ZCZC
BSP-05
FBL-ASIA-CHN-VIRUS-WUHAN
Football makes gleeful return to coronavirus-scarred Wuhan
WUHAN, China, May 26, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – For nearly three months football
enthusiasts in Wuhan were left kicking their heels indoors as the coronavirus
raged in the Chinese city at the epicentre of the outbreak.
But since the harsh lockdown on the city of 11 million people ended in
early April amateur footballers have been gleefully ripping off their face
masks and lacing up their boots again.
“It was a long time to be in lockdown so we had to do some exercise at
home,” said Wang Zijun, 42.
“I used to juggle the ball with my son at home and pass the ball to each
other, and sometimes we went to the underground garage to do exercise.”
Another player who finally enjoyed a run-out on a warm evening under
floodlights said it was liberating to be able to kick a ball again with
friends and team-mates.
They did so without their masks covering their faces, although some players
kept them dangling around their necks.
“Before the lockdown was lifted everyone felt so oppressed,” said the 45-
year-old, who would only give the surname Wen.
“We need to do physical exercise. After the lockdown was lifted, we resumed
training one time per week. I’m very happy.”
Professional footballers were affected too.
Wang Shuang, a Wuhan native and star of China’s women’s team, who are
pushing for a place at the Tokyo Olympics, resorted to kicking a ball against
a wall on a roof.
Chinese Super League (CSL) team Wuhan Zall and third-tier Wuhan Three Towns
have both returned to the central city after being forced to train elsewhere
at the height of the outbreak.
The CSL season was supposed to begin on February 22 but has been
indefinitely postponed by the health alert, which has since eased in China.
BSS/AFP/MMA/1323HRS