PLAY YOUR PART, LET’S KEEP SAFE!

My dearest readers ...

From Ndunayithini to Nswangwini; from the rolling hills of Khalangilile to the arid lands of Lavumisa, the announcement by the Prime Minister (PM), Cleopas Sipho Dlamini, last Thursday that vaccinated soccer fans would be allowed to return to stadiums was met with much fanfare. It was the best news we have been waiting for in the last one-and-a-half years. The ‘emotional owners’ of the game have not been inside any of our stadiums since Green Mamba strung Mbabane Highlanders as if they were Toni Braxton’s Spanish Guitar on Sunday, March 8, 2020, in the Ingwenyama Cup final.

It’s been a very emotionally-draining period for those who worship on the altar of football given all the other social ills that enveloped the country and of course, the scourge of the COVID-19 pandemic which took away many of our friends and relatives. It has been, for lack of a better word, a frustrating period for everyone associated with the game of the billions. That’s why Thursday’s announcement by the PM was a welcome respite for an industry that has been dying a slow and excruciating death.

Excrement

Now the fans are looking forward to making the trip to the stadiums like a dung beetle to excrement. The 2 000 fans for Somhlolo National Stadium and Mavuso Sports Centre and the 500 for the open grounds might not be much but for a start, this is a welcome relief to the long-suffering club bosses who are spending a fortune on a project that does not make financial sense at all right now. In one decision, government has saved many lives. She has given hope to many souls who risked losing their only source of income and livelihood through the game of the billions.

One thing is certain, if we hope to see the numbers grow exponentially, we need to play our part. Our part is simple – vaccinate, wear our face masks, maintain social distancing and keep sanitising. We seriously need to keep safe so that the gains we have achieved in the last year cannot be lost in reckless behaviour. Scientists and health experts have already hinted of an imminent fourth wave early next month and this is one of the many reasons we ought to behave even as we celebrate the return of soccer fans into the stadiums.   

As we celebrate the opening of the sports industry, let’s ensure the gains we have achieved now are not let down by behaviour that will expose us and our loved ones to the dreaded virus because as the PM rightly observed; “the enemy is still lurking in our midst and ready to strike with venom.”
It is, therefore, prudent for both the PLE and the EFA to ensure there is a fool-proof plan to ensure adherence to the COVID-19 regulations so that we can reach herd immunity quickly and further open up the economy. It’s still in our hands to do the right thing.

Proper

The PLE needs to put up a proper monitoring plan and measures to ensure ONLY vaccinated fans get inside the stadium through the ticketing system. We know the challenges the organisation faced when the ticketing system was used and now it is another opportunity to get it right. In South Africa, when the ministry piloted the return of the 2 000 soccer fans project, they used the online method of buying tickets. Maybe the PLE could consider this one as well or through the ticketing system the PLE can apply the vaccination card one-ticket-purchase policy.

This is completely uncharted waters and it needs the support and understanding of everyone. It needs everyone to play his/her part otherwise the whole idea will come crashing down and leave us exposed in the hands of the devastating virus. Football again could play a leading role in ramping up the vaccination programme.

Perhaps this is the opportune time to set up vaccination booths next to the soccer stadiums because there is no doubt seeing others go inside to watch the local games will persuade some to also take the jab. It was a smart move by government to incentivise vaccinated fans. This is what the State-Of-the-Nation-Sports-Address (SONSA) has been advocating for, even to the extent of sounding like a stuck record. Football has been presented with an opportunity to re-invent itself; an opportunity to hope, as the PLE slogan once suggested, and also a chance to show it is an industry worth being taken seriously by government. We just need to play our part and keep it safe.

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: