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1 Manchester United huffed and puffed and eventually conceded yet another late goal and were held to a 1-1 draw by 19th-placed Burnley at Old Trafford on Saturday. The midweek win against last-placed Sheffield United raised hopes that the team would ditch manager Erik ten Hag’s chaos ball and would employ a more possession-based approach based on new technical director Jason Wilcox’s instructions. But as fans saw on Saturday, the Dutchman is doubling down and it was an end-to-end encounter with the Clarets bypassing the United press with ease, as most teams have done this season. The hosts should have gone for the jugular after taking the lead through Antony but the manager decided to play safe and a mistake from Casemiro and Andre Onana saw Burnley equalise from the spot late on. Casemiro’s poor sophomore season Injuries have forced Ten Hag to play the Brazilian at the back and the results have been less than satisfactory with the team conceding six goals in their last three games. Championship side Coventry City scored three in 20 minutes while bottom of the Premier League Sheffield United also netted twice. And the former Real Madrid superstar was to blame for Burnley’s equaliser as his weak header forced Onana to try and punch the ball and instead, he connected with the opposition player. While playing as a centre-back is not his forte, the 32-year-old was expected to perform better than he has. But the biggest issue has been seen when the Brazil international has played in his preferred position of defensive midfielder. The 32-year-old looks like he has lost more than a yard of pace and injuries have not helped either. He has missed 17 games this term with United’s medical team not covering themselves in glory. Casemiro’s issues this season In Ten Hag’s new system, Casemiro is often too isolated and he is unable to shield the backline effectively and he has struggled to track runners while he often resorts to last-ditch tackles in a bid to avoid having to run back. United’s decision to part with £70 million for the Brazilian seems to be a huge faux pas and Sir Jim Ratcliffe was not particularly pleased at United’s short-term approach. He is keen to change that and new co-owners INEOS are open to moving on the five-time Champions League winner who has admirers in Saudi Arabia and Serie A. Fichajes have now reported that the Red Devils are holding out for €40 million and there is very little chance Italian clubs can afford such a hefty transfer fee along with the player’s massive wages. The club are also mulling over the alternate option of paying off Casemiro so that he voluntarily chooses to leave and United free up a massive chunk of their wage bill. Two alternatives “Casemiro’s situation at Manchester United could lead to one of the big transfers of this summer with the club weighing the option of releasing him next summer. “They would accept offers close to 40 million euros, half of what they paid for him who has not proven to be missing piece that was expected when he landed. “United’s other strategy aims at reach an understanding with the Brazilian player, contemplating the possibility of offering financial compensation to try to force his departure.” It seems INEOS are adamant that Casemiro has no future at the club and despite his stellar career, it is clear that he is not the best fit anymore and a sale makes sense. Want to be the first to hear breaking Man United news? For carefully selected, crucial updates, join our WhatsApp channel: https://bit.ly/United-Breaking-News.

1 Ella Toone came on from the bench and produced a moment of magic as Manchester United eventually beat Leicester City in a crucial Women’s Super League encounter. United were in control for large spells of the game but were thwarted by Leicester City goalkeeper Janina Leitzig, who came up with some fine saves. Leitzig kept United at bay as she denied the likes of Geyse, Melvine Malard and Leah Galton from finding the back of the net. Leicester’s chances were few and far between each other and they only managed four shots on target. Mary Earps in the United goal had an answer for most of the questions asked of her. The Foxes’ best opportunity to take the lead came when Jutta Rantala cut inside and released a shot but luckily for United, she couldn’t hit the target. Rantala and her teammate, Yuka Momiki were the main sources of threat for Leicester and caused the Red Devils’ backline a few fair problems. Momiki also hit the post in the second half. It seemed like the game was destined to end in a stalemate until Marc Skinner made some inspired personnel changes. He brought on Nikita Parris, Lucia Garcia and Toone. Toone came up with the goods for her team and manager when she broke the deadlock in the 83rd minute of proceedings. The United n.o 7 had been on the pitch for just 10 minutes, but that’s all she needed to make an impact. She unleashed a thunderbolt from 25 yards which flew past Leitzig. Frankly, the Leicester shot-stopper had no chance of saving it and despite her best efforts, could only watch as the ball found the top-right corner. ELLA TOONE WITH THE ROCKET An incredible strike from distance! WOW! #BarclaysWSL @ManUtdWomen @ellatoone99 pic.twitter.com/6YmrlKJujM — Barclays Women’s Super League (@BarclaysWSL) April 28, 2024 The strike was Toone’s ninth goal contribution in the WSL this term. The result has left Skinner’s side in fourth position in the WSL rankings and three points ahead of Liverpool in fifth. The Merseyside outfit, who have a game in hand, face Chelsea next Wednesday. United’s win at the King Power Stadium was significant considering they had emerged victorious in just one of their last three WSL games. The next assignment for the Red Devils is an away trip to take on Liverpool as they aim to put some distance between themselves and their rivals. Want to be the first to hear breaking Man United news? For carefully selected, crucial updates, join our WhatsApp channel: https://bit.ly/United-Breaking-News.

1 Burnley have issued a statement addressing alleged incidents of tragedy chanting that took place during the 1-1 draw against Manchester United on Saturday. United took the lead at Old Trafford in the 79th minute through Antony, who capitalised on a defensive error from the Clarets to guide the ball into the back of the net. However, a momentary defensive lapse between Casemiro and Andre Onana saw Vincent Kompnay’s men handed a late penalty, which Zeki Amdouni easily dispatched to ensure the spoils were shared between the two sides. The result left United in sixth position in the Premier League and just a point above Newcastle with four top-flight games left before the campaign elapses. After the final whistle, Burnley released a statement condemning alleged tragedy gesturing and chanting from the away end. This came after offensive footage was posted online. In their statement, Burnley promised to work with the authorities to identify those responsible so that action is taken against them. The Lancashire club’s statement read, “We are aware of offensive footage currently circulating on social media from the away end of today’s fixture at Old Trafford.” “Tragedy related gesturing and chanting is completely unacceptable, and Burnley Football Club take a zero-tolerance approach.” “We will continue to work with Greater Manchester Police, Lancashire Police and Manchester United to help identify and prosecute the individuals responsible.” BURNLEY FOOTBALL CLUB STATEMENT We are aware of offensive footage currently circulating on social media from the away end of today’s fixture at Old Trafford. Tragedy related gesturing and chanting is completely unacceptable, and Burnley Football Club take a zero-tolerance… — Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) April 27, 2024 Amidst all this, The Daily Mail’s Mike Keegan has reported that an arrest has already been made. It’s understood that 44-year-old Nathan Rawlinson was held in the away end at Old Trafford as the game progressed. The mentioned individual has been charged under the Public Order Act and bailed. Another tragedy chanting arrest. Nathan Rawlinson, 44-and from Bacup, was held in the away end at Old Trafford during yesterday’s Manchester United v Burnley match. Has since been charged under the Public Order Act and bailed. — Mike Keegan (@MikeKeegan_DM) April 28, 2024 Erik ten Hag and his players return to action next Monday when they take an Oliver Glasner’s Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. Want to be the first to hear breaking Man United news? For carefully selected, crucial updates, join our WhatsApp channel: https://bit.ly/United-Breaking-News.

1 Manchester United loanee Facundo Pellistri got on the score sheet as his side, Granada, secured a La Liga win against Osasuna. Granada headed into the match full of confidence following their previous win against Alaves before they went on to earn a valuable point vs. Athletic Club. Jose Ramon Sandoval’s men took advantage of their momentum and successfully sunk Osasuna in a 3-0 victory on Sunday at Estadio Nuevo Los Carmenes. Alongside Pellistri, Myrto Uzuni and Lucas Boye also grabbed goals to clinch the points for Granada. Pellistri shed first blood at the half-hour mark in spectacular fashion. The Uruguayan, who started on his favoured right side of a 4-4-2 formation, positioned himself well to receive a pass just inside the Osasuna box. He took a sublime touch to get past his marker and create some shooting space for himself before firing a powerful effort with his right foot into the roof of Sergio Herrera’s net. ¡GOL DE GRANADA! Con un remate fortísimo, el uruguayo Pellistri anotó el 1-0 para el local ante Osasuna. @FDVENE – @sebasdecker#GranadaOsasuna #LaLigaEnDSPORTS pic.twitter.com/L9W1ez4U3O — DSPORTS (@DSports) April 28, 2024 Pellistri’s strike set the tone for Granada, who despite having significantly less possession than their opponents, proved clinical as they made their goalscoring chances account. The United loanee was on the pitch for 80 minutes before being taken off and replaced by Gonzalo Villar. Pellistri had 22 touches of the ball to his name and successfully delivered nine of the 12 total passes he attempted. He had a pass completion rate of 75%. The South American winger tried to find a Granada teammate with one cross but he didn’t hit his mark on that occasion. The 22-year-old had two total shots to his name – the goal he scored and another which was off-target and didn’t require the Osasuna goalkeeper to swing into action. An area of his play in which Pellistri was very poor was defensively. He won none of the seven ground duels he delved into and also none of two aerial contests he was required to contest. Pellistri also failed to make an interception or put in a successful tackle. He managed just one clearance. (Stats obtained from Sofascore) Granda’s next assignment is a difficult one –  a trip to the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium to face Sevilla. Want to be the first to hear breaking Man United news? For carefully selected, crucial updates, join our WhatsApp channel: https://bit.ly/United-Breaking-News.

With Liverpool limping towards the finishing line, Aaron Cutler looks at how Jurgen Klopp‘s exit announcement affected the players’ mentality and wider expectations of a season that turned from joy to anticlimax. It wasn’t supposed to end like this. The last six weeks of Liverpool’s season have been nothing short of catastrophic. An implosion of this scale will naturally inspire post-mortems and recriminations long into the summer. While the how and why will take some unpacking, the when is easier to pinpoint. Indeed, our struggles can be traced back to when things got serious. Granted, a Premier League campaign isn’t exactly a walk in the park. A multi-billion dollar industry in which so many are invested emotionally and financially can never be described as a leisure activity, yet Jurgen Klopp’s side entered 2023/24 with the pressure seemingly off. For the first time in arguably eight years little was expected from the boys in red. Expectations had been tempered on the back of a hugely underwhelming season, punctuated by the exits of several high-profile and influential stars. This was the first reset of Klopp’s reign and progress rather than pots was the clear target. With neither squad nor fanbase anticipating a slugfest with Man City – and with it the need to win every game – the start to the season was enjoyable.   Liverpool 2.0 Obvious deficiencies were clear from the opening day at Chelsea but there was plenty to be positive about. Our new Hungarian signing was both handsome and handy; Luis Diaz had regained form and fitness following a lengthy lay-off; substitutes were impacting games from the bench; and even Darwin Nunez had found his shooting boots! Victory at Newcastle felt like a turning point and springboard rolled into one. A goal and man down, parallels to the previous season were striking. But rather than wilt and succumb to the inevitable, Liverpool dug in and sprang the latest of late shows to earn a famous win in a hostile atmosphere. The manner of that success brought huge momentum, leading to nine wins and three draws in our next 13 games. Positives could even be drawn from our sole defeat at Spurs. Reduced to nine men and failed by the officials, a young team battled until the last. An injury-time own goal spared the hosts’ blushes, but Liverpool took just as much from that loss. For a remodelled squad whose average age had been cut from 16th to 10th youngest in the league, this was significant. Something was building. While this run had propelled us towards the top of the table, few were actually contemplating a title tilt. Still bearing the scars of 2022/23, the majority of the fanbase were pleasantly surprised and simply enjoying the ride. Football was fun again. It’s fair to assume the players felt similarly. Having set up a goal for Nunez against Nottingham Forest at the Kop End, Dominik Szoboszlai was pictured leading the crowd in chants of the Uruguayan’s name – that’s not somebody feeling the pressure. Neither was Jarell Quansah, parachuted into the first team from nowhere and more than holding his own domestically and in Europe. Heck, Trent Alexander-Arnold was even assisting goals with his backside on show at Sheffield United. Most importantly, the manager had a new lease of life. He was visibly refreshed and seemingly reinvigorated by his young charges overachieving.   The turning point Jürgen Klopp has announced his decision to step down as #LFC manager at the end of the season, having informed the club’s ownership of his wish to leave his position in the summer. — Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 26, 2024 In hindsight, back-to-back home draws over Christmas said more about our actual level. Liverpool outplayed Manchester United for the entirety of our December 17 clash, and Arsenal for large portions of our head-to-head six days later – we won neither. There was no shame in that but it was a reality check, thankfully not enough of one to derail the campaign. We simply regrouped and went again, winning our next two to hit the top on New Year’s Day. But later that month, things got serious. Klopp announcing his upcoming departure on January 26 has been compared to Kenny Dalglish resigning in February 1991. We can only hope it doesn’t mark quite as dramatic or prolonged a slump. What it has done however is reframe this season. Suddenly a team dubbed ‘Liverpool 2.0’ and seen as every bit the long-term project had to win now. A ‘Last Dance’ narrative had been written and this squad, more than half of which were aged 25 or below, were entrusted with giving Klopp the send-off he deserved. The send-off we demanded. Things got real. To their credit they rose to the challenge initially. The likes of Virgil van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold spoke of a desire to get over the line for the man who had made the impossible possible. We mauled Norwich in the game immediately following the announcement, before dismantling Chelsea at Anfield. A growing injury list was overcome as we defeated Brentford in style and lifted the League Cup with kids very much at the forefront – a testament to the manager’s philosophy. But somewhere around this time the pressure was ratcheted up. Trailing 1-0 at home to Luton on February 21, it felt as though the world was caving in. Anfield rose to the occasion and Liverpool mounted a brilliant fightback to run-out 4-1 winners, but the whole occasion was exhausting. A 98th minute winner at the City Ground was just as dramatic for different reasons. Having traded blows with Man City we squeezed past Brighton before another nail-biter at home to bottom placed Sheffield United. If Luton was evidence of a nervousness sweeping through the stands, the Blades’ equaliser that night sparked outright panic. Alexis Mac Allister’s 76th minute thunderbolt to edge us back in front was greeted with a roar befitting of a Champions League night. Dramatic and brilliant in qual measure, it was nevertheless a sign of how fraught, how perilous things had become. Liverpool had muscled into a title challenge they had no business interrupting and were now clinging on for dear life. The fun been replaced with a need for absolute perfection.   The Old Trafford effect Either side of the Brighton and Sheffield United games were trips to Old Trafford that will surely define this final chapter of the Klopp reign. It’s worth remembering the ‘Mentality Monsters’ long championed by the German are now few and far between. Staples of that team are long gone. Many of Klopp’s previous side fostered that elite mentality so often referenced by the manager. Their absence was keenly felt the day we exited the FA Cup at the home of our fiercest rivals. Having dominated the game, we were rope-a-doped and inexplicably dumped out of the competition. Evidently, that wrecked heads. Defeat at Arsenal a month earlier could be explained away by a slow start and a rare mix-up between Van Dijk and Alisson, plus we were playing a fine side. Defeat against Man United, this United was hard to fathom. It represented the first setback since Klopp’s announcement. Up until then Liverpool were riding a wave of emotion that promised to sweep them to the title. Now momentum had been checked in the worst possible circumstances. Suddenly forwards were second guessing themselves, defensive lapses were becoming more commonplace and legs looked tired. They had a chance to exorcise demons back at Old Trafford early in April only to come a cropper again. That day a draw felt like a defeat, with a narrow advantage at the top of the table squandered due to a hatful of missed chances. It’s galling to admit, but Manchester proved a graveyard for our title challenge and, ultimately, Klopp’s farewell tour.   Lack of leadership It’s in the midst of those games and the immediate aftermath when experience counts. Up until March, no Kopite was lamenting the exit of Henderson in particular. Suddenly he felt like a big miss as a mental fragility came to the fore. Crucially, the fun had stopped. What’s unfolded since couldn’t be further from the joy and freedom exhibited between August and February. This is now a Liverpool side riddled with self-doubt and paralysed by their inability to finish chances. They’ve gone from a vibrant, attacking side built for the future, to a ponderous, error prone team crippled by its present. A summer inquest will rightly follow but the tragedy of this capitulation is the ending it’s dealt our manager. Rejuvenated in pre-season, he suddenly looks tired, defeated and broken. The very best of us, he deserves better. Could he have handled his ‘exit interview’ differently? Perhaps, but then when is a good time to drop that kind of bombshell? Context is everything. Rewind 10 months and we’d have bitten your hand off for a top four finish and a trophy. Even if we stumble over the line for the former, it represents a decent campaign. Truthfully, we’re some way off Man City and Arsenal, as you’d expect given the time and money invested into those respective projects. We’re a distant third and for now, that’s fine. Klopp’s exit has shifted timeframes and set unrealistic expectations. It may be the end of his tenure but it doesn’t have to be the end of Liverpool 2.0, which was always set to be a mid to long-term project. The harsh reality is this season got too serious, too soon.

1 Manchester United have reportedly made contact with the representatives of Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo to explore the possibility of a summer move. Ahead of the upcoming transfer window, securing defensive reinforcements appears to be United’s major priority. This season, Erik ten Hag and his coaching staff have had to deal with key defenders missing multiple games due to consistently occurring injuries. At the moment, the Dutchman is grappling with a crisis in the defensive department, with Harry Maguire the only fit and available senior centre-back available to him for selection. In recent games against Coventry City, Sheffield United and Burnley on Saturday, Ten Hag was forced to field a centre-back pairing of Maguire and Casemiro. The Brazilian is of course naturally a midfielder by trade although he can do a job at the heart of the backline if required. Amidst all this, there are also serious doubts about the future of Raphael Varane and Jonny Evans, whose respective contracts are expiring at the end of the campaign. Both players are poised to exit Old Trafford as free agents unless they can agree fresh terms with the club. It has also been suggested that United could let Maguire and Victor Lindelof go if they receive enticing offers for them. Alongside Araujo, United have so far been linked to a number of defenders including Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton), Gleison Bremer (Juventus), Leny Yoro (Lille), Edmond Tapsoba (Bayer Leverkusen), Max Kilman (Wolves), Jean-Clair Todibo (OGC Nice), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Matthijs de Ligt (Bayern Munich). A recent report covered by The Peoples Person relayed that Barcelona are prepared to listen to offers for Araujo despite initial claims that his sale is completely out of the question. It’s believed that the Barca board is split on what to do regarding the Uruguayan. A section of the club’s executives led by president Joan Laporta want Araujo to stay as they consider him a vital member of Xavi’s team. Meanwhile, some other board members would be open to parting ways with the central defender as his sale would bring in much-needed money to the Catalan giants. The Blaugrana’s financial troubles have been well-documented and the €80 million sum they’re believed to want for Araujo would go a long way in improving the books. It’s important to note that Araujo is a product of their famous La Masia academy and whatever transfer fee is generated from his sale would represent pure profit for Barcelona. Journalist Graeme Bailey has given a huge update on the future of the 25-year-old, whom they describe as “extraordinary” and explains that United have made a significant step in their efforts to lure him to Old Trafford. Bailey states on TBR Football, “Chelsea and Manchester United have asked to be kept informed of Ronald Araujo’s situation at Barcelona.” “Araujo’s current deal is due to expire in 2026 and Barca have already touched base with his agents about fresh terms. Bayern Munich looked closely at Araujo in January and they are understood to still be keen on the Uruguayan star.” “TBR Football can reveal that Chelsea and Manchester United have spoken to intermediaries about Araujo and should contract talks fail, they could very well hold an interest in the 25-year-old.” Araujo would certainly be an astute addition to the ranks at United. He boasts of rapid pace and is very strong. He’s also good in the air, which makes him efficient in both boxes. Want to be the first to hear breaking Man United news? For carefully selected, crucial updates, join our WhatsApp channel: https://bit.ly/United-Breaking-News.

