Kwara Football Association and football stakeholders have been charged to ensure strict compliance with Covid-19 protocols and guidelines, as the state’s darling team hosts Dakkada FC in a Week 10 NPFL match tomorrow.
This is coming on the heel of the directive of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Task Force on Covid-19, to the League Management Company (LMC) and FAs, to ensure absolute compliance to the NFF and Presidential Task Force directive guidelines of the Covid-19 protocols, in order to shield and protect football from the spread of the pandemic.
The NFF Covid-19 Task Force, in a letter signed by it’s Secretary, Mohammed Ameenu said that not more than a total of 100 people are required inside the stadium during the game.
The figure, according to the Task Force, includes the players and officials of both Kwara United and Dakkada FC, match officials, accredited medical team, ball boys, accredited Kwara FA representatives, journalists and security personnel.
Only ten security personnel would be allowed inside the Main-Bowl, while others are expected to be strategically assigned duties outside the stadium to ensure compliance with safety and security guidelines.
The Task Force warned that it would not hesitate to declare any match centre or stadium a big risk centre.
Also briefing the Stakeholders today at the FA Office, the NFF Covid-19 Task Force Officer for the match, Dr. Babatunde Akinbinu, who was assigned to ensure compliance with the protocols and guidelines, charged that clubs must provide Covid-19 test results not older than eight weeks.
While reminding all that the second wave of the pandemic is on, Dr. Akinbinu said that provision of water and soap for washing hands, sanitizers and use of face masks are mandatory, and as well, social distancing rule must be observed during the game.
Dr. Akinbinu, who also inspected the hotels of the two teams and that of the match officials to ensure total compliance, said that though players may not be directly open to contacting Covid-19, they may transport the pandemic to others.
