Football is back! The excitement among football lovers in my neighbourhood would make one wonder if the government is bringing palliative to their doorstep. But alas! That’s how fans greeted the announcement of the return of La Liga Santander and the English Premier League (EPL) on June 11 and June 17 respectively.
Arguably, very few fans in Nigeria are abreast with the activities of the country’s local league or even familiar with the names of its players but these fans would claim to be ‘authorities’ in major European leagues.
STADIA WITHOUT FANS: As Spain and England restart their top-flight leagues, one significant part of the game would be missing, as we have already observed with the German Bundesliga – which pioneered the return of football among the top five European leagues – and that is the presence of fans in the stadium and the atmosphere they (fans) create.
The way football is trying to artificially recreate that atmosphere is a story for another day. But even as these stadia are shut to spectators, fans have had to make do with seeing the games on-screen, an experience that fans from this side of the world already relish week in week out.
Yes, the French Ligue 1, Dutch Eredivisie and the Belgium First Division A will not restart their suspended season, but the Belarusian league has been ever-present despite confirmed coronavirus cases in the country.
The German Bundesliga returned to action last month with Italian Serie A and some other leagues gearing up for a showdown after weeks of suspension.
LOVE FOR EPL: But none of the aforementioned can boast of the unparalleled support the EPL and, to some extent, La Liga command in Nigeria and her West African neighbours. Little wonder the excitement associated with ‘Project Restart’.
On the 11th and the 17th of June, if things go as planned, La Liga Santander, and the EPL will kick off in earnest. Gracing our screens once again with their flying tackles, dribbling skills and not forgetting the ever-present drama associated with these leagues, especially the VAR.
Whereas most of the football fans in England and Spain will sit at home due to the pandemic to view the games, which quite a number of them can afford to, the situation will be different over here.
VIEWING CENTERS Fans in Nigeria will enjoy seeing their favourite stars on screen, albeit mostly in our pseudo stadiums nicknamed ‘viewing centres’ or ‘soccer palaces’. These centres are spaces where football fans gather to watch matches for a stipulated fee.
Only a few privileged fans can actually afford to see these games at their private residence. And the reason is simple, the high cost of subscribing to view these games and the prevalent epileptic power supply.
This situation leaves the viewing centres as the only available option for most Nigerian fans both in the urban and rural areas to watch these matches.
COVID-19 Usually, some of these centres are crowded and poorly ventilated, making it almost impossible for social or physical distancing. At the moment, the Nigerian government has partially relaxed lockdown- amidst a daily hike in COVID-19 confirmed cases – allowing businesses to open but with adherence to precautionary measures against the virus.
Now the question is, what is the government doing to forestall an increase in COVID-19 cases, which could be catalysed by the gathering of football fans all over the country in our pseudo stadiums?
“There should be more orientation from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC),” Emmanuel Zira, former chairman of Adamawa United Football Club said.
“The NCDC should orientate the viewing public and people who own viewing centres on the need to follow all precautionary measures to reduce the spread of the virus and have security men move around this centres to ensure compliance.”
Tolu Olasoji, a freelance journalist also thinks more advocacy should be done on the part of the government with regards to viewing centres.
“One can only hope that owners of viewing centres take the issue of COVID-19 serious and implement safety guidelines when they to open. This is one area I feel the government need to address.
“The government should recognise that this venture (viewing centres) could mar their efforts if not properly managed. More advocacy is needed. Fans should try as much as possible to access the games at home or elsewhere that is less crowded,” Olasoji said.
Prince Uchenna, a football fan also wants “attention to be shifted to viewing centres”.
“This could be a breeding ground for COVID-19 if we all don’t talk about it. A lot of people will be watching these games and it may become difficult to adhere to social distancing,” Uchenna added.
The Nigerian government has done a lot in terms of testing, advocacy and a lot more as regards COVID-19, but more should be done with respect to viewing centres which would be open to fans as EPL and La Liga resume. This is to forestall the spread of the virus.