1 Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is urging his club to step up their efforts to sign Valencia star and reported Manchester United target Javi Guerra. It’s thought that midfield is an area of the pitch United could seek to strengthen during the summer transfer window – a need that will certainly become more urgent especially if Casemiro and Christian Eriksen leave the club. Casemiro continues to be linked with a move to Saudi Arabia while Eriksen – who has seen his playing time limited since the emergence of Kobbie Mainoo – is believed to be on the radar of Turkish outfit Galatasaray. A return to Ajax for Eriksen has also been mooted. In January, a report covered by The Peoples Person relayed that United established contact with Valencia to explore the possibility of sealing a deal for Guerra. Needless to say, a transfer never materialized. The player also came out and pledged his allegiance to Valencia, a club he joined in July 2019 in the U18s group before rising through the ranks and becoming an established first-team player. A fresh report has indicated that Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta wants Guerra, who is also being pursued by United, Tottenham Hotspur, Real Madrid and Barcelona. Real Madrid and Barcelona want to keep the 21-year-old in Spain but there is an acceptance that English clubs could blow them out of the water in the race to secure his services since they have greater financial muscle. It’s understood that the Gunners are the club most likely to submit an offer for Guerra in the summer. Arteta is a fan of the Spain international and has watched many of his games this term. Should United, Arsenal or any other party come calling for Guerra, Valencia are in a strong negotiating position. They tied down their youngster to a long-term contract which contains a huge €100million (£85m) release clause. However, it’s believed that Los Ches will not hold out for such a sum and can be convinced to part ways with Guerra for a fee in the region of €50-60m (£42-51m). This season, the United midfield target has registered four goals and one assist in 34 appearances across La Liga and Copa del Rey. It’s easy to see why top clubs are after Guerra. He is quick, press-resistant, is an excellent passer of the ball and contributes both offensively and defensively. The player is also very versatile and can play as a No 8, No 10 or even No 6. Also, at 21, Guerra still has plenty of room for improvement and to refine his game. Want to be the first to hear breaking Man United news? For carefully selected, crucial updates, join our WhatsApp channel: https://bit.ly/United-Breaking-News.

The win saw Pirates remain third in the DStv Premiership standings with 43 points after 25 matches. Orlando Pirates kept their hopes of qualifying for next season’s Caf Champions League alive with a convincing 4-0 victory over Royal AM in a DStv Premiership clash played at the Harry Gwala Stadium on Sunday afternoon. ALSO READ: Barker backs Stellies’ five-star Rayners for Footballer of the Season The win saw Pirates remain third in the DStv Premiership standings with 43 points after 25 matches. They trail second-placed Stellenbosch FC, who handed Polokwane City a 5-0 drubbing on Saturday, by three points as the race for the second-place finish heats up. The game started at a frantic pace with both teams throwing everything at each other, but it was the home team that almost grabbed an early lead in the fifth minute, but Sedwyn George’s shot went narrowly wide of goals. Patrick Maswanganyi also saw his shot go over the crossbar seven minutes later as Pirates came close to taking the lead. Pirates were forced to make an early substitution after Thabiso Lebitso failed to recover from his injury and was replaced by Thabiso Monyane. Maswanganyi was to make amends for his earlier miss in the 29th minute when he was fouled inside the penalty area and the referee pointed to the penalty spot. The midfielder then dusted himself up and converted the spot kick to put the Buccaneers in the lead. Monnapule Saleng, who got a rare start for Pirates, came close to doubling the Buccaneers’ lead six minutes later, but his shot went narrowly over the crossbar. The home side was awarded a free kick in a good position on the stroke of half-time and George saw his shot parried by Melusi Buthelezi in Pirates’ goal and hit the crossbar, much to Royal AM’s coach John Maduka’s frustration. Talent Mbatha netted his first goal from Pirates in the 56th minute when he punished Royal AM with a cool who had gone to sleep following a routine throw in from the Buccaneers. ALSO READ: Middendorp hails Spurs after hard-fought win over Richards Bay Maduka made a couple of changes after the hour mark bringing in the ;likes of Mxolisi Macuphu and Mfundo Thikazi as he tried to rescue the match, but Pirates continued to dominate the ball possession. But it was the Buccaneers who went on to score two more goals as Relebohile Mofokeng and substitute Kabelo Dlamini scored for Jose Riveiro’s side in the 74th and 82nd minutes respectively.

Kaizer Chiefs are known to pay some of the best salaries in the PSL for their star players but they seem to have lost their minds with recent deals. The club have become known for overpaying players who aren’t PSL champion quality. Kaizer Chiefs keep signing hugely expensive dead weight. The highest-paid Kaizer Chiefs’ players Recently they have sought to cut their wage bill, letting top earners like Khama Billiat and Samir Nurkovic depart the club. Billiat’s signing was met with mostly positive responses. However the cynics were proven right as he became an expensive flop. For a long time, Billiat was the highest-paid player in the league when his performances weren’t up to scratch. However, there are still players earning a fat salary every month from the Glamour Boys. Yusuf Maart – R300,000 The former Orlando Pirates star joined Kaizer Chiefs in 2022 from Sekhukhune United. A memorable long-range Soweto derby goal has been his standout contribution. Injuries have hampered his progress at the club and prevented him from pushing for a Bafana berth. Ashley Du Preez – R300,000 Ashley Du Preez also came in ahead of the 2022/2023 season, joining the club from Stellenbosch FC. He has established himself as a regular in attack with his pace a real asset for Chiefs in various formations. Du Preez might expect a pay rise if he is to sign another contract with Kaizer Chiefs. Zitha Kwinika – R370,000 Kaizer Chiefs needed to offer former Glamour Boys junior player Zitha Kwinika a big salary to get him back at Naturena. Kwinika undoubtedly paid his dues and worked his way into contention for a big contract. He also joined the club in 2022 as Chiefs raided Stellenbosch for the stars of the Cape side’s 2021/2022 campaign. Itumeleng Khune – R480,000 Despite taking a paycut with his most recent contract at Kaizer Chiefs, Itumeleng Khune still commands a princely sum. It seems that his days of mega-earning might be drawing to an end. Khune is set to be released by Kaizer Chiefs at the end of the 2023/2024 season. Kaizer Chiefs highest-paid player Keegan Dolly – R1,4 million It is perhaps an indictment of Kaizer Chiefs and their recruitment that their highest-paid player has had such a slight impact on the squad. Dolly was enticed back to South African football by a deal that would rival what he could command in Europe. He is also a candidate for release at the end of the current season.

Despite a 2-0 defeat against Arsenal, Liverpool U21s qualified for the divisional play-offs in the Premier League 2, as Stefan Bajcetic started in a very strong side. Liverpool U21s 0-2 Arsenal U21s Premier League (20), Kirkby Academy April 28, 2024 Goals: Cozier-Duberry 26′, 28′ It may have been a strong side on paper but Liverpool Under-21s were beaten for a second consecutive match in the PL 2. Bajcetic played in midfield alongside Bobby Clark and James McConnell, while the front three consisted of Kaide Gordon, Jayden Danns and Lewis Koumas, all of whom have scored for the first team. Notably, Arsenal started Jurrien Timber at right-back, who signed from Ajax for £38 million last summer. He was playing as he continues his recovery from an ACL injury sustained in the first week of the season. With the wind playing a part in Kirkby as usual, Bajcetic attempted a speculative long-range effort within the first couple of minutes that didn’t quite come off. In general, though, the first half was tight but Arsenal had the clinical edge. Well, Amario Cozier-Duberry had the clinical edge. He fired home twice in quick succession, with the second in particular catching the eye as the ball flew into Fabian Mrozek’s top corner. Half time: Liverpool U21s 0-2 Arsenal U21s After the break Liverpool improved and Arsenal goalkeeper Brian Okonkwo was called in to action several times. Barry Lewtas‘ substitutions, bringing on Trey Nyoni after 62 minutes as well as Tommy Pilling and Melkamu Frauendorf 10 minutes later, helped the Reds push on. Koumas arguably had the best chance when he raced onto Rhys Williams‘ ball, but couldn’t manage to go around the onrushing ‘keeper. Ultimately, Arsenal had their own chances too, though, and will feel their three points were deserved. The result means Liverpool should now finish the Premier League 2 season in eighth position and go onto play in the divisional play-offs. This will see the top 16 under-21 teams from across the country compete in a knockout competition to decide the overall champions. Liverpool U21s: Mrozek; Miles, Nallo, Williams, Davidson; McConnell (Pilling 73′), Bajcetic (Nyoni 62′), Clark; Gordon, Danns (Frauendorf 73′), Koumas Subs not used: Kelly, Pinnington Next Match: Liverpool will play in the last-16 of the divisional play offs between May 3 and May 6, The date, location and opponent is yet to be confirmed.

