Dunbeholden’s players get 3-day election break

Manager of Dunbeholden FC, Paul Christie, says that his team is taking a three-day training break to allow players and staff to exercise their constitutional right to vote in today's general election. The training break started yesterday and will end tomorrow.

Christie said that the club has asked its members to be vigilant during the break by avoiding large crowds and after-election festivities by staying at home once they have cast their ballots.

"We try to be a little proactive and try to anticipate what will happen, and as such, we, basically, give the players today (Wednesday) off to exercise their constitutional rights, but we have asked them to head back home when they have voted and stay out of the crowds and frenzy because it (contracting coronavirus) can happen to any of us," he said.

Pandemic is not a joke

"We are tentatively set to resume Saturday morning, but we don't want them to be on the road during the festivities. We know people will be on the road a lot tomorrow (Thursday) and Friday, whichever party wins, so I am trying to advise that this pandemic is not a joke. It's not a hoax. it is very serious," he added.

Dunbeholden resumed training in early July after the Government gave permission for up 20 persons to gather in public at the end of June. The club has had to adjust its training sessions due to the restrictions, but they have changed their training hours and divided the team and training sessions into two groups.

"We started to train based on the government regulation, which allowed a gathering of no more than 20 persons. Some (players) come in the mornings and some in the evenings. We try as best as possible to train line by line - the defensive line, midfield line, and offensive line - so people who are going to play together, we try to get them to familiarise themselves with each other," he explained.

He added that although the players have all shown great hunger and desire to play football once again, they have also displayed great understanding and awareness of the crisis and the threat that exists.

"They are footballers, and they all want to play ... . We have, however, had our interactions, and they are all aware that these (safety) protocols are not optional. They are mandatory," he said.