The Ministry of Sports and the National Sports Authority have on Monday January 4, 2021, announced the lifting of the ban on sporting activities. The Joint press statement was put out following constructive engagements with the National COVID-19 Emergency Response Centre (NaCOVERC).
The release emphasized that sports activities will take place behind closed doors for now. “Spectators shall not be allowed to watch competitions or practices.”
According to the release, the decision to play behind closed doors is in consonance with Sierra Leone’s observance of the country’s COVID-19 regulations and restrictions in order to reduce the risk of the spread of the pandemic.
“All sports officials and athletes are strongly advised to follow all health directives and precautionary measures prescribed by NaCOVERC,” the release further stated.
The NSA and MOS will conduct national monitoring to ensure full compliance with all existing COVID-19 regulations at all sports venues.
Speaking to a football administrator and club owner of Eastern Tigers, Victor Lewis said the lifting of the ban ought to have been done earlier. He raised serious concern that the lack of gate takings due to the decision for football to be played behind closed doors poses great difficulty on the welfare of ‘the boys’ from the gate takings.
“Let the authority allow us to go through all protocol in ensuring that football fans will wash their hands; the use of Face Mask will be adhered to instead of closing the stadium,” he said.
Ibrahim Kamara, a 16-year-old boy, registered his delight over the news that the ban on football has been lifted, saying that he has now increased in weight and lost fitness. He said that with the lifting of the ban, he would start working very hard to keep up to expectation. He added that his biggest dream is to play for Sierra Leone and represent Sierra Leone in international competition.
Marie Kamara, a 100 meter sprinter, said that she is very happy to go back to full training to keep her fit for competition. “It has been so long. I have not had serious training and competition, but with the lifting of the ban now I know things will get better as time goes by.
It could be recalled that just after Sierra Leone recorded it index case on March 31, 2020, some restrictions were put in place including a ban on sporting activities.
By Desmond Tunde Coker
6/01/2021. ISSUE NO:7973