1 Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is already working on reviving the club by setting a massive summer transfer haul in motion. On Saturday, Man United were held to a disappointing 1-1 draw with Burnley at Old Trafford in what was yet another example of how significant the team’s drop-off has been since last season when Erik ten Hag arrived at the club. Sitting in sixth place on the Premier League standings, United are six points behind Tottenham Hotspur with Spurs having two games in hand. It is now mathematically impossible for United to qualify for a UEFA Champions League spot next season given the team’s poor record. Ratcliffe’s efforts to revamp the club and build toward its long-term future have been swiftly set in motion, with the billionaire already changing much of the club’s management. Omar Berrada was brought in as CEO, with Dan Ashworth reportedly taking Newcastle United to arbitration to force his move to Man United where he seeks to become the sporting director. Jason Wilcox took over as technical director earlier this month, while it appears that Ratcliffe’s comments regarding needing new personnel to bring about change do not bode well for manager Erik ten Hag. Clearly, no one at the club is safe from the axe, and the players are no exception. Ratcliffe allegedly had a telephone call with FC Barcelona, in which he named four players whom he would be prepared to offload for a “reasonable” price. Casemiro’s inclusion came as no surprise given his decline in performances over the season and his exorbitant wages. Raphael Varane was another name. Given his injury issues and his age, it makes sense for United to rather focus on acquiring a younger defender. The long-injured Tyrell Malacia is also believed to have been included in the list, while an ageing Christian Eriksen was also reportedly mentioned. Of course, should United choose to offload the aforementioned players among others, some fresh recruits will be needed to rebuild their squad. In order to do so, it appears that Ratcliffe decided to meet with one of the top agents in world football at present. The Mirror reported that Ratcliffe has met with Jorge Mendes, who famously is the agent of Cristiano Ronaldo, Bernardo Silva, and Darwin Nunez. According to the report, Ratcliffe recognised that Mendes has a specialist knowledge of transfers and has thus decided to get his advice as he formulates United’s summer transfer strategy. With Ratcliffe looking to focus on recruiting young talents as opposed to making big-name signings, gaining the Portuguese agent’s perspective could prove invaluable as he seeks to build a team that can bring United long-term success. Want to be the first to hear breaking Man United news? For carefully selected, crucial updates, join our WhatsApp channel: https://bit.ly/United-Breaking-News.

He may be just 23 years old but Erling Haaland has already made some serious money in his football career. Haaland made a blockbuster return to the country of his birth when he signed for Manchester City. He broke the Premier League’s single-season scoring record in his debut campaign. Norway’s biggest sports star Of course, Haaland is as Norwegian as they come but he was born in Leeds while his father Alf Inge was plying his trade as a far more workmanlike fullback. Haaland looks like a Norse hero who wouldn’t be amiss on the cast of Vikings. He doesn’t terrorise English Monasteries but English defenders might have preferred Haaland stay at Dortmund. Haaland is already past 50 Premier League goals and scores hat-tricks for fun so it is understandable that Manchester City have forked over huge amounts to him in salary and signing bonuses. Barcelona have reportedly made enquiries about the cost of signing Haaland. They felt that the deal was a little too rich for their blood. Haaland has a stated interest in moving to La Liga at some stage but may need to ride out his current contract to get the move done. How much does Erling Haaland earn? It has been reported that Haaland earns somewhere in the region of £900k (R19.1 million) a week, or around £35m (R745 million) per season. A modest £51 million release clause allowed Manchester City to get him away from Dortmund at a reduced rate. Haaland was happy to join a club his father had played for and the salary package was enticing. He benefited from a bidding war to sign him to a new boot sponsorship, eventually choosing Nike. Haaland will reportedly earn $24 million per year from his Nike deal. How rich is Erling Haaland: Net worth Erling Haaland has a reported net worth of $40 million (R672 million), with that figure set to skyrocket in the coming seasons. While Haaland’s salary is likely to stay the same for a little while at least, he keeps attracting new commercial partners. He currently enjoys sponsorship deals with Nike, Luxury watchmaker Breitling and Nordic streaming service Viaplay. He added a lucrative partnership with Samsung to his growing list of commercial deals in 2023. Haaland owns a stake in sports tech and nutrition company Hyperice. Haaland is presently seeing Isabel Haugseng Johansen, a 19-year-old footballer. She played football in Bryne, Norway, as well. It appears that Haaland’s current partner would rather live a low-key lifestyle though.

Kaizer Chiefs will certainly announce a list of new faces before August 2024. Two of them could be from Richards Bay FC. KAIZER CHIEFS TO SIGN RICHARDS BAY FC DUO? According to the Citizen, Amakhosi have identified Richards Bay’s goalkeeper Salim Magoola and the attacking midfielder Ntsako Makhubela as potential signings for next season. “Talks over the signings of Salim and Ntsako started some time ago, but they had to be halted because of Richards Bay’s precarious position on the log. But they will resume after the conclusion of the season. What I can tell you though is that both players are keen to join Chiefs,” a source told the outlet. KAIZER CHIEFS STAR MDUDUZI SHABALALA REGRETS WRONG ERA The 20-year-old Mduduzi Shabalala is gifted as the likes of Thabo “Tsiki Tsiki” Mooki, Jabu “Pule” Mahlangu but the timing has not been good at all. The Soweto-born youngster is playing for a Kaizer Chiefs team that has not won a trophy in nearly 10 years. Additionally, the team is placed 10th position in the DStv Premiership with six games left. “As young players at Chiefs, I feel sorry for us because it is not easy; it’s tough,” said Shabalala said via FARPost. “Every one bad game, we are bad players,” the Kaizer Chiefs attacker added. Shabalala, who has recently been joined by another similar youngster Mfundo Vilakazi, revealed the duo’s relationship formation. “I started playing with Mfundo at kasi [township]; we were playing in the Siphiwe Tshabalala Foundation Tournament; that’s where I saw Mfundo play; we met there and connected, and our relationship started there,” the Kaizer Chiefs youngster added. “I always talk to him [Vilakazi] and tell him that ‘it may not be now, but one day, it [success at Chiefs] is going to happen, just keep on growing, keep on grinding because he is a good player’” “We know that we are good players; it is just that we are not fortunate enough, and things are not going our way, but one day, people will be talking a different story about us,” Shabalala concluded. AMAKHOSI TO RELEASE JASOND GONZALEZ In other Amakhosi news, Jasond Gonzalez is leaving Naturena. There was much excitement when the 24-year-old Colombian arrived at Amakhosi in August last year. The agreement was a season-long loan contract. With 12 scattered appearances, mostly as a substitute, zero goals and an option to offer a new contract, Kaizer Chiefs have decided they won’t renew Gonzalez’s deal. “This publication has learnt, that the physical striker will return to Bolivian club Real Santa Cruz at the end of the 2023/24 DStv Premiership season,” iDiskiTimes Lorenz Kohler reported. “His loan deal, which had an option to make the deal permanent for $180,000 (R3.4 million) will not be pursued further after failing to score in his 12 games for Amakhosi,” the report added. Existing Kaizer Chiefs striker options: Ranga Chivaviro (31): Two goals and one assist in 19 games Wandile Duba (19): One goal in seven appearances. Note: Ashley du Preez and Christian Saile arrived as strikers but have been playing on the right or left flanks. Have Kaizer Chiefs made the right decision? Let us know in the comments section below.

Facing a former club is always good motivation, especially if that team is Orlando Pirates and your name is Thabo Matlaba. THABO MATLABA ON FACING ORLANDO PIRATES Soon before the game kicked off at the Harry Gwala Stadium at 15:00, Matlaba said it is a tough time to face Orlando Pirates. “This is one of our biggest games of the season. A very difficult game because Orlando Pirates are on form. They won 7-1 against Golden Arrows, they won against AmaZulu 4-2 in the Nedbank Cup and they beat them again 1-0 in the league,” Matlaba told the Citizen. “So, I don’t think that it’s going to be an easy game for us, but we’ve been working hard to win this game so that we can be in the top eight and that’s what we want, to finish in the top eight. And we’re not far from achieving that because a win in this game against Pirates will take us to 32 points and that will take us straight into the top eight. “This is a big game and doesn’t need any motivation because we’re playing against a big club with good players. That’s a motivation by itself. We need to work hard, commit ourselves, be aggressive and compete against those players. That’s what we’ll need to win this game. “They’re coming here at Harry Gwala and it’s not going to be easy for them, plus we’ve just come from a 3-2 win over Polokwane City at the same venue and we also drew 1-1 with Arrows away. So I think we’re on the right track and we’ve been playing well to be honest in those two games. We showed that we can score goals and I think we had night shots on target against Arrows, so we’re improving in that aspect of our game,” the former Orlando Pirates star concluded. NEDBANK CUP ACTION Meanwhile, the Buccaneers still have cup ambitions for this season. Jose Riveiro’s side will travel to the Eastern Cape this coming weekend. The occasion will be a Nedbank Cup semifinal battle against Chippa United at the Nelson Mandela Stadium. The game will kick off at 15:00 on Saturday.

