Task force halts plan o ease restrictions

The Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 has suspended plans to ease restrictions on spectators at football matches because cases have started rising.

Last week, Minister of Health Khumbize Kandodo-Chiponda, who is also co-chairperson of the task force, said depending on the situation on the ground, they would consider allowing half capacity at stadia when the TNM Super League second round resumes.

But in an interview yesterday, the minister said: “We had a meeting yesterday [Thursday] where it was established that [Covid-19] cases have started rising.

“It was, therefore, resolved that for now, we should maintain the 250 public gathering restriction.

“So, we will continue to keep watch as we monitor the situation on the ground.”

Kandodo-Chiponda said cases in South Africa and Zambia are also on the rise “and as a country, we usually follow the pattern in these two countries. So, we need to remain on guard”.

The minister reiterated that as a task force, they are aware of how the sports industry has been affected.

“We understand that sports is not a mere entertainment for our players who depend on it for a living,” she said.

Super League of Malawi general secretary Williams Banda said: “We are also monitoring the situation and we cannot risk.

“We are grateful to the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 with the current conditions. Covid is real, let’s mask up.”

 Clubs have said the restriction of spectators at matches continues to affect them financially. 

Mighty Wanderers chairperson Chancy Gondwe said: “Gate collections would have helped to sustain some of our daily operations, but this is not the case.

“We run this football business for pleasure, otherwise it does not make business sense to spend close to K400 million for the whole season only to get K15 million as a winner of the national league.”

On his part, Nyasa Big Bullets chief administration officer Albert Chigoga said: “Covid-19 has greatly affected us and we are hoping things will get better. Apart from the usual euphoria when teams play with fans cheering, lack of gate revenue due to the restrictions, was a hit under the belt.”

As of Thursday, there were 13 new cases and 14 new recoveries. Cumulatively, Malawi had recorded 34 251 cases, including 1 153 deaths.

Case fatality rate was at 3.37 percent and there were 606 active cases.