By Uzor Odigbo
Athletes across the country have reasons to extol the federal government for lifting the ban on sports activities in the country.
Speaking after the pronouncement on Thursday in Abuja, the athletes, in their specialties namely basketball, Judo, wrestling, football etc, were excited to resume sports again after months of lockdown owing to Covid19 pandemic.
More excited were athletes involved in grassroots sports, whose individual prowess in the game had dimmed following the absence of scouts in their matches.
The Federal Government through the Presidential Task Force has approved the return of non-contact sporting activities including football.
This was revealed by the National Coordinator of the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19, Sani Aliyu.
“The lifting of restriction on outdoor activities including football is in line with earlier consultations with the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development and the NCDC (Nigeria Centre for Disease Control). However, this is limited to the actual sports itself and not mass gathering”, Aliyu said.
All sporting activities were banned in the country since March due to the coronavirus outbreak across the globe and in a bid to avert its spread.
Although Europe and the rest of the world have resumed competitions since July, football activities in Nigeria can now finally start on Monday, October 19, 2020
