Football: European clubs back in training

By Elizabeth Mosima

Despite the Coronavirus pandemic some clubs in Europe have resumed training with the aim of completing the 2019-2020 season.

Some football clubs in Europe have gone back to the training grounds despite the Coronavirus pandemic. In Germany all 18 top flight teams are getting ready to restart the season with a view to completing the remaining nine matches by the end of June. Bayern Munich's players were pictured being put through their paces earlier this week as they get in shape ahead of the league's return. The German Bundesliga is planning to play matches behind closed doors. Fans will not be allowed in the stadiums until 2021.

Emergency plans containing special rules have been prepared but they still need to be approved by the various authorities. Borussia Dortmund announced that they would run the training without direct man-to-man duels. Clubs provide separate locker rooms. Only one player at the time is allowed to change. Locker facilities will be cleaned after every player. Players must take showers at home. Some clubs are instructing their players to change into their kit at home. Some supply take-away-food for the players. As soon as the season restarts, the clubs intend to intensify training sessions for the two weeks ahead of a definite kick-off date.

La Liga club Real Sociedad resumed training on Tuesday April 14, 2020 after being on lockdown for more than a month due to the Coronavirus pandemic. A statement released on Saturday by the club outlined a series of precautionary measures that will go into effect early this week. Among some of the measures include players allowed to train together in groups of two or three, with a coronavirus test upon arrival. Players, however, aren't obliged to train out of Zubieta which is La Real's training center and can continue training from home.

Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo has been sent no 'privilege' training warning as the Juventus star is spotted at Madeira Stadium. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner has been looking to keep himself in shape during the coronavirus crisis, but has been urged to respect the lockdown. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner returned to his homeland prior to the Covid-19 pandemic shutting down football around the world.

This article originally appeared in Cameroon Tribune; photo: Karim Jaafar/AFP via Getty Images