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Cape Town City midfielder Thabo Nodada says coach Jan Olde Riekerink has done an excellent job so far, saying they were starting to do better in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) after the Christmas break.

The Citizens' nippy midfielder has credited the Dutch manager for keeping his calm despite taking over a team that was bruised, singling out his sense of humour.

Nodada looks at former coach Benni McCarthy’s axing as one of the reasons why the 57-year-old boss came to a tough environment, saying replacing a coach that was trusted by the players wasn’t going to be easy.

“He is coming into a team that is bruised, he came into a team that had lost a coach that had an understanding, the belief and trust with 90 to 100% of his players and losing a coach like that is obviously going to have certain disadvantages to the team and our results showed that,” Nodada told the South African Football Journalists Association.

“The jokes were just interesting you know, humour that you don’t normally get from someone who is in a position of fire.

“He kept a cool head and didn’t try to tweak a lot of the things that we were already doing. I think he understood that at the time he arrived we were already active there is no pre-season.”

After parting ways with the former Bafana Bafana striker in the middle of the season, the 25-year-old has added that Riekerink was smart to ensure he builds relationships with his players as soon as possible.

“And he’s going to have to try as quickly as possible to develop relationships with players and get players on his side and working for him,” added the midfielder.

“I think if you look at how we came back from December and how we started January, I think that was a team that was much different from the team that was there a couple of games after Benni [McCarthy] left.

“So, yeah, I think he’s been doing a great job so far, and if the results were different I think we would be speaking something different.”

The former MTN8 champions axed the 2003/04 Uefa Champions League winner when the club was languishing at 13th on the log table after nine games back in November.

However, they now sit 10th on the table as they look to finish in the top-eight with 27 points just before the season was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic in March.

Azam FC coach Aristica Cioba has confessed the absence of seven key players from his squad will greatly affect the team’s performances when the Mainland Premier League resumes.

The Tanzanian top-flight will resume on June 13 after it was given the green light by President John Pombe Magufuli but with three days to go, Azam are yet to get their foreign players in camp owing to lockdowns occasioned by the coronavirus pandemic in their respective countries.

While Cioba managed to navigate his way from Romania, where he had to travel via bus to Germany before connecting a flight to Tanzania via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the absence of players has left him scratching his head with three days remaining to the league's resumption.

The Azam players not in Dar es Salaam include Ghanaian trio of Razak Abalora, Dan Amoa and Yakubu Mohamed, Nicolas Wadada (of Uganda), and three players in Zimbabwe - Never Tigere, Bruce Kangwa and Donald Ngoma.

“It will be difficult for us to win matches without our key players, which includes our number one goalkeeper,” Cioba told reporters after the team’s training session on Tuesday.

“[It is] tough to get the players to Tanzania because most of the countries are still under lockdown owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, and now what I can do is promote players from our B team and sharpen them ahead of the season restart.

“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.

“The players I have promoted from team B will need another two weeks to get rhythm but all in all we will fight with them and make sure we get a good start and win our matches.”

Meanwhile, Cioba will offer the chance to test new players when they host KMC in a friendly at Azam Complex on Wednesday.

The friendly had been cancelled after TFF suspended build-up matches but after a meeting with clubs, it has been allowed to start and will kick-off at 7 pm.

Azam, who are sitting second on the league table behind leaders Simba SC are also in the domestic cup where they have been drawn to Wekundu wa Msimbazi in the quarter-finals.

The ‘Ice-Cream Makers’ will open their league campaign with a home match against Mbao FC on June 14.

Adama Traore has been linked with a move to Liverpool but his former manager Tony Pulis thinks he should "settle down" at Wolves and aim for the Spain squad.

Barcelona youth product Traore has enjoyed a fantastic 2019-20 at Wolves, where he has scored four goals and supplied seven assists in the Premier League while playing primarily as a wing-back under Nuno Espirito Santo.

The 24-year-old, with whom Pulis retains a good relationship following their time together at Middlesbrough, is reportedly wanted by league leaders Liverpool, plus Manchester City and Manchester United.

