader in Mombasa who helped me travel from Mombasa to Nairobi where I was picked by a Gor Mahia official who is working at the Namanga border.

“He [the K'Ogalo official] dropped me at the border and ensured my journey to the other side was smooth.

"From Namanga to Arusha Muro, who is well known, helped me throughout that length of the journey. He made hotel bookings for me in Arusha before he took me to Moshi again.

“At Moshi, I took Kilimanjaro Air to Dar es Salaam.

“Yanga were ready to pay for my air ticket but I told them I can use my own means until the border since the travel to Tanzania had been banned by our government.

“It is a journey that was riddled with challenges especially from Mombasa at a place called Kibokoni and Kizingo where there was total lockdown.

“From Mombasa to Nairobi I travelled with a District Officer and that made my travel along that route rather easier.”

The former Talanta FC and Bandari star further spoke about the targets he has for the club.

“I am ready to work,” continued the Harambee Star.

“I signed for Yanga when they were already participating in the Caf competition and my aim is to ensure they qualify again for the next editions.

“Our main aim as players is also to win the FA Cup and see that we finish the season in a better position in the league.”

The Kenyan did not feature against Mwadui FC on Saturday as Luc Eymael fielded Metacha Mnata instead. 

Mikel Arteta says it’s Arsenal’s responsibility to show Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang that his future is best served at the London club and remains hopeful his top scorer will sign a new deal.

The Gunners skipper is about to enter the final year of his contract and admits he has not yet decided whether he will extend his stay in the English capital.

Aubameyang has labelled his decision as “maybe the most important” of his career and, speaking to Telefoot over the weekend, the 31-year-old hinted that the current stalemate in talks is down to Arsenal rather than him.

“We have had exchanges with the club, for a fair few months now,” said Aubameyang. “And they know very well why so far nothing has happened.

“They have the keys. It’s up to them to do their work and after that we will see how things go.

“It is a turning point in my career, and I will be very frank with everyone, it will certainly be a very difficult decision to make. I still have not decided. It will maybe be the most important decision of my career.”

Barcelona, Inter and Real Madrid have been linked with a potential summer move for Aubameyang, but Arteta is hopeful his captain can be convinced to commit his future to Arsenal.

The Spaniard says the club have held “many discussions” with the striker and his representatives, but accepts that if his top scorer is to stay put, Arsenal must show him that the club’s ambitions match his own.

And, of course, he accepts that earning a spot in next season's Champions League will make talks easier.

“I think it’s our responsibility to make him feel that this is the right next step in his career,” said Arteta, ahead of Wednesday night’s trip to Manchester City.

“In order to do that he needs to feel valued. He needs to feel that he belongs to us and that we want him - and then he really needs to believe we can take this club forward in the way we want to do. He’s going to be a key player to do that.

“I think that [Champions League qualification] would help to persuade anybody, but we are very lucky to have the club that we have that a lot of players want to come and join.

“But it is not about who do we want to attract as well, it is how happy the players are here [too] and how convinced they are that they are in the right place. As well, it is our obligation to be fighting for almost every trophy and playing in the Champions League with this club.”

Arteta admits that the recent lockdown has not helped with talks over a new deal for the former Borussia Dortmund star, but says he remains confident an agreement can be found.

“We have many discussions with Pierre, his family and agent,” said the Gunners’ head coach. “I am pretty positive that we can find the right agreement for all parties.

“At the moment I am extremely happy about the way he is performing and behaving. I think I have a really good relationship with him where we can discuss face to face a lot of things. So far, as far as I’m aware, I think he’s very happy at the club.”

Now that the Team of the Season So Far (TOTSSF) promotion has ended in FIFA 20, EA Sports will keep fans entertained throughout the summer with new promotions, pack offers and other events.

The first promotion released after TOTSSF is Summer Heat, a new event for FIFA 20 that has not appeared in previous versions of FIFA Ultimate Team (FUT).

Goal brings you everything you need to know about Summer Heat, which players are available in Squad Building Challenges and more...

What is FIFA 20 Summer Heat?

