Be Forward Wanderers have suspended training indefinitely barely three days after their age-old rivals Nyasa Big Bullets took the same route due to the new coronavirus (Covid-19)pandemic.
Silver Strikers, who were one of the few teams still continuing with preparations for the 2020 season, have said they are also exploring the possibility of doing the same.
Nomads general secretary Victor Maunde yesterday said with no end in sight as regards resuming of football matches, they have seen it appropriate to discontinue training.
He said: “It looks unlikely that the season could start in the foreseeable future; hence, our decision to suspend training.
“We have just asked the technical panel to come up with plans of ensuring that the players maintain shape and fitness.”
Maunde also said the move is one way of controlling the spread of the Covid-19 although no case has been detected in the country so far.
On his part, Silver chief executive officer Thoko Chimbali said: “We are exploring the possibility of suspending training as well considering that the break is indefinite.”
The Central Bankers’ spokesperson David Daniel Dauda also said they are meeting today, “but it looks very likely that we are going to suspend training”.
On Thursday, Bullets announced the suspension of training sessions for all its teams.
The development came barely days after the People’s Team said they would continue with their training sessions despite Football Association of Malawi’s move (FAM) to suspend all association football matches as a precautionary measure against the Covid-19 outbreak.
Part of the statement issued by Bullets reads: “During this period, we have suspended training of all our teams and we discourage our supporters and coordinators from gathering and holding any meetings until further notice.
“This is in accordance with the statement issued by the President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika on measures to combat coronavirus pandemic.
“The well-being of our teams, supporters and all stakeholders is of great concern to us. We urge all our stakeholders to join the fight against this pandemic by following government guidelines regarding hygiene to ensure the well-being of everybody.”
On March 21, FAM suspended all association football matches as a precautionary measure against the Covid-19 outbreak.
This followed President Peter Mutharika’s decision to declare Malawi a State of Disaster due to the threat of the pandemic whose death toll had reached about 32 000 as of yesterday noon while infections were estimated to be 665 295 globally.
