The South African Football Association SAFA have announced an extension on the suspension of football activities in the country as the coronavirus cases continue to increase in South Africa.

SAFA said that in line with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s pronouncement of a 21 day lockdown starting from March 26, the country’s governing body will fall in line with those dates with regards to when the Premier Soccer League and other football will return.

All football activities in South Africa were suspended until April 4, but has been extended for two more weeks after the state declared the coronavirus outbreak a National Disaster.

SAFA said on Monday, “In line with the call by the State President, will extend the ban of all football matches and all other football activities from 4 April 2020 as first announced by the Association to 16 April 2020.”

Staff members have since been asked to work from home starting today Tuesday 24 March.

“Following our earlier announcement in which we suspended all football activities across the country, we have noted that the situation regarding the containment of the corona virus is not improving.

“We have therefore, requested the staff of the South African Football Association (SAFA), except for the Senior Management, to work from home as from 24 March 2020 until further notice. We will review the situation in coming days on the way forward.

“SAFA is also shutting down the National Technical Centre (formerly known as Fun Valley) in a bid to curb the congregation of huge crowds in line with the national government call to stop the spread of the virus.

“We have decided as the Association, to offer the SAFA NTC to the national government to use the facility as one of the quarantine centres.

“We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our members and the general public who have heeded our call to suspend all football activities until this crisis is contained.”

The PSL have stated that they are hoping to still have the Absa Premiership and GladAfrica Championship wrapped up by the end of June when a number of contracts expire, but the latest developments mean that they will face around another month before a football can be kicked again.

Kelvin Trudeau Musako

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