Former Stoke City boss Pulis believes Traore should be looking to lay down roots at Molineux and focus on breaking into the Spain set-up ahead of Euro 2020, which will be held next year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Pulis told Stats Perform News: "I think Adama always had the ability to play. The big thing was his confidence. I think I probably caught him at the right time. He had gone and worked for a few managers who weren't enamoured enough to play him on a regular basis.

"I obviously knew him as a West Brom manager watching [Aston] Villa, watched him in the reserves a few times. His pace and balance was just extraordinary.

"Going to Middlesbrough, he wasn't in the team when I got there but I wanted to make him a focal point of the team. We did that and the biggest thing with him is that he grew in confidence and he started to believe in himself.

"I made him my best friend. He used to come in and make me a cup of coffee after lunch and we would sit down and watch videos. He became a friend and he knew he'd be first pick on the team sheet. And the team understood what we could get from him and what we couldn't. Having said that, as the season progressed, he learned the other side of the game [defensive] well as well.

"You meet people in life who are really, really good people, and Adama is a really good person. You hope and pray those people get everything out of life that they possibly can.

"He's gone to Wolves - we didn't want to get rid of him at Middlesbrough, but the only problem was the finances… He went to the right club, stepped up and has murdered it.

"I think he can only get better. His temperament and personality is first class. His next step, I speak to him now and then, his next step is to get a place in the Spanish side.

"I'll be quite content for him, and I said this to him, to settle down. He seems happy at Wolves. He's playing under a manager that's confident with him and gives the respect Adama needs.

"But Adama's big challenge is seeing if he can get a place in the Spanish team and keep it."

During his time at the Riverside, Pulis did not enjoy the same sort of relationship with striker Martin Braithwaite, whom he is surprised to see now playing at LaLiga champions Barcelona.

"He was completely different to Adama in personality. Different traits as a player. I never thought Braithwaite wanted to be at Middlesbrough although he signed a contract," said Pulis.

"He spent more time telling me that he wanted to leave than be at the club. In the end I hope and pray that the club got a good price for him because they paid a lot for him. They certainly paid him an enormous amount of money wages-wise, it was just extraordinary.

"Am I surprised he's gone to Barcelona? Yes. Is he playing every week? I don't know. Is he going to play every week? I don't know. Was he my cup of tea? Adama was. Braithwaite wasn't."

Fiorentina midfielder Alfred Duncan has taken to social media to share his thoughts on the ongoing protests on racism in the world.

The protests came about after an American, George Floyd passed away in the city of Minneapolis after a police officer knelt on his neck for several minutes, before passing away in hospital.

Thousands of people in not only American cities but all over the world have gathered to call for an end to police brutality.

A host of African footballers including Duncan's countrymen Kevin-Prince Boateng, Thomas Partey and Michael Essien have all stood in solidarity for Floyd and all those who have been subject to racism.

"I have been a victim in many occasions, humiliated, insulted and ignored by even the people next to me," Duncan said in an Instagram post.

"I know and I need no reminder that I’m black and I’m more than proud of who and what I am! People tend to forget we were made from dust and so shall we all end up.

"Nobody is born racist so it’s a matter of education from parents since it starts from home. I will never feel inferior to anybody anyway nor for any reason!!! We are all human and that’s the race I know.

"Following a trending black post on social media doesn’t make you a non-racist...I won’t allow anyone to abuse me since I don’t abuse anyone so I urge my fellow brothers to be strong because anybody who tries to bring you down is already below you.

"Hate is a disease that has no cure! I’m human and I love being me."

Racism is very rife in football with players such as Kalidou Koulibaly, Boateng, Jeremie Boga, Franck Kessie all targeted, leading to calls for tougher punishment for culpable offenders.

Duncan is on loan at Fiorentina from Sassuolo.

The 27-year old Ghana international joined in January while nursing a hamstring injury, but did recover and made three starts against Sampdoria, AC Milan and Udinese, playing 90 minutes in the latter two before the Serie A was halted because of the coronavirus pandemic in March.

However, with a return to league fixtures confirmed, Duncan will hope to be part of the Viola starting XI when they welcome Brescia to the Artemio Franchi on June 22.