As Summer Heat is a new addiiton to the FIFA 20 promotions calendar, FUT fans have been speculating exactly what the new promotion will bring to the game.

Usually, the FUTTIES event follows Team of the Season, while the Festival of FUTball promotion was the big summer release in FIFA 18, but now Summer Heat comes after TOTSSF and will see the return of some popular Squad Building Challenges (SBCs) from FIFA 20's previous promotions.

The loading screen for Summer Heat revealed that some SBCs from Ultimate Scream and FUTmas will be re-released, while there will also be new challenges and objectives with Flashback and Moments players.

When does FIFA 20 Summer Heat start?

FIFA 20 Summer Heat begins on Wednesday, June 17.

Every day during Summer Heat, new SBCs will be released at 6pm BST (1pm ET), while new promotional packs and other offers will be unveiled regularly.

Promotional packs are usually released in evenings and are available for 24 hours in limited quantities.

What are the FIFA 20 SBCs and Objectives?

The new Squad Building Challenges (SBCs) for Summer Heat include Flashback players and special Moments players which celebrate outstanding indvidual performances from the past.

In addition, there will also be re-released versions of popular SBCs from previous promotions from FUT including FUTmas and Ultimate Scream.

These re-released SBCs and Objectives will include upgraded versions of those player items, such as FUTmas Ferland Mendy being upgraded from an 85-rated card to a 93-rated one.

Erling Haaland's attitude towards matches and training has delighted Lucien Favre since the striker joined Borussia Dortmund, but his coach wants him to understand the necessity of an occasional rest.

Haaland has only started three of Dortmund's five Bundesliga matches since the season resumed last month, with the Norwegian suffering a minor knee injury at the end of May.

His performance against Schalke aside, the 19-year-old's displays have not been as explosive as they had been prior to the coronavirus-enforced break, but without him in the team Dortmund have appeared significantly short in attack.

It has proven a challenge for Dortmund to balance the need to keep him fresh while also maximising their attacking output - Haaland's late winner in the 1-0 victory over Fortuna Dusseldorf at the weekend coming after he came on as a substitute.

But Favre is well aware of the potential pitfalls of over-burdening Haaland, even if the teenager is not, and he acknowledged another striker will have to be brought in for next season in order to prevent the former Salzburg star suffering from burnout.

"I think everybody knows that," Favre told reporters on Monday when asked if he needs another centre-forward as back-up next term. "I think that's clear too, because he's only 19 years old.

"It is normal that he is sometimes tired when you have an English week [a weekend fixture following by one in midweek], because he can't do everything on his own.

"We have also noticed that he is still growing. He was injured two or three times recently since he came to us. So, we have to dose what he does, because otherwise it could be dangerous.

"He has to understand this, because sometimes it is not possible to play three games in one week. Many players have problems with that.

"You can get injured or you're just not fresh and it's important that he has the freshness, but normally Erling plays because we need him.

"I like his mentality, he always wants to be there and always win, but of course he also has to make his progress, he is only 19 and has so much potential.

"But he likes to train, he still wants to do special exercises after training and I like that. I really enjoy doing that with him, but he has to understand that it is important to dose the whole thing."

Dortmund return to action at home to Mainz on Wednesday, knowing a turnaround in the title race will already be beyond them if Bayern Munich beat Werder Bremen on Tuesday to clinch an eighth successive Bundesliga crown.

Spain's World Cup-winning captain Iker Casillas has announced he has pulled out of the running to be the next president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), citing a need for unity amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Real Madrid great Casillas confirmed his intention to stand for the position in February, but his withdrawal means Luis Rubiales is expected to be re-elected unopposed in August.

Casillas, who won Euro 2008 and 2012 alongside the 2010 World Cup with Spain, explained via a Twitter post his decision was in part due to "the exceptional social, economic and health situation that our country is suffering".

"This makes the elections take a back seat," he added.  "I think it is time to add and not divide."

The former Madrid goalkeeper, who made 167 senior appearances for his country, insists the decision to pull out does not mean a "closed door for the future" and said he could opt to run for the position further down the line.

"I wanted a fair, transparent and truly participatory electoral process, looking for the best for Spanish football," he said.

