Sports stadiums are closed off and events cancelled due to the spread of Covid-19 and the resultant national lockdown. PHOTO: Supplied
All formats of sports have taken a major hit since the spread of Covid-19 has turned into a global pandemic. What began with sporting events being cancelled, has now ended up with extreme restrictions on the movement of citizens, including on players and athletes.
For South African athletes, the spread of Covid-19 resulted in all local sporting events, such as the Varsity Cup and PSL League, being cancelled. Similarly, most international sporting events, like the Olympics and Fed Cup, have also been cancelled or postponed.
One local athlete who has been directly affected, is Abongile Nkunkumana.
Nkunkumana, currently a UJ and Varsity Cup athlete, was having a good start to the 2020 season, and was two seconds away from the Olympic qualifying time of 44.90s for the 400m.
He clocked a personal best of 46.93s at the start of the season.
“The season ended fast, before I could even reach my peak. I could have been sub 46s with the form I was on,” said Nkunkumana.
Nkunkumana believes there’s always a positive side to everything that’s happening, and said that it does mean that he now has another year to “work on myself and on that Olympic dream.”
Overcoming adversity comes with opportunities,” he added.
FNB Maties player Marcel Theunissen was also in good form before Covid-19 put an abrupt end to the season. Named Player of the Match in FNB Maties’ last match before the lockdown, Theunissen has been seen as potential Rookie of the Tournament winner, according to Maties Rugby Club.
“Rugby is a team sport and not being able to practice as a team can affect small details that we, as a team, worked on during the season. We miss the excitement when we are not training together as a team,” said Theunissen.
‘There always is a positive’
The lockdown has given him an opportunity to clear his mind, and to focus on other activities in life, said Theunissen. “In my situation, the lockdown is helping me to focus on my studies and spending quality time with my family.”
Theunissen and the FNB Maties team continue to train in their respective homes until further notice by the Varsity Cup board. It is not yet clear if and when the Varsity Cup will resume, as Covid-19 continues to dictate the 2020 rugby season.
The hockey season was set to start in July, directly after Varsity Cup finished. It, too, will be delayed. South African national and Maties hockey player, Sandisiwe Tabata, stated that not knowing how the season will go, and the fact that outdoor activities cannot continue at the moment, have made things difficult for the Maties hockey team.
Maties hockey team athletes celebrate a goal during a match against TUKS (University of Pretoria) last season. PHOTO: Supplied by The pundits.
“The fact that we won’t get enough time together to really connect as a team on the field, is unfortunate. There’s no certainty as to how the season will go. That decision will be made by the national association,” added Tabata.
“A lot of us can focus on developing good habits that make us better athletes, and really tune in with our bodies. During this period we can look at off-the-field things that contribute to our on-field performances,” said Tabata.
South African national and Maties tennis player Sinazo Solani qualified for the Fed Cup.
The Fed Cup, which effectively serves as the World Cup of women’s tennis, was scheduled to take place between 14 and 19 April in Budapest, Hungary, but was completely cancelled.
Sinazo Solani qualified for the Fed Cup this year, however, the event has since been cancelled. PHOTO: Supplied by Guilherme Maggieri
“I am trying hard to stay fit by exercising and doing some workouts,” said Solani. However, she had to pause certain things, like going for a run. “I am lucky to be staying with my guardians as they have a tennis court which helps me stay fit on-field.”