Lack of football bad for youth, local association warns
The lockdown has jeopardised the future of the youth in Mamelodi.
The head of the local football association in Mamelodi has spoken out about the lasting effects of the nationwide lockdown on the local youth.
The lockdown has jeopardised the future of the youth in Mamelodi, according to Mamelodi football association head of development Shoes Malwa.
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“If the lockdown regulations continue to prevent the youth from training and playing soccer, we will soon be facing a massive problem of drug abuse, teenage pregnancy and crime,” Malwa said.
He said he was concerned at the lack of being able to practice and play soccer, fearing that might lead young boys and girls to find other, perhaps less healthy, activities.
The Mamelodi football administrator warned that the current youth behaviour would have dire consequences.
“If nothing is done to allow our youngsters to play again as soon as possible, the community should brace themselves for the worse.”
Malwa was in favour of all South African football association (Safa) leagues resuming under strict regulations during the lockdown, which was introduced by the government since late March, to curb the spread of Covid-19 pandemic and loss of lives.
He said players should not pay for Covid-19 tests, because they were unemployed as Safa has directed that “all participants in non-professional football must undergo Covid-19 testing before resumption and further, that the play-offs should take place in a bio-bubble safe environment”.
The letter, which Rekord has seen, did not refer to the financial implications.
Malwa confirmed that soccer teams received Safa’s correspondence consisting the criteria to be followed by teams when preparing to resume games.
He said the Safa’s demand was impossible as non-professional teams did not have money to pay for the testing costs and suggested the government should introduce the mobile clinics that would allow players to test for free.
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Safa Tshwane president Solly Mothlakeng said they were aware of the concerns related to the Covid-19 regulations and had addressed them through the proper channels with Safa’s mother body.
“We have written a letter to the mother body notifying them of the problems concerning some of the lockdown rules.
Mothlakeng said the Tshwane region was expecting the mother body to take the matter further with the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture in due cause.
He said he believed the outcome of the communication would make it easier for players and soccer teams to resume playing while adhering to the rules of the lockdown.
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