"I hope that in the next elections it can happen with me or with other candidates."

Spain has been one of the worst-affected countries of the pandemic, with over 290,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19. Of those returning a positive test, 27,136 people have died.

Casillas won five La Liga titles and three Champions Leagues with Madrid before departing his boyhood club for Porto in 2015.

The 39-year-old suffered a heart attack in May 2019 and was later added to the club's backroom team, with Porto president Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa announcing Casillas had retired from playing in February.

Manchester United, Liverpool and Co. will return to our television screens in June as the Premier League restarts after a three-month coronavirus-enforced hiatus.

There will be a couple of small, but notable changes to the game in this brave new post-Covid-19 landscape, including the obvious fact that there will be no supporters at the match in the interests of public health.

The game itself of course will largely be the same, but we will now see more substitutions being made in competitive matches due to the five-substitute rule.

So what is the rule all about and why has it been introduced? Goal brings you everything you need to know.

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What is the five-substitute rule?

The 'five-substitute rule' is a temporary change to the maximum number of substitutes a team is permitted to make during a game, increasing the number from three to five.

In addition, the Premier League has increased the maximum number of substitutes permitted to sit on the bench from seven to nine.

However, while the total number of substitutions possible in a game is now 10 instead of six, managers will only be allowed to make changes at three points in the game.

The idea behind limiting the number of stoppages for substitutions is to reduce the level of disruption in a match, something that could in theory be exploited.

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When was the five-substitute rule introduced?

The IFAB made a temporary amendment to Law 3 of the Laws of the Game in May 2020 following a proposal made by FIFA.

In a circular to all national football associations and federations, the IFAB outlined the nature of the change and indicated that competition organisers had discretion regarding whether to apply it or not.

Premier League shareholders subsequently agreed to implement the change for the remainder of the 2019-20 season, which resumes in June 2020 and will conclude at the end of July.

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Why has the five-substitute rule been introduced?

The five-substitute rule was introduced with player welfare in mind as football resumed in the midst of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic.

A three-month lay-off without competitive action, even though players continued to train individually during the hiatus, combined with a lot of games in a short period of time is a risky prospect.

Players such as Kevin De Bruyne have expressed concerns about the chances of sustaining injuries when action resumes, while ex-Liverpool physio Andy Renshaw predicts there will be "a ton" of muscle issues.

As well as the increased potential for injury, climate was also a consideration in the decision to increase the number of substitutes, with leagues continuing in the height of summer, when temperatures peak.

The IFAB and FIFA are fully aware of these associated risks and, accordingly, made the temporary change. The IFAB also stressed existing Laws of the Game which allow for water breaks.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has had a far-reaching impact on daily life, including sport, around the world," the IFAB's circular to national assocations and federations read. 

"As many countries begin to emerge from this situation, the focus is slowly turning to the resumption of football competitions that have been affected by the virus.

"When competitions resume, matches may be played in a condensed period (e.g. to reduce the impact on future competitions) and in different weather conditions, both of which could have an impact on player welfare."

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Will the five-substitute rule become permanent?

The five-substitute rule has initially been introduced as a temporary measure and is ostensibly in place until the end of 2020.

FIFA and the IFAB will revisit the rule change at a later stage in order to assess whether its application needs to be extended into 2021.

It is entirely possible that the temporary rule change could end up becoming permanent - should it be considered to improve the game - but it is currently only a temporary tweak.

Therefore, it is expected that the IFAB will revert the rule to the previous maximum of three substitutes in a game.

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Nantes have completed the signing of Moses Simon on a four-year deal from Levante.

The Nigeria international will have the opportunity to continue his impressive performances in Christian Gourcuff's team after he was named the Canary of the Season for the 2019-20 campaign.

Simon joined the Canaries on a temporary deal from Levante last summer after struggling to make an impact in La Liga last season.

Before the early conclusion of the French season, the Super Eagles winger contributed nine goals and eight assists in 30 appearances for Nantes and he also helped them finish 13th in the Ligue 1 standings.

The 24-year-old's permanent contract is expected to start on July 1 and it will run through until 2024.

