By Mohamed Jaward Nyallay
Head Coach of Premier League club Anti-Drugs Strikers, Raymond Hunter has told Politico that he is worried about the fitness and development of young players during the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.
The Ministry of Sport halted all sporting activities including the Sierra Leone Premier League in April this year amidst fears of the virus
In a telephone interview on Monday, Hunter said the lack of competition for players means they are going to struggle to adjust their bodies to the physical demand of football once the game resumes.
“The shapes of the players have been affected. We have a Whatsapp group with the players and we are posting instructions for them to do some individual exercises,” Hunter said.
Captain of Anti-Drugs Strikers, Sunny Kamara said, “we are doing some physical training, but it has not been easy. We are doing individual training. I do mine one day in and one day out. If I do running on Monday, I rest and go to the gym on Tuesday.”
In addition to that, Kamara said, “I am also watching my diet because I don’t want to get too big, then I won’t be able to exercise.”
Hunter said he has been in constant touch with team doctors and masseurs with regards the general wellbeing of the players. But his worry is not just limited to the wellbeing of the players; he is also worried that the progress of so many young players on the pitch has been halted as a result of the pandemic.
“We had young players that had they played until the end of the league (this season) they would have been better. Now this has affected their growth and there are concerns about when football will resume, when they will pick their forms and even their shape,” he said.
Kamara is one of many young players that was on the way to been featured in the national team. He had already been training with the home based national team before the season was abruptly halted.
Asked whether he is concerned about when his form when football resumes, he said, “Yes, for sure. Most of us might struggle for fitness.”
No date has been set to continue with the premier league, the Sierra Leone Football Association has stalled for months to announce a new date.
But when the league starts, Anti-Drugs will brace up to fight for their place in the league. The club is 10th with 13 points from 12 games.
Hunter said he will have a tough choice to make regarding players that should play. He said whatever he does, his will pick players with better fitness levels than others to play.
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