After weeks of inactivity caused by the Coronavirus pandemic, the world’s most-followed football league, the English Premier League (EPL), resumes next week to complete the 2019/2020 season. Fans of the EPL eagerly await the June 17 key match between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium. However, it will not be business as usual for viewing centres across Nigeria due to the enforced restrictions. OLALEKAN OKUSAN and TUNDE LIADI examine the possible impact of COVID-19 on the glamorous league.
When Coronavirus broke out in the China city of Wuhan in December 2019, nobody imagined that the virus would spread across the globe but by mid-February, the world started experiencing the impact of the pandemic.
By March 2020, the world stood still for the pandemic and the worst hit was sports and football in particular as most of the top football leagues were shut down.
English Premier League (EPL), regarded as the world’s most-followed league, was the worst hit with billions of pounds reportedly lost across all its segments including TV sponsorship, merchandise, attendant furlough and wage cuts.
Here in Nigeria, people whose livelihood depends on EPL-specially fans, owners of viewing centres and betting agents among others-are yet to come to terms with the attendance impact of COVID-19. But there is already excitement in the air following the announcement that EPL would return on June 17.
Yet Lekan Babarinde, owner of Bernabeu Viewing Centre in Alagbado area of Lagos State, said it would not be business as usual.
“It is quite unfortunate that the lockdown caused by coronavirus has changed a lot of things in the country and as a matter of fact viewing centre business will never be the same again because a lot of people will be scared of sitting close to one another to watch football,” explained Babarinde.
“Most people will be scared because of the rate at which people are contacting this virus.
“We would still manage ourselves around it as a business must go on and life must continue too; whatever we can do in our capacity to make the people believe that we can still watch football without any fear of contracting the virus, would have to be done.”
He, however, admitted that business was badly hit as a result of the COVID-19 lockdown:
“Right now, this business has been badly affected for the past few weeks. Nothing has been going on even in Europe.
“Football matches have been stopped even in Nigeria but now that football is coming back I know there will be low patronage in terms of the number of people that would come to watch at the viewing centres. But we will manage around it and whatever we can do to improve the business,” he added.
For Adeyemi Adelakun, a betting agent, life has taken a turn for the worst since COVID-19 pandemic
He said: “To be realistic, it can never be like it was before but I believe it is going to be a gradual thing because of the social distancing rules.
“It won’t be the way it was before as everything was fine before the pandemic and during the lockdown, everything went dull even the rate at which customers play games reduced.
“But hopefully if the EPL would start by June 17, it’s going to be an added advantage to the agent and customers.”
Elsewhere in Imo state, fans are delighted with the return of the EPL but they are doubtful about the way things would pan out at the viewing centres due to the pandemic.
Uche Ikechukwu, proprietor of Arise and Shine Recreation and Sports Bar at Ubomiri area of Mbailtoli Local council Imo State is excited that the EPL is returning to the screen, adding that he has put everything in place so that customers can have an exciting experience in the rescheduled tie involving Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium on June 17.
Apart from the sitting arrangement, Ikechukwu said other health measures would be in place for customers to curb the spread of the virus at the centre.
“I am very happy that the EPL is coming back because nobody knows it would be this long when it was suspended in March,” Ikechukwu stated. “The last three months have been the most difficult periods for us. Our businesses were not moving with the lockdown.
“I am happy that the EPL is returning. I know that Coronavirus could still affect people that will come to watch the games, but we have everything under check to ensure that our customers watch the games under a very conducive atmosphere and free from contracting the virus.
“We have our alcoholic-based sanitizers ready and we have enough treated water to go round for our customers to wash their hands regularly. We are also going to observe social distancing with the seating arrangements.
“I am expecting our customers and fans of the EPL to come and enjoy themselves at almost free of charge. I support Manchester City and it is my wish that they still catch up with Liverpool even though it might just be wishful imagination,” Ikechukwu enthused.
Unlike Ikechukwu, Evelyn Ozor, owner of Home of Football Fast Food and Bar in Owerri, is scared about the spread of the virus.
Despite admitting the negative impact the virus has had on her business and sports globally, Ozor believes things would start to pick up gradually once the spread of the virus is reduced.