Mamelodi Sundowns are facing rare disappointment. Last weekend’s loss to Esperance in the CAF Champions League is the cause. MAMELODI SUNDOWNS LOSE TO ESPERANCE IN THE CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE The past weekend has been a time of healing for Kabo Yellow supporters. The 2016 CAF Champions League winners failed in another dream to win the second star. Tunisia’s Esperance completed a 2-0 aggregate win after a 1-0 win in the semifinal second leg last night. Sundowns completely dominated the game in both boxes, missed a string of chances before Esperance’s Read Bouchniba smashed home a killer winner on 57 minutes. Esperance coach Miguel Cardoso described the win as one of the best of his career. “It was rather difficult to prepare this game, probably the most difficult game I ever played, because Sundowns is an unbelievable team,” Cardoso said via iDiskiTimes. “To compete in the right way, we had to use a tactical approach that would allow us to close as much as possible the spaces, the individual quality, the tactical variance that we could see on the pitch. “Yesterday, I had a meeting a 2 o’clock in the afternoon, we almost had no time to practice between the two games, with the sleep and we didn’t know if someone was watching our training, so we didn’t make any big tactical work. “But we had a couple of meetings scheduled, and we had a meeting at 2 o’clock and I cancelled it. I was not ready to tell the players how we should start the game – I had to sit with some of them and discuss,” Cardoso concluded. JUNIOR KHANYE MAKES RULANI MOKWENA PLEA Speaking on the Sundowns loss, popular YoutTube Khanye believes Mokwena deserves extended patience. “For now it’s still early, I mean he just won the Super League (AFL),” said Khanye on iDiski TV. “I think it was the first trophy after the MTN 8 and he won it. Winning the DStv Premiership is something Sundowns are used to, they will win it again even next season and the following years. “So honestly now we can’t judge him harshly because definitely they want to win the Champions League that’s why they are winning the DStv Premiership every year because they want to participate there. “They did not reach the semi-final with the intention to lose. I mean you can see their body language and facial expression when they lose. I’ll give him the benefit because he has won the Super League and he has already won the league for me. “Even for next year, let’s be honest he is likely to reach the quarter and semis of the Champions League, maybe even win it. Even if he wins it next year, it’s the following year that he will be under pressure in my opinion. “He has done well for a young coach and has a bright future ahead of him. I’m pleading for humility from him because sometimes I feel he makes emotional decisions in terms of his selections. “I also think supporters and the president they need to be patient because this is a tough competition,” Khanye concluded his big message to Sundowns.

SuperSport United head coach Gavin Hunt is learning so much this season. SUPERSPORT UNITED DISMAL FORM With no victory in the past six matches, which included the DStv Premiership and a Nedbank Cup game, SuperSport United coach Gavin Hunt has described it as the most frustrating time as he works with a young team. “Yeah it’s very frustrating because we got a young, young group of players and we had seven Diski players playing there tonight,” said Hunt via iDiskiTimes after SuperSport lost 2-1 to Kaizer Chiefs. “You can scream and shout but that’s the way the club is and that’s where we are going and that’s what we’re trying to do. So we’ve got to learn a little bit the hard way but it’s very frustrating and it is what it is. “You’ve got to coach and just keep going. We’ve got to do a lot of development, a lot of coaching and a lot of work on the training ground,” the SuperSport mentor concluded. LYLE LAKAY CONFIDENT OF A TURNAROUND Meanwhile, veteran SuperSport defender Lyle Lakay is confident Matsatsantsa will bounce back from the slump. “For us senior players that understand and that have been in that situation before. Everybody knows we haven’t won in about five or six games now. It’s important for us to get ourselves out of it and you know, it takes one game,” the 32-year-old defender said via SABC Sport. “It’s crucial this time of the season to pick up points, for sure I believe you know and the players also believe we [SuperSport] can get ourselves out of it especially now, starting with this one. It’s reality, it’s the truth, we haven’t won and I think we just have to give more, we just have to keep on. There’s nothing else we can do, we just have to show character and i takes that one game to turn everything around. I’ve been in this situation before, personally,” Lakay added on SuperSport’s winless misery. “With Bloemfontein Celtic before you know and with City [Cape Town City] you know we went on a run where we didn’t win, so I know how it feels and I know there’s more players also that have been in this situation before. I think we need to dig a bit deeper, give a bit more, show a bit more character and like I said it takes that one win to to turn everything around,” the SuperSport star concluded.

1 Manchester United’s topsy-turvy season continued on the weekend as they huffed and puffed to another underwhelming draw, this time against relegation candidates Burnley. The game followed a familiar script of United being too open, scoring through an opposition error, then collapsing late on to share the spoils. Erik ten Hag sounded remarkably upbeat after the game, however, as he said his team plays very good football and creates lot of chances. He went as far as to compare it to the 2004/05 United team which, for the record, finished third in the league and were managed by a titan of the game who was deserving of all the backing in the world. It looks like Martin Keown disagrees with Ten Hag too as he has gone off on a remarkable rant on BBC after the manager’s latest comments. He labelled Ten Hag’s words as “propaganda” and “insulting” to people analysing the game who can see the problems. Keown said Ten Hag isn’t “fooling anybody” with his comments and the underwhelming nature of their performances is clear to see. He said: “It just feels like propaganda. I don’t know what he thinks he is achieving. It was actually a very good game but only because United were very open. “They’re not convincing performances and he’s not fooling anybody with those comments of his.” Although Keown is a former rival and an ex-Arsenal player, one would presume he is echoing the thoughts of many United fans at the minute. Despite the glut of injuries which have undoubtedly had an impact on the team’s performances, the style of play is down to the manager and that has been erratic since the start of the season. The structural problems haven’t been addressed since the start and the match-going fans loudly booed the team off at full-time after the draw on the weekend. Ten Hag’s substitutions were also received badly by the fans in the stadium and unless a miracle happens in the remaining four game of the league and an FA Cup trophy is secured, it looks like these are the final words of a man who knows his time is up in the summer. Want to be the first to hear breaking Man United news? For carefully selected, crucial updates, join our WhatsApp channel: https://bit.ly/United-Breaking-News.

With the season coming to a close, the new Liverpool kit has been finalised and the first leaks of the finished version have been shared. There was a mixed reception to the new Liverpool kit when the design was originally leaked, but by far the most controversial aspect was the proposed shield around the club crest. Thankfully, it seems Nike have done away with the feature for the final kit, meaning the Liverbird will now be embroidered straight onto the shirt, rather than onto the shield shape. Official Images: Liverpool FC x Nike Home ? pic.twitter.com/UpK8WrEkby — Sneaker Market RO (@sneakermarketro) April 27, 2024 • See the previous shield design here – Viral video leaks of 2024/25 Liverpool kit As for the rest of the kit, Liverpool are keeping the pinstripes from this season but there will be a difference – they will be in the form of a large YNWA embossed on the shirt’s front. This will be done in a ‘chrome yellow’ that will also grace a retro-feel collar that has garnered a positive reaction from supporters. That same yellow colour will also be on the shorts in a double stripe that runs the length of them. A similar feature will also appear underneath the sleeves. Here it is The #LFC 24/25 home shirt. The controversial “shield” around the badge has been scrapped as communicated to me earlier this week by @3DM990 and this is the stadium version. pic.twitter.com/FpXqriL3hE — KB2x (@KB2X) April 23, 2024   The final Nike kit? According to Sport Business, Adidas are set to take over as the Reds’ kit manufacturer following the end of the 2024/25 season, making this the final Liverpool kit from Nike. It is claimed that Adidas were the “winning bidder” for the next five-year cycle, which runs from 2025 until 2029/30, beating off competition from Nike and Puma. The prospective deal with Adidas is said to be for “higher than the circa £50 million [per season] paid out under the Nike contract,” but would “fall well short of the league-wide record £90 million” paid to Man United. If confirmed, it would reunite Liverpool with a kit supplier that became synonymous with the club over two lengthy periods between 1985-1996 and 2006-2012.

Argentina and Inter Miami star Lionel Messi is among the highest-paid athletes in the world. Messi earned more than $130 million in 2022 alone with much of that income coming from endorsements. How rich is Lionel Messi For a long time, Messi was synonymous with Barcelona, although that relationship would sour. He was able to make as much as $165 million per season on his final deal with Barcelona. Messi reportedly ‘only’ earns $41 million per season under his current PSG deal, signed in August 2021 when he made the decision to leave Catalunya. These earnings haven’t been confirmed, though, so the Argentine star may earn far more when performance bonuses are taken into consideration. He has a lifelong sponsorship deal with German sports apparel manufacturer Adidas. Messi also enjoys commercial partnerships with Anheuser-Busch InBev, Cirque du Soleil, Gatorade, Hard Rock Cafe Inc., Konami, Mastercard, Ooredoo, Pepsi, Socios.com and YPF. Net worth in 2024 According to the latest estimates, the net worth of Lionel Messi sits at $650 million in 2024. Messi was the highest-paid sportsman in the world in 2022 and according to reliable sources has earned over $1.3 billion across his career to date. Barcelona were reportedly willing to break the bank to bring Messi back to Spain, with that speculation dominating headlines before his Miami move. Nike is believed to be just one of the Barcelona backers who are eager for the club to restore their famous No 10. Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo claims sources from the board of Joan Laporta’s predecessor as Barcelona chairman Josep Bartomeu, say that Messi brought €250-300 million ($274-329 million) into the club in the form of merchandising, ticketing and sponsorship revenue.  Major League Salary Messi is the highest-paid player in Major League Soccer at the moment with a guaranteed yearly pay of $20.4 million. He signed his contract with Inter Miami in 2023. The deal expires in 2025 and is said to be worth $150 million. That sum is made up of his playing salary, signing bonus and equity stake in Inter Miami, his new team. “It still gives me goosebumps,” Beckham told The Times of London of the moment he found out Messi would be playing for Inter Miami. “I said, ‘How many elite athletes have had the opportunity to change a sport in a country?’ It is transformational for the sport in the United States. This is just the beginning. His presence, medium- to long-term, will prove that this league belongs among the world’s best leagues over time.” Messi gets royal treatment in Miami. He has a dedicated security detail and has done well to dodge the paparazzi. Messi found press intrusions in Paris unbearable during his spell at PSG. The club are clearly spending more on him than his base salary. He has delivered on the pitch as well. There is no suggestion that he is easing into retirement in Miami. It is apparent that the club and league have ambition. Lionel Messi is worth it for Inter Miami, it seems.

