Lifting Covid sanctions will boost SAFA’S stadium economy

THE South African Football Association (SAFA) has applauded the government’s decision to allow sports stadiums to operate at full capacity with the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions.

South Africa’s Health Minister Joe Phaahla published the latest amendments in the Government Gazette on Wednesday evening, and the news was well received around the country.

SAFA President Danny Jordaan said the association’s position has always been that FIFA and CAF matches without spectators “are not complete football matches”. He added: “We are happy that the government has opened up the space for fans to go back to the stadiums, and it is a position that we have always advocated for. We welcome that decision.”

Spectators will no longer have to produce proof of vaccinations, wear masks or observe social distancing.

Doctor Thulani Ngwenya, the South African Football Association’s Chief Medical Officer, has welcomed government’s decision to allow capacity crowds at sports stadiums.

“We are back to normal,” said Ngwenya. “The sector has been severely affected by the pandemic, and it is now time to begin the fight for recovery from an economic point of view. It is a great opportunity to recover the economy.”

The government has also repealed the rules pertaining to the wearing of masks in public places, and Ngwenya has urged fans to be cautious. Ngwenya was recently appointed the official Doping Officer for this year’s FIFA World Cup in Qatar. He is a member of the South African Sports Medicine Association (Sasma) and a member of the CAF and FIFA Medical Association.

Ngwenya said that football now has an opportunity to rebuild the stadium economy that was decimated by the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“But I must add that we still need to be cautious and review our protocols on stadium safety. This is the time for us to review those protocols,” said Ngwenya, adding that vaccinations must continue.

“The country has almost reached herd immunity because more than 50% of the country’s population has been vaccinated. We have now reached a stage where more than 70% of the elderly population has been fully vaccinated.

“However this doesn’t mean that we have to stop with vaccination. We still need to continue with vaccination so that we minimise the risk of severe illness.”

Rugby will be the first sports code to take advantage of the latest amendments, which will do away with the limitations on public gatherings. The Springboks will play Wales in three Tests starting next Saturday, July 2 in Pretoria, and then Bloemfontein (July 9) and DHL Stadium in Cape Town (July 16).

The last time the Springboks played in front of fans at a Test in South Africa was more than two and a half years ago on August 19 2019, at Loftus Versfeld, where the Boks ran out 24-18 victors.