Sports under threat of Ebola

As at the last count the scourge has consumed at least four lives and infected more than eight persons. A total of over 177 persons are currently under surveillance.The pandemic which began in Guinea has quickly spread to West African countries like Sierra Leone and Liberia which are the worst affected by the outbreak of […]

As at the last count the scourge has consumed at least four lives and infected more than eight persons. A total of over 177 persons are currently under surveillance.
The pandemic which began in Guinea has quickly spread to West African countries like Sierra Leone and Liberia which are the worst affected by the outbreak of the killer virus. According to the World Health Organisation, there are over 1779 cases of Ebola out of which over 961 victims have lost their lives. Consequently, the pandemic which is spreading fast like wild fire in harmattan is sending jitters down the spines of many.
While the Nigerian government is battling frantically to curtail further spread of the virus, sports and other recreational activities have already caught cold and are shivering terribly.
This development is not unfounded because most games are contact sports and since the virus is transmitted through direct contact with blood or bodily fluids such as sweat, from an infected person, the concerns cannot be waved aside as baseless. Consequently, Ebola is gradually stifling sports, especially in countries where the virus has penetrated.
Sierra Leone and Liberia have since suspended all football activities. It is also on record that Sierra Leone qualified for the next round of qualifiers of the Africa Cup of Nations after Seychelles refused the Lone Stars from entering their country for fear that their opponents might have been infected with the virus.
In addition, Togo has asked CAF to move her next month’s Africa Cup of Nations game against Guinea to another venue. Over 300 people have died in Guinea since the latest outbreak of the Ebola virus.
Here in Nigeria, it is now an open secret that several sporting activities have suffered postponements as part of efforts geared towards preventing further spread of the virus in the country.
For instance, this year’s edition of Nestle Milo All Nigeria Secondary Schools Basketball Championships which would have taken place at the Indoor sports hall of the National stadium Surulere in Lagos was postponed indefinitely.
The third edition of Chika Chukwumerije International Taekwondo tournament was suspended obviously due to the existence of the virus in Nigeria.
An opportunity for youths in Lagos and environs who are talented in football to try out in the Aspire Group football talent hunt was lost when the programme was put off due to the fear of Ebola virus.
The ECOWAS Games which was slated for Ivory Coast won’t hold for now. Ivory Coast have backed out of the event and no country has accepted to shoulder the responsibility. It is obvious countries are reluctant to host the games for fear of exposing their citizens to danger.
Furthermore, Nigeria was compelled to withdraw from the Youths Olympic Games in China because of discrimination against her on the basis of Ebola virus.
In view of the aforementioned, there are clarion calls that sporting activities which bring athletes in direct contact should be suspended pending when the virus would be put under check.
However, spokesman of the Nigeria Football Federation, Mr. Ademola Olajire told SHOT! that the federation is yet to receive any request from any quarters for football activities to be put on hold.
He said the federation is also monitoring what is happening and would not hesitate to do what is needed to protect the players are other actors in the game.
“We are also mindful of what is happening. We are following events and also looking at what government is doing.
“Anytime we see that the situation is dangerous for us to continue, we would do what is expected of us. The safety of our players cannot be compromised.
“ But for now, it is only in Lagos that we have proven cases of the Ebola virus so we can continue while we monitor what is going on,” he said.
Speaking from a medical perspective, Dr. Charles Agadu of the FCT Sports Council said although the virus is deadly, it does not pose any serious threat to sports because its mode of transmission is ‘friendly to sports’.
His words “Transmission of the virus can occur through direct contact with blood or bodily fluids such as sweat, from an infected person, which makes it dangerous for sports people, who are engaged in contact sports in Africa
“ However, the good news is that one cannot transmit the virus until he or she shows the first symptoms of fever and so by this time one will not be able to go out and do sport hence posing no treat to sports. So let’s pray that we are able to curtail the deadly virus”.
Meanwhile, acting Chairman of Nigeria Premier League clubs, Barrister Isaac Danladi has said the present state of things concerning Ebola in Nigeria does not call for panic.
He said his association is confident that if the situation gets diecy, authorities would not hesitate to take the necessary action.
“We are also watching what is happening. Although the virus has caused so much panic, I want to call on my members to be calm. We can carry on as long as the situation is not out of control. If it calls for emergency, I am sure government would not delay in taking the necessary action.
“Moreover, in sports there is what we call force majeure. It has to do with emergencies like natural disasters and other unforeseen circumstances. It can be evoked for football to be put on hold”, he said.
The chairman of Nasarawa United FC however called on players to be mindful of personal hygiene so that they would not fall easy prey to the virus.