Sports
COVID-19 and the barefaced fan
It is nearly one year since the government imposed a ban on sports – occasioned by the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Indeed, the year 2020, will go down as the most disquieting period in the life of sportsmen and women the world over as sporting activities grinded to a pitiable halt.
The repercussion on the actors of the game was devastatingly fatal. And, we might be journeying that path again if we continue to take things lying low as regards obeying the safety protocols.
Most parts of Europe are today experiencing a new surge in coronavirus cases, apparently because many people have taken things all-too easy – rendering the initial success in the fight against the virus, almost feckless.
Last week, the UK Government directed that everyone in England must stay at home except for permitted reasons during a new coronavirus lockdown expected to last until mid-February. All schools and colleges have closed to most pupils and switch to remote learning; though football was absolved but with some stiff restrictions.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned that the coming weeks would be the “hardest yet” amid surging cases and patient numbers.
The situation in Ghana appears to be getting worse too after the initial marked improvement that convinced government to relax the Covid restrictions imposed on sports.
As of January 13, 2021, confirmed cases of COVID-19 had hit 56,230 with 338 deaths, 336 casualties and 54,438 recoveries in the country. In April, last year, overall cases reached its highest at 55,772 and it was the reason for the three-week lockdown imposed in Accra, Tema and Kumasi – sports activities having been frozen a month earlier.
If the situation does not improve; if we continue to live our lives recklessly, it would come as no surprise should the government contemplate another lockdown.
Of course, locking down again is not something we should or would be excited about – aware of its torturing socio-economic consequences.
Sadly, if the government has no choice, it would be forced to make the Hobson’s decision in a desperate bid to save the rest of the populace.
That is why the sporting public, especially, must be on the qui vive and ensure that all the safety measures are strictly adhered to.
It is sad that most of our football fans seemed to have jettisoned the safety protocols as you see them barefaced even as they make their way into the stadium. These fans scream, shout, howl, hug and tease opposing fans or even blow kisses at their co-club fans in celebration of a goal. Clearly, the safety protocols have been thrown to the dogs.
“Many people do not realise that their safety – our safety, has become our personal responsibility. Those who do realise it wear masks, but others are going about life as though everything is normal,” says 34-year-old football fan, after watching a division one game between Danbort FC and Okyeman Planners at Nungua – an Accra suburb, last weekend.
On January 6, this year, the government of Ghana lifted the restrictions on football to allow fans to the stadium to watch the Ghana leagues with a capacity of 25 per cent.
“… seating at all stadia will be limited to 25 per cent capacity to ensure social distancing, whilst wearing of masks by spectators at stadia will be mandatory.”
Evidently, this is not what we often see at out stadia as social distancing is entirely ignored by the fans as the authorities watch on – either gleefully – or helplessly.
Hitherto, Ghanaian clubs were playing behind closed doors but a strong passionate appeal from the public and the Football Association to allow the fans back, may have done a lot in government’s decision to relax the restrictions. Failing to adhere to the safety protocols, therefore, is like stabbing the government in the back!
Now, certain precautions no longer remain obligatory to the fans: wearing masks before and after entering into stadium, keeping two-metre distances, washing of hands with soap and use of alcohol-based sanitisers, among others, have been discarded with careless abandon.
Perhaps, there has to be sustained, intensive education by club owners and administrators on the need to obey the existing safety and hygiene protocols. The fight must be a holistic and exhaustive one – and waged by everybody who cares for the future of the country – and the world at large.
Always remember that this is not a fight for government alone! Let us live responsibly, for we all have a duty to fight on and educate everybody on the fatality of the virus.
PlainTalk with JOHN VIGAH
Ghana Premier League side, Nations FC, may have suffered the drop in the just ended Premier League and are destined for a fresh campaign in the Division One League (DOL).
But they stand a huge chance of remaining in the elite stage of the game as they face Dreams FC in an epic MTN FA Cup final at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium tomorrow at 6pm.
Dreams FC have been there before; going ahead to taste the honours in the 2022-23 season after defeating King Faisal.
Coming from a season that saw them crawl from the initial stages of the league to finish on a respectable fourth position, they come in as strong favourites to double their honours in the nation’s second top football competition.