Cardiff City manager Neil Harris has revealed Sol Bamba is ‘fine’ and ready for the restart of the Championship.

The centre-back has been a consistent performer for the Bluebirds since joining the side in 2016 before he suffered a ligament injury in March 2019.

The injury ruled him out from action from the remaining part of the 2018-19 season as his side failed in their quest to remain in the Premier League.

Bamba returned from the problem in November but has only played four times in the Championship against Birmingham City, Sheffield Wednesday, Queens Park Rangers and West Bromwich Albion before the outbreak of Covid-19.

Ahead of the resumption of the English second-tier this June, Harris believes the Bluebirds can benefit from the experience of the 35-year-old.

"Sol is fine. He has done every session, we are really pleased. We appreciate he is not getting any younger in years,” Haris was quoted as saying by BBC Sports.

"He is doing everything the players do, but you don't expect Sol Bamba to run with a player like Dion Sanderson, for example, who is 14 or 15 years younger.

"We have to be respectful of players who are at different levels and ages. But Sol has trained every session and has been great around the pitches, as ever."

Cardiff are currently ninth in the Championship table with 54 points from 37 games, two points below the play-off spot.

Bamba is not short of experience to help the side back to the Premier League, having played for Paris Saint-Germain, Dunfermline Athletic and Scottish side Hibernian.

The defender also featured for Leicester City, Trabzonspor, Palermo and Leeds United before joining Cardiff in 2016.

On the international scene, he has made 46 appearances for Ivory Coast and was part of the team that reached the final of the Africa Cup of Nations in 2012.

The centre-back played for the Elephants at the 2010 and 2014 World Cups in South Africa and Brazil respectively.

He has made 104 league appearances for Cardiff since making his debut against Bristol City in October 2016 and will hope to continue to play his part for the side.

Nine Ugandan Premier League (UPL) clubs will not be part of the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (Fufa) consultative meeting scheduled for Wednesday, June 9.

In a letter to the UPL Secretariat and signed by Fufa CEO Edgar Watson Suubi, the Federation had invited 14 clubs in the top-tier, including the promoted MYDA FC, for a meeting this week.

"Fufa wishes to invite the clubs that have sportingly qualified for the 1st Division season 2020/2021 for a consultative meeting to consider... the following; club licensing programme for the season 2020/21, competition reforms," read the Fufa letter obtained by Goal.

"The meeting will take place on Wednesday 10th June at Fufa Executive House Conference Hall starting at 10 am.

"... In order to abide by the Covid-19 guidelines of social distancing, each club shall be represented by one person who shall be the club owner or their representative, in their absence, the club chairman or their representative, in their absence the club Chief Executive Officer.

"Remember to wear a face mask!" 

However, Mbarara City FC, Busoga United FC, Express FC, Bright Stars FC, BUL FC, SC Villa, Wakiso Giants, Onduparaka FC and Kyetume FC have revealed their intention of not honouring the meeting.

In a letter dated June 9 signed by Mbarara City Chairman Mwine Mpaka, the teams have given the reasons why they will not be part of the aforementioned meeting.

"The under-listed chairmen have noted with concern the following anomalies that we would like to draw your attention to; the invitation to discuss club licensing and league reforms in one meeting is ineffective and will not deliver the desired outcome of the meeting; the notice given is rather too short for us to make the necessary preparations and consultations," read part of the letter to UPL and obtained by Goal.

"We had earlier planned for a similar meeting scheduled for 18th June 2020 as communicated by [Bernard Bainamani] on the UPL forum.

"Owing to the above, therefore, we have unanimously agreed not to attend the scheduled meeting due on June 10th, 2020. The following suggestions are also proposed for better planning going forward.

"Organize a separate meeting for CEOs to discuss club licensing; organize a separate meeting for club chairmen to discuss strategic issues affecting the future of the league.” 

The high court in France has blocked the relegation of Amiens and Toulouse from Ligue 1 after the 2019-20 season was cancelled.

The Professional Football League (LFP) named Paris Saint-Germain as Ligue 1 champions and relegated the bottom two following prime minister Edouard Philippe's April 28 announcement that all sporting events were banned until September amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The decision proved controversial as Toulouse and Amiens appealed against their relegation, while Lyon pursued legal action after they were denied a place in European competition next season because of their seventh-place finish.

