Mbabane: While Eswatini government is dilly-dallying on football resumption, their South African counterparts have given the Premier Soccer League (PSL) the go ahead to resume football.
SAFA has confirmed that the South African government has given the green light for football to resume while also highlighting the strict measures that need to be taken. SAFA is an acronym for South African Football Association.
PSL football could be set to resume in the coming weeks after government officially gazetted the guidelines for their return to play under the national lockdown. Nearly two weeks after declaring that both non-contact and contact sport could resume under specific measures, Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Nathi Mthethwa has given football the go-ahead.
SAFA published a statement on their website highlighting the protocol that needs to be adhered to once PSL clubs return to their training bases in the coming days.
“According to Government Gazette promulgated by Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture on 11 June 2020, under the Disaster Management Act of 2002, football can resume training after complying with the regulations,” read the statement.
“These regulations entail among others that all teams need to test for COVID-19 and chronic medical conditions (As stipulated in the Football return to training protocol adopted by the SAFA Joint Liaison Committee (JLC) and results must be sent to the Compliance Officer.
“Disinfection of the training venue is mandatory, so is the daily screening of COVID-19 symptoms for all those involved. All teams are encouraged to undertake strict hand and respiratory hygiene and have a consulting Doctor at all times as stipulated in the return to football protocol adopted by JLC.
“There should be continuous education about COVID-19 and the Federation must appoint a compliance officer in writing.”
As quoted by the Times of Eswatini, government spokesperson Sabelo Dlamini said, “Government will announce when sport can return to action. Among other factors before we lift the ban in sport, we will consider what kind of sport and if it cannot fuel the spread of the virus”.
Noteworthy, Eswatini Football Association (EFA) announced and delivered to government through the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs more or less the same guidelines passed by the South African government.
Additional information from www.kickoff.com
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