01 Nov 2020

 Botswana Football Association (BFA) has revealed plans to resume football activities following postponement due to COVID-19 in March.

Discussing measures on the resumption of football activities in Gaborone on October 31, BFA chief executive officer, Mfolo Mfolo said since players stayed seven months without playing, their psychological, physical, technical and medical aspects would be taken into consideration before they returned to the pitch.

He said over the years, psychological aspect of players at club level had not always been given much attention adding that the pandemic had taught them that it was also an important aspect in football.

Mfolo said they were working with Ministry of Health and Wellness to ensure that all was in place adding that recommended guidelines for the clubs would also be set out. 

Mfolo said guidelines would emphasise the importance of players’ physical fitness adding that to achieve this, a medical test including Body Mass Index, COVID-19 and Electrocardiogram tests would be carried out.

He said it would be mandatory for Premiership clubs to go through all medical tests including that of COVID-19, adding that clubs would have to conduct COVID-19 test twice a week.

Mfolo said since clubs were mandated to test players twice a week, they would part with P2 000 per player. He, however, noted that COVID-19 relief funds, which were given to structures in region would come in handy to purchase COVID-19 clinicals like thermometers, sanitisers and gloves.

He said clubs had been advised to enforce isolation should any player feel unwell. He also noted that during matches, dressing rooms would not be used, as players would come directly from warm-up place to the pitch.

He noted that such initiatives were aimed at bringing back football activities to life like in most countries. 

He said clubs like VTM FC and Mochudi Rovers had tried their best in coming up with ways to resume football activities and training their players on COVID-19 rules and regulations.

Mfolo said promotional playoffs set for mid-November would be used as teasers and to test for readiness adding that Mogoditshane Fighters will play against Nico United in a promotional playoff for Premiership 2020/21.

He said Orange FA Cup 2020 would be played on the second week of January while Premiership games would start immediately when it ends.

Mfolo said currently, Zebras was in camp trying to get into shape for their encounter with Zambia this month. ends