He claims he is enjoying his game in France presently after struggling to understand Spanish during his only campaign at Levante.

"At Levante, I did not play very well due to some circumstances with the coach. In Spain, the coach only spoke Spanish and I needed a translator," Simon said.

"It was easier to play in France because I understand the language more and communication is very good with the coach.

"I am enjoying my football now. The most important thing is to play. Not to sit on the bench. To have the freedom to play, have the freedom to speak and to do what you know how to do best."

After developing his game at Golden Boot Soccer Academy in Jos, the 24-year-old started his European journey at Ajax but he failed to secure a contract with the Dutch outfit and he moved to Slovakia to join Trencin in January 2014.

Following a year with the Slovak club, Simon moved to Belgium to team up with Gent where he spent three years before signing for Levante.

During his three-year stint at Gent, the Jos-born attacker won the Belgian First Division A and the Belgian Super Cup in 2015.

Internationally, he is a regular fixture in Gernot Rohr's Nigeria squad and he was part of the team that won bronze at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

Since he made his international debut for Nigeria in March 2015, Simon has scored five goals in 33 appearances for the Super Eagles.

Bungoma County government has confirmed works at Masinde Muliro Stadium are set to be completed in mid-2021.

The renovation of the iconic stadium in the Western region of the country, built in the 1950s, will see the facility expanded so it can accommodate 5000 spectators, but the second phase of construction will see the number increased to 20,000.

The contractor had started the upgrading works by casting the sitting terraces and laying formwork for the second-floor suspended slab which will host offices.

“Sitting on 20 acres, the upgrade of the facility is split into two phases. The first phase of the upgrade will see the stadium built to accommodate 5,000 people,” the Bungoma County statement regarding the works and obtained by Goal read.

“Other works in the first phase include pitch construction and landscaping of green terraces for the rest of the stadium.

“This phase will also include the construction of the main terrace, balcony and offices. This first phase is earmarked for completion mid next year.”

The Masinde Muliro Stadium has been out of use for some time now with Sudi Stadium, home to the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) side Nzoia Sugar, the only high-level facility in the region.

“The second phase will see the stadium expanded to a 20,000-seater capacity facility – the biggest anywhere in the Western region,” added the statement.

“The facility, then called Kanduyi Stadium, hosted sporting activities in Bungoma and from neighbouring regions. At its prime, it hosted tops leagues in the country. The infrastructure then comprised 500-seater pavilion and the fencing.”

The completion of the facility was one of the salient features of Governor Wycliffe Wangamati's manifesto before he was elected during the 2017 general elections.

It is hoped the Masinde Muliro Stadium will help nurture and grow football in an area known for producing many players.

“The move attests to Governor [Wycliffe] Wangamati’s commitment to growing sports and talent in the county. Specifically, the stadium lies at the heart and desire of Governor Wangamati to identify, nurture, groom, grow and promote talent in different sports fields in the county,” added the statement.

“The stadium has produced some of Kenya’s sporting greats like [Ben] Jipcho, the Silver Medalist in 3,000 metres in the Summer Olympics of 1972, George Situma and Tom Wanjala who were winners of Gossage Cup 1959 [now known as The Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup], and Mary Nakhumicha, a Paralympian, in Javelin.

“Besides playing host to key league matches, the facility will offer a platform to identify, groom and nurture talent for the youth and all sportspersons to grow and showcase their talents.

“The facility will also open room for investment in the sporting industry and guarantee the County revenue.”

Apart from Nzoia Sugar, Bungoma Supers Stars, plying trade in the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Division One, is another famous team in the region.

Azam FC have received a major boost after two of their foreign players finally arrived in Dar es Salaam ahead of their second match after the resumption of the Mainland Premier League.

The ‘Ice Cream Makers’ were the only team in the top-flight yet to receive most of their foreign players, who relocated to their native countries when the league was halted in mid-March owing to the coronavirus pandemic.

But after managing to secure a chartered flight for Ugandan midfielder Nicolas Wadada, the club has now confirmed the arrival of Zimbabwean players Bruce Kangwa and Never Tigere.

