Tanzania is first African country to restart league amid Coronavirus'

15 Juin 2020

Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, June 15 (Infosplusgabon) - Tanzania at the weekend became the first African country to resume a national football league, suspended during March because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Young Africans, who have been champions a record 22 times, won 1-0 away to Mwadui and Coastal Union overcame a two-goal deficit to draw 2-2 with visiting Namungo on Saturday, according to fixtures of resumed matches published by the Tanzanian Football Association.

It said runaway leaders Simba and Azam enjoyed home advantage on Sunday in the other two matches scheduled for this weekend.

Simba have 71 points with 10 matches to play, Azam and Young Africans share second place on 54 and Namungo lie fourth with 51.

Tanzania suspended the 20-club national championship in mid-March as the COVID-19 outbreak began to wreak havoc throughout Africa.

According to the Africa Centres for Disease Control on June 13, some 225,126 people in Africa have been infected with 6,051 deaths.

Spectators were permitted as the league resumed in the east African state, but the elderly, who are generally most vulnerable to the virus, and children were barred.

Before being allowed into a stadium, fans wore face masks, washed hands with soap or used hand sanitiser, and have their temperature checked.

Once inside, spectators were forced to practice social distancing by sitting or standing several metres apart.

Footballers, referees, coaches and support staff were subjected to equally strict measures to combat the virus, and change rooms were fumigated before and after the matches.

Burundi, a tiny, landlocked country bordering Tanzania, were the only African country to continue playing top-flight football during the pandemic.

Footballers in Belarus, Nicaragua, Taiwan and Tajikistan also carried on playing while the rest of the global football industry shut down temporarily.

Club Le Messager Ngozi have 58 points and Musongati 55 in a two-club race for the Burundi title with two rounds remaining, which are set for the weekends of June 20/21 and 27/28.

Ngozi have won the Primus Ligue once while Musongati, who have also reached the FA Cup final, are seeking a maiden title.

Musongati were scheduled to meet Rukinzo in the cup final on Saturday but the match was delayed as the country is mourning deceased president Pierre Nkurunziza.

Nkurunziza, 55, who had been due to step down in August after ruling Burundi for 15 years, died last Monday from a heart attack, according to the government.

A devout evangelical who believed he was chosen by God to lead Burundi, Nkurunziza will be succeeded by Evariste Ndayishimiye.

FIN/ INFOSPLUSGABON/GBJ/GABON2020

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