It's been 40 days without football. Forty strange days. The last professional football game we saw was Europa League match that saw Rangers fall to Bayern Leverkusen 1-3 at the Ibrox Stadium on Thursday, 12th March.
For many of us football is life. We eat, breathe and live football. Try therefore to imagine how we have survived forty long days without the beautiful game.
The global pandemic put the game to an understandable pause. The world was not safe at the time and the world of football was no different as players like Blaise Matuidi, Paulo Dybala, Daniele Rugani and Manolo Gabiadini all caught the raging virus. Though all recovered, Atletico Portada coach Francisco Garcia sadly passed on. Also on the fatality list is former Olympique Marseille President, Pape Diouf. While it may be frustrating, pausing leagues globally to ensure the game beat the pandemic was a master stroke.
I can give anything to watch a game of football today. Any game at all. I am sure if I chance on a game between Surulere FC and Ajegunle Tigers I will watch it like it's the UEFA Champions League final.
Saturdays and Sundays have suddenly become ordinary as there's nothing to look forward to, approaching weekends. Weird.
We miss the shouts, banter, beering, bragging rights and for some, little blows here and there (yea...even that) that accompany football matches. Football will form one of the pillars that will help the world heal from Covid-19. But while we wait for that to happen, football fans and players should listen to their local health authorities on how to beat this virus.
As we wait for the pandemic curve to flatten, let's do our bit to help. The sun will rise on our game again. Stay safe.
Follow Ikenna on Twitter @ikenna005
Photo credit @OttharE via Twitter
The sun will definitely rise on our game someday. Till then, we wait while staying safe. Beautiful piece as usual from someone that loves the game. Kudos
ReplyDeleteThank you and please stay safe Oge. We'll have our game back again. Soon
Delete