The two players arrived in Dar es Salaam on Monday after managing to manoeuvre their way from Harare, as Zimbabwe is still under lockdown owing to Covid-19.

“We can now confirm left-back Kangwa and striker Tigere have joined our camp ahead of the next match,” Azam confirmed on their official Facebook page.

“The two players were still stranded in Zimbabwe despite our efforts to have them return to the country owing the strict rules put in place to help curb the spread of the virus.”

Azam further confirmed that only three players – Ghanaians Razack Abalora, Daniel Amoah, and Yakubu Mohammed - are now missing from the squad.

“We are now waiting for the trio to have a full house because we already received [Wadada from Uganda] last week,” the club further revealed.

The arrival of the players will excite coach Aristica Cioaba who in an earlier interview confessed that their absence will affect the team’s display in the league and also the FA Cup.

“It will be difficult for us to win matches without our key players, which includes our number one goalkeeper,” Cioba told reporters.

“I have already started planning without them [the seven players], I don’t think they will be able to make it here in time for the first matches, it is a huge headache for me, but something coaches have to go through.”

Azam, who beat Mbao FC 2-0 in their first league match on Sunday, are currently second on the league table behind leaders Simba SC, and are also in the quarter-finals of the domestic Cup.

NBA star Kevin Durant has purchased a stake in the Philadelphia Union, the club announced on Monday.

The Brooklyn Nets forward has acquired a five percent ownership stake in the club, with the option to purchase an additional five percent stake in the near future.

Durant, a 10-time NBA All-Star, is a two-time NBA champion as a member of the Golden State Warriors while also earning the 2014 NBA MVP award and two Olympic gold medals.

With Durant's deal, he becomes the second NBA All-Star to join an MLS ownership group, following Houston Rockets guard and Houston Dynamo owner James Harden, while also joining NFL star Russell Wilson, who owns a piece of the Seattle Sounders.

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James has also made soccer part of his non-basketball business, having bought a stake in Liverpool in 2011.

As part of the deal, Durant and his partner, sports business executive Rich Kleiman, will use their Thirty Five Ventures project to help grow the Union brand while the Kevin Durant Charity Foundation (KDCF) will help expand the club's community outreach.

According to ESPN, the Union are valued at over $325 million, which would put the valuation of Durant's stake at a minimum of $16.25 million

“I’m excited to partner with the Philadelphia Union for years to come. My team and I connected instantly with the Union coaching staff and leadership, as well as the team’s story,” said Durant.

“Off the pitch, I’m looking forward to working in the Chester and Philadelphia communities and making an impact in the same way that the KDCF has been able to in my hometown of Prince George's County.”

The Union are riding high after a successful 2019 campaign, with the club's heavy focus on youth paying off with a playoff berth and the team's first postseason victory.

“The partnership between Kevin and the Philadelphia Union is based on a set of shared values and philosophies,” said Union owner Jay Sugarman.

“We want to be known as an innovator in our league and a team that is never satisfied with the status quo. Kevin brings us unique perspectives as a person, as a champion, and as a sports icon.

"His work with the Kevin Durant Charity Foundation has shown he has a community-first mindset that resonates with our club’s DNA. Combined with his competitive drive and forward-thinking mentality, we believe Kevin adds a key piece in reaching our ambitions for the club.”

The Union are set to return, alongside the rest of league's' 26 teams, at the upcoming MLS is Back tournament in Orlando, which begins on July 8.

Drawn into Group A, the Union will compete with Orlando City, Inter Miami, New York City FC and the Chicago Fire.

Marcelo has urged others to use their platforms to instigate change after taking a knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement following his goal against Eibar.

After scoring his team's third goal in Madrid's 3-1 win on Sunday, left-back Marcelo dropped to his knee and raised his right fist .

The idea of taking a knee was adopted by former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick in 2016 when the NFL player protested racial injustice and police brutality in the United States.

Kneeling has been prevalent at the protests that have followed the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis last month.

Borussia Dortmund and Hertha Berlin players all took a knee prior to their Bundesliga fixture earlier this month, a week after Borussia Monchengladbach forward Marcus Thuram knelt following his goal against Union Berlin.

