We are eager to return to field – Soccer coaches
By Saheed Afolabi
Football coaches in Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Area have expressed their eagerness to resume sport activities at the grassroots as they anticipate the returning of foreign clubs to field to commence training sooner.
They appealed to the government to extend the lockdown relaxation to the sport sector at the grassroots, promising to adhere strictly to the social distancing measures.
However, some people believed that allowing the sport activities would worsen the situation, saying sport facilities should remain closed to curtail community spread of the coronavirus.
Reacting to the demand, the CEO of Temi Soccer International, Oluwaseyi Ogunwale said: “Though I miss football and I am anxious to return or resume because my players’ fitness is dissipating, I don’t think the grassroots can actually adhere to the social distancing measures. So, it is better our sport facilities remain closed to prevent the spread of coronavirus.”
However, the CEO of Unstoppable Sport Foundation, Yemi Fortune, argued that sport facilities should be opened but social distancing measure should be put in place while the spectators should not be allowed to enter the sport facilities and not more than 20 players should be allowed to train together.
He said: “Football activities at the grassroots can resume but only that fans and spectators should not be allowed into any sport facility and players shouldn’t be more than 20 to curtail the spread of coronavirus. But we are just proposing to the government, we don’t have any choice than to follow the government’s directive.”
Christopher Ogar, the coach of Great Success FC echoed Fortune’s words by saying: “I am eager for football activities to resume at the grassroots and I am sure that if given the chance, the coaches will follow all guidelines given by the government for us to resume training.The only way our players can get full fitness is if they are able to train with all their training equipments which unfortunately are always located at various sport facilities.”
Meanwhile, the Director General (DG), Lagos State Sports Commission, Sola Aiyepeku confirmed to ECHONEWS that all sporting facilities in Lagos State remain closed until further notice.
Responding to questions on twitter, he said: “Yes, all sporting facilities in Lagos State remain closed until further notice.
“Also, note that there should no sporting related gatherings in the state.”
