Rafiu Ladipo, the President-General of Nigeria Football and Other Sports Supporters Club, has warned fans to desist from all forms of football gatherings as part of preventive measures against spreading and contacting COVID-19.
Football fans at a match venue
Ladipo gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday to fans who were in the habit of gathering to watch football matches in their communities.
He said that it was better to stay alive to watch many matches both at the local level and English Premier Leagues than to go against all preventive measures and expose self to the danger of COVID-19.
“The spread of Coronavirus is a trending issue and that is the reason our government had to direct that we should stay at home in order to avoid crowding; being a fast way of spreading coronavirus.
“I am key-in on that note and also warning football lovers to stop going to watch locally- organised matches because they are fond of building crowd there. And nobody knows who might have contacted Coronavirus among the fans because coming to view centres.
“So, it is better to stay away from danger, play safe so that you can live to watch other matches and anybody that dies now cannot have the opportunity to watch matches again,” he said.
According to him, the fight against Coronavirus otherwise known as COVID-19 has resulted to all Premiership leagues and Laliga been cancelled and postponed across the world.
Ladipo said that if America, France, Italy and other big nations of the world with all their facilities were locking down due to the outbreak of Coronavirus, Nigeria should not be an exception to the rule.
“Besides it is for the time being, when the situation calms down and are brought under control, we will come out to watch matches, games, film shows at cinemas and other entertaining events,” he added.
He also urged everyone to stick to regular handwashing, use of hand sanitisers, nose masks and keep the specified distance from one another in order to comply with government’s preventive measures. (NAN)
Tag: Football fans
COVID-19: Desist from all forms of football gathering, Supporter Club President-General warn fans
COVID-19: Football lovers decry boredom over postponed European leagues
Some football fans on Sunday in Enugu State have cried out on the boredom the outbreak of coronavirus have caused in the world of football.
Some of the fans who spoke with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium during the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) match between Enugu Rangers and Rivers United expressed sadness over the deadly virus.
The fans added that the postponed football matches across European topflight leagues had made their weekend boring even though it did not affect the NPFL matches.
One of the fans, Joseph Odichi, said the postponement of matches across Europe would cause a great setback to the world of football.
“We watch football matches during weekend to relax our nerves after a stressful week especially when our favourite team plays.
“This weekend was something else because we missed the Super Sunday matches in the English Premier League (EPL),” Odichi said.
Some of the fans noted that the absence of matches across Europe helped to boost the turnout of home fans at the stadium during Rangers match.
Musa Odidi, who also spoke, expressed his sadness over the setback the deadly virus would cause the world at large and prayed for a quick solution.
“We just can’t do without watching football; that is why we are affected by the spread of the virus indirectly.
“Our earnest prayer is that this virus matter gets to an end and let everything come back to normal as soon as possible,” Odidi said.
Frederick Atuonwu, an engineering student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) said he was home all day as no European football took place.
According to him, football is a now major game that keep the youth busy and prevent them from engaging in social vices like cultism and drug abuse.
He however, hoped that the development would boost local leagues in the country.
The fans also sent their get well wishes to those who had been tested positive to the deadly virus across the globe and most especially in the football world.
Alokwe Kish, one of the fans also said it was indeed a great disaster to Football activities across the globe and the economy at large.
“Even though I usually watch the NPFL anytime Rangers are playing at home but the fact still remains that the European leagues have won the heart of many football lovers.
“Like today due to the virus many Manchester United fans would have loved to watch the postponed matched against Tottenham Hotspur,” Alokwe said.
Meanwhile, Enugu Rangers now placed fifth on the league table with 34 points after winning Rivers United 1-0 in the Week 24 matches of the NPFL. (NAN)