LaLiga returned for the first time since the coronavirus-enforced break last week and, while revealing his happiness at being back playing, Marcelo also used lyrics from 2Pac's song 'Changes' when addressing his celebration.

"Happy to be back with Real Madrid!" Marcelo wrote on Instagram alongside a picture of him kneeling.

"Happy to have scored a goal!

"But even happier to see all the CHANGES in the world! Now it's time. We must use the power we have and start making real CHANGES."

Marcelo then quoted 2Pac: "We can never go nowhere unless we share with each other. We gotta start makin' changes.

"Learn to see me as a brother instead of two distant strangers. And that's how it's supposed to be...

"I'd love to go back to when we played as kids but things change, and that's the way it is..."

Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho should keep faith with rumoured Barcelona target Tanguy Ndombele, according to Glenn Hoddle, who insists "there's a player in there waiting to come out".

Spurs forked out a club-record fee of £65 million ($81m) to bring Ndombele to north London from Lyon last summer.

The Frenchman committed to a five-year contract with the club, but his first season in the Premier League hasn't gone as smoothly as supporters might have hoped.

The 23-year-old has featured in 27 games in all competitions, scoring two goals, but his commitment and work-rate has been called into question on a number of occasions. Mourinho publicly criticised Ndombele's fitness levels after a 1-1 draw with Burnley on March 7, leading to speculation over his future at Tottenham.

Barcelona are reportedly interested in the former Lyon star, but Hoddle thinks his old club would regret selling a midfielder who has the potential to be a "sensational" player.

The Spurs legend told Premier League Productions: "Ndombele I think there's a player in there, he's [Mourinho] got to find that.

"Whether he's gone too far with that lad and they won't get him back as a player, I don't know, but I truly believe there's a player in there waiting to come out. If he moved on, I think he would be sensational somewhere."

Hoddle went on to express his belief that Tottenham need to bring in three new players to start challenging among the elite sides on domestic and European fronts again.

The 62-year-old, who coached the Lilywhites between 2001 and 2003, says Mourinho must prioritise replacing Christian Eriksen, who joined Inter in the January transfer window.

"In the long-term, I think they need two new full-backs, I think they need a passer in midfield," Hoddle added. "A lot of players at Tottenham at the moment, they run with the ball. Too many players don't release the ball quickly.

"Winks is probably the only one who can do it, but is he an [Christian] Eriksen?

"That's how Kane will score goals, good crosses coming in from your full-backs and a midfield player - Eriksen and Kane had that little bit of eye contact.

"I don't think they've got that at the moment, I think too many players hold onto the ball for too long in midfield, and teams come in and crowd them out.

"There's a lot of tactical work to be done on the training ground, but also individuals who need to up their game if they're going to be in the [top five]."

Every few weeks, EA Sports releases new promotions featuring upgraded player cards, objectives, Squad Building Challenges and much more.

These include events like FUT Birthday, FUTmas, Ultimate Scream and even Team of the Season.

During these events, special squads are available in packs, so many gamers will save up their packs in the hoping of opening an upgraded player when there is a promotion running.

Contents

One of the biggest events in the FIFA Ultimate Team calendar has yet to be launched, with FUTTIES due in the next few months.

The Team of the Knockout Stage is usually released around the semi-final stage of the Champions League and Europa League, which have been indefinitely postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Due to the lack of competitive football, EA Sports replaced Team of the Week with Team of the Week Moments, highlighting standout performances from the past.

It is expected that they could also create other new promotions in the absence of real-life football or perhaps bring back previous events.

Team of the Year is one of the biggest events of the FIFA calendar with Team of the Season coming close behind with regards to both hype and high-rated players. 

FIFA 20 saw Team of the Year launch in January 2020, while Team of the Season arrives each season in late April or early May.

The Team of the Season promotion begins with the Community Team of the Season featuring players who have not been included in Team of the Week during the season. This is chosen by the FIFA Community, using fan sites Futhead and FUTWIZ.

With no football happening during April and May in many countries due to coronavirus, Team of the Season was renamed in FIFA 20 to Team of the Season So Far (TOTSSF) and launched on April 24.

