KPFC itches to get back on the field

Sport around the world has come to an almost complete standstill due to the effects of the Covid-19 virus.

We in Kempton Park have not been immune to its effects.

As far as football in the city is concerned, on March 15, Bruce King, chairperson of Easterns Local Football Association, issued a directive to all clubs in the region that all football-related activities, including tournaments, games and training, must end immediately.

Local clubs include Kempton Park FC, Bonaero 74 FC and Birch Acres FC.

This suspension of activities was backed up a day later when Thamsanda Mokoena from the South African Football Association (SAFA) sent a letter to all local football associations (LFAs) that football had been suspended at all levels countrywide with immediate effect.

All local clubs reacted positively to the directive and complied with the order with club gates being locked, changing rooms and tuck shops being closed and hitherto hives of sporting activity falling silent.

With the Kempton Park FC SAB Castle League side sitting pretty in fifth place and gunning for a play-off spot, the suspension of games could not have come at a worse time.

Head coach Eddie Dista feels it might be difficult to motivate the players and maintain interest with a delay in fixtures at such a critical time of the season. Momentum can stutter, fitness levels cannot be maintained and overall morale can be affected.

He is, however, hoping that games will be able to start soon and that the season will finish, albeit later than originally anticipated.

The ILFA Super League was only a week into its 2020 season when games were stopped by the association which, in terms of disruption, seems fairly minor. However, the longer the suspension goes on, the shorter the time period for a full season to be played.

This may force teams into playing more midweek games and will affect training schedules and subsequently, player fitness. An upshot of midweek games is often that teams cannot fulfill fixtures due to transport issues for away teams as well as certain clubs having poor quality or no floodlights available.

The knock-on effect of teams being unable to fulfill a fixture at night not only inconveniences the opposition but also match officials and spectators. As there is no information as to when the suspension of sport will be lifted, teams are in limbo at present and can only hope for the best.

Local senior leagues, women’s football and junior football are no less harder hit by the uncertainty of the situation. The LFA senior leagues and the junior leagues were due to start on the weekend after Easter but due to the restrictions, this will definitely not be happening.

The Sasol Women’s League had played three games in their round of fixtures and Kempton Park coach Johannes Masilela is as frustrated as anyone else involved in football about what has had to be enforced.

He said: “The ladies are very disappointed but understand the action taken by SAFA and I hope that soccer starts again before too long.”

In terms of teams and games, the largest casualty in local football is the present termination of junior training and games. Easterns currently supports over 500 teams from u-6 to u-17 in age group leagues that in some cases exceed five divisions.

The first games were due to be contested on April 17 but, as in the case of senior football, this is on hold.

Spokesperson for Easterns Junior Football Tracy Malyon has kept all clubs fully aware of any changes in the current football lockdown and hopes things will get going sooner rather than later.

It would be a mini tragedy if football was to be suspended for the 2020 season and I’m sure all involved in the game, not least our three local clubs who do a fantastic job in providing a sporting platform for the city’s young people, are hoping and praying for a resumption.