1 If there was ever a list to be made of players who were perenially linked to Manchester United but not joining, Frenkie de Jong is quickly making his way up that list. The Erik ten Hag favourite has been linked to United ever since his former manager rocked up at Old Trafford. After the first summer of links ultimately ended up being unsuccessful and United signings Casemiro instead, the rumour mill was somewhat quiet in the second summer. Turns out, those links were just resting up to come back with a vengeance in the upcoming window. De Jong has been linked to United again with recent reports suggesting Barcelona are open to selling him and the player is more willing than ever to move. However, Barcelona manager Xavi has moved to pour cold water on those links in a direct statement of intent. Fabrizio Romano reports Xavi saying that De Jong is a key player for him and “nothing has changed”. He added that the midfielder has been “unlucky with injuries” but “his level has always been excellent”. Xavi said: “For me, de Jong is a key player. Nothing has changed, he’s really crucial for me. “He’s been unlucky with many injuries but his level has always been excellent, I consider Frenkie as crucial player.” Xavi on rumours about Barça open to selling Frenkie: “For me, de Jong is a key player. Nothing has changed, he’s reallycrucial for me”. “He’s been unlucky with many injuries but his level has always been excellent, I consider Frenkie as crucial player”. pic.twitter.com/ifQbu8LBv1 — Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 28, 2024 It is an open secret that United will be looking to strengthen their midfield this summer, with Casemiro declining sharply and Christian Eriksen running on fumes. De Jong suits United’s position of need, and playing style and is a firm Ten Hag favourite, which made him a contender to join. However, as long as Xavi remains in charge, prying him away from the Catalans will always be a tall order, and that is before considering his own stance. United had agreed a deal for him in the summer of 2022 only for the player to reject the club’s advances. It seems like there’s no false hope given to the club this summer if Xavi’s statement is anything to go by which should save United a lot of time in the market. Want to be the first to hear breaking Man United news? For carefully selected, crucial updates, join our WhatsApp channel: https://bit.ly/United-Breaking-News.

Former Kaizer Chiefs star Siyabonga Ngezana could play in the UEFA Champions League next season. The tall South African defender recently experienced a remarkable triumph with Romanian football club FCSB. The 26-year-old player, who had moved to Romania in the last season, played a vital role in his team’s championship victory in the Romanian SuperLiga 2021. The team’s win marks the end of a nine-year championship drought, and the victory could open up new opportunities for former Chiefs star Ngezana to play in the UEFA Champions League next season. In a crucial match held at the National Stadium in Bucharest against FCV Farul Constanta, FCSB won 2-1. Ngezana played the full 90 minutes and his solid performance helped his team clinch the elusive 27th league crown. When Ngezana first joined the club from Kaizer Chiefs, he found the going tough in the first months or so. However, after some time, he found his footing and became one of the team’s reliable players, cementing his place in the first team. The Kaizer Chiefs academy product has been in sublime form for his new team. He has played over 30 games, keeping a total of 14 clean sheets as he helped his side to a league triumph. Former Chiefs defender might feature in the Champions League In September, FCBS president Gigi Becali expressed his willingness to sell the former Chiefs player for 7 million euros. Recently reports emerged that the Ligue 1 outfit FC Lorient was keen to sign Ngezana and had offered €5 million (R104 million). Still, FCSB rejected the offer, insisting on selling Ngezana for no less than R145 million, indicating their belief in the player’s value. If the Romanian giants qualify for the Champions League, the former Chiefs defender might be willing to stay. He has so far impressed and he might feel like another year in Romania might improve his career. Ngezana might be playing against Man City, Arsenal, Barca Ngezana could be among the few ex-Chiefs players in the UEFA Champions League. The team now has to battle in the Champions League playoffs; if they succeed, they’ll be amongst the 32 teams.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp says that his touchline argument with Mo Salah has been put to bed despite the Egyptian’s post-match comments. Klopp had benched Salah for Liverpool’s match against West Ham on Saturday. Jurgen Klopp says Mo Salah argument The pair were seen arguing shortly before Salah was introduced to the match. “We spoke about that moment in the dressing room with the lads, it’s done,” Klopp said after the game, as per Goal. “Does Mo Salah also consider matter closed and resolves? Yes, that’s my feeling”. Immediately after the match Salah suggested the matter was not closed. “If I speak today there will be fire,” he said on the broadcast carried by SuperSport. English club Liverpool rejected a blockbuster offer for Mohamed Salah from Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad. Image: MARTIN DALTON/Alamy Live News Liverpool’s attitude disturbs Klopp Klopp said after the match that he was disappointed with the response of his player’s to missed chances. He conceded that it was a tough game in a tough period for the Reds. “Intense for the boys – 10 days, four games, last one today. First half, dominating, good game,” Klopp said as per LiverpoolFC.com.  “Not the highest intensity, happens quite frequently when you have these intense periods, you need to get the legs going. [We] created, were super-dominant but concede anyway, first goal from a corner. Not great. Speak about it at half-time, that the one thing I didn’t like is how we dealt with the chances we missed, a bit throwing arms [up] and stuff like this. “It makes no sense because it cannot constantly feel like we carry with us that we didn’t score for a while, or individuals didn’t score for a while, or we just try to ignore it for once.  “Coming out and scoring early [in the second half] helped, obviously. Still, really good game, super-controlled, more intense now, caused massive problems and if there would have been a deserved winner today it would have been only Liverpool, but football is not like that, not always at least. So, we scored for 2-1 and conceded the equaliser and here we are with one point. That’s obviously not enough for us but not to change anymore.” No anger at failed title charge Klopp said that he was angry at Liverpool’s title charge stalling. “Do they [Arsenal and City] look like they lose two or three games?” Klopp said according to the Guardian. “I don’t think so. I am not angry. Write what you want about that. I don’t think about it. It’s just we have to win football games and let’s see what that means in the end.”

Orlando Pirates have named their starting XI for their next DStv Premiership match against Royal AM at the Harry Gwala Stadium on Sunday, 28 April. Bet Anytime, Anywhere Quick and Easy with Betway Kick-off is at 15:00. 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗫𝗜 #DStvPrem @RAMFC_sa vs @orlandopirates Today, 28 April 2024 Harry Gwala Stadium 15h00 SuperSport PSL #Matchday #OrlandoPirates #OnceAlways pic.twitter.com/NPVZ8fnguQ — Orlando Pirates (@orlandopirates) April 28, 2024 Thoughts on the team chosen by coach Jose Riveiro? Just six league fixtures remain for the Buccaneers as they look for a strong finish to the campaign, with an eye on strengthening their bid for participation in continental football next season. Form guide They journey to Pietermaritzburg while in third place in the standings after notching up a hard-fought three points in their last outing at home to AmaZulu. The win was their second in a row in the league, taking their points tally over the last five games to 10 thanks to three wins and a draw. All of Orlando Pirates’ victories during this period have come on home turf, while they have managed just one point out of a possible six on the road. It’s an unwanted record they will be desperate to overturn as away fixtures currently make up half of their remaining league games. A win on Sunday moves them back up to second place, but this could be a tricky assignment against a Royal AM side that has proven unpredictable throughout the season. Thwihli Thwahla go into the fixture looking for a way up from 13th place, where they are currently situated after a one-all stalemate in their KZN derby clash against Golden Arrows last Saturday. The point earned against Abafana Bes’thende took them to seven points in their last five matches, where they have won both their home games alongside defeats away to Stellenbosch and TS Galaxy. Their sights are now set on their game against the Buccaneers with three points placing them within touching distance of the top eight, where they will be looking to finish at the end of the season. Team news Changes can be expected in the Orlando Pirates team that will line up at Harry Gwala, with three first team players suspended for the clash. Sipho Chaine, Deon Hotto and Miguel Timm were among the 12 players booked in a highly physical encounter against AmaZulu. The yellow cards picked up by the trio triggered a one-match suspension for each player, ruling them out of Sunday’s game. For Royal AM, coach John Maduka has close to a full squad to call upon while midfielder Moffat Mdluli and goalkeeper Marlon Heugh – both yet to feature this season – are likely to remain sidelined. Key players Tshegofatso Mabasa (Orlando Pirates): The 27-year-old has been the form marksman in the league, and added to his goal tally with another well-taken strike against Usuthu. Clinical in front of goal with excellent movement inside the box, Mabasa is a classic goal-poacher with an uncanny ability to position himself at the right place at the right time. Kabelo Mahlasela (Royal AM): Thwihli Thwahla will likely be led out by the Bucs Academy product, who has demonstrated his value throughout the season. Mahlasela has mainly operated in the centre of the midfield, occasionally advancing into the number 10 pocket, and has chipped in with four league assists. Head-to-head Six goals were scored when the two sides last met with the Buccaneers emerging victorious in an entertaining encounter at Orlando Stadium, which finished 4-2 in their favour courtesy of a brace from Zakhele Lepasa, accompanied by goals from Monnapule Saleng and Bandile Shandu. Orlando Pirates have met Royal AM five times in the league, winning twice, while three games have ended with a share of the spoils. The Buccaneers are also comfortably in front regarding goals scored in the fixture after finding the net six times, while their opponents boast just three goals. Prediction Royal AM 1-1 Orlando Pirates DSTV PREMIERSHIP LOG AHEAD OF SUNDAY’S MATCHES

Orlando Pirates return to KwaZulu-Natal for their next DStv Premiership match against Royal AM at the Harry Gwala Stadium on Sunday, 28 April. Bet Anytime, Anywhere Quick and Easy with Betway Kick-off is at 15:00. Just six league fixtures remain for the Buccaneers as they look for a strong finish to the campaign, with an eye on strengthening their bid for participation in continental football next season. Form guide They journey to Pietermaritzburg while in third place in the standings after notching up a hard-fought three points in their last outing at home to AmaZulu. The win was their second in a row in the league, taking their points tally over the last five games to 10 thanks to three wins and a draw. All of Orlando Pirates’ victories during this period have come on home turf, while they have managed just one point out of a possible six on the road. It’s an unwanted record they will be desperate to overturn as away fixtures currently make up half of their remaining league games. A win on Sunday moves them back up to second place, but this could be a tricky assignment against a Royal AM side that has proven unpredictable throughout the season. Thwihli Thwahla go into the fixture looking for a way up from 13th place, where they are currently situated after a one-all stalemate in their KZN derby clash against Golden Arrows last Saturday. The point earned against Abafana Bes’thende took them to seven points in their last five matches, where they have won both their home games alongside defeats away to Stellenbosch and TS Galaxy. Their sights are now set on their game against the Buccaneers with three points placing them within touching distance of the top eight, where they will be looking to finish at the end of the season. Team news Changes can be expected in the Orlando Pirates team that will line up at Harry Gwala, with three first team players suspended for the clash. Sipho Chaine, Deon Hotto and Miguel Timm were among the 12 players booked in a highly physical encounter against AmaZulu. The yellow cards picked up by the trio triggered a one-match suspension for each player, ruling them out of Sunday’s game. For Royal AM, coach John Maduka has close to a full squad to call upon while midfielder Moffat Mdluli and goalkeeper Marlon Heugh – both yet to feature this season – are likely to remain sidelined. Key players Tshegofatso Mabasa (Orlando Pirates): The 27-year-old has been the form marksman in the league, and added to his goal tally with another well-taken strike against Usuthu. Clinical in front of goal with excellent movement inside the box, Mabasa is a classic goal-poacher with an uncanny ability to position himself at the right place at the right time. Kabelo Mahlasela (Royal AM): Thwihli Thwahla will likely be led out by the Bucs Academy product, who has demonstrated his value throughout the season. Mahlasela has mainly operated in the centre of the midfield, occasionally advancing into the number 10 pocket, and has chipped in with four league assists. Head-to-head Six goals were scored when the two sides last met with the Buccaneers emerging victorious in an entertaining encounter at Orlando Stadium, which finished 4-2 in their favour courtesy of a brace from Zakhele Lepasa, accompanied by goals from Monnapule Saleng and Bandile Shandu. Orlando Pirates have met Royal AM five times in the league, winning twice, while three games have ended with a share of the spoils. The Buccaneers are also comfortably in front regarding goals scored in the fixture after finding the net six times, while their opponents boast just three goals. Prediction Royal AM 1-1 Orlando Pirates DSTV PREMIERSHIP LOG AHEAD OF SUNDAY’S MATCHES

After a brilliant breakthrough season, Jarell Quansah is reportedly to be rewarded with a new contract along with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk. With Alexander-Arnold and Van Dijk both on contracts that expire in 2025, it has been known for a while that one of the new sporting director, Richard Hughes’, first jobs is to tie them down to new deals. Now, journalist Fabrizio Romano has reported that there are other players set to be given a contract, with Jarell Quansah on that list. On X, Romano said: “VVD, Trent and more top players contract will be the priority, and then in following steps also Quansah is one of the players LFC want to reward with [a] new deal.” Quansah’s current long-term deal was signed as an academy player in 2023 and means he gets a fraction of the wages his senior teammates earn. However, as a regular starter, any new deal would see a big raise for the 21-year-old who has been at the club since the age of five. A new deal would be welcome news for Liverpool supporters given Joel Matip could be leaving this summer, potentially leaving just Quansah, Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate for next season. The Reds have, though, recently been linked with a couple of new defenders who could fit the bill for new head coach Arne Slot. On Saturday, his Feyenoord defender, Lutsharel Geertruida, was in attendance at the London Stadium to watch Liverpool’s 2-2 draw against West Ham. Elsewhere, the Eintracht Frankfurt centre-half, Willian Pacho, has been reported to be of “strong interest,” according to journalist Gianluca Di Marzio. Even if Matip were to stay at the club, he may not get back to his pre-injury form and, with Konate injury prone, there may be room for another defender at the club. In terms of other options already at Liverpool, Nat Phillips and Rhys Williams have contracts lasting until 2026, while Amara Nallo and Carter Pinnington are considered to be the best defenders at under-21 level. Nallo has already made the first-team bench twice this season, but both players have plenty of development to go until they can start for a side who are capable of winning the Premier League.

Liverpool produced another meek showing in their 2-2 draw away to West Ham, with Jurgen Klopp and Mohamed Salah‘s spat a big talking point. The Reds went behind yet again in the Premier League clash, and while it looked as though they had produced a strong comeback, Michail Antonio’s equaliser robbed them of victory. It was a flat showing from Klopp’s side and another nail in the coffin of their title hopes, even if most had given up the chase beforehand anyway. Here, TIA’s Henry Jackson (@HenryJackson87) and The Redmen TV’s Dan Clubbe (@dan_clubbe) discuss another forgettable game, Salah and Klopp’s argument plus more.   How did you feel before the game? DAN: Bizarrely, still quite excited. Perhaps therein lies the major thing Klopp has given us during his time at the club – hope. No matter the unlikelihood of any situation, I seemingly now have an inbuilt belief that we can overcome almost anything, albeit still often misplaced at times. ‘Doubters to believers’ project complete… HENRY: I was very different to Dan, in truth. A real apathy set in before kickoff, with the title gone and another flat, insipid performance expected by Liverpool. I didn’t expect anything from the game, both in terms of entertainment and a good result, and sadly, I was correct on both counts. The manner in which the season has petered out has genuinely shocked me, but I’m not angry – just tired and disappointed.   And how did you rate Liverpool’s performance? DAN: For large parts, it felt as though we were going through the motions a little, and I hate saying that about any Liverpool side. Klopp spoke in the build-up about not waving the white flag, but I wasn’t convinced for much of the first half as another 45 minutes of flat and pedestrian football went by without much in the way of tempo or our fabled intensity. Thankfully, we sparked somewhat into life in the second, but the two goals conceded were yet more examples of our frailties at the back, particularly from set pieces. There is almost a lack of personal pride in defending or keeping a clean sheet at the moment. Diaz once again carried the fight and Gravenberch enjoyed another positive display – outside of those… HENRY: I thought the first half was an appalling spectacle. I was on the TIA live blog and there was a moment where I realised I’d zoned out for about four minutes because literally nothing had happened! It wasn’t meant to be like this. As Dan says, there were definite improvements after the break, and I agree that Diaz and Gravenberch are two of the few worthy of praise. There were again far too many off the pace, though.   What’s your take on the Klopp and Salah situation? DAN: To be honest, the whole thing is a little indicative of the current situation. We all dreamed of a fairytale send-off for Jurgen, a deserved one at that, but as matters on the pitch have unravelled, it feels as though the mood music away from it has followed suit. To see an incident like that actually didn’t surprise me as much as maybe it should. Whether it be simply the fact Salah didn’t start, or felt he was introduced too late, I just hope they can nip it in the bud quickly as both he and Klopp have been pivotal to this era and each other. They do, therefore, warrant a similar level of respect, as one of or both of their times come to an end at Anfield. HENRY: I think it’s all been overblown, which sums up the modern game. I wasn’t impressed with Salah antics, especially his “fire” comment to the press after the game, but at least it shows he cares. A lot of people underrate the size of Mo’s ego – it is massive in a good way – and he will have been stinging not to have started. I’ve actually always had a tiny feeling that Klopp doesn’t get on as well with Salah as much as he does with other players – I have no basis for that argument other than a gut feeling! But I’m sure they love each other and it will blow over.   The season can’t end soon enough, right? Which is sad… DAN: It is sad. We all romanticised the departure of Klopp and potentially walking off with two armfuls of silverware in tow. While a lot of people will speculate as to the reasons why it’s seemingly broken down so severely and possibly Klopp’s announcement being a factor, heightened emotions around everything have played a part. For large periods, it seemed as though that was the driving motivator behind our good moments. Ultimately, go out on as much of a high as possible, wrap up a top-three finish, score some goals, win some games and let’s make Wolves at Anfield a day to celebrate everything Jurgen Klopp has done for us. HENRY: I cannot wait for the season to end now, which is such a shame. I feel we all need a breather as much as Klopp and the players. In hindsight, Liverpool never had enough to win the title, and they couldn’t keep creeping over the line with unconvincing performances. The problem is, Klopp leaving suddenly added something different to the season, as Dan alludes to, and we tricked ourselves into the dream ending happening. Football doesn’t work like that, though, and a third-place finish is actually a decent effort overall, and something we would have taken last summer. It’s now a case of stumbling through these next couple of matches and then having a party against Wolves. It better not be similar to Gerrard’s last game at Stoke!

