We hope football will be opened soon – coaches

By Saheed Afolabi

Just as the ban on the non contact outdoor sports has been lifted by the federal government, football coaches at the grassroots have expressed hope that such would be extended to football as soon as possible.

Coach of Diadem Stallions FC, Ayodeji Adebayo, said he was optimistic that something positive would come up for football.

He noted that the reason why government is delaying reopening of football might be higher population attached to it which may aid spread of coronavirus.

Ms Success FC coach, Musbahu Oseni said “I salute the Minister of Youth and Sport, Sunday Dare, for putting pressure on government to ease lockdown on non contact sports. I am hopeful that in few weeks time football and other sport activities would receive government attention too for talents to continue developing at the grassroots.”

An Ejigbo based coach, Christopher Ogar popularly known as Obeleze said he was disappointed over the continued lockdown on football related activities despite the fact that some other countries have eased the lockdown on football.

He said: “The government has done well to ease the lockdown on non contact sports, the same should also be extended to football. Still keeping us on lockdown is not the best for us because most of my fellow coaches are not happy about this situation but we hope the government will understand our plight.”