History favours them in this regard. On their first final, they conquered and based on this, connoisseurs of the game have tipped them to make it ‘two-on-two.’
But Nations FC have been empowered by the age-old adage that “He that is down need fear no fall.”
Nothing can be worse than suffering relegation and exiting the limelight as far as exposure is concerned.
But the FA offers a decent opportunity to make them stay relevant.
Conquering Dreams FC would not just make them MTN FA Cup champions. It will grant them the prestigious slot to represent Ghana in the Confederation of African Football (CAF) second tier club competition- the Confederations Cup.
With Dreams FC harbouring the same ambitions, the stage is, therefore, set for a final that promises to be explosive and uncompromising.
The situation of Nations FC might have come to many as a surprise, considering their promising start to the season, with their defence especially, marshalled by Black Stars defender, Razak Simpson, and colleague central defender, Raymond Grippman, earning a lot of reviews.
But despite the struggles they endured at certain times of their campaign, the MTN FA Cup always provided slices of good fortunes as they managed to navigate their way to the final.
Road to the top
Nations FC began the MTN FA Cup competition on a promising note, enjoying some good runs with a win over DOL Zone Two side, Ebony FC, in the Round of 64.
That landed them in a tricky encounter with another high-flying Zone Two candidate, AshantiGold SC, a side that eventually won the title from the zone to qualify to the Premier League, but escaped.
At the round of 16 stage, they encountered and defeated Ghana Premier League side, Swedru All Blacks, 2-1 to gain progression to the quarter final stage where they edged Berekum Chelsea on penalties.
A dicey semi-final awaited them against Aduana FC in Swedru. It was a game Nations was given little chance to escape considering Aduana FC’s form but once again, they conquered to secure a final berth.
In total, the Abrankese-based club have scored eight goals and conceded only two throughout the competition, making them one of the strongest defensive sides in the tournament.
For Dreams FC, they defeated Division One League Zone Three side, Semper Fi, 2-1 to progress to the next stage of the competition where they accounted for Division Two side, Asanska FC, 2-0.
That handed them a quarterfinal berth where they faced Inter Allies and drew one all before winning 4-3 on penalties.
The happiest moment in their success story was a 3-2 semi-final win over GPL winners, Medeama SC.
With that feat, Dreams have been touted as potential winners as the match comes at a time the Nations FC side may be psychologically down over the weight of the challenge they face in the next season.
However, the competition has gain notoriety for not following any form guide and outcomes mostly coming as major surprises.
In this regard, Dreams may be tipped as favourite candidates but though Nations are wounded, the stakes could revive an insatiable desire to apply the brakes to turn the dreams of Dreams FC into a nightmare.
Support
The support from MTN Ghana has no doubt improved competition among the clubs with the attractive incentive packages for participating clubs.
MTN Ghana, which is celebrating 30 years of operations in Ghana, formally became headline sponsors of the Ghana FA Cup in the 2010/2011 football season after the competition had returned from an eight-year hiatus.
The first edition under MTN sponsorship was won by Nania FC, who defeated Asante Kotoko 1–0 in the final at the Accra Sports Stadium.
Since then, the competition has been known as the MTN FA Cup, with MTN renewing its sponsorship several times — in 2013, 2017, 2020 and again for subsequent seasons.
By Andrew Nortey
The Black Stars have opened camp in Cardiff ahead of next week’s international friendly against Wales.
The team is being taken through training drills by head coach Carlos Queiroz.
Thirteen players trained at Dragon Park on Monday, with others expected to join the squad on Tuesday.
They include Ernest Nuamah, Brandon Thomas-Asante, Jordan Ayew, Caleb Yirenkyi, Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, Elisha Owusu, Gideon Mensah, Marvin Senaya, Jerome Opoku, Benjamin Asare, Joseph Anang, Solomon Agbasi, and Alidu Seidu.
The Black Stars will train in Cardiff for one week ahead of the international friendly against Wales on Tuesday, June 2, before traveling to the United States of America.
Coach Carlos Queiroz will use the period to assess his players before naming his final squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
Twenty-six players will be submitted to FIFA on Monday, June 1, as mandated by the competition regulations.
The Black Stars are drawn in Group L with Panama, England, and Croatia. They will open their World Cup campaign against Panama on June 17 in Toronto before facing England and Croatia in their other group matches.
