Footballers call for resumption of league action
It has been about five months since top football action was suspended in Kenya as the government aims to minimise the spread of coronavirus.
Although the infections continue to rise, most Kenyan footballers yearn for resumption of the league.
Two Kenyan Premier League teams’ captains are now urging the government to consider lifting the ban on football with strict adherence by clubs and players to guidelines that minimise the spread of Covid-19.
They say this is important since they use football to earn a living. Kakamega Homeboyz skipper Allan Wanga (right) is of the opinion that the government should allow KPL to resume and ensure that strict measures are maintained to curb the spread of the disease.
“We miss each other as players and are ready for football to come back. It has been an agonizing wait and we have been suffering since we depend on match winning bonuses and training allowances,” says Wanga.
The former Harambee Stars striker said it would be in order for the government to ensure that football returns safely even if it means teams playing in empty stadia.
“As long as players are screened for the virus and observe the government guidelines on coronavirus, I don’t see any problem in having the league resume,”
Incidentally, Wanga has been one of the vocal KPL players who advocates precautionary steps in dealing with the viral disease that has rocked the whole world.
“Let’s stay at home and play our part. Let’s all stop the spread of the coronavirus,” Wanga said in a tweet.
At the same time, Kariobangi Sharks captain Eric Juma has also supported the rising calls for action in the top-tier league to restart.
“If other countries have their leagues running despite the pandemic, I wonder why Kenya should be an exception.
The government should enact measures to control the disease and allow football to resume as failure to do so will result in players getting rusty ahead of the new season,” said Juma.
