Football hoping to kick off at last in the country after lockdown

The current crisis in the country brought by the novel coronavirus has put a huge spanner on its sporting plans. And football is one of those who were hit the hardest.

But once the lockdown eases and life goes back to normal in a bit, the game will get its much-awaited opening whistle to the season. That's what Philippine Football Federation president Mariano Araneta hopes for Wednesday evening.

In a live podcast on Jaimer Dela Cruz's "Eat, Sleep, Breathe Football", Araneta cites the top flight leagues around the world resuming play already, especially in Germany's Bundesliga and South Korea's K-League and he thinks that there is no need for further restrictions to prevent them from even kicking off. In fact, he was glad that no one in the Filipino football community have been even been suspected of being a carrier of the virus.

"We're busy talking to colleagues in ASEAN and Asia regarding the ways to start football," he said, as they have submitted their draft guidelines to the Games and Amusements Board this week in hopes for an endorsement from the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases as the National Capital Region and CALABARZON has already set to downgrade the lockdown levels by June.

"Hopefully, with the  plans to ease the lockdown, then we can present it to IATF."

Should the proposal be approved, the matches will be held at the PFF National Training Center in Carmona, Cavite in which it will be under the General Community Quarantine classification, as notable venues such as Manila's Rizal Memorial and Binan Football Stadium being ruled out due to its proximity to its indoor arenas which are being repurposed as an isolation site.

With the shortened season, the Copa Paulino Alcantara might not be played as the spots for the prestigious AFC Champions League will be at stake.

Their proposal has its precedence with the other domestic leagues, but he was amazed on what Vietnam did to resume its National Cup just a month after ending its lockdown last April 23.

If given the nod, the league will kick off on  July 15, with their 

"Vietnam has gone to the extreme of even accepting audiences inside the stadium," Araneta added, in which they only have that only had 288 cases and no fatalities thanks to their decisive leadership that put impetus on its early closure of borders and efficient mass testing.

In contrast, the Philippines already has more than sixteen thousand cases and 942 deaths as of this writing, and was even yet to ease back to the world's longest quarantine as of yet.

Furthermore, the lockdown has put a strain to the finances of the clubs, saying that the players are raring to play again after seeing their wages being slashed.

"Countries that have suffered worse than us, like Spain and Germany, they have opened up their leagues. I don't see any reason why we cannot also open our league as long as we practice safety protocols for the players."

It has been assured that the protocols are well detailed to ensure the safety of the players involved from their training sessions up to the match itself, with the federation through secretary-general Atty. Edwin Gastanes consulted renowned sports physician, FIFA-licensed Randy Molo for it.

Apart from the PFL, the PFF is also hoping for hosting international matches once the situation eases, with the main concern being the availability of a vaccine despite the country's problems with mass testing.

The options are already on the table, and it might end up with the country giving up hosting duties of World Cup qualifiers and the AFF Championship owing to the unavailability of Rizal Memorial and have to play it overseas.

However, Araneta wishes for everyone's welfare in this trying times.

"Rest assured we're doing our best to put football on the map again, and make players play again because that's what we are here for: To enjoy the game."

Photo is from Ceres-Negros FC (File)