Orlando Pirates return to KwaZulu-Natal on Sunday, 28 April for their next DStv Premiership fixture against Royal AM at the Harry Gwala Stadium. Kick-off is at 15:00. Just six league fixtures remain for the Buccaneers as they look for a strong finish to the campaign, with an eye on strengthening their bid for participation in continental football next season. Form guide They journey to Pietermaritzburg while in third place in the standings after notching up a hard-fought three points in their last outing at home to AmaZulu. The win was their second in a row in the league, taking their points tally over the last five games to 10 thanks to three wins and a draw. All of Orlando Pirates’ victories during this period have come on home turf, while they have managed just one point out of a possible six on the road. It’s an unwanted record they will be desperate to overturn as away fixtures currently make up half of their remaining league games. A win on Sunday moves them back up to second place, but this could be a tricky assignment against a Royal AM side that has proven unpredictable throughout the season. Thwihli Thwahla go into the fixture looking for a way up from 13th place, where they are currently situated after a one-all stalemate in their KZN derby clash against Golden Arrows last Saturday. The point earned against Abafana Bes’thende took them to seven points in their last five matches, where they have won both their home games alongside defeats away to Stellenbosch and TS Galaxy. Their sights are now set on their game against the Buccaneers with three points placing them within touching distance of the top eight, where they will be looking to finish at the end of the season. Team news Changes can be expected in the Orlando Pirates team that will line up at Harry Gwala, with three first team players suspended for the clash. Sipho Chaine, Deon Hotto and Miguel Timm were among the 12 players booked in a highly physical encounter against AmaZulu. The yellow cards picked up by the trio triggered a one-match suspension for each player, ruling them out of Sunday’s game. For Royal AM, coach John Maduka has close to a full squad to call upon while midfielder Moffat Mdluli and goalkeeper Marlon Heugh – both yet to feature this season – are likely to remain sidelined. Key players Tshegofatso Mabasa (Orlando Pirates): The 27-year-old has been the form marksman in the league, and added to his goal tally with another well-taken strike against Usuthu. Clinical in front of goal with excellent movement inside the box, Mabasa is a classic goal-poacher with an uncanny ability to position himself at the right place at the right time. Kabelo Mahlasela (Royal AM): Thwihli Thwahla will likely be led out by the Bucs Academy product, who has demonstrated his value throughout the season. Mahlasela has mainly operated in the centre of the midfield, occasionally advancing into the number 10 pocket, and has chipped in with four league assists. Head-to-head Six goals were scored when the two sides last met with the Buccaneers emerging victorious in an entertaining encounter at Orlando Stadium, which finished 4-2 in their favour courtesy of a brace from Zakhele Lepasa, accompanied by goals from Monnapule Saleng and Bandile Shandu. Orlando Pirates have met Royal AM five times in the league, winning twice, while three games have ended with a share of the spoils. The Buccaneers are also comfortably in front regarding goals scored in the fixture after finding the net six times, while their opponents boast just three goals. Prediction Royal AM 1-1 Orlando Pirates DSTV PREMIERSHIP LOG AHEAD OF SUNDAY’S MATCHES

Kaizer Chiefs get criticised for some of their major transfer decisions, but it seems like they got this one right.   At the start of the season, Chiefs revamped their playing squad, making eight signings.  These included Thathoyaone Dithlokwe, Given Msimango, Mduduzi Mdantsane, Pule Mmodi, Ranga Chivaviro and Tebogo Potsane. Then, with the season already under way, Chiefs added Jasond Gonzales and Sibongiseni Mthethwa. In October, they added a ninth signing, in the now late centre back Luke Fleurs. The former SA U23 star joined Amakhosi on a free transfer from SuperSport United.  Chiefs missed out on Human despite being undeniably interested Having made close to 10 additions, Chiefs missed out on some players they were heavily linked to. One of those players is attacking midfielder Rowan Human. Every week there was a new rumour that the player was edging closer to joining the Glamour Boys. He was even flirting with the idea of joining the club, sending ‘come and get me pleas” in the form of interviews. He had admitted his admiration and dream to play for Amakhosi, citing current star Keagan Dolly as a role model.  But surprisingly though, due to an internal mishap at Chiefs regarding the deal, they were pipped to Human’s services. The player would end up joining AmaZulu, from fellow KZN side Martizburg United who cashed in after their relegations.  It certainly hasn’t quite worked out for Human at AmaZulu. He has only managed to make 11 appearances for the club since joining. Only one of those coming from the start. In recent weeks, he has even failed to make the match day squads of coach Pablo Martin. Now according to KickOff.com Usuthu are already considering his future.  “Considering his (Human) lack of gametime as the season winds down, it is understood that AmaZulu are now considering the player’s future at the club, and an exit cannot be ruled out at this stage.” Wrote the publication. Therefore, did Amakhosi dodge a bullet? With many new attackers currently struggling at Chiefs, did they dodge a bullet in Human?

1 Former Chelsea star John Terry says Sir Alex Ferguson used to “phone him every week” as he tried to sign him as a youngster. Speaking on The William Hill podcast via The Daily Mail, Terry said that despite the desperate attempts by United and Arsenal to sign him as a 14 year old, ultimately he “just knew” that Chelsea was the right club for him. The former centre back explained that he left West Ham’s academy to join Arsenal for a year but “at that time I was floating between Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea. “Arsenal and United both rolled out the red carpet for me, but Chelsea didn’t do anything. I had Sir Alex Ferguson phoning my house every week to speak to me and my dad, checking that I was going to school and training correctly.” However, despite all this attention from the greatest manager in the history of football and the concomitant lack of attention from the then Chelsea boss, Glenn Hoddle, 14-year old Terry opted for Stamford Bridge. The rest, of course, is history. The record books, of course, say that Terry won 17 titles at Stamford Bridge, including five Premier League titles, seven FA Cups, and a Champions League. The latter became something of a standing joke among fans of rival clubs, however, when he put the Chelsea kit on to receive the trophy even though he was not in the squad. John Terry in his full kit after Chelsea won the 2012 Champions League. pic.twitter.com/v3Hpr6JU20 — Sky Sports Retro (@SkySportsRetro) September 14, 2021 Whether his trophy haul vindicates his decision to snub Sir Alex is debatable, as United in the same period won 11 Premier League titles, five FA Cups and two Champions Leagues. The latter of those Champions League wins, ironically, was very much courtesy of Mr Terry himself and his missed penalty in Moscow. Although it sticks in United fans’ throats to admit Terry was a fine defender, Sir Alex had obviously spotted it at a very young age and the tireless Scot left no stone unturned to try to secure the 14-year old future England captain’s signature. Had he succeeded, it is possible that Chelsea would have been less successful in those 22 years and United might have won even more titles with Terry at the back. On the other hand, as good a player as he was, it is hard to imagine he could have outperformed the likes of Steve Bruce and Gary Pallister, Jaap Stam, Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic. There is also the issue of how well his personality would have gelled with Sir Alex’s sides, given his penchant for sleeping with teammates’ wives, even if we were to discount his mother’s propensity for shoplifting. Want to be the first to hear breaking Man United news? For carefully selected, crucial updates, join our WhatsApp channel: https://bit.ly/United-Breaking-News.

Middendorp said Spurs’ win against Richards Bay would boot the team’s morale ahead of the last few games of the season. Cape Town Spurs coach Ernst Middendorp was full of praise for his Cape Town Spurs after they edged Richards Bay 1-0 in their DStv Premiership clash on Friday. ALSO READ: Johnson lauds Chiefs young gun Shabalala for a cool finish A goal by Azola Jakalashe in the fourth minute was enough to earn the Urban Warriors their only their fourth win of the season and cut the gap to second-from-bottom Richard Bay to five points. “As everybody can imagine, it’s quite, quite impressive to handle the situation where we are eight points behind with six games to go,” Middendorp told SuperSport after the game. “We had a good starting 30 minutes, where we put the tools in, with the dribbling and switching the flanks. But we did not get shots in at goal and this is definitely something where we have to do better. “We were not strong enough, even in the second half in certain moments, with our finishing. That is definitely something where it’s a lot of space for improvement. kl, l “On the other hand, we all know, if you have a confidence, if you are winning games, if you’re successful, then a lot of stuff is much, much easier, in terms of the shooting, in terms of using the right technique,” he added. Middendorp said the win would boot the team’s morale ahead of the last few games of the season. “After not winning for five games in a row, you are very happy to have some excitement and I definitely will not dampen down the excitement. “I think it’s very crucial in terms of the confidence level. Now the mood will be good going into the Polokwane City game. ALSO READ: Barker backs Stellies’ five-star Rayners for Footballer of the Season “And then let’s wait and see. We’ll do our best to try to be prepared to find the right decisions. There will be again some changes because of injuries and suspension but let’s wait and see,” commented Middendorp. Spurs will next face Polokwane City at home on Tuesday.