The case was initially dismissed, but the clubs turned to the country's highest administrative court, which ruled that the call to end the season early was legal but suspended the relegatation of Amiens and Toulouse. Lyon's appeal, however, was rejected.

Regarding the season being ended early, the court ruled: "There is no serious doubt on the legality of this decision, which weighed the advantages and the disadvantages of an immediate stop of the championship, whereas a very great uncertainty affected the hypothesis of a possible restart of competitions in good time."

As a result of the judge's decision, the French top flight could be expanded to 22 teams, as Lorient and Lens will be promoted from Ligue 2.

The ruling continued: "The judge in summary proceedings considers that the board of directors of the LFP could not legally rely, in deciding to relegate the last two teams in Ligue 1, on the fact that the current agreement concluded with the French Football Federation (FFF) provides for a limit of 20 clubs, while this agreement ends on June 30 and a new agreement will have to be signed.

"The judge therefore orders the LFP, in conjunction with the competent bodies of the FFF, to re-examine the question of the format of Ligue 1 for the 2020-2021 season, in view of all the elements relating to the conditions under which this season is likely to take place, and to draw the consequences as to the principle of relegation before June 30."

After the French government admitted that cup final matches may take place in July and August, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin this week said the league could resume with play-offs before August 2.

PSL chairman Dr Irvin Khoza has revealed the league will only try and find a replacement for Absa once there's a surety on what's going to happen to the current season. 

As things stand, the season has been suspended for over two months due to the coronavirus pandemic.

And this was met by Absa's decision to end their relationship which will come into effect once the 2019/20 campaign is complete. 

Absa decided against renewing their contract with the PSL after entering a three-year deal with the league in 2017.  

"The contract was for three years. So, it was not pulling out. It was the expiry of the contract which again is a question of deciding whether they continue or not continue," Khoza told eNCA. 

"But the decision to end the relationship was not an acrimonious one; it was a situation that we understand because, with Covid-19, anything is possible."  

Asked if the process to find Absa's replacement has begun, Khoza made it clear that it's impossible to begin that process at this stage. 

He cited the current situation that sees football suspended in the country as the stumbling block in opening negotiations with any company. 

"It's important that we finish the league first. Finishing the league means you know what you are selling because if you get a sponsor, [they'd ask] 'when are you starting?' - you can't provide an answer," said Khoza.    

A few high-profile companies such as Telkom, Nedbank, Bidvest and Betway have all been reported to be interested in taking over from Absa from next season. 

The league together with the South African Football Association (Safa) are working around the clock to ensure the season resumes. 

And there are indications that this could happen soon following Safa CEO Tebogo Motlanthe's statement that with teams having already fumigated their training facilities, the process of allowing teams to train may be sped up. 

There are eight to six rounds of matches left before the completion of the 2019/20 season - and the football fraternity is eagerly waiting to find out if the government will give the go-ahead to the league to play their remaining matches behind closed doors. 

Golden Arrows coach Steve Komphela says it will "be a strange phenomenon" for Premier Soccer League (PSL) clubs that command a huge following if the current season resumes with no fan attendance inside Stadiums.

Traditional giants Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns are the most supported teams in South Africa and enjoy big and passionate crowds even during away games.

Bloemfontein Celtic and Black Leopards also play in front of capacity crowds at home.

With the PSL advocating for the return of football behind closed doors due to the coronavirus pandemic, Komphela said teams with a huge fan base could feel the effects of not having the backing of their supporters.

“It’s going to be a big challenge to the teams who carry bigger reputations and are used to playing in front of a full capacity or large crowds," said Komphela as per Sowetan Live.

"They might find this very strange‚ it’s going to benefit the other teams in the league. Playing football behind closed doors is another dynamic because there are advantages and disadvantages and I want to look at it from both sides. It will be very unfair of me to look at it from one side.

"You go to play at Loftus and you come across 40,000 yellow and green supporters and when you are Golden Arrows you have few supporters in the corner even though you have similar colours. You will be under pressure because Sundowns is going to enjoy the support because energy is everything in life. Supporters ignite their clubs and on matchday they become the 12th player.

