By Trevor Makonyonga
As the COVID-19 has ravaged through society, sporting activities have been put to a halt leaving athletes financially shaken.
Aces Youth Soccer Academy (AYSA) has launched a relief aid programme to ensure that players as well as their families are well fed.
Speaking to Bustop TV, Director of the academy Nigel Munyati said that the academy wants players to stay nourished even during this global pandemic.
Munyati said, “We have 73 boys and girls in our academy and we have been closed. We had to shut down in March, we actually shut down before the government announced the lockdown because we care so much about the well being of our boys and girls so we shut down early. What we also felt was important is that there are two issues, one is the family itself where our players come from a where we just needed to support the families but more importantly, we have to ensure that our players are still well-nourished during the Coronavirus period. There is nothing worse than eventually reopening when the government lifts the lockdown only to find out that the bulk of your players are not in a physical condition to continue to train. Some of them could end up being so malnourished that it will take them a long time to recover. Those were the two issues, the general family welfare and their personal athletic form.”
Munyati added that they have been giving players hampers for two months but also said that in the future they might have to review the situation as funds are dwindling.
“We have been running it for two months now and we will probably run it for as long COVID is still preventing families from being financially self supportive. Obviously it will be limited by our resources. We don’t have a bottomless bank vault with money. For now we will be fine we will probably still continue for the next two to three months but beyond that we will then have to review the situation.”
AYSA director also said that the money which they are using was meant for running the club.
Players failed to travel for their trips to Europe due to the pandemic and there has been general lack of activity on the play field.
Munyati said, “These are the funds we would have used to run the academy. It’s basically cost us between US$10 and 20 thousand a month to run the academy. The coaches are working with the boys sending them videos of exercises they can do whilst at home. The none functioning of the academy has affected us. There were trips abroad that we were supposed to have undertaken which we have had to put on hold. (There are) Players who were supposed to go for trials, we have to put that on hold. Generally playing football. The kids love to play football.”
