Why PSL Situation Is Different To Europe, Chiefs Doc Speaks

One of Kaizer Chiefs’ team doctors explained how Europe is different to South Africa in terms of planning for the resumption of football.

The German Bundesliga has been in action since May 16 and it has been recently confirmed that both the English Premier League and the Italian Serie A will resume on June 17 and June 20 respectively.

Meanwhile in South Africa, the country will only be moving to level 3 of the nationwide lockdown as of June 01, where, according to the latest communication from the government, all contact sport, which includes football, will remain prohibited.

Read more: PSL Teams to Return To Training Next Week?

However, the Premier Soccer League and the South African Football Association are in the process of submitting their proposal to the South African Government and official announcements about their plans, could be communicated next week.

In the interim, PSL clubs have begun preparations for the possible return to training, although are still waiting for clear instructions from the league.

Speaking to Chiefs’ official website, their team doctor, Hashendra Ramjee explained how the circumstances in South African football can not be compared to that of Europe. 

“We have been closely monitoring the international football ‘landscape’ with regards to policies and plans that are being proposed and implemented insofar as the pandemic is concerned,” he said.

“Regarding the European leagues, there the situation is different to ours in SA. They have potentially passed their peaks of infections and their rates of local transmission of Covid-19, is reducing. They are also going into their summer months and thus moving out of their flu season. 

Read more: PSL Teams to Return To Training Next Week?

“It is important to note that the European leagues have much more resources and testing capacity compared to South Africa. The initial lockdown levels have served their purpose to ‘flatten the curve’ and to prepare our medical system. However, as lockdown levels are reduced further, the COVID19 infection rates are expected to increase,” he added. 

Players who have had zero league minutes this season