In March this year, the federal government like many other countries shut down almost all human activities including sports in a bid to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
It was a move that was hailed by all as a painful necessity regardless of the adverse effects the shutdown had on the economy and the Nigeria Professional Football League, National Youth Games, National Sports Festival and other sporting events that were postponed till further notice.
From the moment the ban was announced, all stadia and sporting centres across the country were placed under lock and key.
Even street football by restless youths was affected as only a few still played the game in hidden corners.
As the coronavirus cases began to drop, the federal government through the Presidential Task Force (PTF) in August approved the return of non-combat sports such as lawn tennis, table tennis, squash, badminton, cycling, athletics, golf, polo, para-athletics, cricket, bowling, swimming, diving, gymnastics, sprinting and running while approving the use of recreational parks for supervised physical exercises only.
Interestingly, when European football leagues successfully ended and were about to resume for the ongoing season, pressure began to mount on the federal government to re-open football and other contact sports.
As Nigerians clamoured for the return of football, the PTF had other ideas as the task force declared emphatically that it was too dangerous and unsafe for football to re-start with fans in the stands.
The PTF according to its chairman, Boss Mustapha, insisted that apart from the risk involved, football without fans would be boring so on-field activities would remain suspended.
As at the time he made the statement, Bundesliga and La Liga had resumed while the English Premiership as at then was kicking off the following weekend without fans.
Consequently, soccer pundits, enthusiasts, as well as sports lovers in general, found the ‘excuse’ given by the PTF that allowing combat sports to resume could lead to a spike in the coronavirus cases as lame and untenable.
Such views were not unfounded because in the last two months, certain events which are not related to sports held and attracted huge crowds, with a majority not obeying the COVID-19 protocols.
It appeared as if the PTF was either ‘powerless’ or unwilling to ban political campaigns, as well as burials of Very Important Persons (VIPs).
For instance, in Edo and Ondo states, there were large crowds who welcomed politicians on campaign trains with the vast majority not observing the protocols.
In Edo State, campaigns ended and elections were held with little or no regard for COVID-19 protocols.
The same scenario equally plays out in Ondo state where the gubernatorial election is to hold on October 10 and the politicians are taking their campaigns to the nooks and crannies of the state with no regards to social distancing.
Away from political gatherings, it will be recalled that apart from the burial of some notable figures like Abba Kyari and Senator Buruji Kashamu, a large crowd recently attended the burial ceremony of the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris at his palace in Zaria, Kaduna State on September 20 with complete disregard for COVID-19 safety protocols.
The large crowd that trooped in to witness the burial is said to be enough to fill up a 5,000 sitting capacity stadium.
Sometime in August, government made moves to re-open contact sports, a development that made NPFL clubs to announce resumption dates, but that didn’t happen as the decision was reversed almost immediately.
As a result, even as contact sports are not allowed officially, on-field activities are ongoing informally just as crowded viewing centres have re-opened fully without any regard for social distancing.
Consequently, stakeholders are calling on the government to reconsider its decision on contact sports.
Most of them who spoke to Daily Trust observed that with the decline in COVID-19 cases and resumption of other social activities, contact sports too can be re-opened without consequences.
Speaking to Daily Trust, a former Director of Sports in Katsina State, Alhaji Aliyu Kofar-Soro said since other human activities involving so many people are allowed to take place, contact sports too should be re-opened.
He, however, advised that if it is noticed that there is any surge in the cases of the killer virus, then the sporting activities can be suspended again.
“In view of the fact that other leagues across the world, especially in Europe, have since re-opened without dire consequences, I am of the opinion that our government too can allow contact sports to resume.
“If along the line there are positive cases among the athletes, then we can reconsider the decision.
“We can’t shut down sports for too long,” he noted.
A former chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Sports, Hon. Godfrey Gaiya also said “Honestly I feel re-opening contact sports is long overdue because there is no enforcement in our markets.
“We are going about our businesses in our markets, public transportation and in the offices.
“Offices are fully opened and people are reporting to work daily.
“What government should do is to task the teams to ensure that all the players and officials are tested for COVID-19.
“What the clubs can do is periodic testing and also ensuring that everyone observes the laid down COVID-19 protocols.
“For you to say you are banning contact sports because of COVID -19, I think it is just running away from responsibility and making Nigerians unhappy,” he submitted.
A former international and Coordinator of the Super Eagles, Patrick Pascal said “Our people want to watch the game they love.
“The players themselves want to go back to playing but for now, I don’t think anybody will be able to convince the government.
“They have been delaying resumption but we have seen many burial ceremonies with large crowds.
“We are pleading with the government to look into the sports sector as keeping the players away from what they love is not good.
“The sports minister should try his best to ensure the leagues’ resume. For example, if nobody contracted coronavirus during the burial of the Emir of Zazzau, I don’t think Nigeria will be hit by the virus again because the crowd there was massive such that the National stadium won’t even contain it,” he said.
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