By Daily Sports on March 19, 2020

The fears of many a grassroots players and coaches in Edo State about the threat that the worldwide coronavirus disease pandemic could pose on the football passion was confirmed as the state’s football association announced that all football activities must stop for at least a month.

A press release reaching me on Wednesday March 18 reads: “In line with directives from the Nigeria Football Federation cessation of all forms of football activities in the country for the next four weeks, as a result of the global coronavirus pandemic.

“The board of the Edo state Football Association has wasted no time in complying with the latest development.

“Chairman of the association, Hon Amb Henry Osaro Asemota JP, has mandated that all football activities in the state to be suspended with immediate effect till the next four weeks.

“He advised all football stakeholders to adhere strictly to the various safety precautions and conducts as advised by the Federal Ministry of Health and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, such as hand-washing, the use of sanitizers and social distancing.

“Hon Amb Henry Osaro Asemota also noted that anyone who refuses to comply with the directives will face the consequences from the board.”

The implication of this latest development is that the Edo State FA Cup for which many grassroots clubs have been preparing for will most likely not be holding in April as have been the traditional period for years now.

This development will also leave grassroots clubs uncertain as to what level of involvement they will be in as far as football playing is concerned.

In the coming days, it is hoped that there will be clarity on whether a team can engage in friendly games with other grassroots clubs or whether clubs will be allowed to engage their players in training sessions at all.

What is clear though is that the coronavirus problem has hit Edo football as it has hit football all over the world.

The safety of lives is the most paramount and any efforts to safeguard  the lives of people, including grassroots footballers and officials in the face of this global pandemic is commendable and I join the rest of humanity in believing we will overcome the coronavirus attack and win the battle to keep mankind safe.

Source Daily Sports

Posted March 19, 2020

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