She said: “I can only say that I’m grateful to God that things have started taking shape in Europe even though it is the reverse in Nigeria. The past few months have been very tough for business because nothing was really moving.
“I had so many ideas coming to my head at the same time including folding up my business because of low patronage. I was prevailed upon from doing so and had to think through it.
“We know that it may take a little while before the war against the Coronavirus pandemic is won but we can’t all be locked up in our respective homes without any meaningful provision to reduce the suffering.
“We must, however, keep ourselves and our customers safe from further spread of the virus.
“It is what we are doing here and everything has been mapped out to ensure that our customers enjoy the best of football under a peaceful environment.
“All necessary health measures have been put in place and our customers will observe social distancing too.
“We have reduced the numbers of seats to give room for enough spaces between customers, we would have their temperature checked after they have had their hands washed before being allowed into the hall,” Ozor said.
However, the excitement of EPL’s return was written all Kenneth Iheanacho, owner of Sport Grooves and Bar, Owerri, who said: “I am thrilled that the EPL is back and we can have some of our customers back. I have had to endure a lot almost throughout the lockdown but I am thankful that gradually business is getting back.
“It is my prayer that this pandemic will soon be a thing of the past because it has done so many havoc to us.
“I am happy that we are no longer under any lockdown. With the EPL restart just around the corner, we are expecting more customers and true fans to come out and cheer their teams. “We will ensure we do not put anybody’s life at risk.
“We will keep to the guidelines from the government and the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to ensure that we do not contribute to the spread of the virus.
“We are expecting the rest of the EPL season to go according to the plan and also for peace to return to the world because this pandemic has dealt the whole world a great blow,” an excited Iheanacho said.
Chinonso Uzoukwu of Pick-A-Seat Sports Bar at Ogwa believes all hands must be on deck to curb the spread of the virus.
“I just want to enjoin Nigerians to stay safe at this point and to also assure our customers that their safety is our concern at this period and afterwards.
“We know the damage the pandemic has caused already and we do not need to magnify it.
“We at Pick-A-Seat Sports and Relaxation Bar know what our customers want and we are equipped to make it available for them.
“Our bar is experiencing total change from what it used to be before; we have to be compliant with the directives to ensure that our customers keep social distance even while watching the game they enjoy so much.
“We have put in place other several measures to make everyone almost safe from contracting the virus at our premises.
“We are expecting a fascinating end to the EPL season; though Liverpool is the champions in waiting; there is still UEFA Champions League and Europa League slots up for grabs as such our customers can only enjoy these thrills and razzmatazz if they visit us,” Uzoukwu added.
The fans were not left out of the excitement of EPL’s return as fans from Lagos and across the country are eagerly awaiting the kick-off on June 17.
Soccer-mad Ibrahim Muhammed, a Kano resident and keen follower of Arsenal, admitted that the excitement in the EPL has been denied as fans would not be present to cheer their teams.
“Actually when the EPL is going to start will be kind of boring because we are not going to see the full capacity of the stadium, so the spirit of football is lost unlike the usual stadium atmosphere we were used to,” he explained.
Muhammed’s view was equally shared by Lagos resident, Caleb Owoeye: “Coronavirus has affected a lot of things including football which is very sympathetic but we hope the pandemic will be over and we will be able to enjoy football again.”
Quipped Ezekiel Bamisaye: “The return of the EPL is not going to be as we planned because for starters it would be in a neutral venue with no fans and the spirit of football is the fans cheering the players and I think we won’t enjoy football especially the EPL again like before.”
For Caleb Isiguzo, a Liverpool fan, the return of EPL has increased his excitement to watch his team lift the trophy for the first time in recent times.
“I can’t describe the level of my excitement that Liverpool will have the chance to wrap up the league title. I was downcast when I initially read that the season would be cancelled and Liverpool denied the opportunity to win the title,” Isiguzo said.
“With the coronavirus scourge now, a lot is expected of me as a responsible fan not to expose myself to the virus in the guise of supporting my team. I will go to that viewing centre where my safety will be guaranteed and I will only go to the ones that are observing the safety protocols.
“I am expecting a good finale of the EPL and I can’t wait for Liverpool to lift the EPL title because they have worked for it all season,” he noted.