The recent rise of Coronavirus (COVID-19) positive results has placed the Barbados Football Association, Barbados Netball Association and Barbados Amateur Basketball Association in a no-win situation, says veteran administrator Adrian Donovan.
During an interview with Barbados TODAY, Donovan said as it is right now, the COVID-19 monitoring unit has made the right decision not to grant permission for any contact sports to resume.
“The pressure from the players now is enormous. It has been a long time that the participants of these particular sports have been unable to get any type of meaningful playing time.
“The players must understand that safety is priority number one. Not only for themselves but also for their families and likewise the country. The Barbados football association would be under the most pressure and would have to make some serious decisions going forward,” Donovan said.
He also maintained that the recently cancelled friendly game against the Iceland Under-21 national team was a no-brainer. He noted that it didn’t have to take the recent upsurge of the pandemic to see that this game would have been a risk. Despite whatever protocols were put in place.
The former Barbados Football Association (BFA) general secretary explained that other BFA engagements due to take place in the coming months were now up in the air.
Training for the Barbados senior men’s national team has stopped because of the recent spike in local COVID-19 cases.
Barbados’ senior men’s first international World Cup qualifier match is scheduled for Wednesday, March 24th against hosts Panama. A mere six days later, Anguilla will arrive in Barbados to play the Bajan Tridents.
On Sunday, June 6th, Barbados are expected to play Anguilla in their backyard. And on Thursday, June 10th the Dominican Republic will compete in Barbados.
Donovan said that the closeness of these dates was cause for concern.
“The closeness of these dates are a cause for serious concerns. As it may not be possible with regards to the quarantine time and the number of tests that have to take place before and during these six days.
“These dates are cause for concern. The Gold Cup qualifiers to be held in the United States, Barbados will be up against Bermuda on July 2nd. With no more FIFA window open serious decisions have to be made coming from FIFA and CONCACAF, as to whether these dates should be pushed back, postponed or may be cancelled.
“If for whatever reason the pandemic worsens in this Caribbean area, then what? There is no way that the governments of the day would permit their citizens to engage in any kind of national activity at this time,” he explained.
Donovan commended the BFA, BNA and BABA for holding strain and not buckling under pressure.
On weekends individuals were seen scrimmaging in places like Briar Hall, UWI, Empire, Warleigh, Trents, Kendall Hill, Parkinson Field and Valerie despite the risks involved.
“The Barbados Football Association unlike the two other associations will have to decide if it is financially prudent and possible to host games anytime soon, with the number of protocols, limit on spectators and additional costs that have to be incurred on playing nights.
“With only two dressing rooms, and with the COVID, it may only be appropriate for one game, double headers and triple headers will have to be looked at very closely.
“The fellas were still running around (scrimmaging). But with the recent decision from the COVID-19 monitoring unit to stop scrimmaging of any kind, and the warning from the Royal Barbados Police Force that if anyone is caught they could face the brunt of the law, the players should be mindful and not take the law into their own hands,” Donovan said.
He added: “It is well and okay for the players and spectators alike to criticise the BFA, BNA, BABA for not restarting. But these associations would have to be very mindful. They would not want to be singled out and highlighted for being the first association or group to be blamed for being another super spreader. And then to face the brunt of criticism from John public would be unthinkable.”
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