"Teams that play without supporters and are used to playing without supporters are not going to be affected that much. However‚ for Mamelodi Sundowns‚ Orlando Pirates or Kaizer Chiefs‚ it is going to be a strange phenomenon to them because they will be playing in front of empty stadiums.”

“It is going to have a huge impact both emotionally and psychologically to the players and that can affect the technical output. Mind you‚ us who are just below those big three or four teams in the league‚ we are going out there saying that we won’t be beaten by Sundowns‚ Chiefs or Pirates and the motivation is going to be even extra.”

In the remaining league games, Chiefs will have to host Sundowns and the Brazilians will also have to play Pirates in big matches that are traditionally crowd-pullers that usually see tickets being sold out.

If the season continues, the matches behind closed doors will restart at a point where the title race is stiff with Chiefs leading second-placed Mamelodi Sundowns by four points although Amakhosi have played one match more.

Orlando Pirates will also be likely to play in an empty Orlando Stadium as they bid for a top-three finish.

Young Africans (Yanga SC) defender Juma Kipenzi has revealed they want to face rivals Simba SC in the semi-finals of the domestic cup.

The two Tanzanian giants could meet again in the Kariokor derby before the season ends as Yanga have been drawn to face Kagera Sugar while Simba will face Azam FC in the quarters with winners from both matches facing off in the last four.

Makapu has now explained his main dream is for the two giants to meet again and has promised Yanga will once again beat Simba.

“We have been drawn to face Kagera and I have the confidence we will beat them and reach the semi-finals, and it is where I now want Simba to also beat Azam so that we clash again,” Makapu is quoted by Sokaletu.

“I am praying we meet them [Simba] again, we will beat them, we don’t fear them, actually they have nowadays become our customers and if we beat them then our work will be easier in the final.”

In the league this season, Yanga managed to beat Simba 1-0 in the second-round after the two sides had settled for a 2-2 draw in the first match.

The quarter-final matches will be played on June 31 and July 1.

Eight teams have made it to the last eight with the eventual winner getting a slot to represent the nation in the Caf Confederation Cup. The top four teams are all still in the competition hoping to go all the way to the final.

On the last Tuesday of the month, the first match will be between fourth-placed Namungo against Alliance. The game will be played at Uwanja wa Majaliwa in Lindi.

The second match of the day will be between Yanga and Kagera at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

On Wednesday, July 1, minnows Sahare All-Stars will be at Mkwakwani Stadium in Tanga against Ndanda FC. The latter come into the match as favourites owing to their undoubted quality in the squad as compared to the second-tier side.

The biggest match, arguably, will be played on the same day at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam and will be between Azam, who are the defending champions, and league leaders Simba.

Former Mali striker Frederic Kanoute has advised African countries to work on their organisation, dedication and their professionalism if they aspire to go beyond the quarter-final stage at a Fifa World Cup tournament.

No African country has gone past the last-eight in the global competition with Cameroon the first to achieve it in 1990 before Senegal and Ghana followed suit in 2002 and 2010 respectively.

At the most recent edition which took place in Russia two years ago, the five countries who represented the continent - Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal and Tunisia - all failed to make it past the group stage.

When asked about the chances of an African team to go further in the World Cup, Kanoute admitted that it is a matter of time because of the inadequate facilities in the continent.

“Every time there is a World Cup, I hope that an African country can go past the quarter-finals,” Kanoute told Goal with La Liga.

“I'm sure we will get there, this is just a matter of time but we can't just rely on time, we will have to rely on the work we do on the pitch, our organisation, our dedication and professionalism. That was what we were fighting for when I was playing for Mali but we knew we have not progressed in order to qualify first for a World Cup and after that, it's just not enough to go there and just entertain everybody and go back home at an early stage.

“We have to go to the next level but it will take a long way, we have to remember that we don't have the same facilities, we don't have the same organisation right now. Most of the countries have been independent for only a little time and we have to acknowledge these factors, these challenges to overcome them slowly but for sure, we are going to get there.”

