Since lockdown was announced in March, things have been tough for local coach and owner of a soccer academy, Bongani ‘Ace’ Duiker.

On 16 April 2020 the Herald wrote how Ace had to move to another province temporarily to make ends meet. Like many other businesses, Bongani’s soccer academy was severely affected by the nation-wide lockdown. At the start of Level 5 lockdown, Bongani said he realised that he needed to come up with a means to continue putting food on the table as action on playgrounds had been halted countywide. He temporarily moved to Rustenburg in the North West to start a vegetable garden.

Returning to Gauteng after his sabbatical, Bongani was once again disappointed to find that no action was being allowed at the Greenhills Sport Stadium yet where he presents his soccer training sessions on weekends.

But, as much as we are keen to return to the field we have an obligation to follow the law and comply with what the government ordered, and what the World Health Organization recommended,” Bongani said.

He added that whether his academy will reopen or not, it is a decision that will be made jointly with parents of the children at his academy.

“This simply means that we have to meet them halfway because they will have concerns. They need to give their inputs on what the way forward should be.

“They are obviously concerned about the well-being of their children; they ultimately have the last say on what should happen,” Bongani said.

A sport is beneficial to one’s mental and physical fitness, he hopes that they will remember everything he taught them earlier this year. Although he said it is important to abide by the law, he missed interacting with his students.

“I miss playing that on-field father figure. We were quite happy and had special moments. We were like a family and that is what I miss the most,” Bongani said.