FUTTIES is usually the last big event in the FIFA calendar before a new version of FIFA is released. It celebrates the best content from Ultimate Team over the past year as well as providing new exciting players to help inject more variety into people's squads.

Gamers get to vote from various shortlists for special FUTTIES players, choosing from different categories such as pace, skills or even position changes. FUTTIES also sees the re-release of special items as well as bringing back popular Squad Building Challenges (SBCs).

FUTTIES is set to launch in mid-July and usually runs for a month. In FIFA 19, FUTTIES arrived on July 19 and came to consoles on July 20 in FIFA 18. As a result, it should either arrive on Friday, July 17 or July 24 in FIFA 20.

EA Sports usually releases each FIFA promotion around the same time each year, so it becomes easier to predict when each event will launch in the new game.

The calendar below shows when each event occurred in the last three editions of FIFA.

Azam FC have reportedly reached an agreement to release their lead striker Donald Ngoma.

According to Sokaletu, the Zimbabwean star, who joined the ‘Ice Cream Makers’ from Young Africans (Yanga SC) at the start of the season, has been allowed to leave when his short-term contract comes to an end.

A source, who did not want to be named, confirmed the club was waiting for the arrival of coach Aristica Cioaba, to make a decision on whether the player will stay for another season or not, and the Romanian has given the green light to release him.

“Both parties have agreed to part ways and thus the player will leave Azam, he will not be extending his contract,” the source told Sokaletu.

Ngoma was among the seven foreign players in the Azam squad and is 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.

The situation forced Azam to charter their own flight to pick up the Ugandan though he did not feature as they beat Mbao FC 2-0 at Azam Complex in Dar es Salaam on Sunday.

Azam’s other foreign players include - 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.

“It will be difficult for us to win matches without our key players, which includes our number one goalkeeper,” Cioba told reporters.

“I have already started planning without them [the seven players], I don’t think they will be able to make it here in time for the first matches, it is a huge headache for me, but something coaches have to go through.”

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

Former Kaizer Chiefs forward Kaizer Motaung Jnr is confident of Amakhosi ending a five-year Premier Soccer League (PSL) title drought if the current season resumes despite their slender lead over the defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns.

With eight matches to go before Chiefs conclude their season, they lead the standings by four points ahead of second-placed Sundowns who have a game in hand.

At some point this season, Chiefs enjoyed a 13-point gap at the top but it has now been slashed to four points but Motaung Jnr has not lost belief that the team will be crowned PSL champions.

“Why not [Chiefs winning the league title]? We must give it to them for being on top of the log for such a long time. With eight games to go, I think things are looking positive,” Motaung Jnr told City Press.

If the current campaign continues, Chiefs would face Bidvest Wits twice and Mamelodi Sundowns in some potentially difficult matches for them.

Motaung Jnr himself won three league titles during his 13 years with Chiefs before retiring in 2014.

The 38-year-old also revealed that playing for a club owned by his father Kaizer Motaung Snr did not present him with any luxuries, but made him have to work harder than any other player.

“It was a childhood dream to wear the gold and black [of Chiefs],” said Motaung Jnr.

“Not many can say they have scored two hat-tricks in one season and have been a top goal-scorer – and be voted for by your peers as Players’ Player of the Season, not just within the league, but also within the club.

“Having won [Chiefs top] goal-scorer of the year [2006/7 season], being able to score at historic stadiums like Orlando Stadium ... these are the milestones and achievements that can’t be taken away from me.

“I didn’t have the luxuries because I was the chairperson’s son. There was nothing for free here. I had to work triple hard – more than anyone else. If you say disadvantages, I’d say those were character-building steps for the next phase of my life as a human being.”

Since Chiefs was formed in 1970, his father has been at the helm of the club and Motaung Jnr is coy about the question if he harbours any ambitions to own of Amakhosi in future.

“I harbour definite dreams, with everybody involved, of taking this club to its next journey because the first 50 years have been a blessing,” Motaung Jnr said.

“So, I definitely harbour aspirations to make a difference within the football fraternity. We all want to achieve in life and that’s how I look at it, instead of a title.”