The former Sevilla star played for Mali between 2004 and 2010, scoring 23 goals in 39 matches and he was crowned the African Footballer of the Year in 2007.

He recalled how proud he was when South Africa hosted the world for the first time on the African soil in 2010 and the mixed reactions that followed after Spain won it and France, his country of birth, failed to progress from their group.

“I have good memories because I used to play in Spain at the time and obviously, they won it so they were talking a lot about it,” he added.

“I remember it went really wrong for France, I'm from France as well, so they were speaking the other way round. Alot of good and bad comments that come. Obviously, I was really proud for the first World Cup to be in Africa. I hope much more will be hosted there.”

Diego Milito can appreciate why reported interest from Barcelona will be turning the head of Lautaro Martinez, with it easy to see the Inter forward slotting in seamlessly alongside fellow Argentine Lionel Messi at Camp Nou.

A big-money move to Catalunya continues to be mooted for the highly-rated forward.

Barca are said to have a lucrative contract drawn up for the 22-year-old, with efforts set to be stepped up when it comes to agreeing terms with those at San Siro.

Lautaro has given little away when it comes to his future plans, with the South American allowing speculation to rage around him.

Many have called for the opportunity to join Messi in Spain to be snapped up, with the Blaugrana looking to land a long-term replacement for Luis Suarez.

Others, however, have urged caution when it comes to leaving a steep learning curve in Milan and making a step up to one of the most demanding clubs in world football.

Milito, as a former Nerazzurri star, would like to see a compatriot remain with Inter for the foreseeable future, but can understand why exit thoughts may be mulled over.

A man who saw his spot at Racing filled by an emerging Lautaro in 2016 told Infobae: “Lautaro can play for any team in the world, he's a fantastic attacker, an exceptional boy, I appreciate him a lot. I'm especially happy that things are going so well for him.

“I think he's happy at Inter, one of the best teams in the world. But if he has to go to Barca, I wish him the best. It will be great for him, I'm sure.

“How could he not gel with Messi? I'm convinced he can play with Leo. He's done it for Argentina.”

Lautaro has taken in 17 appearances for Argentina to date, recording nine goals for his country.

His potential is clear for all to see, with Barca’s interest coming as no surprise, and Milito believes an precocious talent can follow in the footsteps of Messi by forming part of the next generation of top talent.

He added: “Lautaro will be a top player during the next decade, he's got everything to make that happen.

“He's young but has very clear ideas. He's a boy that always wants to improve and he's got a lot of quality.”

Jamie Carragher has saluted the efforts of Jordan Henderson at Liverpool, with a man who faced plenty of criticism early on at Anfield proving himself to the perfect successor to Steven Gerrard as Reds skipper.

An iconic presence in the middle of the park opted to walk away from his boyhood club in 2016, with Gerrard taking the decision to play out his career in MLS with the LA Galaxy.

A serious void was created by his departure, with Henderson asked to fill it by taking both the armband and a central role in the engine room.

Questions were asked of whether he was ready for such responsibility, but any fears in that department have been calmed by a model of consistency.

Henderson has shown himself to be an inspirational presence on and off the pitch, with his efforts across the last 12 months seeing him held up as potential PFA Player of the Year winner.

He has already got his hands on Champions League and Club World Cup crowns, with the Premier League title set to follow at some point over the coming weeks.

Carragher is delighted to see his former team-mate getting the recognition he deserves, with a hard-working 29-year-old having fended off doubters and big-money signings to remain a key cog in Jurgen Klopp’s well-oiled machine.

"When he first came in, it raised eyebrows in some ways, it was 'where is he going to play', we already had Steven Gerrard at the club, we had bought Charlie Adam as well," Carragher told Sky Sports.

"There were a lot of midfield players as well. It was Damien Comolli who brought him in, young England player, loads of energy. He found it tough early on because he was played out of position in right-midfield.

"The thing I love about Jordan Henderson and it's a little similar to my journey because at times I found it tough and people said I wasn't good enough and they have said that to Jordan Henderson. That just shows the character of who he is.

"You can use words like great professional, great character, and these are just words. What does it mean? It means the way he trains every day, people questioned why he was captain. I used to argue with Jordan all the time and I know the character and personality I want at my club and that is him.

