In a world where the majority have to fight hard to even survive, nothing can be taken for granted.
We are all reminded at this time of uncertainty, economic recession and pandemic, of what is important.
And sport isn’t one of those things.
I’ve been trying to keep up to date with the developments connected to the coronavirus spread around the world and it has made its presence felt here in the Western Cape now too.
If we haven’t taken it seriously, it’s time we got our priorities straight.
After the virus hit Europe hard in the last two weeks, many sporting events and leagues have been forced to act for the greater good.
In Italy, Serie A has been suspended, while France, Spain, Germany and, on Thursday, the Premier League, have all decided to play their football behind closed doors.
It’s a shame and downright dangerous that these decisions have only been taken at the insistence of their governments.
Entire societies have been disrupted by the spread and we all need to play our part in arresting the rate and numbers of infections.
All that the Premier League had done until this week was tell players not to shake hands.
Some restrictions were taken in their club houses, where deliveries were sprayed down with disinfectants.
INFECTED: Juventus' Daniele Rugani. Picture: Gianni Nucci/EPA.
That didn’t help Juventus defender Daniele Rugani from contracting the virus or the Proteas from spit-shining the cricket ball.
But whatever, what about all those fans in the stands?
Those thousands who are screaming over one another and high-fiving each other?
Those thousands coming into contact with thousands more when they travel to stadiums, often across international borders?
This week ahead of the decision to play Prem games in empty stadiums, Pep Guardiola said he’d rather have the league suspended than to play in front of no one.
That’s when the penny dropped for most of these guys.
Football, like any sport, is played for the enjoyment of the individual and entertainment for the spectators.
SPITTING: Proteas yster Quinton de Kock. Picture: BackpagePix.
It’s not like what legendary Liverpool boss Bill Shankly meant when he said that “football is not about life or death. It’s more important than that”. It couldn’t be further than the truth today.
It’s time that sport shows its appreciation to the fans and show that they give a damn by helping them stay alive.
Fans keep the money coming in for sport. There is no market without consumers. And the people are the consumers.
Sport has already been involved with shady practises. Look at the World Cup 2022 in Qatar and the deaths of thousands of workers building the new stadiums and infrastructure for the wealthy oil-producing nation.
To stop the spread of this virus, we must be more vigilant and realise that going to the stadium with public transport is a risky business and we are playing with our lives.
We must practise good health habits right now.
WORK: Western Cape Premier Alan Winde. Picture: Supplied.
And keeping large groups of people from gathering in tight spaces is a good idea for the present when there is no cure for Covid-19.
So for me, whose livelihood is writing about sport, it’s time for me to call on my fellow sports lovers to take extra precautions.
Remember this virus is spread by contact with droplets of coughs and saliva with infected people.
There is no known airborne strain of the virus. So here are some tips for sports fans to stay healthy at this time.