Mbabane: EFA’s Medical Committee headed by vice president Doctor Comfort Shongwe will next week submit a detailed plan to restart the currently coronavirus-halted-season.
This was revealed by Eswatini Football Association president Adam ‘Bomber’ Mthethwa at Sigwaca House on Friday May 15, 2020 as he clearly outlined his association’s stand on football matters concerning COVID-19 and its effects.
Mthethwa shot down any suggestions made in football circles to declare the season null and void as he emphasized that will not be the decision taken by EFA any time soon as, with the guidance of government they were still accessing the situation and coming up with informed plans to protect lives in the number one sport.
The first major football league back will be Germany’s Bundesliga, who are due to resume without fans this Saturday, on May 16. The English Premier League, who are so desperate to complete the season and avoid a potential £762m rebate on their broadcast income, are also working on a plan that would see top-flight football resume in England, either from June 12 or June 19.
Government through the Eswatini Sports and Recreation Council has called upon all sports associations to come up with plans to resume their tournaments while safeguarding the health of the citizens and adhering to COVID-19 regulations and health precautions.
“I know that those who will want the season to resume will be the majority. In all honesty, that can be the only fair decision but decision making is a process. We cannot cancel because we are not sure of even the following 2020/21 season under the current situation,” Mthethwa said.
He continued that the decision to suspend football tournaments was guided by government and it will stand that way until government advices otherwise. “Leagues will resume where they ended and I know people have varying opinions on what must be done- which is the beauty of the game we manage. The reality is that there is no different view from within our structure which is made up of our eight members. We can only advice our members to direct their suggestions to the executive to protect the brand of EFA and its stakeholders,” Mthethwa said.
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