"Who else could be captain after Steven Gerrard? I'm delighted and people like Jordan have something special about them, where you never write them off. At different times of his Liverpool career, someone has come in and you thought he might not play.

"[Alex] Oxlade-Chamberlain, central midfield, Naby Keita, big-money signing, young, lots of qualities but Jordan Henderson still plays. Playing for nine years at a club like Liverpool is testament to his abilities and personality.

"Whether player of the year or footballer of the year gets done this year, I'm not sure. I thought Sadio Mane was Liverpool's best player when the season stopped and I wouldn't change that view.

"In terms of who has been the outstanding footballer of the year, it's about more than what you do on the pitch, I don't think there's a more outstanding character than Jordan Henderson."

Move over Twitter, rest in peace Vine, there's a new king of the social media world.

In 2020, anybody who is anybody is on TikTok - the video-sharing app known for its collaborative videos, dance crazes and non-stop supply of memes.

Wherever a social media craze goes, footballers soon follow, and TikTok is no different.

Plenty have shown their creative side, particularly during lockdown in recent months.

Check out the list below for the best TikToks football has to offer - and make sure to follow Goal (@goalglobal) first of all!

Which football players are on TikTok?

@alphonsodavies

Can’t believe that worked ##fyp ##fypage

@viniciusjunior

@joaofelix79

##woah ##fyp @tiagotiago518 We almost had it�ª��‚�‚

@christianmpulisic

Quarantine vibes�º

@davidluiz_23

@hherrera16

Perdón @shanm165 pero con esta de Román no fallo ��»�Š�š�» ##golazo ##riquelme ##HH ##quedateencasa

Which football clubs are on TikTok?

Gabriel Jesus admits that he had much to learn when arriving at Manchester City, with the Brazilian revealing that he “loved pizza and burgers” before taking on a personal performance coach.

A highly-rated South American striker was taken to the Etihad Stadium during the winter transfer window of 2017.

Jesus was still a teenager at that time and was very much still learning his trade when it came to the demands and expectations placed on elite performers.

He was, however, to quickly learn the error his ways and has made a point of now ensuring that he is in the best possible shape on and off the field.

“Before I came to Manchester City, I worked differently at my old club Palmeiras. I came here and I stayed for the first year and I felt something different,” Jesus told Sky Sports.

“Pizza, bread, I loved all that. I loved burgers. That was all so bad for me and my body. But this was my life before Andre came.”

With his physical condition having been scrutinised by those in and out of Manchester – and with Pep Guardiola the most demanding of managers – Jesus moved to add Andre Cunha to his support team.

“I asked Manchester City if I could try to do something at home with somebody who could come to see me so I found Andre and he is a top guy, a top professional,” he added.

“He knows everything so he has helped me a lot. Now my nutrition is much better than before, for sure. I don't go crazy. I had to think ahead so I stopped with all that.

“Always in my life, I want to learn more, improve more, everything. On the pitch, it is the same. When I feel something is wrong with me, with my body, with my quality, I try to improve. So I found Andre. I think it was a very good decision in my life.”

Jesus has now taken in 138 appearances for City, recording 63 goals, and will be looking to hit the ground running when Premier League action resumes amid the coronavirus pandemic on June 17.

“I am very fit and I am ready to play with my friends,” he said. “We are ready because we are training so, so much. It is hard every day, every single day, every single session. We are training hard.

"Everybody knows this Premier League is done but we don't have to give up because we have the Champions League as well and the FA Cup. We have to do everything to stay fit and play good. I think everyone is ready.”

Bayern Munich head coach Hansi Flick has heaped praise upon in-form full-back Alphonso Davies ahead of Wednesday's DFB-Pokal semi-final.

Signed as a winger from Vancouver Whitecaps in January last year, the Canada star has developed into one of Europe's best left-backs this season and earned a contract extension until 2025.

The 19-year-old's form has helped Bayern to sustain their challenge for the treble in 2019-20, and Flick has no doubt he can get even better.

"Alphonso is doing outstandingly at the moment," Flick said at a press conference on Tuesday. "In addition to his speed on the pitch, he's very adept defensively. 

"Now, he's setting up goals in attack and has scored some himself. He's on a very good path. He's young - he can and wants to learn.

"Despite his young age, he's currently one of the top performers."

Bayern will come up against Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday, against whom they lost the 2018 final, but their 11-game winning run in all competitions places them as firm favourites to progress.

They beat Frankfurt 5-2 last month in the Bundesliga, too, although Flick is not prepared to underestimate their opponents.

"We approach the game like all the others," he said. "We are analysing Frankfurt for the third time in a season.

"We have to be very focused over 90 minutes, or longer in the cup. The team know about Frankfurt's strengths but also know about their own."

Another Bayern player to enjoy a strong run of performances since the return of German football last month is Leon Goretzka, who got a goal and an assist in last Saturday's 4-2 win at Bayer Leverkusen.

Flick thinks the midfielder reflects the positive team spirit within the squad.

"He has a healthy aggression and so wins the ball a lot, and then he can start dangerous attacks," he said.

"But I don't want to single out one man. The whole team is excellent off the ball and also with the ball. Everyone feels a responsibility without the ball, and everyone wants to support each other with it.

"Not having an atmosphere [in behind-closed-doors games] may also help, since we speak a lot with each other. You can tell on the bench how everyone is, too – they also want to support. I like that. It shows the team spirit."

Jadon Sancho's next step is "going to be a challenge", according to Gareth Southgate, who insists the Manchester United target is still "maturing".

The Borussia Dortmund attacker has emerged as one of the most sought-after young talents in European football since moving to Germany from Manchester City in 2017.

He is currently enjoying his best season yet at Westfalenstadion, having contributed 20 goals and 20 assists to BVB's cause in 40 outings across all competitions, and has also established himself as a regular in the England squad.

Sancho has been tipped for a return to his homeland this summer, with United reportedly ready to fork out a fee in excess of £100 million ($127m) to lure the winger to Old Trafford when the transfer window reopens.

Southgate has been keeping a close eye on the 20-year-old's progress in the Bundesliga, and says that although the ex-City starlet is "developing really well", he is still "learning the game".

The England manager also believes that the German top-flight pales in comparison to the Premier League, and that Sancho should look to follow the example of his international colleagues as he embarks on the next chapter of fledgling career.

"He's a very talented young player - that's clear. The Bundesliga is getting a lot of profile at the moment but it's no surprise to us," Southgate told Sky Sports .

"I think the interesting challenge is that Bayern [Munich] are the best team in the Bundesliga; RB Leipzig and Dortmund are performing well but the gap when you then work down the league is an interesting one when you compare it to the Premier League.

"The top teams have certainly been a challenge for English teams in the Champions League but the level I don't think is quite the same in Germany in terms of the depth because the finances aren't quite the same.

"Any step for Sancho is going to be a challenge but he's developing really well.

"If I look at his age and his contribution, he's learning the game, he's slowly maturing - there are bits he's still got to learn - and he has some fantastic role models in Raheem Sterling and Marcus Rashford, not only in terms of how they play but also their professionalism, their desire and hunger."

Football has slowly started resuming with the Bundesliga's return from May 16 and now with the LaLiga Santander set for a restart on Friday after the Coronavirus pandemic put a pause to action world over.

After France have ended the 2019-20 Ligue 1 season early, the Premier League and Serie A are still aiming for a June restarts. 

*All times are IST.

Friday, June 12

LaLiga returns after three months with the matchday 28 clash between Sevilla and Real Betis - the El Gran Derbi - and 109 of the remaining fixtures to compete this season's campaign.

Saturday, June 13

Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich continue with their Bundesliga title race wherein the later hold a seven-point advantage while more LaLiga encounters await.

*All Bundesliga matches can be streamed online on Disney+ Hotstar VIP

Sunday, June 14

FC Barcelona and Real Madrid are separated by just two points at the summit going into their weekend fixtures as Atletico Madrid hope to recover their standing.

*All Bundesliga matches can be streamed online on Disney+ Hotstar VIP

Monday, June 15

More action in the LaLiga!

More to follow...

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